Atheists still the most hated minority

[Regina]

I think people need to get over the idea that criticising tenets of Islam is the same as hating Muslims. Islam is an idea, like any other idea it shouldn't be above critique and perhaps even ridicule. I hate the term "Islamophobia", it's certainly not wrong to say prejudice against Middle Eastern people is a thing (and that's racism, not religious bigotry), but the way that word is used is just another trendy buzzword to kill conversations.

I feel the same way about all these different "phobias", homophobia transphobia etc. Why call someone "Xphobic" when you can destroy them with real arguments? Jumping to name-calling is weak and shows you have nothing else to work with.

I agree though, it's far braver to be an atheist in The Middle East than it is in The West. I have so much respect for these Arabs who publicly come forward to renounce Islam. It takes guts in a country where you can be sent to jail (or worse) for it.