Religious communities across several Western countries are facing a troubling increase in hostility, with faith-related hate crimes and violent incidents rising. Community leaders and researchers say the trend is creating fear among worshippers and placing additional pressure on governments to protect places of worship and vulnerable groups.
Recent figures from England and Wales revealed that religion-based hate offences reached their highest recorded level. Authorities logged more than 7,100 incidents in a single year, demonstrating another increase after previous rises.
