Government Restrictions on Religious Dress % of countries where the government wearing of religious regulates symbols the wearing of religious symbols
Sudan is one of an increasing number of countries whose governments regulate the wearing of religious symbols or attire, such as head coverings for women or facial hair for men. The Pew Research Center’s latest report on global restrictions on religion finds that, as of 2011, 53 of the 198 countries included in the study (27%) have such restrictions, up from 21 countries (11%) in 2007.
In addition to government regulations, private individuals and groups also try to enforce norms of religious attire in many countries. Our study finds that the number of countries in which women have been harassed by individuals or groups for violating religious dress codes has increased in recent years. In the latest year studied, such social hostilities over religious attire were found in 50 countries (25%), including Sudan. Five years earlier, such incidents were reported in 14 countries (7%).
While there may not be a direct causal connection between government regulations and social hostilities involving religious attire, our data show that harassment of women over religious dress occurs more often in countries where the wearing of religious symbols and attire are regulated by any level of government.
Government Restrictions  | Social Hostilities Over  | on Religious Dress  | Religious Dress  | % of countries where the  | % of countries where women  | government wearing of religious regulates symbols the  | were harassed for violating  | wearing of religious symbols  | religious dress codes  | or attire  | 29%  | 30%  | 27%  | 25%  | 19%  | 20  | 11%  | 10  | 2007  | 2010  | 2011  | 2007  | 2010  | 2011  | Source: Arab Spring Adds to Global Restrictions on Religion, June 2013  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 