Religiously motivated conflicts are still prevalent and horrific, as well as the persistence of other forms of religious intolerance and discrimination.

This year has been another year of unspeakable religious violence: Palestine/Israel war, Yemeni Civil War

As well as:

• Continued violence by religious extremist groups: ISIS (Syria, Iraq, Africa, South Asia), Boko Haram (Nigeria & adjacent countries)

• Increased recruitment of youth into such groups

• Increased religious intolerance: islamophobia, antisemitism

• Persecution of religious communities: Uyghurs in China, Christians in some Muslim-majority countries, etc.

Religious violence is not inherent to any specific religion or faith

Regional Trends

• Middle East:protracted armed conflicts with religious dimensions, often entangled with political and territorial disputes.

• Africa: violent extremism fueled by complex factors like poverty, political instability, and ethnic tensions intertwined with religious ideology.

• Asia: Religious tensions and discrimination against minority groups.

• Europe and North America: religious intolerance with the rise of right-wing parties (hate speech, societal marginalization, and restrictions on religious freedom).

Emerging Trends

• Rise of online hate speech:amplified religious intolerance and hate speech through the Internet and social media platforms.

• Misinformation and polarization: The spread of misinformation and the deepening of societal polarization exacerbates religious divisions and fuel violence.

Our collective lack of understanding of religions further polarizes communities:

• A hindered ability to evaluate religious claims from public personalities, religious groups, social media.

• A weakened capacity to critique the claims of those preaching religious intolerance and hate.

• A misunderstanding of how much religion and spirituality inform everyday life.