Film premiere: Women Leaving Islam - 1 Feb 2021, 6pm GMT

[NonnyMouse1337]

maryamnamazie.com/event/premiere-women-leaving-islam/

In this powerful film, six ex-Muslim women activists share their moving stories of growing up in Muslim families and Muslim-majority countries and the violence, loss and shunning they faced because of their scepticism and apostasy.

The women talk about everything from tearing their hijab on door handles as a child, wearing a burkini on a beach in Italy, wanting to scream their atheism in Mecca during Hajj, losing custody of a child after a husband’s accusations of blasphemy, reporting a violent fundamentalist father, forging a male guardian’s signature in order to flee their country and being shunned for defending LGBT rights…

Despite the risks, the women speak of hope, happiness and finding freedom in leaving Islam.

The brave women: Fauzia Ilyas, Fay Rahman, Halima Salat, Mimzy Vidz, Rana Ahmad and Zara Kay reside/have resided in Australia, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands. They are from backgrounds as diverse as Bangladeshi, British, Egyptian/Moroccan, Saudi, Somali/Kenyan, Pakistani and Tanzanian.

The documentary will premiere on 1 February 2021, 6pm UK Time as a challenge to World Hijab Day and Islam’s modesty culture.

YouTube link to video where film will be shown at 6pm.

Bump!

Will watch this. Muslim feminists need way more support than they get.

Fantastic interviews. I have so much respect for the women who had the courage to share their stories openly and my heart goes out to all those women who felt unable to come forward out of fear for their safety.

Thank you to all those involved in putting this film / documentary together. A great insight into the minds and experiences of the women who renounced Islam.

Thanks for sharing, Nonny. Looks really interesting, have bookmarked to watch later.

Very powerful, thanks for posting. These women are so brave and the strength they've shown in everything they've had to overcome is mind blowing. Their stories are heart breaking at times but also just leave you so in awe of them and full of admiration. The film that came up on youtube after I'd watch it was this below, an interview with ex-Muslim and womens' rights activist Maryam Namazie. It's fascinating (what a life she has led!!) and she has a lot to say about how she feels equally damaged by the far left as she does by the far right when they argue that things which oppress women, like Sharia law, should be 'respected'. A lot of interesting points too about the idea of 'hate speech', and about the despicable treatment of her by student/feminist/LGBTQ groups who tried to de-platform her at uni's (you guessed it one was Goldsmith). They claimed they couldn't have her in their 'safe space'. Just utterly staggering.

They claimed they couldn't have her in their 'safe space'

Of course they couldn't imagine how frightening it would be to have a woman taking about her very real oppression and treatment by men

Of course they couldn't imagine how frightening it would be to have a woman taking about her very real oppression and treatment by men

Exactly, whatsnew. She's had to flee her home in the past, and was once beaten by police at a protest so badly (kicked in the stomach) that she had to be hospitalised. She was sentenced to jail for attacking the police - until video footage was found proving they had attacked her! But yes, far too 'unsafe' for the poor students to have to hear actual words coming out of her mouth!!
The interview really is worth a watch

Bloody posh woke students whose idea of oppression is not having the latest iPhone

Thank you for that video @happygolurkey. I've not come across it before so will watch it.

I've always respected and admired Maryam Namazie since I came across the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain in about 2008 I think.

It's been great to see the numbers of ex-muslims swell over the years. The women in first video are so courageous and have suffered great personal cost to be where they are today. I can't imagine the inner strength it takes to plan your escape and leave your family behind. Such moving personal stories that made me cry. I wish I could take away their pain and anguish, although I'm glad they are all happier now and don't regret the difficult decisions they had make as they had no real choice.

Such moving personal stories that made me cry
I cried a few times too NonnyMouse I must admit. But, yes, so inspiring to hear about what these amazing women are doing with their lives now

I recently read Unveiled by Yasmine Mohammed after listening to her on Triggernometry. I found the book moving and thought provoking. Yasmine points out that women/feminists in the West, through our thoughtlessness, are very often contributing to perpetuating the harm women in some Eastern cultures/religions face. She raised some uncomfortable questions at the end.

Came to say 'Women Leaving Islam' is an excellent watch. Such brave, honest women with insightful analysis about how they came to the conclusions they did. Have found more interesting links to watch here now, so thanks.

Ayan Hirsi Ali's book Infidel is a brilliant read on the topic. An amazing life to read about.

Mona Eltahaway's 'Headscarves & Hymens: Why the Middle East needs a sexual revolution' is also really excellent. Such a shame the Transbandwaggon has taken Mona for a ride.

thanks those who have recommended books. Was going to ask earlier if anyone could recommend any reading.

That Maryam Namazie interview is absolutely fascinating. I've followed her on Twitter for some time now but had no idea about her life. What an interesting woman.

Going to watch the Yasmine Mohammed Triggernometry interview next, have got her book lined up on my kindle....

Thanks for all the great suggestions in this thread 💐

I don't listen to Women's Hour so missed a recent argument going on about the Beeb pulling an interview.

Last week we posted a clip from an interview with Zara Mohammed @ZaraM01 Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain

Was struggling to get to the bottom of what exactly the issue was with the interview until I came across this excellent piece.
www.sedaa.org/2021/02/the-muslim-council-of-britain-finally-has-a-female-leader-but-theres-a-long-way-to-go-towards-equality/

Accusations of phobia really need clear qualification over how something is phobic now for me to be able to take them seriously.

All the 2nd paragraph is part of a BBC tweet.

Accusations of islamophobia have often been used to quash legitimate criticism and requests for accountability. It's been going on for many years and is a way to especially shut up dissenters and ex-muslims, but also to frighten non-muslims into backing down because they don't want to be labelled as racist or islamophobic.

While these kinds of terms originated out of genuine concerns and issues, and can still be useful in certain contexts, as usual they get distorted and weaponised over time. People from minority backgrounds are not all perfect angels. Self-appointed leaders and spokespersons know they can wield a certain level of power in society by throwing out accusations because enough people are afraid of such labels. They can expand the definition to include all kinds of infractions and perceived offense. Any kind of questioning or criticism is deemed to be a terrible sin and must be retracted immediately otherwise the (ultra fragile) minority community will collapse in a heap of hurt feelings. Identity politics at its finest.

Video of the webinar on marriage law is up!

personally i don't feel Zara Muhammad should be judged for her answer. However, I agree, the response to the interviewer from others, just for asking the question, is alarming.

Accusations of islamophobia have often been used to quash legitimate criticism and requests for accountability

You can't say this. This is a far-right talking point, which means it's automatically false and bad to be speaking about.

@Zinco

Accusations of islamophobia have often been used to quash legitimate criticism and requests for accountability

You can't say this. This is a far-right talking point, which means it's automatically false and bad to be speaking about.

Lol yes, that sums up the simplistic thinking ability of some people.

Very pleased to have found this. Ayan Hirsi Ali has got a new book coming out, Pray, and is in conversation here with Brendan O'Neill for Spiked. Really great to hear her (not listened to all of it yet) Would be very interested to see the short film Submission that Theo Van Gough made and was murdered over.

I read Unveiled (up thread) the other night, in one go! Fantastic and horrifying in equal measure. The parental cruelty is something else but Yasmine never gives up her critical thinking. That she mostly grew up in Canada really made me think.

I have no time for religion. Following edicts blindly is one thing, forcing others to is just wrong. Glad to have Article 9 (right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion)

Thanks Socrates11, I'll have a listen to the Spiked interview.

Prey is eliciting lots of outrage on the left. I shall have to read it first before I can pass judgement on it. I've already used up my book buying allowance this month.

Ooops, only heard book title and assumed it was with an a... gives it a whole other meaning with an e.

Having to see what is being said now...

www.nytimes.com/2021/02/09/books/review/ayaan-hirsi-ali-prey.html