Pack your bags, atheists!

Malaysia is among the worst places to be in the world right now if you're someone who does not believe in a fictional entity ruling the entirety of mankind.

Freedom of Thought Report by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) puts the Southeast Asian nation at 189 among 196.

Malaysia is ranked below countries such as Sudan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and heck, even North Korea!

Malaysia is ranked bottom 10 among nations who profess a belief in god.

The report was launched at the 7th annual Freedom of Thought Report at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on October 30.

President of the IHEU,Andrew Copson, says the report is the first of its kind in the world.

"For the first time our report will show, with authority and accuracy, the discrimination faced by people around the world because of their non-religious beliefs.

"This report paints a dark picture, with significant discrimination faced by our non-religious friends and colleagues around the world."

The Atheist Republic Kuala Lumpur group was under fire in 2017 when it had organised a gathering. IMAGE: FACEBOOK.

Malaysia's ranking is due to numerous factors among which are;

1. Government figures or state agencies openly marginalize, harass, or incite hatred or violence against the non-religious

2. ‘Apostasy’ or conversion from a specific religion is outlawed and punishable by death.

3. It is illegal to advocate secularism or church-state separation, or such advocacy is suppressed.

4. It is illegal or unrecognised to identify as an atheist or as non-religious

You can read the entire list here but the above are the main factors.

The rise of Muslim fundamentalists is also among the reason for Malaysia's low ranking in the report. IMAGE: REUTERS.

These factors are categorised into four groups, namely; constitution & government, education & children's rights, family, community, society, religious courts and tribunals, and freedom of expression advocacy of humanist values.

Meanwhile Malaysian Atheists & Secular Humanists (MASH) is not surprised with the report.

“Honestly, the results do not come as a shock to us. Religiously-fueled intolerance, supplemented by hostile and violent sentiments from both state and non-state actors in recent years, have only increased in intensity.

"Atheists and other minority groups, especially the LGBTQI+ community, are often forcibly stripped of their right to freedom of expression, being needlessly assailed by onslaughts of vitriol online and offline. Many go into hiding to avoid persecution," MASH Media Officer, Amelia Han says.

Malaysian atheists can consider migrating to Belgium, Netherlands and Taiwan who shared the top spot for the best places to be if you're a non-religious person.

The USA and Norway ranked 8th.