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:

atheist bloggers risk their lives:  what can we do?

Article Submitted by: Jesse Cnockaert

Sometimes, the difference between accepting or denying a person seeking asylum is a matter of life and death, which is why Centre for Inquiry Canada (CFIC) is taking a hard look at the way Canada treats these cases, to reduce the number of people turned away unfairly.

CFI Canada is embarking on a two-year project to research into current legislation dealing with asylum seekers and refugee claimants of different sexuality, religious/non-religious, racial, and cultural backgrounds.

Our goals are:

• to question the rationality, and the fairness, of current legislation in the way it treats asylum seekers who are at the highest risk of having their cases denied because of an immigration prosecutor’s personal bias, instead of the facts.
• to educate Canadians about the facts of free-thought as a life-risking activity
• to mobilize the Canadian secular community to provide support and information to those who risk their lives by speaking their minds

Sexual minorities, generally referred to as LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Individuals) as well as atheist or agnostic individuals may be the most vulnerable individuals.

Non-religious people are discriminated against, or face outright persecution, in most countries of the world, according to the Freedom of Thought Report 2013 (1) prepared by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU).  The report, the first of its kind, focused specifically on human rights, legal status and discrimination against humanists, atheists and non-religious people in every country on earth.

The report shows blasphemy can lead to a prison sentence in 39 countries, six of which are western countries.

There are also 13 countries where being an atheist can result in a death sentence.

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