KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 — Atheists should not have religious belief forced upon them, secular group Bebas said today after a deputy minister claimed that faithlessness was a crime.

Bebas denounced as irrational Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki’s claim in Parliament today that atheism was a “very dangerous”, unconstitutional and criminal ideology.

“Atheists, by and large, conduct their lives in a manner that is ethical, not out of fear or reward-seeking but because they are upholding their own principles and have empathy for others,” said Bebas in a statement.

“They accept the diversity of opinion, and they are unafraid to debate. In general, atheists want to be left alone and not have religious belief forced onto them. They should be treated no different than those who belong to a particular religion,” it added.

Advertisement

Asyraf Wajdi told the Dewan Rakyat that freedom of religion, as protected in the Federal Constitution, did not mean “freedom from any religion”.

The senator also said atheism could be punished under Shariah law for Muslims or under the Sedition Act for non-Muslims, as the lack of a belief in god supposedly contradicted laws relating to public order and peace.

“Atheists are not a threat,” said Bebas. “They should have the right to believe what they feel is best for them. After all, there should be no compulsion in religion.”

Advertisement