‘Ex-Muslim atheists to be deported to Pakistan this Tuesday 5th August will face torture and death’ – President, Atheism UK

Two atheist ex-Muslims, SJ & Syed Muhammad Tabish (CID: 5711967) currently held in detention at the Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre in London are facing deportation to Pakistan. In Pakistan they will probably face death or torture by their family, the Taliban and other Muslims who consider them to be ‘kafirs’ or apostates under Sharia Law. Both are atheists who no longer believe in Muhammad, Allah or the Koran.

SJ will be deported by the Home Office on 5th August 2014.

Tabish deportation on 5th August was cancelled 30th July. The Home Office has granted him 5 days to prepare for a fresh asylum trial.

Both atheist ex-Muslims ask to be given asylum in Britain on the grounds that they are non-religious.

Chris Street, President of Atheism UK said ‘both atheist ex-Muslims have been students and have worked in Britain for five years. I can certify that, having interviewed SJ & Syed Muhammad Tabish this week, I am satisfied that they are genuine atheists and I will be writing to the Home Office to this effect. Both men believe there is no evidence for Allah, God or gods. Both will be now be deported to face persecution, torture and possibly a death sentence in Pakistan. I welcome that the Home Office cancelled yesterday Tabish’s 5th August deportation pending a fresh asylum trial. I fear SJ will be deported by the Home Office on 5th August 2014. I call on the Home Office to give both men a fresh asylum trial and grant both atheists asylum in Britain as non-religious refugees. Atheists should be entitled to protection from persecution on the grounds of their belief in the same way as a religious person is protected.’

In a previous case reported in 2014 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25715736 an atheist Afghan was granted religious asylum in UK. This was the first time a person had been granted asylum in the UK on the basis of their atheism. Lawyers successfully lodged a submission to the Home Office under the 1951 Refugee Convention which aims to protect people from persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. This decision represented an important recognition that a lack of religious belief is in itself a thoughtful and seriously-held philosophical position.

For further information contact Chris Street, Atheism UK President president@atheismuk.com www.atheismuk.com