For more than a dozen years, Humanists International has issued invaluable reports on the state of freethinkers around the world — and this year’s edition continues that laudable tradition.
The 13th annual “Freedom of Thought Report” focuses on the harmful blasphemy laws that blight societies worldwide and the multiple tolls they extract.
“The report reveals that ‘blasphemy’ laws — be they explicit or de facto laws against ‘hurting religious sentiments’ often intended to curb communal violence — exist in at least 89 countries across the globe, affecting 57 percent of the global population,” it states. “While these laws are enforced to varying degrees worldwide and although the severity of the punishment may vary, the effect remains the same: to stifle dialogue, criticism and expression.”
What provides the report particular heft is a detailed analysis of 38 countries — ranging from Italy to Burundi and Bolivia to Afghanistan. An informative color-coded ratings system buttresses the analysis. The blasphemy laws in these countries place a special burden on those who do not believe, as the report calls attention to.
“While the use of ‘blasphemy’ and religious insult laws is indiscriminate — affecting all religion or belief groups in a country irrespective of the proportion of the population they represent — the nonreligious face a unique challenge: just the mere fact that they do not believe in a supernatural power or god may prompt an accusation of ‘blasphemy,’” the report points out. This is a prime factor in the nonreligious being forced to cloak their unbelief in nations worldwide. “Those more outspoken in their views — be they humanists, atheists, rationalists or freethinkers — face not only the threat of legal prosecution, but also possible termination of employment, or they may fall victim to vigilante violence,” the report gravely emphasizes.
Humanists International President Andrew Copson provides a thoughtful preface foregrounding the report’s themes for this year.
“International law is clear: The criminalization of ‘blasphemy’ can never be justified,” he writes. “In seven countries, a convicted ‘blasphemer’ may be sentenced to death, and simply being accused can put your life at risk long before any trial. A further 63 countries prescribe prison sentences ranging from months to years.”
“These laws are enforced to varying degrees worldwide and although the severity of the punishment may vary, the effect remains the same: to stifle dialogue, criticism and expression,” Copson adds and goes on to highlight a program that Humanists International has instituted to rescue freethinkers from threatening situations, which the Freedom From Religion Foundation donates $10,000 toward annually. “Our analysis of these requests shows that 62 percent cite allegations of ‘blasphemy’ as a primary concern,” he remarks.
The Kafkaesque blasphemy legal apparatus that nonbelievers have to contend with exemplifies just one way in which nonbelievers are mistreated.
“Our findings show that the overwhelming majority of countries fail to respect the rights of humanists, atheists and the nonreligious,” states the report. “For example, there are laws that deny atheists their right to identify; revoke their right to citizenship; restrict their right to marry; obstruct their access to or experience of public education; prohibit them from holding public office; prevent them from working for the state; or criminalize the expression of their views on and criticism of religion. In the worst cases, the state or nonstate actors may execute the nonreligious for leaving the religion of their parents, deny the rights of atheists to exist, or seek total control over their beliefs and actions.”
Freethinkers in many nations can live grim existences — and Humanists International deserves praise for bringing attention to their plight.
“This annual report is a benchmark that shows how true freedom of conscience, especially for atheists and ex-Muslims, is imperiled globally,” comments Dan Barker, FFRF co-president. “Blasphemy is a victimless crime, but blasphemy laws create far too many victims. That’s why FFRF’s work to watchdog true religious liberty remains so essential.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with more than 40,000 members and several chapters across the country. Our purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
Photo by Kristina Flour on Unsplash
