Kenyan Atheists Cry Discrimination After Being Denied Official Recognition

A group of atheists in Kenya have complained of “blatant discrimination” after alleging authorities refused to recognize their society.

Atheists in Kenya (AIK) applied for official registration last year, but their application was turned down by the government.

Its president, Harrison Mumia, says denying their society’s right to register could impact the country’s “peace…[and] good order,” stressing the impact of registration for associations and societies.

As an officially recognized organization, the AIK would have been allowed more participation in public affairs, as well as open its own group bank account

Mumia has further pinned the blame on official registrar, Maria Nyariki, accusing her of exclusively approving registration of other groups “through guesswork,” and citing instances of other “church leaders who have defiled minors” having been officially recognized by the government, the BBC reported.

The AIK, a 60-member atheist group, number among the scores of religious and non-religious alliances in a country where 97 percent of the people identify with a religion, a Pew Research study has found.

Mumia has claimed being atheists in a predominantly religious society has subjected him and his group members to discrimination and prejudice, Standard Digital said.

He further pointed out how the court overturned AIK’s appeal against the Kenyan government’s decision to have Pope Francis’ visit to the country last November coincide with a public holiday.

Mumia said he will be taking his complaints to the court, citing the government’s violation of AIK’s constitutional right to freedom of association, a report from Digital News Journal said.

The AIK was formed in 2013 and promotes the belief that all religious are largely based on myths created by primitive people, pointing out evidence that Jesus and other gods are fictional characters. The group aims to reorganize society around the secular values they adhere to.

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atheist beliefs, Kenya news, religious discrimination, religious prejudice, atheism philosophy

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