Conditions for religious freedom are worsening globally, says a new report published this month by Freedom House, a non-profit, US-based organization that tracks religious liberty trends.

The study, which gives a religious freedom rating for more than 75 countries, concludes that the religious rights of individuals continue to be eroded, especially in large countries such as China, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan.  The report also points out that many of the world’s conflicts have a strong religious component from the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to the continuing violence between Muslims and Christians in East Indonesia.

Contrary to popular belief, Western countries do not have a monopoly on religious freedom, the report concluded.  Botswana and Namibia both scored higher religious freedom ratings than Belgium and France—countries that have each engaged in political and legal battles against so-called “sects” in recent years.