Pew Study on Religious Violence (2012)
Note: This was originally published on my old blog which no longer exists. It is now relevant again because this year’s study just came out. I am planning to refer to it in an upcoming update, so I am reposting it on this blog under the original date to avoid confusion.
- Many of the questions are yes or no answers for the country, with no weighting for scale. So France and the UK got the same score for honor killings as Somalia and Afghanistan, because they both had one or more. And women were harassed for violating religious dress codes in France, the UK, Brazil, China, Egypt, Somalia and Afghanistan, so they all got the same score. There are two problems with this:
- All the study really says is that religious violence occurred in more countries in 2012 than previously. This is not the same as saying there were more instances of religious violence in the world, which is how most of the headlines portrayed the study.
- More populous countries are inherently going to be more likely to have a yes answer than a no answer. The study authors acknowledge this in the study writeup, but then say they don’t think it’s a big problem because many large countries had low scores and many small countries had high scores. But then one of the major conclusions of the study is that 75% of the global population lives where overall levels of religious restrictions or hostilities were high or very high in 2012!
- How well can the researchers really be blinded to the country they are reading about? I can’t imagine that I wouldn’t recognize my own country or the Arab spring from reading State Department reports.
- The questions about government restrictions generally gave a lower score for countries that treated all religions equally than if they showed some favouritism. This makes sense for things like countries only funding schools of a particular religion. But it also means that the UK, which does nominally have a state religion, could get a much lower score by moving to be more like China and ruthlessly prosecuting all religions equally.
- Are the same researchers used every year? Even if they are, could a personal impression that violence is going up cause them to give higher scores? I noticed several changes over time did not correspond to any events I know about.
- In 2007 the study found that the UK had no favoured religion enshrined in its constitution, but in 2012 it does. I can not find any information on the internet about this change to their constitution.
- In 2007 proselytising was not limited by any level of government in the USA. In 2012 it is limited for all religions. Again, I have no idea what resulted in this change.
Canada | USA | France | UK | China | Egypt | Afghanistan | Brazil | Somalia | |
Does the constitution, or law that functions in the place of a constitution (basic law), specifically provide for “freedom of religion” or include language used in Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights? |
0 Yes |
0 Yes |
0.5 (1) |
0 Yes |
0.5 (1) |
0.5 (1) |
0.5 (1) |
0 Yes |
0.5 (1) |
Does the constitution or basic law include stipulations that appear to qualify or substantially contradict the concept of “religious freedom”? |
0 No |
0 No |
0.67 (2) |
0.33 (3) |
0.67 (2) |
0.67 (2) |
0.67 (2) |
0.33 (3) |
0.67 (2) |
Taken together, how do the constitution/basic law and other national laws and policies affect religious freedom? |
0.33 (4) |
0.33 (4) |
0.33 (4) |
0.33 (4) |
1 (5) |
1 (5) |
1 (5) |
0 (6) |
0.67 (7) |
Does any level of government interfere with worship or other religious practices? |
0.33 (8) |
0.67 (9) |
1 (10) |
0.67 (9) |
1 (10) |
1 (10) |
1 (10) |
0 No |
1 (10) |
Is public preaching by religious groups limited by any level of government? |
0 No |
0 No |
0.5 (11) |
0 No |
1 (12) |
1 (12) |
0 No |
0 No |
1 (12) |
Is proselytizing limited by any level of government? |
0 No |
1 (12) |
0 No |
0 No |
1 (12) |
0.5 (11) |
0.5 (11) |
0 No |
0.5 (11) |
Is converting from one religion to another limited by any level of government? |
0 No |
1 Yes |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Is religious literature or broadcasting limited by any level of government? |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Are foreign missionaries allowed to operate? |
0 Yes |
0 Yes |
0.5 (13) |
0.5 (13) |
1 No |
0.5 (13) |
0.5 (13) |
0 Yes |
1 No |
Is the wearing of religious symbols, such as head coverings for women and facial hair for men, regulated by law or by any level of government? |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Was there harassment or intimidation of religious groups by any level of government? |
0.5 (14) |
1 (15) |
1(15) |
1 (15) |
1 (15) |
1 (15) |
1 (15) |
0.5 (14) |
1 (15) |
Did the national government display hostility involving physical violence toward minority or nonapproved religious groups? |
0 No |
0 No |
0No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0No |
1 Yes |
Were there instances when the national government did not intervene in cases of discrimination or abuses against religious groups? |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Does the national government have an established organization to regulate or manage religious affairs? |
0 No |
0.67 (16) |
1 (17) |
0 No |
1 (17) |
1 (17) |
1 (17) |
0 No |
0.67 (16) |
Did the national government denounce one or more religious groups by characterizing them as dangerous “cults” or “sects”? |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
0 No |
Does any level of government formally ban any religious group? |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
1 (20) |
1 (20) |
0.33 (18) |
0 No |
1 (20) |
Were there instances when the national government attempted to eliminate an entire religious group’s presence in the country? |
0 No |
0 No |
0No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Did any level of government ask religious groups to register for any reason, including to be eligible for benefits such as tax exemption? |
0.33 (21) |
0.33 (21) |
0.33(21) |
0 No |
1 (23) |
1 (23) |
1(23) |
0 No |
0.33 (21) |
Did any level of government use force toward religious groups that resulted in individuals being killed, physically abused, imprisoned, detained or displaced from their homes, or having their personal or religious properties damaged or destroyed? |
0 No |
0.2 (24) |
0.6(26) | 0.2
(24) |
0.8 (27) |
0.6 (26) |
0.6(26) |
0.2 (24) |
0.4 (25) |
Do some religious groups receive government support or favors, such as funding, official recognition or special access?(Score determined by subquestions in italics below) |
0.25 |
0.10 |
0.15 | 0.93 |
0.23 |
0.8 |
1 |
0.13 |
0.8 |
Does the country’s constitution or basic law recognize a favored religion or religions? |
0 No |
0 No |
0No | 1Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Do all religious groups receive the same level of government access and privileges? |
0.25 (30) |
0 (29) |
0.25(30) | 1(32) |
0.5 (31) |
1 (32) |
1(32) |
0 (29) |
1 (32) |
Does any level of government provide funds or other resources to religious groups |
1 (34) |
0.5 (33) |
0.5(33) | 1(34) |
1 (34) |
1 (34) |
1(34) |
0.5 (33) |
0 No |
Does any level of government provide funds or other resources for religious education programs and/or religious schools. |
1 (34) |
0.5 (33) |
0.5(33) | 0.5(33) |
1 (34) |
1 (34) |
1(34) |
0.5 (33) |
0 No |
Does any level of government provide funds or other resources for religious property (buildings, upkeep, repair or land) |
0 No |
0.5 (33) |
0.5(33) | 0.5(33) |
1 (34) |
1 (34) |
1(34) |
0 No |
0 No |
Does any level of government provide funds or other resources for religious activities other than education or property? |
0.5 (33) |
0.5 (33) |
0.5(33) | 1(34) |
0 No |
1 (34) |
1(34) |
0 No |
0 No |
Is religious education required in public schools? |
0.5 (35) |
0 No |
0No | 1(36) |
0 No |
0 No |
1(36) |
0.5 (35) |
1 (36) |
Does the national government defer in some way to religious authorities, texts or doctrines on legal issues? |
0 No |
0 No |
0No | 1Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Canada | USA | France | UK | China | Egypt | Afghanistan | Brazil | Somalia | |
Were there crimes, malicious acts or violence motivated by religious hatred or bias?(Score determined by subquestions below) |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.67 |
0.67 |
0.5 |
1 |
0.5 |
0.33 |
0.83 |
Did individuals face harassment or intimidation motivated by religious hatred or bias? |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
Was property damaged as a result of religious hatred or bias? |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
Were there detentions or abductions motivated by religious hatred or bias? |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Were individuals displaced from their homes because of religious hatred or bias? |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
Were there physical assaults motivated by religious hatred or bias? |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Were there deaths motivated by religious hatred or bias? |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Was there mob violence related to religion |
0 No |
0 No |
1 (2) |
0.5 (1) |
0.5 (1) |
1 (2) |
1 (2) |
0 No |
0.5 (1) |
Were there acts of sectarian or communal violence between religious groups? |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Were religion-related terrorist groups active in the country? |
0.25 (3) |
0.75 (5) |
0.75 (5) |
0.5 (4) |
1 (6) |
0.75 (5) |
1 (6) |
0.25 (3) |
1 (6) |
Was there a religion-related war or armed conflict in the country? |
0 No |
0.25 (7) |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
1 (8) |
0 No |
1 (8) |
Did violence result from tensions between religious groups? |
1 (11) |
0.67 (10) |
1 (11) |
1 (11) |
0.67 (10) |
1 (11) |
1 (11) |
0.67 (10) |
1 (11) |
Did organized groups use force or coercion in an attempt to dominate public life with their perspective on religion, including preventing some religious groups from operating in the country? |
0 No |
0.33 (12) |
1 (14) |
0.67 (13) |
0 No |
1 (14) |
1 (14) |
0.33 (12) |
1 (14) |
Did religious groups themselves attempt to prevent other religious groups from being able to operate? |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Did individuals or groups use violence or the threat of violence, including so-called honor killings, to enforce religious norms? |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
Were individuals assaulted or displaced from their homes in retaliation for religious activities, including preaching and other forms of religious expression, considered offensive or threatening to the majority faith? |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
0 No |
1 Yes |
Were women harassed for violating religious dress codes? |
0 No |
0 No |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
1 Yes |
Were there incidents of hostility over proselytizing? |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
1 (16) |
0 No |
1 (16) |
Were there incidents of hostility over conversions from one religion to another? |
0 No |
0 No |
0 No |
1 (15) |
0 No |
1 (16) |
1 (16) |
0 No |
1 (16) |
- Yes, but there were no deaths reported
- Yes, and there were deaths reported
- Yes, but their activity was limited to recruitment or fundraising
- Yes, with violence that resulted in some casualties (1-9 injuries or deaths)
- Yes, with violence that resulted in multiple casualties (10-50 injuries or deaths)
- Yes, with violence that resulted in many casualties (more than 50 injuries or deaths)
- Yes, with fewer than 10,000 casualties or people displaced
- Yes, with millions of casualties or people displaced
- There were public tensions between religious groups, but they fell short of hostilities involving physical violence
- Yes, with physical violence in a few cases
- Yes, with physical violence in numerous cases
- Yes, at the local level
- Yes, at the regional level
- Yes, at the national level
- Yes, but they fell short of physical violence
- Yes, and they included physical violence
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