Study finds one-third of countries 'highly restrict' religion
Washington, D.C.
In a first-of-its-kind study, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life announced on Wednesday (Dec. 16) that 70% of the world's religious people suffer "high" restrictions in their home countries.
"Some restrictions result from government actions, policies and laws.
Others result from hostile acts by private individuals, organizations
and social groups," the report said.
The Middle East-North Africa has the highest
government and social restrictions on religion, while the Americas are
the least restrictive region on both measures.
Among the world's 25 most populous countries,
Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and India stand out as having the most
restrictions when both measures are taken into account, while Brazil,
Japan, the United States, Italy, South Africa and the United Kingdom
have the least.
In all cases, religious minorities are the most likely to suffer reprisals.
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For members of The Media Project, it will be no surprise that the same countries that restrict religion also restrict the press. These are troubling correlates, but it also suggests that by freeing either the press or religion, you also free the other.