EXMNA Urges UN General Assembly to Condemn the Use of the Death Penalty for Blasphemy and Apostasy

Today, August 22nd, marks Apostasy Day—a day established two years ago by Ex-Muslims International to celebrate the right to leave religion and to demand the recognition of that right in the dozens of countries that criminalize it.

Next month, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will be convening. Ahead of the Assembly, Jubilee Campaign and the IRF Summit Global Campaign to Eliminate Apostasy and Blasphemy Laws are circulating two charters urging the UN to condemn the use of the death penalty for blasphemy and apostasy. The proposed condemnation would be added to the UNGA resolution on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty and to the UNGA resolution on extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions.

Today, blaspheming or leaving Islam can be punished with death in at least 12 countries. Ex-Muslims of North America (EXMNA) believes this is a disgraceful state of affairs, wholly inconsistent with the fundamental human right to free expression.

This Apostasy Day, EXMNA is encouraging individuals and organizations alike to become signatories to the aforementioned charters. Particularly in the Islamic world, extralegal violence remains an acute threat to ex-Muslims; ending state-sanctioned violence against those who leave religion is the first step toward a world where apostates no longer have to live in fear.

The charters can be signed using this form. Links to view the charters in full are below.

On the resolution regarding extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary execution

On the death penalty moratorium