On 10 December, International Human Rights Day, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) invites you to a sneak preview of its new documentary, “Women Leaving Islam,” 7.00-8.30pm GMT.
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: 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 sneak preview will only be available on 10 December, from 7.00-8.30pm GMT.
The documentary will premiere on 1 February 2021 as a challenge to World Hijab Day and Islam’s modesty culture.
We hope you will be able to join us for this advanced screening as a thank you for your support. If you can, please donate to CEMB in order to support our organisation and work in the coming year.
Wishing you a happy and safe holiday and New Year and looking forward to working with you in 2021. Onwards and Upwards!
All the best,
Maryam
Maryam Namazie
CEMB Spokesperson
NOTES:
- For more information on the film or CEMB’s activities, please contact Maryam Namazie at hello@council-of-ex-muslims-of-britain-e5a565.ingress-baronn.ewp.live. The film’s Executive Producer is Maryam Namazie. Gita Sahgal and Reason4Freedom are Co-Producers with the latter also acting as Director and Filmmaker.
- For more information on the activities of CEMB, please see our 2007-2020 timeline. Activities in 2020 include:
- The Woman’s Quran
- The first ever Apostasy Day on 22nd August, organised with a coalition of ex-Muslim organisations. 83,000 people engaged in the day reaching 233,000 people.
- A moving event as part of Pride in London Coming Out Events entitled “Persecution, Shunning and Survival: Being Ex-Muslim/Muslim and LGBT.”
- An online protest to save the life of atheist Soheil Arabi in prison in Iran.
- A sold-out inspiring event (just before lock-down) on “Apostasy, Shunning & Survival” for International Women’s Day.
- The latest interviews and media coverage can be found on our website. They include:
- Maryam Namazie is interviewed for The Origins Podcast at her office in London to discuss the Council of Ex-Muslims, the rise of fascism in the west, blasphemy, “safe spaces”, Muslim profiling and more
- In a vibrant and extended interview with L’Express after the decapitation of Samuel Paty and terrorist attacks in France, Maryam Namazie calls on the left to see the real nature of Islamists: a far-right political force.
- In the latest online meet-up, Ali Malik speaks to Maryam Namazie about the ex-Muslim movement, how it started, its aims and its impact on the human right to apostasy and blasphemy.