6/13/14 - We the signers humbly ask you to consider both a human rights petition and concern shared by a growing number of people persecuted for non-belief in religious dogma, including millions of atheists, agnostics and secularists around the world. Both the petition and the concern regard the enactment and enforcement of so-called blasphemy laws and their offshoots, such as defamation of religion and religious-insult hate speech legislation, in member states. The reality is that these blasphemy laws and hate speech legislation violate the cornerstone rights of freedom of expression, thought and conscience, tenuously upheld by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976), Articles 18 and 19 in particular. Advocates of blasphemy legislation and its offshoots argue that these laws protect the harmony of pluralistic societies. However, as demonstrated by a number of conclusive studies (available upon request) the enforcement of blasphemy laws actually deepens divisions among religious and secular groups, creating unnecessary civil unrest. Discrimination and Dictatorship In practice, blasphemy laws are used to infringe upon basic human rights, often utilized in a discriminatory and dictatorial manner, as they bestow upon inhumane leaders the legal means by which these rulers can persecute both religious minorities and non-religious groups alike. Such legislation frequently leads to arbitrary arrest; detention; poor treatment in custody, including torture and death; dubious legal procedures; and poor application of justice. Additionally, the definition of an alleged blasphemy offense often lies in the hands of police and judicial authorities, again wielded arbitrarily and dictatorially. Abuses of blasphemy legislation include the following: • Governments have used blasphemy laws to silence political opponents. • Religious authorities employ blasphemy legislation to impose doctrinal orthodoxy on members of religious groups, often with the sanction of the state. • Religious extremists utilize blasphemy laws to attack other sects, critics and nonbelievers, frequently fatally. • Unscrupulous individuals have fabricated blasphemy charges against others in local, communal disputes. • Vigilante mobs have committed violence against innocent and/or defenseless individuals accused of blasphemy, whether or not truthfully. Moreover, blasphemy and religious insult legislation often is discriminatory based on social class and status, since it creates provisions whereby a skilled and educated defendant stands far less chance of prosecution than a less educated and privileged individual. We thank you for your time and hope that you give this matter the attention that it deserves, on behalf of millions of human beings globally. Sincerely, Michael Sherlock Founder and Co-Chairperson, Human Rights for Atheists, Agnostics and Secularists D.M. Murdock Co-Chairperson, Human Rights for Atheists, Agnostics and Secularists Michael Nugent Chairperson of Atheist Ireland
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 22:17:59 +0000
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