The 2008 International Religious Freedom Report released

One of the most useful reports released each year is the U.S. State Department's annual International Religious Freedom Report which was made public earlier this month.  According to the Executive Summary, the purpose of this report is "to record the status of respect for religious freedom in every country around the world during the most recent reporting period--July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008. Our primary focus is to document the actions of governments--those that repress religious expression, persecute believers, and tolerate violence against religious minorities, as well as those that protect and promote religious freedom." Countries highlighted as countries of particular concern is the 2008 report include: Burma, China, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan.

I would encourage you to bookmark this important report as a good reference tool when you read about persecution in certain countries.  While we at The Voice of the Martyrs do not agree with every conclusion in this report, we do find it a helpful research tool.

Click here to view the report. If you would like to watch a press conference with Secretary Condoleezza Rice and John V. Hanford on the findings of the report, click here