China rejects US report on religious freedom

China has rejected the latest U.S. report on religious freedom as arrogant and ignorant, saying it is based on rumors and groundless allegations.

A commentary published Tuesday by the official Xinhua News Agency said the report was "continuing a notorious practice of blatantly interfering in the internal affairs of other countries."

The annual State Department report released Monday criticized what it called a lack of religious freedom in China as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and North Korea.

It said there had been "a marked deterioration during 2011 in the government's respect for and protection of religious freedom" in China. It said there was "severe" repression of religious freedom in Tibetan areas and the far western region of Xinjiang, where there is a significant number of Muslims.