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Comment by AaronFriel | Hacker News Reader

In a handful of countries around the world, including Iran, being non-religious is considered blasphemous and can be punished by death.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2012/12/10...

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There's the law, and then there's the law's practical application. These rarely line up, especially for foreigners. Iran isn't really interested in making world news by executing foreigners.

Exactly, and it's also worth mentioning that alot of these types of laws exist to create criminals when one is needed, and not to preemptively seek out violators. That's not necessarily morally any better, but at least it removes the spectre of "I'm going to get killed the instant I land at the airport" feeling that seems to be so common.

> Exactly, and it's also worth mentioning that alot of these types of laws exist to create criminals when one is needed,

How on Earth does that make it better in any way? That is the hallmark of any fascist or authoritarian state. That these type of laws exist to punish cultural outliers does not make them just or right.

I feel like I'm the upside down here, why are people in any way defending actual thought crime laws in countries like Iran? In what universe is it acceptable for the state to make not believing in something a crime punishable by death?

> How on Earth does that make it better in any way? [...] That these type of laws exist to punish cultural outliers does not make them just or right.

How did you arrive at the conclusion that GP was saying that? Did you read sentence 2 of 2, in which he clarifies he was not making a moral comparison? If you feel you’re in the upside down, it’s because you’re reading something that isn’t there. Not everything you encounter must be immediately classified as ‘for’ or ‘against’ whatever moral issue you currently feel passionate about. Nuance exists.

Thank you!

cough might want to read the second sentence.

I have non-religious Iranian friends, living in Iran, that will share their views with others and certainly do not live in fear of their lives. It is a complex topic however. Much of what a western person might associate with 'religion' is better attributed to 'culture'. Openly rejecting all cultural norms, unlikely to go well, foreigner or local, Iran or elsewhere. Your comment does not provide meaningful understanding and rather misleads.

I have met people from middle eastern countries who are apostates, a crime punishable by death. They fear for their life and the history of executions in countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, to name two of several, is clear.

It is undeniably true that in Iran and several other countries, blasphemy and apostasy is a crime. A real, actual thought crime which the state punishes with violence.

So it's the state you are concerned about? Not common Iranians?

>> Wanting to go study the beautiful works of art in Iran is brave. As an atheist, it would be dangerous for me to do so... But yet, it's still true that many, perhaps most of them [Iranians] "hate my kind" over there.

In practical terms, for your trip to Iran, US citizenship is a more likely source of potential issues than your religious beliefs.

Yes, I am more concerned about authoritarian states than individuals generally.

And yes, my passport would pose a bigger problem for me on first blush. But even for a European in Iran. Or an Iranian in Iran, apostasy is a crime and one that can be severely punished. We should decry that as a threat to freedom of thought and religion.

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