With the rise of atheism in Islamic countries, more and more countries are taking tougher action against free critical thinking. After the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has already equated atheists with terrorists, Egypt is now following suit. These reactions can be seen as an indication that the beneficiaries of a reform incapable theocracy see themselves as seriously endangered by the enlightenment and critical thinking.
Saudi Sisters in Turkey could be extradited back to Saudi Arabia
The two sisters Ashwaq Hamoud, 30, and Areej Hamoud, 28, fled Saudi Arabia because they were subjected to massive abuse by their families. They are now to be forcibly repatriated. In Saudi Arabia, in addition to honour killings or serious abuse by the family, they may also be facing legal threats, as they could serve a prison sentence for not being obedient to their parents.
The Atheist Refugee Relief provides care for some cases of women who have fled Saudi Arabia. From our experience, there can be no repatriation to your home country Saudi Arabia.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/12/15/turkey-saudi-sisters-risk-forced-return
Hamesd Rastkerdar’s application for asylum rejected despite atheistic conviction
Hamesd Rastkerdar from Iran, who has been living in Germany since 2015, unfortunately received a negative decision for his asylum application in August 2017. Since he had a muslim translator in the interview, the essential point that he is an atheist was not recorded in the protocol. Mr. Rastkerdar was active in Iran in a student group that had asked critical questions about Islam and distributed leaflets. When the first of his friends was arrested, Mr. Rastkerdar fled to Germany, because in Iran the death penalty can be imposed on apostasy. In Germany he was also very active in the Council of Ex-Muslims.
If he were deported, it would be probable that he would be executed in Iran because of his open commitment to atheism. This is why the Atheist Refugee Relief is committed to ensuring that he is recognised as an asylum seeker in Germany!
Atheism as a Reason to Escape – The Atheist Refugee Relief
Talk and discussion with Mina Ahadi and Stefan Paintner
Tuesday, 2. Jan 2018, 19.00 hrs
Grabbeplatz 4, 40213 Düsseldorf
As part of the “Humanist Salon”, a lecture will be held at the “Salon des Amateurs” with a subsequent discussion on work, self-image and the need for an Atheist Refugee Relief.
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Anas Zakiri needs help
Anas Zakiri, an young man from the LGBT community who fled Marocco, is stuck in Turkey and needs support. He is an atheist and is looking for a way to live a free life. He’s in financial trouble right now. If you would like to support him, please follow this link:
Giordano Bruno Foundation presents donation cheque
The Giordano Bruno Foundation supports the Atheist Refugee Relief with a donation of more than 10.000 euros. The money is needed to continue the social and political work.
Atheist Refugee Relief is presented to the public
The Atheist Refugee Relief was presented to the public as part of the celebrations for the 10th anniversary of the Council of Ex-Muslims on November 17th, 2017 at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne. Michael Schmidt-Salomon interviewed Rana Ahmad, Mina Ahadi and Stefan Paintner about the beginnings and goals and tasks of the newly founded organization.
Escaping from religion
Unfortunately, religion is a reason for many people to leave their homeland and apply for asylum in Germany. When it comes to religious persecution, most people think of religious minorities threatened by the majority in their countries. In the current refugee crisis, these are mainly Jesids and Christians fleeing from predominantly Islamic countries.
But one group is often completely ignored in the media: the atheists. In many religions (e. g. in Islam) apostasy is considered a punishable offence. And even those who do not belong to any religious community from birth are unfortunately all too often persecuted as “infidels”.
The right to self-determination in religious societies
Open apostasy is only the tip of the iceberg. In strictly religious societies, self-determination rights are curtailed in many ways. Thus, religious-critical expressions can lead to social ostracism, even if they do not contain any commitment to atheism.
Drastic invasions of privacy are commonplace in many Islamic countries. Although Western criticism of archaic practices such as forced marriage and forced circumcision is often fought off in a culturally relativistic manner with reference to the supposed “equivalence of all cultures”, it is regularly overlooked that there is massive resistance within the various societies to religious virtue terrorism.
Continue reading “The right to self-determination in religious societies”Secular Refugees in Germany
Atheist Refugee Relief
(Säkulare Flüchtlingshilfe e.V. – Atheisten helfen)
Atheistic refugees are a particular group of people looking for shelter. Most of them are very active, politically thinking people who oppose the dogmatic ideology of the dominant religion of their home countries. Since there are supporters of fundamental interpretations of religions worldwide, they are never really safe from persecution – even here, in Germany.
We offer these refugees appropriate care, as many people who have also fled from the religious constraints of their home countries work with us.
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