The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended that the Trump administration expand its designations of “countries of particular concern,” listing more than a dozen that should be labeled as such.
Under the 2026 Annual Report, Afghanistan, Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, India, Iran, Libya, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam are listed as countries recommended for “CPC” status. The report, required by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA), notes that the law defines CPCs as “countries where the government engages in or tolerates ‘particularly severe’ violations of religious freedom.”
President Trump announced last year that he was designating Nigeria as a CPC. The State Department recognized the shift, stating, “On October 31, 2025: President Trump also designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.”
“China arrests underground church members, mob violence is on the rise in India and Pakistan leading to attacks on religious minorities and the destruction of their homes, Burma’s military bombs houses of worship, and Tajikistan denies parents the right to teach their children about faith,” USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler said in a statement. “As USCIRF’s Annual Report shows, far too many people in key nations are denied religious freedom through unjust laws, discrimination, harassment, violence, and even crimes against humanity. The U.S. government must continue to advance religious freedom abroad to make a difference for those facing religious persecution.”
Some of the countries recommended as CPCs in the report are also featured in a report from Open Doors US as among the top for Christian persecution. Among the top 50 countries are North Korea, Syria, and Nigeria. Persecution sources are listed as “Communist and post-Communist oppression,” “Islamic oppression,” “Dictatorial paranoia,” and others.
