UN welcomes US move to equally protect atheists and non-believers

A move by the United States to recognise the rights of atheists and non-believers to not profess or practise any religion has been hailed by a UN rights expert.

US President Barack Obama signed the amendments to the International Religious Freedom Act last week.

Believers, atheists, and non-believers must be equally protected, the new United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ahmed Shaheed, urged on Wednesday.

Many humanists and non-believers are still widely stigmatised and persecuted around the world and in some countries, he warned, the promotion of atheist thought in any form is considered an act of terrorism.

In others, atheism is condemned as blasphemy or apostasy and receives harsh punishment, including the death sentence or attacks by vigilante groups.

The freedom of religion or belief can be upheld only with the acceptance and full inclusion of atheists and non-believers," the Special Rapporteur concluded.

SOURCE: UN Radio