2005 Press Releases

Sierra Leone Commended on the 2005 Annual U.S. Report on International Religious Freedom

November 14, 2005

Freetown                        
Contact: PAO
Tel: 226481
 
On November 8^th the United States Department of State released its seventh 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 continue to suffer by being denied their basic right of religious liberty and many governments refuse to recognize or protect this basic right.
 
In submitting the report to Congress, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated that the release of this year's International Religious Freedom report, underlines the United States’ “goal to promote the fundamental right of religious freedom," stressing that “people must have an opportunity to exercise their religious traditions, to do so in an atmosphere that is free of intimidation, that in fact allows for the expansion of religion and communities of believers.”
 
The annual report commended Sierra Leone 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 government or private actors.”
 
The full text of the 2005 International Religious Freedom report can be found at:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005