In Kuwait an atheist activist and blogger has been arrested and jailed for blasphemy. Abdel Aziz Mohamed Albaz was arrested in Kuwait on charges of blasphemy on Dec. 31, 2012.
Aziz (also known as BenBaz) has been a major force behind Arab Atheist TV, and writes a blog: “Buzz Bin Baz - Rational Libertarian Humanitarian.”
Currently Aziz is being detained at the Central Prison in Kuwait City, and has been there since Jan. 2. An Egyptian, Aziz has been living and working in Kuwait. Friends report Aziz was picked up at his place of work and detained by police in Kuwait on Dec. 31, 2012. A hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 28, 2013.
Atheists, agnostics, freethinkers and others are working to bring attention to Aziz’s plight. Sympathetic supporters have organized a protest scheduled to take place at the Kuwaiti Embassy at noon on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013.
In addition, supporters are petitioning the Government of Kuwait to “free humanist/atheist activist Abdel Aziz Mohamed Albaz”
From the petition:
Whether you are an Atheist or a Muslim or a Christian, nobody deserves to be jailed or punished for having atheistic views. He did not hurt anybody. He did not steal, he did not assault anyone, he did not vandalize someone's property. He is simply a well articulated Egyptian Atheist who speaks his mind. He expressed himself in writing peacefully a rather gentle articles. We need your help to pressure the Kuwaiti government to release him from this unjust imprisonment.
Please join us in DEFENSE of free speech and freedom of thought.
Atheism is not a crime. Blasphemy is not a crime. Freedom of expression, and freedom of conscience, is, and ought to be, a universal human right. Support Abdel Aziz Mohamed Albaz.
Sign the FreeBenBaz petition: http://tinyurl.com/BenBazPetition
Join the FreeBenBaz group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/FreeBenBaz/
Like the FreeBenBaz community page on Facebook:https://www.tinyurl.com/FreeBenBaz
On Twitter follow the hastag: #FreeBenBaz
For more news, information and humor relevant to atheists, freethinkers, and secular humanists, check out Progressive Secular Humanist Examiner on Facebook.
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