#JusticeForZaraKay #JusticeForZara #StandUpForZaraKay

21 January 2021

The International Coalition of Ex-Muslims and Australian secular organisations remain concerned about Zara Kay’s safety and urge the Australian government to take immediate action and intervene on her behalf so she can return home without delay. 

In a recent Tweet, Zara asked the Australian Foreign Minister & Minister for Women: 

“When are you going to talk about me @MarisePayne? I’m an Australian citizen, detained in #Tanzania.

When does Australia step in to protect their own citizens? When some people in Tanzania have expressed their wishes to behead me.

Where’s the justice for my false detention?”

Zara also Tweeted screenshots of death threats and asked: 

“How do you not see what has instigated this? And what they want to do to me?”

Zara, Founder of Australian charity Faithless Hijabi, was detained on trumped up charges on 28 December 2020 and held for 32 hours at the Dar es-Salaam Oysterbay Police Station. A credible source has revealed that the charges against Zara are politically-motivated and have been instigated by some members of Zara’s former Khoja Shia Ithnasheri Jamaat community who are opposed to her apostasy, blasphemy and activism. You can read more information on the charges here.

Since being bailed on 29 December, Zara has been made to report to the police station every single weekday until 11 January. After a public holiday on 12 January, she has had to report sporadically, including on 15 January and 18 January. She is to report next to the police station on 22 January.

In the over three weeks since her initial detainment, there has been no court date or movement towards a resolution of her case. The continued and unnecessary delays raise serious concerns regarding Zara’s safety.

We urge the Australian government to act and intervene immediately to get Zara home. We also call on the Tanzanian authorities to drop charges, return her confiscated Australian passport and allow Zara to leave the country.

For further background information on Zara’s case, please see the following updates.

NOTE:

Australian secular organisations who have joined this call are: 

Atheist Foundation of Australia
Council of Australian Humanist Societies
Ex-Muslim Support Network of Australia
Faithless Hijabi
Humanists Australia
Humanist Society of New South Wales
Humanist Society of Queensland
Progressive Atheists Inc
Rationalist Society of Australia
Secular Party of Australia