Mommad
- Location / Greece
- Reason for persecution / Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief
- Current Status / In Exile
- Last Updated / 21 July 2022
- Name of Individual / Mommad
- Country of Origin / Pakistan
Mommad
Pakistani atheist Mommad (true name concealed for security reasons) was granted asylum in Greece in August 2021. Lawyers funded by Humanists International appealed Greek authorities’ original decision to reject his claim.
History of the case
Since January 2020, Humanists International has been monitoring Mommad’s (not his real name) application for asylum. His asylum application had initially been refused, however this decision was later reversed on appeal by a team of Greek lawyers funded by Humanists International.
In August 2021, the legal team successfully argued that, as an atheist, Mommad would face a serious risk of persecution if he were to be returned to Pakistan. Humanists International’s Freedom of Thought Report describes the legal environment in Pakistan as “notably repressive; it has brutal blasphemy laws, systemic and legislative religious discrimination and often allows vigilante violence on religious grounds to occur with impunity”, and notes that “for individual non-religious persons to speak out is uncommon, but those revealed or alleged to be non-religious tend to provoke swift condemnation.”
In August 2021, Mommad wrote to Humanists International to thank them for their support:
“I am very grateful to Humanists International, without your help it would not have been possible. Thank you so much!”
Country background
The legal environment in Pakistan is notably repressive; it has brutal blasphemy laws, systemic and legislative religious discrimination and often allows vigilante violence on religious grounds to occur with impunity.
