Ex-Muslim Activist Zara Kay FREED!
https://www.facebook.com/130148817071986/posts/4065690550184440
https://twitter.com/DoughtyStPublic/status/1367259763550150657
Location: Tanzania & Australia
Atheist activist Zara Kay, who suffered unlawful arrest and arbitrary detention in Tanzania beginning on December 28th, finally arrived back in Australia on March 4th! Zara is an activist and human rights defender who founded the organization "Faithless Hijabi," which supports women ostracised or abused after leaving Islam. On February 3rd, 2021, she was finally informed that no charges would be brought against her. However, the police informed her that they had "lost" her passport, and she was unable to leave the country. She finally flew out of Tanzania on March 1st, having missed a February 26th flight after being stopped by police at the airport. Atheist Republic expresses its thanks to the core team who worked tirelessly and every one of our members who joined in campaigning for Zara’s freedom.
Texas Bishop: Atheism Responsible for Every Ill That Plagues Our Society
https://www.facebook.com/130148817071986/posts/4063549460398549
Location: Texas, USA
On February 24th, Bishop J. Strickland of Texas tweeted “We are worried about the wrong “ism”. Racism is immoral & should be shunned but the root of our problems is ATHEISM. Let us repent of our sins & humbly return to God. It we do this racism & every other ill that plagues our society will fall into dust. We must address this root!” Many atheist activists and secular organizations fired back. The Secular Coalition for America replied “This is an absolute lie that has no basis in fact. Millions of Americans live moral and ethical lives, including fighting racism, without a belief in a god…”
Malaysian Court Decrees Criminalization of Gay Sex is Unconstitutional
https://www.facebook.com/130148817071986/posts/4060984470655048
Location: Malaysia
On February 25th, a gay Malaysian man won a breakthrough court battle against Selangor state’s Islamic ban on sex “against the order of nature,” drawing the LGBTQ community one step closer to wider acceptance of gay rights in a predominantly Muslim country. Malaysia’s Federal Court declared that the Selangor state law — which criminalized consensual gay-sex, marking it an offense under shariah law — is unconstitutional. The state legislature has no authority to enact those laws; therefore, the law is invalid because Parliament’s legislation governs these offenses. The plaintiff, whose name is withheld to protect his privacy, filed his petition after being arrested in 2018 for ‘attempting gay sex’ in Selangor. He denies the accusation. While this ruling is in regard to only one state within Malaysia, local activists are hailing the decision.
United States House passes Equality Act to boost LGBTQ protections
https://www.facebook.com/130148817071986/posts/4066191850134310
Location: USA
On February 25th, the US House passed the Equality Act. The passing of this landmark act for LGBTQ rights (with a 224-206 vote) deters discrimination pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity in many circumstances and in several settings, including employment, housing, education, and public accommodations, and merchantry. If passed in the Senate, the act will amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and broaden federal protections. If the Equality Act passes the Senate, businesses such as flower shops, catering services, or bakeries (among others) will be affected. Currently, they are free to refuse service to the LGBTQ community, claiming providing services to gay events violates their religious beliefs. Some oppose the bill because of their primary concern regarding how the Equality Act will affect their religious freedom.
Indian Gov Opposes Same-Sex Marriage in Court
https://www.facebook.com/130148817071986/posts/4063723470381148
Location: India
Judges in India heard the petitions seeking recognition of gay marriages under the Special Marriage Act, Hindu Marriage Act, and the Foreign Marriage Act. On February 25th, the Union government filed its reply affidavit as a blanket reply for all petitioners. "Despite the decriminalization of Section 377 of the IPC, the petitioners cannot claim a fundamental right for same-sex marriage being recognized under the laws of the country," stated in the affidavit. Under Article 21, the fundamental right cannot be expanded to include the fundamental right for gay marriage. Same-sex couples living together in a relationship is “not comparable” with the “Indian family unit concept” of a husband, wife, and children, noted by the government, arguing that the institution of marriage is sacred. “In our country, despite statutory recognition of the relationship of marriage between a biological man and a biological woman, marriage necessarily depends upon age-old customs… societal values.”
Police Investigate Malaysian Man For Converting Muslim Wife to Hinduism
https://www.facebook.com/130148817071986/posts/4058978187522343
Location: Malaysia
A Hindu man in Malaysia created a video, that has since gone viral on social media, explaining how he is converting his Muslim wife to Hinduism. This revelation triggered much of the Muslim community in Malaysia. Later, a second video surfaced, this time from the Hindu man’s wife. In this video, she explained how she is a citizen of Indonesia and has since completed her journey of renouncing her faith in Islam while living there. Abdul Aziz, the Director of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) told the public to resist speculation and to trust that the appropriate authorities will examine the video. He also reminded the public that legal action can be taken against anyone who tries to convert a Muslim according to the Control and Restriction Of The Propagation of Non-Islamic Religions Enactment, which is enforced in several states of Malaysia. He added that legal consequences also apply to any Muslim who leaves Islam under the Shariah Criminal Offences Enactment.
Husband Uses Sharia to Deny Iranian Female Coach Travel to Championships
https://www.facebook.com/130148817071986/posts/4057861304300698
Location: Iran
According to Iranian media, the Women's Alpine ski team traveled to Italy for the World Championships without their coach, Samira Zargari. Zargari's husband barred her from attending the championships with her team. Under Iran's Sharia laws, husbands may stop their wives from leaving the country. She told AP that her husband is currently in a relationship with her best friend. He asked her to consent to divorce. "I didn't, and he blocked me," said Zargari, then continued to say that her husband is "always laughing at my job and my team.” Zargari has said she wants to launch a "campaign" to change the law.
Canada Declares China’s Actions Against Uyghurs is Genocide
https://www.facebook.com/130148817071986/posts/4070414933045335
Location: Canada
Canada’s House of Commons voted unanimously to affirm that China’s actions toward its ethnic minority of Uyghurs amount to genocide. Justin Trudeau and liberal members of his cabinet did not attend the vote on Monday. By declaring China’s “reeducation” camps as part of an ongoing campaign of genocide, Canada joins the United States as the second nation to stand up to China’s gross violations of human rights. The motion, which has support from the majority conservative party and a few liberal lawmakers, passed 266-0. Parliament’s move puts pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority liberal governing party to do the same.
Polish activists acquitted of blasphemy charges for LGBT Virgin Mary
https://www.facebook.com/130148817071986/posts/4070887886331373
Location: Poland
Three Polish women who were accused of desecrating the Virgin Mary's image and “offending religious feelings” were recently acquitted in court. The case began in April 2019 when the women displayed posters and stickers around Plock, Poland, to oppose what one of them described as the "exclusion of LGBT people from society.” According to local news, the judge stated in his verdict, “The activists’ activities were provocative, but aimed at drawing attention to the homophobic and harmful decor in the church in Płock. They did it to show that such actions were unacceptable...It was not the intention of the activists to insult anyone’s religious feelings or to insult the image of the Mother of God. Their actions were aimed at protecting people who were discriminated against.”
Hindutva meddling article published by Atheist Republic CEO
https://www.lotuseaters.com/big-tech-doing-the-bidding-of-the-far-right-...
The Atheist Republic (AR) team discussed the first article written and published by AR’s CEO Susanna, titled “‘Big Tech’ Doing The Bidding of The Far-Right; Enforcing Blasphemy Law Beyond India’s Borders.” The article covers the Indian government and Hindutva trolls targeting Atheist Republic, the importance of free expression, and the documented influence of the BJP Hindu-nationalist government in ostensibly progressive social media companies. The team also responds to some hilarious comments on the article, and give their own commentary on fighting for civil liberties in India.
