Discrimination against atheists
![Countries in which, as of 2007, apostasy of the local or state religion was punishable by execution under national (black) or regional (dark gray) law. Currently, this occurs only in Islamic nations.[1]](/Images/godic/202412/21/States_with_death_penalty_for_apostasy.svg3239.png")
![](/Images/godic/202412/21/Atheismsymbol_endorsed_by_AAI.svg3239.png")
![Anti-atheist propaganda billboard posted in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in February 2008](/Images/godic/202412/21/Why_Do_Atheists_Hate_America_billboard3239.jpg")
Discrimination against atheists, both at present and historically, includes the persecution of those identifying themselves or labeled by others as atheists, as well as the discrimination against them. As atheism can be defined in various ways, those discriminated against on the grounds of being atheists might not have been considered as such in a different time or place. As of 2015, 19 countries punish their citizens for apostasy, and in 13 of those countries it is punishable by death.