10 Facts About Religious Discrimination
Religious discrimination is unequal treatment of an individual or group based on their beliefs.
In 2012, religious hostilities increased in every major region of the world except the Americas.
While Americans are protected under the First Amendment to practice religion freely, hundreds of countries are not protected by their government and instead harassed for their beliefs.
In a four-year study of religious discrimination around the world (2006-2010), Christians were the most-discriminated against group, experiencing harassment by the government and society in 168 countries.
Muslims make up the second largest religious population in the world and were discriminated against in 121 countries worldwide between 2006 and 2010.
As of, 2009-2010, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Indonesia had high restrictions on religious freedom.
Harassment of women over religious dress occurred in nearly 1/3 of countries in 2012
Jews make up less than 1% of the population, yet experience discrimination in 85 countries — the third most of any religious group.
After the political uprisings in 2010-2011 known as the Arab Spring, the Middle East and North Africa experienced an increase in religious hostilities.
Government hostilities can include favoritism of a religious group, limits on conversion, foreign missionaries, attempts to eliminate a group, prohibition of worship or practice of certain beliefs, violence towards a minority group, and more.
Nearly 50% of countries increased their religious discrimination between 2009 and 2010, and only 32% saw decreases.