Eritrean humanists facing persecution Humanists UK at the UN Humanists UK [Video]

Humanists UK has raised concerns about the persecution of the non-religious in Eritrea at the 56th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, and called for the experiences of the non-religious to be addressed when tackling religious persecution and the right to freedom of religion or belief.

Persecution of the non-religious in Eritrea

The Eritrean Government only officially recognises four religions: Sunni Islam, Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo, Roman Catholicism, and Lutheranism. While Eritrean law technically prohibits religious discrimination and recognises the right to freedom of belief, Eritrean authorities frequently persecute anyone with beliefs outside of those recognised religions, including the non-religious, Muslims, Christians, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Those who do not follow one of the four recognised religions are at risk of discrimination through arbitrary detention and social persecution. However, the persecution of the non-religious was entirely absent from the report delivered to the Council by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea. Also …