Press Releases

November 10, 2016		In defence of Islam’s Non Believers We, the undersigned, are appalled at the discrimination, abuse and violence faced by ex-Muslims both in Britain and internationally (as seen in a new film, Islam’s Non-Believers). Needless to say, it is not an insult to Islam or any religion, if one becomes an atheist – either in public or private. It is exercising a fundamental right to freedom of conscience. Moreover, criticism of religion, including Islam, is not “Islamophobia” but exercising a fundamental right to freedom of expression. Those who “punish” or forcibly prevent freedom of conscience and expression are the ones who commit a crime – not those... Filed as: Press Releases
November 3, 2016		Spokesperson Maryam Namazie wins 2016 International Secularism (Laicite) Prize Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain is pleased to announce that its spokesperson Maryam Namazie was awarded the 2016 International Secularism (Laicite) Prize from the Comité Laïcité République in Paris on 2 November. You can read and see Maryam’s acceptance speech below. The French translation, thanks to Marieme Helie Lucas is available here. سخنرانى به زبان فارسى در پايىن صفحه Thank you for this wonderful honour. I am so glad to have the support of so many present here, including my husband and son, as well as my Muslim parents. We live in an age where totalitarianism is masked as divine righteousness,... Filed as: Press Releases
October 20, 2016		Blaming the Victims: Islam’s Non Believers By Marieme Helie Lucas (Algerian sociologist) Reposted from SIAWI Also available in French. For the past three decades, we have been witnessing the implementation in politics of the concept of perversity in psychology. Case study, truly. I first realized that during the ‘dark decade’ in Algeria, which made about 200,000 victims, most of them at the hands of armed fundamentalist groups – with women constituting a large proportion of the victims. Following an inexorable process, these are the steps being taken by fundamentalists: targeted assassinations at the beginning of the 9Os of individuals branded miscreants ( kofr), who were just... Filed as: Press Releases
October 13, 2016		Omer El-Hamdoon and Discrimination against Ex-Muslims In Deeyah Khan’s film, Islam’s Non Believers, Omer El-Hamdoon, President of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), justifies the discrimination and ostracisation against ex-Muslims in Britain and portrays Islam’s nonbelievers are ‘outside the human norms’: Here is a quote from the film: Omer El-Hamdoon: The Muslim community is a community that is based on religion. So if a person chooses to stop being a Muslim they can’t really expect that the Muslim community is still gonna say to them you are part of our community Deeyah: Why not? Omer El-Hamdoon: Because you left Islam, you’ve left the religion. Families do... Filed as: Press Releases
October 7, 2016		Fuuse Productions Statement: Islam’s Non-Believers “I remember saying to my mum, ‘I don’t think I believe in God any more,’ And her saying, ‘You can’t tell anybody else because they’ll kill you, we are obliged to kill ex-Muslims,’ and that it would put me at extreme risk if anybody else was to find out, so that conversation ended there.” – Sadia, a former Muslim. This new documentary by Fuuse Films investigates the lives of ex-Muslims, who face extreme discrimination, ostracism, psychological abuse and violence as a result of leaving Islam. Islam’s Non-Believers paints a vivid picture of the dangers facing those who renounce their faith.... Filed as: Press Releases
October 5, 2016		Islam’s Non Believers Islam's Non Believers, a new film by the award-winning film-maker Deeyah Khan, will be aired on 13 October 2016 on ITV Exposure at 10:40-11:40pm London time. The film is the first in depth documentary following the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain and investigating the lives of young women and men in Britain who face threats, ostracisation, discrimination and even violence for leaving Islam. It also highlights the heinous violence faced by ex-Muslims in countries under Islamic rules (including the death penalty in 13 countries); draws attention to the role respected "community leaders" play in encouraging discrimination and violence; and makes important links between the transnational Islamist movement in Britain and internationally. Moreover, the film reveals the extent of non believers amongst Muslims and the international nature of the ex-Muslim resistance movement. Filed as: Press Releases
October 4, 2016		Exposure: Islam’s Non Believers Press Release: ITV Exposure “I remember saying to my mum, ‘I don’t think I believe in God any more,’ And her saying, ‘You can’t tell anybody else because they’ll kill you, we are obliged to kill ex-Muslims,’ and that it would put me at extreme risk if anybody else was to find out, so that conversation ended there.” – Sadia, a former Muslim This new documentary in the Exposure current affairs strand investigates the lives of ex-Muslims, who face extreme discrimination, ostracism, psychological abuse and violence as a result of leaving Islam. Featuring contributions from British and Bangladeshi ex-Muslims, Islam’s... Filed as: Press Releases
September 2, 2016		Calling all ex-Muslims in Ireland Calling all ex-Muslims in Ireland! A community and meet-up is being set up. Contact us on: ExMuslimsIreland@gmail.com for more information or visit their website. EMI is affiliated to the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. Filed as: Press Releases
July 19, 2016		We are Ex-Muslims: We won’t be silenced! Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain is calling on ex-Muslims across the world to send us 15-20 second mobile phone videos of themselves speaking about the dangers they face, their demand to be free to believe in and live as they choose, and any messages to those that wish to silence them. Particularly for those living in countries where apostasy is considered a prosecutable offence, ex-Muslims can send us messages anonymously, covering their faces and even changing their voices, so as to ensure their safety when the videos are made public. Join the scream. #ExMuslimBecause #WeWillNotBeSilenced Send your videos to exmuslimcouncil@gmail.com. Filed as: Press Releases
July 12, 2016		#ExMuslimBecause #INeedYourLove – Flash “Dance” at Kings Cross On July 5, 2016 a number of ex-Muslims from Bangladesh, Britain, Iran, Kuwait, Morocco, Pakistan and Syria converged on Kings Cross for a flash “dance” in support of freethinkers and “apostates” across the globe. On their faces and chests, they had written of “Ex-Muslim”, “Kafir”, “Atheist”, “Migrant”, “Refugee”, and “Apostate”. They danced to Shaggy’s “I Need Your Love”** in support of all those who are isolated, intimidated, harassed, and even killed for leaving Islam or thinking freely. They also danced in memory of Adel Al-Jaf, a young Iraqi dancer, who was killed the day before in a mass suicide bombing... Filed as: Press Releases