2004 Press Releases

Sierra Leone Gets High Marks in the 2004 Annual U.S. Report on International Religious Freedom

September 20, 2004

Freetown
Contact: PAO Kevin Green
Tel: 226 481

On September 16, the United States Department of State released its sixth annual International Religious Freedom report.  The report outlines barriers to and improvements in religious freedom in countries throughout the world, and designates certain countries as "Countries of Particular Concern" for severe violations of religious freedom.  It makes clear that too many people in the world are still denied their basic right of religious liberty.

Sierra Leone received high marks for respecting and fostering freedom of religion.  The annual report found that “The Government of Sierra Leone at all levels strives to protect this right in full, and does not tolerate its abuse, either by governmental or private actors.”

In submitting the report to Congress, Secretary of State Collin Powell stated that the release of this year's International Religious Freedom report, "...underlines our nation's commitment to the protection of religious liberty," stressing that the United States Government "exists to protect human rights, not to restrict them; and we stand in solidarity with people everywhere who wish to worship without coercion."

The full text of the 2004 International Religious Freedom report can be found at:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/