Members International Members
UK
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Abbas Naji It just doesn’t make sense to me that there is a god. There are fossils from millions of years ago; according to them, god’s prophets came and brought something called religion to deceive and exploit people only a few thousand years ago. They use religion to scare and intimidate people into submission to a god and give false promises of a heaven and earth so they can rule over them. I think people should not bother and help and being kind to others and also be happy and enjoy their lives. In the hope that we can be free from religion and superstition. |
Abdul Hye
I am an Ex-Muslim. With all this flag burning and protesting going on I feel a little left out. It's good to have an origination that I can join.
AbdulR, London
I would like to join a group of like minded individuals, ever since I could think for myself and apply logic -- I was doomed to be a non-believer of religion. I don’t openly tell everyone because I don’t want to cause offence to people like my parents who I respect. It’s the religion they were born with and hard built into their culture-- would be impossible to shift this. With time I think a lot will change on the religion front, will be more people speaking out against the nonsense -- I honestly believe by the year 3000 religion will be more or less eradicated with only a few pockets existing like cults. Joining an organisation like this means I can express how I feel with other people for once.
P.S although a lot of ex-Muslims are probably against Islam in general , I have to admit I probably am a little bit anti-Islam myself, but I will not be joining hands with Islamophobic English people because their only agenda is being racist and I saw one commenting earlier and I don’t want anything to do with ignorant fascist scum
Adam Sherwood, London
I just want to be an atheist, free from any religious influence in my government.
Adam Williams, Coventry, UK
I used to be a Muslim, I took my Shahada in 2008 and I truly believed in Islam at the time. However, the more I grew to know about Islam and Sharia the more I not only disagreed with all aspects but it made me realise I don't believe in a god. I wish to join to discourage others from joining Islam blindly and to support ex-Muslims like myself and the one law for all campaign.
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Ahmed Fawad, Leeds I am an atheist and I would like to join this brave organisation along with my wife and young daughter who also do not want the burden of religion upon them. We reject this child molestor called Mohammed and his laws i.e. The Sharia. According to which there is no freedom of expression, no right to question, just obedience to the so called "divine" commands of Allah and Mohammed. Nothing in this religion is compatible with western democracy and human rights. Its Jihadi ideology wants to divide humanity into two hostile blocks, Dar-ul-Islam (house of peace)and Dar-ul-Harb (house of war). Islam teaches Muslims to wage a perpetual war in Dar-ul-Harb until the whole world is conquered by Islamic fascists and fanatics and ruled according to Mohammed's Sharia Law. Once the world is under their control, infidels will be totally dehumanised, non-Muslim women would be taken as sex slaves, like their master Mohammed took a young minor girl as his sex slave. This religion breeds hatred and contempt and is against the forces of history and time, (The Zeitgeist) the spirit of times. Islam calls for the total destruction of non-Muslim cultures. And sadly such views are not only confined to the most radicalized Islamists, they were confirmed in the proceedings of the 4th conference of the academy of Islamic research held in 1968 (General organization for government printing offices, Cairo, 1968) and regularly since then by prominent Islamic scholars. Even here in the United Kingdom, Al Mohajiroun, a London based Islamic newspaper published an article on Jan. 27th 2001 which declares upon the establishment of the Islamic Block and the rest of the world becomes Dar-ul-Harb. This medieval religion is too dangerous for the rational world to ignore. Its spreading should be stopped and stopped immediately. Before this crime against humanity called "Islam" permeates through humanity itself.  Noshina Fawad, Leeds I grew up in a household where my father was an atheist and my mother, a liberal Muslim. We were taught ethics and morality and were raised as Muslims. The more I learnt about Islam, the more I became aware of its many restrictions and how I was totally against them. Islam preaches peace and serenity and yet encourages the murder of 'kafirs', those who have said anything against it. Islam prohibits listening to music and yet many of the surats and ayats of the Quran are in musical form. Islam conveys equality for both men and women while men are allowed to have four wives, and this liberty is not mutual. Living in Pakistan, I witnessed how women were brainwashed to believe that they only existed to be of service to men, how children were scolded to memorise verses that they didn’t even understand. Religion limits an individual to a certain way of life; it restricts us to grasp any other possibilities of existence. I believe in justice and freedom and I am proud to say I have renounced religion! |
Al Haq
Surely I am allowed to love the truth.
Alan Henness, London, UK
I was at the recent conference with my wife, Maria MacLachlan and want to support this important cause.
Ali
I'll make this quick as you must be quite busy saving the world :) I'm a closet apostate of Islam, and came across your website after hearing about the launch of the Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain. I'd just like express show my admiration for your courage and ask what I can do to help the campaign. It's something that I've had a passion for a long time, but I've felt frustrated with the fact that Islam is such a huge problem to tackle. Hearing of your movement gives me hope.
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Ali Islami Sedigh, London My personal experiences with the brutal Islamic regime in Iran and my subsequent studies of Islam and other religions have led me to renounce it altogether. I want to be free to live my life without the threat of death over my head. |
Alice Adams
I have been appalled in recent years by the cowardly refusal to confront abuses perpetrated in the name of religion, particularly the oppression of women under Islam. I applaud the courage of the ex-Muslims on this site and strongly support your brave stand. I am an atheist and have never been religious. I believe that all people should be free to practise any religion or none, but only so long as they do not use it as a tool of oppression. I also believe that people should be free to criticize any religion.
Ali Reza Golzari
Amal Farah
I am originally from Somalia. I joined because it's about time we ex-Muslims came together and had our voices heard. To stand up and be counted.
Amjid Hasan
I'm so glad to have found other people who feel and think the way I do. I was brought up a Muslim and went to a roman catholic school (bizarre!) but never really believed in any religion. I also didn't understand why a god who apparently loves you would encourage you to learn scripture by giving you a beating if you read it wrong as happened to me when I was 6 years old! Ridiculous. There are so many comments on the site that I have either personally experienced or am familiar with. I'm glad to no longer be part of a Muslim community who are unable to understand or tolerate (despite what they say) others' beliefs or opinions. To those who can think for themselves and want to feel free to express themselves but are still in those communities, particularly if faced with violence, I would say 'be strong and remember that there are many here who support you'.
Andy Ishaq, London, UK
I'm Ex-Muslim / atheist, but I fear that if I openly announce that I do not believe in religion that I was brought up as then I will be killed or my family will be harmed.
Now that I have found CEMB which I did not know existed, I want to share how I feel.
Anthony Darke, Woodbury Salterton, Devon
Pledging my support for you by joining your organiseation and upholding your manifesto. I am an ex chrsitian, so this organisation is one I wish to support in helping other people not feel intimidated if they choose to renounce their beliefs.
Aran Rezaee
Arezoo Pouya
Arslan
I am a medical scientist; I am a Pakistani national. I am currently living in United Kingdom. I have left Islam. I am an ex Muslim, hardcore atheist, and an anti-theist. I have always been a borderline and questioning believer who had little affinity for Islam. In United Kingdom, I had the opportunity to study, in some detail, about theology, specifically Islam. What followed was a long and very painful personal journey that culminated in me realizing the truth about Islam and coming to some very basic conclusions as to what I really believed in. I also joined an atheist society in UK, which further strengthened my conviction in atheism…. Presently, militant Islam is on the verge of overtaking many parts of my home country, Pakistan. Many parts of it have already been completely radicalized and sharia has been implemented in areas like Swat and some parts of NWFP. Sharia is the "divine" law sent down by Allah. The following list partially encompasses some of the laws that would be implemented under Sharia:
1. Abrogation and prohibition of modern form of judiciary and democracy. Dismantling of parliamentary system.
2. Stoning, till death, for adultery.
3. The second class status for non believers, " Dhimmitude".
4. Amputation of hand and feet, from opposite sides, for thievery.
5. Complete prohibition of music, modern form of cinema.
6. The award of death punishment for leaving Islam and committing blasphemy.
This is sharia. The "punishment" of apostasy and blasphemy, in almost all Islamic countries, including Pakistan is most likely either a very long imprisonment or execution. In my home country it’s impossible to profess or declare apostasy or to even state anything remotely critical of Islamic theology. Such an act could certainly lead to severe reprisal, most probably a most painful death. And such incidents have happened routinely in the recent past. In Pakistan, blasphemy is punishable by death and this is a part of the framework of law (Pakistan Penal Code 295). Most importantly, these forms of “punishments" are sanctified by Muhammad and hadiths. Thus, these "punishments” are completely "justified." Why does Islam so vociferously wants to shield itself against rationality or justified criticism? Why? Why is it that Muslims readily get prepared to kill and be killed in the name of "Allah" and his "prophet?" It is beyond my comprehension, that why would a religion claiming to be divine, prompt its adherents to kill on such trivialities as Danish cartoons. From a personal perspective, it would be impossible for me to live in my home country without the fear of severe persecution, possibly ending in my death. These are real dangers being faced by ex Muslims living in Islamic countries.
Aryan MN
Coming from an Iranian heritage I have witnessed the destruction that Islam can cause to a flourishing nation. Islam as a religion was built on an offensive, violent and dictatorial foundation which is still being practiced today. Any religion should only be down to the individual to believe and not enforced on a whole nation provided it does not violate others right to live freely. "Political Correctness" has taken over the minds of western leaders for fear of trouble with Muslim communities, by allowing the government's scheme of "Political Correctness" to work we are allowing the archaic Islamists to carry on as they wish. Freedom and Democracy are wonderful things but like all privileges we have in the West; there has to be some limitations. To prescribe Islamist ideology is a violation to Democracy and Freedom as theocracy binds the nation by a boxed agenda and thus should never be allowed.
Fighting for the Freedom of Apostasy!
Asad Abbas
I first began to have doubts about the teachings of Islam at about the age of sixteen, living in Pakistan. I started to question why women had a low status and why poverty existed. How could a just Allah allow these injustices to exist? Because I had some distant relatives who were atheists I began to think of myself as one. It was, however, only after I came to the UK that I read some of the literature on the subject and became aware of the existence of atheist/humanist organisations. The Rushdie affair prompted me to become more active and I started to dream of, one day, belonging to an organisation like the Council of Ex-Muslims. I now dream of the day when Islam will no longer be such a destructive force, when it will belong exclusively to the private domain , when Political Islam will cease to exist and , above all , when people like me can , everywhere , openly and publicly state that they are atheists without the fear of discrimination , let alone of losing their lives.
Ayhan, London, UK
I have watched your conference with Mr Dawkins and liked it so much. I am an ex-Muslim and Turkish atheist living in London and I appreciate your work. Congratulations.
Aziz Rattansi
I was brought up as an Ismaili. At the age of about 11 or 12 I lost what little faith I had. Religion did not make much sense then and it makes even less sense now. I have never concealed my apostasy from friends and family, but seeing what a dim view Islam takes of apostates, people should make their apostasy more public. And what better way then joining the CEMB?
Badassbab, Haywards Heath, England
I renounced religion over a decade ago (I'm 27), my position is absolute, I've freed myself from superstitious beliefs for the rest of my life and yet I feel I can't freely express how I wish to live my life due to the religious beliefs of my mother and her ilk. I'm glad to see I'm not alone and for this reason I would like to join for support and to support others.
Bhavesh Patel, Bradford, United Kingdom
I would like to join ex-muslim council as I am an ex hindu and atheist and oppose not only Islam, but the similar backward beliefs that a lot of people of other religions also follow. I am surrounded by religious and some backward religious people everyday where I live, mostly hindus and muslims, and am trying to find like minded Atheists and ex followers of any religion as I am not happy with muslims, hindus and christians. I have been called many insults, including both 'blashpemor' and 'white' by my parents and many others, and have a strong dislike for all religions, and I would like to be able join any atheist / ex religious councils / forums or discussion groups that I can find.
Bahram Soroush
Basel Hafez
I have always craved for a platform to voice my views on religion as someone - born into an environment dominated by a totalitarian ideology - who rejected that religion. I hope this forum will give me the chance to meet like-minded people and to cooperate with them in promoting our mutual beliefs.
Behruz Bahari
Ben Good
I've always been atheist, and am compelled to join this particular organisation because of the very nature of radicalist Islam and its hugely negative impact on world as a whole. I do however feel this about all religions, not just Islam.
Bob, Lincoln
I'm so glad that former muslims are having the courage to not only speak out against islam but to form an organisation to show that noone who wants to leave islam is alone.
Boran
I have been living in Pakistan all my life. Living in a society of people with only a shallow enthusiasm and an ego bigger than anything else in the world just made a rational man like me an outcast. I have always tried to convince my family and friends about the political motivations of the bearded men. Memorizing two Arabic books is not at all what humans need. We need peace understanding intermingling across nations. While these mullahs have made me an antisocial to the world. I renounced their teachings and am a free man. It’s a tough road with family frowning upon you but free souls like me can’t take no shit. :). I live in UK now and find it very harmonious to my beliefs.
Bruce John
I am just a common or garden Atheist myself, [never signed up to any religion], but your organisation looks as though it would be happy to include me as a member. I would like to join to show my support for any anti-religious endeavour by joining. I support anybody's right to believe whatever nonsense pleases them, but resent the Muslim assumption that I should respect any such belief. I reserve the right to criticise and pillory the absurdities of religious notions and consider it my duty to enlighten by so doing.
C.J.
I think it is important that all people no matter who they are or where they are born have the right to renounce the lies and the falsehoods that were forced upon them in childhood and at any other point during their life time. I think it is disgusting that apostates of Islam can not openly declare their renunciation of the faith without the threat of reprisal, even from within their own families. I am not an ex-Muslim, I am however an antitheistic atheist and secular-humanist; and as a member of amnesty international I do what ever I can to support human rights. I believe the founding of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain is an important step towards breaking the stranglehold Islam has over its subservient supporters.
Chris Lewis-Jones, Nottingham, UK
I am a fine artist who explores evolving notions of cultural identity. I first became interested in Islam in the late 1970's, when I became passionately interested in Islamic architecture. I travelled to Morocco to photograph Moorish building styles and had a great time. I found the people (well, men actually, I didn't meet any women!) there to be both friendly and courteous. It wasn't until the following year that my generally positive impressions (of Islam) were challenged. Time and again I encountered men in political meetings who objected to the presence of women in such meetings or at social gatherings, would argue at length about the apparent inferiority of women. My English friends (white and black) would never have uttered such reactionary rubbish, so I began to appreciate the extent to which Islam needs to be reformed.
Christopher Walker, London
Support your cause and I'm inspired by your courage. Keep up the good work!
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David Brain, Ipswich Faith and the sloppy self-indulgent thinking that goes along with it needs to be replaced by reason; the perverted logic of medieval religious thinking has no place in a 21st Century of mass communication and weapons of mass destruction. As a committed atheist and secularist, I commend your stance against religious mind-control, especially the militant Islamic version and applaud your bravery in risking the approbation (and worse) of your (ex)fellow believers. |
David, London, England
David Moodie, Lymington, England
I admire the group; it lets people know that apostates are welcome here. Also, I think that religious dogmas, such as Islam, are a huge detriment to humanity, and this group aids the progression into the unknown and away from mythology. I have never been a Muslim, but I am a strong supporter of secularism. Fantastic group
David Sullivan, Manchester, United Kingdom
I was dragged up as a catholic and from a very early age found that the more I was forced to 'believe' something that clearly did not make sense and seemed to be the cause (in my young eyes) of the troubles in Northern Ireland, the more I wanted real answers. This easily (terrifyingly easily at that) translated to apply to not just my own horrible exposure to christianity, but to the whole notion of religion in general - how many lives have been stopped, incarcerated or otherwise been degraded by this ridiculous concept that completely collapses under even the slightest of logical questioning? Can we not just try to live our lives in (genuinely real) peace? I cannot even begin to put into words how emotional it makes me feel to know that you have in many cases put your lives on the line to say what you know is the truth. Thank you.
P.S. - the icing on the cake is that Windows Live has flagged my use of the word christianity (oh, there it goes again!) because I purposefully do not use capital letters. Absurd.
F. Rahman, Lancashire
Growing up as a Muslim I always felt that some of the religion's core beliefs were totally opposed to human nature. While many of its rules do have some merit (such as prohibition of drugs), as a whole it seeks to restrict freedom of thought and mans' natural curiosity for new ideas. As long as open discussion and scrutiny of the interpretations by Muslim "elders" is frowned upon, Islam will continue to remain insular and distant from the needs of humanity. I am in favour of exploring new ideas to the problems in the world, and I feel by joining the group I am likely to come into contact with like minded individuals. While I may not agree with the ideas of everyone in the organisation, debate will be possible, something which Islam has failed to provide.
Fahad Qazi, Guildford, UK
Just wanted to be registered with the Council of Ex-Muslims
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Faranak Rezaei I would like to join you because I consider Islamic law as unacceptable and contradicting to both human rights and values. Islam is anti-woman as it humiliates women and turns them into servants of the men. It is also anti-man, because it reduces men to breeding animals controlled by their urges. In another word Islam is inherently radical. I have attached my photo and I hope I can be useful to you and the community. |
Fariborz Pooya
Farhad
I believe in scientific and ethical facts and truths not the many sayings of the religious leaders. All human beings are equal and there is no difference between them because of their thoughts and beliefs. It is the worst thing in the world to call someone PURE (CLEAN)or IMPURE (UNCLEAN), as Islamic Racism.
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Farzad Ahmadi, Chester |
Freed Ali
I wish to join because I am worried and angered by the state of affairs regarding religion in general in this country and in particular, Islam. There is too much pandering to Islamic leaders and I do not wish to see the spread of Islam any further. I also would like non-Muslims to know that there are a great many of us who believe in humanity, live decent, moral lives without the need for religious dogma.
Frank Friedmann
I had the good fortune to be brought up without 'religion' or 'faith' (other than in reason and humanity). Thus none can punish me for apostasy. I join CEMB because freedom from / of religion should be a human right for all, not just those who by an accident of birth have the good fortune not to be from a lineage that espouses Sharia or similar laws and practices.
George Broadhead
I give CEMB my wholehearted support as a gay man who is appalled at Islamic homophobia and its barbarism. I am a founder member and vice-president of the UK Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) as well as secretary and trustee of the UK gay Humanist charity the Pink Triangle Trust.
Grant James, Reading
I am an atheist. My partner is from a Muslim family. The threats, intimidation, emotional blackmail, and other pressure that they have brought to bear on her in the name of Islam has been heartbreaking to watch and is ongoing. Their hatred/fear of assimilation with non-believers prevents any reasonable conversation about differences and compromise. Their unjustified belief in the 'next life' prevents us all from getting along in this one.
Hadi Mahmoudi
Hamid Jalilvand, Manchester
I don’t believe in god or prophets because they are nothing but lies and have brought nothing but war and bloodshed.
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Hamidreza Zarifinia, London I was member of the Iranian student movement for secularism and democracy. I think one factor for backwardness is religion...therefore I am with you. |
Happy Humanist, UK
Until recently my work involved considerable contact with members the major faith groups in London. I have learnt about their beliefs, their culture and visited their places of worship. I am concerned at the levels of extremist (particularly Islamist) ideology. Government at both local and national level are pandering to Islamic groups and throwing funding at them, in a seemingly desperate attempt to prevent violent extremism. I am also worried about the continuing oppression of women,their views and rights as individuals. The Quran is clearly being interpreted, by men, to reinforce cultural and historical stereotypes of women. Matters of faith should be personal and completely removed from the political and organisation structure of the UK, particularly our education system.
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Haroon Naseh Qureshi, Cambridge |
Hassan Radwan
Hashin Rasta
I am a former Muslim but I still have not told my family. I would like to meet former Muslims too - but I am going to live in Crawley and I am wondering if there is a secular society or a society of former Muslims there. If so, I would like to be informed on where to go to see these people. The fact is that Crawley is a large place with many Muslims and so there must also be former Muslims. Meeting other former Muslims would be significant for me because I have not met a single former Muslim (maybe I have but they were hiding the fact too). It seems ridiculous that there are not more of us, therefore there must be people like myself who are hiding the fact. I am not a campaigning sort of person so I doubt that I would be there publicly saying things - I would rather be just part of a society which works towards the goals that you have laid out in your manifesto.
Hemin Sabir, London, UK
I am from Iraq, born and raised in the Kurdish north (Kurdistan). I am not an ex-Muslim, particularly because I was never a Muslim to start with. I grew up in a secular family, which was to my advantage, that didn't pay any attention to spiritual/religious matters. I myself was always sceptical about the explanations of life offered by religion, and all of the sudden I found myself as an atheist when I was first exposed to the works of Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens and others. I am interested in joining your group because it represents a portal for awareness about the impact of religious dogma and oppression in countries like Iraq and Iran, and a window for activity against the spread of such a backward mentality. I am also interested in the conferences held by the council, and in particular regret not being able to join the international conference.
Henry Page
I would like to join because I am an ex-Muslim, an apostate. I didn't know this organisation until today but I am grateful for its existence as I have felt quite alone and even scared to speak out about my transition from believer to atheist. When I left Islam to become an atheist I felt as if my world had been filled with light; as if a weight had been removed from me. I am really happy to be a non-believer now. Proud, even, to be an atheist.
Hossein
I would very much like to submit my name as an ex-Muslim to your organisation; would you please let me in. I believe religion and stupid beliefs are the root of adversity in my country Iran. I hope I can do something for this Kaffer organisation, however small.
Hossain Tohi
Howard Thorp, Cheshire, UK
I am an atheist who believes in human rights and social justice. I believe we need to work to fight the reactionary patriarchal culture fostered by the abrahamic religions.
Humanist
I admire all of you for coming out in public about being an ex-Muslim. I left Islam 5 years ago and have received death threats for doing so. I would like to join the CEMB but please display my pen name "A Humanist" as I don't want to put my family to even greater risk. I am now a humanist. I look forward to seeing the CEMB grow and would be happy to help you
Hussain
Hussein Safa
Hypatia Theon, Cardiff
I am an Egyptian lady and have experienced the harsh Sharia law in child custody, divorce, lack of rights to travel, work and many other things for women... and hence the whole society. In the beginning I thought this is dictated by the supreme creator of the world until I started to read more about Islam from objective sources and even more about religions in general. I came to a solid conclusion that I can't consider myself a Muslim anymore. I now understand that being a woman and a mother doesn't mean at all to submit to such unjust treatment. I think by this way of thinking I will be able to raise my children with a sane idea about the world, to be more understanding and hence contributing to wherever they go.
Irim Sarwar
I was born in Washington, D.C. into a Pakistani Muslim family - much as I'm fond of many of my relatives, I got the whole lot: scared women who played the victim to get what they wanted and blustering, inadequate, emotionally abusive men - all par for the course in the Muslim world. Couldn't talk to my male cousins after the age of 12 and when I moved out, my father asked me, "Are you sleeping with your male friends to pay your rent?" I converted to Catholicism to officially become an ex-Muslim rather than a lapsed one. Same deal: let me make you feel bad about yourself so I can have power over you. Don't think so, mate. Religion and I are through - treating people with love and acceptance belongs to people like us and organisations like Amnesty International, not religion. End rant - I usually am pretty laid back...honest...;)
"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect." ~Chief Seattle
J.Ahmad
I am interested to join the CEMB as I was born and raised as a Muslim but for last 18 years I been thinking and thinking about Islam, its future, the way Quran says to people to live life and many more things. I always felt uncomfortable with very basic ideas of Islam and its interpretation of humanity and human values. I have been working for many years to promote hope and tolerance and I strongly believe that 90% of Muslims want to live a non-religious life but they don’t have the means to express it plus Islamists are so strong that if someone denounces religion he/she faces social isolation and life threats to him/her and family. I have been living a secret life here in the UK for the last few years because I have been threatened many times but now I have decided to come out openly and I hope members of the ex-Muslim council will help me and provide me with the grounds to promote my message of hope, tolerance, humanity and freedom. I salute the courage of the founders of the CEMB and its members.
Jalil Jalili
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Jamie Al-Nasir |
James Higgs, Wiltshire, UK
The culture of Islam is vastly inferior to that of anyone raised unto traditional Western values and morality - it is homophobic, misogynistic, and totalitarian, with no place for question, no acceptance of science and no respect of our culture. Like religions, Islam controls the action of the individual though the manipulation of the mind - offering impossible riches for a life of obedience and servitude. Islam is unique in its backwardness and intolerance of others. It obliges us to respect it, but it does not seek to respect us. Indeed, the Quran instructs the reader to enslave and kill those who do not believe in or choose to follow its hateful verses. Islam (and in particular, Saudi-sponsored Islam) must be curtailed in the United Kingdom if we are to continue enjoying the Western values and lifestyle that we take for granted. Never before have so many people stood to lose so much though such wanton appeasement. For these reasons, I support the manifesto of CEMB because I understand the danger that the appeasement of Islam brings.
James O'Brien, Bradford, UK
I am a Christian atheist which is not a contradiction in > terms. I am Christian by upbringing/culture and an atheist by instinct. I consider a lot of the teachings of Jesus to be useful ideals but don't accept the "god" stuff - miracles, blind faith, supernatural beings, etc. Maybe Muslims could make a similar step as "Muslim atheists", accepting that some parts of the Quran may be useful, keeping in step as much as possible with the culture and traditions of their upbringing whilst rejecting the existence of God and the parts of the Quran that are against humanity. I imagine that such a position could not be openly held and would be a personal statement from within, but this may help a person to "mentally" come to terms with such a momentous change. I respect many of the teachings of Karl Marx but I am not a blind follower of Marxism. Perhaps there is a way so that you don't have to throw everything out.
Jash Hey
To meet like minded souls.
Javad Riahi
JBR
Because my Moroccan husband is incredibly moderate and ordinarily intelligent, but still won't hear any logical reasoning that the Quran is not 'true' and is, he claims filled with 'proof', that he is, of course, unable to 'prove'. Years of religious indoctrination in his home country have ensured he is too scared to question his own reasoning.
I join this group to support the brave ones, the ex-Muslims, who have been enlightened enough to ask the questions my husband is too scared to ask, and to stand alongside you in the hope that one day, he might actually trust someone or something enough for his eyes to be opened too.
Johnny
The reason I wish to the join the council of ex-Muslims is that it's about time our voices were heard; yes there are other Humanist/Secularist organisations out there but they are often for ex-Christians. This is a good way to show that we will not be bullied by Muslims who see it as their duty that we should remain Muslim.
"I'm a human being god damn it, my life has value!" - Howard Beale, Network (1976).
John Etteridge
Just found your web site and very good it is too. I tried to sign up but I'm not sure if I was successful or not. Either way, I just wanted to say that I wholeheartedly applaud what you’re doing. I completely agree with your points of principal and admire your members for their brave stance. The sooner we can get way from superstition and undeserved respect for all religion, the sooner sanity may break out. As Richard Dawkins says, we must get away from a situation where faith without evidence is considered a good thing.
Joyce, Bradford
I have worked for over 18 years with people from major religions and have to say those from Islam are the most closed minded, unforgiving and intolerant. Because I was an atheist I was bullied and harassed out of my job by Muslims and their naive supporters. All I ever wanted was to be left free from religion. I didn't even have an anti-religious stand, on the contrary, I defended peoples' right to their religion but all Muslims did to me as an atheist not wanting religion rammed down my throat was harass me. Islam does not mean peace as promoters of Islam and its apologists would have you believe, it means submission, and by god if you don't submit you've had it. When will politicians understand this and stop grovelling to religious groups of any kind?
Kamil an-Najar
I want to join the organisation in an attempt to shine a ray of light through the dark recesses of the Muslim minds so that they may live and let live.
Kamran Sheikh
I am from a religious family and have a religious past until I read Koran's translation for the first time. I used to read the whole Koran every Ramadan like most Pakistanis, just in Arabic, without knowing what the hell I was reading. But this time I decided to read translation to find out what was God's message in this book for me and my fellow Muslims. As I started reading the translation, I was so much frightened by the language and tone. Questions were popping up in my head and I was telling myself, “no these are evil thoughts which I have to ignore, I must suppress them”.
The following year (probably 1997) I read Koran translation again during the month of Ramadan. I read the whole Koran. But this time I was not scared. I was very clear. I said loudly, "I am not an idiot who will follow such load of crap".
The first thing Muslims tell their children is not to ask questions. Any questing which comes into your mind is from Satan and we must ignore it. This is how we are brought up. Even on the second page Koran itself says “this book is guidance for those who believed in it without seeing (blindly)".
Is this hard to see that Islam is full of hate against all who do not believe in Islam? Instead of condemning slavery, Islam condemns slave how disobeys his master. Koran clearly says you can not engage in sexual activity outside wedlock, but you can have sex with your slave woman. All sects of Islam agree Muhammad had sex with an underage girl, but when you mention this Muslims get offended. Women are described as commodity and are described as inferior to men. If I start writing about Islam, probably I shall end up writing a whole book.
I look at this world and people and ask myself, what’s wrong with them? Why people do not see? Why do they want to follow stupid, senseless and dumb stories from the dark ages? Why people believe Virgin Mary gave birth to son of god? Does this make sense? Why do Jews wake up every morning, with man thanking god for not making him a woman and woman thanking god for giving her a man to look after? Why Muslims do not see they are following a child molester and a preacher of hate? Why do people not wake up and stop following dark ages? Life can be easy, simple and beautiful then why do people make it complicated, hard and full of hate by following childish and senseless theories?
I think you have taken a very positive step by setting up this website. I am very happy to see there are people who think the same way as I do.
Keyvan Javid
Keyvan Kalani
Kris Larner
As an ex-Christian and atheist I fully believe in a secular non-religious State and the equality of human rights regardless of gender or beliefs.
After reading Maryam Namazie's interview in the Times, I feel that it is the least I can do to stand up and be counted, as she put forward ideals and beliefs that I have long held but have not been able to express as well as she has.
Kirsty Hall
I am an ex-Muslim, raised in a strict Islamic family in the UK. My mum married a Muslim man and converted when I was a kid. I have spent my entire life fighting this religion. I have even had to rescue one of my sisters from Morocco, where she was being held against her will (The British government did nothing!). I'm glad this organisation has been formed, until recently I thought I was very much alone in this fight.
Laurence Mcalindon
Every religion is open to criticism. Islam has no excuse to not to be other than it's own bigotry.
Lidoodil, UK
Because we should all stick together and religion is divisive.
Louise Dalton, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Please can I join the CEMB? I believe in universal rights and equality for all humans. We need to work towards a world where tolerance and humanity come above all else. Great evil is currently perpetrated in the world under the protection of religious privilege; just because a belief or tradition is old doesn't make it good or worthy of respect. All laws and behaviour should be tested against the criteria of fairness to humankind. The CEMB has taken a brave stand against the brutality, bigotry and injustice of religion and especially Islam and I feel it is time to stand and be counted in this cause. Please let me know how I can help.
Luke Schofield
Luke Stephens
I am a chemistry teacher and a lifelong atheist. You are brave, brave people and I salute you. I am not really worthy of joining you, but I would very much like to offer my heartfelt support.
Lynda Franklin
I am English, a humanist non-theist and a passionate advocate of full, unfettered freedom of speech and expression. To my shame, until earlier this year I had no idea just how serious a threat political Islam was to these fundamental rights, and the suffering of the individual (especially women and children) in favour of a group ideology. I was a victim of systematic torture during 7 years of marriage and had difficulty in escaping - and that was in England. So I am dedicating the remainder of my life to publicising whatever is necessary to focus the attention of ordinary people like me - who have no idea of what is going on - to the widespread injustice across the Islamic world.
M Ahmad
As an ex-Muslim I congratulate Miss Namazie for this launch. I would like to join in the good causes of this Council. I was born a Muslim in India and lived in Pakistan, but now a British Citizen since 1970. I have not formally renounced Islam, but there is no need for this and I am not going to change my name at this advanced age. I have suffered having this name in UK. The general prejudice against fundamental Islam is fully justified. The fraudulent Islamic beliefs of paradise and hell need to be exposed as fantasy.
Maha
Mahoneko, Oxford, UK
The CEMB manifesto is an excellent document, I wholeheartedly support it. I think it is vitally important to provide support for those individuals raised in religious environments who realize the truth about their religion and want to escape its grip. I am a long standing member of the NSS, but would like to extend my support to CEMB.
Malcolm Dodd, Sleaford, UK
I congratulate you on setting up the CEMB and joining with the ever-increasing number of Brits that are choosing rationality in place of religion. I have visited many Islamic countries and have been appalled at the way that women are regarded as a man's property and are often treated as sub-human. You have my full support. I have been an atheist since the age of 8 when I was expelled from Sunday school for asking awkward questions; observation of religion over the following 57 years has convinced me that I made a giant leap into the 20th century. I have been a contributor to many rationalist/atheist campaigns such as the Atheist Bus, Faith Schools etc. I am a paid-up member of the BHA, NSS, Freethinker, JREF and many more.
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Maria Amir, Oxford, UK |
Maria MacLachlan, London, UK
I've long been aware of the appalling abuse of human rights that take place in Islamic states and within Muslim communities in the West but the point-blank denial of young Muslims living in liberal democracies that these abuses are even taking place has made me resolve to join this organisation so I can give whatever support I can.
Marina, Sheffield
I am an ex-Muslim and will gladly show my support for this organisation which has helped me come out of the closet to my parents. I hope it will do the same for others and create a more tolerant world for apostates
Martin Di Maggio
I am an atheist, humanist ex-Salafi Muslim. I converted when I was 15 and dipped into Shi'i Islam a bit. I stopped attending mosque when I came out as gay and 4 years ago I declared myself non-Muslim.
Maryam Namazie
Losing my religion [statement]
Mat Hunt
I wholeheartedly give my support to this very worthy cause.
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Mehdi Tahriri Masooleh, London |
Mehryar Latif Shoushtary
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Mehran Sharmini, London, UK |
Mehrzad Kian
Mersedeh Ghaedi
Mike Maybury
I am horrified that those who want to leave Islam are threatened with death in some countries, and ostracised by families and friends in others.
I was educated in Christian schools, was 'born again' even and 'confirmed' in the Church of England. With hindsight I realise that we were not taught evolution, we were brought up to support the establishment and every day attended religious services and prayers. At my junior school I even remember an American film that clearly promoted 'creationism'. From age 16 onwards I investigated other religions and beliefs, showing little interest in secular thinking, probably because of all the 'certainties' with which I had been brought up. At this age I stopped attending church because they did not oppose cruelty to animals, as in fox-hunting, and did not oppose the waging of war or even weapons of mass destruction. It took many years, due mainly to most of my family being devout Christians, even some being vicars in the church, for me to eventually decide that I did not believe in any gods at all.
I noticed that non-religious people lack the support organisations that are provided by religions. You are to be congratulated for starting such an organisation. My views are now very strongly atheist, as I feel that believing in any religion, many of which deny the validity of living a normal and happy human life, takes away our concentration and energy from using normal human powers to improve the conditions of ourselves and our fellow humans.
As 90% of humans appear to be trapped in various religions and belief systems, I continue to research such beliefs. However I am convinced that all human problems will only be solved by logical solutions. In particular, ensuring that all human beings have access to fresh clean water, education and sustainable energy, should be a priority for all of us. I support your efforts and wish you well in supporting people who try to escape from Islamic beliefs and practices.
Moha, UK
Islam gets children to believe in it by scaring them. When you tell a little girl: If you don't put the hijab, god will strike you. This is a form of child abuse. Children should be educated to only believe in things that are evidence based, and should be educated to think rationally. I support your work. But would like to point out that Muslims who believe blindly in religion are just like children that never grew up. They need to be helped rather than hated. They are in a mind prison. As an ex-Muslim, I can tell you that this prison is very hard to escape from. The only solution to this persistent problem is to never be imprisoned. To never enter this mind prison in the first place. A child should be educated in using the rational mind from the very beginning. To educate a child demands resources and funding. The best way to help Muslims is to be active in children's education. Be patient and attract people that can provide education and resources to the Masses of Muslims that need to be set free. By the way, what applies to Muslims also applies to other faiths. Christians and Jews are no better. I teach my children to think rationally and never scare them with the nonsense of jinns, ghosts, hell and fire and the like. There is so much ignorance in Islamic countries that I feel overwhelmed and very upset when I try to convince a Muslim by using rational thinking. I just meet a wall of denial caused by the blockage of the rational mind due to early wrong teaching.
Moham Engineer
Some years ago I suffered Islam; I was arrested for Blasphemy, then sentenced to death; then i decided to give up Islam. I left Pakistan in 2004. Centuries ago, my ancestors were forced to accept Islam under sword; today I resist the sword and refuse to accept Islamic Imperial Fascism...
Mohammad Kuhsar Asadi
Mohsen Abdini
Mohsin Khalid
I was born a Muslim and was devout and committed to Islam. But a series of events in my personal life as well as events such as the September 11th attacks forced me to ask difficult questions about myself and my beliefs. Little by little doubts began creeping in. At first I tried to suppress them and reacted angrily to criticism of Islam. I denied there was anything wrong, felt hyper-sensitive to any criticism and blamed the West for provoking and creating problems. When I did eventually accept that Muslims had to take responsibility for the problems we faced, I still couldn't accept that Islam itself was to blame. It was the way Islam was being interpreted that was the problem. I started arguing for a reinterpretation and reform of traditional views, but instead of easing my conscience, that only highlighted the futility and dishonesty of such views. Finally I tried to tell myself that although my rational mind found it difficult to believe certain things in Islam, there must be explanations beyond my capacity to understand and that ‘God knows best'. The safest and wisest option was to “Hold fast to the rope of Allah”. Much like Pascal's wager, I thought I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by remaining a believer and so I went through the motions of being a ‘good' Muslim, in the hope that my faith would return, but it only made me depressed and lose all motivation – one can pretend for only so long. The problem is that one cannot choose to believe. Either one does or not and if there is a God, the last thing he would have wanted me to do was to ‘pretend' to believe in something that I didn't. Accepting that I was no longer a Muslim was an extremely difficult thing to do. No one can possibly know what it is like unless they have been through it. The feeling of fear and isolation is enormous and the sense of loss and freefall is terrifying. I also I feared I would be associated with racists, bigots and xenophobes who hate Islam and Muslims. The fact that I no longer believed in Islam didn't mean I had suddenly turned into a hater of Islam or Muslims. I knew that the vast majority of Muslims were good, decent, and compassionate people. How could I possibly hate Muslims when family were Muslims? When I speak to them I tell them they must find out for themselves what they believe and if they feel happy being Muslims then that is what they should be. I certainly do not feel the need to pass on my own beliefs concerning God and religion to them, something I felt it was my duty to do when I was a Muslim. But one thing I do say to them and others is that one should have the courage and honesty to examine the beliefs that are central to one's life and guide one's actions. If one is truly satisfied with them, then they should be fully embraced with one's heart and mind, but if they do not stand up to close scrutiny, then they should be discarded. Life is too short to allow it to be dictated by beliefs one does not truly believe.
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Mojtaba Asadi, London |
Muhammad Younas
People r super power; they have right to decide about the future of human life. Nobody is super than human brain. Ok this my point view.
Mukto Mona, London
I want to promote freethought in all communities esp. Muslim communities. I feel that Muslim community in Britain is edging towards fundamentalist Islamic values which in many cases are in conflict with western democratic & pluralist principles.
Muriel Selltman, London
CEMB is at the forefront of today's struggle for individual freedom and against all those religious 'authorities'(including non-Muslims) who are mounting a last-ditch stand in defence of superstition, ignorance and the social control exerted on behalf of the wider establishment and power-holders. In particular, I admire the ex-Muslims for their brave stand for equal rights for women and men. The courageous stand of the ex-Muslims in CEMB in the face of the accusation of
apostasy
enables the Council to provide a safe haven, encouragement and support for those who would like to leave Islam but feel alone and frightened. It is a great privilege to be associated with CEMB.
Mustafa Noor
I am 21 years old and I am the son of Muslim migrants, I have been raised in an Islamic culture until I went to boarding school were I was allowed to develop my understanding and principles of religion (pre-dominantly Islam and Christianity) without any pressure from my peers or teachers there. I finally became an atheist upon attending university and I am still studying all the evidence to be able to put forward a reasoned explanation of what I 'believe' to my family. The hardest step was giving up in the belief of god as this is something that most people cannot understand, the idea that we just came into being; but I tell them look how far we have come in the last 100 years but earth has been billions of years in developing and it still it. When asked what I have against god, I tell them nothing, if you wish to believe in Zeus and Thor also that is your prerogative but what I will not tolerate or stand-by and watch is acts of violence, homophobic attitudes, sexism and bigotry enacted out in the name of what is merely a myth.
Namdar Mohammadi
Nasir Lahori
I'm a 34 year old second generation British Pakistani. I lost faith in Islam around about ten years ago when I realised that there was no such thing as god. I think it's a shame that more ex-Muslims don't come out. I'm wary about telling Muslims I that I am not a believer, but I mostly interact with non-Muslims to whom it is of no concern.
The problem is that ex-Muslims don't have a voice in shaping what happens in the Muslim community. I think our opinions are valid because we are still often close to our families and are 'cultural' Muslims. Some of my relatives are closet atheists but still fast and go to the mosque on Eid.
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Nima Jam, Manchester It just doesn't make sense to me that there is a god, prophet, religion,heaven... They are just tools to take advantage of people. I like to be free from them. |
Nima Kisomi, Manchester
On the list of UK members. He is one of our initial members - wpi - who changed his name - we made the change on the picture but not on the lsit as he is reapplying for asylum.
Nina Tejani
A Wrong Turning
Stick to the Straight and Narrow
Chanted the Congregation.
Don't even look the other way.
Ranted the Mullahs
For therein lives the Devil himself.
But I did look the other way
And I stuck my head
And then I stepped out
And wandered around
In the forbidden meadows and caves.
I didn't meet the Devil
I met people just like me; and you.
I stopped fearing God
So He packed his bags and left my mind.
I know my way back.
But I think I'll stick around here for a while.
A Personal Experience..
I too felt the pain and the horror
When the planes hit the towers.
When the towers collapsed.
But I didn't do it.
Should I say sorry?
Sorry for being born in a faith
that is fashionable to hate.
But I didn't do it.
Catholics the world over were not blamed
For the I.R.A.
Why do I feel the burden of 9/11? For 7/7?
I didn't do it.
I want to tell people I am an Atheist!
But who's ever heard of a Muslim Atheist?
And anyway, at times like these,
We've got to stick together.
Alright - I apologise.
I won't do it again.
Noshina Fawad, Leeds
I grew up in a household where my father was an atheist and my mother, a liberal Muslim. We were taught ethics and morality and were raised as Muslims. The more I learnt about Islam, the more I became aware of its many restrictions and how I was totally against them. Islam preaches peace and serenity and yet encourages the murder of 'kafirs', those who have said anything against it. Islam prohibits listening to music and yet many of the surats and ayats of the Quran are in musical form. Islam conveys equality for both men and women while men are allowed to have four wives, and this liberty is not mutual. Living in Pakistan, I witnessed how women were brainwashed to believe that they only existed to be of service to men, how children were scolded to memorise verses that they didn’t even understand. Religion limits an individual to a certain way of life; it restricts us to grasp any other possibilities of existence. I believe in justice and freedom and I am proud to say I have renounced religion!
Oliver Dickinson, Bristol
The aggressive push by Islam is a threat to me, my family, my friends and everyone else who believes in freedom of speech and human rights. I cannot, in good conscience, turn my head the other way and whistle 'Always look on the bright side of life' like so many are doing. We need to stand up to this blatantly hostile act, and condemn it for the warmongering, homophobic, sexist, cowardly, barbaric, shit stirring, middle aged hatetalk that it is.
Omaar Khayaam, Bradford, United Kingdom
I was born into a Sunni Muslim family in a northern city in the UK. The city is home to a large Muslim minority from Pakistan. I come from an educated and broad minded family with middle of the road type of values. Religion was never really a huge issue but I did the usual cultural thing of learning how to read the Quran in Arabic till I was 10 years old. At around the age of 14, I became interested in Islam and joined the Young Muslims UK. This was my first real exposure to practical Islam. We would attend camps and have weekly meetings usually to discuss the Quran and the Hadith of Muhammad. For all intents and purposes everything was going well and my family was happy that I had decided to take it upon my own back to learn about the religion of my ancestors. I remember walking two miles to a shop from school to hire Ahmed Deedat debates and shouting "Allah-hu-Akbar" whilst watching other less worthy opponents beaten to a pulp. It gave me a great sense of joy and self-confidence knowing that Islam had the right tools to do the job. I had only just heard of the "big bang" and "evolution". This was also the first time I had heard of the word "atheist". At that age the very notion of people denying the existence of God was very alien to me and I always wondered how and why would someone deny something that seemed so self-evident? It was at around the same time that a thought occurred to me. It was "If God created the world then who created God?" and "Why does he need to be worshiped for doing acts which occur to him naturally?" This was really the start of a very doubtful journey through Islam which would eventually make me into the person I am today. I would ask the "naive" question about who created God and was always told to remember Surah Ikhlas and Ayat-ul-Kursi. This would apparently answer my query. From what I could recall I was told that the question was the wrong type of question to ask and that I had to re-adjust my perspective. That question was never answered.
There was a hiatus in my investigation whilst I concentrated on my exams and did other things that a 16 year in the late 80's early 90's does. Around this period I met someone a few years older than me who was in this same organisation and was either going through or had already been through the same dilemma as I had been through. It was a fleeting memory for me but I do recall that his friends had shunned him for his doubts and his questions. I think he went to university and I didn't have any contact with him for a number of years.
After my GCSE's I became a practising Muslim, prayed 5 times a day, fasted during ramadhan and did all the obligatory things that a Muslim is supposed to do. I used to read books by Maududi and Syed Qutb which were more the rather radical and harsher side of Islam. I also got back in touch with this Muslim youth movement and became involved in attending circles and talks etc. I have always been an introvert so never took part in any activities where I would need to speak or become the focus of attention. Again at this point, the same question resurfaced, who created god? and what if all this is just mumbo jumbo?
Whenever these questions would occur I would simply think to myself that Allah likes me and is testing my faith or that Shaytan is whispering doubts into my heart and that given time these doubts would pass. They didn't.
I got married fairly young and soon got into the routine of married life and not giving a second thought to my doubts. Pretty soon I seemed to have had an epiphany and thought about all the usual things such as why are we here? where do we go? Etc... I was around 25 at this point and said to myself that I've gotta take this seriously if I'm going to bring up a healthy Muslim family. But guess what those questions and doubts just kept coming back. I really thought that I was suffering from OCD and would try to drown out the questions by doing more prophetic sunnah's. I was told that my good deeds, actions and imitating of the prophet would increase my iman. Earlier I had been to Pakistan and had spoken to a cousin of mine whom I really respected and who is sadly no longer with us. I spoke to him about my doubts and concerns and he frankly told me that he was an atheist and knew what I was going through. The conversation didn't end with any conclusion but the advice he gave me was valuable. He told me to keep investigating and never to accept an answer that sounded as though it was evading the initial question. I never saw him again because soon afterwards he died. At the same time I was aware that someone very close to me showed scepticism towards religion. We would obviously meet at family gatherings and I would try my best not to bring up religion into the conversation but somehow it would always come up. Ironically the very same scepticism that he was posing was the very same questions I had but was trying to cover up. The only difference was, was that he had been through the whole thing 15 years before me and the only reason he raised it again was out of concern for me. I know that when he reads this, he will know that it is him to whom I'm referring. What I also did was in the disguise of this relative I would email questions to very well known and respected Muslim scholars in the west. So in a way I was trying to alleviate my doubts in a covert way. Sometimes they would respond and sometimes they wouldn't. I even went out to see the scholars thinking that if I saw the best of them my doubts would be resolved. What I did find in the answering technique was that I was either told that the premise of the question was incorrect and that I was using the wrong terminology such as being "objective" or that my questioning had no basis in reality and that the questions that I was posing were really questions to which "I" knew there were no answers to, or better still my questions were circumvented and instead rather than answering the question directly, I was answered with a question to go back and ask my relative. I would humbly go away feeling numb and empty thinking that I'd been snubbed but nevertheless giving the scholar the benefit of the doubt. I also started reading and listening to scholars such as Hamza Yusuf and others like him hoping that my answers would be in their writing and talks. I did realise soon enough that their writing and talks were fairly much preaching to the choir.
I started taking a different angle this time and started reading intelligent design material by people like Harun Yahya and others. I got a slight boost from it but it was still empty because it just wasn't answering my basic question, which was the very existence of God on which all these assumptions depended. The mistake I made at this time was shutting out material evolution and all the arguments and books against the existence of God because I didn't want anymore doubt to penetrate and do more damage. I wanted to resolve the issue and be able to believe. I concentrated on Islamic sources and it was there that I found that Islam was not as water tight as what I was led to believe. There were two things I found and it was the scholars were always doing apologetics and squaring the circle to justify the absurdities written in the hadith and the events in the sura. This was also coupled with the possibility that the hadith and sura literature had the possibility of being back projected to make sense of the Quran. This suspicion was raised due to the amount of time that had passed between the events recalled in the 7th century and the time it was written down. There seemed to be a sudden surge of when all this collection of hadith and sura was being written down. I was told that there was oral tradition etc, but again this was coming through the hadith and sura literature.
The science of isnad was shown to me as a method of supporting it. But it still wasn't good enough due to the huge lapse in time, not to mention that shia and sunni sources were at odds with each other and how on earth were you to falsify them against each other. There were also issues of abrogation and technicalities which for a religion that was claiming to be the "final" and unalterable word of God was posing more questions for me than it was answering. There were many other things regarding Islam that were simply left unanswered. My friends thought that I was barking up the wrong tree and that I should "trust" the scholars’ hard work and piety. This just didn't answer the question and I immediately thought that this is the same excuse that the Christians use, so why should I take this excuse from the Muslims? Using excuses like Imam Bukhari prayed before adding the hadith into his collection was simply begging the question and thinking along those lines didn't cut it in the academic world.
At this stage I would have considered myself an agnostic but still hopelessly clinging onto Islam in the delusion that at least it was more watertight than any other ebrahimi religions. I never considered any other religion. I eventually realised that my real problem was the existence of God which I quickly addressed and read all the old and new arguments for and against the existence. I found that by reading works by Bertrand Russell and David Hume. Also reading the new stuff like Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris. There were also other more technical works by people like Victor Steinger, George Smith and Michael Martin. I found that the arguments for God's non existence were far more coherent and could also point out the incoherence of the opposing argument. I also read books on evolution and went out to museums etc to look at the evidence myself. Evolution really was self evident and destroyed any creation myths I had. I still read works like this and other ideas now that I have freed myself from Islam. Hope this wasn't too long a rant. My journey was a very long and difficult one, but I'm glad I went through it. It was the only way I could be made certain of my atheism.
Osman, Newcastle, UK
I would like to join as I think there is a lot of work to be done to prevent the religious from imposing on the liberties and freedoms of the non religious. As an ex Muslim who was raised in a Muslim community I understand a little too well how judgemental, condemning and hateful the religious community can be. Not only do they maintain their prejudices but preach that they have God's endorsement. I have become convinced of the falsehood of religion through reading about the topic from different perspectives. The work of Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins was particularly enlightening. That's not to say I was indoctrinated (in the same way as I was with Islam as a child) but rather I took many years to reflect and debate and wrestle with different ideas. My own personal experience has highlighted to me how judgemental, condemning and hateful the religious can be. That's not to say all Muslims or theists for that matter are that way inclined but religion doesn't recommend or advise, it dictates and threatens great punishment for non submission. And many of its dictations are simply put, barbaric. Having escaped this tyrannical doctrine I want to now help support others who may be in a similar situation and to promote an alternative viewpoint. Based on empathy, compassion and human kindness and to demonstrate that atheism and nihilism are not one and the same.
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Parsa Karimi I am happy I can publicly renounce Islam. I despise its violations of innumerable rights including freedom of expression. I hope that with the Council of Ex-Muslims I can promote free expression and though and push back political Islam's role in human society. I believe people are born once and have the right to enjoy life. |
Patty Debonitas
Peter, UK
As a teacher I encounter young Asian people every day who are far removed from the fanaticism we see on our screens. They celebrate their cultural heritage, as I celebrate mine, but like me they are horrified by events they see on the news perpetrated in the name of Islam. They are people who could be like you - fully fledged citizens of the 21st century world, part of the family of humankind and not willing to be enslaved by dogma. A stand like yours is difficult for members of any predominantly religious community (bible belt USA for example) but a stand against Islam is currently the bravest of all. In the eyes of fundamentalists you are apostates but in the future you will be recognised as heroes. Well done.
Peyman Satari, Manchester
Poone Ravi
Prometheus
I was raised in a Christian fundamentalist household to treat others not of my persuasion with contempt and to hold a certain amount of guilt. After I left home I worked for several multi-national companies and was exposed to a wide variety of different cultures. I am naturally curious and found myself in a lot of theological conversations exploring questions I'd had since my Grandfathers death when I was 13. What I found was that no-one seemed to have all the answers and as I have sought to discover deeper meaning in many of the worlds largest organised religions I have only found that there is no place for those that question and that in many cases there are co-ordinated efforts to disguise glaring truths and discourage independent thought. I work in the ISP/Telecoms industry and value freedom of speech. I am saddened to watch as it is being stripped away in so many 'civilised' countries today.
Rabya
I would like to join as an ex-Muslim, having been born into it without a choice just doesn't sit right with me. The constraints on me to follow that path has made me unhappy...all I want to be is a happy human being, to enjoy life like all my friends rather than being tied down by rules i dont understand or want to follow. I want to be free.
Rameez
It's been 12 years since I stopped believing in Islam. I'm of Pakistani origin and I believe Ex-Muslim Council of Britain is doing a great job giving a hope to people who want to leave Islam.
Redroar
Because I believe that the freedom to opt out of religion is as important as that to opt in.
Rehan Hussain
Reza Jalilivand,
Manchester
If there was a god, there wouldn't be so much oppression and cruelty.
Reza Moradi
Richard Craig, Bristol
As an atheist I can only admire the internal strength ex-Muslims must have to break free of a religion that demands a death sentence to anyone who renounces Islam. It is you who can speak with the most authority on Islam and I would love to hear what you have to say.
Richard Johnson
I would like to add my voice to the growing chorus of secularists and humanists, who feel that religion is an outdated and blinkered ideology which should hold no authority whatsoever in a 21st Century judicial and political system. I lend my full support to your manifesto.
Ronnie Miah
I am from a Bangladeshi family and grew up in a relatively traditional Muslim household. I have always been sceptical about Islam from a young age although at the time I had moderate Muslim opinions. I started losing my faith after seeing the contradictions and inhuman values contained in the Quran. I am now an atheist. I do not believe that there is a God or any supernatural being. I do not believe that Islam as an ideology is compatible with Human Rights, freedom from torture or freedom of expression. I am a lawyer. I would like to be a member as I would like to see this organisation highlight the negative aspects of Islam as an ideology as well as argue against the idea of there being a 'God' along with other atheist organisations.
Saeed Parto
Sad ex-Muslim
I wish to become a member. I have opted to do it through my email as doing it via your website would leave evidence on my computer, which is used by the family. My main reason for wanting to join is to help you fight the growth of Islamic Fundamentalism, which will destroy us all if we do not take any action. I want to live in peace with everybody, regardless of their beliefs and Islam does not offer that. Please keep me posted about any events that you may hold. I want to keep my name and city anonymous.
Many Thanks.
Saied
My name is Saeid and I am an ex-Muslim and I would like to join your community. I am 38 years old and I have a lot of information about Islam and Iran. Most of my friends are ex-Muslims and I guess they will join you pretty soon. With respect and love.
Saffi ex-Salafi
A normal middle class girl from the Home Counties, my mum a nurse my dad an architect, I converted to Islam at 18 and became a salafi (v. strict). I married an Arab had a child and lived in Arab countries for a while. Over time I saw more and more hatred and suppression in the 'peaceful religion of the one true god' I was a strict salafi and devoted my time staying at home listening to quran & memorising it, learning Arabic and reading numerous religious books I loved reading hadiths. As I read more and more I found one thing after another that shocked me but as soon as I had these thoughts I would make wudoo and read ayat al Kursi to put it out of my mind. But the thoughts that certain things were wrong kept coming back until one day I read some hadith about what should happen to apostates and just thought a belief system that doesn't let you leave it can't be right! It’s been a long hard road to freedom for me and have had death threats etc. Islam has taught me a lot of lessons though and the whole journey has made me who I am, I have not really met anyone who has had a similar experience yet so I'm hoping through this organisation I won't feel like the only one any more. Sorry my statement so long. It's a relief to get it off my chest.
Sahara
I am an ex-Muslim who wishes to join your organisation, I have been an ex-Muslim for about 3 years now, and I was told my another member of your organisation that you might be creating a forum to attach to your site. I think this was be an excellent move; I know many ex-Muslims across the net who feel as if they have nowhere specific to them to go and talk, or to help de-convert completely from Islam and the mental issues that are unique to a leaver of that religion. I for one would be very pleased to be a part of that type of forum. I am based near London in the UK.
Saif Rahman, UK
I am a 37 year old agnostic humanist born in the UK, and of Indo-Pakistani descent. I don’t want anyone else to go through the same feelings of guilt and sadness that I experienced during my process of re-evaluation. I hope that it provides the other side of the story in a balanced fashion (see my youtube channel http://www.facebook.com/l/ff2ff;www.youtube.com/ExMuslimUK), and saves others on the years of research that lead me to my present day conclusions. I regularly fasted, used to pray 5 times a day; I even kept a tally on the wall for the kaza prayers I had missed in case I forgot to do them later. All in all I tried my best to remain a good Muslim. However I could never rid myself of my doubts. I felt bad and alone, as I had never come across a Muslim apostate before, there had to be something evil and wrong with me. I kept quiet and became insular and with great sadness, the more I looked into it, the greater my doubts grew. That was right up till the day that my cousin said that I could not keep interpreting Islam to taste. I had to accept everything in the Quran was perfect or face the fact that I was not a Muslim. I decided I could no longer continue this charade, so I accepted it to him, but more importantly to myself. From that day my mind was finally set free from my self-imposed exile.
Sam Pounaki
Saman Navid
Saman Farmanara, Glasgow, UK
Saimir Krasniqi
I never knew something like this existed and just found out from a BBC programme (battle for Islam). I've been educated in the UK and left behind the religion based on myth. I really think you guys got some guts, I mean coming out of the most tormenting and threatening religion of all and still smiling, wow! With all the psychological pressure and stress with promise of torture with fire in the hereafter life you really need to be strong to break free. Maximum respect for you all
Shahrokh Shaveissi
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Shaun Moorcroft, Warrington, Cheshire, England |
Shiva Mahbobi
Siamak Amjadi
Showan Khurshid
In short we need a community. We need a social force with great many members who convert people away from Islam and from the equally awful multiculturalists.
Sohaila Sharifi
I was born and brought up in a religious family and a traditional community in Iran. Quran was the first book that I came to know because my father used to teach me Quran and the Islamic principals since the age of five. My mother hoped I would be the first girl in our village that would complete reading Quran. As I grew older and was caught in the waves of revolution I found myself questioning the teachings of Islam. But it was after the coming to power of the Islamic Republic and the witnessing their brutal ways in forcing Islamic laws on people and particularly on women that fully convinced me of turning away from Islam and any other religion. As someone who has fled an Islamic regime and has been actively involved in a struggle against religious state and its' oppressive rule, I was enraged whenever I was taken as a Muslim woman and treated like one by many British organisations and public sectors. Some didn't even bother to ask me if I was Muslim or not and just put Muslim on the form. Labelling people and leaving them at the hands of Islamic organisations has only resulted in more divisions in the society and has made it harder for many to integrate into their new countries, needles to mention that it as helped Islamic organisations grow stronger. We want to come out and announce to the world that we are not Muslims, that we have turned away from religion and we want society to stop labelling and treating people according to their supposed religions. A secular society must treat all its members equally and fairly.
Stephen Twigg, Durham
An atheist who wishes to promote the plight of these people and support them in their brave efforts to expose the injustices of Islam and help others who may be intimidated into staying within the Islamic community.
Sue Calvo, London UK
Why do I want to join your organisation, and what is its significance to me? Because mainly I remain ‘hidden’, and now finding your site I have the feeling that if you can be brave enough to stand out in the open for what you believe, then maybe now, so can I. I would like to feel brave enough to do this. So you have inspired me. My daughter’s partner had a Muslim father and a Catholic mother. He is not a practising Muslim. I saw him reading the book ‘The Islamist’ by Ed Husain, and I got it out of the library when he had finished. Through this book, I googled the National Secular Organisation, and so came to find your site. I think you are so brave, and I admire greatly that even with the fear of death, you are all willing to stand up for what you believe in. And, what you believe in, to me, is a good thing for humanity. My father was an atheist, my mother became an ex-catholic, (she is Spanish, and so has The Inquisition in the history of the Catholic religion) and as children my father insisted we were not to attend religious instruction classes in school. I remember sitting in the hallway when these classes took place (1950’s). I brought my own children up belonging to no religion. Later in life when I felt something was missing, this meant that I had to do my own search for my own way, for something to make me feel more ‘whole’. I have never belonged to a religion, I never will. Religion, of all kinds, throughout history, has had its share of so much oppression, cruelty, death, abuse of power, dogma for the masses, enforcement of their view/belief, as being the only correct one, and all my heart feels is ‘No’. I have just found my own way, incorporating anything I have found that I feel and believe to be the right way to try and live my life as a human being…
I want to be brave and stand up and be counted. To openly join others in what I believe in…
The significance of your organisation? Another weight added to the many others working towards finding more peaceful solutions, to the problems within ourselves that we project out into the world and onto other people. So many times, in our own feelings of weakness, in our own situations where we receive abuse,we try to gain a feeling of power by dominating/abusing another/others. I do not believe dominating/oppressing/abusing others, gains us ‘true strength’ ‘true power’. The only person I can change is myself. I like Ghandi’s saying’ Be the change you want to see’. I do not believe we can 'force' change in another. We are each in our particular place, on our particular path. We all learn at different speeds and times.
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Shrouk El-Attar, Cardiff, Wales |
Tahmineh Rastin
I am an ex-Muslim, but now an atheist, have spent nine years as a prisoner of the Islamic Republic of Iran, for the `crime` of having beliefs and opinions that were contrary to the anachronistic and fundamentalist religious dogma that is inflicted on the people of Iran by the oppressive and autocratic religious government. Only an atheist prisoner of an Islamic regime can fully comprehend the variety of torture methods inspired and authorised by the Quran to punish `unbelievers`. I am glad that I now have the freedom to express my views, without the fear of arrest and torture, after so many years of having to remain silent.
Tanj
I have seen the profound folly of faith and rejected all religion outright. I am an atheist, rationalist, secular humanist and I believe in reason, secularism, peace and human rights, not irrational faith, superstition and, more often than not, bigotry and narrow-minded fundamentalism. In my early teens I became a fundamentalist, but that was merely a fleeting phase, and I gradually came to realise the truth about religion. My family are still backward, traditional, orthodox Muslims. I cannot bring myself to tell them for my fear of them, as well as my love of them. It is difficult, and I hope this organisation can bring ex-Muslims together to defeat bigotry, fundamentalism and irrationalism.
Tim, Chelmsford, UK
It was easy for me, brought up as a nominal 'Christian' to reject my faith which I did forty years ago, but how much more difficult this clearly is for those brought up as Muslims; I have great admiration for all of you who have potentially exposed yourselves to harm and danger by rejecting your religion, and I hope that you can take some strength from all of us who support you and the organisation.
Thomas Walker, Birmingham England
I am not an ex Muslim, however i support your 10 point manifesto fully! And would like to support you.
Veronique Denyer, Leslie, UK
You have my heartfelt support in everything you do and aim to do to bring to the wider community your message of leaving religion behind; of seeking a safe haven within the UK’s shores. I hope it is enough. To advertise yourselves as individuals on your site has my admiration and my fear for your safety. You are very brave people who have embraced reason and left faith - that is difficult to do even in the UK where you can be open to attack. You are obviously not totally safe even here. Hussain is not safe. I applaud his stance and his strength. I wish there was something more I could do. Your support for him as one of your members is necessary as is the support of the British Humanist Association, all individuals and every other organisation that propounds freedom of religion and speech. I hope every freedom loving individual in this country will support you and your members against those in political power who can destroy one of your lives so thoughtlessly and without conscience merely for some political and/or economic gain.
Victimlesscriminal
Wajid Yaseen
Glad to be here and to have found you as an organisation....my name's Wajid and I suppose I should give you some background on myself.....I was brought up as a Muslim child.....the earlier recollection I have of my doubt in Islam was when I became curious about the hearing range of dogs at the age of about 9 (the neighbour had an alsation and blew on a dog whistle I couldn’t hear)....Ii remember going to the library and discovering that dogs had 4 rings in their inner ears as opposed to humans who have 3 hence the greater frequency range....I started to think about how it would be to transplant the inner ear of a dog into my own and became fixated with the idea....after a while I realised that if I was to do this, I would be tampering with god's perfect creation and to do so would be utterly blasphemous....I became quite anxious about these thoughts and went to the mosque to pray for some sort of forgiveness I suppose although it's hard to recall exactly the reason....was to offload anxiety but as a child it was difficult to form clear thoughts....I remember going into the sajda position in prayer and I remember constant voices in my head - 4 rings, 4 rings....I took this to be the voice of shataan - the devil.....and he could reach me in god's house.....was absolutely terrifying but that moment was the critical turning point....if shataan could reach me there, then either god wasn't as powerful as i had been told he was OR he didnt care about me and my safety.....either way the seed of question and doubt crept in.....my atheism grew from that point onwards till today where I'm thankfully free of the pernicious barbs of religion and free of the malevalence that is Islam....I've grown up with quite turbulent battles with my Asian friends about the god concept and thankfully have broken free of many of the chains that tied me to dogma and superstition.....when returning to my family (they're in Manchester, I'm in London) I’m constantly amazed at the backwardness of Islam and quite agree with the excellent Richard Dawkins that religion forced on children is a form of child abuse....I'll continue to inject the spirit of questioning and debate in my nephews and neices with the hope that they'll also break free of the noxious teachings of organised religion and see it for the surreal nonsense that it really is...please keep me informed of any meetings and discussions you decide to hold in london....will be good to meet up with like-minded individuals...
Wyded, Reading
Personal life experience makes me feel the need to join the organisation. Feeling the need to talk to like-minded people from similar background.
Ysabel Jehan Howard
I reject cultural relativism and uphold unconditional freedom of expression
(and the rest of the manifesto). Consequently I've had a somewhat
interesting time. I trod on the toes of a high-level Catholic dinosaur and
suffered for it. I was defending Rushdie at the time. The whole thing
finally went to the Minister and (I guess) because of the affiliations of
the Blairs it was all pushed under the carpet. The fact that my ancestors
were socialists and atheists back into the C19th before there was a Labour
Party might have come into it: I do not think I was wanted in ever-so
religious New Labour. The whole business of the religious assuming and
exercising power over those who incur their displeasure is abominable with
no place in C21st Britain. It angers me that people who make a simple
decision to change their views have to be cautious about saying so. I think
we have to band together and as a feminist and a female with Marxist roots I
tend to identify with Maryam!
Zara Shaen, Birmingham, UK
If I had to give one reason as to why I have joined, because I want to make a change. I feel Muslim women, not necessarily in Islam, more by culture, are heavily oppressed. We are called whores if we wear low cut tops and short skirts, and if a man leaves his wife for us, we are the ones who are condemned. I find it disgusting how we are encouraged to marry and have children, as if that's our only purpose in life, and how we are taught to cook and clean to impress the mother in law is despicable. If we are to have a child out of wedlock, then we are automatically rushed into a wedding faster than you can say "Jack Robinson". Have women really got no identity in the Muslim community? Do we really have such little value? I want the human rights across the world to improve for Muslim women, and I want the attitudes of Muslim men in the west, the idea that we are voiceless objects, to change. I also feel that we as ex-Muslims are seen as stupid and moronic if we part from Islam, as if that's our only identity, and we are, most of the time, seen as mental defects by our families. I think it's wrong to be born into a religion, as I was born into Islam. It was Maryam Namazie's speech about the organisation that made me want to join. I could fully relate to the ideas of the council and I want to join. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUBLfcGcN5Y - This one.
Zafar, London
Zahia, London
I was truly delighted and much relieved [to learn about the Council of Ex-Muslims]. There was at last somewhere in the UK an organization that I could belong to comprised of people who would understand what it means to have to cut all ties with ones origins and family members for not following their religious path but more importantly for having opposing views. I have never had a religion. My father was not a practising Muslim. We lived in France where ten of his eleven children were born and bread without God. We ate pork and there was always wine on the table. I am the second oldest. In the late sixties he made the dreadful mistake of returning to North Africa. He died soon after. That is when the nightmare began for all of us but mostly for me as I am the first daughter. Surrounded by bigots, narrow minded and uneducated people my mother and older brother gave in to the pressures exercised by the majority to make sure that daughters behaved like ‘good’ Muslims girls. I am not sure what a good Muslim girl is but I never fitted in or wanted to get close to any of them. How can anyone with a European mind and culture be expected to make a sudden u turn despite everything they already are or know?? According to the ‘grown ups’ these girl are suppose to do what their are told, not have opinions of themselves, wait up on their brothers, not go out unescorted, not allowed to study, speak or even look at boys, do the cleaning, the cooking, taking care of the young ones , and certainly not ‘evolve’ or else... Else, in my family meant a lot of violence, physical and emotional abuse or constant threat of more of the same. I was always covered with colour changing bruises. Reduced to a slave status but still under age I had no choice in the matter until I was able to escape at the age of 22 with the help of a cousin who was still living in France. The French immigration laws had changed (as they often do) I discovered to my great despair that I had lost my right to a French citizenship as I was over 21. I made it to England as an au-pair girl (I had plenty of experience with cooking, cleaning and looking after children) but it was hard as I spoke no English. I have stood on my own two feet since without support systems, superstitions, god or masters. I have read extensively and eventually graduated from a British university with a Degree in literature. I am a very selective television viewer, an avid cineaste, a passionate gastronome, and adored by children. I am passionate about Darwin, Dawkins and many others. I am fascinated by the universe and for what it still has to reveal. Learned to drive, ride a motorbike, and use a computer. What more can I do to be a ‘good’ girl????
Zia Zaffar
I am a Pakistani-born ex-Muslim. I became an atheist in my early teens due to the irreconcilable differences between Islam and real world. Until recently I was quite content to keep my views to myself, however, with the recent rise in religious fundamentalism I felt it was time to speak up and make a stand for the freedom of speech and for the freedom of thought. The formation of the Ex-Muslim Council of Britain is very timely and much needed and I fully support the manifesto.
Zeb
I was looking forward to the day when such a representation of ex-Muslims in Britain would come about. And I'm certainly glad that that has finally happened. I understand this is still early days for the organisation but look forward to becoming a member of it and participating and attending its forums. Good luck and count me in!
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International Members
Aaron Burhoe, New Hampshire USA
I am a 19-year-old American atheist and a former Christian. I live in a society (and a nation) which is doubtlessly oblivious to the entire crisis which your organization stands against. My peers think me paranoid to be so concerned with international affairs. Furthermore, I know that the West's indulgence of Christianity, (creation museums, televangelism, legal indoctrination, etc) is the foundation of this crisis. If the Christians surrounding me can't admit that their own religion has gained a grotesquely unconstitutional representation in the US, then they won't be able to realize that Islam doesn't belong in politics either. I'm the only person I know who's so much as read the Qur'an, and I am no longer afraid to assert that it's the sickest, most frightening book I will likely ever read. It's morally appalling. I won't sit back and watch as the freedom my ancestors died for is shamelessly forfeited under the threat of Muslim violence. As a simple college student in New Hampshire, I want to commit any service I can provide to the benefit of this truly humanitarian organization.
Abdol Golparian, Finland
Abdullah, Kuwait
I belong here. I am a Kuwaiti. I am an atheist.
Adil Bahauddin, Kampala, Uganda
There are many people with Islamic background who want to pursue a path of reason and logic. I guess this will be an appropriate forum to do so and encourage many fence sitters to do the same.
Adnan, Islamabad, Pakistan
Adam Khan, Pakistan
I was born in a devout Muslim family belonging to Sunni sect of Islam. I’m almost 35. I came from Peshawar and expose the real face of Bedouin of the 7th century old draconian law called ISLAMI, It’s base on violence, hell shatan, flying horse and moraj, the jinn of suleman and Queen Saba affairs and other baseless fantasies... Islam is false fairy tale. There is no God and even not revealed by any God like Allah but it’s fact that Islam is a darks doctrine of Muhammad, a warlord of the 7th century Bedouin cult which was created and maintained by violence, so there is no God and even not revealed by any God like Allah! So I decided to leave this suffocated cult forever and join the free world; that’s why I have left Islam silently, because I knew the apostasy sword of Islam and intolerant society of Pakistan. I’m well aware that someday someone will finally hold me out... but I don’t want to die by the hands of any Jihadi! Life is so beautiful and I would love to live in my own way. I wish to fly to another free country, so I am requesting to my ex-Muslim friends to please give some useful tips to leaving my country, as I do fear for my future prospects as I am a Pashtun and my life will be in clear danger if Taliban trace me out being infidel! I’m living in anger and an unacceptable way of life. But for how long must I seal my lips?
Afsaneh Vahdat, Sweden
Aidin, Malaysia,Petaling Jaya
I was born in a Muslim country but I have never been a Muslim. I found atheism as the truth and would not change it. I am interested in becoming a member of an atheist society to find people with the same opinion.
Amir, Tehran, Iran
I live in Tehran, Iran. I have been a Muslim for most of my life until I came across some websites that told me about the truth behind all the false claims I have been taught at school. I realized that Islam is a barbarous religion and it fake Prophet has been a madman and a charlatan. Now I want to take revenge for all those years I've been kept in ignorance by becoming a member of your organisation.
Anees Maani, Amman, Jordan
Ex-Muslims of Jordan say hello.
Anonymous, a poet from Iraq
I have been briefed on the founding statement of the Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain. I am fully compliant with its statement. I warmly shake your hand and certainly do agree with my mind, heart and conscience. I ask whether it is possible to join the Council. Enough disdain for freedom and rights! I hope that this is a secret between us for some time.
Anthony Burgher
Hope you understand. I cannot reveal my identity. I shall be jailed until 'repentance' like some of my friends.
I just want to be a member as it feels good not to be alone. I am free on the inside and one day, it is my dream that I shall be free on the outside too.
Ariyabod, Tehran, Iran
After I read the book "Other Birth" I know anything about Islam, Christianity, Judaism and god. I'm an ex-Muslim. I'm an atheist now. I am happy that I could free myself.
Asem, Stockholm, Sweden
I believe that religions are enslaving humanity and should be encountered and exposed. Especially Islam which is the most unfortunate piece of thought that humans ever invented. And the cause of the misery for 1 Billion people.
Asha Eli, Minnesota, USA
I would like to join your organization because, like many of you, I am an ex-Muslim. I have always felt that Islam was out of touch with the natural world even though it claimed to have come from the one who created all of the things in the universe. It has taken me a long time to proof to myself that was not the case. My suffering ended when I disbelieved. I suffered because I found it difficult to reconcile that on one hand there was a loving God and on the other hand that same God demanded destruction of many lives for no apparent reason. I commend you for your bravery, which I am not able to replicate yet. I am still in the closet; afraid to reveal my true beliefs. What you have done is akin to moving mountains. I never thought that I would see the day that an organization such as yours would emerge out of the chaos that is Islam.
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Ashkan Namdari, Los Angeles, USA After years of living under an authoritarian Islamic government I have come to realise that my future is limited by the boundaries that are set by those who had ruled over me. There exists only one solution to allow myself to grow beyond these boundaries. I must free myself of this tyranny. I yearn to know what it means to be "free" in a society and to exercise my human rights. |
Ayad Noufel, Netherlands
Finally I find some ex-Muslims to chat with; it's nice to know people from different nations and cultures who left or are about to leave Islam. About what made me leave Islam is READING , READING AND READING, and realized what they did and still doing to my people and land. As Kurdish people we know how barbaric Islam is.
Ayaz Nizami, Karachi, Pakistan
After a long study about Islam, I decided to become an atheist, and now I am proud to be an atheist, because atheism is fact and truth. I have seen Islam very deeply and closely, and now I know I don’t have any hesitation to become an ex-Muslim. And through the platform of CEM I want to join other free thinkers.
Aziz, Germany
I am ex-Muslim from Afghanistan.
Behnaz A. Aachen, Germany
Bobby, Karachi, Pakistan
I am married with three daughters. My father was an agnostic; my mother was Muslim. I am the eldest son in my family. The Islamists say they are the only ones loved by God; all non-believers are deserving of death. And you know they are killing thousands of non-Muslims, moderate Muslims, and those who are saying something against the black law of Islam. I am telling you that all my relatives and friends are now became the enemies of me and my family members. Talibanisation is reaching everywhere in Pakistan. The reason I want to join your organisation is to tell you all about Islam in Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries under Islamic rule. And to tell you that there are very few people left in Pakistan like me. I love those who love and serve humanity, because humanity is everything. I tell you that religion is not necessary for human beings. It is religion that has killed millions of peoples since the dawn of religions.
Bob Russell, Winnipeg, Canada
Bravo to everyone at CEMB ... for most of us taking the step away from religious belief has not been as personally dangerous as it is for you.
Brendan A. Maher, Dublin Ireland
I am an atheist and a member of the NSS UK and Irish Humanist Asso. Dublin. I attended the conference in Conway hall 10.10.08.I thought Maryam Namazie was excellent and I agree with the Manifesto of The Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. I hope I can make some positive contribution in the future.
Catherine Jones, Australia
I became an ex-Muslim over a decade ago and left my whole family behind. I have been watching so much on 'Youtube' lately; that is how I found out about CEMB. I typed in ex-Muslims out of curiosity one night. I thought, 'AFTER ALL THESE YEARS ALONE, SILENT, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!' I think I was a bit in shock too. I have really enjoyed your videos, Wafa Sultan, Richard Dawkins, and other videos of a similar theme. Sometimes I cry; sometimes I laugh and sometimes I am infuriated. Where I live and the way I live now are more secular and it is bliss compared to the Islamic and Arab culture I grew up in. Like you say, some of us might even have been born and raised in the West, but we are still under Islamic law in some shape or form. It gives me great joy to know that an organisation of ex-Muslims exists and is striving for a better world in the face of hatred, threats and violence. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for doing all you can to bring ex-Muslims together and create a 'family' for those that do not have one.
Catherine MacTier, Australia
I cannot express how deeply the personal stories on your website have moved and inspired me. I am an Australian, and was brought up in a fundamentalist Christian household, but rejected the reactionary, hypocritical and irrational faith of my family when I was 15. I am now an antitheist, but it has taken me almost 25 years to come to terms with my inability to believe in incoherent and vicious fairy tales, and to find a way to view myself as a truly moral and ethical person without the need for supernatural justification. 25 years of spiritual struggle was bad enough . . . but of course no-one was sending me death threats! . . . I am absolutely in awe of you and your contributors. Thanks to the impetus of the New Atheist movement, I am just starting to take an active part in supporting secularism and reason, and am a recent member of Atheist Foundation of Australia. Your website has given me new hope . . . we are not as incomprehensible and alien to each other as we have been led to believe. Thank you.
Claudia, Kuwait
I have been called the black sheep of the family all my life. i am so proud to be that black sheep because i never believed in their religion nor felt i belong to their culture. As i was watching the "fitna" movie, i saw your link and couldn't believe you actually exist guys. Well i told myself, there you go Claudia, this is the door that you have waited so long to be open. i am a nonbeliever, Atheist and free spirit person who refuses to follow man made books and rules that contain lies. I would love to join your organization and play an important role in it too. I think ex-muslim organization is what millions of trapped, feeling alone and scared people need. You organization tells those people that they are not alone and that they don't have to live in the shade any more. Moreover, it will help reduce the amount of pressure as well as the numbers of brain-washed, surrendered and mislead generations. We (if i may use this term by now) as an organization need to reach out for the unlucky ones who still don't know that you exist.
Curtz, France
We have finished our new site Islam-documents.org (which is the improvement of the other islam-documents.com, based in Tunisia. There is thousands of texts (around 10 000) about the origins of Islam, with a critical, humanist, and scientist view. It is now the bigger "sourcebook" on that subject, with often unpublished documents. A new version will be available soon, at the end of march: around 2450 pages.
Dale Phillip, Port Elizabeth
Like many other apostates, I was once also infected with the Islamic virus. I too once believed that it was Islam that was wronged, and that it was a religion that was simply misinterpreted...Fortunately, I came to my senses and discovered that truth about this cult.Today I am a secular humanist.. free from the clutches of Islam. I would like to be part of this organisation and be part of the growing movement of exmuslims.
Dan Soren, Malaysia
Religion is THE PROBLEM, not the solution!!! Religion is the single largest trigger and contributor to war and conflicts through history!!
Deanna, USA
I live in USA; I am originally from the Levant part of the Middle East. I was born and raised as a Muslim. I left Islam in my early 20s, because it is criminal, dictatorial and immoral doctrine. This is besides Mohammed’s and his gangs’ “theories” that contradict the scientific truths. I do not believe in any religion, but I believe in values and ethics. I would like to join this organisation hoping to meet like-minded people. I don’t find lots of Ex-Muslims here in the US! Maybe, it’s because people usually are uncomfortable to talk about their apostasy in public for safety reasons.
Erin B, New Zealand
I am an atheist (having been brought up a Catholic but renouncing their dogma and all other religions as soon as I was able). I commend you all and wish you all the very best to bring about enlightenment to our planet. Thank you very much for your bravery and for also giving me hope.
Ertan Zeki, South Africa
I believe religion causes more strife on this planet than all other things combined. I come from a muslim father, a christian mother (c of e), roman catholic ex-wife. As well as these faiths I have studied; buddhism, shinto, taoism, scientology among others and have found no substance in any of them. Not one person on this planet has ever proved god. Science has proved many many more things to me than any religion etc. ever will.
Everett Attebury, FL United States
I was inspired when I saw the brave Wafa Sultan and Ayaan Hirsi Ali speak out. I have been an atheist since I was 14 years old. It was hard for me to deal with the opposition from my (Christian) family, but I can't even imagine what it must be like for someone raised Muslim.
Faraz Ahmed, Pakistan
I’ve been an atheist for more than 2 years now. I feel manipulated and helpless living here in Pakistan. Just want to meet more people like me. I’m a guitar player/ recording engineer from Lahore, Pakistan. I have applied for my master degree in music abroad for September 09. I'll be getting out soon hopefully. Dog Bless :)
Farid el Nasire, Hoorn, The Netherlands
I'm a Moroccan. Born, raised and currently living in the Netherlands. Everyone in my family calls themselves Muslim, but only 5 or 6 people in the whole family are actually praying. I'm trying to let my family know that I don't want to be a Muslim little by little. I'm now at a point where my parents are starting to worry about my faith...
Fatemeh Majidi, Germany
Firdaus Nasar, Hyderabad, India
I was born into a Muslim family. And have quite obviously renounced it. And thus would naturally want to be a part of such a community like this...After all we are social animals...
Geoff Cordell, Delhi , India
Because I prefer knowledge to faith, reason to submission, and because I oppose the tyranny of enforced belief and power in the hands of self appointed guardians of truths that cannot be questioned
Gohar Khan, Pakistan
I am Ex-Muslim; I believe in logic, reason and rational thinking. I really
appreciate the foundation of this organization.
Ghulam Mustafa Lakho, Pakistan
What am I? You may let me to get help from Sachal Sarmast
the Sufi Poet of Sindh.
"WHAT AM I?
What am I? Sisters! Oh what am I?
I am something, I know not what.
At times I think myself a marionette,
Again at times the thread that moves the kite.
Or am I a spinning ball that wheels and sounds in the hand
of the friend?
Or am I a palace in which the Emperor sits and speaks of
diverse tales?
Is it I, the horse whom the rider rides?
Maybe, I am a wave of the sea that floods the space.
Perhaps I am the henna flower that has red inside!
Or am I the fountain filled by the clouds?
Or am I the reflection of the sun in the pool?
Is the reflection itself the resplendent light?
Perhaps it is I, the reflection of Reality, that which is
beyond speech; it maybe even that I am not!
Sachal says he learnt it from the Master,
"There is nothing but He, He always is."
***
HERE AND THERE
Who was I there?
What am I here?
There I had another name,
Here I am called differently.
I was not to come here
But some desire carried me away.
There I was in the Beloved's State,
Here I came to be a lover.
There it was all peace, neither noise nor trouble,
Here I am immersed in anxious thought.
Ah Sachal! Why misconceive?
All is Truth, only let go this "I"
***
I believe not in the outer religion,
I live ever in love.
Say Amen! When love comes to you.
Love is neither with the infidels nor with the faithful.
Look at the wonder of love.
Guyon Richard Hayklan, Philippines
I was born a Christian; I do not follow that religion any more and am now an atheist. I have seen a lot of trouble in the world due to Islam and I'm British so I see the values of my country of birth being eroded by Islam.
Hafke, Dublin, Ireland
I wish to join your organisation because I fully support the rights of everyone, including those raised in Islam, to choose their own way in life. As a Western atheist, a former Christian and a lesbian, I cherish my right to openly live as I choose. I am outraged that so many people are denied that right by Islamic law and rules. I have studied Islam and rejected it, because it is a medieval cult in which homophobia, racism and misogyny are integral.
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Hamid Shemshad, Canada |
Hanif Moalem
Hasan Khan,
Karachi, Pakistan
By joining the organization, I would be able to raise my voice and support for those whose lives have been and are still being oppressed, especially women and children, by the religious leaders of Islam who are obstinate beyond reason about the perceived truthfulness of Islam and lack even an inkling of empathy. Also, I would like to contribute in any way I can towards critically analyzing the doctrine of these self-proclaimed guardians of morality and the world so that they are not able to impose their rigid ideology upon others with as much ease as they can presently. I believe that the council will allow me to enhance my own awareness of the issues affecting us all and by reciprocal exchange. I myself might also be able to add my perspective or help in any other way possible for the council as a whole and for its members too. Finally, this council will give me sense of belonging and an opportunity to share my views with like minded people, which is so essential for a happy and positively contributing life.
My own journey of freedom from the bonds of Islam started when I was in 10th grade and 16 years old. I began to have many doubts about the religious doctrines of a benevolent creator in face of so much cruelty, and omnipotence in face of so much that casts doubt on the goodness of such omnipotence. However, opposition of friends, family members, and school teachers took its toll on me and I somewhat reverted back to faith after being ignored and humiliated. The next phase began about 4-5 years from the present time, when I was in university and was fuelled by my revolt against the morality as preached in Islam and rising interest in philosophy. Slowly and gradually, I felt the knots cast around myself by the quranic injunctions/teachings unravel and I began to exhale the air of freedom and reason. It was an exhilarating experience and I felt something like the childhood innocence having returned back. I have not looked back ever since and have observed a very significant increase in my happiness, empathy for my fellow beings, and reasoning capabilities despite losing touch with the larger society.
Human, Oman
I believe that it is my right and duty to humanity to renounce Islam, and the organisation will encourage many other people to do so. And I believe also that there are millions of ex-Muslims and all of them will show up once they find a safe place.
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Humayoun Fatah, Utrecht, Holland I am an atheist who was born Muslim in Afghanistan. I live in Utrecht, Holland. I read your manifesto and agree with it. Islam is just to mislead de society and people. |
Hussein Atat, Beirut, Lebanon
I like to join because I want to know people who are like me, and I think the organisation is important because it helps the Ex-Muslims.
Ibrahim M, Cairo, Egypt
W hy I spen t my life in praying and reading Quran ? F or what? F or a god that I can't see. For a r eligion that is us most stupid EVER. Why Islam say s that it must kill all who left the Islam. W hat is the Islam afraid of? I don't want to be part of it . I am Atheist forever.
Imran Ali, Ireland
I would like to join because I believe Islam is a false religion, 'constructed' by Mohammed who himself was a child molester, terrorist, etc.; there are numerous other reasons too: Islam is regressive, oppressive, denigrates women, etc. in fact, there are so many reasons I would like to join - too numerous to mention here.
Imran Mirza, Saudi Arabia
I don't find the words to express my joyful feelings about the council. I mean, this was the idea in my mind from last 10 years. There must be a platform of open minded people and today by chance, luckily I found the council. I saw the video of Maryam on youtube. It gave me courage and it gave me like a fresh breath of life. Now I feel that I can live free with my ideas of life. Background, yes, me, a Muslim, born in Muslim family on June 16, 1975, married on Dec. 21, 2006, having one baby boy born on Oct. 06, 2007, and now living in this so called holy land from Apr. 06, 2003 facing a long list of brutality, disregard, hate and inhuman behaviour. Please advise how I can be a part of your council and be a part of useful to council and can change my life too.
Isaac, Iran
Jacob Petersen, Denmark
Jeff Allen, California, USA
I agree 100% to you manifesto.
Jamshid, Tehran, Iran
I was born in a Muslim family, but I have never believed in God and Islam since I was a teenager. When I became older and learned about Islam’s history and crimes committed and saw the Islamic fascist regime in Iran execute and torture many people in Iran I hated Islam...
John Attridge, Germany
Free of Mohamamdan influence England would be a "Paradise Regained".
John Regan, Australia
The emergence of organisations such as CEMB are vital developments in the struggle against all forms of religion that arrogantly assume a power to intervene the public and private lives of believers and non-believers alike, be it Islam, Christianity, Judaism, you name it! The odious and primitive demands by religions on Western civilisation (particularly Islam) must be confronted by all who value freedom, fairness, equality and modernity. I wish to express my sincere admiration and support to all members of CEMB who have had the courage to walk away from the repressive and vulgar death cult that is Islam.
John Sharp, Johannesburg, South Africa
True atheist and leader in actions. Also gay so cannot let loose a religion that wants to stone me to death.
Jonathan Ibarra, USA
I believe people ought to have the right to believe or not believe in any
religion.
Julie Hay, Australia
I would like to become a member of the Council for ex-Muslims.....I am a 59 yr old woman who is an ex-fundamental Christian cult member, from which I escaped with my children ten years ago. I am not in a financial position to donate because of my past life, I struggle just to survive, and I don't quite know what I can do to participate, however, I am very passionate about women's rights in particular, but also the rights of children and animals, and also human rights in general. I am very concerned about the increasing power and control of religion, both fundamental and moderate, both Christian and Muslim, in modern societies, and like Britain we here in Australia do not have a constitution like that in the US, although given the state of things in the US it doesn't seem to matter because fundamental fanatical religion whatever name it follows seeks to control everything and everyone and will stop at nothing to do so, it sees itself as above the law, history is just full of it, anyway, I don't want to rabbit on too much, but it just sickens me, and having been involved in a fundamental Christian cult I know exactly how they think.
Kameran Mohammed Shareef, Iraq
And why I like to join the Ex-Muslim council:
I was born in a very religious family in the Islamic country of (Iraq). Although I never liked practicing the religion, I always had done it for the sake of my family and relatives.
I had a very hard time to express what I really believed. It was only after the recent catastrophic, Islamic attacks on innocent people that I could at least discuss the issues with my close friends and tell them that what we were practicing was nothing but some inhumane norms and traditions of some Arabs who lived thousands of years ago.
My beliefs were different from most patriotic Anti Arab Kurds in Kurdistan region of Iraq. They just did not like Arabs because of their hatred towards the Kurds throughout the history. Despite all that has been done to the Kurds most of them are still Muslims simply because of the fear of going to hell, where I believed that the teachings of the Islam were the sole cause of all the problems existing in the region. I believe that we should stop defending Islam and openly discuss this ridiculous religion and try to help those that have been forced to follow it. We should talk about all that is going on behind the curtains and question things that they do not want us to discuss (Because they don’t have any answers for them). We should encourage those who are blindly following Islam to read the Quran and Hadiths in their own language. I am positive that a great number of people will find Islam’s teachings to be baseless once they read and question it. I think that nobody should have to follow any religion till they get to an age that they can think for themselves and decide on a religion or no religion.
Karim Shamohammadi, Sweden
Kaspars Krauklis, Ireland
I am an atheist and I want to support this group. I am an atheist activist and debate religion on day-to-day basis. Me and other internet-atheists support this group and we spread the word and we reach many ears. I will try to help as much as I can...
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Khatab Hussein, Västerås, Sweden I am joining because there is too much hatred and fighting due to religions. |
Khalid, India
I cannot express my happiness as I have found about this organization. I am fed up with Islamic thoughts and ideologies as I have worked with many Muslim organizations here I have come to a conclusion that this philosophy is stupid. I want to join you and work against Islamic thoughts and free Islam and Muslims from their stupid ideologies, but I have to work for you secretly as I have many community problems. I hope you understand.
Khalid Saeed, Pakistan
I was born and raised in Pakistan as Muslim, like so many others in the country. But after the thinking and analysis of many years I came to realize that I was not a muslim, I was just a human. Partly my brother living in Sweden has also been an inspiration source for me, as he is also ex-muslim, Humanist and atheist. I have realized that religion is part of human suffering in different parts of the world including Pakistan . In Pakistan it is a tool for mullahs and others to control their followers and their lives for their own winning. The treatment of women. According to Islam women are not worth more than to obey men, and produce children. Most of all Islam tries to control human thinking. It has rules for everything, even for how to think. It spreads teachings which are destructive for mankind and world peace, the most common known "Jihad". And so on...
Khalid Saeed, Sweden
Islam contains a large amount of intense venomous hatred for non-Muslims. Mohammed himself was a terrorist in his time, when he ordered to kill those who left Islam. He took part in many battles against people just for the reason they did not accept Islam. Just spreading bloodshed every where which they call Peace. Islam is the root to terrorism and nothing else. I am happy that I am not part of it as at least I am not doing any harm to mankind and I respect and have good and positive thoughts for mankind and I am happy to say that I am an atheist.
Khurram Chaudhry, Lahore, Pakistan
I am an atheist and ex-Muslim and I am critical of all religions and theist philosophies.
Kyaxar, Ireland
The matter of religion has been a fascinated journey for me as I started to study Koran as a Muslim child at the age of 3 by my granny, since then my curiosity and being free and living in democratic society made me to study deeply the other religion and in some stage even I had to convert to a religion to study that. I am very happy after 40 years of age to find that all of them (religions) are less and more same and they belong to the past and they are not acceptable in this modern life especially by an intellectual person, so I am renouncing Islam and the other religions as my religion in the past time and proud of being an atheist …
Larry S. Rhodes, Knoxville, TN
I'm an Atheist and a life-time member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (USA).
The religion that I have renounced is Christianity.
My YouTube name is Doubter5, and my website is DigitalFreethought.Com.
Keep up the good work! You're not alone!
Layla S.A., Germany
It's been a long time that I have no religion and never thought there could
be an organization with such wonderful beliefs. I'm so glad that former
Muslims are having the courage to not only speak out against Islam but to
form an organisation to show that no one who wants to leave Islam is alone.
Leland Somers, Florida, USA
I'm interested in joining any organization that embraces the principles you enunciate in the Manifesto. I agree with them completely. I am an ex-Christian.
Liam Corkery, Ireland
Cultural relativism and political correctness are tools of the intellectually lazy. With the mass movement of people and cultures, understanding what ideas are beneficial to us and which are poisonous become crucial. I stand fully behind your manifesto. In order for the melting pot to succeed, and it must, societies must be based around humans drive to be free, inquisitive and creative. No idea or belief system should be above scrutiny.
Linda, USA
I had the opportunity to read the article about you in The Times March 12, 2008.
I am a British citizen but live in the US. I was brought up as Methodist and went to a CofE primary school, although my family was not particularly religious.
Having lived in the land of the free for 17 years, where almost everyone goes to church, I have become areligious to the point of anti -religious. I cannot bear the hypocrisy of religion and the evil it causes. I loved your quote that "rights are for individuals not religions or beliefs". I recently read Christopher Hitchins book "How Religion Poisons Everything", I am sure you are familiar with it. I get so fed up with people feeling sorry for me (that I won't be going to heaven...or hell for that matter) and assuming I have no ethical or moral backbone because I choose to think for myself.I just wanted you to know that I admire what you are doing and think you are incredibly brave; it's easy for me to quietly rant about not believing in any God given my "soft" religious background; but a tremendous stand for you to speak out given your religious background.
Maha , Egypt
I am ex Muslim since 20years, I live among extreme Muslims and I suffer from forcing me to wear the veil and to pray, I live in Alexandria Egypt . Please help me to contact other ex Muslims, I have many writings criticising Islam please help me to publish them, they are in Arabic.
Mahin Alipour, Sweden
Master, Tehran, Iran
I think I must be free. I don't believe in Islam or any other religion. Human being must be free.
Masood, Norway
I am 43 years Iranian ex-Muslim who grew up in a very religious family. I would like to join you because I believe in scientific and ethical facts. I believe strongly in social equality, especially women's rights which you can’t find it in Islam and those are same of the main reasons which forced me to become an agnostic... I will be glad to be in touch with you all fantastic people.
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Mehmet Çagatay, Turkey I would like to congratulate you on your courageous endeavor to establish an organization that will hopefully fill the absence of virtual fraternity of Islam with secular solidarity. If the “Council of Ex-Muslims” will give hope someone, it is primarily as a result of the organizational power that overcomes the limitations of individual struggles. Even though I never identified myself as a Muslim in my life, I will be appreciated if you could add me to the member list of your organization. Please accept my wholehearted support for the “Council of Ex-Muslims”. |
Mehri Majidi, Germany
Michael Brings, Canada
While I am not an ex-Muslim I am an active atheist, and thus would like to join you and support you in your endeavors. Thank you
Mim. A, Iran, Tehran
I'm from Iran. Thank you for understanding and for creating this great community. If I can exit Iran someday, then I will announce it proudly just like you, but for now I prefer to hide it because I will lost my job, my freedom and my life!
Mina Ahadi, Germany
Miro , Egypt
I just wanted to say that I live in the terror you are fighting against being an ex-muslim in egypt, I want to join you for freedom, and because everyone should be free to choose, however the choices to be respected should be the reasonable one not the dogmatic superstitions. It is no exaggaration to saythat I am afraid as I am writing to you from what could happen, but it's worth it.
Muhammad Syafiq, Malaysia
I’m an atheist in Malaysia. I hope that we can diminish organized religion and to educate people from dogmatic compulsion.
Muhammad, Quetta, Pakistan
I was born in a Muslim religious family but as I became a little mature and I started reading different thoughts and ideas, my mind began to change. And now I’m a Secular Man. But it’s very difficult for me to talk very openly against religion in a country like Pakistan and especially in a city like Quetta, which is a religious country and city. But we are trying our best to change people’s minds and trying to make our country a secular and moderate democratic country. I want to see Pakistan a secular country; I want to see women of Pakistan free and independent and I want to see them free like they are in western countries.
Murad Sheikhi, Denmark
Nadia Ayadi, France
I am happy that I have discovered your website via a French blog, "Riposte Laïque", which publishes a weekly newsletter about the rise of Islam in France and other general subjects related to the destruction of the French Republic's foundations. My name is Nadia AYADI and I live in France where I was born. I wasn't raised in an orthodox Muslim family, far from it, but I have experienced the cultural gap between some sides of the Muslim frame of mind and the French ethos, which has led me to feel isolated and out of place in French society. It took me ages to understand that all my problems came from the religion itself, and not only from the way one interprets its dogmas and rules. In France, radical Islam has become a huge issue. My revolt started some 20 years ago and day after day, my anger increased: I can't stand injustice and the endless scandals committed by Muslims, in France and elsewhere, led me to quit. Now, I am an apostate. I would like to join you because there is no council like yours in France and I don't think that will exist before long. It's hard to believe but here we don't have freedom of speech anymore, that's a reality people don't admit easily and would rather deny. I think hope will come from England, like in the 1940's when the General de Gaulle called the French for resistance from London. History is repeating itself. Thank you very much for giving me the courage to do this.
Nafees Sobhan, Bangladesh
I would like to join you because I consider Islamic law as unacceptable and contradicting to both human rights and values. Islam is anti-woman as it humiliates women and turns them into servants of the men. It is also anti-man, because it reduces men to breeding animals controlled by their urges. In another word Islam is inherently radical. I hope I can be useful to you.
Naima Alexander, Washington, DC USA
I am proud to tell you that I left the cult of Islam and that I am a free
Person from hell and ignorance today. loving human.
Nik Islamifobe, Tokyo, Japan
I wish to join because I fully believe ALL religions are nothing more than
cults established for the purpose of control, in particular Islam, whose
founder was a charlatan and leader of a band of thieves and cutthroats.
I am in full support of ALL Muslims courageous enough to walk away from this
evil cult.
Omid
I am an atheist who was born Muslim. I live in the California, US. I read your manifesto and agree with it. Religious beliefs or lack of it ought to be a matter of choice and no government should have the right to impose one or the other on its citizens.
Peter Sharp, Australia
The CEMB stands for freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of belief and freedom of conscience. Those are things that are worth supporting.
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Rafiq Mahmood,
Bogor, West Java, Indonesia |
Ramez, Cairo, Egypt
Raja, Pakistan
I can’t show my details because I am from Pakistan. I have studied everything. I find many contradictions in Islam and Islamic history. I want to live free and with a broad mind. I want to live with a mind where there is freedom of speech, where I can ask questions. I recently renounced my religion not publically but in my inner self. I was a Muslim before but because of many reasons I was not feeling comfortable and peaceful because of my religion. I discussed it and met with different people. Then I came to know that Islam is a fundamentalist religion, there is no freedom of expression, freedom of speech, there are different laws which are not applicable in this time of advancement and developed world, the basic reason I left Islam is that I was feeling enslaved. The reason I want to join your organization is that I want to become a member of that community to which I am very close; I want to interact with people who think the same as me. I want to discuss more so I can muster up my courage to publically announce that I am a man with no religion am a man with no boundaries. I am a man with moderate, advanced thinking. I am not a slave of anything. I am a human being. I want to spend my life in the best interests of myself and humanity. e.g. if some non-Muslim does something good, according to Islam he will not go to paradise because he is a non-believer; on the other hand, a Muslim no matter what he does will still go to paradise; how contradictory it is. There is no social justice for a human being.
Raji Opeyemi Ismail, Egypt
I'm joining this organisation because I'm an ex-Muslim, atheist. Also because I have seen the evil and agenda of Islam as narcissist, racist, imperialist, supremacist, terrorist and pro slavery. I'm a sub-sahara African and I believe Africans are most vulnerable to enslavement should Islam rules the world so I deem it imperative for me to join this movement to participate in challenging Islam.
Rakesh Sai, India
After learning about Islam & its prophet I came to this conclusion that there is no limit to a person's ignorance, stupidity, intolerance & foolishness.
Ramez, Cairo, Egypt
I am a young man; add me in public list. I consider myself as ex Muslim. I wish to have branch in Cairo. Do have a representative in Cairo?
Rebecca D, Canada
I'm filled with admiration for your enlightened humanist principled position, for your courage and honesty, for your selfless attempts to freed people from bondage of extremist intolerance and submission. I want you to know that you have my full support and tremendous respect.
Red Freud, India
Congratulations on taking such a brave initiative. I am an apostate since a year, active on http://www.faithfreedom.org
Reza Azmoodeh, The Netherlands
Richard Collins, San Diego, CA
I just found this group. I am a freelance writer specializing in the study of people who leave religion. For Muslims, your problems are greatly compounded and so I want to congratulate you all and praise you for your intellectual honesty and courage. I hope to get to know many of you personally.
Rizwan Khan, Delhi, India
My name is Rizwan Khan, 21. I am from a Muslim family and was an atheist but due to some twisted facts about Islam I accepted Islam at 14 then renounced it after reading "The God Delusion" at 17. Now, I want to help others by doing whatever I can do overcome this delusion.
Ryan, Australia
I like to join your organisation and defend human rights and to free people
from Islam
Saber Rahimi, Norway
The Hague, Netherlands Unbeliever
Saeed Salehi, Malaysia
Islam and Islamic ideology is a threat to international peace, democratic values and national identities of its believers. Followers of Islam limit themselves to a set of slavery-era rules which do not recognize the absolutely universal human rights to have freedom of thought and believe. I am proud to denounce any ties to Islam and condemn any belief in Islamic ideology as a better way of livin
Safy, Minneapolis, USA
I'm 18 year old. I started questioning a year ago. It was very hard coming to grips with my apostasy, but finding your organization enabled me to accept my atheism.
Salem D, Helsinki, Finland
I am a man 48 years old and was born in Libya in an Islamic family. I was raised up as a Muslim. Since childhood, I was forced to be in Islamic school and to learn the Koran without understanding it; however I had a hard time from teachers. I almost failed in my school because of that reason. I went for studies in south-Europe since 1980-1985 and 1986 I came to north-Europe. I was a typical Muslim but not religious. I had a lot of Muslim friends who some of them tried to make of me religious but I always talked straight about how I feel and think, so I wasn't excepted by my thinking because I criticized Mohamed’s sayings and I disagreed with them a lot, so I got away from all fanatic Muslims. Now one and a half years since I really found my real life and who I am. I don't believe in Islam either in any other religion at all; I believe that religion is made by powerful people who are not capable of doing anything else than cheat others by just singing about what they think is right and by that way, they make their living. I believe in human rights, freedom, health, clean nature, animal rights and in peace. I feel very sorry for all the Muslims and non-Muslims and mostly the women who suffer mostly because of the cultural habits and morals or religion's duties as they say. I wish that I can help them by some way. I talk about women's right, children’s right also; how much they suffer in the Islamic world and mostly about the circumcisions which little boys and girls suffer from, even die from and marriage at an early age from which some girls die. Well, I wish to support you and do my best to share the ideas with you about the human rights and mostly about how to save children from what they are facing it in Islamic world and to get out from the Islamic ideological field and try to make them to face the reality and not to live in afterlife imagination.
Shawna Murray, USA
Congratulations on breaking free!!!...i was not indoctrinated with religion as a child but i can appreciate how difficult it must be to undo the "mind control"...i have always had a strong humanitarian ethic and want to support others who feel the same...i have been badly harmed by the religions of other people and feel that all religions should be renounced to the extent that they interfere with basic humanitarian ideals...we must agree on what those ideals are and then try to uphold them throughout the world...
Shoikot Chy, Bangladesh
I think myself as an atheist. I am from a Muslim family but after 18 years old I change my mind and now I don't believe in koran-hadith and others religious scriptures etc. That's why I would like to join this group and want to meet other ex-Muslims.
Sholeh Shams Shabaz, California, USA
Editor In Chief, Rahavard Quarterly Persian Journal of Iranian Studies
Siba Shakib, New York, USA
I just discovered your page and would like to offer any kind of support. As a filmmaker and writer all my work and effort is going in the same direction. SEPARATE religion and state, liberate societies from forced religiosity.
Skeptic griggsy, US
Stephen UHL
I am not an ex-muslim; I am an ex-Catholic-priest-become-atheist-psychologist and author. So I can appreciate many of the challenges faced by ex-muslims as they dropped their superstitions that are still embraced by their families. Tolerance of believers but intolerance of their irrational superstitions calls for patience in educating them. I hope I can help.
Sundos Mohammad Jasim, Syria
Syed A.A. Naqvi, Pakistan
I was raised in a fairly moderate, but devout, Shia Muslim family here in Sunni-majority Pakistan where people sadly look down upon minority sects and religions just because they dare to be different. I too was very devout and took my Shia beliefs very seriously until the age of 22 when religious hypocrisy, ignorance, intolerance, and a thirst for harming others in the name of Allah who dare show defiance really put me off. It all began with the ridiculous violence in the Muslim World over the Danish cartoons in 2005 and knowledge about brutalities of Iranian mullahs (whom I once loved just because they are Shia) towards their people and my intense hatred of the Saudi petro-Wahhabi Islam from day one made me have enough. I left religion and God by the time 2009 came about, and shunned religious nonsense but it was too late. After completing my uni education in UK, I had to return home because of lack of money and I really want to leave Pakistan because I hate being silent and hate being bullied by relatives who know of my Atheism & Secular Humanism. The fight continues, and I am not backing down. But I have to take flight otherwise I will remain stuck at home. It’s about time Pakistan shunned religious degeneracy and become a tolerant, secular country just like Muhammad Ali Jinnah always desired. Hope I can leave Pakistan and find work in UK (I did both my BSc and MPhil in UK) and maybe even become a public figure for CEMB as well.
Thorum, Barton, United States
I completely support the advancement of ex-Muslims, fighting Islamization, and the push for secularism and rationalism.
Urooj Khan, Tucson, AZ, USA
I am an agnostic/rationalist/secular humanist. It took me a while to realize that there are so many people like me in this world. But it feels good to be in company of courageous people who have renounced religion/superstition/delusions. Religion never made much sense to me. First of all there is not a shred of scientific evidence for a supernatural intelligence. Even if there was, I wouldn't think that intelligent being would write books so consistent with medieval thinking.
Vaheid / Edricce, Pakistan
We are two ex-Muslims from a city in Pakistan that is a centre of the export of Deobandi Islam to the whole world. Our direct experience with radical Islam makes us protest against this bane of Humanity. World needs to do more than mere military actions to defeat this code of suppression and inhumanity.
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Wasfy JASEEM, Kurdistan of IRAQ I was born and raised in a conservative Muslim family in Iraq. Throughout my life I have questioned everything surrounding me. This system of thinking has pushed me to study and analyze the facts about religions myself rather than hearing from others. I have considered myself an atheist for five years now. However, I have not disclosed my beliefs and ideas freely, not because I did not want to, but because I never felt free enough to discuss it with our people. For the period that I lived in France, I met with many people who share my beliefs. This has given me the opportunity to freely express my feeling and thoughts about Islam. Having become fully conscious now of my atheism, I must say that I was never particularly religious before, but I consider it just an accident of birth that I was raised in an Islamic family and reared in a Muslim culture. A conflict in the Kurdish society, that I still cannot understand fully, is the way that Kurds are conscious of their unique culture and nationality, yet yield or maybe even giving in unconsciously to the religion of Islam. Your organization is an excellent port for people like me to have an opportunity to meet similar-minded people, and encourage fellow atheists to become more active in unveiling the truth about Islam. We have nothing against Muslims; most of them have been brought up in isolated Islamic societies and were never given the chance to question, much less to choose their own religion; they are Muslims by birth. |
Yeem, Singapore
I was born Moslem but rejected Islam when I came to university. I studied it extensively and found that it made fanciful claims about an existence of a supernatural Being. My parents are Moslems. But my dad and mom are not fanatics. Dad only prays on Hari Raya days. I'm a Singaporean. There are many Malay Singaporeans who do not believe, let alone, practice the teachings of Islam. Nobody seriously pray 5 times here. And Friday mosques are rarely filled up as people are busy working. If all Moslems prayed, there wouldn't be enough mosques to go around. People are socially engineered to maintain their pseudo identities but these days...nobody cares whether you fast, pray or eat non-100% halal food. Love your work. Many more will speak out.
Zaina , Jordan
Because I have never been given the chance to choose my religion, and because Islam was imposed on me (just like it was on many walking in the streets now), as was the religious education and cultural brain washing. And finally because as a human I have the right to choose what I believe in. Being raised and deprived from essential rights for being a Muslim is a never-ending nightmare. Freedom never comes when you're a Muslim, only continuous lies and I'm done with that. I'm 25 years old, a female, and lately I've been reading a lot away from the "I'm not supposed to be reading" taboo. Luckily I've been opening many forbidden doors, those which my culture forbid me to confront myself with, I've also been asking many questions, and then answering them ALONE, without any quran or hadeeth's help. Once you come to that confidence in your own judgment of what's possible and what's right, what's impossible and what's wrong, only then you come to the answer that the supposed peaceful religion -Islam- is the darkest, most humiliating and cruel belief. And for that, and for being so weak to stand upon my beliefs and fight a whole system of religious ppl out there. I want to join. Not because I want to feel secured of having others that are going through what I'm going now. But because I want to be free at least between me and myself.
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Zain Raza, Vancouver, Canada I am an ex-Muslim and British-Pakistani. To believe in the myths and fables of 7th century Arabia is to believe in a fairy story. To hold those myths as a correct statement of reality such that all the complexity, beauty and vastness of the cosmos is reduced to the playground of a vindictive and cruel bully; that somehow there exists a place called hell where man will be burnt again and again forever for having the temerity not to worship this forgiving god - this is an impoverished, ridiculously naive and infuriatingly arrogant, snobbish and pathetic belief. Mankind would do better without this racist, sexist, homophobic and warmongering desert cult; mankind would do better to trust in its own intelligence and stop empowering such an anthropomorphic vision of god. I have left the grips of a guilt-ridden, rotten existence as a Muslim and hope that all those who are trapped in this belief will do so too. |
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Zedan Hussain, Netherlands |
Zulfitareen
Free your mind. Free your spirit. Break the shackles of religion now.
