Written by Josh M, News Team | 30 May 2012

Quick Recap: On 9 May 2012, President Obama, who had for years said that his view of marriage equality was still “evolving,” told ABC news, "At a certain point, I’ve just concluded that, for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married."

I noted in an earlier article that reactions to this announcement varied.  Liberal views included skepticism over his motives, regret over the time it has taken, and outright joy.  Knee-jerk condemnation from conservatives was mostly uniform and unsurprising.  Also unsurprising was the hope from conservatives that Obama’s shift on this controversial issue would cost him needed votes in November’s Presidential election.  This hope seemed to be supported by statistics.  In the United States, 43% of our population attends church on a near-weekly basis, 80% believe in God, and 12% more believe in a universal spirit (shame on Gallup, though, for not defining “universal spirit” in their poll).  Gallup has also shown that while 84% of non-Christians believe “same-sex marriage should be legal,” only 39% of Protestants and 51% of Catholics do.

The trope conservatives have been bandying about is that these large blocks of religious people, for whom faith is an important issue in their lives and who look to that faith when making political decisions, will feel Obama has so rejected their values that they will be galvanized to vote in large numbers, and will swing Republican, in the upcoming Presidential election.

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Written by Tanya Smith | 29 May 2012

Me with Taslima Nasrin, PZ Myers and Rebecca Watson

I had a great time in Cologne at the 2012 European Atheist Convention The Atheist Perspective & Our Future last weekend.   The speakers were entertaining and informative, with the emotional highlight being Taslima Nasrin's talk about her life in Bangladesh and subsequent exile from her home - it received a well-deserved standing ovation.  PZ Myers encouraged us all to be part of the "third wave" of atheism plus social justice, Rebecca Watson talked about all the different ways women's rights and status are under threat in the US - with the stupidity spreading to Europe - Leo Igwe informed us about witchcraft, superstition and human rights abuses in Africa, Dan Barker entertained with stories of his life as an evangelical preacher, Annie Laurie Gaylor updated us on campaigns to enforce church/state separation in the US and Valentin Abgottspon (who kindly did his talk in English for us monolingual types) talked about his experience of being fired for opposing a cross in his Swiss classroom (I liked his line that played to the stereotype "I don't get angry....I'm stoic.").   Add the amusement and disgust at the descriptions of tantric and exploitative sex practices of a certain Bhuddist sect, Phillip Moller's stories about his experiences as a non-believing German teacher - I really wish I had understood the German, but it was entertaining just to watch him speak! - lots of other interesting talks and the fun buzz of hundreds of rational people enjoying each other's company - and it really was a fun weekend.....and all with the beautiful city of Cologne and stunning weather as the backdrop!  

You can see photos from The Atheist Perspective & Our Future here (thank you Richard Honess of AtheismUK).

Congratulations to IBKA and the organising committee for hosting such a successful convention!

29 May 2012

In April Ebou Sohna reported that 17 GLBTI Gambians had been imprisoned for the "crime" of homosexuality.  Subsequently the Gambia Secular Assembly (an AAI Member) wrote an open letter to the Gambian government explaining that homosexuality is a natural part of human diversity and calling for the equality of all citizens.  The letter was published as a series in The Standard newspaper in Gambia and you can see a scan here.  

Atheist Alliance International applauds the Gambia Secular Assembly for taking a stand on behalf of GLBTI people in Gambia.

Written by Leo Igwe, Nigerian Humanist Movement | 28 May 2012

Originally published by Sahara Reporters.  

Today around the globe too many atrocities are being committed with impunity in the name of god, allah and other constructs, which have over the ages, identified or associated with the so called supreme being. The dream of a secular peaceful world where people of all faiths and none can coexist in harmony- continues to elude many across the region. Millions of people- theists and atheists- continue to suffer and are abused due to superstition, religious fundamentalism and supernaturalism. In this piece I will focus on two of such areas.

The rights of non-believers. I have heard it proclaimed at the UN that the rights of women are human rights. I have also heard it proclaimed that the rights of gay people are human rights. These proclamations changed the way human rights are perceived around the globe. Personally I have yet to hear it proclaimed at UN, or at our regional and national human rights bodies that the rights of atheists, agnostics and freethinkers are human rights. I do not want these rights to be implied or assumed as currently the case in most countries. I want them to be expressly declared as universal human rights.

In spite of the progress the world has made in terms of upholding human rights and liberties, and getting states to honour their obligations under various instruments and mechanisms, equal rights have yet to be extended to religious non-believers in most parts of the world particularly in Africa.

The full article is available here: http://saharareporters.com/article/atheism-and-human-rights-abuses-africa-leo-igwe.

24 May 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

Deutsche Version unter der englischen Version

Globally, atheists are more organised and active then ever before - and the movement toward a secular world, based on reason and evidence, continues to gather momentum.  World-class speakers, atheists, freethinkers, humanists and secularists will gather at the 2012 European Atheist Convention The Atheist Perspective & Our Future - national, regional, global, to be held 25 - 27 May 2012 in Cologne, Germany.

Hosted by the International League of Non-Religious and Atheists (IBKA) and Atheist Alliance International (AAI) in cooperation with the Giordano Bruno Foundation (GBS), speakers at the convention include PZ Myers, biologist and Pharyngula blogger, Carsten Frerk, author of the German Humanist Press Service, Taslima Nasrin, international human rights activist, Annie Laurie Gaylor, Co-Founder and Co-President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Dan Barker, former evangelical preacher and Co-President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Michael Schmidt-Salomon from GBS and Skepchick's Rebecca Watson.

René Hartmann, Chairman of IBKA said "There are many situations where religion has unwarranted privilege in Germany and across Europe - including in relation to tax status, exemption from employment laws and influence on social issues.  Atheists and secularists must cooperate within their own countries and across borders to make their voices heard and promote critical thinking about religion and its influence. The Atheist Perspective & Our Future is an excellent opportunity to listen to insightful talks, meet other secular-oriented people and consider the next steps to promote a fairer, more rational Europe."

“It's fantastic to see the worldwide movement represented strongly in Europe" said AAI President Tanya Smith.  "The Atheist Perspective & Our Future adds to previous European conventions in Denmark (2010) and Ireland (2011) and in 2012 there has already been the success of the Global Atheist Convention in Australia, the first Southeast Asian atheist convention - in the Philippines - and Imagine No Religion 2 in Canada.  Atheists are out and proud as we should be - we advocate critical thinking about religion and public policy based on reason and evidence - a religion-neutral approach that is fair for all."

Further details on the 2012 European Atheist Convention can be found at www.ibka.org/en/convention2012  and http://www.facebook.com/ pages/2012-European-Atheist- Convention/300798196637127.

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Written by A. M., News Team | 13 May 2012

(This piece is an amalgamation of information from articles originally published here: http://www.rferl.org/content/iran_rapper_/24578413.html / http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15944274,00.html / http://www.eurasiareview.com/11052012-germany-iranian-rapper-najafi-in-hiding-after-death-threats/  http://www.freemuse.org/sw47478.asp)

After the exiled Iranian rapper and rock guitarist Shahin Najafi released a controversial song entitled ‘Naghi’, an Iranian cleric issued a death sentence (fatwa) against him, and a news site in the country started a campaign calling for his assassination.  The song ‘Naghi’ is believed to be offensive to Imam Naqi, the tenth Imam in Shia Islam.
 
The news website Asr Iran, which is closely tied to the regime in Tehran, launched an online campaign calling for the hanging of 31-year-old Shahin Najafi. The website stated that the aim of the campaign was to have Najafi condemned for blasphemy, a crime that carries the death penalty in Iran.

The campaign organisers called on all Shi’ites and Muslims in general to find and kill Najafi and “send him to hell,” according to the website.  This happened after a Shia cleric based in the Iranian city of Qom, Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani, issued a death sentence against Shahin Najafi for apostasy, the Persian-language Al Arabiya website reported on 9 May 2012. Al Arabiya dubbed Najafi as “Salman Rushdie of music”.

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