Religious Freedom: Violations, Persecution, Blasphemy Laws, and Anti-Conversion Laws

Inherent in religious freedom is the right to believe or not believe as one's conscience leads, and to live out one's beliefs openly, peacefully, and without fear. While religious freedom is America's first freedom, it also is a core human right that international law and treaty recognize; a necessary component of U.S. foreign policy and America's commitment to defending democracy and freedom globally; and a vital element of national security, critical to ensuring a more peaceful, prosperous, and stable world. Chapter 1 assesses religious freedom violations and progress in 28 countries during calendar year 2023 and makes independent recommendations for U.S. policy. Chapter 2 reports on countries where citizens are suffering from religious persecution. Chapter 3 compiles national laws criminalizing blasphemy worldwide and explains how those blasphemy laws are inconsistent with international human rights law. Chapter 4 details how many countries have national-level anti-conversion laws and explains how those anti-conversion laws are inconsistent with international human rights law.