Freedom of Thought Report

Data from Humanists International

Prepared for COHA

What is the report?
This year's themes
Country highlights
Strengths and Weaknesses
Comparing Canada & The US

About the Freedom of Thought Report

The Freedom of Thought Report reveals many inspiring examples of humanist activism around the world

they aim to create societies that celebrate diversity, respect individual autonomy, and uphold the principles of justice and fairness

Andrew Copson, President, Humanists International

World Demographics

The demographic study – based on analysis of more than 2,500 censuses, surveys and population registers – finds

2.2 billion Christians (32% of the world’s population)
1.6 billion Muslims (23%),
1 billion Hindus (15%),
nearly 500 million Buddhists (7%) and
14 million Jews (0.2%) around the world as o 2010.

In addition, more than 400 million people (6%) practice various folk or traditional religions, including African traditional religions, Chinese folk religions, Native American religions and Australian aboriginal religions.

An estimated 58 million people – slightly less tha 1% of te global population – belong to other religions, including the Baha’i faith, Jainism, Sikhism, Shintoism, Taoism, Tenrikyo, Wicca and Zoroastrianism, to mention just a few.

At the same time, the new study by the Pew Forum also finds that roughly one-in-six people around the globe (1.1 billion, or 16%) have no religious affiliation.

https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/no-religion-third-world-group-after-christians-muslims-idUSBRE8BH0KH/ https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/

Humanists International believes it is important to document...

discriminatory national laws
violations of freedoms
persecution by state authorities
violence & intimidation
social discrimination

discriminatory national laws: discriminatory national laws(e.g. in education, state-funding of religious groups etc)

violations of freedoms: national governments and authorities which violate freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression

persecution by state authorities: outright persecution by state authorities against the non-religious(e.g. hate speech, vilification, malicious prosecutions)

violence & intimidation: acts of violence, intimidation etc by non-state actors(e.g. attacks by extremist groups, mob violence, individuals threatened with violence or death)

social discrimination: wherever possible, to reflect the situation(e.g. is it possible to ‘come out’ as a humanist/atheist/“apostate”, do people face marginalization or reprisal for speaking out)

Majority/Minority Chart

Limitations

Limited scope to systemic, legal and official discrimination (hard indicators)

Underestimates stigma, non-official discrimination etc

UNDHR Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

1. The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (which includes the freedom to hold beliefs) in article 18.1 is far-reaching and profound; it encompasses freedom of thought on all matters, personal conviction and the commitment to religion or belief, whether manifested individually or in community with others…

2. Article 18 protects theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief. The terms ‘belief’ and ‘religion’ are to be broadly construed. Article 18 is not limited in its application to traditional religions or to religions and beliefs with institutional characteristics or practices analogous to those of traditional religions.

Human Rights Committee explains (General Comment 22):5UN Human Rights Committee, CCPR General Comment No. 22: Article 18 (Freedom of Thought, Conscience or Religion), CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.4, 30 July 1993, https://www.refworld.org/legal/general/hrc/1993/en/13375 (accessed 17 October 2024)

Article 18 protects atheists’ rights to be atheist and to manifest their atheist beliefs, and non-beliefs, in public as well as in private, in teaching as well as in practice. The right to freedom of religion or belief is therefore central to our examination of the status of atheists and other non-religious people around the world. But there are other rights that are necessary for people to express their conscience, thoughts and beliefs.

The London Declaration on Secularism

Separation of government and religion
No discrimination on religion or lack therefor
Freedom of conscience limited only by rights of others

“When we speak of a jurisdiction being ‘secular’, we mean:

The institutions of the state and the institutions of religions and other lifestances are separate from and independent of each other.
The state does not discriminate against individuals or organizations solely on the basis of their religion or belief or lack thereof.
All people, including children in line with their developing maturity, have the protected right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief up to the limits compatible with the human and civil rights and freedoms of others.

Secularism is wrongly traduced by some as entailing the dominance of non-religious lifestances or the oppression of religious minorities. Accepting our obligation to stand up against any such abuse of secularism, we maintain:

State secularism should guarantee freedom for all, including religious believers.
Secularism should ensure freedom of thought and expression.
Secularism should be inclusive.

2024 Edition

Our findings show that the overwhelming majority of countries fail to respect the rights of humanists, atheists, and the non-religious.

For example, there are laws that: deny atheists their right to identify; revoke their right to citizenship; restrict their right to marry; obstruct their access to or experience of public education; prohibit them from holding public office; prevent them from working for the state; or criminalize the expression of their views on and criticism of religion.

In the worst cases, the state or non-state actors may execute the non-religious for leaving the religion of their parents, deny the rights of atheists to exist, or seek total control over their beliefs and actions.

Blasphemy laws

89 countries have blasphemy laws
In 7, ‘blasphemer’ may be sentenced to death
63 countries prescribe prison sentences ranging from months to years
19 countries have fines or other administrative sanctions

Our research shows that ‘blasphemy’ laws exist in 89 countries across the globe. In seven countries, a convicted ‘blasphemer’ may be sentenced to death, and simply being accused can put your life at risk long before any trial. A further 63 countries prescribe prison sentences ranging from months to years. It is possible to receive a fine or other administrative sanction in 19 countries. These laws are enforced to varying degrees worldwide and although the severity of the punishment may vary, the effect remains the same: to stifle dialogue, criticism and expression."

"Data shows that the fear of being labeled as a ‘blasphemer’ is one of the primary drivers of non-religious people choosing to live a closeted existence. In doing so, they are trying to avoid violence and ostracism – from family or the wider community. But this avoidance is at the expense of their health and wellbeing as well as their freedom. Those more outspoken in their views – be they humanists, atheists, rationalists or freethinkers – face the threat of legal prosecution, termination of employment, and death. Moreover, those accused of ‘blasphemy’ often struggle to find legal representation."

"The Humanists At Risk: Action Report 2020, found that in these countries, many humanists reported experiencing bullying, discrimination, ostracism, and social isolation." (But to what degree compared to countries without such laws)

Far from thinking that a country with seemingly very few non-religious people is probably not contravening the rights of the non-religious, commentators should recognize that the apparent absence of non-religious voices may well indicate that the non-religious are self-censoring their views in response to oppressive laws or social taboo, or that they are being actively silenced, as this report documents all too often.

Key Countries on blasphemy Laws

🇦🇫	Afghanistan	‼️	‼️	‼️	‼️
🇧🇴	Bolivia	🟧	🟩	🟥	🟨
🇧🇮	Burundi	🟧	🟧	‼️	🟥
🇨🇾	Cyprus	🟧	🟨	❔	🟥
🇪🇷	Eritrea	🟥	🟧	🟥	‼️
🇮🇶	Iraq	🟥	🟥	🟥	‼️
🇮🇹	Italy	🟧	🟧	🟥	🟧
🇳🇬	Nigeria	🟥	🟥	🟥	‼️
🇵🇹	Portugal	🟧	🟨	🟧	🟧
🇶🇦	Qatar	🟥	🟥	‼️	‼️

Afghanistan: Under the de facto Taliban government, the newly declared “Islamic Emirate” enforces an extreme interpretation of Islamic law, punishing ‘blasphemy’ and ‘apostasy’ with death, and actively persecuting the non-religious.

Bolivia: The Plurinational State of Bolivia has undergone significant political upheaval in recent years. While it does not have ‘blasphemy’ laws on its statute books, official symbolic deference to religion and a desire to protect the nation from “satanism” has been espoused by senior government officials since the deposition of former President Evo Morales.

Burundi: In Burundi, the progressive erosion of democratic principles combined with a presidential campaign to “moralize society” has led to the use of “public decency” laws as a means to curb “blasphemous” artistic expression.

Cyprus: Religious groups — be they Christian or Muslim — hold a privileged position in Cyprus. The Criminal Code provides for the possibility of imprisonment under its de facto ‘blasphemy’ provisions. Humanist artist George Gavriel has faced discrimination in employment as a result of his perceived ‘blasphemy’.

Eritrea: To come out as an atheist is legally unrecognizable — and would likely provoke arrest and significant social persecution — in President Afewerki’s one-man dictatorship. Eritrea’s Penal Code criminalizes at least two types of ‘blasphemous’ conduct with prison sentences a possible sanction.

Iraq: A member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), “insult” to religious rituals, symbols or sacred persons and objects is punishable by up to three years in prison in Iraq, although reports indicate that the law is infrequently enforced in practice. Those who do not hold religious beliefs often feel compelled to hide their worldview from others in their society due to the existence of stigma and discrimination.

Italy: The dominant influence of Roman Catholicism in Italy impacts all four areas reviewed by the Report, leading to discrimination in education, sexual health and reproductive rights, and employment. Defamation of religion is a criminal offense, while ‘blasphemy’ is an administrative offense. Both are punishable by a fine, and are enforced.

Nigeria: Differing legal systems in operation across the federalised states of Nigeria lead to inconsistent penalties for the crime of ‘blasphemy’. However, strained ethno-religious tensions often mean that those accused of ‘blasphemy’ face the prospect of vigilante violence.

Portugal: Systemic religious privilege — particularly favoring the Roman Catholic Church — results in the undermining of others’ rights to safe abortion access. A quasi-’blasphemy’ law criminalizes “offending a person in virtue of his religious belief,” providing prison or a fine as possible penalties.

Qatar: Islam is the primary source of legislation in Qatar, where the Emir holds all executive and legislative powers. Legal, cultural, and institutional discrimination against women and girls, LGBTI+ people, non-Qatari nationals, certain local tribes, and other minorities is prevalent. Both ‘blasphemy’ and ‘apostasy’ are criminalized in the country.

"Humanists International — together with its partners — has long advocated for the repeal of so-called ‘blasphemy’ laws globally. While at least 10 countries have repealed their out-dated legislation in that time, recent developments in Denmark have demonstrated that we must not be complacent; ‘blasphemy’ laws, once abolished, can return in another form."

The theme of this year’s Report is also very relevant to our own advocacy work. Since 2011, there has been a consensus at the United Nations as to how to deal with ‘blasphemy’ and hatred based on religion or belief. This consensus was forged through years of hard-fought negotiations, principally between the US, European Union, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), with the inputs of numerous other stakeholders, including our work lobbying democratic states on the issue. The discussion led to compromise resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council that – until 2024 – were renewed each year. The resolutions sought to ensure that acts that include incitement to hatred are viewed on a case-by-case basis and in context, rather than placing a blanket ban on any particular action or expression.

But in the last number of years, we have seen this consensus slowly slip away. In 2023, in response to book burnings that took place in Sweden, the OIC brought an emergency resolution that condemned acts of religious hatred, including the burning of the Quran. The language of the resolution equated all acts of “desecration of sacred books and religious symbols” with manifestations of religious hatred, setting a dangerous precedent for language around insult and offense in relation to religion. This emergency resolution was passed in 2023, and while we successfully lobbied against its renewal in 2024, one of the usual consensus-based resolutions was not renewed, further highlighting the deterioration of any unified approach to free speech and ‘blasphemy’ at the UN.

Where ‘blasphemy’ laws are enforced, no one, whatever their religion or belief, is immune to persecution. Beyond their use in a court of law, their existence justifies, enables, and promotes discrimination, ostracism, and vigilante violence. Now more than ever, we must work together to ensure the repeal of ‘blasphemy’ laws globally, in favor of the promotion of dialogue and mutual respect for everyone’s right to freedom of religion or belief.

AP News Denmark Gaurdian comment

	Country	Score	Average
1	Belgium	4	1
2	Netherlands	4	1
3	Slovenia	4	1
4	Ecuador	5	1.25
5	Nauru	5	1.25

6	Norway	7	1.75
7	Palau	7	1.75
8	São Tomé and Príncipe	7	1.75
9 🇺🇸	United States of America	7	1.75
10	Austria	8	2

32	Greece	9	2.25
33	Japan	9	2.25

52	Ukraine	10	2.5
53	Honduras	8	2.66
54	Argentina	11	2.75
55	Barbados	11	2.75
56 🇨🇦	Canada	11	2.75
57	Costa Rica	11	2.75

Netherlands Education

Public and ‘special’ schools are funded by the state (Article 23(7) of the Constitution). Private schools are closely supervised and regulated by the government, Two-thirds of all primary schools are ‘special’ schools, most inclusive ('religious’ identity is more or less an historic relic). Since 1 July 2015 the law no longer permits schools to discriminate in the employment of teachers. However the reality is that teachers may still be put under pressure to leave.Humanism is recognised as a lifestance, Humanist primary and secondary schools now operate in Amsterdam.

Freedom of Thought Report (updated 2020)

Human Rights: Ecuador

Human rights defenders continued to be stigmatized, harassed, attacked or killed for carrying out their work. Defenders of territory, land and the environment were at particular risk. Authorities continued to fail to protect human rights defenders.

In February, Eduardo Mendúa, a leader from the A’i Cofán Indigenous People, was shot dead. Mendúa had been vocal in opposing oil drilling in the area. In April, the minister of energy and Mines publicly stigmatized lawyer and environmental activist Pablo Fajardo as an “international criminal”

Amnesty International: Ecuador Report (2023)

https://fot.humanists.international/countries/americas-northern-america/canada/
https://fot.humanists.international/countries/americas-southern-america/argentina/

Canadian Profile

Demographics

23%

of Canadians said they participated in religious activities more than once per month.

77%

Atheists, Non-Religious, Lapsed, Nominal, Cultural

Freedom of Thought
in Canada

Despite what should be strong constitutional protections for freedom of thought and expression, significant religious privileges are in force,

both nationally and in several of its ten provinces and three territories.

🇺🇸 🇨🇦

US vs Canada

Constitution and government

Anomalous discrimination by local or provincial authorities, or overseas territories

Official symbolic deference to religion

Preferential treatment is given to a religion or religion in general

Legal or constitutional provisions exclude non-religious views from freedom of belief

State-funding of religious institutions or salaries, or discriminatory tax exemptions

Official symbolic deference to religion

Education and children’s rights

No formal discrimination in education

There is state funding of at least some religious schools

Religious schools have powers to discriminate in admissions or employment

Family, community, society, religious courts and tribunals

Discriminatory prominence is given to religious bodies, traditions or leaders

Localised or infrequent but recurring and widespread social marginalisation or prejudice against the non-religious

Religious groups control some public or social services

No religious tribunals of concern, secular groups operate freely, individuals are not persecuted by the state

Freedom of expression /
advocacy of humanist values

No fundamental restrictions on freedom of expression or advocacy of humanist values

Some concerns about political or media freedoms, not specific to the non-religious

Limitations

Human Rights vs other rights and responsibilities:

Indigenous rights
inherent rights
animal rights
ecosystem rights

Freedom of Thought Report

About the Freedom of Thought Report

World Demographics

Humanists International believes it is important to document...

Majority/Minority Chart

Limitations

UNDHR Article 18

The London Declaration on Secularism

2024 Edition

Blasphemy laws

Key Countries on blasphemy Laws

Canadian Profile

Demographics

23%

77%

Freedom of Thoughtin Canada

🇺🇸 🇨🇦

US vs Canada

Constitution and government

Education and children’s rights

Family, community, society, religious courts and tribunals

Freedom of expression /advocacy of humanist values

Limitations

Freedom of Thought
in Canada

Freedom of expression /
advocacy of humanist values