There have been many atheists who have participated in politics or law. This is a list of atheists in politics and law. Living persons in this list are people whose atheism is relevant to their notable activities or public life, and who have publicly identified themselves as atheists.
Africa Zackie Achmat (1962–): South African anti-Apartheid activist and HIV campaigner. Kareem Amer (1984–): Egyptian political activist. Alex Erwin (1948–): South African politician, the country's Minister of Public Enterprises from 2004 to 2009."Although Hurley's ecumenical links stopped short of the Communist Party, Alec Erwin, today's South African Minister of Trade and Industry, recalled their friendship in anti-apartheid days, though Erwin was an atheist and "he knew of my support for the Communist cause"." Randolph Vigne, 'Obituary: Archbishop Denis Hurley, Progressive South African Prelate', The Independent (London), February 25, 2004, Pg. 34. Chris Hani (1942–1993): South African anti-Apartheid activist, General Secretary of the South African Communist Party from 1991 to 1993 and Deputy Commander of uMkhonto we Sizwe from 1987 to 1992 . Nadine Gordimer (1923–2014): South African anti-Apartheid political activist.Paris Review, Interview with Gordimer . Maikel Nabil Sanad (1985–): Egyptian political activist. Joe Slovo (1926–1995): South African Communist politician, leader of the South African Communist Party and leading member of the African National Congress. Ronnie Kasrils (1938–): South African anti-Apartheid politician. Richard Leakey (1944–2022): Kenyan politician, conservationist and paleoanthropologist.Leakey, Leakey (1983). One Life: An Autobiography. (p. 38) Samora Moisés Machel (1933–1986): Mozambican socialist revolutionary. Mengistu Haile Mariam (1937–): Ethiopian politician and military dictator. Kingunge Ngombale–Mwiru (1930–2018): Tanzanian politician.
Asia
Cambodia Pol Pot (1925–1998): Communist politician and dictator of Cambodia, which became an atheist state under his rule.
China Xi Jinping (1953–): Chinese politician currently serving as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, President of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Hu Jintao (1942–): Chinese politician who was the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China from 2002 to 2012. He held the offices of General Secretary of the Communist Party from 2002 to 2012, President of China from 2003 to 2012 and Chairman of the Central Military Commission from 2004 to 2012. He was a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, China's de facto top decision-making body, from 1992 to 2012. Jiang Zemin (1926–2022): Chinese communist politician, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party 1989–2002 and President of China 1993–2003. In June 1999, Jiang established an extralegal department, the 6-10 Office, to expel Falun Gong from mainland China. On 20 July, security forces abducted and detained thousands of Falun Gong organizers they identified as leaders. The persecution of Falun Gong that followed was characterized a nationwide campaign of propaganda, as well as the large-scale arbitrary imprisonment and coercive reeducation of Falun Gong organizers, sometimes resulting in death."No one expects China's position on Tibet to become any more negotiable than it has been. But in one revealing moment, Mr Jiang gave a glimpse of the difficulties Peking has in understanding why other countries abhor its policies in Tibet. "I myself am an atheist", he said. "During my visit to the US last year and during my previous visit to European countries, I found that although the education, science and technology have developed to a very high level and the people are now enjoying modern civilisation, still quite a number of them have a belief in Lamaism." Teresa Poole, 'Jiang keeps channels open to Dalai Lama', The Independent (London), June 28, 1998, Pg. 16. Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997): Chinese politician. He was the paramount leader of China from 1978 until his retirement in 1989.Deng is quoted as saying, "Administrative means should not be applied to religion; but meanwhile, religious fanaticism should not be encouraged either, otherwise religion will be antagonistic to socialism, as well as to the interests of the people." Marxism and Religion, p. 338 Mao Zedong (1893–1976): Chinese military and political leader, Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, who led the Chinese Communist Party to victory in the Chinese Civil War, and was the leader of the People's Republic of China from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976. Under his leadership, China officially became an atheist state."With revolution came a new, atheist regime – one that frowned on all religious belief." China's Catholics: Far from Rome, by Holly Williams, BBC News, December 24, 2003, (Accessed April 14, 2008)"...Mao was an atheist..." Death Ritual as Political Trickster in the People's Republic of China, by A. P. Cheater, Source: The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs, No. 26 (Jul., 1991), pp. 67-97 (p. 92), published by Contemporary China Center, Australian National University"Mao is not only a historical figure, of course, but is part of the (tattered) web of legitimacy on which the People's Republic rests. He is part of the founding mythology of the Chinese government, the Romulus and Remus of "People's China", and that's why his portrait hangs in Tiananmen Square. Even among ordinary Chinese, Mao retains a hold on the popular imagination, and some peasants in different parts of China have started traditional religious shrines honoring him. That's the ultimate honor for an atheist – he has become a god." 'Mao': The Real Mao, Nicholas D. Kristof, The New York Times, October 23, 2005 (Accessed April 25, 2008)Mao is quoted as saying, "Religion is poison. Firstly it reduces the population, because monks and nuns must stay celibate, and secondly it neglects material progress." Dalai Lama, Freedom in Exile, pp. 98-99 Hua Guofeng (1921–2008): Chinese politician and paramount leader of China until 1978.
India Jyoti Basu (1914–2010) Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (1944–2024) Manik Sarkar (1949–) Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, known as Periyar (1879–1973): Social reformer and politician, the 'Socrates of Southern Asia', who founded the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam."On religion, Periyar used both lip and pen rationally and forcefully. He was convinced that people used religion only as a mask to deceive the innocent people. Periyar proclaimed himself as a vowed atheist. Puranas, shastras and smritis were the target of his vociferous condemnation. He firmly asserted that these were responsible in making the public feel hardy and superstitious. At one stage, he asserted that the meaningless religious treatises must be burnt. He believed that belief in God dampens the natural human qualities such as initiatives, perseverance and enthusiasm. Fear of God is the beginning of one's own foolishness. Periyar attacked mainly Hinduism and its gods, because they are the greatest enemy of human equality and liberty. He felt that if a person should live with self-respect he must do away with religion." Louis Antony, com/louis.pdf Political Philosophy of Periyar (pdf), Pg. 27. Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964): India's first Prime Minister and a secular-described "scientific humanist" who disavowed belief in gods. C.N.Annadurai (1909-1969)- Former chief minister of Tamil Nadu & founder leader of DMK an offshoot of Dravidar kazhagam Sahodaran Ayyappan (1889–1969): Co-founder of the modern atheist movement in Kerala state in India, and minister in Travancore-Cochin government. Goparaju Ramachandra Rao, Well known as Gora (1902–1975) Social reformer, founded Atheist Centre on the principles of positive Atheism. Participated in Indian freedom movement, preached atheism. M.A. John (1936–2011): Leader of Indian National Congress and atheist. Subhashini Ali (1947–): Marxist politician and President of the All India Democratic Women's Association."There are religions that have very rigid rules and there are others that don't. Religion is something that I, as a person, am not interested in. I have always been an atheist. My parents were atheists. It doesn't bother me if somebody is religious. My problem is when religion is used to institutionalise other things." The Rediff Interview/ Subhasini Ali, August 8, 2001 (accessed April 21, 2008). Kanimozhi (1968–): Politician and poet, and daughter of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi."It may be 60 years since the DMK broke away from the Dravidar Kazhagam, but some affinities run very deep, and across generations. Poet turned-politician Kanimozhi earned encomiums from DK president K Veeramani for expounding the ideals of DK founder, the late rationalist leader Periyar. The atheist in her was in full flow as she spoke at the DK's youth wing conference and posed some trenchant questions to believers and went on to express concern over the present-day youth's understanding of the Dravidian movement and its contribution. Veeramani was so impressed that he not only gave her 100 out of 100 in rationalist philosophy. And he laid claim to priority in her ideological loyalty. "You belong to us first, and then only to the DMK", he exulted." The rationalist poet, Times of India, 8 September 2008 (accessed 9 September 2008). M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018): Ex-Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu."For the AIADMK enthusiasts, there is no conflict of ideologies. Their leader, the late M. G. Ramachandran, was an atheist turned ardent Mookambikai devotee. But, for the activists of the DMK, whose leader, M. Karunanidhi, is a sworn atheist, it is a tussle between personal beliefs and the party's ideological moorings." '', The Hindu, 8 September 2002."Since Karunanidhi is an atheist he seems to believe in Janatha Janardhan rather than the Janardhan (God) found in temples and places of worship." K. B. Ganapathy, 'Jaya scored a self-goal', OurKarnataka.com (accessed 9 September 2008). M. K. Stalin (1953–): Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu since 2021. Manabendra Nath Roy (1887–1954): Born Narendra Nath Bhattacharya, popularly known as M. N. Roy, was a Bengali Indian revolutionary, internationally known political theorist and activist, founder of the Communist parties in Mexico and India. He later denounced communism and became an exponent of the philosophy of radical humanism."But Roy was an atheist and fierce priest hater..." Bhagat Singh (1907–1931): Marxist revolutionary, wrote a pamphlet entitled Why I am an atheist.Why I am an Atheist, Bhagat Singh, October 1930. Harkishan Singh Surjeet (1916–2008): Politician, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from 1992 to 2005 and a member of the party's Polit Bureau from 1964 to 2008."Surjeet, who always sported a white turban, was also passionately opposed to the Sikh separatist campaign that bled Punjab for a decade until 1993. An atheist, he led a spartan lifestyle and always wore simple, even crumpled clothes." M.R. Narayan Swamy and Monobina Gupta, Indo-Asian News Service: ', Hindustan Times, August 1, 2008 (accessed August 1, 2008). A. K. Gopalan (1904–1977): Communist leader from Kerala and former leader of communist in ls. E. M. S. Namboodiripad (1909–1998): Politician, renowned socialist and a Marxist theorist, first Chief Minister of Kerala. He also became the leader of the first democratically elected communist government in the world. K.N. Ramachandran (1937–): Naxalite leader and General Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) Red Star Prakash Karat (1948–): Politician, The General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from 2005 to 2015. Siddaramaiah (1948–): Chief Minister of Karnataka elected to office in 2013. E. K. Nayanar (1918–2004): Politician, former Chief Minister of Kerala A. K. Antony (1940–): Politician, former Chief Minister of Kerala