As an educational charity, CFI Canada’s primary mission is to educate Canadians about the importance of evidence-based approaches of secularism and science. When fanaticism is allowed to push reason aside, human right violations and violence seem to be inevitable. CFIC provides examples from several of the world’s trouble spots as an educational tool for the public to inquire about the importance of a secular society.
CFI Canada’s International Human Rights Focus: Guatemala, Nigeria, Uganda, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bangladesh
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Bangladesh: When Faith-Based Fanaticism is Out of Control
Bangladesh, located between India (to the West) and Myanmar (to the East) is a modern secular democracy of more than 160 million people. Bangladesh attained its independence (from India) in 1971. While Bangladesh does not have a formal blasphemy law, religion is deeply entrenched in Bangladeshi politics. Learn about secularism, freedom of speech and attacks on human rights in Bangladesh through recent events and experience of the Mukto Mona secular bloggers.
Guatemala: Forcing Religion on an Entire Population
Asociación Guatemalteca de Humanistas Seculares (AGHS) has kicked off an Indigogo campaign to oppose a new bill which would see the Christian Bible forced into the curriculum of all public and private schools in the country.
Individuals interested to donate to AGHS may donate through CFI Canada’s S.H.A.R.E fund and qualify for a charitable tax receipt.
Nigeria: Faith-Based Terrorism and Hatred of Secular Values
Boko Haram and the Importance of a Secular Society
See our Condemnation of Faith-Based Violence for our post regarding Boko Haram bombings in Maiduguri, Nigeria of November 2015.
Join CFI Canada in our campaign to raise awareness of the importance of secular society in protecting vulnerable people from religious-based terrorism and human rights violations. Join CFI Canada as a volunteer to speak at local schools, events and meetings on this important issue.
Pakistan: British Imperialism’s Terrible Legacy
Pakistan is a country with one of the world’s worst human rights records. Of particular note is Pakistan’s cruel history of blasphemy prosecutions. Pakistan’s blasphemy law is a left-over product of British Imperialism – very much like Canada’s own blasphemous libel law. Recent history in Pakistan includes many high-profile cases of blasphemy prosecutions, terrible exploitation of these laws in petty personal disputes, and murders of human rights activists.
- Noreen Asia Bibi
- See condemnations of Faith-Based Violence
Saudi Arabia: Blasphemy Laws, Human Rights and the Case of Raif Badawi
CFI Canada has been an outspoken Canadian advocate for jailed Saudi citizen, Raif Badawi.
- Protests against the Saudi government’s cruel flogging
- Advocacy to the Canadian government
- Educating Canadians about Raif’s case
Uganda: Anti-Gay Legislation and Faith-Based Bigotry
On April 5, 2015, CFI Canada marched to protest anti-gay bigotry and legislation in Uganda and Nigeria.
