Saudi Arabia and Egypt have topped the list of 10 Muslim countries with little room for religious minorities, a new report says.
The annual report by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life focuses on restrictions on freedom of belief and expression.
The report ranked countries by two measures: government restrictions on religion and restrictions from violence or intimidation by private individuals or groups.
The findings of the Pew report corroborate a similar report on the countries by London-based Amnesty International.
Afghanistan also does not fare well in the report, which points fingers of accusation at US President Barack Obama.
China was cited for restrictions on Buddhism in Tibet and on Uighur Muslims, its ban on the Falun Gong movement and its pressure on religious groups not registered by the government.
The report highlights a potentially sensitive diplomatic flashpoint as Obama sends more US troops to the Central Asian country to quell a growing insurgency.
In a wider scope, the report said about 70 percent of the world population of population live in countries that impose severe restrictions on religion.
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