| November 28, 2018 |  |
Manifesto on Women and Secularism Manifesto on Women and Secularism International Conference on Sharia, Segregation and Secularism 25 November 2018, London Today, far-Right movements, including religious fundamentalisms, are seizing power and on the rise in both democratic and authoritarian states. Even in more secularised societies, religious organisations have gained power because they have been considered valuable allies – to provide services as the state shrinks, to oppose radical social justice movements, as part of counter-terror strategies and post conflict ‘stabilisation,’ and as part of the privatisation of law. From development banks to Western aid and human rights organisations, fundamentalists, particularly Islamists, have been promoted in the name of minority and religious rights. The growth... Filed as: Press Releases |
| November 19, 2018 |  |
Why is Inclusive Mosque so Afraid of Secularism? The Inclusive Mosque Initiative is organising “Beyond the Promise of Secularism” in response to our 25 November International Conference on Sharia, Segregation and Secularism. Their event will apparently explore what they say are “western preoccupations with ‘Sharia Law’, Hijabs, and segregation” and “look at the ways Islam is pitted against ‘secularism’ in the name of women’s rights, equality and democracy, and … utilised and weaponised by the State against Muslim communities and other minorities to promote nationalist narratives.” Given the Inclusive Mosque’s confusions, I hope our conference and its 38 speakers from 24 countries and the Diaspora, may assist them... Filed as: Press Releases |
| October 30, 2018 |  |
THE DANGERS OF BEING A DEVOUT ATHEIST THE DANGERS OF BEING A DEVOUT ATHEIST I have been an atheist since the age of 13. There was no Damascene moment to it. One day I realised that I did not believe in god any longer. It was the end of a personal journey that had started out in fervent Catholic devotion from the moment I took my First Holy Communion, fuelled by regular attendance to Sunday mass, daily evening prayers before going to sleep and regular engagement in confession. However, for many reasons, I lost my faith, never to return. Just like that. To mark such... Filed as: Press Releases |
| September 26, 2018 |  |
New Video on CEMB at Pride with Spokesperson Jimmy Bangash New Video by Carl Russ-Mohl on Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) and Jimmy London at Pride in London 2018. In support of LGBT rights of those living in countries under Islamic rule and those from Muslim backgrounds here in the UK and west. #LoveNotACrime #عشق_جرم_نيست #ভালবাসা_কোন_অপরাধ_নয় #محبت_جرم_نہیں #الحب_لیس_بجریمة Filed as: Press Releases |
| September 19, 2018 |
CEMB condemns China’s persecution of Muslims Reports indicate that the Chinese government is subjecting Muslims in the region of Xinjian to ongoing surveillance, detention and forced ‘re-education’ in its political re-education camps. Human rights group report that in excess of 1 million individuals have been detained. Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) unequivocally condemns China’s persecution of Muslims, demands that the Chinese government immediately end the persecution of religious minorities and calls on the international community to intervene in defence of freedom of conscience. Filed as: Press Releases |
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| September 10, 2018 |  |
Why “Allah is Gay”? CEMB asks Imad Iddine Habib Why “Allah is Gay”? Maryam Namazie’s interview with Imad Iddine Habib, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) Spokesperson You made the first ever “Allah is Gay” placard for Pride 2017. Why? I made “Allah is Gay” placards at Pride 2017 because I believe that LGBT people of Muslim heritage have to take the lead in tackling homophobia and hate in our respective Muslim communities and Muslim-majority countries. As an ex-Muslim bisexual man, I felt that “Allah is Gay” challenges both blasphemy/ apostasy laws as well as homophobic ones. There is also some truth to it. According to Islamic teachings, Allah... Filed as: Press Releases |
| August 15, 2018 |  |
We Call on the British Government to Stop Pushing Minority Women Towards Religious Courts In the light of recent court decisions on marriage and divorce, today we have written to the Ministry of Justice, calling for an urgent review into Sharia and civil marriage and divorce laws and to guarantee access to justice for all. We welcome the recent High Court decision in Akhter v Khan [2018] EWFC 54 in the UK, to declare that a Muslim marriage contract (nikkah) was ‘void’, rather than a ‘non-marriage’. Shabaz Khan had refused to divorce Nasreen Akhter on the grounds that they did not have a valid marriage registered under English law. This had the effect of... Filed as: Press Releases |
| July 9, 2018 |  |
CEMB march at Pride 2018 in London: A Victory against Islamism Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain marched in Pride in London on 7 July for LGBT rights in countries under Islamic rule; in 15 states or territories, homosexuality is punishable by death. The march was a victory against Islamist forces in Britain like Mend and East London Mosque that tried and failed to stop CEMB from marching with accusations of ‘Islamophobia’ aimed at imposing de facto blasphemy and apostasy laws. Despite their efforts, CEMB marched for the right to apostasy and blasphemy, for asylum and refugee rights, against racism and the far-Right and for the right to love, live and think... Filed as: Press Releases |
| July 5, 2018 |  |
Pride is a Safe Place for LGBT people of Muslim Heritage – A response to Al-Kadhi In The Guardian By Jimmy Bangash This was published in Conatus News on 5 July 2018. Pride is an important, welcoming place for LGBT people of Muslim heritage, including liberal Muslims and ex-Muslims. Amrou Al-Kadhi’s article in The Guardian paints a bleak picture of London Pride. It contains inaccurate citations of placards and, more menacingly, erases the bastion of hope and progress that the parade symbolises for many LGBT people of Muslim heritage. Life for LGBT people of Muslim heritage can be bleak. For many it involves living a closeted existence within the Muslim ‘community’ for fear of being ostracised or disowned. Religious... Filed as: Press Releases |
| July 4, 2018 |
Provocative? Well, yes! The Council of Ex Muslims of Britain’s (CEMB) presence at London’s Pride event last year was viewed as intentionally provocative and subversive and to that charge I would say, well yes! Pride, with its radical roots of standing up against bigotry and homophobia, is the best place to highlight and condemn injustices. But as a minority within a minority, we ex-Muslims are expected to remain silent about issues like homophobia, misogyny, and the persecution of apostates, blasphemers and freethinkers in the name of preventing anti-Muslim bigotry. Of course Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain stands against anti-Muslim bigotry, but we also vehemently... Filed as: Press Releases |