The "Ex" makes it publicly known that we left Islam despite the religion forbidding, discouraging and threatening punishment for apostasy.
This 7th century religious control on freedom of and from religion is what influences Muslims to implement apostasy and blasphemy laws in their homes and countries. Ask any Muslim what Islam says about people who criticize, abandon, mock or disbelieve Islam.
ExMuslims and atheists are considered perhaps one of, if not, the worst enemy of Islam. Apostasy and blasphemy in Islam are discouraged, forbidden and punishable, even by death depending on the country.
Check out this persecution map tracking "hate and violence motivated by Islamic intolerance" from the ExMuslims of North America.
Since Islam was formed and gained power to colonize our people and lands, Islamist Muslims in Muslim homes, communities and governments have upheld, institutionalized and perpetuated the divinely sanctioned hate and harm for people who choose their freedom to question, disbelieve and leave Islam.
Meanwhile, ExMuslims are regular people, LGBTQ+, women and men like you and me, who no longer believe or follow Islam. Islam calls us murtad (an apostate, one who gives up faith) in Arabic.
ExMuslims leave for various reasons, like women and LGBTQ personally experiencing gender bias, misogyny, sexism, patriarchy and homophobia in Islam. Many of us start feeling extremely suspicious and things not making sense along our journey out of Islam, especially when we're told we can't ask questions, be curious or think critically.
On our journey out of Islam, ExMuslims may become atheists, agnostics and sometimes convert to other religions. Unfortunately, Islam teaches lessons of distrust, influences hate, and threatens harmful consequences for anyone who questions, criticizes, mocks, or leaves Islam.
When an entire religion (cult + power + time) for our death and punishment for apostasy, blasphemy and freedom, why wouldn't we ExMuslims speak up?
Read stories and share your story on exmuslim.me.
ExMuslims are not safe
Especially from the very Muslims who are indoctrinated to hate, ostracize, and even harm us. Muslims will take it upon themselves to actively shut down any critique of Islam, calling it "islamophobia", and can be intolerant, hateful and violent towards ExMuslims and atheists, just for not believing.
Muslims take it extremely personally if and when we speak up about: our journey leaving Islam; when we try to deconstruct Islam; our collective and individual religious trauma; the inequities, illogical explanations, inequalities and challenges in Islam; absurd, nonsensical beliefs; archaic 7th century practices; and harmful Islamic culture. They'll also question why we can't let go of Islam if we no longer believe? Well, we speak up about Islam beacuse collectively and honestly, ExMuslims just want to be safe, live in dignity, be free to leave Islam without any hate or harm.
Islam has literally been stuck since the powerful, privileged and patriarchal men of 7th century Arabia came up with this religion for men and their benefits. And now in the 21st century, Muslims refuse to make systemic changes, or even let people criticize or challenge the religion, be themselves or leave peacefully.
That's why I created Haram Doodles, to raise awareness of ExMuslims, and in hopes of building a future where people are not hurt for questioning, disbelieving and leaving Islam or any religion.
