US condemns terrorists targeting minorities; announces launch of International Religious Freedom Alliance

US Secretary of State condemned the acts of terrorists for targeting minorities and also drew reference to Yezidis in Iraq, Hindus in Pakistan, Christians in northeast Nigeria, or Muslims in Burma in his announcement              

Washington DC: US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Wednesday, announced the launch of a 27-nation International Religious Freedom Alliance.

Pompeo also took the opportunity to condemn terrorists and extremists for targeting religious minorities all over the world including Hindus in Pakistan.

The US Secretary of State also noted that more than eight in ten people in the world today live in a place where they cannot practice their faith freely.

"More than eight in ten people in the world today live where they cannot practice their faith freely. We condemn terrorists and violent extremists who target religious minorities, whether they are Yezidis in Iraq, Hindus in Pakistan, Christians in northeast Nigeria, or Muslims in Burma," Pompeo said.

He stated that the International Religious Freedom Alliance is an alliance of "like-minded partners who treasure and fight for, international religious freedom for every human being."

Pompeo also stated that the US condemns “blasphemy and apostasy laws that criminalise matters of the soul."

He also highlighted the plight of minorities in China and the treatment meted out to them.

"We condemn the Chinese Communist Party's hostility to all faiths," Pompeo stated.

Pompeo also announced that the next Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom will be held in Warsaw, Poland in July.

"I am most pleased to announce that Poland will host the next Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom this July in Warsaw. I know there are conversations happening now about who will host in 2021. We look forward to that announcement soon," he stated.

Pompeo spoke positively when he stated that momentum has been built since the announcement of intent to create it at the second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom.

Pompeo also said that the US is committed to hosting the ministerial again in Washington DC.

Among the prominent countries to join the alliance are Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Israel, Ukraine, the Netherlands and Greece.

(With ANI and PTI inputs)