Any rational ideology should be able to stand on its own merits, rather than be shielded from criticism, ridicule or vilification, the Malta Humanist Association said today.

The association was referring to what it described as attempts to retain the "archaic law" prohibiting the vilification of religion, and the attempt by some politicians to offer to extend this law to cover atheism as some kind of consolation.

"We have never requested, nor do we desire, any such protection for atheism or humanism. In fact, such protection would be insulting as it implies that the ideology in question is too weak to withstand an disagreement."

People should be protected and this is why there are laws such as slander and libel laws, the association said. Ideas and beliefs on the other hand should not.