Media Coverage

September 15, 2007		Non-believers are increasingly vocal, Washington Post In Europe and U.S., Nonbelievers Are Increasingly Vocal By Mary Jordan Washington Post Foreign Service Saturday, September 15, 2007; Page A01 BURGESS HILL, England — Every morning on his walk to work, high school teacher Graham Wright recited a favorite Anglican prayer and asked God for strength in the day ahead. Then two years ago, he just stopped. Wright, 59, said he was overwhelmed by a feeling that religion had become a negative influence in his life and the world. Although he once considered becoming an Anglican vicar, he suddenly found that religion represented nothing he believed in, from Muslim... Filed as: Media Coverage
September 12, 2007		Ex-Muslims Demand Right to Renounce Islamic Faith, Deutsche Welle Ex-Muslims Demand Right to Renounce Islamic Faith Controversially, 9/11 was chosen as the date to sign the “European Declaration for Tolerance.” It aims to draw attention to what the former Muslims see as the lack of freedom of religion within Islam. Former Muslims from several European countries signed the declaration in the Hague on the sixth anniversary of the terror attacks in the United States Tuesday. Other signatories included many well-known Dutch politicians, authors and journalists. The date of the declaration, Sept.11, was symbolically chosen in order to condemn the terror and intolerance perpetuated by radical Islamic militants, though... Filed as: Media Coverage
September 12, 2007		‘Freethinkers’ strive to help ex-Muslims, Taipei Times `Freethinkers’ strive to help ex-Muslims AP, AMSTERDAM Wednesday, Sep 12, 2007, Page 6 Ehsan Jami knew he was making himself a target for radical Islamists when he decided to launch a Dutch organization for Muslims who renounce their religion. Five months and three physical assaults later, his “Committee for Ex-Muslims” was to be launched yesterday, joining similar groups that have sprung up around Europe. These groups hope to add a new voice to the debate about — and within — Europe’s Muslim communities, presenting themselves as diametrically different to the disenchanted and sometimes violent youth who grab headlines, or to... Filed as: Media Coverage
September 11, 2007		European “ex-Muslims” demand right to leave Islam, Reuters European “ex-Muslims” demand right to leave Islam By Alexandra Hudson THE HAGUE (Reuters) – A Dutch-Iranian launched a campaign on Tuesday for Muslims to have the right to renounce their faith, a view which has triggered three physical attacks on the 22-year-old. Ehsan Jami’s group has stirred intense interest in the Netherlands, which has one million Muslims, and has reignited a highly emotive debate about Islam. “There are five sharia schools in Islam which say if you leave Islam you must be killed,” Jami, 22, told Reuters in an interview while bodyguards stood watch at the door. Apostasy is punishable... Filed as: Media Coverage
September 11, 2007		Muslims who renounce their faith band together in European countries, International Herald Tribune Muslims who renounce their faith band together in European countries The Associated Press Monday, September 10, 2007 AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Leaders of “ex-Muslim” groups from several European countries signed a declaration of “Principles of Tolerance” Tuesday, hoping to counter Islamic radicalism and support Muslims too afraid to openly renounce their religion. Groups of secular Muslims have sprung up in the past year in Germany, Britain and the Scandinavian countries; there are plans to launch a group in the United States as well. Tuesday marked the formal launch of the Dutch group. Though membership is limited to several hundred people, they hope... Filed as: Media Coverage
September 11, 2007		Group for ex-Muslims expands across Europe, USA Today By Toby Sterling, Associated Press AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Ehsan Jami knew he was making himself a target for radical Islamists when he decided to launch a Dutch organization for Muslims who renounce their religion. Five months and three physical assaults later, his “Committee for Ex-Muslims” is being launched Tuesday, joining similar groups that have sprung up around Europe. These groups hope to add a new voice to the debate about — and within — Europe’s Muslim communities, presenting themselves as diametrically different to the disenchanted and sometimes violent youth who grab headlines, or to immigrants who live cloistered among their... Filed as: Media Coverage
September 11, 2007		Europe: New Groups Unite Those Who Renounce Islam, Radio Free Europe September 11, 2007 (RFE/RL) — Some call them apostates, but they prefer the term ex-Muslims. Today marked the official launch of the Dutch Ex-Muslim Committee, the latest such group to emerge in Europe. The groups say they want to make it easier for people to renounce Islam — and draw attention to places where leaving the faith is punishable by death. The new group is headed by Ehsan Jami, a 22-year-old Dutch politician of Iranian origin. The group’s creation follows the launch this spring of a German council for former Muslims. Other groups soon followed suit in Scandinavia, and in... Filed as: Media Coverage
September 11, 2007		Muslims in Europe who renounce their faith band together, The Strait Times Muslims in Europe who renounce their faith band together AMSTERDAM – EHSAN Jami knew he was making himself a target for radical Islamists when he decided to launch a Dutch organisation for Muslims who renounce their religion. Five months and three physical assaults later, his ‘Committee for Ex-Muslims’ is being launched on Tuesday, joining similar groups that have sprung up around Europe. These groups hope to add a new voice to the debate about – and within – Europe’s Muslim communities, presenting themselves as diametrically different to the disenchanted and sometimes violent youth who grab headlines, or to immigrants who... Filed as: Media Coverage
September 11, 2007		Dutch politician sets up Committee for ex-Muslims, Radio Netherlands Dutch politician sets up Committee for ex-Muslims by our correspondent in The Hague John Tyler 11-09-2007 Young Dutch Labour politician Ehsan Jami has established a Committee of ex-Muslims in the Netherlands to support those who have renounced Islam. 22-year-old Jami (photo) held a press conference on Tuesday – the sixth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York – to announce the birth of the committee. There’s been an intense amount of interest in Mr Jami and his efforts, much of it critical. Ehsan Jami is proving to be a controversial spokesman, partly because of his... Filed as: Media Coverage
September 11, 2007		Dutch politician launches committee for ex-Muslims, AFP Filed as: Media Coverage