Research: A Troubling Surge – Religious Harassment Reaches Record Levels Across 192 Countries in 2022

Religious freedom, a fundamental human right, continues to face unprecedented threats across the globe. The Pew Research Center’s 15th annual analysis on religious restrictions and social hostilities reveals a disturbing escalation, with 192 countries and territories witnessing harassment of religious groups in 2022—a record-breaking figure. The findings underscore an alarming trend, with both government actions and societal pressures fueling these hostilities.

The Global Landscape of Religious Harassment

The report highlights a significant increase in harassment of religious groups, with the number of countries affected rising from 189 in 2021 to 192 in 2022. This includes 158 nations where harassment was perpetrated by both government authorities and societal actors.

The report notes:

• Government-led harassment was documented in 186 countries, up from 183 in 2021.
• Social group harassment was reported in 164 countries, maintaining the same figure as the previous year.

These findings signal the persistence—and, in many cases, the intensification—of religious intolerance and persecution across diverse regions.

Christianity: The Most Targeted Faith Group

Christians faced harassment in a staggering 166 countries, the highest number recorded since Pew began its research. Cases of persecution ranged from legal actions to physical violence:

• In Mauritania, a man was arrested after his son brought Christian literature into the country from Senegal.
• In Iraq, militias attempted to seize Christian properties in Bartella, a historically Christian town in Nineveh Province.

Widespread Physical Harassment and Violence

The study documented various forms of physical harassment, impacting religious groups in 145 countries—an increase from 137 in 2021. The types of harassment included:

• Property damage: Occurring in 61% of countries, this was the most frequent form of hostility.
• Detentions: Reported in 47% of countries.
• Physical assaults: Affected 45% of nations.
• Displacements: Documented in 26% of countries.
• Killings: Occurred in 25% of nations.

Governments were implicated in using physical force against religious groups in 111 countries, with societal actors mirroring this violence in an equal number of nations.

Muslims and Jews: Rising Hostilities

Muslims were harassed in 148 countries, setting a new record since Pew began its research. Meanwhile, Jews experienced harassment in 90 countries—a slight decline from the record 94 nations documented in 2020.

The report also revealed that:

• Members of “other religions” faced harassment in 68 countries, tying a record set in 2019.
• The religiously unaffiliated were targeted in 32 countries, another record high.

Islands of Religious Freedom

Amid the troubling statistics, a few nations stood out for their absence of government-led harassment. Cape Verde, Fiji, and New Zealand were among the countries where religious groups did not face intimidation or violence from authorities.

Religious Hostilities in the United States

The United States was cited for widespread harassment, including property damage and physical assaults against religious groups. However, no killings or displacements were reported. Concerns also arose over organized efforts to dominate public life with specific religious views, signaling a more subtle but no less concerning form of societal pressure.

A Call to Action

The findings from the Pew Research Center paint a grim picture of the state of religious freedom worldwide. The continued rise in harassment underscores the urgent need for robust advocacy and international cooperation to protect individuals’ rights to believe—or not believe—freely.

As the world grapples with this rising tide of intolerance, the question remains: How can nations, institutions, and individuals work together to ensure that religious freedom is not just a principle on paper but a lived reality for all?