UN expert hails US move placing atheists on equal footing
with faith groups
GENEVA (28 December 2016) – The new United Nations
Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ahmed Shaheed, has
welcomed amendments to the International Religious Freedom Act signed on Friday
by US President Barack Obama, which recognizes non-believers and atheists and
their right not to profess or practise any religion.
“This is an important development, as believers, atheists
and non-believers must all be equally protected,” said Mr. Shaheed. “Many
humanists and non-believers are still widely stigmatized and persecuted around
the world.”
In some countries, the promotion of atheist thought in
any form is considered an act of terrorism. In others, any expression of
non-belief or atheism is condemned as blasphemy or apostasy and receives harsh
punishment, including the death sentence or attacks by vigilante groups.
“People often do not fully understand the scope of the
international human right to religious freedom. It is not just about religions
or beliefs, but it also covers the right to freedom of thought and conscience
as provided by the Universal Declaration for Human Rights,” noted the Special
Rapporteur.
The human rights expert said the terms “religion” and
“belief” should be understood in a broad sense to include theistic,
non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any
religion or belief.
“All of them have important roles to play in building
pluralistic and inclusive societies for the 21st century that are peaceful and
prosperous,” Mr. Shaheed stressed.
“In the face of increasing diversity, the freedom of
religion or belief can be upheld only with the acceptance and full inclusion of
atheists and non-believers,” the Special Rapporteur concluded.
ENDS
Mr. Ahmed Shaheed (the Maldives) is a Visiting Professor
at Essex University, UK; a former member of the Maldivian presidential
Commission Investigating Corruption; and a foreign policy advisor to the
President of the Maldives. Mr. Shaheed was Foreign Minister of the Maldives
from 2005 to 2007 and from 2008 to 2010. He led the country’s efforts to sign
and ratify all nine international human rights Conventions and to implement
them in law and practice. Mr. Shaheed is the former Special Rapporteur on the situation
of human rights in Iran. Learn more, log on to:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomReligion/Pages/FreedomReligionIndex.aspx
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest
body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name
of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that
address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of
the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not
UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from
any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
Read the latest report to the UN General Assembly by the
former Special Rapporteur:
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Religion/A-71-269_en.pdf
UN Human Rights, country page – United States:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/LACRegion/Pages/USIndex.aspx
For more information and media requests please contact
Ms. Chian Yew Lim (+41 22 928 9310 / clim@ohchr.org)
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xcelaya@ohchr.org)
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