Illuminating reading from the blog of a Pakistani ex-muslim still living there.
Interview with a Pakistani Ex-Extremist: "Osama Bin Laden Was one of my Heroes." Pt. 1
Interview with an Ex-Extremist: "Osama Bin Laden Was one of my Heroes." Pt. 2
On apostasy
Now, I'm an ex-muslim atheist and my roommate tells me he thinks I should be killed. Others in my class who are pro-Taliban and pro-Hamas also think this. I don't know about the intentions of other classmates, but my roommate still wants to join Hamas. I don't know if my friendship with him is more important to him than his religion - which requires him to kill apostates like me, and I don't want to know the answer either.
In the beginning, I used to stay up late to make sure my roommate fell asleep before going to bed myself and I would wake up earlier than him. After some time, I got tired of being paranoid.
on hatred of non-muslims
Well, as far as I can remember...I have been anti-Semitic and anti-West, anti-non-Muslim in general.
The same narrative was repeated in mosques, at home, in school, in congregations such as weddings, going out with friends etc. Every single one of our problems is blamed on Western imperialism. We are taught in schools about the glorious past of Muslims, "our" victories in wars with infidels.. and our conquests of infidel lands in the past, how division among the Ummah (community) brought about the defeat of Muslims. I was taught that it is the duty of every Muslim to try and recapture that glory. All Muslims must unite and thwart the evil infidels. My father has been an influence on me, I must say. He always mentioned Hitler in adoration of his efforts to rid the world of the source of it's problems - namely Jews. He used to tell me, "Hitler did his best to kill them all, but they still escaped”.
on Jihad
I like to think that my mother wouldn't approve of me indulging in armed Jihad, but perhaps that's just wishful thinking. My father most definitely would urge me on. They have sympathized with Osama Bin Laden. From time to time, they praised his ‘achievements'. They never condemned any of his actions. When he was killed, they were sad, like I was.
on enlightenment
When I found out the Prophet had married a 6-year old, that was the major turning point. No explanation by my parents or Imams made any moral sense. The biggest turning point was when internet connection was installed at home. I initially looked up criticism on Muhammad marrying a six-year old, then I began reading a lot of criticism on Islam, listened to lectures by Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins. They set me free.
on Islamically endorsed child marriage
What do you say to those who say the age of Muhammad's bride was not 6?
Muslims who argue that Ayesha's age was not 6 when she got married desperately want to believe that the best example to live life by was not someone who married a child. This is understandable. The evidence is largely to the contrary though.
If these Muslims can convince 1.6 billion Muslims with their evidence, then kudos to them. They should be working towards convincing other Muslims who justify child marriages because they believe Muhammad did it.
Clearly, these Muslims are not convincing enough or there's insufficient evidence for their viewpoint. If they were, we would be seeing fatwas everywhere in the Muslim world banning child marriage. They can try and make themselves feel better about their beliefs, but they ought to try and convince the rest of the Muslim world with whatever evidence they have for this assertion, that Muhammad's child bride was not actually a child.
on Western feminists support for veiling
What are your thoughts about women, especially in the West that seem to advocate for burqas as some sort of feminist tool of bodily autonomy?
Some ‘feminists' in the West are ignorant. That's the only word for them. They have never experienced what it's like to be discriminated against conservative-orthodox Muslim-style: they are not considered immoral sluts by society for just showing their face in public.
Ask them to live like that for a month and I guarantee they'll change their mind about the burqa. If only they knew what it's like being shamed for having a face in public, for showing your wrists in public, for showing your feet in public, they'd shudder at the thought of supporting the burqa.
on Tableeghi Jamaat (whose UK headquarters are in Dewsbury)
My university is a regular one, but has a very conservative environment, with "Tableeghi jamaats” (evangelicals) quite active. They knock on your door and invite you to come to the mosque. I've only met one non-Muslim, a Hindu studying in my university. We Muslims made life hell for him here, discriminating at every chance we got. Nobody greeted him, because here it is believed that Muslims aren't allowed to say "assalamu alaikum” (May you be blessed) to non-Muslims. The guards at the university gates harassed him the most.
on Western Foreign Policy
Secondly, something must be done to inform people that all of our problems are NOT the fault of Western foreign policy. A more detailed and nuanced education of the masses about the history of Muslim countries and especially the Middle East is required for that.
Hatred of the West gives credence to theological grievances…and religious solidarity among Muslims increases hatred of the West. It's circular, and the circle is spinning faster and faster as days go on. It's only going to get worse, if we don't do anything about it.
on reforming Islam
My message to moderate Muslims is this: please don't be afraid of admitting that part of your theology is not applicable today as it was 1400 years ago. It takes courage to admit that. You must accept that some teachings of your religion are unacceptable within the context of the 21st century, especially the teachings that prescribe killing people like me who managed to break away from indoctrination. Rejecting the doctrine altogether is implausible; reinterpretation and contextualization is the only way to move forward.