15 September 2011
MEDIA RELEASE
This Saturday, 17 September 2011, thousands of people will
rally in central London to demand secularism in Europe. Supporters of the rally include British biologist
and author of The God Delusion
Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers, an American biologist and author of the science
blog Pharyngula.
Atheist Alliance International, with its UK Affiliates,
Atheism UK and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, is proud to support the
Secular Europe Campaign and congratulates the event organisers and sponsors.
Tanya Smith, President of Atheist Alliance International
said: “Secularism is the only approach that treats all citizens equally and
fairly, whether they are religious or not. Public policy should be based on reason,
evidence and compassion – and not whichever religion happens to be the
strongest in a certain country at a certain time. Religious privilege affects all of us –
through our taxes and through its influence on issues like end-of-life choices,
women’s reproductive rights and equality for same-sex oriented people. If people want to live in a fair society they
need to stand up and be heard.”
Mark Embleton, President of Atheism UK added:
"It is no longer sufficient just to be a passive atheist. Atheists everywhere need to be active in
protesting the growing influence and power that the various religions are
gaining in every corner of Europe. Religious
lobbyists are putting pressure on a weak European Parliament to seek even more
privileges through legislation that, if enacted, will lead to further
restriction of free speech for everyone.”
Hassan Radwan, Management Committee member
of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, also called for action saying: “It's critical to make public our support
for the separation of religion from the state and educational and judicial
systems. The simple act of showing
public dissent to religion that enforces conformity through fear, is the most
empowering thing one can do. It erodes
that fear and emboldens others. This is
what the Islamists dread the most. They
know that when people lose their fear, they gain their reason.”
Atheist Alliance International, Atheism UK and the Council
of Ex-Muslims of Britain encourage all people concerned about the privileged
place of religion in Europe to attend the London rally this Saturday and have
their voices heard in support of secularism.
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