U.S. report says freedom of religion denied in most of world

Published: 2003-12-19

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Countries in Asia and the Middle East were among those singled out by a U.S. State Department report for severely limiting religious freedom. The report's executive summary said that the majority of the world's population lives in countries where religious freedom is denied or restricted. "Millions of persons live under totalitarian or authoritarian regimes determined to control religious belief and practice," the report said. The findings were included in the State Department's fifth International Religious Freedom Report, released Dec. 18 in Washington. The report said attempts to regulate religious practice by governments in Central Asia, East Asia and the Middle East led to "great restrictions on religious freedom by narrowly defining what is acceptable and officially recognized religious practice." Religious registration requirements led to abuse and discrimination against minority religions in many countries. The report also cited a "disturbing increase in anti-Semitism in several European countries."

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