For Immediate Release

Contact:
Sam Gerard, sgerard@americanhumanist.org, 202-238-9088 ext. 105

(March 4, 2020, Washington, DC)—The American Humanist Association applauds the House Foreign Affairs Committee for voting House Resolution 512 out of committee today and thanks Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul for their leadership on repealing blasphemy laws.

“As Representative Engel said this morning, freedom of religion is a fundamental human right, and no one should face persecution for their faith or lack thereof,” noted Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association. “We are proud to lead a diverse coalition of more than 65 national and international organizations who not only agree with this foundational statement, but are working tirelessly to eliminate blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws around the world.”

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The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms a responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity.