On paper, Cambodia often appears as a site of religious tolerance, boasting favorable scores in global indices that measure selected elements of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). Over the years, these “rankings” have manufactured a facade of harmony that masks realities on the ground. State influence over Buddhist institutions, structural inequalities, and the quiet marginalization of minority groups and the destruction of Indigenous sacred places are routinely obscured by aggregate rankings that mistake the absence of overt conflict and the fear of speaking up for genuine harmony.

This gap in analysis is the central focus of Asia Centre’s report, “Religious Freedom in Cambodia: Unpacking the Rankings,” published on September 28. At its core, the report interrogates what standard metrics capture and, more importantly, what they deliberately or inadvertently leave out.

Several existing reports provide valuable insights into Cambodia’s Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) landscape. The Pew Research Center’s Government Restrictions Index and Social Hostilities Index both offer comparative global measurements of religious freedom and tolerance. In 2023, Cambodia scored 5 out of 10 on the Government Restrictions Index and 0.2 out of 10 on the Social Hostilities Index, indicating relatively favorable performance compared with its neighboring countries. 

The U.S. Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Reports provide detailed annual documentation of government policies and religious-freedom conditions. Its 2023 report on Cambodia identified several areas of concern, including state influence over Buddhist institutions and monks’ political affiliations, Muslim representation in local government leadership, and Indigenous Peoples’ land rights. 

The report “Diving Deep into Cambodia’s FoRB: An Exploration of Community Hopes and Collective Hurdles” (2024), produced by Women Peace Makers in collaboration with Danmission Cambodia, offers insights into the experiences of different ethno-religious communities in Cambodia, particularly regarding religious education, participation in religious leadership, and access to sacred sites.

Asia Centre’s report builds on this research by examining the institutional relationships. Our report draws attention to power structures that shape how religious freedom is exercised and protected in practice. It also considers developments since 2024, including the leadership transition and the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict. Drawing on the latest cases and consultations with experts and affected communities, the report goes beyond aggregate rankings to examine the political, institutional, and structural conditions underlying Cambodia’s FoRB landscape.

Four findings are particularly significant. First, Cambodia’s appearance of religious harmony obscures the structural inequalities. Existing research pays limited attention to tensions and hostilities between religious communities, particularly between majority and minority groups. This risks mistaking silence and the absence of overt conflict for “harmony.” Asia Centre’s findings instead suggest that “harmony” is a by-product of state influence, structural inequalities and fear that constrain religious expression. By examining these underlying conditions, the report brings greater visibility to grievances and experiences that may otherwise remain unspoken.

Second, state influence over religious institutions constrains religious autonomy and serves political objectives. Buddhism’s central role in Cambodian national identity makes this relationship particularly significant: political influence over Buddhist institutions can shape not only religious expression but also political expression. Institutional and material pressures discourage Buddhist monks from challenging state expectations, while political actors mobilize religious authority to legitimize government objectives, including during the 2025 Cambodia–Thailand border conflict. By examining these dynamics, the report highlights the often-overlooked links between religion and political power.

Third, the intersectionality of rights is obscured. Existing human rights reporting frequently treats religious discrimination, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, and Indigenous land dispossession as separate issues. Asia Centre connects these concerns through a FoRB lens, showing how development projects and land concessions that destroy Indigenous sacred sites can undermine communities’ ability to sustain their religious and cultural practices, while raising broader questions about equal access to institutional protection and accountability.

Fourth, limited FoRB literacy prevents government officials, civil society, independent media, and even some faith-based organizations from recognizing violations. Hence, unequal treatment in administrative procedures, inadequate protection against prejudices, or absences of effective remedies for affected communities are ignored. Asia Centre’s report highlights the need to strengthen FoRB literacy among these stakeholders to ensure that they have the capacity to correctly identify violations, report them, and make sure remedial actions are taken. 

Building on these stakeholder capacities, ultimately Asia Centre’s report moves beyond aggregate global indices to expose the institutional and political mechanisms shaping Cambodia’s actual religious landscape. 

By examining state influence over Buddhist institutions, the intersectionality of rights, and the systemic challenges faced by minorities and Indigenous communities, the report provides a comprehensive country-level analysis. Its recommendations translate these insights into concrete responsibilities for the Cambodian government, civil society, international organizations, independent media, and faith-based groups. 

Rather than treating Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) as an isolated concern, the report connects it to broader social and political dimensions, offering practical guidelines to bridge the gap between formal legal protections and lived realities in Cambodia.

This op-ed is based on Asia Centre’s new report, “Religious Freedom in Cambodia: Unpacking the Rankings.” Download the full report here. For more information about Asia Centre, visit asiacentre.org.