It’s the 21st century, but more than a fifth of the planet’s nations still officially mandate a particular religion and restrict or persecute other faiths, a new Pew Research Center study reveals.
Islam remains the most common official state religion globally, with 27 countries officially Muslim and either outlawing entirely or restricting the practice of other faiths, Pew reported Tuesday.
Katayoun Kishi, the study’s lead researcher, said that her team found a “stronger relationship” between government actions restricting religion and whether the country has an official state religion.
“Countries with an official religion are also more likely to institute bans on one or more religious groups in the country as well as interfere with worship practices,” she added.