UNITED NATIONS, August 10, 2011 – Religious tolerance is in retreat in many parts of the world, with one third of people facing increased harassment in the practice of their faith, a new study says.

Religious freedom has increased for only one per cent of the world’s population when measured by government restrictions or social hostilities that particularly target religious groups, says the Pew Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life. “Rising Restrictions on Religion” found that limits on religious practice rose in 23 of the world’s 198 countries, and fell in 12.

“Because several countries with increasing restrictions on religion are very population, however, the increases affect a much larger share of people than of states,” the report states.

Download Pew Center report and article.

With a report from PostMedia News, August 10, 2011