The World's Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!

The Countries Where They Kill You for Being an Atheist

The Washington Post‘s Max Fisher posted this map highlighting the seven countries in which you can be executed for being an atheist (Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan). Also on the map are countries where atheists can be imprisoned for their beliefs or have certain rights taken away:

The countries in red are, at least in theory, committed to killing people for blasphemy or “thought crimes.” In all seven countries, Islam is the state religion. Six of the countries are run by a dictator, while Pakistan is (kind of) a democracy.

And in all seven countries, there are undoubtedly a large number of atheists pretending to be religious — or discussing their atheism only in the most discreet of ways — so they can live without fear of being captured and executed.

from: http://http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/12/11/the-...

4 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on March 10, 2013 at 11:32am

Well, they can forget MY tourist dollars!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Luara on March 10, 2013 at 11:49am

Well, they can forget MY tourist dollars

Really .... Maybe we should have an atheist boycott!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on March 10, 2013 at 12:05pm

Somehow I suspect that an atheist boycott of Egypt or Sudan isn't going to have a whole lot of impact on their revenues. I think a general effort to educate the public about the overall barbarism of those countries would be far more effective in creating a backlash against their policies, including those against atheists.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Morty Rjbi on March 10, 2013 at 12:19pm

That's right, but there are some of atheists or new atheists
That are at executed risk, what they do? secret Life, escape How long?

There is no way to learn from inside(is very dangerous). And they sensor any knowledge from abroad.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on March 10, 2013 at 12:28pm

I don't know how aggressive the Saudis or the Sudanese government would be in pursuing visiting atheists. My suspicion is that atheist citizens, however, would be well-advised to keep a VERY low profile.

As to censorship, it may be effective to a degree, but word does get out, whether through organizations like Amnesty, International or private citizens relating their experiences once outside of the influence of those governments.

In any case, secrets like that in the 21^st century don't stay secrets for very long.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Luara on March 10, 2013 at 12:17pm

I wonder if people's lives are in danger in those countries simply for saying they don't have a religious belief (rather than actually saying things against the prevalent religion).

If so, a lot of people who don't have a religious belief would realize that they themselves would be in danger in those countries - not some abstract atheist who they don't identify with.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on March 10, 2013 at 12:23pm

I wouldn't doubt it. Saudi Arabia has already been noted for executing a man accused of sorcery (!!!) and the BBC News in that story notes reports of at least two other people also executed for the same "crime."

If they're serious about that, I have no reason to believe they would equally serious about dealing with an atheist. As I value my skin, the Saudis can forget a visit from me in the foreseeable future.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on March 11, 2013 at 9:42am

I would not travel to any of these countries. I feel sad for their lack of freedom. Very sad to have to hide in fear.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Luara on March 11, 2013 at 9:51am

Steph,

I wouldn't either, as a woman. The persecution of women in places like Saudi Arabia seems very intense.

Even more friendly-seeming countries like Italy might be risky for women. What Amanda Knox went through illustrates that - she was accused of murder, actually sentenced to 26 yrs in jail, and in fall of 2011 I think, finally found innocent on appeal (whoop of joy!).

It looked a lot like a modern-day witch trial - like the Italians were very prejudiced against her sexually-liberated, marijuana-using lifestyle. Huge amounts of very personal vilification against her. Maybe a symptom of Catholicism.