This report is an endeavor to document and highlight the pattern of Asian states as far as suppressing the rights to free speech and religion through violently politicized religion are concerned. The otherisation of minorities is legitimized by states and those that dare to raise a voice against the injustices of their respective establishments. A mapping exercise was undertaken to identify the key challenges, laws and legal policies guaranteeing and impacting freedom of expression in its intersection with religion in Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Significant cases as well as the victims and perpetrators of violations were also identified. This was done through a series of interviews and questionnaires given to human rights defenders working on these issues in the region, as well as secondary data acquired from well-researched and reported cases. Some of the key trends noticeable in the region include the growing use of blasphemy and anti-hate speech legislations to shut down legitimate expression on issues pertaining to or on the pretext of religion. Consequences to individuals exercising such expression range from intimidation, harassment to physical threats, exile and fatality. Women and LGBT groups or persons are particularly targeted on the pretext of religion, as well as moral, cultural and social prescriptions. These realities hold true for online as well as offline expression. At-risk groups or victims of violations include: persons exercising and defending freedom of expression and religion; minorities; women; sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) persons and SOGI rights advocates; media; journalists; opposition parties; artists; authors; youth groups; atheists; moderate and liberal voices; persons not professing the state religion; migrant workers; Internet users; lawyers; academics; and human rights defenders. Violations are largely perpetrated by: state authorities and security forces; political parties in power; political parties with an extremist agenda or intolerant views; religious bodies; extremist groups; media; organized crime groups; militant outfits and citizens themselves. In recent years, freedom of expression in the context of religion has been the specific focus of reform efforts, resulting in the development and adoption of instruments such as the 2012 Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence and UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution 16/18 on combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief, first adopted in 2011. Both the Rabat Plan and Resolution 16/18 were endorsed by all the governments in the region. The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, in his recent report to the UNHRC, has looked specifically at the intersection of the right to freedom of expression and freedom of 15