All over words

Palestinian blogger Waleed Alhusseini was arrested near an internet cafe on the West Bank (via):

I spent the worst 10 months of my life in a Palestinian jail, facing constant pressure to say I was sorry. I was told they had removed my blog and that I must apologise for publishing it. Even once I free I was told I should never again use the internet, nor meet the media. For months after my release I was harassed by the security services, who further interrogated me and detained me without cause. I received letters from people saying they wanted to kill me.

My views, however, cannot be changed by a prison sentence or by persecution. I still believe the religion of Islam often stands against human rights and against women. I still believe Muhammad demanded in the Qu’ran the death of those who were not Muslims. Many Muslims may disagree with my view, or may find a way to understand religion in a moderate way. But I cannot accept this religion myself. That is what my thought and my conscience tell me. I am an atheist. I believe in human rights. I have the right to say these things.

Whose fault was it that I was treated so? It is religion, but also a culture. Certainly some people simply cannot stand to live alongside someone who does not conform to their views.

Eventually, I left the West Bank for Jordan. I obtained a visa from the French embassy. I am now in Paris, having applied for asylum. I am still awaiting an answer after six months. It has become harder and harder. From here I do have chance to blog in Arabic and in English as “Proud Atheist”. But I am now effectively in exile. I am living alone in a foreign city, cut off from friends and family. All over words....

This week the International Humanist and Ethical Union published the Freedom of Thought 2012 report to mark Human Rights Day. The report is a necessary step in the right direction. For the first time, many countries which abuse the rights of the non-religious are indexed and exposed, and cases like mine are documented under the banner of discrimination against the non-religious. This report will grow in the coming years, and I hope anyone concerned about human rights will take note and hold their countries to account.

 

Comments

[Bob-B]

All Western progressive types will be supporting this guy. Won't they?

[sackcloth and ashes]

'Sorry, Palestinian persecuted by Palestinians? Not interested. From the river to the sea, etc etc'