1. BEING AN APOSTATE TODAY AROUND THE WORLD
Criminalization, persecution, discrimination, and stigma

2. Growth & Development Officer
Giovanni Gaetani
Growth & Development Officer

4. Structure What is FoRB – and why humanists campaign for it?
What is apostasy?
Countries that punish it
Some individual cases
Discrimination in absence of criminalization
“Us” and “them”? Apostasy and blasphemy in Europe
How Humanists International helps apostates

5. And why humanists campaign for it
WHAT IS FoRB?
And why humanists campaign for it

7. Freedom of Religion or Belief
FoRB
Freedom of Religion or Belief

8. Article 18 of UDHR
“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

9. United Nation
Human Rights Council

10. General Comment 22
“Article 18 protects theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief. The terms “belief” and “religion” are to be broadly construed.”

12. WHAT IS APOSTASY?

16. SOME INDIVIDUAL CASES

18. Ashraf Fayadh Accused of: promoting atheism in his poetry
insulting the Prophet Muhammad,
“having long hair”
entering into illicit relationships with women
Sentenced to death for “apostasy” by beheading by sword.
“Repentance” rejected but opportunity to appeal the verdict.

20. Ashraf Fayadh

24. Discrimination in absence of criminalization

25. Where apostasy is not a crime
Apostates are persecuted for other crimes, like blasphemy or terrorism
Religious fundamentalists take justice into their own hands
There is a suffocating stigma on atheists

26. Gulalai Ismail

27. Mashal Khan

29. Apostasy and blasphemy in Europe
“Us” and “them”?
Apostasy and blasphemy in Europe

30. Apostasy is legally recognized in

34. The End Blasphemy
Laws campaign

36. “Islamic states often justify their blasphemy laws by pointing to the existence of those in Europe, calling Europeans hypocrites for advocating for abolition whilst still having their own.”
Andrew Copson

37. Blasphemy laws in Europe
Austria
Cyprus
Finland
Germany
Italy
Liechtenstein
Montenegro
Poland
Russia
Turkey
United Kingdom (Scotland)

38. Countries that did #EndBlasphemyLaws since 2015
Malta
Norway
Denmark
France
Iceland
Canada
Ireland
New Zealand
Greece

39. How Humanists International helps apostates
And how you can contribute

45. giovanni@humanists.international
THANK YOU!