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Raif Badawi

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January 8, 2015:  CFI Canada has received information from Ensaf Haidar that her husband, Raif Badawi, is expected to receive lashes on January 9.  Ms. Haidar informs CFIC that “the lashing order says Raif should be lashed severely”.  Raif Badawi was imprisoned for insulting Islam by the Saudi government.

 

 

CFI Canada condemns the Saudi government for its barbaric and horrifying intention to torture Raif Badawi.   Kevin Smith, CFI Canada’s Chair said, ” It is terrible and horrifying that one day after the murders of people at Charlie Hebdo, a person will begin a punishment of 1000 lashes for expressing his thoughts on a blog.”

CFIC urges Canadians to express their outrage and condemnation to the Government of Canada.  Eric Adriaans, National Executive Director of CFI Canada said, “Freedom of speech is under threat by religious extremists.  Faith-based terrorists are attacking and killing journalists and cartoonists while governments use cruel blasphemy laws to torture their citizens.  It is time the Canadian government actively opposed blasphemy laws and the brutality and violence they precipitate.  The Canadian government should start by calling for the immediate release of Raif Badawi and by abandoning Canada’s own blasphemy law, Criminal Code Section 296.”

Should you wish to express your concern to the Canadian government:

Contact info for Rob Nicholson, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs:http://www.robnicholsonmp.ca/contact/ ;
Find the contact information for your MP via postal code here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseofCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC
Announcement, Human Rights

Are Organized Religions a Possible Public Health Hazard “Vector”? Apparently we have our job to do…

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During CFI Canada’s monitoring of public health concerns such as anti-vaccination proponents, we often encounter pseudo-scientific claims and fears from people who either ignore or don’t understand the science behind vaccination and immunization.  However, we’ve lately also noticed an increase in the troubling incursion of religion in this area of public health and healthcare.

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Announcement, Science

Canada’s Office of Religious Freedom

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Centre For Inquiry Canada continues to develop forward-thinking relationships to provide support and assistance for Canadian and international secular humanists.  On December 22, 2014, Kevin Smith (Chair of the Board of Directors) and Eric Adriaans (National Executive Director) invited Eric Thomas (President of Humanist Canada) to participate in CFI Canada’s second meeting with Ambassador Andrew Bennett of Canada’s Office of Religious Freedom (ORF).

CFI Canada and Humanist Canada (HC) share many concerns regarding the welfare and human rights of atheists, humanists and secular humanists.  Eric Thomas, of HC commented: “it was evident that collective and concerted effort towards the development of “human dignity” on the international stage is a shared objective. The Humanist Canada focus on an inclusive perspective as part of its educational mandate is well served by participating with the Office of Religious Freedom led by Ambassador Bennett.  We are committed to the development of new venues as active partners. The Humanist Canada Board and its national membership sincerely appreciate the opportunity to participate.

CFIC had previously met with Ambassador Bennett in the Spring of 2013 to discuss the mandate of the ORF and CFIC’s position that atheists and non-believers must be provided the same protections as religious minorities when facing persecution by religious governmental regimes.  Since that meeting, CFIC has been pleased to observe Ambassador Bennett’s support of CFI’s work to support Raif Badawi at the United Nations Human Rights Council (CFI Transnational’s Michael DeDora advocacy work of June 2014) as well as his comments on the subject of freedom from religion:

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Announcement, Human Rights, office of religious freedom