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mocking the church and priests and pope, yet hold a sign saying ‘Allah is gay’ – as we did – and the police converge to attempt to remove them for causing offence.' After a brief inquiry into the 'Allah is gay' placards, London police allowed the CEMB protesters to proceed. Pride in London organisers launched an investigation into the matter, with a spokesperson saying: "If anyone taking part in our parade makes someone feel ostracised, discriminated against or humiliated, then they are undermining and breaking the very principles on which we exist. Our code of conduct is very clear on this matter... We will not tolerate
Islamophobia." The row escalated when Pride organisers published a statement in August along the same lines, and CEMB responded with a fierce statement criticising the policy of Pride organisers, whom they accused of 'a cultural relativism and tone policing that is only applicable to critics of Islam and never critics of Christianity,' and ' into the Islamist narrative that betrays the persecuted and defends the persecutors. This is a politics that rewards bullies and blames victims.' CEMB went on to highlight instances of homophobia committed by the East London Mosque, for which the mosque apologised and promised not to let it happen again.
225:
355:(English) is the CEMB's weekly bilingual television programme and YouTube channel. It is hosted by Maryam Namazie and Fariborz Pooya. The programme aims to promote freethought and break religious taboos around the world. A typical episode is about 25 minutes long, features news about ex-Muslims and human rights issues around the world, an interview with a prominent atheist or secularist activist, the "Insane Fatwa of the Week", and a "Slice of Life".
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states that its members do not desire to be "represented by regressive
Islamic organisations and 'Muslim community leaders'". It says that by the choice of members to openly publish their names and photographs, they act as representatives of many other apostates who fear coming out in public due to
371:
276:
bigotry and racism.' She stated that 'we’re obviously opposed to bigotry ourselves. We need to stand up to racism and bigotry and at the same time we should be able to criticise religion and the religious right.' 'Pride is full of ‘God is gay’ and ‘Jesus had two fathers’ placards as well as those
198:
The CEMB seeks to provide a safe haven for ex-Muslims in trouble, raise awareness about the problems surrounding apostasy, blasphemy, homophobia, sexism and other forms of repression, intolerance and discrimination in Islam, organises and attends public protests and online campaigns for the human
181:
The activists of the organisation, many of whom are
Iranian exiles, support the freedom to criticise religion and the end to what they call "religious intimidation and threats", Namazie says they have 4,000 users on their forum and assist around 350 people a year, "the majority of whom have faced
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384:
Since 2014, the
Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain has organised a Secular Conference to discuss issues relating to the situation of ex-Muslims, how to strengthen and grow the movement and how to address Islam, Islamism and other opponents of ex-Muslims, such as Western
215:
as apostates, and explain why they left Islam. Within two weeks, the hashtag had been used over 1,000 times. While proponents argued that it should be possible to freely question and criticise Islam, opponents claimed the campaign was amongst other things 'hateful'.
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The
Council in its manifesto also demands several things such as freedom to criticise religion, separation of religion from the state and the "protection of children from manipulation and abuse by religion and religious institutions".
227:
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264:(ELM) and others about CEMB's placards used during the march, with claims they were "Islamophobic" and "incited hate", in breach of Pride's guidelines. They specifically objected to one banner that suggested their
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None of the CEMB placards were against Muslim people. They did not incite hate against
Muslims. They criticised homophobic religious ideas. Criticising ideas is fine. Stirring hate against people is not.
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281:, co-organiser of the first Pride in London in 1972 and Patron of Pride in London, came out in support of CEMB, while confirming the ELM's track record of homophobic incidents.
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incited murder - the placard read "East London Mosque incites murder of LGBT." Namazie responded that the term 'Islamophobia' is abused to conflate '
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sided with CEMB as well. 8 months later, Pride organisers met with CEMB and agreed to let them participate again in future Pride marches.
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if they criticise or leave the religion. Afterwards, the CEMB was the subject of a complaint from the orthodox
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The
Council plans to protest against Islamic states that still punish Muslim apostates with death under the
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In
November 2015, the CEMB launched the social media campaign #ExMuslimBecause, encouraging ex-Muslims to
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or any other religious figure is gay. A person would only say it was insulting if they were anti-LGBT.
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Since there is nothing wrong or shameful about being gay, there is nothing insulting about saying
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march for the first time in order to highlight the fact that 13 states under
Islamic rule (14 if
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groups. The 2017 conference was claimed to be "the largest gathering of ex-Muslims in history".
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of quitting Islam and "taking a stand for reason, universal rights and values, and secularism".
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rights of ex-Muslims and other victims of
Islamism, hosts a weekly television programme called
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8:
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406:
2017 Secular Conference: International Conference on Freedom of Conscience and Expression
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death threats they expect to receive. The CEMB members state they are both breaking the
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755:"Statement condemning incitement of Islamophobic hatred against the East London Mosque"
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2018 Secular Conference: International Conference on Sharia, Segregation and Secularism
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901:"CEMB marches in Pride London to defend the rights of LGBT, Apostates and Blasphemers"
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2016 Secular Conference: Sharia Law, Legal Pluralism and Access to Justice Conference
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729:"East London Mosque demands apology for 'Allah is gay' placards at Pride in London"
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630:"Losing their religion: the hidden crisis of faith among Britain's young Muslims"
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699:"'Ex-Muslim' group bats away Islamophobia claims ahead of Pride in London march"
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2014 Secular Conference: Religious Right, Secularism and Civil Rights Conference
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law, as prescribed by the scriptures of that religion. The Council is led by
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threats for having left Islam – either by their families or by Islamists".
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428:
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844:"Peter Tatchell: Why Pride London Must Defend the Council of Ex-Muslims"
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400:
2015 Secular Conference: Sharia Law, Apostasy and Secularism Conference
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875:"Muslim radio host says gay people have a right to be angry at Islam"
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Several other prominent activists such as atheism advocate professor
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927:"Secularism Conference 'Largest Gathering of Ex-Muslims in History'"
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815:"Gay Pride row between London mosque and ex-Muslims escalates"
781:"Muslim leaders complain over 'Islamophobic' banners at Pride"
661:"Ex-Muslims give reasons they left the faith, using a hashtag"
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CEMB at Pride 2017 marching for LGBT rights in Islamic states
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NSS supports the launch of the Ex-Muslim Council of Britain
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Anne-Marie Tomchak & Greg Brosnan (1 December 2015).
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sponsored the launch and support the new organisation.
28:
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16:
British branch of the Central Council of Ex-Muslims
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899:Maryam Namazie and Sadia Hameed (28 June 2018).
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548:Launch of the Council of ex-Muslims of Britain
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248:-held territories were included) impose the
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1005:Anti-Islam sentiment in the United Kingdom
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240:On 8 July 2017, the CEMB took part in the
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194:The #ExMuslimBecause campaign, late 2015.
813:Amandla Thomas-Johnson (9 August 2017).
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380:panel discussion at the 2017 Conference.
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640:from the original on 12 September 2017
489:New group for those who renounce Islam
937:from the original on 8 September 2017
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673:from the original on 24 December 2015
574:"Ex-Muslim" group launches in Britain
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272:or the political Islamic movement or
167:in 2005 and has faced death threats.
873:Katherine Swindells (18 July 2017).
528:from the original on 4 November 2018
524:. Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain.
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206:
13:
791:from the original on 8 August 2017
462:. Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain
47:Representing people who left Islam
14:
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995:Organizations established in 2007
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842:Peter Tatchell (9 August 2017).
610:from the original on 28 May 2017
420:The courage of their convictions
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106:Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain
22:Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain
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250:death penalty for homosexuality
116:) is the British branch of the
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925:Terri Murray (26 July 2017).
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118:Central Council of Ex-Muslims
88:, Jimmy Bangash and Ali Malik
1000:Former Muslims organizations
697:Mayer Nissim (7 July 2017).
172:British Humanist Association
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10:
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252:, and many of these also
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440:National Secular Society
434:20 February 2014 at the
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579:8 January 2015 at the
553:2 January 2017 at the
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164:Secularist of the Year
494:5 August 2017 at the
377:Islam's Non-Believers
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330:and Muslim reformist
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120:. It was launched in
600:"Losing my religion"
501:The Daily Telegraph
23:
980:Secular Conference
970:Bread and Roses TV
759:East london Mosque
424:Guardian Unlimited
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359:Secular Conference
352:Bread and Roses TV
339:Bread and Roses TV
270:criticism of Islam
262:East London Mosque
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201:Bread and Roses TV
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161:, who was awarded
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254:execute apostates
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124:on 22 June 2007.
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962:Official website
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850:. Archived from
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636:. 17 May 2015.
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522:"Our Manifesto"
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761:. 14 July 2017
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735:. 14 July 2017
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939:. Retrieved
931:Conatus News
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908:. Retrieved
905:CEMB website
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882:. Retrieved
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868:
856:. Retrieved
852:the original
848:Conatus News
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822:. Retrieved
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763:. Retrieved
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706:. Retrieved
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675:. Retrieved
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654:
642:. Retrieved
634:The Observer
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612:. Retrieved
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530:. Retrieved
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464:. Retrieved
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344:
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332:Maajid Nawaz
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69:Area served
39:22 June 2007
18:
941:8 September
677:21 December
644:11 December
258:blasphemers
122:Westminster
989:Categories
532:4 November
446:References
186:Activities
114:see-em-BEE
81:Key people
879:Pink News
795:10 August
765:10 August
733:Pink News
703:Pink News
614:26 August
460:"Contact"
387:far-right
134:manifesto
128:Manifesto
935:Archived
789:Archived
671:Archived
666:BBC News
638:Archived
608:Archived
577:Archived
551:Archived
526:Archived
492:Archived
432:Archived
213:come out
52:Location
910:15 July
884:15 July
858:15 July
824:15 July
739:15 July
708:15 July
586:Reuters
466:8 March
149:History
93:Website
36:Founded
306:Buddha
266:Masjid
155:Sharia
59:London
560:Scoop
310:Shiva
302:Moses
298:Jesus
290:Allah
246:Daesh
139:taboo
44:Focus
943:2017
912:2019
886:2019
860:2019
826:2019
797:2017
767:2017
741:2019
710:2019
679:2015
646:2016
616:2017
534:2018
468:2021
389:and
256:and
174:and
170:The
110:CEMB
104:The
294:God
108:or
991::
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933:.
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846:.
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
