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10 Feb, 7 tweets, 3 min read
Being robustly criticised online, a.k.a 'cancelled': your right to free speech has not been impacted.

Being persecuted by a government for blasphemy: a serious impingement on a basic human right to free expression. nme.com/news/music/beh…
Behemoth being prosecuted is just the latest absurd blasphemy story.

Whether it's artists in Poland; humanist activists, singers, and hairdressers in Nigeria; artists in Cyprus; or footballers in Italy, 2020 and 2021 have highlighted the stupidity and cruelty of blasphemy laws.
We helped to co-found the international @EndBlasphemyLaw coalition, which works tirelessly alongside its members to see repeals worldwide. It's been quite successful so far, with wins in Europe, Canada, and New Zealand.

But we need to push further.

end-blasphemy-laws.org
In Northern Ireland, @NIhumanists has been campaigning for an end to the blasphemy law in statute there - which may soon be the only blasphemy law anywhere in the UK or Ireland.

If NI cares about those persecuted for their beliefs globally, it must go.

humanism.org.uk/what-you-can-d…
Our humanist colleague Mubarak Bala is still in detention in Nigeria for humanist activism

A court has ordered his release, but he's been unlawfully detained in an unsafe jail in Kano for nearly a year - with police refusing to obey the law & release him humanists.international/2021/02/legal-…
In Scotland, we've supported @humanistsociety to help amend the Hate Crime Bill so that it repeals blasphemy laws in Scotland and also protects criticism of religion

We've leant our expertise having worked on the equivalent England and Wales law in 2008 humanism.org.uk/2020/11/24/hum…
Blasphemy laws don't exist to protect people's 'feelings'. Their function is to preserve the influence of the powerful and crush dissent from those with less power.

From humanists in Nigeria to LGBT rights activists in Poland, these stories crop up every day. These laws must go.

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More from @Humanists_UK

Humanists UK Profile picture
12 Feb
It’s nearly time for our #DarwinDayLecture featuring @Oliver_S_Curry – Darwin Day medalist 2021 – and our President @theAliceRoberts. Over 3000 people will be watching, amazing! We start at 7pm & will live-tweet. Stay tuned. #DarwinDay #DarwinDay21 humanism.org.uk/events/darwind…
If you're having trouble joining the lecture. Close the tab and re-join! That should do the trick!
#DarwinDayLecture 2021 is go! @Oliver_S_Curry explores morality as a mechanism for human cooperation. It’s a selection of cooperative rules for different types of cooperative behaviour – for promoting the common good, he says.
Read 19 tweets
Humanists UK Profile picture
10 Feb
Across the globe artists of all persuasions are persecuted by laws that value 'religious feelings' above freedom of expression. This case in Poland against metal musician Adam Darski [pictured] highlights just how absurd they are.

nme.com/news/music/beh…
The most distressing fact, for some, may be that this case is unfolding in Europe & not Iran or Saudi Arabia – the principle is the same. Religious fundamentalists in power suppress anything that 'offends' religious sentiment or challenges the national religious identity.
Heavy metal has long been the target of religious fundamentalists for its 'blasphemous' themes, theatrics, and lyrics. Adam Darski [pictured] may face 'a fine, restriction of liberty or a maximum two-year prison sentence' under Article 196 of the Polish Penal Code.
Read 4 tweets
Humanists UK Profile picture
10 Feb
The Human Rights Act & the right to judicial review mean ordinary people have legal guarantees against interference from an overweening state. We are proud to have established a coalition of over 150 organisations committed to defending these basic rights!
humanism.org.uk/2021/02/10/ove…
Thank you for your commitment! @Shelter @TBIF @DisRightsUK @LeonardCheshire @THTorguk @NAT_AIDS_Trust @pcu_union @RNIB @Greenpeace @ciwf @friends_earth @WildlifeTrusts @JCWI_UK @RefugeeAction @scotrefcouncil @welshrefcouncil @EVAWuk @fawcettsociety @RefugeCharity @birthrightsorg
Thank you for your commitment! @WomensBudgetGrp @stonewalluk @PT_Foundation @UKLGIG @TRPNI @savechildrenuk @ncbtweets @Childrenengland @cisweb @CRAE_official @article_39 @Article12 @raceontheagenda @crer_scotland @raceequality @BMSDemocracy @Rene_Cassin @SikhMessenger
Read 4 tweets
Humanists UK Profile picture
29 Oct 20
Callous opportunism from Pakistan, the most prominent sponsor of global blasphemy law motions at the UN.

As France writhes in pain following recent attacks, Pakistan is weaponising the idea of Islamophobia to demand legislative changes: blasphemy laws

aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/2…
Following heinous attacks on France and the basic idea that we are all free to speak and write freely about all subjects, including religion, Pakistan is using diplomatic pressure to demand Western states give the extremists what they want: blasphemy laws.
Of course, Pakistan & Saudi Arabia jointly have the worst record in the world on this issue. Pakistan's blasphemy law metes out deadly punishments to religious minorities, liberal Muslims, humanists, political dissidents.

It inspires also vigilante violence against these groups
Read 4 tweets
Humanists UK Profile picture
29 Oct 20
We have to be clear on this.

Murder is never justified. Feeling offended - about anything at all - never justifies violence against another human being.
It's so important that we are vigilant against the creeping danger of religious blasphemy codes.

Where blasphemy laws are enforced, violence usually follows against religious minorities, humanists, and political reformers.
Turkey and Pakistan are deploying diplomatic pressure, even as French civilians are slaughtered by extremists, to normalise the idea of blasphemy laws everywhere.

It's victim-blaming and gaslighting on an international scale.
Read 4 tweets
Humanists UK Profile picture
28 Oct 20
It's 2020 & people – often women, children & people with disabilities, are killed for 'witchcraft'. These attacks are human rights abuses, often encouraged by spiritual 'healers' for their own financial gain – as seen in Nigeria, Ghana, India, & Malawi.

humanists.international/2020/10/humani…
The problem is much closer to home than one might think:

In England, abuse of children based on faith or belief which includes 'witchcraft' and 'black magic' has risen from 1,460 to 1,950 cases in the last 3 years.

Completely heart-breaking. theboltonnews.co.uk/news/18660410.…
Pictured: Victoria Climbie, 8 years old, tortured & murdered by her great aunt & great aunt's boyfriend for being 'possessed'. Her death in 2000 led to a public inquiry & changes in child protection in the UK. Yet child abuse cases linked to 'witchcraft' continue to rise.
Read 4 tweets

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