In the wake of the ad hominem attacks on its spokesman on July 26th, IHEU has called on the United Nations Sub-Commission on Human Rights to unequivocally condemn any call to kill, to terrorise, or to use violence in the name of God, or of any religion.

In a joint statement with the Association for World Education, Representative David G Littman spoke at the UN Commission on Human Rights on 15 April 2005. He gave the results of a survey of 51 female slaves over the age of 11.

Honorable Prime Minister

The rights of Muslim Women

UNDER the title of 'A Declaration of the Rights of Women in Islamic Societies' a group of born Muslims, primarily from Iran and South Asia, have put their very modern views on the record. The statement originally appeared in Free Inquiry, Fall, 1997, pp. 28-29.

The International Humanist & Ethical Union has been deeply disturbed by the recent developments related to the publishing of the novel "Satanic Verses" by Salman Rushdie.

The conduct of the fundamentalist Islamic leader Ayatollah Khomeini and that of the Islamic Republic of Iran must be denounced by every member of the world community, irrespective of religious creed or ideological conviction.

The International Humanist & Ethical Union

* Is concerned about the increasing influence of a considerable number of fundamentalist Islamic groups on governments in the world. Their interference in daily life is alarming. The fundamentalist application of the "Shariah", the Islamic law, coupled with the denial of several fundamental rights (such as: right to self-determination, the right to change one's belief or life stance , the right to liberty and security of a person and the right to privacy) is unacceptable and in conflict with the international declarations and conventions on human rights and the humanist principle of the right to self-determination.

The Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Borweg 1, The Hague

Gentlemen

Recently we were informed by the news media about the ideas and plans of a militant Islamic group which appears to be very intolerant toward people who cherish different beliefs or convictions. One Dutch newspaper said that "men who shaved their beards off would be treated as atheists", which bodes no good for judging from previous publications.