Better Late Than Never

U.S. announces first sanctions following 1998 law.

Seven years after vowing to punish countries that restrict religious freedom, the U.S. government announced sanctions against the tiny African nation of Eritrea. The September 23 announcement represents the first such action the U.S. has taken under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).

The Bush administration has postponed taking action against Saudi Arabia, although the U.S. State Department determined religious freedom does not exist there. In 2004, the U.S. designated the nation of 26.5 million, along with Vietnam and Eritrea, as “countries of particular concern” (CPCS). The State Department also redesignated Burma, China, Iran, North Korea, and Sudan as CPCS. White House officials opted to negotiate with leaders of Saudi Arabia and Vietnam before deciding on whether to impose sanctions.

“It seems the wheels of justice often grind very slowly,” said Michael Cromartie, chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. “There’s a lot of interagency bickering about whether to continue diplomacy or cut it off and impose sanctions.”

Eritrea, an East African coastal nation of 4.6 million, will be denied commercial export of defense articles and services, as well as technical data and services, under the terms of a 1976 federal law. A State Department spokesperson said the sanctions seek to prevent the Eritrean military from incarcerating, harassing, and repressing religious persons. The country allows its citizens to practice only Catholicism and Islam.

The U.S. government has also entered a binding agreement with Vietnam to stop its repression of religious dissenters in some regions of the country. State Department officials plan to continue to speak with Saudi leaders and issue a statement by late March.

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

The U.S. State Department’s latest International Religious Freedom Report, issued November 8, has more on religious freedom in Eritrea.

Other CT articles on Persecution and the International Religious Freedom Act include:

The Daniel of Religious Rights | Nina Shea is not someone to tangle with. And the persecuted are mighty glad. (Aug. 26, 2005)

Religious Liberty: How Are We Doing? | The challenges of being an international cop for human rights—a report by the first U.S. ambassador at large for religious freedom.

Curbing Religious Persecution Difficult | The International Religious Freedom Act, introduced by Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.), lingered near extinction as lawmakers returned last month after their summer recess. (Oct. 5, 1998)

More articles on Eritrea include:

Dumped into Drums | Eritrea ramps up brutal crackdown on Christians. (July 18, 2005)

Jailed for Christ | Government harasses churches in Eritrea (May 20, 2004)

Our Latest

Public Theology Project

What Horror Stories Can (and Cannot) Tell Us About the World

We want meaning and resolution—and the kind of monster we can defeat.

The Russell Moore Show

Paul Kingsnorth on the Dark Powers Behind AI

Are we summoning demons through our machines?

Welcome to Youth Ministry! Time to Talk about Anime.

Japanese animation has become a media mainstay among Gen Z. You may not “get” it, but the zoomers at your church sure do.

Review

‘One Battle After Another’ Is No Way to Live

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the new film from Paul Thomas Anderson plays out the dangers of extremism.

Review

Tyler Perry Takes on ‘Ruth and Boaz’

In his new Netflix movie, Ruth is a singer, Boaz has an MBA, and the Tennessee wine flows freely.

To Black Worship Leaders, Gospel vs. Contemporary Worship Is a False Dichotomy

The discussion around Maverick City Music highlights how commercial success and congregational value are two different things.

Review

Needing Help Is Normal

Leah Libresco Sargeant’s doggedly pro-life feminist manifesto argues that dependence is inevitable.

Review

Don’t Give Dan Brown the Final Word on the Council of Nicaea

Bryan Litfin rescues popular audiences from common myths about the origins of Trinitarian doctrine.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube