The International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organisation (IHEYO) stands in solidarity with the International Humanist and Ethical Union and the American Humanist Association against the white supremacists and Neo-Nazis in Charlottesville.
IHEYO also stands in solidarity with the Kuala Lumpur consulate for the Atheist Republic.
In light of the calls for hunting down the atheists for being public and having a dinner in an Islamically-run society, and the Neo-Nazi and white supremacist gatherings in Charlottesville, the humanist and ethical culture movement does have implied positions.
On the hunting down of atheists, or non-believers, even “infidels” by some people’s lights, this goes against fundamental principles of freedom of belief and association, especially without fear of life and livelihood after a dinner photo.
On the Charlottesville gathering of Neo-Nazis and white supremacists, IHEYO stands against any ethnic chauvinism and supremacy, and Nazi political positions, especially when brought together in movements hoping for a fantasy through ethnic nationalism.
These recent events reinstantiate the need for universalist values inherent in humanism to be further implemented in societies, especially those wracked by theological domination over state and law, and the death threats for those simply believing as they wish.
It is also a means from which to reflect on other societies’ positions who are not overtly theocratic, but by culture, custom, and norms are tacitly theocratic with religion holding high privileges.
These types of events will likely occur in the future. We must be prepared to act in solidarity against these atrocious actions with coalitions, whether explicit or not, to protect against inflaming of old hatreds and the rising from the ashes of extremist positions: religious, ethnic, or political.
*This was a note following the two events on behalf of the International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organisation.*
Original publication in Humanist Voices.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen founded In-Sight Publishing and In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal.
“IHEYO stands against any ethnic chauvinism and supremacy”
Then you won’t mind ENUMERATING these… I’ll make the popcorn.