Secretary of State's Determination Under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, 87997 [2016-29171]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 87997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29171]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 9810]


Secretary of State's Determination Under the International 
Religious Freedom Act of 1998

    Summary: The Secretary of State's designation of ``countries of 
particular concern'' for religious freedom violations. Pursuant to 
Section 408(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (Pub. 
L. 105-292), as amended (the Act), notice is hereby given that, on 
October 31, 2016, the Secretary of State, under authority delegated by 
the President, has designated each of the following as a ``country of 
particular concern'' (CPC) under section 402(b) of the Act, for having 
engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious 
freedom: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic People's Republic 
of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and 
Uzbekistan. The Secretary simultaneously designated the following 
Presidential Actions for these CPCs:
    For Burma, the existing ongoing restrictions referenced in 22 CFR 
126.1, pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act;
    For China, the existing ongoing restriction on exports to China of 
crime control and detection instruments and equipment, under the 
Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1990 and 1991 (Pub. L. 101-246), 
pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act;
    For Eritrea, the existing ongoing restrictions referenced in 22 CFR 
126.1, pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act;
    For Iran, the existing ongoing travel restrictions in section 
221(c) of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 
(TRA) for individuals identified under section 221(a)(1)(C) of the TRA 
in connection with the commission of serious human rights abuses, 
pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act;
    For the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the existing ongoing 
restrictions to which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is 
subject, pursuant to sections 402 and 409 of the Trade Act of 1974 (the 
Jackson-Vanik Amendment), pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act;
    For Saudi Arabia, a waiver as required in the ``important national 
interest of the United States,'' pursuant to section 407 of the Act;
    For Sudan, the restriction in the annual Department of State, 
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act on making 
certain appropriated funds available for assistance to the Government 
of Sudan, currently set forth in section 7042(j) of the Department of 
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 
2015 (Div. K, Pub. L. 114-113), and any provision of law that is the 
same or substantially the same as this provision, pursuant to section 
402(c)(5) of the Act;
    For Tajikistan, a waiver as required in the ``important national 
interest of the United States,'' pursuant to section 407 of the Act;
    For Turkmenistan, a waiver as required in the ``important national 
interest of the United States,'' pursuant to section 407 of the Act;
    For Uzbekistan, a waiver as required in the ``important national 
interest of the United States,'' pursuant to section 407 of the Act.
    For Further Information Contact: Benjamin W. Medina, Office of 
International Religious Freedom, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and 
Labor, U.S. Department of State, (Phone: (202) 647 3865 or Email: 
MedinaBW@state.gov).

    Dated: November 30, 2016.
Daniel L. Nadel,
Director, Office of International Religious Freedom, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2016-29171 Filed 12-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-18-P