International Conference on Freedom of Conscience and Expression in the 21st Century
Saturday and Sunday 22-24 July 2017
Central London, UK

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SEE EXCITING SCHEDULE HERE.

READ INTERVIEW DISCUSSING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONFERENCE AT A TIME WHEN ATHEISTS AND SECULARISTS UNDER INCREASING ATTACK.

Join over 70 notable free-thinkers from around the world for a weekend of discussions and debates on freedom of conscience and expression in the 21st century at a spectacular venue in central London during 22-23 July 2017.

On 24 July, an activist strategy meeting will be followed by body-painting in support of ex-Muslims, which will be open to the public.

The two-day conference will discuss censorship and blasphemy laws, freedom of and from religion, apostasy, the limits of religion’s role in society, LGBT and women’s rights, atheism, secular values and more.

Speakers from countries or the Diaspora as diverse as Algeria, Bangladesh, Canada, Egypt, France, India, Iran, Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan, Ireland, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia, UK, Ukraine, US and Yemen will gather in London to defend freedom of conscience and expression and argue that freedoms are not western but universal.

The conference will highlight the voices of people on the frontlines of resistance – many of them persecuted and exiled – as well as address challenges faced by activists and freethinkers, elaborate on the links between democratic politics and free expression and conscience, promote secular and rights-based alternatives, and establish priorities for collective action.

Art and culture will be integral to the event as will lively debate with the dauntless use of the free word.

Confirmed Distinguished Speakers:
A C Grayling, Philosopher
Aliaa Magda Elmahdy, Egyptian Feminist Activist
Ani Zonneveld, Founder and President of Muslims for Progressive Values
Annie Laurie Gaylor, Co-President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation
Armin Navabi, Founder of Atheist Republic
Aryan Arian, Photographer/Filmmaker
Asher Fainman, President of Goldsmiths Atheist Society
Benjamin David, Editor-in-Chief of Conatus News
Bonya Ahmed, Activist, Writer and Blogger at Mukto-Mona
Cemal Knudsen Yucel, Co-Founder and Chair of Ex-Muslims of Norway
Chris Moos, Secular Activist
Damon Conlan and Neil Edwards, Magicians
Dan Barker, Co-President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation
Dave Silverman, President of American Atheists
Deeyah Khan, Filmmaker
Djemila Benhabib, Author and Activist
Elham Manea, Yemeni-born Author and Human Rights Campaigner
Fariborz Pooya, Bread and Roses TV Presenter and Editor
Fauzia Ilyas, Founder of Atheist & Agnostic Alliance Pakistan
Gina Khan, One Law for All Spokesperson
Gita Sahgal, Director of Centre for Secular Space
Gona Saed, Co-Founder of Kurdistan Secular Centre
Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Award-winning Playwright
Halima Begum, Ex-Muslim Activist and Blogger
Hassan Radwan, Agnostic Muslim Khutbahs blog
Houzan Mahmoud, Culture Project Co-Founder
Imad Iddine Habib, Founder of Council of Ex-Muslims of Morocco
Inna Shevchenko, FEMEN Leader
Iram Ramzan, Journalist and Founder of Sedaa
Ismail Mohamed, Egyptian Atheist and Founder of Black Ducks Talk Show
Jane Donnelly, Atheist Ireland’s Human Rights Officer
Jimmy Bangash, LGBT Ex-Muslim Activist
Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of Index on Censorship
Karima Bennoune, UN Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights
Karrar D. Al Asfoor, Co-founder of Atheist Alliance Middle East and North Africa (Visa Denied)
Kate Smurthwaite, Comedian
Kenan Malik, Author and Broadcaster
London Humanist Choir
Marieme Helie Lucas, Algerian Sociologist and Founder of Secularism is a Women’s Issue
Maryam Namazie, Iranian-born Rights Activist, Writer and Conference Organiser
Mazen Abou Hamdan, Co-Founder of Freethought Lebanon
Michael Nugent, Atheist Ireland’s Chairperson
Mohammed Alkhadra, Founder of Jordanian Atheists Group
Nadia El Fani, Tunisian Filmmaker
Nina Sankari, Polish Secular Activist
Noura Embabi, Muslim-ish President
Peter Tatchell, Human Rights Campaigner
Pragna Patel, Director of Southall Black Sisters
Rahila Gupta, Writer and Journalist
Rana Ahmad, Head of the RDF Arab Atheist Community
Richard Dawkins, Author and Scientist
Sadia Hameed, Spokesperson of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain
Sanal Edamaruku, Founder and President of Rationalist International
Sarah Haider, Co-founder of Ex-Muslims of North America
Sarah Peace, Nigerian Artist and Director of Fireproof Library
Savin Bapir Tardy, Lecturer in Psychology at UWL
Shabana Rehman, Performance Artist and Human and Animal Rights Advocate
Shelley Segal, Singer/Songwriter
Tasneem Khalil, Swedish-Bangladeshi Journalist and Editor of Independent World Report
Teresa Gimenez Barbat, MEP, Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and Euromind
Victoria Gugenheim, Award-winning Body Artist
Waleed Al Husseini, Palestinian Writer and Founder of Council of Ex-Muslims of France
Yasmin Rehman, Women’s Rights Campaigner
Zehra Pala, President of Atheism Association of Turkey
Zineb El Rhazoui, Moroccan-born Author

READ MORE ABOUT OUR DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS.

Saturday Day Delegate Rate: £85
Sunday Day Delegate Rate: £85
Sunday Dinner with Entertainment: £65
Saturday and Sunday Day Delegate Rate: £170

FULL CONFERENCE TICKET INCLUDING SATURDAY AND SUNDAY DAY DELEGATE RATE, COCKTAILS, AND DINNER WITH ENTERTAINMENT: £230 unwaged; £260 waged; £350 organisations

All tickets must be purchased beforehand. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Organisations/vendors can book stalls for the two-day conference for a flat rate of £500.

For more information, contact:
Maryam Namazie
maryamnamazie@gmail.com
Tel: +44 (0)7719166731
www.secularconference.com

The conference is sponsored by: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe; Atheist International Alliance; Bread and Roses TV; Center for Inquiry; Centre for Secular Space; Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain; Culture Project; Euromind; Equal Rights Now; Fitnah; Freedom from Religion Foundation; National Secular Society; One Law for All; Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science; Southall Black Sisters; Secularism is a Women’s Issue, amongst others.