August 22 isn’t Apostasy Day. It’s “Your Right to Leave Islam (or any religion) and Talk About it Publicly” day.
Islam may not have been the only religion in our history whose political system punished apostasy (and/or blasphemy). But today, Islam remains as a major world religion whose shariah-backed apostasy (and blasphemy) laws continue to take people’s freedoms, lives and voices.
More than half a billion people live under governments where leaving Islam can carry legal punishment. They live in the following 14 countries that still outlaw apostasy with prison or death because of Islam: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brunei, Comoros, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen (Info from Humanists International report)
Beyond these 14, we ExMuslims experience apostasy (and blasphemy) rules and expectations along with apostophobia in our homes and communities too.
How TF is it 2026 and we are still not safe to leave Islam or talk about leaving without hate, policing, gaslighting, prejudice, discrimination, criminalization, persecution, violence, repercussions, consequences, shunning and retaliation? And that too from our own Muslim families, friends, neighbors, coworkers and leaders?
Apostasy is a human right. Not a crime.
Read our stories of apostasy at exmuslim.me 🤍
