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Iraq’s growing community of atheists no longer peripheral
Atheists in Iraq are a growing minority no longer on the political sidelines and increasingly under the state’s radar. As their numbers grow, a critical debate is flourishing: Who might they be? What do they represent? Out of what conditions did they hatch?
The growing prevalence of atheism is not entirely disconnected from the political misdeeds of political and religious figures, warned Iraqi thinker Izzat Shahbandar.
The ruling political class, carefully propped up by religious institutions, regularly occupies television slots to downplay the uptick. The increasing prevalence of atheism and agnosticism signals a tidal public opinion change.
Defences rolled out by religious parties and government advocates, have done little to restore public faith in a class that “increasingly represents the corruption of morals, irreligion and the politicisation of religious life,” said an atheist from southern Iraq, who did not wish to be identified.
Publicité
