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11 Facts About Religious Discrimination

Welcome to DoSomething.org, a global movement of millions of young people making positive change, online and off! The 11 facts you want are below, and the sources for the facts are at the very bottom of the page. After you learn something, Do Something! Find out how to take action here.

  1. Religious discrimination is unequal treatment of an individual or group based on their beliefs.^["Religious Discrimination." Religious Discrimination. http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/religion.cfm (accessed July 27, 2014).]
  2. In 2012, religious hostilities increased in every major region of the world except the Americas.^["Religious Hostilities Reach Six-Year High." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. http://www.pewforum.org/2014/01/14/religious-hostilities-reach-six-year-high/ (accessed July 29, 2014).]
  3. While Americans are protected under the First Amendment to practice religion freely, hundreds of countries are not protected by their government and instead harassed for their beliefs.^["Compliance Manual Section 12 - Religious Discrimination." Compliance Manual Section 12 - Religious Discrimination. http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/religion.html (accessed July 29, 2014).]
  4. In a four-year study of religious discrimination around the world (2006-2010), Christians were the most-discriminated against group, experiencing harassment by the government and society in 168 countries.^["Rising Tide of Restrictions on Religion." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. http://www.pewforum.org/2012/09/20/rising-tide-of-restrictions-on-religion-findings/#groups (accessed July 29, 2014).]
  5. Muslims make up the second largest religious population in the world and were discriminated against in 121 countries worldwide between 2006 and 2010.^["Rising Tide of Restrictions on Religion." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. http://www.pewforum.org/2012/09/20/rising-tide-of-restrictions-on-religion-findings/#groups (accessed July 29, 2014).]
  6. As of, 2009-2010, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Indonesia had high restrictions on religious freedom.^["Rising Tide of Restrictions on Religion." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. http://www.pewforum.org/2012/09/20/rising-tide-of-restrictions-on-religion-findings/#groups (accessed July 29, 2014).]
  7. Harassment of women over religious dress occurred in nearly 1/3 of countries in 2012^["Religious Hostilities Reach Six-Year High." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. http://www.pewforum.org/2014/01/14/religious-hostilities-reach-six-year-high/ (accessed July 29, 2014).]
  8. Jews make up less than 1% of the population, yet experience discrimination in 85 countries — the third most of any religious group.^["Rising Tide of Restrictions on Religion." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. http://www.pewforum.org/2012/09/20/rising-tide-of-restrictions-on-religion-findings/#groups (accessed July 29, 2014).]
  9. After the political uprisings in 2010-2011 known as the Arab Spring, the Middle East and North Africa experienced an increase in religious hostilities.^["Religious Hostilities Reach Six-Year High." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. http://www.pewforum.org/2014/01/14/religious-hostilities-reach-six-year-high/ (accessed July 29, 2014).]
  10. Government hostilities can include favoritism of a religious group, limits on conversion, foreign missionaries, attempts to eliminate a group, prohibition of worship or practice of certain beliefs, violence towards a minority group, and more.^["Religious Hostilities Reach Six-Year High." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. http://www.pewforum.org/2014/01/14/religious-hostilities-reach-six-year-high/ (accessed July 29, 2014).]
  11. Nearly 50% of countries increased their religious discrimination between 2009 and 2010, and only 32% saw decreases.^["Rising Tide of Restrictions on Religion." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. http://www.pewforum.org/2012/09/20/rising-tide-of-restrictions-on-religion-findings/#groups (accessed July 29, 2014).]
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