Diary of a Pakistani Atheist
Mobeen Azhar meets the people who linger in the shadows of Pakistani life afraid of saying they don鈥檛 believe in God.
In March 2017, a High Court Judge in Pakistan made the dramatic declaration that 鈥渂lasphemers are terrorists.鈥 The declaration is just one part of a growing national campaign to make disbelief socially, publicly and morally not just unacceptable, but one that allows Pakistani people the right to attack those who doubt the importance of Islam.
Websites offer a satirical take on Islam and challenge the notion that Pakistan is an Islamic Republic, but the government replied with adverts in national newspapers and text messages to all Pakistanis, urging them to report those who express their online disbelief in God
Mobeen Azhar listens to the intimate, anonymous diary entries of those who call themselves atheists, but daren鈥檛 say so publicly.
He also ventures inside the secret meetings and parties safe havens for atheists to come together to hear how it is to live the life of a non-believer, in a country where religion is playing a bigger role in all areas of life.
Presenter and Producer: Mobeen Azhar
To find out read Mobeen鈥檚 piece on the 麻豆社 website go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-40580196
(Photo: The diary of a Pakistani Atheist, Credit: Mobeen Azhar)
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Living life as an anonymous atheist in Pakistan
Duration: 02:21
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The anonymous diaries of Pakistani atheists
Duration: 02:46
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- Fri 14 Jul 2017 12:32GMT麻豆社 World Service except News Internet
- Sat 15 Jul 2017 01:32GMT麻豆社 World Service except News Internet
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Heart and Soul
Personal approaches to religious belief from around the world.