Religious restraints rose for 2 billion, study says

A third of the world—about 2.2 billion people—live in nations where
restrictions on religion have substantially increased, according to a
new report.

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life study,
released August 9, also shows that intolerant countries are growing more
hostile to religious freedom, and tolerant ones  are becoming more
accommodating.

"There seems to be somewhat of a polarization,"
particularly in countries with constitutional prohibitions against
blasphemy, said Brian Grim, the primary researcher of the report. "When
you have one set of restrictions in place then it's easier to add on."