Continue reading »]]> I will be away until 22 May attending the 17-19 May 2013 Women in Secularism 2 Conference in DC. More information available here.

I’ll be speaking on “apostasy from Islam” on Saturday morning and then on “Freedom – not Islamism – is my culture” in the afternoon. I’ll also be meeting with Muslimish activists in the DC area.

Can’t wait.

I will most likely not be blogging until I return.

Continue reading »]]>

Dear friends

During these hard days of fear, insomnia, and pain, in hiding from authorities as well as fanatics, I have spent many nights expecting to be beaten, killed or caught. I know the real impact of my actions. They are afraid, dear friends; their dogmas and norms are so weak that they cannot stand to be questioned and challenged.

Today, I met two supposed “human rights” activists who advised me to get a medical certificate citing that my mental facilities were too diminished to realize the “impact” of my statements, and to apologize in a video or in a mosque to people who were “offended” or “hurt” by my statements, and to delete all traces of my “crimes” on the internet, by disabling Facebook, and deleting all the videos I have made… They say it is the only way I can have a normal life, with a few clicks everything will be as before, even better than it was as I can be assured that at least I tried to change things. At least, they say, I fought to free people from the enslavement of religion and dogmas, of dictatorship… But I cannot do so.

I don’t feel sorry for anything I have said or for the actions I have taken part in, including the 20th February MASAYMINCH Movement, and the establishment of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Morocco – the first atheist organization in a country with Islam as the state religion.

Dear friends, we have a long way to go to break down those Middle Aged myths and ways of thinking, those oppressive and repressive rites in the name of religion or culture, those violations of human rights in the name of cultural relativism… We have to fight for this long awaited world, where people will live equally regardless of their gender, religious beliefs, or sexual orientations, where we will live in harmony with our environment, a world where wars and un-civilisation will only exist in history books.

I would like to everyone taking a stand on International Imad Day, everyone who supported me, everyone who cared about me, everyone who helped or tried to help by any means, everyone who spread the word, everyone who thought about me…

Special thanks to Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, Norwegian Heathen Society, Atheist Alliance International, Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, all the friends who hosted me taking personal risks, everyone who supported and helped me by any means, Ahmed Benchemsi, Maryam Namazie, Daniel Salte, Kacem Al-Ghazali, Marjorie Bloom, Peter Breedveld & his wife, Diana & Roy Brown, and all the members of a so special club trying to change the world.

Keep supporting reason and free thought!

In Mickey Mouse we trust,

Imad Iddine Habib

15 May 2013

See some of the actions taken for International Imad Day here. Many of the actions have been posted on Waleed Al-Husseini’s Facebook Page “I’m Proud to be an Atheist” as Imad has been banned from updating the Council of Ex-Muslims of Morocco’s Facebook Page.

See list of nearly 400 groups and individuals defending International Imad Day here.

By the way here is a video of atheist Moroccans, including Imad:

Continue reading »]]> Today is International Imad Day to stand with 22 year old Imad Iddine Habib who has received threats after his establishment of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Morocco and to exert pressure on the Moroccan government to guarantee his security and respect freedom of expression and thought. Rather than prosecute freethinkers, the government should prosecute those who issue fatwas and death threats against the likes of Imad.

On 15 May, add your name to the list of signatories below; send letters of protest to the Moroccan embassy in your country of residence; Tweet #Imad, #Atheist, #exMuslim; do an act of solidarity, including posting a photo of yourself holding a message like Imad has done (you can also email the photo to exmuslimcouncil@gmail.com as Imad has been banned from updating the Council of Morocco’s Facebook page); click “like” on the Council of Ex-Muslims of Morocco’s Facebook page and more.]

Below are a few acts of solidarity with Imad;

Atheist Alliance International President Carlos A. Diaz

Yasmine Vinck from Belgium

Here’s one from activist Rafiq Mahmood in Indonesia:

My name is Rafiq Mahmood and I am an ex-Muslim. I live in Indonesia which claims to be the country with the world’s largest Muslim population.

It is not my fault that I am an ex-Muslim. After many years of struggling with doubt I realised that I didn’t believe in Islam any more. I could not say the Kalima because it wasn’t true. I have not done anything wrong. I would be lying if I said I believed when I did not. Why should I be punished, put in prison or threatened by the mob with death? I can’t help it if I don’t believe. I am being honest. I am not convinced. If I am not convinced then I do not believe.

There are many people like me. There are many young people struggling with doubt. Why should they have to hide and run away from the police or angry people if they honestly and truthfully admit that Islam doesn’t convince them any more? It is up to Islam to persuade us, not up to us to persuade ourselves. Belief is not something that can be forced. It comes from inner conviction. If there is no inner conviction then there is no belief.

There is nothing wrong with not believing. Groups like the ex-Muslim Council of Morocco and its predecessors such as the ex-Muslim Council of Britain and Germany exist to give support to people who feel like us, to say, “We are not alone,” and to share our thoughts and hopes for a better world where people can be free to be themselves. The ex-Muslim Councils say that it is possible to leave your religion. A religion based on fear is not something that has a sound foundation at all. It is like trying to sit on a boiling kettle to prevent the lid coming off.

There is also nothing wrong with saying why we are ex-Muslims and what we don’t like about Islam. If Islam is, as we are always being told, the truth, then our arguments can be met with better arguments. Sticks and prison or the beheading sword are not better arguments. They are the admission of defeat, the admission that there are no ideas left and you have to resort to violence.

It is a disgraceful and shameful thing that good, intelligent and caring people like my friend Alexander An is in prison here in Indonesia for merely posting a link on facebook. A gentler and more truly peace-loving person I have yet to meet. Now another brave young man, Imad Iddine Habib, is facing pressure from the authorities in Morocco for daring to offer a support network for those, like us, who no longer buy into Islam.

It is utterly disgraceful that the King, whose duty is to all his people, should permit the High Council of Ulemas, which he chairs, to decree a fatwa of death to those who, like us, leave Islam. It brings his throne and his Kingdom into the gravest disrepute. Such a death penalty is a penalty for being honest, for striving to be normal citizens living in the open and fulfilling their part for the common benefit of all. Ex-Muslims are not bad people. We care deeply for the good of the community and for each other. Why should our contribution to society be denied by throwing us in jail, making us flee to Western countries or cutting us off from life itself?

Ex-Muslims are ordinary people. We are not enemies of the state, although we do want a better, freer state where everyone has equal opportunities to fulfil their potential and serve the community. We do want to see secular states emerge because we feel that secularism gives everyone the best chance of being themselves, whether they are religious or not. There is no shame in being an ex-Muslim. We just want to be open and honest and to be ourselves.

I fully support International Imad Day (15 May) and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Morocco.

Rafiq Mahmood
Bogor
West Java
Indonesia

Continue reading »]]> Tonight, 9 May 2013, the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain has organised evening drinks with Gita Sahgal, Executive Director of Centre for Secular Space. 6:30-8:00pm at The George on the Strand, 213 Strand, London WC2R 1AP. Entry is £3; £1 for unwaged, which can be paid at the door. All are welcome.

Author Rumy Hasan who was to give the talk is ill; his talk will be rescheduled.

Hope to see some of you there!

By the way, the next CEMB event is our 6th anniversary luncheon.

Join us to celebrate the 6th anniversary of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain 15 June 2013 at 12pm for a 12:30pm start at a central London restaurant. The keynote speaker will be writer Kenan Malik. Other speakers and acts include Centre for Secular Space Executive Director Gita Sahgal, comedian Kate Smurthwaite and CEMB spokesperson Maryam Namazie. Nahla Mahmoud will be the MC for the event.

Book your tickets today. Ticket(s) for the event, which includes a three-course meal and glass of wine at a wonderful Italian restaurant, are £35.00 per person or £30.00 for students/unwaged.

To purchase tickets, send a cheque made payable to CEMB to BM Box 1919, London WC1N 3XX or pay via Paypal or Worldpay. Please make sure to include an email address and/or telephone number so that further details can be provided. Additional donations are welcome to help ensure the attendance of CEMB volunteers at the event.

Continue reading »]]> This year the annual Altab Ali Day will be held today on Saturday 4 May 2013, 5pm to commemorate the murder of Altab Ali, a Bengali clothing worker, in 1978, by a gang of racist thugs. The event will take place on Saturday 4th May, at 5.15pm, At the “Shahid Minar” Altab Ali Park, Adler Street/Whitechapel High Street, London E1.

The annual commemoration of the Altab Ali Day is a very important event in the anti-racist and anti-fascist calendar. It vividly reminds us of the catalogue of racist murders and our struggle against racism and fascism in the UK. This year we are marking the 35th anniversary of the murder of Altab Ali, which gave rise to the resistance movement by the Bengali community in the East End of London and led to the ‘Battle of Brick Lane’ in 1978 defeating the thugs of the then National Front- the far right racist political party.

If you able to gather at Altab Ali Park, please do. You can find out more from Ansar Ahmed Ullah, Organising Secretary, Altab Ali Foundation, philipchand@hotmail.com.

Continue reading »]]> Here is the latest photo from Amina Tyler of FEMEN Tunisia. No More Moral Lessons, indeed!

You can donate to support Amina here; I just did.

Amina continues her protests in Tunisia.

On 1 May, Amina and other activists protested against the representatives of the Congress Party for the Republic Moncef Marzouki, including against the Minister of Women’s Rights Sihem Badi. There were calls for Badi to resign with protesters chanting “Badi get out!” and “Government of terrorism, minister of rape.” You can see a video of Amina protesting here:

Long Live Amina!

Continue reading »]]> Since 22 year old Imad Iddine Habib founded the Council of Ex-Muslims of Morocco (the first public atheist organisation in a country with Islam as the state religion), he has received numerous threats.

Morocco’s High Council of Ulemas (the highest government religious institution headed by the King) issued a fatwa decreeing the death penalty for Moroccans who leave Islam. Currently, under Morocco’s penal code, those who “impede or prevent worship” face imprisonment and fines.

The threats continue to escalate. Recently, Imad’s father has been interrogated by the secret service. He was told to tell Imad to stop his activities and that this would be the “last warning before they react”. Imad’s registered address has also been raided by security forces.

We, the undersigned, are extremely concerned about Imad’s safety and life and call on the Moroccan government to guarantee his security and respect freedom of expression and thought. Rather than prosecute freethinkers, the government should prosecute those who issue fatwas and death threats.

On 15 May we call for an International Imad Day in order to stand with and defend Imad.

He is all of us.

[For 15 May, add your name to the list below; send letters of protest to the Moroccan embassy in your country of residence; Tweet #Imad, #Atheist, #exMuslim; do an act of solidarity, including posting a photo of yourself holding a message like Imad has done (you can also email the photo to exmuslimcouncil@gmail.com); click “like” on the Council of Ex-Muslims of Morocco’s Facebook page and more.]

Signatories: (Add your name, description and or organisation, and country in the comments section below. The list will be updated regularly.)

Updated 15 May 2013; 22:00 hours

A C Grayling, Philosopher, UK
Abdul Majeed
Adam Brown, Co-Founder, Atheism Resource, USA
Adam Dobrer, Atheist
Adam Felton, Sweden
Adam Grannick
Adam Lee, Blogger, Daylight Atheism, USA
Adrian Rox, London Atheist Activist Group, UK
Adrian Stern
Afsaneh Vahdat, Spokesperson, Council of Ex-Muslims of Sweden, Sweden
Alf Krogseth, Tromsø, Norway
Alfons Grieb
Alice Polesky
Amanda Brown, We are Atheism, Atheism Resource and Atheists Giving Aid, USA
Amanda Knief, Managing Director, American Atheists
Amanda Sebestyen, Writer, UK
Amy Roman, Orlando, USA
Anders Slaatsveen, Former Teacher and Manager of NGO, Norway
Andres Cruz-Wellmann, Atheist and Photojournalist
Andrzej Koraszewski
Andy Stenson, Anti-theist, Sydney, Australia
Ane Torine Myrhaug Bæra, Atheist, Freethinker, Member of the Heathen society, Norway
Anissa Helie, Algerian/French Activist, France
Anita Romaniuk
Anka Kouwenhoven, The Netherlands
Ann Brusseel, Belgian Parliament, Belgium
Anne Boger, Norway
Annie Sugier, President, Ligue du Droit International des Femmes, France
Antony Wibberley
Ariane Brunet
Arifur Rahman, Bangladeshi Atheist Blogger, UK
Armin Navabi, Founder at Atheist Republic, Canada
Atheist Alliance International
Audrey King
Bachaar Arnaout, Psychiatrist, USA
Barbara Burfoot
Barrie Harrison
Beaux Johnson
Behzad Varpusthy, Founder of Northern ex-Muslim Meetup Group, UK
Benjamin Hagberg, Rhetoric Student, Sweden
Beverly Walker
Billy Wardlaw, Artist, USA
Birger Johansson, Umeå, Sweden
Bob Lane, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Vancouver Island University, Canada
Bogdan Markov, Non-religious, Romania
Bouchara Charly
Brad Reddekopp
Brandon Anderson, Texas, USA
Brendan Maher, Co-Director, Dublin, Ireland
Brian Fields, President PA Nonbelievers
Brian Harrison, Atheist, Realist and Humanist
Brian Harrison, Atheist, Realist and Humanist
Brian Leslie
Brian Robinson
Bruce Blanton Breece, Harmonica player, Los Angeles, USA
Carlos A. Diaz, President, Atheist Alliance International, Argentina
Carole Brown
Catherine Donoghue
Charlie Klendjian, Secretary, Lawyers’ Secular Society, UK
Chintamani Jonathan Weiss
Chris Burns
Chris Johansen
Chris Moore
Christian Hochstöger
Christina Dahl, The Norwegian Heathen Society, Norway
Christine Hamilton
Christine M. Shellska, PhD Candidate, Canada
Christopher Roche, Bath Atheists, Humanists and Secularists, UK
Chunilal Velji Chavda
Claire Pedersen, Atheist, Australia
Clara Piccirillo
Colin Atkinson, Sheffield Humanist Society Committee member and organiser of Sheffield Sceptics in the Pub, UK
Collis Gretton, UK
Contessa de Metoncula, Atheist and Humanist, California/Hawaii
Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain
Council of Ex-Muslims of Germany
Crystal White
Dagmar Gontard-Zelinkova
Dalis Davies
Daniel Fincke, Blogger, USA
Daniel Gronau, Germany
Daniel Solberg Johannessen, Bergen, Norway
Daniel Vrangsinn, President Misantrof ANTIRecords and Board Member of The Norwegian Heathen Society, Norway
Danny Vermeyen, Human Rights Activist, Belgium/Flanders
Darren Wolfe, Blogger, The International Libertarian
David Fitzgerald, Author and Public Speaker, Secular Student Alliance
David Mehrania, Texas, USA
David Morgan
David Nicholls, President, Atheist Foundation of Australia, Australia
David Silverman, President, American Atheists, USA
David Stevenson
David Williams, USA
Dejana Savić, Blogger, Writer and Atheist, Serbia
Dennis Penaluna, President, Nottingham Secular Society, UK
Diana Neslen
Diana Summers, Christian
Diederik Zwager
Digant C Kasundra
Dinah Livingstone, London, UK
Dirk Groditzki, Germany
Djemila Benhabib, Writer and Politician, Canada
Don Engel
Donald Wharton, Coordinator DC Region Atheists
DPR Jones, The Magic Sandwich Show, USA
Dr Ant Allan, Humanist, UK
Dr B Redfearn
Dya Ahmad, Member of Youth Parliament in Iraq and Secretary of Student and Youth organisation in Iraq
Ed Brayton, Blogger, Freethoughtblogs, USA
Ed MCarther
Edwina Rogers, Executive Director, Secular Coalition for America, USA
Elia Tabesh, Activist, Sweden
Elisabeth Wolff, Bürgerbewegung Pax Europa e.V., Germany and Austria
Elka Enola
Ella Holmes, Australia
Elmar Martin
Emily Dietle, Blogger, USA
Emily Mako
Ertan Zeki, Atheist
Fabian van Langevelde, Board Member, Atheïstisch Verbond (Dutch Atheist Alliance), The Netherlands
Faisal Saeed Al-Mutar, Iraqi Founder of Global Secular Humanist Movement, USA
Farzana Hassan, Writer, Canada
Fiona Lorenz
Francisco Calvo Z., Hispanic American Freethinkers, USA
Gabriel Delgdo, Veteran, USA
Gabriel Taylor
Gary Allan
Gary Tregoning
Geneviève Thain, Teacher, Canada
Ghulam Mustafa Lakho, Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan, Pakistan
Ginny Laag, London Atheist Activist Group, UK
Gita Sahgal, Centre for Secular Space, UK
Gjermund Vigre-Larsen, Norway
Gordon Willis, Musician and Humanist
Grant James
Grant Lewison
Greta Christina, Writer and Blogger, USA
Guy Otten
Hans Chrisitan Cars
Hans Petter Dalsheim, Atheist, Norway
Harald Fagerhus, The Norwegian Heathen Society, Norway
Harold Walter Kroto, Nobel Prize in Chemistry Winner, UK
Harry Kramer
Harry Perry
Hasan Mahmud, Director, Muslim Canadian Congress
Heath Wyld, HI, USA
Heather Else, USA
Helen Palmer, Chair, Central London Humanists Group, UK
Helga Bonnyns, Belgium
Henrik Thorsen
Herman Jacobs
HJ Hornbeck, Canada
Horst Bressel
Hugh Finn
Iain Harrison
Ian Kirk, Engineer, London, UK
Ian McDonald
Ibn Warraq, Writer, USA
Ibrahim Abdallah, Founder, Muslimish, USA
Ignacio Matanza
Ingalill Sandal, Member of LIM, Norway
Iqbal Ahmed, UK
Irina Ternauciuc, Designer, Romania
Ivan Martin
J Smith
Jacek Tabisz, President, Polish Rationalist Society, Poland
Jaco van der Byl, London, UK
Jacqueline Plavier, Baltimore, USA
Jacques Rousseau, South African Free Society Institute, South Africa
Jaime Griffen, Atheist
James Booth
James Eisner, Musician, Science Graduate, Life member of Cambridge University Atheist and Agnostic Society, and Atheist, UK
James Nichols
Jan Arild Evensen
Jan de Jong, Bussum, The Netherlands
Jaya Gopal, Founder Chairman, Atheist Society of India, India
Jenifer Flintoft
Jennifer Lessard, USA
Jenny Stephens
Jeremy Harpur
Jeremy Parker, Guard, Australia
Jeremy Rodell, Chair of South West London Humanists, UK
Jim Gaves
Jiri Kytka, Ireland
Jo Ben Rais
Joan Savage
Joanna Triebling, Atheist, Poland
John “TorakTu” Mieske, Musician, Programmer, Film Crew and Atheist, USA
John Adams, Atheist and Editor, Australia
John Eade, Centre for Research on Multiculturalism and Migration, University of Roehampton, UK
John Opie
John Perkins, President, Secular Party of Australia, Australia
John Riddell
John Rogers, Retired Director of Laboratories
John Smedley, Atheist
John Welt Sr., Ohio Regional Director of American Atheists
John-Paul Verow
Jonathan M S Pearce, Philosopher, Author, Blogger and Public Speaker, UK
Josh Kutchinsky, International Representative, Central London Humanists, UK
Josh Younespour, Student and Atheist, UK
Joshua Reeves, Universalist, Shaman and Atheist
Kacem El Ghazzali, Moroccan Atheist Blogger and Human Rights Activist, Switzerland
Kamilah Harris, USA
Karen Wood
Karl Karnadi, Indonesian Atheists, Founder, Indonesia
Kate Smurthwaite, Comedian, UK
Katie Graham
Kayla Bailey, USA
Kazem Nikkhah, Political Activist, UK
Kenni Holland, Mother and Proud Atheist, NC, USA
Kevin Keech
Kevin Saldanha, Regional Director and Humanist, Canada
Kieron Kavanagh
Kikki Brill
Kitty Squyres, Student, USA
Krishan Attawar, Kent, UK
Kylie Sturgess, Blogger, Token Skeptic, USA
Kylie Sturgess, Podcaster, Australia
Larry Mendoza, Director of Educational Outreach, Beltway Atheists Inc.
Laura Guidetti, Marea Review, Italy
Lawrence Maxwell Krauss, Theoretical Physicist and Cosmologist, USA
Leland Somers
Leo Igwe, Nigerian Humanist Movement, Nigeria
Lewis Wilkins
Lloyd Newson, Director of DV8 Physical Theatre, UK
Lorenzo Carissimo, Student and Atheist, Argentina
Louise Mailloux, Author and Secular Activist, Canada
Lydni Reichenbotch, Free thinker, USA
Lynda Hoogendoorn
Lynne Wheeler
M A Chohan
Machteld Zee, The Netherlands
Madeline Weld, Free thinker, Canada
Malcom Barnes
Malcom Grant
Malgorzata Koraszewska
Mandla Dlamini, Humanist, South Africa
Mano Singham, Scientist and Writer, USA
Marc Hewitt, Fellow free thinker, Northern Ireland
Margaret Laird
Maria Vellanz
Marieme Helie Lucas, Algerian Sociologist and founder of Secularism is a Women’s Issue, France
Mark Embleton, President, Atheism UK, UK
Martyn Hughes, South Wales, UK
Mary Devery, Historian and Human Rights Campaigner and Board Member of Terre des Femmes – Human Rights for Women e.V., Germany
Maryam Jamel, Organisation of Women’s Liberation of Iraq
Maryam Namazie, Fitnah, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, and One Law for All, UK
Massimo Redaelli, International Representative, Unione degli Atei e degli Agnostici Razionalisti, Italy
Matt Davis
Megan McDonald, Calgary, Canada
Meredith Tax, Chair, Centre for Secular Space, USA
Mersedeh Ghaedi, Former Iranian Political Prisoner, UK
Michael Nugent, Chair, Atheist Ireland, Ireland
Michael Wilkinson
Mihir Mehta, Student, India
Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson, International Committee against Stoning, International Committee against Execution and Council of Ex-Muslims of Germany, Germany
Mitch Stark, USA
Mohamed Mahmoud, Sudanese Academic, UK
Nadia El-Fani, Tunisian Filmmaker, France
Nahla Mahmoud, Sudanese Humanists Group, UK
Naser Khader, Danish-Syrian former Member of Parliament, Denmark
Nazanin Borumand, Council of Ex-Muslim of Germany, Germany
Nick Gotts
Nils Inge Graven, Norwegian atheist, Secular Humanist and Human Rights Activist, Norway
Nima Gorgin
Nishathri De Alwis, Atheist and Freethinker, Sri Lanka and UK
Noah Wiles, Social Media Director, National Atheist Party, USA
Ofe Mazy, leader of Service Workers Union of Iraq
Ophelia Benson, Blogger and Writer, USA
Owen Dixon
Patrick Langan, University Lecturer
Patty Debonitas, Iran Solidarity, UK
Paul Bane
Peter Algoet, HVV Atheisme Vlaanderen, Belgium
Peter Calluy
Peter Hood
Peter Kettle
Peter Kidd
Peter Tatchell, Director, Peter Tatchell Foundation, UK
Philip Matthew, Accountant and Secular Humanist, UK
Pragna Patel, Southall Black Sisters, UK
PZ Myers, Blogger and Scientist, USA
Radu Hila, USA
Raffaele Carcano, Secretary, Unione degli Atei e degli Agnostici Razionalisti, Italy
Rafiq Mahmoud, Activist, Indonesia
Rainer Boegle, Scientist and Bright, Munich, Germany
Rajasekar.C, Civil Engineer, Rationalist and Atheist, India
Rawand Khasraw
Ray Shaffer, TX, USA
Rayanne Stemmler
Raymond Bennett
Rebecca Watson, Blogger, USA
Red Lee, Activist, UK
Reinout Zunderdorp, President, Humanist Historical Centre, The Netherlands
Richard Dawkins, Scientist, UK
Richard G L Thain DDS, Canadian Atheist, Rationalist and Humanist, Canada
Richard Lucas
Rick Gladwin, Toronto, Canada
Rik Delaet
Rob Senelstun
Rob Smith, Pantheist, Writer / Handbook for Infidels, USA
Robert Hall, CA, USA
Robert M. Ramus, USA
Robert Park
Robert Renwick
Robert Wilson
Roberto Monti
Robin Blick, Historian, Musician and member of National Secular Society, UK
Robin Hayward
Robin P Clarke, Researcher
Ronald Bilik, Freidenkerbund Österreich
Ronnie Johanson, Author, Norway
Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director, American Humanist Association, USA
Roy Whittaker, Freethinker, Isle of Man
Royston Wildng, Musical Director, Australian Atheist Choir and Atheist Activist, Australia
Russell Blackford, Writer and Philosopher, Australia
Russell Webb
Ruth Appleton
Säde Bartling, Christian Composer, Helsinki, Finland
Sally Summers, USA
Samir Noory, Chair, Committee for Abolishing Capital Punishment in Iraq
Samuel Warshaw, London, UK
Sarah Kamil
Secularism is a Women’s Issue
Shakeel Rehman, Member of LIM, Norway
Shaker Srinivasan
Shelley Segal, Singer and Songwriter, Australia
Shishir Thadani, Writer, India
Siamak Bahari, Editor, Children First Now Persian Publication, Sweden
Sindre Bremnes, The Norwegian Heathen Society, Norway
Sissel Røvik, Blogger and Writer, Turkey/Norway
Siv Helene Sinober, Atheist and City Planner
Siyavesh Lashgari, Editor of Bidary, USA
Sohaila Sharifi, Iranian Women’s Rights Campaigner, UK
Sonia Hidalgo
Sonja Eggerick, President, International Humanist and Ethical Union, Belgium
Sophie Dulesh, Writer, Canada
Stephen Atkins
Stephen Bird, Atheist
Stephen Keeler
Stephen Swift
Steve Chinn, General Secretary, Humanist Society Scotland, UK
Steve Clements
Steve Thomas, Falun, Sweden
Stuart Hartill, Satirist and Cultural Commentator, Isle of Man
Svein Bjorkly
Tani Randolff
Tarek Fatah, Writer, Canada
Tarina Dark
Tata M. Ringberg
Thomas Roswell, Student, USA
Tom Christensen, Anti-theist, USA
Tom Silvest, Activist and Atheist, Germany
Toni Gandel
Tony Mohorovic
Tony Payton
Tore Meberg, Norway
Udo Schuklenk, Professor of Philosophy, Canada
Valerie Price
Van den Eeden
Veronica Timperley
Victor Franco, Vice President Atheist Alliance International
Viggo Holger-Jensen, Apathetic Agnostic, Oslo, Norway
Waleed Al-Husseini, Palestinian Blogger and Founder of Council of Ex-Muslims of France, France
Wanda Wilson, Freethinker, Canada
Wesley Herrin
Wim Lourens
Yasmine Vinck, Belgium

Continue reading »]]>

Bahram Soroush, Shahla Daneshfar and others protesting Iranian regime at International Labour Organisation meeting

From Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran Newsletter, My Voice.
This edition’s contributor: Bahram Soroush, Free Them Now! Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran

Systematic abuse of worker rights has been a hallmark of the regime in Iran since its very inception. At the heart of the attack against workers is subjection of workers to minimum wage levels, which by the government’s own admission, are one third of the official poverty line, and suppression of workers’ attempts to organise and strike.

The name ‘trade union’ is banned under the Islamic Republic, which has relied on its own handmade ‘Islamic councils of labour’ in workplaces to spy on and keep workers’ protests in check. So when, in 2006, the bus workers in the capital Tehran started reviving their trade union and took strike action for the right to organise and for better pay and conditions, over 1,000 were arrested. Only through powerful protests in Iran and through magnificent international support by workers’ and human rights organisations around the world could many of the arrested be eventually freed. However, Union leaders were subjected to years of persecution, including the executive board member Reza Shahabi, who is still serving a four-year sentence in jail, despite serious medical conditions.

The regime is clearly frightened by the ‘threat’ of worker protests, not only in its attempts to protect the rights of the capitalist class that it represents (the regime itself is made up of billionaire Ayatollahs), but in order to pre-empt it from developing into a political protest that can bring down the entire regime. The regime, which has survived only through mass executions, torture and jailing, is despised by virtually all sections of the society, especially workers who have been driven to abject poverty and subjected to brutal persecution. The regime’s dread of workers’ protests tends to reach its height in particular on such days as May Day and International Women’s Day, as workers start to organise and prepare for independent protests and rallies.

So again this year, in the build up to International Women’s Day, worker leaders were arrested and detained on trumped up charges, and as we are nearing May Day, the regime is stepping up its persecution of labour activists. Early April, two trade unionists, Sharif Saed Panah and Mozaffar Saleh Nia, were given six-month jail sentences each. Labour leaders Reza Shahabi and Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, both on temporary medical leave from prison, are due to be returned to prison.

Given the scale of its economic crisis and the widespread poverty following the scrapping of most subsidies and implementation of austerity measures, the regime is clearly frightened by the prospect of mass social protests. The increased persecution of trade union leaders are happening in this context.

Union activists currently in detention (or about to be jailed) include:
• Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, a labour and children’s rights activist, who has already served three years of a five-year sentence, while his 14-year old son is in hospital for leukaemia. The extension of his medical leave has been refused
• Mohammad Jarahi, serving a five-year sentence despite a serious medical condition
• Ghaleb Hosseini, detained February 2013
• Rasoul Bodaghi, serving a six-year sentence
• Abdolreza Ghanbari, on death row for taking part in anti-government protests in December 2009
• Shahrokh Zamani, serving an 11-year sentence

Arbitrary arrests and detentions, long prison terms following fabricated trials, torture and abuse, denial of medical care, threatening the families of the detainees, imposition of extortionate bails are part of a programme of persistent persecution which the Islamic regime in Iran practises against workers demanding their rights and attempting to organise.

Only forceful protests in Iran and internationally can put an end to this flagrant denial of worker rights and persecution of labour activists.

Shahrokh Zamani, a labourer, is a member of the organising committee of the Painters Labour Syndicate. He was arrested in January 2011 and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment for “participating in the organisation of an unlawful group opposing the state… with the aim of disrupting national security by way of workers’ strikes and armed rebellion… assembly and collusion to further illegal activities… and propaganda against the regime.” He denies the charges. Two others were arrested with him but have since been released. After his arrest, he went on hunger strike for 4 months and spent 36 days in solitary confinement. His lawyer was denied access to his court files and was not allowed to speak in court. He has had to undergo harsh physical interrogation and his physical condition is said to be deteriorating. Iranian prisoners are sometimes granted leave, after they must again present themselves to the prison. In the case of Mr. Zamani, he was refused leave and he still has 10 years of his sentence to run.

Reza Shahabi, treasurer of the Union of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company was in April 2012 sentenced
to five years in prison for “gathering and colluding against state security” and one year for “spreading propaganda against the system”. He was also banned from union activity for a further five years. This, after having already served 22 months for peaceful union activities. In May 2012, he underwent an operation on his spine and was recommended to rest for three months by his doctor, a recommendation which was ignored by the prison authorities who sent him back to prison. In protest against his imprisonment, abuse by the prison guards and lack of medical attention, Mr. Shahabi went on hunger strike in December 2012. In January 2013, he was finally released on a five-day medical leave on the grounds of his deteriorating medical condition. Mr. Shahabi’s case received world wide attention. Amnesty International has designated him a prisoner of conscience and has called for his immediate and unconditional release. The International Transport Workers’ Federation has also demanded unconditional release of Mr. Shahabi and other trade unionists. Shakrokh Zamani and Reza Shahabi are two trade unionists imprisoned, purely for their beliefs and trade union activities.

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Sign a petition to stop torture and execution in Iran here.

Continue reading »]]> Monica Lanfranco has written an article in Italy’s Il Fatto Quotidiano on the first Saudi campaign against domestic violence here. A poster of the educational campaign can be seen above.

In the article she quotes me saying:

This anti-violence campaign in Saudi Arabia is clearly in response to the public outrage over the death of 5 year old Lama after facing horrendous and unspeakable tortures at the hands of her father, who was effectively let go. Any move to highlight domestic violence is hugely important but the problem is not just a matter of education and raising awareness. Stopping domestic violence has to start with changes in the law that criminalises it and prosecutes abusers. Under Sharia law, however, violence against women and children is often seen to be the prerogative of the male guardian as Lama’s case highlights.

The Saudi Government wants to be seen to be making an effort against violence in the face of public outrage. The first perpetrator of violence in Saudi society though is the regime itself and its medieval laws.

The best way to begin to end violence against women and children is to end the implementation of Sharia law – not  an advertising campaign.