Sept. 15 (UPI) -- As government restrictions and harassment against religious groups reach record levels worldwide, distinguishing genuine persecution from corruption charges becomes urgent.
According to the Pew Research Center, restrictions and harassment involving religious groups occurred in 183 countries. Too often, headlines portray lawful enforcement as attacks on faith, confusing the meaning of religious freedom.
Recent commentary on investigations in South Korea and Japan only adds to this confusion. Unless we separate protecting freedom from enabling wrongdoing, justice and liberty are at risk.
Public warnings from senior American figures have heightened this dilemma. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Korean legal actions "deeply troubling" for religious freedom.
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