U.S. cites Iran for harassing religious minorities

WASHINGTON, Sep 15 (Reuters) The United States took Iran to task today for its ''harsh and oppressive treatment'' of religious minorities as the two nations continued their standoff over Tehran's suspected nuclear arms program.

In an annual report, the State Department left unchanged its list of nations that ''engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom,'' citing China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Vietnam.

In Iran, which says its nuclear programs are aimed solely at power generation, the United States said it found a further deterioration in what it called ''the extremely poor status of respect for religious freedom.'' The assessment also cited reports of imprisonment, harassment, intimidation and discrimination based on religious beliefs in Iran, even among Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians -- the only legally recognized religious minorities.

Uzbekistan, which human rights groups have accused of imprisoning Muslims for their faith, was not listed as a country of particular concern in the department's ''Report on International Religious Freedom'' despite its conclusion that ''there was a decline in the status of religious freedom.'' The report assesses events in the year ended June 30.

The department cited reports that Christian congregations were denied official registration on technicalities, that some Protestant groups operated in a climate of ''harassment and fear'' and that the Uzbek government continued its campaign against Islamic groups ''suspected of extremist sentiments or activities.'' Among the eight countries ''of particular concern,'' the State Department found some improvement in Sudan as well as in Vietnam, where it where it said Protestants in the north said they were allowed to worship ''without significant harassment.'' Reuters SAM DB2128