“The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion – protected under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – is not only under pressure, in many countries it is disappearing,” warned Regina Lynch, Executive President of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International and native of Co. Tyrone.
Ms Lynch expressed her concern for growing religious oppression in a press release upon the launch of the foundation’s biennial report “Religious Freedom in the World 2025”.
The study, conducted throughout 2023 and 2024, showed that around 5.4 billion people live in countries without full religious freedom. Out of the 196 countries analysed in the report, 62 were classified as in ‘serious violation’ of the right to religious freedom, with various classifications such as ‘persecution’ and ‘discrimination’ providing deeper insight into the range of threat.
The report also revealed that continents such as Europe and North America are not exempt from discrimination or persecution in terms of religion, although they may be perceived as safe havens. Countries like France, Greece, and the United States showed spikes in ideological hostility towards religion, including physical assault and disruption in places of worship.
In response to the harrowing report, ACN launched a global petition on October 21, calling on governments and international organisations to protect Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Religious freedom is the thermometer for all other human rights. Its decline signals a wider collapse of fundamental freedoms,” said Ms Lynch, emphasising the importance of the petition.
