On June 2nd, Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA) introduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives calling for the repeal of blasphemy laws around the world. At least 50 countries have some form of blasphemy law on the books and in some of them the penalty is death. Contact your representative today and ask them to support the resolution.
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Tag Archives: blasphemy
Denmark Agrees Anti-Blasphemy Laws Need To Be Repealed Except For Its Own Law
Last week during the current session of the UN Human Rights Council, when statements were allowed on a special report on Freedom of Religion or Belief, the representative from Denmark agreed with the report that anti-blasphemy laws needed to be repealed but her government elected to leave an anti-blasphemy clause in its penal code. The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) was not amused.
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American Freethought Blogger Murdered in Bangladesh
Dr. Avijit Roy, murdered freethought blogger
Dr. Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-born U.S. citizen from the Atlanta area, was murdered Friday while on a visit to his home country. The murderers justified their actions through their Islamic religion. It’s unfathomable to think, here in the US, that someone could be murdered for their religious dissent but it happens too much in places like Bangladesh. The best way to deal with people who want to murder others because they don’t have the same beliefs is more speech and more dissent.
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Humanist Groups Start Project To End Blasphemy Laws Worldwide
Raif Badawi is being lashed in Saudi Arabia for writing about being an atheist
On January 30th, the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and the European Humanist Federation (EHF) announced a new project to help abolish blasphemy laws around the world. In many parts of the world, any criticism of religion can lead to a prison sentence or worse. The End Blasphemy Laws campaign has a lofty goal to reach.
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World Humanist Congress: There Is No Right Not To Be Offended
Back in early August, delegates from around the world convened the World Humanist Congress at Oxford in the United Kingdom. One major activity was adopting and announcing the Oxford Declaration on Freedom of Thought and Expression. Even in our advanced modern era, we still need to point out the need for freedom of thought and expression.
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IHEU Statement To The United Nations Points Out Criminalization Of Freethought Around The World
The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) gave a report to the United Nations detailing that Atheists, humanists, freethinkers and other non-religious people are discriminated against around the world, where expression of their views is often criminalized and subject to capital punishment. The report was in response to efforts by Islamic countries to obtain a world ban on “defamation of religion”. Freedom of Religion and freedom of expression shouldn’t be in conflict.
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