NEW YORK - A new report has found that nearly a third of the world's countries have stiff restrictions on religious practice, either because of government policies and laws or hostile acts by individuals or groups.
That impedes the religious practices of 70 percent of the people on Earth, since some of the most restrictive countries are very populous.
The study by the Pew Research Center found that of the world's 25 most populous countries, citizens in Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and India live with the most religious restrictions.
The United States, Britain, Brazil, Japan, Italy and South Africa have the most religious liberty and the least government infringement and religion-based violence or harassment, according to the study.
Blog Smith is inspired by the myth of Hephaestus in the creation of blacksmith-like, forged materials: ideas. This blog analyzes topics that interest me: IT, politics, technology, history, education, music, and the history of religions.