On 12 February, Malaysian police deported 23 year old Saudi columnist Hamza Kashgari, who fled Saudi Arabia after making comments on Twitter claimed by some to be "insulting" to the prophet Muhammad. There have been widespread calls from Islamists for his execution; in Saudi Arabia, blasphemy is punishable by death.

Theocratic regimes like Saudi Arabia will not tolerate the most basic freedom of thought and expression. We defend the right of everyone in the world to freely express their views, including to criticise religion. We condemn the Malaysian government for detaining Kashgari who had fled the country and handing him over to the Saudi authorities. We are also concerned to learn of reports that INTERPOL may have promulgated a Saudi government warrant for his arrest. The implications of this mean that no asylum seeker or refugee is free from persecution even after having fled.

We demand that the Saudi authorities immediately and unconditionally release Kashgari. He has not committed any crime.

Initial Signatures:

Yanar Mohammed, President of Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, Iraq

Houzan Mahmoud, Kurdish Women’s Rights Activist from Iraq, UK/Iraq

Maryam Namazie, Spokesperson, One Law for All and Equal Rights Now – Organisation against Women’s Discrimination in Iran, UK

A C Grayling, Philosopher, UK

Ahlam Akram, Palestinian Peace and Human Rights Writer and Campaigner, Palestine/UK

Akram Nadir, Union Organizer in Iraq and Kurdistan, Iraq

Akram Zaki, Engineer, Iraq

Ali Salam Amil, Norway

Alison Brown, Alliance for Workers Liberty, UK

Alom Shaha, Writer, UK

Annie Sugier, Cofounder of the League of Women’s International Rights, France

Ariane Brunet, co-founder, Urgent Action Fund, USA

Caroline Fourest, Writer, Editor-in-Chief of ProChoix, France

Charles Pottins, Jewish Socialists' Group, UK

Daniel Salvatore Schiffer, Philosopher, Writer, France

Eli Vieira Araujo Júnior, President, Secular Humanist League of Brazil, Brazil

Evan Darraji, Writer & Artist, Iraq

Evan Siegel, Translator

Evelyne Accad, Academic

Fariborz Pooya, Iranian Secular Society, UK

Faris Alkamil, Writer and Journalist, Iraq

Farzana Hassan, Author, Canada

Ghanim Alotaibi, Kuwait

Gita Sahgal, Executive Director, Centre for Secular Space, UK

Glyn Harries, Hackney Community and Trade Union Activist, UK

Gona Saed, Women’s Rights Activist, UK

Hameeda Hossain, Women’s Rights Activist, Bangladesh

Harem Karem, Editor of Kurdistan Tribune

Harry Kroto, Professor of Chemistry, Nobel Prize Winner, USA/UK

Hassan Radwan, Trustee, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, UK

Ibn Warraq, Writer, USA

Intisar Khalil, Canada

Joan Smith, Columnist, UK

Joanne Royston, Abolition UK, UK

Julie Bindel, Writer, UK

Laura Guidetti, Marea Review, Italy

Leo Igwe, Founder, Nigerian Humanist Society, Nigeria

Lilian Halls French, Co-President, IFE-EFI, France

Maria Arvantiti Sotiropoulou, Author and President of the Greek Affiliate of IPPNW

Maria Hagberg, International Women’s Rights Activist, Iraq/Sweden

Marieme Helie Lucas, Coordinator, Secularism is a Women’s Issue, France

Mark Osborn, Alliance for Workers Liberty, UK

Mazin AlYasery, Journalist

Meghna Guhathakurta, Researcher, Bangladesh

Meredith Tax, US Director, Centre for Secular Space, USA

Mina Ahadi, International Committee against Stoning, Germany

Nick Doody, Comedian, UK

Nicola Stott, Centre for Women's Studies, York, UK

Nicolas Dessaux, Solidarité Irak, France

Ophelia Benson, Writer and Blogger, USA

Patrick Smith, University College Union, UK

Patty Debonitas, Iran Solidarity, UK

Peter Tatchell, Human Rights Campaigner, UK

Polly Toynbee, Writer, UK

Pragna Patel, Founder, Southall Black Sisters, UK

Rafid Hamady, Iraq

Rafiq Mahmood, Writer, Indonesia

Rahila Gupta, Writer, UK

Rega Rauf, Writer and Women’s Rights Activist, Sweden

Richard Dawkins, Scientist, UK

Roberto Malini, writer, Co-President, EveryOne Group, Italy

Ronald A. Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer, Center for Free Inquiry, USA

Roy Brown, International Humanist and Ethical Union, UK

Russell Blackford, Philosopher and Writer, Australia

Sacha Ismael, Alliance for Workers Liberty, UK

Saeed Arman, International Organisation of Iranian Refugees, UK

Salman Rushdie, Writer, UK

Sam Mahmoud, Designer

Shabana Rehman, Comedian, Norway

Shahla Nouri, Women´s Rights Activist from Iran, Sweden

Soad Baba Aissa, Feminist Activist for Laïcity, France

Stasa Zajovic, Women in Black of Belgrade and Serbian Network, Serbia

Stéphane Julien, Solidarité Irak, France

Tarek Fateh, Writer, Canada

Tauriq Moosa, Writer, South Africa

Terry Sanderson, President, National Secular Society, UK

Xulfi Marxis, Activist

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Writer, UK