Press Releases

July 12, 2017		Letter to FBU asking for their official position on CEMB Dear Mr Wrack, FBU General Secretary, It has been drawn to our attention that Ms Lucy Masoud, treasurer of the Fire Brigades Union in London, has written a blog on The FBU website stating that the presence of Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) at Pride was “hate on display” and that the group is “islamophobic”. CEMB has responded to the post and would like to know whether this is the FBU’s official position. As we have mentioned in our response to Ms Masoud, there is a clear distinction between criticism of religion and the religious-Right versus bigotry against people.... Filed as: Press Releases
July 12, 2017		FBU: We are combating hate not promoting it Lucy Masoud, treasurer of the Fire Brigades Union in London, has written a blog on The FBU website saying the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB)‘s presence at Pride was “hate on display” and that the group is “Islamophobic” and “carried offensive signs such as ‘F**K Islam’ and ‘East London Mosque Incites Murder of Homosexuals’”. She added that members were “offended” by CEMB, that CEMB was “sinister” and that when she confronted our group, “they admitted they had never been Muslim”. Masoud added: “Pride is meant to be about acceptance and love, not hate. Most LGBT people have experienced hate... Filed as: Press Releases
July 10, 2017		#IWant2BFree Read this letter online. Dear friend EX-MUSLIMS OUT AND PROUD IN PRIDE LONDON CEMB was at Pride London in full force on 8 July highlighting the plight of LGBT in countries under Islamic rule where it is punishable with the death penalty, with topless activists body-painted by the award-winning Victoria Gugenheim. The march went ahead as planned, though police initially tried to remove placards with the slogan “Allah is Gay” because of complaints of “offence”. Whilst a few were not pleased to see apostates there, we were met with overwhelming and heart-warming support and solidarity. For all of those who... Filed as: Press Releases
July 10, 2017		Ex-Muslims Out & Proud at Pride On 8 July, CEMB was at Pride in London in full force highlighting the plight of LGBT in countries under Islamic rule with bodypainting by the award-winning Victoria Gugenheim. The march went ahead as planned, though police initially tried to remove placards with the slogan “Allah is Gay” because of complaints of “offence”. Whilst a few were not pleased to see apostates in Pride, we were met with overwhelming and heart-warming support and solidarity. For all of those who participated, it was an unforgettable moment in the struggle for freedom of conscience, expression and the fight for LGBT rights in... Filed as: Press Releases
July 5, 2017		In Toronto LGBT Iranians were branded as ‘Islamophobes’, The Freethinker, 5 July 2017 In Toronto LGBT Iranians were branded as ‘Islamophobes’, The Freethinker, 5 July 2017 At Toronto Pride on June 25 some ‘anti-fascists’ surrounded Iranian refugees and LGBTQ activists and absurdly chanted ‘No Hate at Pride’ – as if defending LGBTQ people in Iran or countries under Islamic rule is ‘hateful’. Police intervention ensured that they weren’t able to stop the Iranians from joining Pride as the video below shows. The irony of “anti-fascist” activists accusing an Iranian holding a sign saying “I am Muslim and condemn the persecution of LGBTQ+ in Islamic countries” of “Islamophobia” was clearly lost on them. It’s... Filed as: Media Coverage, Press Releases
June 27, 2017		No Apologies This is CEMB Spokesperson Maryam Namazie’s letter published in sister-hood, 27 June 2017. This is my letter to you. Not you, the Islamist, who wants me silent or dead whilst dreaming of your vile caliphate, nor you, the racist, who wants my Muslim and migrant family out whilst dreaming of your contemptible white, Christian Europe. To me, you are two sides of the same coin. This is my letter to you who I should consider a friend, an ally, but who refuses to make a stand with me. You: the progressive, the anti-racist, the supposed defender of human rights. How... Filed as: Press Releases
May 26, 2017		May 2017 CEMB Update Dear friend 2 months to “Glastonbury of Freethinkers” There is less than 2 months left for our 22-24 July conference in London which is being called the “Glastonbury of Freethinkers”. With over 70 speakers, comedians, musicians and artists, it’s going to be the largest ever gathering of ex-Muslims and freethinkers in London and will reaffirm the right to think and live outside the confines of religion. (Read an interview, which discusses the importance of the conference at a time when atheists and secularists are increasingly under attack). As our spokesperson, Maryam Namazie says: “If anyone feels there is no hope,... Filed as: Press Releases
May 25, 2017		CEMB at London Pride in July 2017 The Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) is pleased to announce it will be taking part in the Pride in London parade on Saturday 8 July 2017. CEMB will use the Pride in London Parade to protest Islamism’s violence, including the death penalty, directed towards LGBT people. In particular, CEMB will focus on the harrowing roundup, detention and torture of LGBT people in Chechnya where its president, Ramzan Kadyrov, has expressed the desire to “eliminate” gay people before the start of Ramadan. CEMB Spokesperson Maryam Namazie says: “All the states which punish apostasy and homosexuality with the death penalty... Filed as: Press Releases
May 24, 2017		Islam and Islamism as the greatest stumbling blocks for women’s emancipation Our spokesperson, Maryam Namazie, was invited by Dabran Platform to speak at the Founding Congress of Enlightenment Feminism in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan (photos below). She spoke about Islam and Islamism as the greatest stumbling blocks for women’s emancipation and how Islamists target women and girls first – whether in Tehran, Peshawar or Manchester. Here’s her speech: Islam and Islamism – the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of women’s emancipation* (Suffragette Elizabeth Cady Stanton said: “The Bible and the Church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of women’s emancipation.”) Maryam Namazie The First Enlightenment Feminism Congress, Sulaymaniyah It’s such... Filed as: Press Releases, Resources
May 15, 2017		Ensaf Haidar joins London vigil for her husband, blogger Raif Badawi Ensaf Haidar joins London vigil for her husband, blogger Raif Badawi Wednesday 17 May, 1:00 pm—2:00 pm English PEN and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) are honoured to be hosting author and activist Ensaf Haidar, the wife of imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi, in London this month. Join us for a special vigil at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia on 17 May, a month ahead of the fifth anniversary of Raif Badawi’s arrest, to continue calling for his immediate release. Vigil for Raif Badawi 1-2pm, Wednesday 17 May Embassy of Saudi Arabia, London* RSVP: cat@englishpen.org English PEN has been holding regular vigils... Filed as: Press Releases