""are you denying that the authorities in these states are persecuting faith groups and other dissenters?""

You just answered your own question without even knowing it.

They are persecuting dissenters and if faith groups fall into that category they will obviously run into trouble. They are not being persecuted for their faith, but for expressing dissent.

Almost any government which is not democratic will do this, but it doesn't mean that those governments are atheist. They are simply intolerant of opposition in any form.

You are in the habit of drawing false conclusions which appear to confirm your hard wired bias. The don't stand up to logical examination.

Don T.