On March 29th the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion and Belief, NY, and the NGO Committee on Human Rights, NY, sponsored a meeting to discuss the topic of blasphemy. The presenters were Austin Dacey from the International Humanist and Ethical Union and Pamela Takiff of Human Rights First.

Islamic radicalism has been defined in a variety of ways: as a synonym for extremism, militancy, terrorism or the ideologies of Wahhabism, Salafism,  Deobandism, Qutubi

In a joint statement with the Center for Inquiry today (14 March 2012) IHEU representative Raheel Raza, herself a Muslim human rights activist,  spoke of the need for the Islamic states to do more to promote religious tolerance at home if they are really concerned about hostility towards Muslims in the West.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) launched another attack at the UN Human Rights Council today (5 March 2012)  on the decision of the Council to hold a panel discussion of discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. They accused the Human Rights Council of attempting to create new human rights law; saying the Council had no right to hold a discussion that was highly controversial and not supported by a majority of the Council members.

The Humanist Movement in Sweden and the International Humanist community call upon the Swedish authorities to reopen the case of Khalid Saeed from Pakistan, whose application for a residence permit in Sweden has been rejected by the Migration Board. He could now be sent back to Pakistan with his entire family.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) is calling for Sweden to provide asylum to Khalid Saeed, a Pakistani atheist and apostate from Islam who fled his homeland to live in Sweden.  Khalid’s initial request for asylum was rejected by Swedish authorities because they did not accept that his outspoken atheism had made it unsafe for him and his family in Pakistan.

Speaking at the Human Rights Council in Geneva today (12 September 2011), IHEU representative Hannah Bock called on religious leaders around the world to make it clear "again and again and again that no religion justifies the taking of innocent life.  It is the great tragedy of our time that, worldwide, we are confronted by those who believe it is".

The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) is calling on Humanists and all people of good conscience to show their support for the International Day Against Stoning, today, July 11, 2011. IHEU marked the day by calling on Iran to release Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. Iran is one of several countries that impose a form of Islamic law that includes death by stoning as a punishment for crimes including adultery.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) has called on the African Commission on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR) to work for the abolition of blasphemy laws throughout the continent. Speaking on Saturday, April 30th, at the 49th session of the ACHPR in Banjul, The Gambia, IHEU representative Leo Igwe said that blasphemy laws “justify and sanctify tyranny, hatred, intolerance, forced conversion, intimidation and violence.”