U.S. Department of State Releases International Religious Freedom Report
October 28, 2008
AMMAN – On October 26, 2009, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented the U.S. Congress with the 2009 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom. In her remarks, Secretary Clinton stated: “The right to profess, practice, and promote one’s religious beliefs is a founding principle of our nation. In fact, many of our earliest settlers came because they wanted the freedom to practice their own religion without a state interfering or oppressing that practice.” The Secretary added: “It is the first liberty mentioned in our Bill of Rights, and it is a freedom guaranteed to all people in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom is an important part of U.S. efforts to promote freedom of religion, including interfaith dialogue and tolerance. This was a major theme in President Obama’s speech in Cairo. The United States is also expanding programs and bilateral partnerships worldwide to actively ensure all people have the fundamental right to practice their own beliefs without interference or discrimination.
Detailed reports on religious freedom practices were prepared on Jordan and countries around the world after speaking with government officials, religious leaders, civil society activists and citizens. Highlighting one aspect of this year’s report, Secretary Clinton commended Jordan’s role in initiating the Common Word dialogue.
For an English version of the report, please visit ourwebsite:http://jordan.usembassy.gov/irc_reports3.html or visit the U.S. State Department’s website: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/index.htm. The Arabic version of the Jordan section will also be available on our website in coming weeks.
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