Donations request from Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain:
Email from Maryam Namazie 1 May2015
Donation Request: Free Thinkers Escape From Islam – GoFundMe
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Avijit Roy (Bangladesh) – Atheist Blogger hacked to death in Dhaka on 26th February 2015.
For more information about the campaign for justice for Avijit Roy and for a secular Bangladesh go to our Bangladesh page.
Freedom of Thought Report
You can download the latest Freedom of Thought Report on this webpage:
http://freethoughtreport.com/download-the-report/
Humanist campaign challenges blasphemy laws
By John McManus | 30 January 2015
BBC Social Affairs Reporter
Blasphemy laws are being challenged in a new global campaign launched by a coalition of humanist organisations. The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) says that, in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in France, the time is right for countries to abolish laws that protect religious sensibilities. But blasphemy laws nevertheless remain popular in many parts of the world. Read more
Atheist groups join forces to call for end of blasphemy laws around the world – Shanifa Nasser, National Post Staff | January 30, 2015
Atheist groups in Canada and around the world are taking the unusual step of joining forces to fight blasphemy laws that they say are an infringement on free speech
Spearheaded by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and the European Humanist Federation, the End Blasphemy Laws Campaign will represent 200 humanist and secular organizations worldwide. Together, the groups plan to advocate for those prosecuted under blasphemy laws and call for the repeal of such laws, which are still on the books even in many Western countries. Read more
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“International Day to Defend Apostates and Blasphemers”
14th March
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“International Blasphemy Rights Day”
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Atheist groups join forces to call for end of blasphemy laws around the world
Shanifa Nasser, National Post Staff | January 30, 2015
Atheist groups in Canada and around the world are taking the unusual step of joining forces to fight blasphemy laws that they say are an infringement on free speech
Spearheaded by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and the European Humanist Federation, the End Blasphemy Laws Campaign will represent 200 humanist and secular organizations worldwide. Together, the groups plan to advocate for those prosecuted under blasphemy laws and call for the repeal of such laws, which are still on the books even in many Western countries.
Humanist campaign challenges blasphemy laws
By John McManus | BBC Social Affairs Reporter | 30 January 2015
Blasphemy laws are being challenged in a new global campaign launched by a coalition of humanist organisations. The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) says that, in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in France, the time is right for countries to abolish laws that protect religious sensibilities. But blasphemy laws nevertheless remain popular in many parts of the world.
The attacks on the staff of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine led to a massive response in defence of free speech – in France, but also across the world.
Cyber jihadis claim second murder
Mohammad Jamil Khan, Ashif Islam Shaon | 17 November 2014
Ansar al Islam 2 Facebook page shows three targets hit, with two more to go
A little known extremist outfit has claimed responsibility for the murder of Rajshahi University (RU) professor, Shafiul Islam Lilon, on a Facebook community page named Ansar al Islam Bangladesh 2.
The responsibility for the killing, within hours of his death on an anonymously operated social media page, is the second such claim on Facebook in recent times.
Afghanistan issues arrest warrant over blasphemous article
By KHAAMA PRESS – Tue Oct 21 2014, 7:59 pm
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Ministry of Information and Culture were instructed to take immediate actions for the arrest of The Afghanistan Express newspaper staff.
The decision was taken on Tuesday during the Council of Ministers meeting chaired by Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.
A statement released by the Council of Ministers said the staff of The Afghanistan Express newspaper were charged with blasphemy for publishing an article which desecrated the religion of Islam.
Senate’s Declaration On Blasphemous Article Published In Afghanistan Express Daily
Written by Manager | Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Kabul (BNA) An English newspaper ‘Afghanistan Express’ in its 451 issue has considered joint terrorist acts of Taliban and ISIS as outcome of Islam itself, connected their terrorist act to Almighty Allah, Prophet and Muslims and written blasphemous words and asked the Almighty Allah: What type of God you are? Can you tolerate an innocent human being to be killed? Are you happy with it? You ‘God’ are not understandable.
A prisoner of conscience will be hanged by tomorrow morning
Posted on: 23rd September, 2014
HRANA News Agency – Mohsen Amir Aslani, prisoner of conscience has been transferred to solitary confinement in order to be executed. He has been charged with “Corruption on the earth and innovation in religion.”
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Mohsen Amir Aslani, 32, has been transferred from ward 2 of Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj to solitary confinement on September 23rd in order to be executed next morning.
Iranian blogger found guilty of insulting Prophet Mohammad on Facebook sentenced to death
ROSE TROUP BUCHANAN | Thursday 18 September 2014
Soheil Arabi says he was in ‘poor psychological condition’ and wrote the insulting Facebook posts ‘without thinking’
A blogger in ‘poor psychological condition’ has been sentenced to death after being found guilty of insulting the Prophet Mohammad on Facebook.
According to an ‘informed source’, speaking to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Soheil Arabi, 30, had kept eight Facebook pages under different names and admitted to posting material insulting to the Prophet on these pages.
“There are two places for an atheist in sharia communities: the closet or the grave”
By Samira Shackle , Wednesday, 27th August 2014
Leo Igwe, a prominent Nigerian humanist, discusses witch-hunting, Boko Haram, and the danger of being openly atheist in his home country.
Leo Igwe is a Nigerian human rights advocate and humanist. A former representative of the International Humanist and Ethical Union and leader of the Nigerian Humanist Movement, he has specialised in campaigning against and documenting the impact of witchcraft allegations. He continues to campaign against superstition and to advance scepticism throughout Africa and the world. In 2014 he was chosen as laureate of the International Academy of Humanism.
An Indian State Just Found a Way to Make Blasphemy Laws Look Lenient
August 24, 2014 by Hemant Mehta
You thought blasphemy laws were bad? According to a new law in the Indian state of Karnataka, officials can arrest you before you’ve even done anything that might be considered blasphemous.
MAP: Where offending a religion could get you executed
BY ISHAAN THAROOR | 28 May 2014
A shocking case in Sudan has returned the anachronistic charge of “apostasy” to the front pages. A Sudanese woman gave birth to her child this week in prison. She has been sentenced to death by hanging under sharia law for having married a Christian man and converted to his religion. The sharia court refused to recognize her marriage so it also convicted her of adultery, with an additional sentence of 100 lashes before her execution. The U.S. and rights groups have condemned the court’s verdict and lawyers are still petitioning for clemency.
Sudan death penalty reignites Islam apostasy debate
15 May 2014 | BBC News Africa
A court ruling in Sudan sentencing a heavily pregnant woman to death has reignited debate about punishment for apostasy.
Dr Meriam Yahya Ibrahim was condemned to hang for allegedly leaving Islam and marrying a Christian man.
The court said that by doing so, she had abandoned her religious faith and was guilty of apostasy, which carries the ultimate penalty under Islamic law in the country.
But some liberal religious scholars have argued apostasy is not even a crime.
Despite Living in Another Country, This Bangladeshi Atheist Blogger’s Life is Still in Constant Jeopardy
April 23, 2014 By Hemant Mehta
Last year, Asif Mohiuddin, a 29-year-old from Bangladesh, was violently attacked for being an outspoken atheist blogger in his country.
Asif is living in Germany now (on a scholarship) and, in an English-language interview with Deutsche Welle, his bravery still comes through loud and clear:
… a few days ago, people posted a Facebook note that I should be killed, that somebody should go to Germany and kill me. They received around 1,200 ‘likes’ and many people shared that post. Yes, they are still looking for me and I am still the number one enemy of Islam in Bangladesh.
Pakistan: Christian man sentenced to death under blasphemy law
27 March 2014 | Amnesty International
The Pakistani authorities should immediately release a Christian man sentenced to death under the country’s draconian blasphemy laws and quash his conviction, Amnesty International said today.
Savan Masih, a Christian road sweeper from Lahore, was today sentenced to death by hanging for blasphemy and fined 200,000 rupees. He was arrested on 6 March 2013 after a friend accused him of making blasphemous remarks during an argument.
“This is a travesty of justice. There are serious concerns about the fairness of his trial, and an argument between two friends is not a basis for sending anyone to the gallows. Savan Masih must be released immediately and unconditionally,” said David Griffiths, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia Pacific Director.
U.S. group warns of rise of ‘inherently problematic’ blasphemy laws
By Agence France-Presse | Thursday, March 13, 2014
Governments around the world are increasingly invoking blasphemy laws, with Pakistan by far the country that jails the most citizens for allegedly attacking religion, a US report said Thursday.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, a government advisory panel, voiced fear that the rise in laws banning blasphemy was leading to punishment of people who merely express different religious views or who have been falsely accused.
The report found Pakistan used its controversial law at a level “incomparable” to anywhere else, listing 14 people on death row and 19 others serving life sentences for alleged blasphemy against Islam.
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws create open season for Christian persecution
By JULIA A. SEYMOUR | Posted Feb. 11, 2014
False accusations of blasphemy, forced marriages, and social hostility face Christians in Pakistan, where many view non-Muslims as a lower class and not even Pakistani, according to International Christian Concern’s William Stark.
Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy law makes it illegal to speak against Islam. Todd Nettleton, director of media development at Voice of the Martyrs, said the law is used as a weapon. Worst of all, accusers don’t need any proof. There are no consequences for false accusations, but anyone accused is arrested and imprisoned during the investigation.
Read more
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