Europe sees largest increase in government harassment largest and use of force against religious groups % of countries in leach region with increases in government harassment or use of force against religious groups between 2014 and 2015 % of countries in each region that experienced government harassment or use of force against
Government harassment and use of force against members of religious groups surged around the world in 2015, according to a new Pew Research Center study on global religious restrictions. But nowhere was this trend more pronounced than in Europe, where over half of countries (53%) saw an increase from the previous year.
More specifically, governments of 38 European countries (84%) harassed religious groups in limited or widespread ways in 2015, while the governments of 24 countries in Europe (53%) used some type of force against religious groups.
In addition to recording the biggest increase in government harassment and use of force against religious groups, Europe also had the second-largest overall share of countries (89%) that exhibited these types of actions. Only the Middle East-North Africa region (95%) had more governments that harassed or used force against religious groups. Sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region had lower shares of government harassment or use of force against religious groups, although over seven-in-ten countries in each region had these types of government restrictions.
Europe sees largest increase in  | government harassment largest and use  | of force against religious groups  | % of countries in leach region with increases in  | government harassment or use of force against  | religious groups between 2014 and 2015  | Europe 53%  | Sub Saharan Africa  | 48  | 37  | Americas  | Middle East  | 30  | North Africa  | Asia. Pacific  | 26  | % of countries in each region that experienced  | government harassment or use of force against  | religious groups in 2015  | Middle East-  | 95%  | North Africa  | 89  | Europe  | Sub Saharan Africa  | 83  | Americas  | 80  | Asia Pacific  | 72  | Source: Methodology Pew Research Center analysis of external data.  | See Methodology for details  | "Global Restrictions on Religion Rise Modestly in 2015,  | Reversing Downward Trend"  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 