Press Releases

Release of the U.S. Department of State’s Annual Report on International Religious Freedom

September 17, 2007

The U.S. Department of State released the ninth annual International Religious Freedom Report to Congress on Friday, September 14.  The 2007 report examines 198 foreign countries’ commitment to advancing religious freedom.

The United States hopes the report will serve as a resource for those who share concerns about religious freedom.  Secretary Rice said, “I hope that this report, which is also available on the Department's website, will continue to serve as a resource for all in the United States and in the international community who share our concerns about religious freedom. We also hope that it will serve to encourage those whose plight is documented in this report and whose right to believe, practice and worship freely is denied by their governments.”

The purpose of this report is to document the actions of governments — those that repress religious expression, persecute innocent believers, or tolerate violence against religious minorities, as well as those that respect, protect, and promote religious freedom.

The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom contains an introduction, executive summary, and a chapter describing the status of religious freedom in each of the 198 countries throughout the world.  The report is a public document available online on the websites: www.state.gov/g/drl/irf and http://mauritius.usembassy.gov/.