PRESS RELEASE, 2017-10-19

For immediate release
AFT launches parliamentary petition against the religious exception in federal Hate Propaganda law

Montreal, 19^th October 2017 — Atheist Freethinkers (LPA-AFT), an association which promotes secularism and supports the rights of atheists, is pleased to announce the launch of its parliamentary petition e-763 against the religious exception in the federal Hate Propaganda law, that is, line 319(3)b) of the Criminal Code of Canada. That line stipulates that “an opinion based on a belief in a religious text” is not considered hateful. However, several religious scriptures make declarations which denigrate and promote hatred towards various groups, including atheists, women, gays and others. The impunity granted by this provision thus constitutes an unjust privilege for religious believers and is prejudicial towards nonbelievers.

To sign the petition, simply visit the web site of the Parliament of Canada at the following address: https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-763

We would like to thank Member of Parliament Marwan Tabbara (Liberal, Kitchener-South—Hespeler) for accepting to sponsor this petition, thus allowing it to be published on the Parliament web site.

To our sympathizers, we also recommend signing another petition which deals with related issues: petition e-1264, initiated by Doug Thomas, which requests that “systemic discrimination against non-believers in Canadian laws and regulations” be investigated.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Reach us by email
David Rand, bulletin at atheology.ca
Pierre Thibault, secretariat at atheology.ca

Web site: www.atheology.ca

Petition: https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-763

This press release is also available as a PDF document.