Religious freedom is routinely curbed in Central Asia - but you won't often see it making international news

The Pew Research Center's report reveals alarming government constraints on religion, now affecting 59 countries, marking a significant increase since 2007. In many of these nations, media coverage of religious restraints remains a taboo topic, obscuring human rights violations. Researcher Eleanor Pugh and a journalism professor studied Forum 18, an independent news outlet focused on Central Asian countries' religious rights. Their findings underscore the pressing challenges faced by media in reporting on and impacting the treatment of diverse faiths in these repressive environments.

Freedom of worship faces unprecedented constraints worldwide, with 59 countries exhibiting high or very high levels of government restrictions, according to Pew Research.

The lack of press freedom in repressive regimes often prevents public scrutiny of human rights abuses, including restrictions on religious practices.

Read at The Conversation