A recent report by Pew Research sheds light on the diverse patterns observed in government restriction scores and social hostilities across countries between 2020 and 2021.
Notably, while some nations witnessed increases or decreases in government restriction scores, a significant number experienced no changes at all during the specified period.
Religious Harassment Reaches Record High, While Interference with Worship Remains Prevalent
Pew’s survey underscores a concerning trend of heightened government harassment targeting religious groups, with incidents reported in 183 countries — the highest on record.
Moreover, over 160 countries saw government interference with religious worship, indicating persistent challenges faced by religious communities worldwide.
Defining Harassment and Interference: Pew’s Survey Parameters
According to Pew’s classification, “harassment” encompasses various forms of mistreatment directed at religious groups, including physical violence, derogatory remarks by government officials, and discriminatory laws or policies.
On the other hand, “interference” refers to actions that disrupt religious activities, deny access to places of worship, or impede burial rights, among other religious practices.
Global Trends: Decline in High-Level Government Restrictions, Yet Median Index Score Rises
While the total number of countries categorized with “high” or “very high” levels of government restrictions saw a slight decline from the previous year, the overall median index score for all countries increased.
This discrepancy suggests a nuanced picture of global trends, with some regions experiencing improvements in government restrictions despite an overall rise in the median index score.
Share on Facebook «||»
Share on Twitter «||»
Share on Reddit «||»
Share on LinkedIn
Religious Scandal Erupts as Female Preacher Ridicules Nigerian Woman’s Attire, Ignites Debate on Prostitution’s Presence in Houses of Worship: Preacher Targets Woman’s Outrageous Jeans in Public Encounter A female preacher in Nigeria came under scrutiny after mocking a woman for her choice of jeans...
UK pledges £160 million to boost global vaccine development: The UK will pledge £160 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to speed up vaccine development, as the Foreign Secretary and Health...
Survey Reveals Majority of British Columbians Support Religious Hospitals’ Right to Reject Euthanasia: Majority of British Columbians Back Religious Hospitals’ Right to Reject Euthanasia In a recent survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute in collaboration with Cardus,...
Afghanistan, other countries see worrisome religious freedom trends, USCIRF warns: Afghanistan, other countries see worrisome religious freedom trends, USCIRF warns. null / Everything I Do via Shutterstock. Denver Newsroom, Apr 26, 2022 / 19:00 pm...
Nigeria Faces Citizenship Verification Challenge for Nigerians in Sudan: 160 Women Stranded without Passports: …By Lola Smith for TDPel Media. The Federal Government of Nigeria has encountered challenges in verifying the citizenship of individuals claiming to be Nigerians in...
Global CEOs Plan Workforce Layoffs Due to AI Integration, PwC Survey Reveals – 25% Anticipate Cuts, While 70% Foresee AI Transforming Business Models: PwC Survey Highlights CEOs’ Responses to AI Workforce Impact In a recent PwC survey encompassing over 4,700 CEOs across 105 countries, it was revealed that...
Bakery Giant Greggs Unveils Plans for 160 New Branches, Alongside Upcoming Price Adjustments: Greggs’ Expansion Strategy Bakery chain Greggs is gearing up for a significant expansion, aiming to introduce up to 160 new branches in the forthcoming year....
Ben Thompson and Wesley Shepherd Sentenced to 20 and 18 Years, Respectively, for Stealing £160,000 from ATMs in North West England: Criminal Duo’s Destructive Heist In a shocking crime spree, Ben Thompson, aged 36, and Wesley Shepherd, aged 40, have been sentenced to 18 years in...
DeSantis’ Short-Lived Presidential Bid – A $160 Million Spending Frenzy: Ron DeSantis, having exited the Republican presidential race after the Iowa caucuses, left behind a trail of extravagant spending, with a combined $160 million utilized...
Lord Cameron’s Global Odyssey: Former Prime Minister Logs 20 Countries and 90,000 Miles Amidst Geopolitical Turbulence: David Cameron, the former Prime Minister turned Foreign Secretary, has been on a whirlwind tour of international diplomacy, racking up nearly 100,000 air miles and...