Atheists are becoming more open around the globe but this has also resulted in them being hounded for merely stating their nonbelief. The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) recently issued a report detailing such harassment.

The most recent case is that of Imad Iddine Habib, a 22-year old Moroccan who has had to go into hiding because of the death threats he received for publicly announcing that he is no longer a Muslim. Maryam Namazie has been vigorous in rounding up global support for him and promoting May 15 as ‘International Imad Day’. Even in hiding, Imad is defiant and retains a sense of humor, ending a recent Facebook post with “There is no god but Minnie Mouse”.

Jonathan Turley writes about the crackdown on atheist bloggers in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile Sanal Edamaruku, head of the Indian Rationalist Association, had to leave India and remains in exile because of prosecutions instigated by the Catholic church because he showed that a miracle of a weeping statue was caused by a leak in a toilet drainage system and that the ‘holy’ water was anything but pure. This article describes the awful and vindictive behavior by church dignitaries that resulted in him having to leave the country.

As more and more nonbelievers become open about their skepticism in these religion-dominated countries, we should expect to see more harassment. Religious organizations undoubtedly see the danger of unbelief gaining ground worldwide and may think that they need to stamp it out in their countries before it spreads further.