Roughly 25 percent of countries have blasphemy laws and one in 10 penalize individuals for abandoning or changing their religion.
The Palace of Westminster in the U.K. will be lit red on Wednesday evening to remember those persecuted for their faith.
The move is part of the “Red Wednesday” campaign created by the Catholic Charity Aid to the Church in Need.
Churches, synagogues, and Christian groups have joined the effort.
The Palace, which contains the UK’s House of Commons and the House of Lords announced Monday that it would be a part of the campaign to highlight that religious persecution.
“Parliament fully endorses the aims of this important campaign” and the lighting of the Palace was “in order to demonstrate Parliament’s support,” a Parliamentary spokesman told Christianity Today.
According to the U.S. State Department, close to 76 percent of the world’s population lives in countries with high levels of restrictions on religious freedom.
“The existence of these laws has been used by governments in too many cases to intimidate, repress religious minorities, and governments have too often failed to take appropriate steps to prevent societal violence sparked by accusations of blasphemy and apostasy,” US religious freedom ambassador, David Saperstein, said.
The Palace will join Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral in the U.K. in lighting up their facilities.
