Ex-Muslims find the X factor online – India Today – FilmyVoice

The Web is doing to Islam what the printing press did to Christianity.
~ Maryam Namazie, Iranian-born author and rights campaigner

All that the invention after which proliferation of the printing press did to Christianity is loosen the grip of orthodoxy over it and assist unfold what is named the enlightenment values. The Ottoman Empire, then flagbearers of Islam, resisted and even banned printing presses. However then the time of that concept had come. The printing press was not solely adopted within the Muslim world, but it surely additionally flourished. The Holy Quran was quickly being printed in volumes and have become accessible to the frequent man.

Then got here the Web, which allowed data and knowledge to journey in actual time. Every thing turned accessible to everybody. More and more, in their very own language.

Whereas it has change into simpler to unfold God’s phrase, it’s now equally simple to unfold the disagreements with the religion. A brand new band of individuals emerged, who had freshly left the faiths they had been born into. They had been the brand new atheists. However those that left Islam insisted they be recognised as Ex-Muslims, not like Ex-Christians or Ex-Hindus preferring to be bunched underneath the umbrella time period atheist.

Ex-Muslims, initially, had been a phenomenon within the West. They got here from the Muslim-dominated West Asia and sought to combat the religion. Iranian-Canadian Ali Sina began his weblog approach again on the daybreak of the century. He impressed a bunch of Ex-Muslims to go surfing and declare their abandoning of Islam from the security of their new, secular houses. Apostasy, or the act of leaving one’s faith, is punishable by demise in Islamic nations.

Then YouTube occurred. And the Indians arrived on the scene. And it blew up in 2020.

These Indian Ex-Muslims started discussing the Quran and the Hadith, and debating with clerics on social media. All this whereas not revealing their location or identification for worry of dealing with violent retribution.

Muslim leaders and clerics name the Ex-Muslim motion in India a “stunt”, and trash it, saying their numbers are “too small to matter”.

However there are ripples now, if not waves, within the ocean of one of many largest faiths on the earth.

Islam is the fastest-growing faith on the earth and is predicted to overhaul Christianity as the most important faith by 2035, in line with a Pew Analysis Middle report in 2017.

Nonetheless, there’s additionally an undercurrent of individuals quitting Islam, which is true for many different religions.

Within the US, about 23 per cent of adults who had been raised as Muslims now not recognized as members of the religion, in line with a Pew Analysis Middle report printed in 2018. Of those that left Islam, 7 per cent mentioned “they didn’t agree with the teachings of Islam”.

That’s precisely what the Ex-Muslims in India cite as the most important cause for giving up Islam.

WHY EX-MUSLIMS DON’T COME OUT

The truth that many are leaving Islam has gone unnoticed as a result of individuals don’t come out for worry of being ostracised and even shedding their lives.

“Ex-Muslims face threats primarily from the orthodox sects of Islam. For a similar cause, many people are unwilling to come back out [as Ex-Muslims]. Even on social media, they’re compelled to cover behind pretend profiles and names,” EA Jabbar, an Ex-Muslim and activist from Kerala, tells IndiaToday.in.

Jabbar, who has been related to the atheist actions in Kerala for many years now, refers back to the 2017 Coimbatore killing to focus on the danger to lives of Ex-Muslims.

Thirty-one-year-old H Farook was hacked to demise by a gaggle of 4 individuals, which included two of his buddies, for his views that had been essential of Islam.

Such threats forestall atheists, agnostics and non-believers from popping out of their closeted lives.

‘Islam’s Non-Believers’, a 2016 movie by Norwegian documentary movie director Deeyah Khan, paperwork the lives and experiences of Ex-Muslims.

“The documentary supplies an necessary perception into the hidden plight of younger individuals in Britain, a lot of whom are main double lives – pretending to nonetheless be Muslims, together with by carrying the veil or attending mosque, with a view to keep away from ostracisation, abuse and even violence,” writes Maryam Namazie, who has herself renounced Islam. The Iranian-born author and rights campaigner now resides within the UK and Namazie’s Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain holds common protests.

In 2018, pop singer Zayn Malik advised British Vogue that he stopped believing in any of the Islamic doctrines. An individual of Pakistani-British descent, Zayn Malik, mentioned he neither recognized as a Muslim nor did he perform the spiritual practices.

However how have Ex-Muslims abruptly come to prominence and created a buzz?

EX-MUSLIMS IN INDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media, says Maryam Namazie, has not solely given numerous younger individuals entry to “forbidden” concepts, it has additionally helped them discover one another, share their tales and see that they don’t seem to be alone. “It’s change into a worldwide resistance motion,” she provides.

That’s true within the case of India too.

Kerala Ex-Muslim EA Jabbar agrees that the web is the large cause for the visibility [of Ex-Muslims]. He says the web considerably helped the Ex-Muslims join, meet and ideate, and eventually get organised.

“I began writing blogs in 2007 [on rationalist, atheist thoughts] and the response was immense. Numerous individuals linked with me. We began a Fb group ‘Free Thinkers’, and it had greater than 2 lakh members. We can’t say that every one of them are Ex-Muslims, however the motion emerged with the assistance of the web,” tells IndiaToday.In.

Ex-Muslim Sahil, Sameer, Azaad Floor, Zafar Heretic, Sachwala, and Faiz Alam (The Humanist Murtad) have used social media platforms and their YouTube channels to succeed in out to an increasing number of Indian Muslims. A daily on Sahil’s channel, Ex-Muslim Munna Bhai aka Adnan is a fearlessly humorous Ex-Muslim who entertains his viewers in his Mumbai Tapori-style language.

They’ve been partaking with clerics and practising-Muslims on these platforms. However they achieve this largely with out revealing their identification and site.

However earlier than the arrival of all these masked social media crusaders was Shakeel Prem. He got here out as a freethinker and runs the web site Tarksheel Bharat. He questions the “orthodox lifestyle and beliefs” of Muslims in India.

Ex-Muslim Sahil took the web by storm. His YouTube channel ExMuslim Sahil has over 500,000 subscribers and he has over 33,000 followers on Twitter, now X.

Sahil’s X bio says: “I’m an Indian Ex-Muslim and my goal to current the opposite aspect of Islam and Prophet Muhammad SAW in a quite simple and non-technical option to Muslim Ummah.”

His YouTube livestreams, which at instances run to 13 hours at a stretch, have seen over 13,000 real-time viewers, which even some information channels would possibly discover issue matching.

YouTube blocked Ex-Muslim Sahil’s channel on July 6. However instantly after the ban, #UnblockExMuslimSahillnIndia began trending on Twitter. The ban is but to be revoked however Sahil is livestreaming to the world. Ex-Muslim Sahil now has a “backup channel” too.

Sahil’s journey to changing into an Ex-Muslim is considered one of U-turn.

He was born and raised in an orthodox Muslim household in Mumbai’s Dharavi. He participated in Tablighi Jamaat programmes and even prolonged Da’wah or proposals to non-Muslims to transform. In accordance with his interviews, nearer studying of Islamic spiritual texts raised a number of questions in his thoughts and he drifted away from the religion that he had as soon as invited individuals to.

Ex-Muslim Sahil used to cover behind a masks till he was doxxed by a Pakistani cleric. Now that his actual identify and identification had been revealed, he got here out with a bang. Now he and Ex-Muslim Sahil each seem on mainstream channels with out masks.

MUSLIM WORLD AND ISLAM

A 2020 survey of Iranians’ attitudes in the direction of faith threw up some shocking outcomes for the Islamic republic that has a strict anti-apostasy regime.

The Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran (GAMAAN) surveyed over 50,000 respondents and located that round 20 per cent of the respondents believed neither in God, heaven-hell or in life after demise.

The survey additionally discovered that roughly half of the inhabitants reported “shedding their faith” and 60 per cent reported that they didn’t pray.

“The rise of the so-called ‘nones’, who don’t establish with a specific religion, has been famous in Muslim majority nations as totally different as Iraq, Tunisia, and Morocco,” Pooyan Tamimi Arab, assistant professor of Spiritual Research at Utrecht College and co-author of the GAMAAN survey, was quoted by DW, a German media outlet, as saying.

Going by that, the outcomes of a survey by Arab Barometer, a pollster that surveys Arab nations, ought to hardly be shocking.

The share of Arabs describing themselves as “not spiritual” was up at 13% in 2019, from 8% in 2013, in line with the Arab Barometer.

In 2012, a wide-ranging WIN/Gallup Worldwide ballot discovered that 5 per cent of Saudi residents — over 10 lakh individuals — recognized as “satisfied atheists”.

However what’s the distinction between an atheist and an Ex-Muslim?

“Not like atheists, Ex-Muslims embrace everybody who depart Islam, be it an atheist, or an agnostic or somebody who transformed to a different faith,” says Indian activist Jabbar.

Even Pakistan, which has harsh legal guidelines towards blasphemy and apostasy, has seen the rise of atheists.

Harris Sultan is likely one of the hottest Ex-Muslims of Pakistani descent. Born in Lahore, Harris Sultan moved to Australia when he was 19. Although he credit Richard Dawkins for pulling him in the direction of atheism, he provides that the “sincere research of the Quran” was what really moved him away from Islam.

Harris Sultan, the creator of ‘The Curse of God: Why I Left Islam’, a essential evaluation of faith on the whole and Islam particularly, has an enormous fan following on social media.

In an extended tweet in April, he warned Pakistanis to “cease forcing Islam down the throats of youngsters”.

“I’ve been warning the Pakistani clergy, intelligentsia, and wider neighborhood that, sooner quite than later, they should face the sudden rise of apostates,” Harris Sultan wrote within the put up on X. “Now, they’re crying and questioning the place these apostates got here from. There are a whole lot of hundreds of ex-Muslims in Pakistan who’re blaspheming and insulting their sacred Islamic personalities.”

Within the lengthy tweet, Harris Sultan added, “In accordance with the newest FIA report, there are almost 400,000 Pakistanis from all walks of life, who usually have interaction in bashing Islam.”

Ghalib Kamal (an alias, not his actual identify) is one other Pakistani YouTuber and blogger who identifies himself as a “Human Rights Defender” and freethinker who rejects dogma and spiritual extremism.

A geophysicist by qualification, Ghalib Kamal has labored to advertise “freethought” in Pakistan by means of his blogs and social media handles. He and his spouse are in exile for the reason that crackdown towards freethinkers by Pakistani authorities in 2017.

“Folks like me can’t communicate freely within the presence of Pakistani blasphemy legal guidelines. Nonetheless, regardless of how complicated and difficult issues could change into, I’ll proceed to play my function within the enlightenment of the Pakistani plenty,” Ghalib Kamal says in his YouTube bio.

Pakistan has usually cracked down towards rationalists and atheists. Indian YouTuber Zafar Heretic’s YouTube channel was blocked by Pakistan in 2020.

The YouTube channel of Zafar Heretic — who describes himself as an Indian Ex-Muslim, atheist and activist — has over 3 lakh subscribers. Zafar Heretic says he works to “promote humanity and scientific mood together with free speech and rational considering”.

Ridvan Aydemir whose YouTube channel is named Apostate Prophet is one other huge identify within the web world of Ex-Muslims. The 32-year-old Turkish-German YouTuber is thought for his “essential views” on religion.

Ridvan was previously a religious Sunni Muslim who was born to a Turkish household in Germany. He moved again to Turkey as a young person and have become fascinated about Islam and determined to apply it devoutly. His research of Islam led him to doubt the faith, and finally, he left it altogether. This hit his relationship together with his household, buddies, and the Turkish authorities.

He immigrated to america and began publishing movies on his YouTube channel Apostate Prophet from November 2017.

It’s not solely males who’re taking to social media and discussing Islam.

Amina Sardar is likely one of the most vocal Ex-Muslims and her interviews get huge views on YouTube.

A resident of Denmark, Amina Sardar was raised as a Muslim. “My goal was by no means to go away Islam. However once I went to coach myself about Islam, I ended up leaving Islam,” she reveals in an interview.

Initially from Afghanistan, Amina Sardar’s household moved to Dehradun, India, within the Nineteen Thirties. A few of her relations moved to Pakistan and a few stayed again in India after Partition.

HOW MANY EX-MUSLIMS IN INDIA?

In India too, ladies are a giant a part of the Ex-Muslim motion, in line with Kerala-based activist Jabbar.

“Stunning numbers of girls are becoming a member of the motion. In reality, the ladies and ladies who left Islam are the most important complications for the maulanas now. They’re those who’re throwing piercing questions on the spiritual management,” he says.

Jabbar websites as instance that when a maulana not too long ago warned towards taking part in Onam, a gaggle of Muslim ladies joined within the celebrations and carried out Thiruvathira (a standard dance). “Muslim ladies are taking greater steps on this route,” provides Jabbar.

Among the many Indians who’re distinguished on social media, particularly YouTube, is Sachwala. He’s well-versed in classical Arabic and has memorised the Holy Quran.

The private lifetime of Sachwala Abdul Hamid is shrouded in thriller, however individuals do get glimpses of it throughout his interactions.

Sachwala mentioned he was forsaken by his father and sisters when he revealed to them that he was renouncing Islam. “They had been okay even with me committing homicide and dacoity, however they couldn’t tolerate that I used to be leaving the faith,” he says throughout considered one of his interactions on his YouTube channel.
The story of being repelled by household and neighborhood is frequent.

Azaad Floor, one other fashionable Ex-Muslim, was excommunicated and advised that he wouldn’t discover house in a Muslim graveyard after his demise. Azaad Floor ended up shopping for land for his and different atheists’ burial.

However what number of Ex-Muslims are there in India?

Ex-Muslim Sahil says there are “about 1.2 crore Ex-Muslims in India”. He quotes from the 2021 Pew Analysis Middle that claims 6 per cent of Muslims in India ‘don’t consider in God’. So, he calculates, “Of the 20 crore Muslims in India, 1.2 crore are actually Ex-Muslims”.

All India Muslim Private Legislation Board (AIMPLB) spokesperson SQR Ilyas tells IndiaToday.In that the variety of the “so-called Ex-Muslims could be very small to even matter”. He says the YouTubers had been dropped at his discover some 5-6 months in the past.

Jabbar says it’s unattainable to get a rely of Ex-Muslims in India as persons are afraid of popping out, fearing threats from the neighborhood management and household. “Within the case of Kerala, I consider a minimum of 4-5 per cent members of the Muslim neighborhood have given up their beliefs,” says Jabbar, who’s from Kerala’s Malappuram.

Being a Muslim is not only about spiritual identification, it’s about political identification as properly. So, how do the Ex-Muslims align themselves on political points just like the Uniform Civil Code?

“We now have been batting for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and gender justice for Muslim ladies. However we’re apprehensive in regards to the UCC the central authorities is making an attempt to usher in. It’s already clear that it’s going to not be a ‘uniform’ one, as it will goal Muslims… I don’t assume their intention is to carry a Code to make sure justice,” says Jabbar.

At any time when Muslims are focused by the state, the Ex-Muslims of Kerala stand with the neighborhood, he says. “For instance, when the hijab concern occurred in Karnataka, we supported the ladies. For us, it was not a non secular concern, however a human rights concern,” explains Jabbar.

All India Muslim Private Legislation Board spokesperson SQR Ilyas calls the YouTube channels a “stunt” and says “they’ve been created to assault Islam”.

“Both you may be Muslim, Hindu, Christian, atheist or non-Muslim. There’s nothing known as Ex-Muslim,” SQR Ilyas tells IndiaToday.In.

The Muslim chief blames the “poor upbringing” and “shoddy studying of spiritual texts” for individuals drifting away from Islam.

However regardless of the cause, Ex-Muslims are a phenomenon on social media platforms, particularly YouTube, and nobody can deny that.

“As a motion, it’s rising and extra individuals, particularly younger, educated Muslims are popping out of the faith questioning it. However the concern they’re dealing with is, a majority of them can’t say it aloud. They are going to be focused. However, changing into an organisation is the answer. I feel it wants extra time,” says Jabbar.

(Rishabh Sharma assisted with the analysis for this report)

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