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Faith to Faithless

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Formation2015
FoundersImtiaz Shams,[1] Aliyah Saleem
Legal statusPart of a registered charity
PurposeAdvocacy, public awareness and support for ex-religious people
Websitewww.faithtofaithless.com

Faith to Faithless is a non-profit organisation in the United Kingdom dedicated to confronting discrimination against atheists and non-religious people, in particular discrimination towards individuals who have left minority religions. It provides support to people leaving religion and helps them to "come out" to friends and family and gives a platform for individuals to speak out publicly and to find mutual support in the wider atheist, secular and humanist communities. Faith to Faithless advocates for individuals and families leaving any religion, and aims to bring discussion and support for ex-religious people into the public domain.

Since 2017 Faith to Faithless has been incorporated as a programme within Humanists UK, formerly the British Humanist Association, the national charity supporting non-religious people.

Formation

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Faith to Faithless was founded in 2015 by Imtiaz Shams and Aliyah Saleem.[2] Shams, a Bangladeshi ex-Muslim atheist who grew up in Saudi Arabia, left Islam when he realised that his sense of justice was incompatible with the idea that all other religions must, by Islamic definition, be bad. He has explained that he needed to address the frustration that ex-Muslims and secular Muslims feel as their identity is perceived as indivisible from Muslim religion and the unease society at large has with Muslim apostasy.[1] Saleem, who describes herself as an ex-Muslim atheist, left Islam at the age of 19 and described it as becoming free.[3] By the age of 27, Saleem had worked with Shams and they decided to set up an advocacy group, Faith to Faithless, in order to help increase awareness of the issues around leaving religion, to show people in similar situations that they are not alone, and to provide a community network of support.[2]

Faith to Faithless exists to support people who have left any religion, and began by organising a tour of universities in the UK, which they named 'coming out events', to make contact with people leaving or who had left conservative religion and provide mutual support with a platform to discuss individual experiences.[4] The earliest public presentations, at Queen Mary University of London, were launched under the name Interfaithless before becoming Faith to Faithless,[5] and speakers focussed broadly on leaving Islam and apostasy as (Ex) Muslim Voices.[6] Shams wrote that the first event received a great deal of support, including from many Muslims, but also attracted abuse and hate mail and was leafleted by Islamic groups including the Queen Mary University of London Islamic society.[7] The organisation quickly broadened to include people leaving a wide range of religions, including new age religions, Jehovah's Witnesses, ultra-orthodox Judaism, Exclusive Brethren[8] and Christianity.[9]

Work

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Aliyah Saleem, co-founder of Faith to Faithless

In addition to campaign work the organisation uses social media to create online communities and organises meetings, conferences and social events for ex-religious people. Shams himself first publicly stated he had left his religion by posting on Facebook and has said that in order to create strong and visible communities and help families deal with the issues surrounding apostasy (in his own experience with Islam) it is necessary to bring the debate into mainstream public media.[10] The organisation also focusses on specific feminist issues for women leaving religion, recognising that for many women religion is linked to control and loss of freedom and autonomy.[4][1]

In 2019 Saleem and co-author Fiyaz Mughal wrote Leaving Faith Behind, stories from Muslims who have left their faith.[11]

Faith to Faithless also supports Australian and New Zealand ex-Muslims and provides assistance with setting up online groups, including providing advice about protecting the anonymity of members and connecting groups with similar issues.[8][12]

In 2016 members of Faith to Faithless were invited by Labour peer Lord Soley to present at a meeting in the House of Lords on the topic of leaving a religion.[13] Faith to Faithless has also called upon the government to protect non-religious parents and children, particularly within isolated and ultra-orthodox communities where financial and social support can be entirely lacking.[14] Faith to Faithless also advises and trains British police and social workers on dealing with specific issues around apostasy.[15]

Since January 2017 Faith to Faithless has been a part of Humanists UK (formerly the British Humanist Association). Shams is also a trustee at Humanists UK.[16]

In the autumn of 2017, founder Imtiaz Shams spoke at an event organised by Ex-Muslims of North America in Washington, D.C.[17]

Faith to Faithless holds socials and tours of British museums including the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum. The tours aim to contribute to the education of former members of high-control religions who may have had an isolated upbringing or limited educational opportunities and to provide opportunities to meet new people.[18][19]

Since February 2024 Faith to Faithless has provided a helpline for people to call to access support and information.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Anthony, Andrew (17 May 2015). "Losing their religion: the hidden crisis of faith among Britain's young Muslims". Guardian. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b Meyer, Elisa (26 November 2016). "How one woman left Islam to campaign for atheism". World Religion News. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Leaving the Fold". BBC World Service. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Losing my religion: two ex-Muslims share their experiences". The Economist (YouTube). Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  5. ^ Turner, Janice. "If you leave Islam, don't expect much compassion". The Times. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  6. ^ Cohen, Nick. "How liberal Britain is betraying ex-Muslims". The Spectator. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  7. ^ Shams, Imtiaz (17 February 2016). "Why I Left Islam and Now Help Others Who Are Doing the Same". Vice News. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  8. ^ a b Hancock, Farah (7 August 2018). "Faith to Faithless: The group that supports people who no longer believe". Stuff. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  9. ^ Shams, Imtiaz. "Speak Out! The Crisis for Atheist ApostatesHD". YouTube. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Ex-Muslim: Leaving Islam - BBC News". BBC News (YouTube). Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  11. ^ Lewis, Philip. "Leaving Faith Behind, edited by Fiyaz Mughal and Aliyah Saleem". Church Times. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  12. ^ Craw, Victoria. "'Having people find out is my greatest fear': Australian ex-Muslims form secretive online group". News.com. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  13. ^ Soley, Lord. "The power of ideas". Politics Home. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  14. ^ Fenton, Siobhan; Rickman, Dina (15 August 2016). "Ultra-Orthodox Jews launch million-pound fundraising bid to stop children living with 'irreligious parents'". The Independent. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  15. ^ Small, Zane. "Leaving his religion: Ex-Muslim Imtiaz Shams' liberating journey to apostasy". Newshub. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  16. ^ "BHA announces Faith to Faithless integration and new support services for 'apostates'". Humanists UK. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  17. ^ Amos, Owen (2017-11-29). "They left Islam and now tour the US to talk about it". BBC News. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  18. ^ "'Our Events'". Humanists UK. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  19. ^ "'SEXUALITIES AND IDENTITIES' TOUR, AND SOCIAL". Humanists UK. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  20. ^ "Humanists UK launches dedicated Faith to Faithless helpline for people leaving religions and cults". Humanists UK.
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