Dear Friend,

Before this week ends, around 20 people will contact the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain because they are afraid of being outed, forced into silence, harmed or returned to danger.

When they reach us, many say the same words:

“I have no one else I can safely speak to.”

This year, we’ve supported hundreds of people facing threats, honour-based abuse, family rejection, surveillance and life-or-death asylum decisions. We’ve provided one-to-one assistance, including letters of support that can literally save lives.

Our monthly support groups, including a women’s group facilitated by Counselling Psychologist Dr Savin Bapir-Tardy, have addressed religious trauma, social death, shame, fear and identity fragmentation, helping participants rebuild confidence, boundaries and a sense of self after leaving coercive religion. Many participants report that these groups are the only safe spaces where ex-Muslims can speak openly without fear or having to over-explain experiences such as the risk of being “outed,” honour-based repercussions or the impact of apostasy on immigration and asylum claims, issues often not understood in more general faith-leaving groups.

CEMB continued to challenge attempts within the UK and internationally to equate criticism of religion with hatred and to secure secular spaces for open debate and freethought. We intervened at the national level submitting evidence to the Government’s Islamophobia/Anti-Muslim Hatred Definition Working Group. We also joined Southall Black Sisters and One Law for All in written evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) on “Gendered Islamophobia” and how certain framings can close down critique of religion and affect women’s/LGBT rights and freedom of expression.

Internationally, we led urgent campaigns for persecuted dissidents, including the #FreeBetty mobilisation for Moroccan activist Ibtissame Betty Lachgar and raised alarms for the disappeared Egyptian atheist Sherif Gaber. Through Ex-Muslims International, a coalition co-founded by CEMB, we challenged hijab day, blasphemy laws, apostophobia, Ramadan coercion and LGBT persecution.

Throughout the year, CEMB’s voice appeared across international media, from Europe to the Middle East, shaping public understanding of secularism, women’s rights, free expression and the lived realities of ex-Muslims. CEMB, Maryam Namazie and Celebrating Dissent were featured in Girls & Gods, a 2025 Austrian documentary film directed by Arash T. Riahi and Verena Soltiz and written by Ukrainian FEMEN leader Inna Shevchenko.

But today, we are at a critical point.

Demand for our help is rising, while our resources are stretched to breaking point. Without urgent support, we may no longer be able to cover our rent and basic operating costs, the essentials that allow us to stay open, reachable, and able to respond when someone is in danger.

Quite simply, donations received now will determine whether CEMB can continue supporting ex-Muslims in 2026.

Please make a year-end donation if you are able. Your donation today will help ensure that CEMB can remain here when the next call for help comes.

With thanks and warm wishes for the holidays and New Year,

Maryam Namazie

Spokesperson

Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain