Violence Against Religious Minorities Rising Worldwide
According to research by the Pew Research Center in Washington, violence and discrimination against religious minorities around the world are on the rise. The most severe discrimination against religious minorities occurs in Middle Eastern and North African countries.
The Pew Research Center in Washington released the results of its research on the status of religious minorities worldwide on Monday, July 24 (July 15). According to these findings, acts of violence and discrimination against religious minorities are increasing across the world, from Asia to Europe.
For example, in 20 European countries, restrictions are imposed on the use of religiously motivated clothing. In 2017, 52 countries worldwide increased pressure on various religious populations compared to a decade earlier. A decade ago, 12 fewer countries engaged in violence against religious and sectarian minorities.
The report states that discrimination and violence against religious minorities in the Middle East and North Africa is significantly more severe. Islam is the official religion in 17 of 20 Middle Eastern countries. In Saudi Arabia, there are extremely harsh laws against those who question Islamic laws and principles. In Thailand, Buddhists enjoy considerable privileges compared to other religions. In China, the right to hold religious ceremonies is only recognized for certain accepted populations.
However, this research also indicates that disputes and tensions among religious groups themselves have decreased worldwide. In 2017, tensions between different religious groups in 57 countries were lower than in 2007. The Pew Research Center is a reputable institution that conducts research in 198 countries around the world and uses information sources from the United Nations and non-governmental organizations.
