Paris meet discusses importance of laicity for women's rights, atheism in Islamic context

By Maryam Namazie*
For the first time in France, an international conference brought together defenders of laicity from around the world on December 8 and 9, 2023 at Paris City Hall. The conference was co-organised by the Association Laïques Sans Frontières (LSF) and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB), in collaboration with the Comité Laïcité République (CLR) and the EGALE Association (Equality Secularism Europe) and in partnership with Charlie Hebdo, Marianne magazine, Freedom From Religion Foundation (USA), National Secular Society (UK) and Center for Inquiry (USA).
The event brought together more than 40 laic personalities, coming from the four corners of the world. They addressed different themes such as, the importance of laicity for women's rights, atheism in the Islamic context, contemporary challenges linked to laicity and its role in preserving democracy.
At the end of the conference, the Paris Appeal was launched.

The Paris Appeal: Laics Of All Countries, Unite!

Because we refuse that religion dictates its law to the City (the “Polis”) and affirm that the separation of religions and the state protects the rights of all regardless of their personal convictions, be they atheists, believers or agnostics.
Because we reject all discrimination and racism, in the name of our common humanity.
Because we fight obscurantism, fundamentalism, communitarianism.
Because we consider that the right to be different should not lead to a difference in rights.
Because we strongly condemn any violence or constraint against the expression of free thought.
Because we demand access for all to knowledge and to rational and emancipatory education.
Because we are deeply attached to the values of freedom, equality and justice.
Because we are for a world of peace where reason takes precedence over beliefs, and which recognises universalist and humanist principles.
Because laicity cannot be confused with the secularisation of societies, we demand the right to freedom of conscience.

Gathered on December 9, 2023, the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and anniversary of the French law on the separation of Church and State, we launch “The Paris Appeal” calling on Laics of all countries to unite for:

The promotion of Laicity as a fundamental principle of democracy, pluralism, universal rights and freedoms in all societies.
The complete separation of religions and the state in political structures and systems, particularly in the law, the judicial system, education, health and all public services.
The abolition of restrictive religious and cultural laws in the civil, penal and family codes. We refuse all regulations and practices imposed on women which violate their dignity and deny them the right to bodily autonomy.
The right to freedom of conscience and expression, including the right to change religion or to have none and the suppression of the offences of blasphemy and apostasy.
Equality between women and men, and citizenship rights for all.
The defence of dissidents threatened by the state or society for their belief or convictions.
⁠The right of all to live and love according to their free choice.

Organisations can sign on to the Paris Appeal by filling out this form or emailing organisation name, city and country to maryamnamazie@gmail.com.

---

*British-Iranian secularist, communist and human rights activist, commentator, and broadcaster. Website: https://maryamnamazie.com/

Comments

Countrywide protest by gig workers puts spotlight on algorithmic exploitation

By A Representative A nationwide protest led largely by women gig and platform workers was held across several states on February 3, with the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) claiming the mobilisation as a success and a strong assertion of workers’ rights against what it described as widespread exploitation by digital platform companies. Demonstrations took place in Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states, covering major cities including New Delhi, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Mumbai, along with multiple districts across the country.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

CFA flags ‘welfare retreat’ in Union Budget 2026–27, alleges corporate bias

By Jag Jivan The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026–27 , calling it a “budget sans kartavya” that weakens public welfare while favouring private corporations, even as inequality, climate risks and social distress deepen across the country.

From water scarcity to sustainable livelihoods: The turnaround of Salaiya Maaf

By Bharat Dogra We were sitting at a central place in Salaiya Maaf village, located in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, for a group discussion when an elderly woman said in an emotional voice, “It is so good that you people came. Land on which nothing grew can now produce good crops.”

When free trade meets unequal fields: The India–US agriculture question

By Vikas Meshram The proposed trade agreement between India and the United States has triggered intense debate across the country. This agreement is not merely an attempt to expand bilateral trade; it is directly linked to Indian agriculture, the rural economy, democratic processes, and global geopolitics. Free trade agreements (FTAs) may appear attractive on the surface, but the political economy and social consequences behind them are often unequal and controversial. Once again, a fundamental question has surfaced: who will benefit from this agreement, and who will pay its price?

Paper guarantees, real hardship: How budget 2026–27 abandons rural India

By Vikas Meshram In the history of Indian democracy, the Union government’s annual budget has always carried great significance. However, the 2026–27 budget raises several alarming concerns for rural India. In particular, the vague provisions of the VBG–Ram Ji scheme and major changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) have put the future of rural workers at risk. A deeper reading of the budget reveals that these changes are not merely administrative but are closely tied to political and economic priorities that will have far-reaching consequences for millions of rural households.

Penpa Tsering’s leadership and record under scrutiny amidst Tibetan exile elections

By Tseten Lhundup* Within the Tibetan exile community, Penpa Tsering is often described as having risen through grassroots engagement. Born in 1967, he comes from an ordinary Tibetan family, pursued higher education at Delhi University in India, and went on to serve as Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile from 2008 to 2016. In 2021, he was elected Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), becoming the second democratically elected political leader of the administration after Lobsang Sangay.

'Gandhi Talks': Cinema that dares to be quiet, where music, image and silence speak

By Vikas Meshram In today’s digital age, where reels and short videos dominate attention spans, watching a silent film for over two hours feels almost like an act of resistance. Directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar, “Gandhi Talks” is a bold cinematic experiment that turns silence into language and wordlessness into a powerful storytelling device. The film is not mere entertainment; it is an experience that pushes the viewer inward, compelling reflection on life, values, and society.

Frugal funds, fading promises: Budget 2026 exposes shrinking space for minority welfare

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Ministry of Minority Affairs was established in 2006 during the tenure of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, following the findings of the Sachar Committee, which documented that Muslims were among the most educationally and economically disadvantaged communities in India. The ministry was conceived as a corrective institutional response to deep structural inequalities faced by religious minorities, particularly Muslims, through focused policy interventions.

Search This Blog