Free humanist/atheist activist Abdel Aziz Mohamed Albaz

[Timelord_Victorious]

I already posted this link in TNZ in the atheist thread, but I figure getting more views here as a seperate topic.

http://www.change.org/petitions/gove...re_before_sign

It is a singled out incident that is totally unacceptable and I am sure most of you would agree, that prosecuting and executing someone purely for exercising freedom of speech and religious belief or non beliefs in this case is flat out criminal and wrong.

[Miss Chicken]

I read about him on Facebook.

It sort of makes me feel guilty that it is so easy to be an atheist in Australia compared to many other countries in the world, and I really admire the courage of people like Abdel Aziz Mohamed Albaz.

I am very dubious about what success any online petition has, and I am concerned that such petitions could make things worse.

[Rhubarbodendron]

I agree. Especially Arab and Asian countries are extremely sensitive when it comes to outsiders critizising what they consider to be their internal affairs. In these countries it's of vital importance to save one's face and particularly as a foreigner one has to tread with care and uttermost diplomacy as to not insult them and provoke spite, thus making the whole action backfire terribly.

It would be more helpful to offer the gentleman asylum (which he propably wouldn't accept as he'd consider it running away) than to attack his government.
In my opinion the only thing we can do is to morally support him. Attempting to force his government's hand will be contraproductive and make his situation much worse.


(I'd be interested in seeing a picture of his father - abd el aziz translates as son of the handsome one).