Urgent Action Required
Dear Friend
Hope you are well.
Your urgent action and solidarity are requested.
SOLIDARITY POSTCARDS TO SOHEIL ARABI AND HIS MOTHER
Over 200 organisations and individuals have called for the release of an Iranian blogger imprisoned for ‘blasphemy’. The initiative aims to free atheist Soheil Arabi who has been imprisoned in Iran since 2013.
Since 19 October, Arabi has been on hunger strike and his mother, Farangis Mazloum, has been summoned to serve an 18-month prison sentence for demanding justice for her son. Mazloum says she is extremely concerned about her son’s situation and has not heard from him.
Please continue to support Soheil and his mother.
Send a souvenir postcard from your city to Arabi and his mother expressing your support and solidarity. You can post the postcard to BM Box 1919, London WC1N 3XX.
Sign a petition at Change.org calling for his release. It currently has over 100,000 signatures.
Raise awareness on social media using the hashtags #FreeSoheil #SoheilDay #SoheilArabi and #FarangisMazloum.
Raise his case with human rights organisations urging them to make it a priority…
Find out more about what you can do via the National Secular Society.
IN SOLIDARITY WITH MINA AHADI AND AGAINST ISLAMIST THREATS
Following a 15 October protest against Cologne City Council’s permit to mosques to broadcast the call to prayer or Azaan, Islamists have threatened Mina Ahadi with death. German police believe the threats to be serious and have placed her under police protection.
According to Mina Ahadi: “The fight against the Azaan is a fight against the Islamist movement and a defence of secular spaces. It is not against religious freedom. People have a right to religion but the Azaan, which is intrinsically linked to Islamist suppression in places like Iran, cannot be allowed to occupy the public space.”
Express your solidarity with Mina Ahadi, a leading figure in the ex-Muslim and anti-Islamist movement and strongly condemn the death threats. Urge the German government to take immediate and necessary measures to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators, ensure the safety of critics of Islam and Islamism and end its collaboration with Islamists that place the lives of freethinkers and apostates at risk.
To sign the statement of solidarity, please send your full name, description, country to hello@council-of-ex-muslims-of-britain-e5a565.ingress-baronn.ewp.live or write it in the comments section. The list of signatories will be added on a daily basis. Deadline for signatories is 31 October.
UPCOMING EVENTS
29-30 OCTOBER, DE BALIE, AMSTERDAM
Spokesperson Maryam Namazie will join a discussion on religion and patriarchy during 29-30 October at De Balie in Amsterdam. You can find out more about the festival here.
Read a piece on Maryam Namazie entitled ‘Women are an easy target for religion’ here.
20 NOVEMBER, BLASPHEMOUS WOMEN AND EQUALITY, LONDON
CEMB is holding its first event post lock-down on 20 November, 6-9pm in London. The premiere of “Women Leaving Islam” will be followed by a panel discussion on Blasphemous Women and Equality. Speakers include Somali Ex-Muslim Voices Founder Halima Salat, CEMB Spokesperson Maryam Namazie, Youtuber and Counsellor Mimzy Vidz, Youtuber Nuriyeh Khan, Writer and Southall Black Sisters Activist Rahila Gupta and Clinical Psychologist Savin Bapir-Tardy. The event is MCed by Sudanese activist Nahla Mahmoud.
Space is limited due to Covid rules so please get your tickets – only £5 – today.
hello@council-of-ex-muslims-of-britain-e5a565.ingress-baronn.ewp.live