Report: almost half world not allowed to worship as they choose

It's a freedom many people in the West enjoy --- freedom of religion --- but in many other countries not so much.

Forty percent of the world's countries enforce apostasy, blasphemy, and anti-conversion laws according to a new report from Family Research Council.

"They're all restrictions in how we understand religious freedom, meaning the freedom to choose your faith and live out that faith, and that includes the right to change your faith," said Travis Weber, director of FRC's Center for Religious Liberty during an interview on "Washington Watch with Tony Perkins."

Apostasy is an act of refusing to continue to follow, obey, or recognize a religious faith.

Blasphemy laws say you cannot insult religion while anti-conversion laws prevent someone from converting or leading another individual to a different religion or faith practice

"These are numbers that show a significant portion of the world's population living under regimes that do not respect religious freedom," Weber said about the 40 percent figure. "We want people to read about these situations around the world and the people they affect."

The report is available for free through the FRC website.