Religious freedom conditions in Sudan have improved significantly, although serious challenges remain. Within the first several months of assuming power, the transitional government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, has made concrete moves to improve religious freedom.

Religious freedom conditions in Saudi Arabia are particularly severe, as the government prohibits the public practice of any religion other than Islam and forbids all non-Muslim houses of worship. Judicial authorities penalize religious dissenters with arbitrary and egregiously long prison sentences, and they have executed hundreds of Shi’a Muslims for protesting religious freedom restrictions. State textbooks also continue to promote intolerance directed at different religious beliefs. 

The Pakistani government’s systematic enforcement of blasphemy laws severely restricts freedom of religion or belief for all citizens, particularly targeting Ahmadiyya Muslims. Authorities’ failure to address mob violence associated with blasphemy accusations, as well as the forced conversions to Islam of individuals from religious minorities—including Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs—continues to reinforce a climate of fear and religious discrimination.