| February 1, 2026 |  |
World Hijab Day and the Political Alchemy of Turning Coercion into Choice Maryam Namazie Every year on 1 February, World Hijab Day invites women, primarily those whose refusal carries no consequence, to wear a hijab for a day. This invitation is framed as empathy: an opportunity to understand and affirm tolerance. In fact, though, World Hijab Day is part of a political project to repackage an instrument of coercion into a symbol of ‘choice.’ The language of choice is only for those who comply. Removing the hijab is never a ‘choice.’ This is not solidarity. It is whitewashing. Celebrating the hijab while severing it from the system that produces it performs a... Filed as: Resources |
| January 18, 2026 |
Worldwide protests held to free Betty Lachgar, Freethought Today, January 2026 Worldwide protests held to free Betty Lachgar, Freethought Today, January 2026 Filed as: Resources |
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| September 2, 2025 |  |
Urgent Appeal to Morocco: Free Betty Lachgar Dear Minister of Justice of Morocco Abdellatif Ouahbi and Head of Government of Morocco Aziz Akhannouch, We are writing on behalf of Ex-Muslims International, a global coalition of ex-Muslim organisations with thousands of members worldwide, to express our strongest objection to the arrest and continued detention of Ibtissame Betty Lachgar, a Moroccan feminist, psychologist, and internationally recognised campaigner who has spent her life defending civil rights and free expression. Betty has been awaiting trial in Rabat since 10 August 2025, charged under Article 267-5 of the Penal Code (“offending Islam”), and faces up to five years in prison for wearing an “Allah is Lesbian” T-Shirt. Her trial, initially scheduled... Filed as: Resources |
| August 12, 2025 |  |
No Religion Is Above Criticism: Reject Medieval Blasphemy Laws Ex-Muslims International denounces the detention of Moroccan feminist, human rights defender, and ex-Muslim activist Ibtissam “Betty” Lachgar for wearing a T-shirt proclaiming, “Allah is lesbian.” Betty is a key figure in the global ex-Muslim movement. She co-founded MALI (Alternative Movement for Individual Liberties), a member organisation of our International Coalition of Ex-Muslims. She has been a regular and outspoken contributor to Celebrating Dissent, the largest international gathering of ex-Muslims, atheists, and freethinkers, for many years—consistently challenging theocratic oppression at great personal risk. This grotesque arrest in 2025 is an affront to freedom of thought and expression. Blasphemy laws—medieval relics—exist not... Filed as: Resources |
| February 4, 2025 |
Are ex-Muslims the canaries in the coal mine? Humanisten, 29 January 2025 Are ex-Muslims the canaries in the coal mine? Humanisten, 29 January 2025 Filed as: Resources |
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| January 13, 2025 |
Islam Issue, Humanisten, December 2024 Islam Issue, Humanisten, December 2024 Filed as: Resources |
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| December 3, 2024 |  |
Leaving Islam: A Psychological Perspective on the Journey from Control to Freedom By Dr Savin Bapir-Tardy Leaving Islam, or any high-control group, is a deeply personal and often life-altering decision. It involves stepping away not only from a belief system but also from relationships and communities that have been central to one’s life. A key consequence of this choice is being shunned by the group. Family members, friends, and community ties—often the foundations of support—are frequently severed, leaving the individual isolated and emotionally adrift. This forced disconnection creates a significant challenge, requiring individuals to confront the uncertainty of rebuilding their lives and identities, often without a safety net. For some, the pain of this... Filed as: Featured, Homepage, Press Releases, Resources |
| November 19, 2024 |  |
Feminism and religion are incompatible Read full piece in The Freethinker: Feminism and religion are incompatible, 19 November 2024 This is an edited version of Maryam Namazie’s contribution to a Cambridge Union debate: ‘This House Believes Feminism is Incompatible with Religion’, held on 14 November 2024. Others speaking in Proposition: Phyllis Zagano, Annie Laurie Gaylor, and Pollyanna Greene Wright. Those speaking in Opposition: The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Peter Hitchens, and Lindsay Hansen Park. The debate can be viewed here. Religion and feminism are incompatible. What I mean by religion is organised religion and not personal belief. People are very often born into... Filed as: Resources |
| October 1, 2024 |  |
Being a woman is in and of itself and act of blasphemy Blasphemy – and of course apostasy, heresy, enmity against god – are portrayed negatively and always from the perspective of the religious. The religious view is the default view. Blasphemy is therefore, seen to be at best offensive and hurtful. At worst it is seen to be a danger to national security, morality, stability of the state and by extension society, to be stamped out by any means necessary. From our perspective, the perspective of dissenters and freethinkers, it is a cause for celebration. Particularly the celebration of blasphemous women at the centre of change. The history of blasphemy is considered... Filed as: Resources |
| April 4, 2024 |
What is the Ex-Muslim Movement? When did it begin? How is it expanding so swiftly over the world?, TFL Post, 4 April 2024 What is the Ex-Muslim Movement? When did it begin? How is it expanding so swiftly over the world?, TFL Post, 4 April 2024 Filed as: Resources |