Man Arrested For ‘Being Atheist’
By Luke Hunt, The Diplomat
As the international community sharpens its focus on Burma and its “opening-up” amid the ongoing release of political prisoners, its near neighbors appear to be heading in another direction.
Among them is Indonesia, which has enhanced its reputation over recent years through its improved handling of human rights, but has raised more than eyebrows when police arrested a 31-year-old atheist for blasphemy.
This was according to an interpretation by police and irritated district officials that Alexander Aan had committed blasphemy for writing “God does not exist…” on the social networking website, Facebook.
The charge also had much to do with mob rule. Local Muslims in the West Sumatra district where Aan lived were typically outraged, and attacked him for his comment while he was going to work. Their anger led to the arrest, with police saying the comment had implied God doesn’t exist and that this violated Indonesian laws and highlighted the fact that Aan is indeed an atheist. Apparently Aan, employed as a civil servant, also wrote: “If God exists then why do bad things happen?” And: “There should only be good things if God is merciful.”
Atheism is also illegal in Indonesia and Aan is looking at a five-year sentence for stating a personal opinion. According to one report, his sins were made all the worse because he had once listed on a job application form that he was a Muslim.
I am happy to live in a country where we still have the freedom to believe what we want. Let’s make sure it stays that way.
Atheists Supply Less Than 1% Of Prison Populations, While Christians Make -Up 75%
This is a very interesting article covering the religious stance of America’s prison population. What I am curious about is how many of them found god while in prison. I don’t think that number would make much of a difference to the statistics, but I am curious.
Like that…
The Question
The Man of Earth responds to question commonly asked by religious people when confronted with outspoken nonbelievers namely “Why is opposing or debating religion so important to you?” with a question of his own after explaining the situation nonbelievers find themselves in.
Very well said.
Medieval Times
Way to go idiot muslim group for trying to set womens rights back to medival times. This group by no means represents the Muslim community as a whole, but the fact that these women are thinking this was is hard to grasp. While this Muslim group is not very large, they are still setting a horrible example to other women. If this group were to pick up speed with one of the radical groups the outcome could be terrible.
A question for believers…
I have asked people this question before and I have never received what I would consider a logical answer. Why should I believe in your god over all the other thousands of gods throughout time? Also, why do you believe in the god that you do?
Because the bible, quran, torah, etc. tells me so is not an answer. Just because something is very old does not make it true. I don’t think faith is an acceptable answer either. Faith is like saying “I just believe”, but gives no real explanation.
I am an atheist, but that does not mean my beliefs are set in stone. If anything that means that they are very open to change, you just need to give me good reason.
So believers, why should I believe in your god and not all the others? Why do believe in the god you do?
