I’ve set up a petition on petitiononline in defence of free speech and secularism. The text reads as follows:

We, the undersigned, unequivocally condemn the threats of death and bombings by Islamists to limit, censor and silence any critique of Islam.

Criticism of religion – any religion – including caricaturing religious figures, however offensive, are integral components of unconditional freedom of expression, secularism, and the separation of religion’s intervention in the public sphere.

These are rights fought for and gained by the enlightenment and progressive social movements.

We must not allow anyone or any movement to erode these fundamental rights and values.

All states are duty-bound to:

* Condemn threats made by religious groups and movements to limit, censor and silence free speech

* Unconditionally defend free speech and the separation of religion’s intervention in people’s lives

* Immediately prosecute all those issuing threats against persons and places. e.g. threats to kill, or carry out suicide bombings.

Do sign on and get others to do so as well. The link is: http://new.petitiononline.com/namazie/petition.html

Maryam Namazie