Atheists around world suffer persecution, discrimination: report

[SkyMutt]

The people who created this report, the IHEU (International Humanist and Ethical Union), are hardly a neutral party. Still, I wouldn't accuse them of bias until I had evidence.

Story from Reuters

Page for the report from IHEU (includes link to download the full 70 pages)

From Reuters' story:

In Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin and North America, countries which identify themselves secular give privileges to or favor Christian churches in providing education and other public services, the IHEU said.

In Greece and Russia, the Orthodox Church is fiercely protected from criticism and is given pride of place on state occasions, while in Britain bishops of the Church of England have automatic seats in the upper house of parliament.

While freedom of religion and speech is protected in the United States, the report said, a social and political climate prevails "in which atheists and the non-religious are made to feel like lesser Americans, or non-Americans."

In at least seven U.S. states, constitutional provisions are in place that bar atheists from public office and one state, Arkansas, has a law that bars an atheist from testifying as a witness at a trial, the report said.