Humanist Hamza in the news

First of all, thanks so much to those of you who have already signed this petition to challenge the Home Office's scandalous decision not to grant asylum to humanist Hamza bin Walayat, who has been threatened with death as an apostate if he is returned to Pakistan, all because he wasn't able to identify a bunch of ancient Greek philosophers. I don't know Hamza at all, but as an atheist who left Catholicism in my late teens, I can easily empathise with his situation as I would with anyone, believer or nonbeliever, who was being persecuted by those who don't share their worldview. I was lucky enough to never be in danger of losing my life, but I am acutely aware of the manner in which those who are dogmatic and rigid in their thinking, those who don't seek to understand others who are different to themselves can lose that all important empathy and behave in very dangerous ways. Please note that though I don't have religious views, I am not attacking those who do. I have many friends who are religious and though we disagree fundamentally about the way the world works we nonetheless respect one another. This is all about equality - if believers expect to not face discrimination due to their beliefs, then that same right should be extended to those who have chosen not to believe. I would hope for and welcome support for Hamza from believers and atheists alike. And let's not forget agnostics too. Your help is also needed. In denying Hamza's claim for asylum for such spurious reasons, the Home Office have shown that they simply don't understand what humanism is. It has no strictures or dogmas, no central authority and no canonical texts. There are as many ways of being humanist as there are humanists. At its best it's personal, respectful and ethical, but it is not about knowing a set of scriptures or the names of prophets. It isn't another set of beliefs that can be tested like a quiz. It's an approach to life based on reason, evidence and compassion, not a bank of knowledge that can be dutifully recited. In not understanding this, those that made the decision in the Home Office have acted prejudicially and are colluding with the much more dangerous prejudices Hamza will face if he is returned to Pakistan where blasphemy is a capital offence. Finally, what follows are some links to news articles about Hamza's plight and a link to a similar petition set up by Humanists UK who are preparing to help Hamza's legal challange to the decision. Please share as widely as you can among both nonbelievers and believers. Hamza needs all of our help. Thanks for your kindness, Mark https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/17/pakistani-humanist-denied-uk-asylum-after-failing-to-identify-plato https://news.sky.com/story/pakistani-humanist-denied-asylum-after-showing-insufficient-knowledge-of-plato-11212651 https://humanism.org.uk/what-you-can-do-to-help/tell-amber-rudd-save-hamza-dont-deport-him/