CFI and IHEU Opposing Blasphemy Laws at UN

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/entry/cfi_iheu_collaborate_to_oppose_blasphemy_laws_at_un/

This week the Center for Inquiry (CFI) joined the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) in opposing blasphemy laws at a meeting of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva.

At this 16th session in Geneva, IHEU was prevented from delivering a speech on blasphemy and violence in the name of religion, based on a technicality.

CFI holds special consultative status as a non-governmental organization, or NGO, under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Both CFI and the IHEU have been active in recent years opposing so-called blasphemy laws, which aim to suppress criticism and free speech about religious beliefs. Such laws have been used to persecute nonbelievers, religious minorities and religious dissidents. In some countries, including Pakistan, the "crime" of blasphemy carries the penalty of death.

After a procedural technicality prevented the IHEU from delivering its statement before the Human Rights Council, CFI agreed to deliver a joint statement on behalf of both CFI and the IHEU condemning blasphemy laws and violence in the name of religion. CFI representative Georgina Hutchinson was unable to present this speech on Friday, March 11 due to the session ending early. Instead, the speech was later delivered by Jack Jeffery of IHEU.

Derek Araujo, CFI's representative to the UN, recently blogged about CFI's willingness to work with IHEU on this initiative. To read his entire post, along with CFI's and IHEU's statement, log onto Reasonable Doubt on Free Thinking.http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/entry/cfi_iheu_collaborate_to_oppose_blasphemy_laws_at_un/