According to the 2023 Religious Freedom in the World report, more than half of the global population lives in countries where state or non-state actors actively persecute individuals based on their religious beliefs.

The report was published by Aid to the Church in Need, a Catholic charity, and was released on the first day of Religious Freedom Week. This week, the U.S. Catholic bishops have called upon Catholics to pray for greater religious liberty both within the United States and worldwide from June 22 to 29.

The report categorizes 28 countries as "red," indicating severe religious persecution. These countries are home to over 4 billion people, accounting for approximately 51.6% of the world's population. Among the countries in the red category are China and India, the two most populous nations globally, which were identified as significant perpetrators of religious persecution. The majority of the countries in this category are located in Africa or Asia.

Some of the countries mentioned in the report as offenders against religious freedom include Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea. These countries are known for various forms of religious discrimination, such as restricting religious practices, targeting religious minorities, or enforcing blasphemy laws that disproportionately affect certain religious groups.

The report highlights the urgent need to address religious persecution and advocate for religious freedom worldwide.

The 2023 report on religious freedom indicates that Nicaragua has transitioned from the less severe "orange" category to the more severe "red" category due to President Daniel Ortega's persecution of Catholic clergy and religious orders in an effort to consolidate power and suppress opposition. This shift is notable as it signifies the targeting of the country's majority religion, Catholicism, which comprises nearly three-fourths of the population. The report highlights specific incidents of persecution, such as the arrest and sentencing of Bishop Rolando Alvarez, the deportation of political prisoners including priests and seminarians, and the nationalization of a Catholic university alongside the closure of Catholic media outlets.

Overall, the report illustrates a worsening trend in religious freedom across numerous countries in the past two years. The number of countries classified as "red" increased from 26 to 28 since the 2021 report, with Nicaragua and Sudan newly entering this category.

Among these "red" countries, religious persecution intensified in 23 instances compared to the previous report, while it remained unchanged in the remaining five countries. No country demonstrated an overall improvement in religious freedom.

The report identifies authoritarian governments and Islamist extremism as the primary drivers of religious persecution, particularly prevalent in African and southwest Asian nations, often with both factors playing a role.

In East Asia, persecution is primarily attributed to authoritarian governments, while in countries like India, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, it stems from a combination of authoritarian governance and ethno-religious nationalism.

The report highlights the increase in persecution against Muslims in countries such as China, India, and Myanmar, as well as an alarming rise in persecution against Muslims by other Muslims. It also points out that forced conversion and sexual violence in West Africa and Pakistan often go unpunished, with a lack of significant response from the Western world.

According to Marcela Szymanski, the report's editor, autocratic leaders tend to persecute people of faith when they perceive religious leaders as a threat to their power. Initially, attempts may be made to marginalize or co-opt these leaders, but if unsuccessful, more aggressive forms of persecution follow.

The report emphasizes the role of intolerance as the starting point for religious persecution, with autocrats fearing the influence and mobilization of religious figures. This intolerance can lead to various forms of persecution, including marginalization and violence.

The report also acknowledges the complex dynamics involved, including instances of persecution within religious communities themselves.

Furthermore, it highlights a lack of adequate response or attention from the Western world towards religious persecution in certain regions.

In conclusion, the report calls for increased awareness and action from the international community to address religious persecution, recognizing the underlying factors of intolerance, fear, and power struggles that drive these violations of religious freedom.

The 2023 report on religious freedom reveals concerning trends in various countries. Autocratic leaders, like in Nigeria, manipulate census data and push religious groups into poverty to marginalize them and facilitate their own agenda. Lebanon and India have also employed similar tactics.

Additionally, a form of "polite persecution" is on the rise, where political leaders create second-class citizens out of certain religious groups to maintain a positive global image while depriving them of equal rights.

The report emphasizes the growing hybridization of "polite" persecution and outright violence, where leaders enact restrictive laws while turning a blind eye to violent attacks. These trends highlight the erosion of religious freedom and call for international attention and action to address these violations effectively.

The 2023 report categorizes countries based on severity levels of religious freedom violations. The "orange" category signifies state-imposed discrimination and a lack of protection for victims of physical attacks. It includes 33 countries with over 850 million people. Marcela Szymanski warns that intolerance is the starting point that can escalate to persecution and even genocide.

Israel, Haiti, and the United Arab Emirates were newly added to this category. Conditions worsened in 13 of the "orange" countries compared to the previous report. Other countries not in the "orange" or "red" categories still face religious freedom challenges.

Twelve sub-Saharan African countries, three Latin American countries, four Asian countries, one Middle Eastern country, and three European countries are under observation due to emerging threats to religious freedom. Countries like Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus fall into this category, and the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War will be considered in the next report.

The report raises concerns about declining religious freedom in the Western countries as well. It specifically mentions issues such as hate speech laws, compelled speech, censorship, the growing influence of cancel culture, and restrictions on religious freedom during the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors indicate a shrinking space for the expression of religious beliefs and practices in Western societies.