‘Traditional values’ and ‘religious freedom’ used to erode human rights – Freedom of Thought Report

Authoritarian governments are eroding the human rights of minority groups, including the non-religious, women, and LGBT+ people, under the guise of defending ‘traditional values’ and ‘religious freedom’. That is one of the key findings of the 2025 Freedom of Thought Report, the flagship report of Humanists International, which launched this week.

This year’s report considered the theme of the right to freedom of religion or belief in a world of rising authoritarianism. It highlights the increasing utilisation of religion as a political tool to advance the ambitions of far-right governments and populist movements to justify suppressing rights and freedoms. In particular, the suppression of rights is often wrapped up in the language of protecting ‘religious freedom’, but is positioned to protect the freedom of one religious group at the expense of others.

The Freedom of Thought Report finds that:

• In 15 countries, state legislation is largely or entirely derived from religious law or by religious authorities
• In 32 countries, religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in all or most state-funded schools with no secular or humanist alternative
• In 67 countries, the expression of core humanist principles on democracy, freedom, and human rights is severely, sometimes brutally, restricted.
• In 65 countries, you could be imprisoned for so-called blasphemy, and in 12 countries you can receive a death sentence for apostasy (leaving a religion) or blasphemy.

Humanists International is the umbrella body for humanist, atheist, and secularist organisations around the world. It campaigns internationally to defend non-religious people at risk of persecution and violence. Each year it produces the Freedom of Thought Report, which is the only worldwide survey of discrimination and persecution against the non-religious. It provides the most up-to-date information on each country and a rating system for its human rights performance.

Humanists UK’s Chief Executive Andrew Copson is also a Global Ambassador of Humanists International. He commented:

‘This year’s Freedom of Thought Report shows that humanists, the non-religious, religious minorities as well as women and LGBT+ people are all being repressed in the name of ‘tradition’ or ‘religious freedom’. This is a wilful misrepresentation of what human rights stand for – universal freedoms for all. The report launches at a time when we’re faced with the rise of Christian Nationalism at home. It is a timely reminder that genuine freedom of religion or belief means equal rights for all, not privilege for the powerful.’