More number of people forced to flee homes on account of religious beliefs: Report

A report by the US says that more number of people belonging to different religious communities around the world were forced to abandon their homes last year at any time in recent memory.

According to News 24, the US in its annual report on religious freedom said that in almost every corner of the globe, millions of Christians, Muslims, Hindus and others representing a range of faiths were forced from their homes on account of their religious beliefs.

The report further said that hundreds of thousands of Christians fled their homes following three years of civil war in Syria and in the Central African Republic.

At least 700 deaths were reported in December alone, along with the displacement of more than a million people in 2013 owing to lawlessness and sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims.

The report also highlighted anti-Muslim violence in Myanmar that led to up to 100 deaths and 12 000 being forced from their homes in the area of the town of Meiktila in early 2013.

The report further stated that more than 400 Shi'ite Muslims and 80 Christians were killed during sectarian violence in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, an increase in mosque attacks in Britain had led an orthodox Jewish neighbourhood watch team to help Muslim leaders protect mosques, the report said.

The report noted that more number of Muslims came forth to protect Christians in Pakistan and Egypt by forming human chains around churches.