Hello! I am houzan an ex muslim,I'm quite happy to find this community page as I'm tired lonely and scared! I am originally from iraq, left my country with my parents after the war in 2003, my parents settled in Dubai then they decided to send me to study in the uk as i am the only child for my family they wanted me to have good level of education, and this is where my journey to become a non believer started! i finished my degree in architecture successfully, I loved a non muslim man and had relationship outside marriage with him over nearly 3 years we lived together in the same house, and of course in islam this is a sin... my extended family mainly cousin started threatening me and my parents. but i am lucky I'm in a safe country and they cannot reach me easily as they live in iraq, and dubai. However, for a long time even before starting this relationship i had lots of questions about religion in my head but every time i seek answers i got rejected that these rules are from allah and we are not allowed to questioning him! so i start my own research and study and came to conclusion that religions where made to control the society and control people minds! i had to end my relationship with my partner as his family wanted me to convert to their religion but i didn't want to put myself in another religious cage! .. I rejected islam completely more than couple of years now! tried to keep a low profile to avoid problems but i got tired of that! my extended family start threatening me again and they have influence on my dad as they live in the same country and he is rejecting me now! but my mum still supporting me secretly although i can't see her as she is living abroad! i was thinking of start counsellor sessions to take all these fear and negative thoughts out! and i think getting in touch with similar minds through this council can be helpful as well! sorry for the long statement but its lots of burden i can't keep anymore

I decided to be a member of this great organisation in 2014 or 2015, as I joined and wrote in that time when I was studying in the UK. After I return back home I started working in a reputated English national daily newspaper as a journalist and quite often I write on editorial as well as on open blog; as a consequence, I felt to join with CEMB again to be a part of team.
The most important thing that I reckon about this organisation is that the secular and progressive movements that's why it works for. To work in term of gaining the rights for the oppressed and minority non-believers is the great initiative of this organisation.
Moreover, I feel that this is the community where I belong to, as I am a secular humanist and social activist and no longer a religious person or Muslim.
A brief introduction about myself is that I am a singer-song writer, guitarist, bassist, journalist and teacher. I finished my degree from Buckinghamshire New University, UK on Business Management.
Currently I am one of the members (Guitarist) of the legendary band of Bangladesh called Maqsood_O_dHAKA, founder member and leader of band RockyRoad (UK), journalist at The Asian Age (Dhaka, BD), a member of Bangladesh Musician's Foundation (BMF), Ex- member of Betar Bangla Radio UK 1503 AM.

I was brought up as a Shia muslim, though there are many great things about faith, like community, charity, etc... There are many many negative ones, and even then, studying the texts, the history, I cannot in any good conscience believe in this anymore. Being a minority, how can I justify the persecution of minorities within minorities?

And the truth is important to me. However good or bad a lie is, its still a lie, and something I don't want.

I have never met someone who openly said they were no longer muslim, it can be lonely.

My family are open minded, though religious and good people. I just want to hang out with some people and chat honestly.

I am 56 years old , born in Iran.
well, first I thought to introduce myself as ex-muslim but now thinking it over I think I never was one.
Happy to volunteer to help you. I am good in office work and organizing event.
Maryam Namazi is my hero.

Please include a statement as to why you want to join and the significance of the organisation for you. Any background information would be useful.
I'm 18 years old, in the closet, forced hijabi. I left the religion late last year and have been a part of a small group chat for the past few months, it's great but the downside is that most of the people don't live in the UK or London. I'd like to join CEMB to expand my Ex Muslim circle and meet new people in my city. I'd like to also go to events and learn more.

Bangladeshi, 17, born and raised in London. Pansexual, feminist, agnostic. I don't hate Islam, I just don't agree with a lot of it. I just feel alone. No one else knows.

hi, I'm abu mustafa. First of I believed in Islam and day by day I am realising about the setuation of my religion. I born and brought up in a very restrictive Muslim family. I went to Madrasa ( institute for Islamic education) and experienced a measurable part of my life. Then I went to normal school, college and university. In my whole life I have meet so many restrictions, inflictions, miss guidance from different prospects. After all there are so many things disappointed me and I asked myself why religion say to hate other religion, I have lots of questions and I tried a lot to Seattled but couldn't find such kind of answers that can satisfy me. Now I would like to introduce me as an Ex- Muslim and not even that I don't believe in any existing religion. All these are man made I believe.

Pakistani woman, living in Denmark. Beautiful peaceful secular country. Fell in love with danish secular values just a year after coming here. I gave up faith several years ago but still have not declared it as it is too risky. Have two kids which does not make anything easier. Want to get to know people in the same boat as me. Alas I am not in the UK and this council does not have any presence in Denmark.

I come from a very religious family. My siblings and I were sent to religious schools since the very early years of your childhood. I managed to memorise the Quran by the age of 16 and many Hadiths alongside.
Although I was a devoted Muslims who did practise Islam on daily basis, I had never felt connected to the so called "God" and I felt like I didn't belong in the Muslims community.
I used to respect Islam and think it is a very moralistic religion that always gave me motivation to spread love and be good to others. But I came to realise that was the version I wanted of Islam. I deliberately ignored all the verses that promotes hate, misogyny, intorelacne, violence and many other things that contradicted with what I really believed in. However, held strongly on those
promoting "giving the poor" , wishing to find the "real Islam".
After exhausting all the excuses, trying to find the "correct" interpretation of Quran and rejecting Hadith, I left Islam in 2015.I still don't know exactly how I feel about it.
I am still in the closet due to the fact I live with my family and I am surroneded by a massive Muslim community which means less safety for me as an apostate.
I lead two lives , one as a practising Muslim and the other as ME.
Sadly, I have been living in constant fear since leaving Islam as well as loneliness and an overwhelming feeling of "not fitting in"; and I was hoping ,by joining the CEMB, to find people who are like-minded, people who I can be myself with and I hope I can also support others who are going through this experience.
Just want to say, we are family and I am here for everyone <3 Thanks for reading

I an an ex muslim who thanks to my current partner, was able to pick up the courage and voice my views. However, since my coming out about.being an athiest, i have recieved criticism from nearly every muslim i know. My mum, 3 younger brothers, a few cousins and one my mum's sisters' are completely fine with me and understand that religion is a personal choice. However, the rest of the family have "disowned" me. I'm not allowed to step foot in my grandparents' house and i've been called "evil" because of my views. It's been about a year now, and family members are still just as cold towards me as they were near the beginning of all this. Some family members haven't accepted the reality of things and still lecture me about praying because i've "lost my way". The last time i saw my grandmother she said "pray your kalimas and forget about everything else and all will be fine". Because i rejected to comply, she said me and her "finished", along with using my grandfathers' death (from just over 2 years ago) to manipulate me. I recieve emotional blackmail on a regular basis. I think the thing that hurt me most was "we are ashamed of you". I hate that although other members of my so called family have done humiliating things way worse than leaving the religion, i get blasted because i'm a female; it's unfair and wrong! "Family" does not judge you and kick you out of their lives because you have different beliefs... Family is supposed to be there for you no matter what and love you unconditionally, no?

I have been aware fo this organization for a few years and actually have talked to the team online who runs the Twitter account. I still, even after all these years, firmly believe that Islam and the cultures that surround it are not for me. In fact, it is the culture around Islam and the pressures from Islam that have contributed to why it is difficult to recover from (diagnosed) Borderline Personality Disorder and PTSD from rape at 17. I am currently a university student studying Politics and International Relations and hope to contribute towards progressive politics that include the lives of apostates. I aim, through my membership in the CEMB, to meet like-minded people to become friends with and share experiences.

من اینجا بس دلم تنگ است
و هر سازی که می بینم بدآهنگ است...

اینجا من را چون زندانی خوفناک است، که غذایش درد و آبش رنج است.
نبوغ در من هر دم جوانه می زند، اما دریغ و درد..ازین جامعه ی بیدادگر و بی خرد که من را از ریشه برآورد.
و من رفته رفته درین بیشه زار سن زده خشک و خشک تر میشوم.
اما حرف هایی که هیچ گاه نگزاشتند برایشان دم براورم.
حرف هایی که چون کوهی سترگ در دلم ساکن شد، لیک من روزی برین جمهوریه اسلام صفت آتشفشان خواهم کرد.
خانواده ی من به هیچ وجه مذهبی نبودند، چراکه خرد مبنای راهشان بود.
اما در این جا که دیگر بیشه ی شیران نیست بلکه بیشه ی کرکسان لاشه خواری است که نوک زهر آلود به دینشان را بر کالبد من می زنند.
و من عروسک دست این حکومت تسبیح به دست شده ام. بدون اجازه ی ذره ای بیان عقیده...
و تنگنا ها..که برای هیچ کس نمی توان سخنی گفت.
اما من می دانم که اینجا مرده ای بیش نیستم. منی که در زمان تولدم هم جبر بر من حکم می راند، و بر شناسنامه ی من نام اسلامی را نوشتند که من تا کنون چیزی جز بردگی در آن ندیده ام..اسلامی که دم از برابری و حق انتخاب و اختیار می زند.
قلب من درد می گیرد..
من هم می خواهم زنانگی کنم..
می خواهم باد موهایم را رقص دهد..
و شایان تر از همه میخواهم خودم باشم..نه برای زنده ماندن زندگی را گدایی کنم.
اما چه خودی؟؟ من اینجا لحظه لحظه هایم با تظاهر به عقایدیست که ذره ای به آن ایمان ندارم، به تظاهر به پوششی است که آزارم میدهد.
تضاهر برای کار، درس ، لقمه اي نان ، هنر ، ورزش و......
تفو برین مسلک که من را از خوردی در پوششی قرار داد که از همه ی گیتی جا ماندم..از خودم جاماندم، از عشق و از زندگی که طعم آن را تا کنون درین جا نچشیده ام.
من به عنوان یک فمنیست از ژرفای دل خواستار برابری زن و مرد و برچیده شدن قوانین مذهبی و منع خشونت در سطح خانواده، اجتماع و زنان هستم.
خواهان آنم که از تجربه ی دوستان آگاه در ساخت جامعه ای آزادتر و آگاه تر استفاده کنم.

و سخن آخر، تعصب چیست در مذهب مگر نه آنکه انسانیم...