International groups highlight global persecution of non-religious and religious minorities

by National Secular Society

Secular human rights organisations have called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to promote “genuine respect for freedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression”.

At the 29th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Roy Brown, representing the Centre for Inquiry, called for action to combat persecution, oppression and discrimination against non-believers.

Mr Brown drew specific attention to murder of bloggers in Bangladesh, the arrest and lashing of Raif Badawi and others in Saudi Arabia and the imprisonment of freethinkers in Egypt.

Mr Brown challenged Saudi Arabia, which has a seat on the Human Rights Council, over its “fear of atheism and freethought”.

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