| May 10, 2018 |  |
CEMB Update: Urgent actions, events and campaigns Dear friend We hope you are well. We wanted to bring your attention to several urgent actions and also give you an update on some of our activities and upcoming events. URGENT ACTIONS #FreeSherifGaber You may have heard that Egyptian atheist blogger Sherif Gaber was arrested on 2 May at Cairo airport when attempting to leave the country. Whilst he is reportedly free, ex-Muslim groups are awaiting confirmation that he is safe. There is a pending blasphemy case against him still so please keep the pressure on and sign the petition demanding his safety. More information on his case available... Filed as: Press Releases |
| May 7, 2018 |  |
#FreeSherifGaber Egyptian Atheist and Youtube Vlogger Sherif Gaber was arrested when trying to leave Egypt on Wednesday 2nd May. He sent a message to friends telling them he was stopped and taken to an interrogation room at Cairo airport and his passport confiscated. His last message on Wednesday 2nd May at 11:08 am Cairo time said: “I am suppose to be traveling to Malaysia at 12:05 Cairo Time, an hour from now. The police took me and made me wait in this room for 2 hours and I’m still waiting> they took my belongings and my passport. If I don’t update... Filed as: Press Releases |
| May 6, 2018 |  |
#AtheismNotACrime, #BlasphemyNotACrime, #ApostasyNotACrime Join our campaign stating loud and clear that freethought is not a crime! Islamic states consider atheism a “threat” – seeing it as an existential danger, especially since Islam and state power are intertwined, hence why atheists are persecuted (with many others including religious minorities, women’s rights activists, labour leaders and LGBT). • Iran as one of the most important bases of atheism in the Middle East, with more than half the population using the Internet regularly, has seen a government ban on more than 160,000 social media accounts and websites for spreading “atheism and corruption” in one year alone. • Two government ministries... Filed as: Press Releases |
| March 27, 2018 |  |
Demand for atheism rises in countries under Islamic rule The scientist and author Richard Dawkins is giving away translations of The God Delusion in countries under Islamic rule like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan. The reason behind the decision is the thirst for atheism in such countries. Whilst 3.3 million copies of the bestseller have been sold since 2006, the unofficial Arabic pdf alone has been downloaded 13 million times. The rise of atheism in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia is something we have been speaking about for some time now. The Iranian Baztab Now website warned of a tsunami of atheism amongst Iranian youth. The #ExMuslimBecause hashtag initiated by the Council... Filed as: Press Releases |
| March 16, 2018 |  |
CEMB calls on Government to prosecute incitement to violence Dear Prime Minister, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) has been informed that members have received “Punish a Muslim” contest flyers. We are outraged at this clear incitement to violence and call on the government to take immediate action to investigate the origin of the letter and find and prosecute the perpetrators. We have cancelled an event we are holding on the day for fear of the safety of our members and call on the government to ensure the safety of all minorities. Furthermore, we are concerned that the letter has been distributed up and down the country, as well... Filed as: Press Releases |
| March 6, 2018 |  |
Conference on Sharia, Segregation and Secularism, London Sunday 25 November 2018 Conference on Sharia, Segregation and Secularism 9:30am registration for 10:00am start Central London Join notable secularists and veteran women’s rights campaigners for a conference on Sharia, Segregation and Secularism at a spectacular venue in central London on Sunday 25 November 2018. The conference will raise key issues surrounding religious arbitration, the veil and gender segregation at schools and universities, including as part of the religious-Right’s assault on women’s rights. It will also highlight the voices of people on the frontlines of resistance, the gains made by secularists both in the UK and internationally, and the importance... Filed as: Press Releases |
| February 14, 2018 |  |
The Independent Review on Sharia: Sharia Laws are part of the extremist threat and not a solution Dear Right Hon Amber Rudd, MP, The Independent Review on Sharia: Sharia Laws are part of the extremist threat and not a solution As black and minority women and human rights campaigners, we voice our dismay at the outcome of the inde pendent review on Sharia laws commissioned by the government in 2016. Although the government has rejected formal recognition (through regulation), the way has been left open for the Sharia courts to continue to exist in a no-man’s land where they continue to produce discriminatory parallel laws while posing as an acceptable alternative dispute mechanism. Now they will be strengthened by... Filed as: Press Releases |
| February 1, 2018 |
#I AM VIDA – Protesting against World Hijab Day The Council of Ex Muslims of Britain (CEMB) was protesting against World Hijab Day outside the Iranian embassy on the Wednesday 31st January 2018. World hijab Day takes place every year on the 1st February and countless non-Muslim women don the hijab, without knowing or caring what is stands for. However, during the current protests in Iran, countless brave and fearless women in Iran are tearing off this symbol of oppression and there has been complete silence from western feminists. Vida Movahed has become the iconic image of the current movement, in revolt of the mandatory hijab laws of Iran,... Filed as: Press Releases |
|
| November 27, 2017 |  |
Join us on 10 December for an End-Year celebration Dear friend End-Year drinks We hope you will be able to join Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) for an end-year celebration on Sunday 10 December 2017 from 2-6pm near London Kings Cross. Speakers will include Human Rights Campaigner Peter Tatchell, CEMB spokespersons Maryam Namazie and Sadia Hameed, Morrocan Ex-Muslim Council Founder Imad Iddine Habib and Jordanian atheist Mohammed AlKhadra, amongst others. There will be music by DJ Zee Jay, dancing, comedy by Kate Smurthwaite and more. It will be a fun, relaxing afternoon with CEMB friends and activists. Tickets are £25, including a drink and appetisers. The event is... Filed as: Press Releases |
| November 25, 2017 |  |
Say No to Quran 4:34 – #Quran434NoMore To mark 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ex-Muslims from CEMB, Atheist Republic, Ex-Muslims of Jordan, Muslimish and other groups called for the rejection of verse 4:34 in the Quran which promotes violence against women. There is no place for inciting violence against women even if it is based on religious text. The Quran is no exception. Religiously sanctioned violence against women is still violence against women. Say No to Quran 4:34. #Quran434NoMore Reject this verse. Filed as: Press Releases |