Report shows rise in world restrictions on religion

[icymist]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Nearly a third of the world's population lives in countries where it is becoming more difficult to freely practice religion, a private U.S. research group reported on Tuesday.

The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life said government restrictions and public hostility involving religion grew in some of the most populous countries from mid-2006 to mid-2009.

"During the three-year period covered by the study, the extent of violence and abuse related to religion increased in more places than it decreased," according to the report "Rising Restrictions on Religion."

Only about one percent of the world lives in countries that saw more religious tolerance during those years, it said.

http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110809/lf_nm_life/us_religion_restrictions