THE HAGUE — Humanist advocate Leo Igwe issued a scathing indictment of global religious persecution during a high-level meeting with the newly appointed Dutch Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), Annelies Faro, at The Hague this week.
In a powerful address, Igwe urged the Dutch government to broaden its scope of diplomatic intervention to include the systemic victimization of non-believers, humanists, and those targeted by deadly witchcraft-related superstition.
Igwe, who gained international prominence for his successful campaign to free Nigerian humanist Mubarak Bala—who was jailed for blasphemy in 2020—highlighted that the struggle for religious freedom is incomplete if it excludes those who do not subscribe to a faith.
“Freedom of religion or belief is incomplete without recognizing the rights of humanists and other non-religious persons,” Igwe stated. He warned that in many regions, particularly Nigeria, atheists and agnostics live in constant fear, unable to exercise their conscience without facing imprisonment, exile, or death.
The campaigner drew a direct link between the rise of jihadist extremism and the erosion of human rights. While acknowledging the documented “Christian genocide” currently unfolding in Nigeria, Igwe argued that the reality is far more pervasive. “It is also a genocide of unbelievers,” he noted, explaining that any individual perceived as an enemy by extremist interpretations of Sharia law—including non-believers and traditional worshippers—is systematically targeted. He called on international bodies to press for the total repeal of blasphemy and apostasy laws, which he characterized as weapons used to strip minorities of their basic citizenship.
Furthermore, Igwe brought international attention to the “ferocity” of modern-day witch hunts, a crisis he claims is ravaging communities across Africa, India, and Papua New Guinea. He provided the Special Envoy with a harrowing list of victims, including individuals like Adijat Pereira and Arit Inyang, who were murdered or disappeared due to witchcraft accusations.
Igwe criticized the complicity of state actors, noting that police and court systems often enable these abuses rather than punishing them. “Police and court officers have been complicit in persecuting the accused and shielding accusers,” he said, citing cases where individuals were imprisoned for the “non-existent crime” of witchcraft.
Concluding his address, Igwe championed a global effort to end witch hunts by 2030, a goal supported by a 2021 United Nations resolution. He urged the Dutch government to exert its diplomatic influence to pressure states that weaponize religious or superstitious beliefs for political and economic gain.
The meeting marks a pivotal shift in the dialogue surrounding FoRB, signaling an intent to ensure that the international community addresses not just the protection of organized religions, but the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals worldwide.
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