In a joint statement with two other NGOs at the UN Human Rights Council on 12 March, IHEU exposed the hypocrisy of the Islamic States who, while attacking the Swiss referendum banning the construction of new minarets “which are no more central to Islam than spires are to Christianity”, chose to completely ignore the oppression of religious minorities, the murder of Christians, and the burning of churches in several of their own countries.

Nigerian Humanists have won the latest round in an ongoing battle with witch hunters. Today, 4 Feb. 2010, the Federal High Court in Calabar struck out the case brought against Leo Igwe, International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) Representative in West Africa, by Helen Ukpabio of the Liberty Gospel Church.

IHEU representative Leo Igwe reports that the police in Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria have arrested a "prophet" named Gideon Peter over the alleged murder of two children during an attempt to exorcise them of witchcraft. The arrest is positive news for IHEU’s campaign to stamp out child abuse committed by so-called witch hunters.

Please act now to ask the Iranian government to stop the execution of Ehsan Fattahian scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, 2009.

An Egyptian Christian, Mr Maher El-Gowhary who faces a call by a leading Muslim cleric for Muslims to kill him, was last week prevented from leaving the country with his 15-year-old daughter. His plight was raised at the UN Human Rights Council on 30 September 2009 by Roy Brown, IHEU’s main representative in Geneva.

The UN Human Rights Council has published IHEU's written statement on religious registration in OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference) member states. The statement documents the failure of OIC member states to uphold their citizens' right to freedom of religion, with specific examples in Egypt and Malaysia. IHEU calls for all states to eliminate laws which require citizens to specify their religion on official documents and to permit all citizens to freely change their religion or belief without discrimination. IHEU also calls on OIC member states in particular to end discrimination against non-Muslims.

[Video now available] The Vatican (known in diplomatic circles at the "Holy See") was accused by IHEU at the UN Human Rights Council today (22 September 2009) of both covering up child abuse and allowing it to continue. The speech by IHEU representative Keith Porteous Wood also drew attention to the failure of the Holy See to comply with its obligations under International Law.

The UN Human Rights Council today published a written statement by IHEU on the role of the Holy See in the child abuse scandals that rocked the Catholic Church in recent years, and its failure to honour its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

[Subtitled video now available] In a speech to the 12th session of the Human Rights Council on 16 September, IHEU representative Roy Brown called on the Council to do more to combat violence and discrimination against religious minorities, citing the recent murders of Christians in Pakistan, Somalia and Nigeria, the still unresolved massacre of Muslims in Gujerat, and mob violence against the Muslim Uighurs in China earlier this year. He also criticized non-violent discrimination practiced in many Western countries against religious minorities. He reminded delegates that it is individuals, believers and non-believers that have human rights - not their religions or beliefs.

World Union of Progressive Judaism
Joint statement with the International Humanist and Ethical Union and
Association for World Education

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: 10th Session (2– 24 March 2009) Item 3, General Debate
Speaker: IHEU representative, David Cornut: Monday (am) 16 March 2009

The Prevention of Genocide

Thank you, Mr President.