GENEVA - Atheists and other religious skeptics suffer persecution
or discrimination in many parts of the world and in at least seven
nations can be executed if their beliefs become known, according to a
report issued on Monday.
The study, from the
International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), showed that
"unbelievers" in Islamic countries face the most severe—sometimes
brutal—treatment at the hands of the state and adherents of the official
religion.
But it also points to policies in
some European countries and the United States which favor the religious
and their organizations and treat atheists and humanists as outsiders.
The report, "Freedom of Thought 2012", said "there are laws that deny
atheists' right to exist, curtail their freedom of belief and
expression, revoke their right to citizenship, restrict their right to
marry."
Other laws "obstruct their access to
public education, prohibit them from holding public office, prevent them
from working for the state, criminalize their criticism of religion,
and execute them for leaving the religion of their parents."
The report was welcomed by Heiner Bielefeldt, United Nations special
rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, who said in a brief
introduction there was little awareness that atheists were covered by
global human rights agreements.
The IHEU—which
links over 120 humanist, atheist and secular organisations in more than
40 countries—said it was issuing the report to mark the UN's Human
Rights Day on Monday.
According to its survey of
some 60 countries, the seven where expression of atheist views or
defection from the official religion can bring capital punishment are
Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabiaand
Sudan.
The 70-page report lists no recent cases
of actual execution for "atheism"—but researchers say the offence is
often subsumed into other charges.
In a range of
other countries—such as Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait and
Jordan— publication of atheist or humanist views on religion are totally
banned or strictly limited under laws prohibiting "blasphemy".
In many of these countries, and others like Malaysia, citizens have to
register as adherents of a small number officially-recognized
religions—which normally include no more than Christianity and Judaism
as well as Islam.
Atheists and humanists are
thereby forced to lie to obtain their official documents without which
it is impossible to go to university, receive medical treatment, travel
abroad or drive.
In Europe, sub-Saharan Africa
and Latin and North America, countries which identify themselves secular
give privileges to or favour Christian churches in providing education
and other public services, the IHEU said.
In
Greece and Russia, the Orthodox Church is fiercely protected from
criticism and is given pride of place on state occasions, while in
Britain bishops of the Church of England have automatic seats in the
upper house of parliament.
While freedom of
religion and speech is protected in the United States, the report said, a
social and political climate prevails "in which atheists and the
non-religious are made to feel like lesser Americans, or non-Americans."
In at least seven US states, constitutional provisions are in place
that bar atheists from public office and one state, Arkansas, has a law
that bars an atheist from testifying as a witness at a trial, the report
said. —Reuters
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