Doug Bandow summarizes a Pew Forum report on religious persecution that concludes that persecution is increasing throughout the world: “Two years ago, Pew reported that 70 percent of humanity suffered from either government persecution of or social hostility to religion. Add more moderate restrictions of the sort which Americans would still reject and an incredible 86 percent of the world’s peoples did not enjoy genuine religious liberty. That trend is growing. According to Pew’s new study, ‘more than 2.2 billion people — about a third of the world’s population — live in countries where government restrictions or social hostilities involving religion are increasing. About 1% live in countries where government restrictions or social hostilities are decreasing.’”
Christians are most at risk: “130 countries (two-thirds of those studied) limit or harass Christians. Muslims face pressure in 117 nations, while Jews — despite their smaller numbers — are at risk in 75 states.” And Christians are under pressure among American allies like Pakistan, where blasphemy laws have been used to neutralize Christians in all sorts of disputes.
Bandow’s summary is here: http://spectator.org/archives/2011/08/30/a-world-spinning-backward# . And the Pew Forum report is available here: http://pewforum.org/Government/Rising-Restrictions-on-Religion%282%29.aspx
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