“The Council of ex-Muslims of Britain”
Posted by theislamist on June 18, 2007
This is not a joke – this Thursday will see the launch of the Council of ex-Muslims of Britain. The launch will take place at Portcullis House at Westminster. The Council “will provide a voice for those labelled Muslim but who have renounced religion and do not want to be identified by religion”.
The voice of the organisation in the UK will be Maryam Namazie. Talking about the new organisation, Namazie, said, “We are establishing the alternative to the likes of the Muslim Council of Britain because we don’t think people should be pigeonholed as Muslims or deemed to be represented by regressive organisations like the MCB. Those of us who have come forward with our names and photographs represent countless others who are unable or unwilling to do so because of the threats faced by those considered ‘apostates’ – punishable by death in countries under Islamic law. By doing so, we are breaking the taboo that comes with renouncing Islam but also taking a stand for reason, universal rights and values, and secularism. We are quite certain we represent a majority in Europe and a vast secular and humanist protest movement in countries like Iran.”
Apparently there are similar organisations of ex-Muslims in Germany, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The launch is being sponsored by the British Humanist Association and the National Secular Society.
To find out more about Namazie and her views, I recommend watching an interesting debate that took place last November on More 4 between her, Inayat Bunglawala of the MCB and Taji Mustafa of HT.
afroz said
Why would it be a joke? I’m sure you are aware of the fact that lots of people in Muslim-majority countries aren’t religious at all, and given a choice would not be. But of course when you come from a Muslim family – there isn’t a ‘choice’ – which doesn’t matter too much of the time, as long you don’t voice it ‘openly’. For many young Muslims who are questioning the religion they have effectively ‘inherited’ i’m sure it is helpful to realize that there are lots of people out there who have been through the same thing.