Human Rights and Freedom in Georgia

https://www.humantruth.info/georgia_human_rights_and_freedom.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2018

#georgia #georgia_human_rights #human_rights

Georgia Republic of Georgia [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	77th best
Location	Asia, Europe
Population	4.0m₁
Life Expectancy	71.69yrs (2017)₂

Georgia does relatively well in ensuring human rights and freedom, compared to many other countries. Georgia does better than average when it comes to its nominal commitment to Human Rights₃ (amongst the highest in Asia), commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₄, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₅, freethought₆ and in opposing gender inequality₇. Georgia still has work to do. Georgia does worse than average when it comes to the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₈ (still good for Asia), its average Freedom in the World rating (still good for Asia), supporting press freedom₉ (still high for Asia), combatting modern slavery₁₀ and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₁₁. "Georgia does not have an effective independent mechanism for investigating abuse by law enforcement officials", including in cases of alleged torture, and any investigations tend to be downplayed, with minimal charges being raised against officials₁₂.

1. Georgia's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #georgia #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to Asia (2025)₁₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₃
1	Japan	31.6
2	Taiwan	42.2
3	S. Korea	45.2
	...
7	Mongolia	81.6
8	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	81.8
9	Thailand	82.1
10	Georgia	83.0
11	Hong Kong	83.9
12	Nepal	93.0
13	Singapore	97.8
14	Bhutan	98.0
15	Turkey	99.7
	Asia Avg	110.11
q=51.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₃
1	Sweden	7.5
2	Netherlands	8.6
3	Denmark	9.0
	...
75	Mongolia	81.6
76	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	81.8
77	Thailand	82.1
78	Georgia	83.0
79	Seychelles	83.6
80	Tuvalu	83.8
81	Belize	83.9
82	Hong Kong	83.9
	World Avg	90.04
q=198.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₁₄. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₁₄.

30 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₄, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₁₄.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Georgia stated:

“Freedom of expression was further restricted. Selective justice and politically motivated prosecution of government opponents persisted. New laws increased the government�€�s surveillance powers and further eroded independence of the judiciary and official watchdogs. Women and girls continued to suffer discrimination and high levels of violence. Failure to effectively investigate torture and other ill treatment remained a concern in government-controlled and breakaway territories.”
"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)₁₅

"Georgia does not have an effective independent mechanism for investigating abuse by law enforcement officials" and any investigations that are held tend to be downplayed, with minimal charges being raised against law enforcement officials₁₂.

“Since November 2016, the Georgian Young Lawyers´ Association (GYLA), a leading human rights group, received at least 20 allegations of torture and ill-treatment by police, and five by prison staff. According to GYLA, authorities did not effectively investigate the allegations.
At the ombudsman´s request, the prosecutor´s office launched investigations into 63 cases of alleged torture and ill-treatment since 2014. The investigations did not lead to a single criminal prosecution.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₂

2. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

2.1. Press Freedom

#democracy #freedom #Freedom_of_Speech #Good_Governance #mass_media #politics #UK

Press Freedom Higher is better₉
Pos.		2025₉
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
110	Haiti	51.06
111	Israel	51.06
112	Madagascar	50.80
113	Georgia	50.53
114	Colombia	49.80
115	Philippines	49.57
116	Kenya	49.41
117	Equatorial Guinea	48.68
	Asia Avg	39.69
	World Avg	54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

With respect to supporting press freedom, Georgia ranks 113th in the world (still good for Asia).

The freedom to investigate, publish information, and have access to others' opinion is a fundamental part of today's information-driven world, and is linked with Freedom of Speech and Good Governance. Scores on the Press Freedom Index are calculated according to indicators including pluralism - the degree to which opinions are represented in the media, media independence of authorities, self-censorship, legislation, transparency and the infrastructure that supports news and information, and, the level of violence against journalists which includes lengths of imprisonments. The index "does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted". The rankings are used as one of the datasets of the Social and Moral Development Index₁₆

It must be noted that press freedom is not an indicator of press quality and the press itself can be abusive; the UK suffers in particular from a popular brand of nasty reporting that infuses several of its newspapers who are particularly prone to running destructive and often untrue campaigns against victims. The Press Freedom Index notes that "the index should in no way be taken as an indicator of the quality of the media in the countries concerned".

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

“The ownership dispute over Georgia´s most-watched television broadcaster, Rustavi 2, now in its third year, continued in 2017 and raised concerns over ongoing government interference with media. In March, the Supreme Court ruled that the station´s ownership should revert to Kibar Khalvashi, a businessman who owned it from 2004 to 2006, and who alleged he had been improperly forced to sell the station at below market value by then-president Mikheil Saakashvili. The court issued a unanimous decision the same day it examined the case, declining to allow the parties to make oral arguments. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ordered the Supreme Court decision suspended until further notice and instructed Georgian authorities to refrain from interfering in the station in the interim. In February, the new leadership of the Public Broadcaster announced it would suspend several political talk shows, citing plans to upgrade the station´s equipment and content. In June, it stopped airing two joint programs with Radio FreeEurope/Radio Liberty.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₂

Averages by decade for Georgia (for the ranks, lower is better):

Press Freedom	2000s Average	2010s Average
Georgia:	23.13	71.48
World Rank:	87th	⇡ 70th
World Avg:	27.44	65.91

2.2. Slavery in the 2020s

#burundi #eritrea #human_rights #indonesia #slavery

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better₁₀
Pos.		Slavery in the 2020s Per 1000₁₀
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
	...
121=	Equatorial Guinea	7.80
121=	Philippines	7.80
121=	Nigeria	7.80
121=	Georgia	7.80
121=	Guatemala	7.80
126=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	8.00
126=	Kosovo	8.00
126=	India	8.00
	Asia Avg	9.89
	World Avg	7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.

Georgia is 120th in the world regarding combatting modern slavery.

Modern slavery includes forced labour (often of the under-age), debt bondage (especially generational), sexual slavery, chattel slavery and other forms of abuse, some of which can be surprisingly difficult to detect, but often target those fleeing from warzones, and the poverty-stricken vulnerable.₁₇. Some industries (diamond, clothing, coal) from some countries (Burundi₁₈, Eritrea₁₈, Indonesia₁₉) are a particular concern. The Walk Free Foundation, say in their 2023 report, that 50 million people are living in modern slavery₁₈, and, nearly two-thirds of those in forced labour are employed at the end of supply chains working for large multinationals that creating products consumed by rich countries₂₀.

For more, see:

"The Historical Slave Trade and Modern Slavery" by Vexen Crabtree (2018).

Averages by decade for Georgia (for the ranks, lower is better):

Slavery	2010s Average	2020s Average
Georgia:	4.30	7.80
World Rank:	87th	⇣ 120th
World Avg:	6.54	7.15

2.3. Freedom in the World

#freedom #human_rights #hungary #politics #USA

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
108=	Sri Lanka	3.5
108=	Sierra Leone	3.5
110=	Gambia	4.0
110=	Georgia	4.0
110=	Guatemala	4.0
110=	Zambia	4.0
110=	Kenya	4.0
110=	Ivory Coast	4.0
	Asia Avg	5.0
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

Still low for Asia Georgia ranks 110th in the world in terms of its average Freedom in the World rating.

Freedom House's long-standing annual report has been running since the 1970s, collecting data on political rights (PR) and civil liberties (CL). Their reports rate countries as "Free", "Partially Free" or "Not Free", however the results here are based on their numerical values. Many countries score the best combination of scores (1 and 1), which is why the table of results show many places equally placed in 1st place. In the past two decades, some well-established democracies like the USA and Hungary have been falling. Whilst most of the world in general is improving rights and freedoms over time, the 2020s has seen some regression.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Averages by decade for Georgia (for the ranks, lower is better):

Freedom in the World	1990s Average	2000s Average	2010s Average
Georgia:	4.3	3.8	3.1
World Rank:	124th	⇡ 118th	⇡ 103rd
World Avg:	3.6	3.4	3.4

2.4. Human Rights Watch Comments

#human_rights

Human Rights Watch Comments Higher is better₄
Pos.		2017 Score₄
1=	UK	9
1=	France	9
1=	Germany	9
	...
49=	Mozambique	-2
49=	Brazil	-2
49=	Argentina	-2
49=	Georgia	-2
49=	Turkey	-2
49=	Tunisia	-2
49=	Mexico	-2
49=	Sri Lanka	-2
	Asia Avg	-5.0
	World Avg	-1.9
q=123.

Georgia is 49th in the world with regard to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports.

Human Rights Watch comments concentrate mostly on negative issues, however, they also make positive comments for those countries that engage in human rights defence around the world, or who make improvements at home. By adding up positive and negative comments (including double-points for negatives that involve large scales and crimes against humanity), the Social and Moral Index turns HRW commentary into quantified values. Some countries may be unfairly penalized because HRW have not examined them, and, some countries "get away" with abuses if they manage to hide it, or if it goes unnoticed - a negative point has been given for those countries in which HRW specifically state that access to investigators has been barred. The points were limited to a minimum of -10 because there are some points at which things are so bad, with abuses affecting so many, it is difficult to be more specific about the depths of the issues.

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

2.5. Nominal Commitment to HR

#human_rights

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better₃
Pos.		2009 Treaties₃
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
28=	Senegal	21
29=	Hungary	20
29=	Czechia	20
29=	Georgia	20
29=	Albania	20
29=	Cyprus	20
29=	Namibia	20
29=	Ukraine	20
	Asia Avg	12.7
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

Amongst the best in Asia regarding its nominal commitment to Human Rights, Georgia is 29th in the world.

There are many international agreements on Human Rights, and, many mechanisms by which countries can be brought to account for their actions. Together, these have been the biggest historical movement in the fight against oppression and inhumanity. Or, putting it another way: these are rejected mostly by those who wish to oppress inhumanely. None of them are perfect and many people object to various components and wordings, but, no-one has come up with, and enforced, better methods of controlling the occasional desires that states and peoples have of causing angst for other states and peoples in a violent, unjust or inhumane way. Points are awarded for the number of Human Rights agreements ratified by the country, plus the acceptance of the petition mechanisms for disputes. The maximum possible score in 2009 was 24.

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

2.6. HR Treaties Lag

#human_rights #international_law #micronesia #politics #small_islands

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better₂₁
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty₂₁
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
147	Pakistan	12.66
148	Monaco	12.76
149	Antigua & Barbuda	12.76
150	Georgia	12.77
151	Suriname	12.81
152	Andorra	12.91
153	Bhutan	13.01
154	Swaziland	13.16
	Asia Avg	10.97
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Georgia ranks 150th in the world in terms of speed of uptake of HR treaties.

Human Rights (HR) Treaties Lag is a count of how long it took each country to sign each of 11 key HR treaties. From the date of the first signatory of each treaty, all other countries have one point added to their score for each day they delayed in signing. Results are presented as average time in years to sign each one. The lower a country's score, the more enthusiastically it has taken on international Human Rights Treaties - which are, of course, minimal standards of good governance. The slowest are the countries of Micronesia, Melanesia, Australasia and Polynesia all lagged by over 12 years per treaty. The best regions are The Americas, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

3. Gender Equality Datasets

Georgia is on the way towards ending gender inequality but women are still in an unfavourable position much of the time.

See:

"Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

3.1. Gender Inequality

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #women

Gender Inequality Lower is better₇
Pos.		2022₇
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
66	Turkey	0.27
67	Tajikistan	0.28
68=	Brunei	0.28
68=	Georgia	0.28
70	Barbados	0.29
71	Argentina	0.30
72	Mongolia	0.30
73	Cuba	0.30
	Asia Avg	0.33
	World Avg	0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Georgia comes 68th in the world regarding opposing gender inequality.

The UN Human Development Reports include statistics on gender equality which take into account things like maternal mortality, access to political power (seats in parliament) and differences between male and female education rates. Gender inequality is not a necessary part of early human development. Although a separation of roles is almost universal due to different strengths between the genders, this does not have to mean that women are subdued, and, such patriarchalism is not universal in ancient history. Those cultures and peoples who shed, or never developed, the idea that mankind ought to dominate womankind, are better cultures and peoples than those who, even today, cling violently to those mores.

For more, see:

"Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

Averages by decade for Georgia (for the ranks, lower is better):

Gender Inequality	2000s Average	2010s Average
Georgia:	0.41	0.36
World Rank:	71st	⇣ 72nd
World Avg:	0.41	0.37

3.2. Gender Biases

#gender #gender_equality #prejudice #women

Gender Biases Lower is better₈
Pos.		2022 %₈
1	Sweden	31.8₂₂
2	New Zealand	34.4₂₃
3	Australia	37.0₂₃
	...
49	Kazakhstan	93.4₂₃
50	Morocco	93.7₂₃
51	Vietnam	93.8₂₃
52	Georgia	94.7₂₂
53	Thailand	95.5₂₃
54	Iran	95.5₂₃
55	Lebanon	95.6₂₃
56	Kenya	95.7₂₃
	Asia Avg	94.24
	World Avg	83.93
q=88.

Georgia comes 52nd in the world in terms of the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators).

The Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) looks at gender biases across seven criteria; the % given here is for the total people who are biased across any of those criteria. By subtracting the value from 100%, you can see that those who do well on this index, you are seeing a count of those who do not appear to be biased against women in any of the criteria, and so, doing well on this index is a very positive sign for any country.

The data was included in UN (2022) with full results in Annex table AS6.7.1; their data stems for ranges between 2005 and 2022, depending on the country in question.

3.3. Year Women Can Vote

#christianity #gender_equality #human_rights #politics #women

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Year Women Can Vote Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
24=	Sweden	1921
24=	Azerbaijan	1921
24=	Armenia	1921
24=	Georgia	1921
28	Ireland	1922
29=	Tajikistan	1924
29=	Mongolia	1924
29=	St Lucia	1924
	Asia Avg	1907
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Georgia ranks 23rd in the world with regard to the year from which women could participate in democracy.

Women now have equal rights in the vast majority of countries across the world. Although academic literature oftens talks of when a country "grants women the right to vote", this enforces a backwards way of thinking. Women always had the right to vote, however, they were frequently denied that right. The opposition to women's ability to vote in equality with man was most consistently and powerfully opposed by the Catholic Church, other Christian organisations, Islamic authorities and some other religious and secular traditionalists.

For more, see:

"Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

4. Prejudice Datasets

4.1. Anti-Semite Opinions

#antisemitism #christianity #germany #indonesia #jordan #judaism #laos #morocco #netherlands #pakistan #philippines #religion #religious_violence #saudi_arabia #spain #sweden #turkey #UK #vietnam

Anti-Semite Opinions Lower is better₅
Pos.		2014 %₅
1	Laos	0
2	Philippines	3
3	Sweden	4
	...
46=	Moldova	30
46=	Russia	30
46=	Bolivia	30
49=	Georgia	32
49=	Kazakhstan	32
49=	Bangladesh	32
49=	Bosnia & Herzegovina	32
49=	Costa Rica	32
	Asia Avg	48.2
	World Avg	36.8
q=101.

In terms of its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, Georgia comes 50th in the world.

Anti-Semitism is the word given to irrational racism against Jews. It's not the same as anti-Judaism (arguments against the religion) nor the same as anti-Zionism (arguments against Israel). In history, influential Christian theologians concocted the arguments against Jews that led, very early on, to widespread Christian action against Jews₂₄_,₂₅_,₂₆_,₂₇. As Christianity rose to power in the West and presided over the Dark Ages, there were repeated violent outbursts against Jews of the most horrible kind. Entire Crusades were aimed at them and the feared Spanish Inquisition paid Jews particular attention. The horror of the holocaust instigated by German Nazis in the 1940s was followed (finally) by the era of European human rights and a movement against racism in general.

The places that are the least anti-Semitical are a few countries of south-east Asia (Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam) and some of the secular liberal democracies of Europe (Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK). The worst countries for antisemitism are Islamic states of the Middle East₂₈, which are undergoing their own Dark Age. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey see the most oppressive and violent actions towards Jews₂₉_,₃₀. Jews in Muslim countries face a host of restrictions and "ceaseless humiliation and regular pogroms"₃₁. In 2004 the European Union Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia reported on violent anti-Jew crimes in the EU and found that that largest group of perpetrators were young Muslim males₃₂.

For more, see:

"Anti-Semitism" by Vexen Crabtree (2017).

4.2. LGBT Equality in the 2020s

#2020s #equality #georgia #homosexuality #human_rights #ICCPR #intolerance #sexuality #tolerance

Unfortunately Georgia's new constitution arbitrarily restricts marriage specifically to heterosexual couples, and does not provide any civil-partnership scheme which would allow same-sex couples to marry, therefore denying a large range of legal (and indirect social) benefits to homosexuals, purely on account of their sexuality. Although in 2017 Jul, the Constitutional Court declared the ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood to be unconstitutional.₁₂

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		LGBT Equality in the 2020s Score₁₁
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
123	Haiti	-1.27
124	Gabon	-1.38
125	Vatican City	-1.45
126	Georgia	-1.49
127	Swaziland	-1.51
128	Venezuela	-1.63
129	Central African Rep.	-1.74
130	Lebanon	-1.84
	Asia Avg	-2.88
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

In terms of LGBT equality in the 2020s, Georgia ranks 126th in the world.

Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) folk is rife across the world. Legal restrictions co-exist alongside social stigmatisation and physical violence₃₃. LGBT tolerance and equal rights have been fought for country-by-country against tightly entrenched cultural and religious opposition. Adult consensual sexual activity is a Human Right and protected by privacy laws₃₄. Despite this, it is illegal to be homosexual in over 60 countries (as of 2025)₃₅. The Vexen LGBT Equality Index as part of the Social and Moral Development Index grants points to each country depending on its LGBT stance since the 1970s₃₆_,₃₇. Europe is by far the least prejudiced region, but in the Middle East and Africa cultural prejudice goes hand-in-hand with state intolerance, all too often including physical violence.

For more, see:

" LGBT Rights Across the World: Which are the Best and Worst Countries?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

In Georgia, homosexuality has been legal since 2000, when Soviet-era sodomy laws were repealed which had made being a male homosexual punishable by 5 years' prison. Same-sex marriage and civil unions remain banned. ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Georgia had legal protections against anti-LGBT employment discrimination, hate crime, and other protections. The far-right and Orthodox Christian groups are homosexuality-obsessed and protest violently against any visible LGBT events or laws. In 2024 parliament passed a homophobic "anti-LGBT propaganda" law restricting LGBT visibility in schools and media.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

⇡ Supported the 2008 Declaration at the UN General Assemly affirming LGBTQ rights, tabled by Argentina.
⇡ In 2025, signed the UN Human Rights Council Joint statement on ending acts of violence and human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
⇣ Voted for the 2016 UN Human Rights Council Resolution 32/2 to create the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Averages by decade for Georgia (for the ranks, lower is better):

LGBT Equality	1970s Average	1980s Average	1990s Average	2000s Average	2010s Average	2020s Average
Georgia:	-3.00	-3.00	-3.00	1.15	2.15	-1.49
World Rank:	79th	⇣ 85th	⇣ 107th	⇡ 60th	⇡ 56th	⇣ 126th
World Avg:	-2.98	-2.87	-2.60	-2.15	-1.10	-1.21

4.3. Freedom of Thought

#europe #freedom_of_belief #freethought #human_rights #netherlands #religion #religious_tolerance #secularism #the_enlightenment

Freedom of Thought Lower is better₆
Pos.		2021₆
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
72=	Ireland	2.8
72=	Haiti	2.8
72=	Portugal	2.8
72=	Georgia	2.8
72=	Nepal	2.8
72=	Latvia	2.8
72=	Monaco	2.8
72=	Jamaica	2.8
	Asia Avg	3.7
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

Georgia is 65th in the world when it comes to freethought.

Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Belief are upheld in Article 18 the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights₃₈. It affirms that it is a basic human right that all people are free to change their beliefs and religion as they wish₃₉. No countries voted against this (although eight abstained). This right was first recognized clearly in the policies of religious toleration of the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe in the post-enlightenment era₄₀ of the 19th century. In democratic countries, freedom of belief and religion is now taken for granted₄₁. In 2016 a study found that over 180 countries in the world had come to guarantee freedom of religion and belief₄₂. The best countries at doing so are Belgium, The Netherlands and Taiwan₆_,₄₃ and the worst: Afghanistan, N. Korea, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia₆_,₄₄.

Long-term studies have shown that religious violence and persecution both decrease in cultures where religious freedom is guaranteed₄₅. Despite this, there still are many who are strongly against freedom of belief₃₉, including entire cultures and many individual communities of religious believers. Their alternative is that you are not free to believe what you want and they often state that you cannot change religion without being punished (often including the death penalty): this is bemoaned as one of the most dangerous elements of religion₄₆ and "the denial of religious freedoms is inevitably intertwined with the denial of other freedoms"₄₇ and the solution is, everywhere, to allow religious freedom and the freedom of belief.

For more, see:

"Freethought - Freedom of Belief and Freedom of Religion" by Vexen Crabtree (2022).