In this powerful film, six ex-Muslim women activists share their moving stories of growing up in Muslim families and Muslim-majority countries and the violence, loss and shunning they faced because of their scepticism and apostasy.

The women talk about everything from tearing their hijab on door handles as a child, wearing a burkini on a beach in Italy, wanting to scream their atheism in Mecca during Hajj, losing custody of a child after a husband’s accusations of blasphemy, reporting a violent fundamentalist father, forging a male guardian’s signature in order to flee their country and being shunned for defending LGBT rights…

Despite the risks, the women speak of hope, happiness and finding freedom in leaving Islam.

The brave women: Fauzia Ilyas, Fay Rahman, Halima Salat, Mimzy Vidz, Rana Ahmad and Zara Kay reside/have resided in Australia, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands. They are from backgrounds as diverse as Bangladeshi, British, Egyptian/Moroccan, Saudi, Somali/Kenyan, Pakistani and Tanzanian. The

The documentary will premiere on 1 February 2021 as a challenge to World Hijab Day and Islam’s modesty culture.

Online Monthly Meetups are held on the third Tuesday of every month, 7.00-8.00pm UK time. Meetups are run by Ali Malik.

Link to live event on Youtube and Facebook will be posted here closer to the time.

This monthly meet-up is on Apostasy and Asylum with Ana Gonzalez. Meet-ups are run by Ali Malik.

Ana Gonzalez is a solicitor and partner at Wilson Solicitors. She practises in immigration and asylum work, and has interests in human rights and European Law. Ana is an internationally recognised expert in gender and sexuality-based asylum claims as well as having extensive expertise in representing individuals from vulnerable, marginalised client groups such as victims of human trafficking, apostates and transgender individuals. Ana is frequently instructed by Local Authorities all over the Greater London area to act for children and adults in their care.

Ana is praised in Chambers and Partners for her “constant attention to cases, leading client care and real knowledge of the law.” She “continues to stand out for significant work on human trafficking cases, often raising new country guidance points” (2012). “She is a stand-out practitioner in the field of refugee law, with particular expertise in trafficking cases” (2014). She “is very experienced, passionate and has very good judgement” (2016). Ana has been described “the epitome of a fighter who cares very deeply about her clients,” in the 2019 edition.

She practises in all aspects of immigration and asylum work, and has a specialist interest in European law. Ana has extensive experience of litigating in the higher courts, having had numerous cases over the years in the Administrative Court/Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal. She has also conducted cases in the Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg.

Online Monthly Meetups are held on the third Tuesday of every month, 7.00-8.00pm UK time. Meetups are run by Ali Malik.

This month’s meetup is with Khadija Khan on Religious Misogyny.

Link to live event on Youtube and Facebook will be posted here closer to the time.

Khadija Khan is a Pakistani journalist and a commentator currently based in UK. She writes about human rights, mainly women’s rights, as well as minorities, extremism and Islamism. She is an advocate for women’s rights, strongly believes that religion infringes women’s rights and Islam is no exception. She denounces the idea of Islamic feminism, since finding refuge for women’s rights under organised religion is not more than a myth. Being a humanist, she believes in tolerance and equality for all human beings. She criticizes the usage of blasphemy laws as a tool to crackdown on dissent and supports freedom of and from religion. She stresses the need of having freedom of speech to counter extremist ideologies in her write ups. She believes that freedom to challenge bad idea is the most effective way to counter extremist narratives.

Online Monthly Meetups are held on the third Tuesday of every month, 7.00-8.00pm UK time. Meetups are run by Ali Malik. This meetup is with Hassan Radwan on Reformation in Islamic History.

Link to live event on Youtube and Facebook will be posted here closer to the time.

Hassan Radwan is a graduate of SOAS University of London where his specialist subjects were Tafseer and Pre-Islamic Poetry. He spent 15 years as a teacher at the Islamia Primary School in London founded by Yusuf Islam. He has written four books for Muslim children as well as translating the book “My Ordeal with the Qur’an,” from Arabic to English. He runs the blog: Agnostic Muslim Khutbahs and founded the Agnostic Muslims & Friends group on Facebook.

Online Monthly Meetups are held on the third Tuesday of every month, 7.00-8.00pm UK time. Meetups are run by Ali Malik.

Link to live event on Youtube and Facebook will be posted here closer to the time.

This monthly meet-up is on Apostasy and Asylum with Ana Gonzalez. Meet-ups are run by Ali Malik.

Ana Gonzalez is a solicitor and partner at Wilson Solicitors. She practises in immigration and asylum work, and has interests in human rights and European Law. Ana is an internationally recognised expert in gender and sexuality-based asylum claims as well as having extensive expertise in representing individuals from vulnerable, marginalised client groups such as victims of human trafficking, apostates and transgender individuals. Ana is frequently instructed by Local Authorities all over the Greater London area to act for children and adults in their care.

Ana is praised in Chambers and Partners for her “constant attention to cases, leading client care and real knowledge of the law.” She “continues to stand out for significant work on human trafficking cases, often raising new country guidance points” (2012). “She is a stand-out practitioner in the field of refugee law, with particular expertise in trafficking cases” (2014). She “is very experienced, passionate and has very good judgement” (2016). Ana has been described “the epitome of a fighter who cares very deeply about her clients,” in the 2019 edition.

She practises in all aspects of immigration and asylum work, and has a specialist interest in European law. Ana has extensive experience of litigating in the higher courts, having had numerous cases over the years in the Administrative Court/Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal. She has also conducted cases in the Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg.

August will be the first month we are back with face-to-face meet-ups. 7.30-9.00pm UK time. Meetups are run by Ali Malik. The event will be held at our regular meet-up space. If it will be your first time, please email ali.malik@ex-muslim.org.uk to register and get more information.

This month’s meetup is with Youtuber Harris Sultan.

Harris Sultan is an Australian ex-Muslim atheist of Pakistani descent. Harris moved to Australia at the age of 19 and was exposed to the big wide world other than his hometown of Lahore, Pakistan. He credits Richard Dawkins for exposing the counter-arguments against God resulting in his Atheism however, the honest study of the Quran and Muhammad’s biography moved him away from Islam. Harris’ deep understanding of Islam and his ability to explain the flaws of Islam in the simplest of styles makes his book, blogs and videos the best way to understand Islam.

Monthly Meetups are held on the third Tuesday of every month, 7.30-9.00pm UK time in central London. Meetups are run by Ali Malik.

This month’s meet-up is with Nuriyah Khan on Women and Islam.

Nuriyah Khan is a British Pakistani aspiring lawyer and activist who mostly grew up between Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Nuriyah has a YouTube
channel called Holy Humanist. Holy Humanist is a platform dedicated to exploring the dogma of Islam, human rights, freedom, oppression, and the surrounding socio-political issues, with a strong emphasis on women’s rights (or lack thereof!).

If you have already attend meet-ups, you can just show up but please RSVP via email to ali.malik@ex-muslim.org.uk. Due to Covid rules, space is limited.

Join CEMB in celebrating blasphemy by uploading your photo into our #blasphemyday frame and sharing on social media. If you can’t show your face because it may put you at risk, hide it or leave it blank. Artist Victoria Gugenheim explains how to add your photo to the frame here.

On this day, we reiterate that blasphemy is not a crime. It is part and parcel of freedom of conscience and expression and that ideas don’t need rights, people do.

If you have problems adding your photo to the blasphemy day frame, email it to us at hello@ex-muslim.org.uk and Victoria will help.

Farsi, Arabic, French and Spanish translations and list of Signatories below.
To add your signature, please email maryamnamazie@gmail.com or add your name and description here. The list will be updated daily until end of 3 October, International Soheil Day.

Soheil Arabi is an Iranian atheist initially sentenced to death for ‘insulting the Prophet of Islam’ in Facebook posts. Due to public pressure, his sentence was reduced but he continues to face multiple additional charges in attempts to silence him since his arrest in November 2013.

In August 2021, his lawyer Tweeted that Soheil had been sentenced to yet another 2 years in prison for ‘spreading propaganda with the intention of disturbing public opinion,’ because of his outspoken advocacy for atheism and prisoner rights.

We, the undersigned, are extremely concerned about Soheil’s life and safety and demand his immediate and unconditional release.  We unequivocally condemn blasphemy laws that persecute freethinkers for their conscience and expression.

In order to defend and stand with Soheil Arabi, we call for 3 October to be International Soheil Day.

On this day, we urge the public to highlight his plight by rallying at Iranian embassies, contacting members of parliament in their countries of residence, writing protest letters, Tweeting #FreeSoheil #SoheilDay #SoheilArabi and sending messages of solidarity to Soheil and his mother Farangis Mazloum who has been targeted for defending her detained son.

#FreeSoheil

#SoheilDay

#SoheilArabi

#سهیل_عربی

#روز_سهیل

Monthly Meetups are held on the third Tuesday of every month, 7.30-9.00pm UK time in central London. Meetups are run by Ali Malik.

This month’s meet up is with Mehran Torkzadeh Tabrizi on ‘History of Islamic governance in Iran.’ Born in Tehran, Iran in 1973, Mehran lived through the Iranian revolution and the Iran-Iraq war. He did his Bachelors in German Literature and his Masters in Ancient Languages and Cultures of Iran. He credits his studies in mentioned subjects to have broadened his horizons and the understanding of religions as man-made. Mehran moved to the UK in 2008 for further studies and used the freedom of speech he was now afforded to speak out about his criticism of Islam.

Since space is limited due to Covid regulations, please RSVP with ali.malik@ex-muslim.org.uk.

29-30 October 2021
Vrijdenkersfestival 2021 (Freethinkers Festival 2021)
De Balie, Amsterdam

Met onafhankelijke geesten uit alle windhoeken, de een nog moediger dan de ander.

Het begrip vrijheid is onlosmakelijk verbonden met Amsterdam. De stad deed in de 17e eeuw al dienst als veilige haven. Voor vrijdenkers, afvalligen en andere lastpakken. Vanzelfsprekend trokken scherpe geesten als René Descartes, John Locke en Baruch de Spinoza naar de stad. Waar anders konden ze wonen, denken, schrijven en publiceren? Wie elders om zijn denkbeelden werd verjaagd, kreeg in Amsterdam een warm welkom. Als andersdenkende werd je er gezien en gehoord. Vanaf dat moment is onze stad een brandpunt gebleven. Voor filosofen, dolle mina’s en onruststokers.

In aanloop naar het 750-jarige bestaan van de stad staan we stil bij ons vrijheidsbegrip en wat voor betekenis dit heeft. Hoe vrij zijn wij? Vrijgemaakt van religie, dogma’s of ideologie? En wat heeft die vrijheid ons gebracht? Hoe verhoudt vrijheid zich tot empathie en inlevingsvermogen voor anderen? Hoe verdedigen we onze vrijheden en wat kunnen we daarbij leren van de geschiedenis?

Van vrijdagavond 29 tot en met zaterdagavond 30 oktober organiseren we het Vrijdenkersfestival 2021, met onafhankelijke geesten uit alle windhoeken, de een nog moediger dan de ander.

Met oa:

De Brits-Iraanse Maryam Namazie is een vooraanstaand mensenrechtenactivist. Zij is woordvoerster van Iran Solidarity, One Law for All en de Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. Hoewel Namazie al vele jaren in Engeland woont, houden de Iraanse staat en media haar nog steeds in de gaten.

Mohamedou Ould Slahi zat 14 jaar lang zonder proces vast in de Amerikaanse gevangenis op Guantanamo Bay. Het boek dat hij hierover schreef, Guantánamo Diary, groeide uit tot een internationale bestseller en is recentelijk verfilmd als het gevierde The Mauritanian. Mohamedou Ould Slahi is als ‘writer-in-residence’ een jaar lang in dienst is bij NITE (Club Guy & Roni en Noord Nederlands Toneel). Hij schreef de tekst voor de op zijn verhaal gebaseerde voorstelling Freedom, die op 16 oktober in première gaat in Groningen. In De Balie komt hij vertellen over zijn leven in gevangenschap, en wat het ervaren van totale onvrijheid deed met zijn blik op vrijheid.

Alexander Noordijk was als homoseksuele dominee werkzaam in Amsterdam. Wat betekent het geloof voor hem, op welke manier vindt hij God en hoe kunnen we elkaar in vrijheid laten leven, en toch naar elkaar omkijken? Alexander Noordijk heeft ook in Amsterdam bedreigingen en intimidatie meegemaakt. Hoe kunnen we elkaar in vrijheid accepteren en van elkaar leren?

Can Dündar is journalist in ballingschap. Icoon van de vrije pers in Turkije. Als hoofdredacteur van dagblad Cumhuriyet was hij in 2015 verantwoordelijk voor een stuk over Turkse vrachtwagens die met wapens naar Syrië onderweg waren. Als fel verdediger van het vrije woord en politiek vluchteling in Duitsland draagt Dündar een essay voor waarin hij vooruitblikt. Kunnen we nog samenleven in vrijheid én veiligheid in het Europa van morgen?

Deborah Feldman schreef de autobiografie Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots. Dat debuut vertelt het verhaal van haar breuk met de orthodox-joodse gemeenschap in Brooklyn. Het boek werd gebruikt als basis voor de Netflix-serie Unorthodox uit 2020, en werd een wereldwijde hit. In augustus dit jaar verscheen haar nieuwste boek Exodus, Revisited.

Keyvan Shahbazi vluchtte in 1983 uit Iran. In zijn net verschenen autobiografische debuutroman De Amerikaan van Karadj is te lezen hoe hij en zijn familie slachtoffer werden van het regime van Khomeini. Na zijn vlucht werd hij gebeld en geïntimideerd door de inlichtingendienst in Iran. Ze gebruikten zijn moeder, die daar nog was, om hem onder druk te zetten. Het staat symbool voor de invloed die buitenlandse staten kunnen hebben op Nederlandse burgers.

De 21-jarige Alerk Ablikim is een Nederlands-Oeigoerse activist. Zijn vader zit op dit moment vast in een concentratiekamp. Ablikim krijgt ook in Nederland veel te maken met intimidatie vanuit zijn thuisland, in de vorm van mailtjes, sms’jes, en zelfs belletjes waarop geschreeuw en gehijg te horen is. Hoe vrij is hij om zich uit te spreken, als zijn thuisland altijd over zijn schouder mee kijkt?

Diederik Boomsma is fractievoorzitter van CDA Amsterdam en promovendus in de rechtsfilosofie. Hij nam het initiatief tot een bundel over de verschillende opvattingen van vrijheid binnen de gemeenteraad.

Laila Ezzeroili is een Marokkaans-Nederlandse journalist en publicist. Haar Marokkaanse paspoort mag ze van de regering niet afstaan, met als gevolg dat ze nog onder de wetgeving valt van een land waar ze niet woont en zelfs niet is geboren. Hoe kan het dat het buitenland zoveel invloed heeft op Nederlandse staatsburgers?

Tirza de Fockert is raadslid van GroenLinks Amsterdam, waar ze zich voornamelijk richt op onderwijs, integratie, en LHBTIQ+ rechten. Tijdens dit programma deelt ze haar visie op tolerantie, vrijheid en samen leven in de stad. Wat delen Amsterdammers ondanks onderlinge verschillen met elkaar?

**Meer namen volgen. Hou deze pagina in de gaten voor meer info over de kaartverkoop

Blasphemous Women and Equality Film Screening and Panel

On Saturday 20 November from 6-8pm, CEMB is screening “Women Leaving Islam” for the first time in London. After the film, there will be a panel discussion on Blasphemous Women and Equality. Speakers include Somali Ex-Muslim Voices Founder Halima Salat, CEMB Spokesperson Maryam Namazie, Youtuber and Counsellor Mimzy Vidz, Youtuber Nuriyeh Khan, Clinical Psychologist Savin Bapir-Tardy, and Writer and Southall Black Sisters Activist Rahila Gupta. Tickets are £5.00. Due to Covid rules, space is limited so please get your tickets today.