BLASPHEMY

UN Warned of Global Discrimination Against Atheists

Particularly in the Middle East, South Asia

Feb 27, 2013 by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t

An international group of atheists have informed the United Nations that the plight of their peers in deeply religious states is seriously dire.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union, an organization representing "atheists, humanists and the non-religious" in 45 countries, told the UN Monday that global discrimination against folks who don't tow the religion line is rife, particularly in the countries of Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.

The above countries "effectively criminalize atheism (and) the expression and manifestation of atheist beliefs" reads the document submitted to the UN by the IHEU.

And while "Islamophobia" is a term thrown around in the states with partisan abandon, it's a concept being taken very seriously by the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (and by extension, atheists):

"The [OIC] is monitoring Islamophobia on a daily basis and translating it into monthly and annual reports," stated OIC spokesman Rizwan Saeed Sheikh to the Saudi Gazette earlier this month. "The next session of the Istanbul Process on Islamophobia will be held in the first half of this year, and the session will squarely focus on the issue of criminalizing denigration of religions."

Via Yahoo! and the Saudi Gazette.

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Feb '13
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Feb '13

IMAQT

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We should only be considered about discrimination in this country, not globally. The world is tired of the US sticking their noses in issues that should be of no interest to us. We have our own problems to deal with and there are plenty. We need to respect the sovereignty of other nations to have the society that they desire and they should respect ours.
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Feb '13

IMAQT

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We should only be "concerned"
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Feb '13

Dan_Tien

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Did you see the United States mentioned in the article? I only saw an "international group of atheists", "the United Nations" and "the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation".
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Feb '13

IMAQT

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@Dan_Tien We are in the UN and the largest contributor to the organization. I stand by my statement, we need to start minding our own business and take care of matters at home.
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Feb '13

Knightkore

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Hmmm.....okay.....care to apologize to Hitler, Nazi's and WW2 Germans?
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Feb '13

IMAQT

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@Knightmare WWII? Nice strawman. We were attacked and Germany declared war on us.. I didn't mean to vote you up. How about we stay on subject, So you think we should fight atheists global discrimination? I don't.
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Feb '13

Dan_Tien

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Discrimination against atheists is nothing new, up to and including execution for failure to accept the popular beliefs. If people really believe that God punishes lack of faith, why don't they leave the punishment for it up to God?
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Feb '13

ST_Louie_Sue

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Can you give an example of an execution of an atheist here in the USA? I know of "witch" burnings in Colonial America but atheist executions? I think the Muslims (aka the religion of peace) have the patent on the killing of "non believers." Also God will decide the final fate of all of us.
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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@ST_Louie_Sue There are no examples of it in the US, nobody implied otherwise, if you actually read the article we are talking about an international issue.

Regarding the patent on killing 'non believers', Muslims stole it from Christians as they killed millions of Muslims during the Crusades.
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Feb '13

Emerald1

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LOL Love your logic.
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Feb '13

ST_Louie_Sue

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@AceLuby Thank you now I'll wait for Dan_Tien to answer my question to HIM. Muslime armies had conquered much of northern Africa, the Middle East and Spain which had been mostly Christian areas of the world at that time. The First Crusade was launched in 1096 by Pope Urban II with the dual goals of conquering the sacred city of Jerusalem, the Holy Land and freeing the Eastern Christians from Islamic rule. I take it you're a Muslime? Why else would you be on the wrong side of history?
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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@ST_Louie_Sue Well perhaps you also heard of the St Louis massacre of Mormons by the "Christians" and the return massacre of Christians in Utah by the Mormons. And the good little Christians burning black churches while wearing their robes and hoods (every single known white Supremacist group in America claims Fundamentalist Christianity) You better hope there is no God because if there is (and there is not so relax) you Christians are going to be the first to burn in hell for your lies, your blasphemy, your bearing false witness and your hypocrisy.
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Feb '13

Sonny

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I'm concerned with people right here in THIS country---having the precepts of some else's religion forced upon all citizens whether they are a believer in any religion or not.
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Feb '13

DARSB

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For example, the Hobby Lobby lawsuit seeking permission to impose Christian beliefs on everyone, regardless of their religion - or lack of.
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Feb '13

Knightkore

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@DARSB Actually that would be the reverse of the truth and definite deception.....
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Feb '13

AntiPorcheria

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@DARSB - I haven't heard about this. Please explain.
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Feb '13

DARSB

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@Knightmare Hobby Lobby is currently suing the government in an effort to be exempt from the contraception coverage requirements in Obamacare because the CEO has religious objections to birth control. The case rests on some wildly wrong ideas about contraception versus abortion, but the motive is the same - to impose the beliefs of a fundamentalist religion on people who may or may not share that religion.
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Feb '13

Knightkore

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@DARSB Yet they are a christian business and the Obamacare law imposes the beliefs of others on them and on other christian organizations {the so called compromise that President Hussein Obama put forth was bogus}.....
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Feb '13

tomincali

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i thought they only killed Christians in those places.
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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One simple rule is all anyone needs to live a happy fulfilling life... treat others as you would like to be treated and the rest will fall into place. It's a common thread among them...
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Feb '13

PNWest

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The golden rule. One of the first lessons a child learns. And the most important.
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Feb '13

Denizen_Kate

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@PNWest - . . . and the quickest forgotten upon reaching adulthood, it seems.
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Feb '13

AntiPorcheria

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Ah yes, the "Ethics of Reciprocity"...where by all good and God/Gods fearing peoples declare their love of fellow man and the absolute authority of their God....and then kill everyone that doesn't agree.

(Can someone please pass me a Tylenol?)
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Feb '13

PNWest

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@AntiPorcheria Bit cynical there aren't you. You need to eat some BACON!
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Feb '13

PNWest

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@Denizen_Kate And that makes me sad :(
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Feb '13

LGRepublican

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On the list of things we can or should be worrying about, atheists rights would be somewhere towards the bottom....
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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I hope you also agree that Christian's rights should also be somewhere towards the bottom...
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Feb '13

LGRepublican

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@AceLuby Yes I do. If the only thing one has to do is worry about religious or non-religious rights, you either have too much time on your hands or aren't paying attention.
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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@LGRepublican Well we agree on that at least. I think it's ridiculous how much power the church has over the dialog in our country, from tax exemption, to gay marriage, to contraception... seems like all social issues are driven by church doctrine instead of rule of law.
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Feb '13

Knightkore

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Psalm 53:3

3They have all fallen away, they are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no, not one.

Mark 10:18

King James Version (KJV)

18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
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Feb '13

Denizen_Kate

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And these scripture quotes have what, exactly, to do with the topic of this article?
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Feb '13

Knightkore

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@Denizen_Kate You did notice the picture right?
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Feb '13

Denizen_Kate

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@Knightmare - yes I did. Still don't understand why those specific quotes.
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Feb '13

Denizen_Kate

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@Knightmare - never mind, I think I get it. You think that belief in and fear of an all-powerful god is required in order to be a good person? Or that no one is truly good except god?
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Feb '13

Knightkore

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@Denizen_Kate That second one.....
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Feb '13

jaybebo84

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And there is global discriminaton against Christians...and your point is?!? Toughen up...and join the party...
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Feb '13

Knightkore

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Indeed.....major global and local discrimination against christians.....violating human rights on multiple levels.....
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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LOL! Oh wait... you guys are serious, aren't you? Why don't you get back to me when there isn't a single Christian being represented in govt. When was the last non-Christian President, BTW? Oh yeah... NEVER. You Christians and your victimhood complex... I just don't get it.
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Feb '13

jaybebo84

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@AceLuby

LOL...Global Discrimination...come on...keep the focus here...or is there a World President I am not aware of...
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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@jaybebo84 There is discrimination over every religion somewhere in the world, but to claim that there is some sort of global discrimination against christianity is hogwash. A few areas, sure. Global? Hardly.
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Feb '13

jaybebo84

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@AceLuby

Let me know how many articles you see stating Christians are discrimnated in other countries from news outlets not having a Christian backing...

I am all for someone to believe they way they want towards religion, but don't whine about being discriminated against...it is sad, but true fact of life...discrimination will always occur...live with it and grow a backbone...
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Feb '13

zachsquatch

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I don't care about the UN or anything it has to say. We have no business being part of it.

Anyway, I know of no atheists that are discriminated against in the USA. In fact, from what I have seen as a majority of negativity, they're the ones calling believers "stupid", "fairy tale believers", etc. Now, don't get me wrong, there are believers, primarily in Christianity that do try and persecute to the best of their ability, but I am not down with that...Same goes with other religions as well, I just speak from my standpoint.
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Feb '13

seedtick

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Just because Christians don't agree with them they feel that they have been discriminated against? How funny...Christians will never agree with them, they will just let them alone. That is far better than Atheist Heatherns have done to Christians throughout the centuries past.
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Feb '13

Bobolinsky

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As an atheist I can say that I'm glad I'm living in the "West" where some atheists are so hungry for victimhood status that they have to attack "Christmas", "In God We Trust", and "Under God."
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Feb '13

Paine33

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http://www.examiner.com/article/nevada-parent...
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Feb '13

Libertyiskey

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Why does everyone have to feel like they are discriminated against? Christians blame atheist, atheist blame Christians, it's like watching congress throw paper planes at each other and blame the other side. If you people will stop WANTING to feel persecuted and hated maybe we could get some shit done and work on everyone being free and prosperous, even those you disagree with.
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Feb '13

Bobolinsky

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I blame Group Identity Politics. You're nobody unless you fit into a group that's "discriminated" against.
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Feb '13

AtheistStand

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I hope I live long enough to see ALL "gods" fade away. We have science and science will win every time. Notice since science has exploded that they "magical" times of the bybull never,never,ever,ever happen anymore?(talking donkeys, waters parting, walking dead, happy/unhappy gods causing bad weather)

Hummmm....well what about that!!!!! Religion is the absolute dumbest thing ever to infect the Earth. EVER!

Religion is a brain disease that is spread through stories/force/fear/ignorance. You can rid yourself of this virus, just read and study.

A more educated population with access to the internet is the reason we are seeing a consistent rise in non believers/Atheists.
Education trumps religion.
Religion=FAILED!
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Feb '13

ErnestPayne

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And which amurikan state was it that wanted to deny high school graduation to Atheists? And how long ago was that?Atheists - persecuted because they don't believe in invisibly sky fairies.
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Feb '13

MadAmerican

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Lets see, what's the name of that song again. It goes, "oh boo hoo me, my feelings are hurt, I just need someone to care, I'm going to hell, oh boo hoo me." lol
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Feb '13

Yank

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Look at the countries they listed and replace Atheist with "any none majority Muslim sect in those regions".
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Feb '13

CommonSense

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"There are worse problems"
Sure I agree but I'm still concerned. That's a biased poll. Couldn't Politix just have a straight "yes" or "no"?
Absolutely this should be a concern of ours. People should not be discriminated against, much less imprisoned or killed because of their religious views.
We should be concerned about global religious discrimination in general.
US trade policy and in extreme cases such as genocide military policy should reflect our position against religious discrimination.
People who are being religiously discriminated against to the point where they must flee their country should be granted asylum. I'm not sure what the current laws are on that. This should also go for people who are being discriminated based on race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
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Feb '13

Arumizy

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I am concerned about as much as they are concerned with my rights, and to add to that i have much more respect for their right to believe what they want then they have for mine. I have never talked down to a person because of their religion, or any other belief but every atheist i have met has treated me like a lesser being.
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Politix

Are you concerned about the rights of atheists around the world?

Are you concerned about the rights of atheists around the world?