Violent Extremists': State Dept. Slams Afghanistan & Pakistan for Radical Islamic Laws & a Lack of Religious Freedom

WASHINGTON (TheBlaze/AP) -- The U.S. is criticizing allies Afghanistan and Pakistan for poorly defending religious freedom. Other countries, too, have drawn the ire of the American government, specifically when it comes to the treatment of religious minorities.

A State Department report entitled, "International Religious Freedom Report for 2011," says, among other things, that Afghanistan's courts interpret Islamic law to punish non-Muslims for exercising their faith.

And it cites Pakistan for issuing death sentences for blasphemy. Despite increased extremist attacks on minorities or even tolerant Muslims there, it says, authorities have rarely investigated perpetrators.

Monday's report particularly highlights blasphemy and religious "defamation" laws. Here's a brief portion of the executive summary of the report that provides more on the travails facing many of the populations residing in other nations:

In 2011, governments increasingly used blasphemy, apostasy, and defamation of religion laws to restrict religious liberty, constrain the rights of religious minorities, and limit freedom of expression. In Pakistan, individuals accused of blasphemy or who publicly criticized the blasphemy laws and called for their reform continued to be killed, including Governor Punjab Salman Taseer and Minister of Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian in the cabinet. Aasia Bibi, a Christian, remained in prison, awaiting an appeal of her 2010 death sentence, the first such sentence for blasphemy handed down against a woman. The verdict in the case touched off a debate within the country about the blasphemy laws, with extremists calling for her execution and more moderate voices calling for her pardon or an appeal of the guilty verdict.

The department also lamented long prison sentences and lashings for people in Saudi Arabia charged with insulting the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.

Government efforts against "violent extremists" also came under scrutiny. The report says Bahraini, Russian, Iraqi and Nigerian authorities don't always distinguish terrorism from peaceful religious practice.

It also criticized chronic religious liberty violators China, North Korea, Iran and Eritrea. You can read the complete report here.