A religious freedom watchdog group is complaining that a new State Department list of countries that severely limit religious freedom omits several that it says also deserve censure.
The State Department's annual list of "countries of concern," released Wednesday, consists of Burma, China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea and Sudan.
All are repeaters from last year.
The designations are one of the tools the U.S. government uses to address religious persecution and bring pressure on governments that are responsible for it.
The State Department seeks advice on which countries to designate from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency.
In a statement, the commission welcomed the six named by the State Department but said India, Laos, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam also deserved mention.
The commission's country-by-country background information says Sudan is the world's "most violent abuser" of the right to freedom of religion and belief.
"In the commission's view, the Sudanese government has committed genocidal atrocities against civilian populations in the South."
As for Saudi Arabia, religious freedom "does not exist" in Saudi Arabia, the commission said, adding that the State Department itself shares that assessment.
Commission observations on the remaining countries it believes warrant State Department censure:
India At least 1,000 Muslims were killed and more than 100,000 forced to flee their homes as a result of violence by Hindu mobs in Gujarat State after 58 Hindus were killed on a train in Godhra.
Pakistan There has been an upsurge in attacks targeting Pakistan's Christian minority. The government also has failed adequately to protect religious minorities from sectarian violence.
Laos The government continued to arrest, detain, and imprison members of minority religions on account of their faith.
Vietnam Officials continued repressive policies toward all religions and their followers.
Turkmenistan The government severely restricted religious activity other than by the government-sanctioned Sunni Muslim Board and the Russian Orthodox Church.