Bangladeshi Atheist Brutally Murdered
In various parts of the world, atheists have faced persecution and even murder, often under religious or authoritarian regimes. This persecution can take different forms, as seen in the historical examples of state atheist regimes and in contemporary religiously conservative countries.
One of the most notable instances of state atheism was in the 20th century, where regimes such as the Soviet Union, Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, and Eastern European socialist states imposed atheism and oppressed religious groups forcibly. For example, the Khmer Rouge of Cambodia (1975–1979) actively persecuted Buddhists, killing approximately 25,000 monks and destroying monasteries, viewing religion as decadent.
In religiously conservative countries, atheists often face persecution tied to accusations of blasphemy or apostasy, with harsh penalties including imprisonment or death. A recent example is Mubarak Bala in Nigeria, who was arrested and sentenced to 24 years in prison on blasphemy charges due to his atheist activism.
Other regions, including parts of the Middle East and South Asia, impose strict laws against blasphemy or apostasy that disproportionately target atheists and religious minorities. Persecution often involves mob violence, imprisonment, and in some cases, murder.
International response to this persecution includes advocacy by human rights organizations, such as Humanism International and Atheist Alliance International, commissions like the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and diplomatic pressure from coalitions promoting freedom of religion or belief worldwide. These entities document violations, raise awareness, and demand legal protections and pardons for persecuted atheists.
The murder of Nazimuddin Samad, an atheist and masters student at Jagannath University in Bangladesh, is one of several similar attacks on writers and activists in the country. Samad, who was vocal about secularism on Facebook and other social media platforms, was murdered by radical Islamists on April 6, 2016. The Center for Inquiry, an organization focused on science and secularism, has expressed condolences over Samad's death.
Michael De Dora, the CFI's director of public policy and main representative to the United Nations, stated that the government of Bangladesh must do more to protect its citizens from Islamist killers. De Dora also called for the government to publicly and forcefully defend the universal human rights to freedom of religion, belief, and expression, fully investigate and prosecute these crimes, and show that attacks on individuals based on their beliefs or expressions will not be tolerated.
However, the article does not provide any specific actions that can be taken to protect atheists from persecution, nor does it mention any organizations or individuals advocating for their protection beyond the aforementioned organizations. It also does not provide any evidence to support its claims about the persecution of atheists, nor does it specify any particular countries where this persecution is occurring.
The author calls for the world to take notice and for nations to sanction others that adopt laws legalizing persecution and overlooking human rights violations. The fear of retribution prevents people from expressing their opinions, leading to continued persecution of individuals like Nazimuddin Samad. It is crucial that we stand together to safeguard the fundamental human right of freedom of belief, including atheism.
[1] "Religious Persecution: A Global Problem," Human Rights Watch, 2020. [2] "Religious Freedom in the World: A Global Report," U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, 2019. [3] "World Report 2020: Bangladesh," Human Rights Watch, 2020. [4] "Atheist Persecution: A Global Concern," Center for Inquiry, 2016.
Politics and general news outlets should cover the ongoing persecution of atheists, particularly in countries with strict religious laws, such as the murder of Nazimuddin Samad in Bangladesh. Human rights organizations such as Humanism International and Atheist Alliance International can provide valuable information and advocacy in these situations, despite limited actions taken to protect atheists from persecution.
