MPs challenge global humanist persecution in Commons debate

MPs today challenged the persecution of humanists around the world, as part of a House of Commons debate on of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and UK foreign policy. MPs raised the case of Mubarak Bala, President of the Nigerian Humanist Association, who was imprisoned for blasphemy in Nigeria and freed earlier this year, and called for the UK to work to see every country uphold FoRB for all.

The debate was led by David Smith MP, the UK Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and centred around the Foreign Office’s new ‘Freedom of Religion or Belief for all’ strategy. In the debate he emphasised that FoRB is and should be at the heart of UK foreign policy and outlined concerns about growing levels of restriction of FoRB abroad, which the new strategy hopes to address.

Lizzi Collinge MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, raised that blasphemy laws are in force in 91 states affecting 57% of the global population. She expanded that 12 countries have the death penalty for so-called blasphemy or apostasy, and 60 others have prison sentences. She specified that human rights laws are there to protect people not ideas, and emphasised that FoRB protects the right to question, doubt, and disagree without punishment. She drew attention to the case of Mubarak Bala. His release earlier this year followed a huge international effort, in which the UK played a major role.

The debate saw others speak up against non-religious persecution. Sam Rushworth MP emphasised that FoRB includes protecting humanism, and also the right to criticise faith. Jim Shannon MP spoke of the role the APPG for FoRB played in helping to call for Mubarak Bala’s freedom. 

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Catherine West MP spoke of her relief that Mubarak Bala was now safe and credited the work of Humanists International, the UK Government, amongst others for his release, and set out the Government’s determination to protect FoRB for all through its new strategy. 

Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson commented:

‘We welcome today’s cross-party consensus that Freedom of Religion or Belief is a cornerstone of human rights and is now rightly central to the UK Government’s foreign policy agenda.

‘Freedom of religion or belief protects us all, including humanists, who are all too often overlooked within this space. Humanists face severe persecution to the extent that it is impossible to calculate their number worldwide.

‘We will continue working with the Foreign Office to help it implement its new strategy and stand up for Freedom of Religion or Belief for all.’