Press Releases

July 28, 2019		We understand intolerance better than most; Blasphemy is not Bigotry On 15 July, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) wrote to the newspaper Het Parool to ask for a right to reply to a piece by Dino Suhonic, director of Maruf platform for queer Muslims in the Netherlands where a number of intentionally false statements were made about the CEMB and our fight for LGBT rights of Muslims and ex-Muslims as well as the rights to apostasy and blasphemy at Pride in London. CEMB urged the publication to rectify the falsities. Suhonic clearly has a right to criticise our organisation and work but the use of false statements to ‘prove’... Filed as: Press Releases
July 11, 2019		“A Boy, A Village, A Death” Poem for Gay Pride Halima Salat recited her poem “A Boy, A Village, A Death” for the first time publicly at Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) Pride in London Festival evening on LGBT Rights, Apostasy and Blasphemy on July 4, 2019. Halima is an ex-Muslim Kenyan Somali. She defines herself as a free thinker, a rebel and an atheist. She was born Muslim but no longer believes in Islam. She was a closet non-believer for a while until when she came to live in the Netherlands 3 years ago. Halima just recently had her “coming out” declaration in Amsterdam. She has many problems... Filed as: Press Releases
July 9, 2019		CEMB marches at Pride in London 2019 as topless Imams of Perpetual Indulgence On 6 July 2019, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) marched in Pride London for the 3rd time as an organisation. This year, we marked the 40th anniversary of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a rebellion against the church’s religious morality, by marching as the Imams of Perpetual Indulgence. Instead of being the Council for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice that terrorise people by enforcing Islamic morality codes with brute force in the countries some of us have fled from, we were the Council for the Promotion of Vice and the Prevention of Virtue. Our... Filed as: Press Releases
July 2, 2019		Must take an unequivocal stand against all forms of hate My interview with Nilantha Ilangamuwa in Sri Lanka’s FT She is energetic and outspoken. Her creativity on resistance against repressive regimes has attracted many communities around the globe. Maryam Namazie is an Iranian-born writer and activist based in London. She is the Spokesperson for Fitnah – Movement for Women’s Liberation, One Law for All and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. She hosts a weekly television program in Persian and English called Bread and Roses. No doubt because of her activities for protecting and promoting human freedom, she is a top enemy of the country where she born. Maryam was born... Filed as: Media Coverage, Press Releases
June 25, 2019		Refusal Letters Wanted Dear friend As you know, in Many Muslim-majority countries around the world it is illegal for people to leave Islam; blasphemy carries a capital punishment, not to mention “mob justice” and lynching. Ex-Muslims from such countries seek asylum to gain protection and freedom to live without Islam with no danger to their lives. According to Asylum rules and regulations, anyone who has a well-founded fear of persecution should be granted protection. Given the persecution and threats of violence or worse that ex-Muslims face in Muslim-majority countries, it is Home Office’s moral and legal responsibility to provide protection to ex-Muslims by... Filed as: Press Releases
June 20, 2019		Defending LGBT Rights, Celebrating Dissent and More Defending LGBT Rights, Celebrating Dissent and More Hello dear friend We wanted to remind you of some of our upcoming events and actions and also give you an update of our work. LGBT RIGHTS 4 July 2019, Evening on LGBT Rights, Apostasy and Blasphemy The London event is part of Pride Festival. There are only a few more spaces left so please buy your tickets now. Tickets are only £3 unwaged; £5 waged and include a drink, poetry by Somali Kenyan poet Halima Salat, a screening of the short film Firdaus by cult British Director Shakila Taranum Maan and... Filed as: Press Releases
June 19, 2019		The APPG’s definition of ‘Islamophobia’ is a triumph for fundamentalists The below article was published on sister-hood. “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness” – All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims definition of Islamophobia The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims’ definition of Islamophobia has mainly been framed as a free speech issue. The definition adopted by some parties and councils will certainly limit criticism of Islam and Islamism even further than it already is currently. To say it will not is dishonest at best. This has already been the case for a long time now. For those... Filed as: Media Coverage, Press Releases
June 17, 2019		Protest at Brunei Embassy against Stoning Law for Homosexuality 17 JUNE – PROTEST AT BRUNEI EMBASSY AGAINST STONING LAW FOR HOMOSEXUALITY In the run-up to Gay Pride, CEMB organised a protest outside the Brunei Embassy on 17 June to condemn Brunei’s new stoning sentences for gay sex and adultery. The action included placing stones on the embassy steps. In April, CEMB also joined protests at the Dorchester Hotel, which is owned by the Sultan of Brunei. Here are some photos of the action: Filed as: Press Releases
June 10, 2019		Evening on LGBT rights, Apostasy and Blasphemy The event is part of Pride in London Festival. 4 July 2019, 6:00pm for a 6:45pm start until 10:00pm, London Join Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain and One Law for All for an evening of film, poetry and a panel discussion on LGBT rights, Apostasy and Blasphemy. GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY. NO TICKETS SOLD AT DOOR. Film: ‘Ferdous’ by Shakila Taranum Maan Poetry: By Kenyan Somali Poet Halima Salat Panel discussion: With Drew Dalton (Hidayah Chair), Jimmy Bangash (CEMB Spokesperson), Khakan Qureshi (Birmingham South Asians LGBT Founder), Nadia El Fani (Tunisian Filmmaker), Sadia Hamed (CEMB Spokesperson), Shakila Taranum Maan (British... Filed as: Press Releases
June 6, 2019		Ramadan 2019: Child Fasting is Child Abuse In the past years, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain has held fast-defying protests at embassies in solidarity with those who are persecuted for eating and drinking during Ramadan. This year, CEMB’s fast-defying action included a protest at the Department for Education on 17th May to highlight the Department’s inaction with regards to child fasting in schools. Child fasting should be banned as it is harmful to children. We discussed the issue with young people from Muslim backgrounds on their way to Friday prayers. Our position is that if a child is sent to school without breakfast and not allowed to... Filed as: Press Releases