Persecution of the non-religious in Iraq highlighted in House of Lords debate

15 January, 2018

Lord Dick Taverne

Lord Taverne, a member of Humanists UK and the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist group (APPHG), called for the Government to stop ignoring the persecution of non-religious people in Iraq in a debate on the country’s religious and ethnic minorities. Humanists UK welcomes Lord Taverne’s intervention. Too often severe discrimination and violent practices, including prosecutions for blasphemy and killing of those accused of apostasy, are either overlooked or not granted the same protections or sympathy afforded to other minority groups.

Lord Taverne stated ‘in Iraq, religious authorities have supreme power over the state. Islam is explicitly the fundamental source of legislation, and the non-religious are barred from registering as such on ID cards, and have to list instead as one of a small number of religions.’

He continued, ‘Possibly the worst feature of the attitude to the non-religious is the violence to which they can be subjected. An example is the account of a 15 year-old boy, Ahmad Sherwan, who had a debate with his father on 13 October 2013 during which he revealed that he no longer believed in God and thought that religion was just a myth. His father was furious, left home and reported him to the police. He was arrested at home at 11 pm. Three policemen hit him with belts, kicked him with their boots and tortured him with electric shocks at the police station…We should not ignore the fact that a key element in the abuses in Iraq has been religious extremism, and we should be concerned to protect the rights of those who have no religious beliefs.’

Echoing this sentiment, Lord Collins of Highbury, also a member of the APPHG, expressed concern regarding ‘ongoing reports of discrimination and violence based on religious affiliation, belief, non-belief or practice.’

Every year the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), the umbrella organisation for humanist organisations around the globe, compiles the Freedom of Thought Report: A Global Report on Discrimination Against Humanists, Atheists, and the Non-religious; Their Human Rights and Legal Status. The latest (2017) edition states that Iraq is rated as ‘gravely violating’ the rights and freedoms of the non-religious, the worst possible rating. Systematic discrimination not just by the state but also by the wider populace makes it impossible for an individual to be openly non-religious in the country.

Humanists UK’s Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson commented, ‘It is important that Government recognises that the right to not to hold or practice a set of religious beliefs is an essential aspect of freedom of religion and belief. It is time that the persecution of the non-religious is considered a foreign policy priority, alongside the persecution of other minority religious groups. In 2008, the UK took the bold step to abolish its blasphemy laws. It should now call on those nations that still enforce laws against blasphemy and apostasy to follow suit.’

Notes

For further comment or information please contact Humanists UK’s Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson on richy@humanists.uk or 020 3675 0959.

Read more about Humanists UK’s international campaigns: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/international-campaigns/

At Humanists UK, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Our work brings non-religious people together to develop their own views, helping people be happier and more fulfilled in the one life we have. Through our ceremonies, education services, and community and campaigning work, we strive to create a fair and equal society for all.

Humanists UK recently changed its name from the British Humanist Association: https://humanists.uk/2017/05/22/bha-becomes-humanists-uk/