Religious Freedom Panel Issues Annual Report

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has issued its annual report on countries that repress religious freedom.

The congressional advisory panel recommends that the State Department re-designate nine countries it says are severe violators of religious freedom -- Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

In addition, the commission finds that eight other nations also be cited as countries of particular concern -- Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Vietnam and Central African Republic.

Countries listed could face sanctions or congressional action.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.