In the run-up to the one-year anniversary of the Israeli government’s brutal and unrelenting war on Gaza and the West Bank since 7 October 2023, we the undersigned ex-Muslims, are filled with rage and heartbreak at the ongoing genocide against Palestinian civilians. So far, the war has killed and wounded hundreds of thousands, destroyed hospitals, homes and infrastructure and brought about the starvation and destruction of the Palestinian population. The bombing of civilians has now expanded to Lebanon and threatens the entire region.
We also rage against Hamas and other Islamist forces that on 7 October brutally killed nearly 800 civilians and took 253 hostages in pursuit of fundamentalist, anti-democratic and inhuman goals. Hamas has used the war to extend control over the Palestinian people and to clamp down on any form of dissent through threats, violence, and terror.
The expansion of war between the religious-Right will not bring peace or justice to the people of the Middle East, rather it only serves to strengthen these extremist forces that demonise, terrorise and kill with impunity. We unequivocally oppose these powers and demand an end to war, occupation, rape, sexual violence and terrorism and an end to the genocidal and theocratic politics that they represent. We call for the release of hostages and political prisoners.
We stand firmly with the peoples of Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Iran, and the region for peace, universal rights, Laïcité and freedoms for all.
Signatories
Ahmedur Chowdhury, Exiled Publisher, Editor, and Author
Ali A. Rizvi, Author and Physician
Ali Malik, Co-Spokesperson of Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain
Ali Utlu, Human Rights Activist and Islam Critic
Apostate Aladdin, Youtuber and Activist
Arsalan Nejati, Activist
Atieh Niknafs, Activist
Ex-Muslims of Toronto
Fariborz Pooya, Bread and Roses TV
Haram Doodles, ExMuslim Artist and Activist
Hein Htet Kyaw (Abu Bakr), Activist
Ibtissame Betty Lachgar, Clinical Psychologist and Feminist Activist
Marieme Helie Lucas, Secularism Is A Women’s Issue Founder
Maryam Namazie, Co-Spokesperson of Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain
Milad Resaeimanesh, Activist
Mouhammad El Jabbari, Podcaster and co-founder of Laïques Sans Frontières
Nahla Mahmoud, Activist and Environmental Campaigner
Secretary, Council of Ex-Muslims of Sri Lanka
Siyavash Shahabi, Writer and Activist
Sohail Ahmad (‘Reason on Faith’), Activist and Community Organiser
Taha Siddiqui, Founder of the DISSIDENT club
Wissam Charafeddine, Author and Activist
Yasmine Elbaramawy, Artist and Activist