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E. Onur C. Romano

I come from a Muslim majority country. I have personally experienced persecution simply because I am an atheist. For me Canada has been a safe harbour, and CFIC a welcome port in the storm.

Around the world there are 71 countries in which blasphemy remains a crime and 6 countries in which blasphemy is punishable by death (Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Brunei, Mauritania and Saudi Arabia.)

Over the past several years CFIC has supported “Omer” a Pakistani apostate who was tortured and feared for his life before fleeing to Nepal as a refugee. There are thousands of “Omers” throughout the world. I am proud to be associated with CFIC who is helping one of them.

If you are interested in learning more about the plight of blasphemers throughout the world, please join us on December 10, 2024, as we present the 6^th annual Protecting Blasphemers event. Although the event is free to attend, you are invited to make a tax-receipted donation. All funds raised during this event will go directly to supporting Omer.

CFIC’s commitment to Human Rights is why I volunteer my time with CFIC. I also donate monthly to support Omer and to help CFIC. It is important to me to ensure that CFIC can continue to be a beacon for human rights, here at home and internationally. Please give generously so CFIC can help apostates. I will personally be making an extra one-time donation in December because there is much work to be done. I hope you will join me. 

This World Human Rights Day (December 10, 2024), be part of a powerful conversation that shines a light on the struggles and triumphs of those persecuted for their beliefs — or their refusal to believe. Join us for our annual event, Protecting Blasphemers, where we tackle the pressing blasphemy-related issues of the year. This platform shines a spotlight on global efforts to safeguard individuals fleeing persecution due to their beliefs — or lack thereof — and identifies key areas where the secular community can improve support systems for at-risk individuals.

Register for Protecting Blasphemers VI!

This year, we honor the memory of Daniel Clement Dennett III, an influential atheist and secularist, remembered as “one of the most widely read and debated American philosophers.” As a member of the renowned Four Horsemen of New Atheism, alongside Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens, Dennett leaves behind a powerful legacy of critical thought and secular advocacy.  

• Meet Gul Ahmad Zargar, an Afghan atheist activist who bravely fought for his freedom and found safety through the Secular Rescue program by the Center for Inquiry (CFI) USA.
• Gain insights from Tonoy E. N. Alam, President of Atheist Alliance International, who will share updates on their groundbreaking Atheist Support Network program.
• Discover how organizations like CFIC’s Assistance for Apostates (A4A) and Turkey’s Atheist Refugee Assistance Program are making a difference in protecting lives and advancing secular values. 
• Dive into the heartbreaking realities of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, where four of the year’s most shocking cases unfolded. Learn how you can be part of the solution.  

This is more than just a panel — it’s a call to action. Together, we’ll explore how the secular community can strengthen global support systems for individuals at risk and create a safer, more just world for everyone. This event will be hosted by the Human Rights Chair of CFIC, E. Onur C. Romano, on World Human Rights Day at 4 PM EST (1 PM PST).

Don’t miss this vital conversation. Your voice matters. Together, we can protect freedom of thought and belief worldwide.

While there is no cost to attend, everyone is invited to make a tax-deductable donation to the Assistance for Apostates fund. 100% of these donations will be used to support Omer and help pay for his overstay fees.

 Reserve your spot now and join the movement!

Each year, beginning on Giving Tuesday, CFIC launches its annual appeal for funds. While this year’s appeal will run approximately the same course as it has in previous years, the need for support has never been greater. The political tide has turned. Around the world, right-wing governments, often backed by fundamental religious groups, are being swept into power, and as this takes place, basic human rights are being eroded, and gains which have been made in secular governance are being washed away. The democratic process is being undermined by disinformation, rhetoric, and self-interest. CFIC is needed now more than ever. To do more, we need you.

With the Trump election and the rise of the Right in Canada, I’m sure organizations like CFI Canada are going to need all the help they can get

Ron Peterson,
CFIC member since 2015

Our members have been very generous over the past year. In the last 12 months we have worked tirelessly on the issue of public funding of Catholic schools; we have brought you 26 podcasts focusing on science, critical thinking, and secularism; and we have published 11 issues of Critical Links. Thanks to you, we are launching some exciting new projects for 2024. These projects will lead to better treatment of atheists (and other non-Christians) in Canada’s justice system. They will continue to chip away at the issue of discriminatory public funding of Catholic schools, and elevate our work on critical thinking.  Watch for more information in the coming months. With your help, we can do even more.

Thanks to everyone who purchased a membership, made a monthly gift, or donated when they could. We are a little organization that is growing.  

We need you. If you can give, please do. If you have time to give, let us know. We have lots of volunteer opportunities and would be happy to explore them with you (email volunteers@centreforinquiry.ca or fill out a volunteer application form). At this time, we must all row together if we are to hold back the tide on extremism. This year, when we launch our campaign, why not hop in the boat?

Watch for the CFIC campaign kicking off December 3! Or, even better, why not make your donation early?

Join the Society of Freethinkers and Secular Connexion for Humanism in Action: Igniting Progress for Positive Change. 

Speakers include: 

• Maureen Bulbrook & Christina Ninham
• Dr. Christopher DiCarlo, host of All Thinks Considered
• Doug Thomas, President of Secular Connexion
• Leslie Rosenblood, host of Podcast for Inquiry

This exciting full-day conference will be held on Saturday, November 16 at the KW Granite Club in Waterloo, Ontario. From the registration page: “This event is an innovative experience, where ideas, dreams, hopes, and practical strategies come together to bolster advocacy efforts across Ontario. Unlike other secular conferences in Canada, this conference offers a distinctly Canadian perspective on Humanist values and their impact on shaping a better future for us all.” 

Tickets are limited! Get yours today. 

Join us on Tuesday, March 19, at 7 PM ET (4 PM PT) for an online roundtable discussion about the cost of religion in Canada, quantified by original research conducted by the CFIC.

Bettianne Hedges of Humanist Canada will be hosting Leslie Rosenblood from CFIC alongside Teale Phelps Bondaroff and Ian Bushfield of the BC Humanist Association. They will discuss the many ways Canada still tangibly privileges religion and its institutions over similar non-theistic organizations. Just a few policy choices cost Canadians billions — yes, with a B — each and every year.

You can learn more by reading CFIC’s Cost of Religion in Canada reports or watching the recent Podcast for Inquiry conversation with CFIC’s Executive Director, Sandra Dunham: Why does Canada give $5.6 Billion annually to religious charities?

Register today. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, March 19.