US report says discrimination against Jews, Muslims on rise across globe

Discrimination against Jews and Muslims is on the rise around the world, according to a new report in the US.

The annual US Department of State report for 2012 has revealed an increase in anti-Islamic sentiment in Europe and Asia.

The report also said there was growing anti-Semitism, especially in Venezuela, Egypt and Iran.

According to the BBC, the International Religious Freedom Report noted that in Egypt, anti-Semitic sentiment in the media sometimes included Holocaust denial or glorification.

The report said that even in the 21st Century, traditional forms of anti-Semitism, such as conspiracy theories, use of the discredited myth of 'blood libel' and cartoons demonizing Jews continued to flourish.

It found that Muslims faced new restrictions in Belgium, which had banned face-covering religious attire in classrooms.

The report also raised concern at the restricting of headscarves in schools in Mangalore, India. It also highlighted the targeting of Islamic minorities in majority Muslim countries.

The report said that there had been rising violence against Shia and Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan, discrimination against non-Sunni Muslims in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and the arrest and harassment of Sunni Muslims in Iran.