More than 50 freethinkers from Afghanistan, Algeria, Australia (including Cape Malay), Bangladesh, Canada, Croatia, Egypt, Germany, India, Iran, France, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, Tunisia, UK, Ukraine, USA and the Diaspora will gather in Oslo during 31 August – 1 September 2024 for Celebrating Dissent Oslo. The two day conference is a continuation of the hugely successful Celebrating Dissent conferences held in London (2014), London (2017), Amsterdam (2019), Cologne (2022) and Paris (2023) in what has become the largest gathering of ex-Muslims across the globe.

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Organised in Oslo by the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain and Dømmekraft, the event will pay tribute to taboo-breaking ex-Muslim comedian Shabana Rehman and celebrate blasphemy, apostasy and freedom of expression through discussions, poetry, film, protest art, and music.

Contributors: Ahmedur Chowdhury, Aleem (Secular Spirit) , Ali Malik, Ali Rizvi, Annie Laurie Gaylor, Apostate Aladdin, Arnfinn Pettersen, Cemal Knudsen Yucel, Dan Barker, Eirik Løkke, FarAvaz, Fariborz Pooya, Fauzia Ilyas, Halima Salat, Haram Doodles, Ibn Warraq, Ibtissame Betty Lachgar, Infidel Noodle, Inna Shevchenko, Jimmy Bangash, Khadija Khan, Krystel Antoni, Lawrence Krauss, Lisa-Marie Taylor, Mariam Aliyu, Marieme Helie Lucas, Maryam Namazie, Milad Resaeimanesh, Mimzy Vidz, Mohammad Hisham, Morten Guldburg, Mouhammad El Jabbari, Nada Peratovic, Nadia El Fani, Nazmiye Oral, Nina Sankari, Rahila Gupta, Rana Ahmad, Sami Abdallah, Sanal Edamaruku, Shakeel Rehman, Shelley Segal, Soheil Ahmed, Stephen Evans, Sylo Taraku, Taha Siddiqui, Veedu Vidz, Victoria Gugenheim, Wissam Charafeddine, Zara Kay and Zehra Pala.

Topics: Creativity and Humour in Challenging Fundamentalisms and Defending Free Expression, Racism, Identity Politics and Free Expression, Laicite as a Cornerstone of Free Expression and Rights, The Ex-Muslims: Canaries in the Coal Mine, Islam’s Nonbelievers: Terror, Trauma, Transformation, Censorship, Offence and Free Speech, Science and Rationality challenging Dogma and Blasphemous Women: Touching the Sacred.

Conference Organisers:

Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain was established in June 2007 to break the taboo that comes with leaving Islam, highlight the plight of ex Muslims, and challenge apostasy and blasphemy laws. CEMB stands against all forms of bigotry and unequivocally defends reason, freedom of conscience and expression, rights and secularism. Over the last 17 years, CEMB has provided assistance to thousands of ex Muslims worldwide, created support groups, solidarity actions and educational materials and helped establish Ex Muslims International. Maryam Namazie, CEMB Spokesperson, has been the instigator behind the international conferences.

Dømmekraft is a secular thinktank established in January 2022. The founders are Morten Guldberg and Lovise Lindtner. The organisation publishes articles, reviews and interviews, and also sets up conferences, debates and other public events to counteract fake news and extremist views and embodies a Humanist outlook, including in support of basic human rights, democracy, equality, freedom of speech and critical thinking.

Conference Sponsors:

Center for Inquiry, Civita, Freedom from Religion Foundation, Fritt Ord, Human-Etisk Forbund, Human-Etisk Forbund Oslo and National Secular Society.