Religion has a huge impact on people’s lives across the world. In many countries, religious regimes and movements dictate the way people live their lives, enforcing moral values, expectations and laws on what they can and can’t do. Throughout history, religion has been used to divide, oppress, and victimize certain groups of people.

Yet from the US Civil-Rights movement, to Liberation Theology, to the Arab Spring we see that religious movements can play a leading role in progressive struggles.

This is mainly down to two factors: in semi-colonial (third-world) countries, religious forces are the largest and most powerful organizations outside of government; and in imperialist countries, religious practice is highest among those suffering oppression based on their race or religious beliefs.

So during the Egyptian Revolution, the formerly-illegal Muslim Brotherhood eventually joined the protests to overthrow Mubarak. But after months of rule by a military junta, a new uprising has been condemned by the Muslim Brotherhood. They hope to rise to state power off the backs of those who made the revolution on the streets.

REVOLUTION calls for a separation between church and state. We are in favor of the freedom to worship and the freedom not to worship. We are for an end to religious laws.

We say:

• For complete separation of Church and State. No to all religious law-making or laws based on religious practice.

• For an end to religious schools, courts, and state institutions.

• Complete freedom of worship.

• No discrimination based on religion: for the freedom to wear religious clothes and symbols and the freedom not to.

• For an end to forced marriages; for the right to divorce without repercussions.

• For an end to all discriminatory practices outside and inside religious institutions: full equality for all races, sexes, and sexualities.

• For socialist revolution against religious regimes