Ex-Muslim activism in Kerala is a social phenomenon that has been on the rise since 2021, when it began to develop from discussions on social media platforms into a broader movement in society at large. The Facebook community "Ex-Muslims of Kerala" originated from a broader atheist group, then branched off in 2019 as support for the movement gained traction from numerous Kerala ex-Muslims.[1] On 9 January 2022, the organization "Ex-Muslims of Kerala" announced its formation.[2]
| Ex-Muslim activism in Kerala | |
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 Ex Muslims of Kerala logo | |
| YouTube information | |
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| Years active | 2022 |
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The stated intent of the organization is to offer a platform and support to those who stopped practicing Islam, and work to reduce discrimination faced by those who leave Islam.[3][4][5][6] It is the first organization of its kind in India and focuses on activism in the Malayalam language of Kerala. It seeks to protect the human rights and dignity of ex-Muslims and ensure the right to religious freedom promised by the Constitution of India, and to legally challenge human rights violations perpetrated in the name of traditions of faith or practices.[3][6]
Ex-Muslim day
editBeginning in 2022, Ex-Muslims of Kerala has observed 9 January as "Ex-Muslim Day".[2][7] On 9 January 2021, E A Jabbar, a critic of Islam,[8] had a public debate about the scientific miracles in the Quran with the Salafi[9] preacher M. M. Akbar.[citation needed]
E. A. Jabbar's Challenge for the debate
editChallenge:
editI challenge, if you can bring a new piece of knowledge or information from Quran, which was not known by Arabs of that time but revealed through Quran and they had understood it from Quran at that time and followed, and later proved by the scientific community to be true, for example, the earth is round or day-night phenomena is happening due to earth's rotation, etc which was not known to Arabs of that time when Muhammad introduced Quran, but they got this knowledge through Quran at that time itself, and later science validated or discovered to be true, then I will recite Shahadah Kalima and will become Muslim again.
The three Conditions for the piece of information from the Quran should be:
1. It should be a new piece of information or knowledge, which the Arabs of that time didn't know
2. This new piece of information or knowledge should have been understood by the Arabs of that time through the Quran, as revealed by Allah.
3.This new piece of information or knowledge should later be validated as true by science[10][11]
On 9 January 2021, E. A. Jabbar and popular Islamic scholar and the director at Niche of Truth, M. M. Akbar debated on the topic, whether Quran is scientific or not. A rationalist organisation―Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham―arranged the venue and stage to have this debate.
In response to this challenge during the debate, M. M. Akbar claimed that the Quran states there is sunlight in the deep sea, a fact he argued was unknown to Arabs of that era. However, E. A. Jabbar countered by asserting that Arabs at the time were indeed aware of sunlight in the deep sea due to their proficiency in pearl diving. E. A. Jabbar further argued that the Quran used this example to convey a different scenario, one that would be easily relatable to the Arabs of that period. He also cited a verse from the Bible that demonstrated similar knowledge.[12]
Backlash against ex-Muslims
editWhile Clubhouse discussions are publicly viewable, many ex-Muslim Clubhouse users said that they felt confident enough to express their views on the app, but choose to use pseudonyms in an effort to conceal their identity to avoid targeted harassment and retaliation.[1][13]
In one example of social ostracism, after leaving Islam, Ex-Muslim Arif Hussain Theruvath's wife left him and denied him access to his children.[1][14] In an effort to avoid social and financial backlash associated with Ex-Muslim activism, some ex-Muslims flee Kerala[citation needed]. Outside of Kerala, there have been instances of persecution; in one such case, Dubai sentenced Abdul Khadar Puthiyangadi to three years in jail for activism done exclusively in Malayalam language when Puthiyangadi was in Kerala.[15]
See also
editBibliography
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Dore, Bhavya (10 August 2021). "Ex-Muslims in India find solidarity online as they face social and familial rejection". Religion News Service. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Ex-Muslim organisation gathers steam in Kerala". Keralakaumudi Daily.
- ^ a b Philip, Shaju (10 January 2022). "Now, an outfit for 'Ex-Muslims' in Kerala". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ "ഇസ്ലാം മതം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചവരുടെ കൂട്ടായ്മ കേരളത്തിലും, മതമുപേക്ഷിച്ചവർക്ക് സാമൂഹ്യപിന്തുണ". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd.
- ^ "Ex-Muslim organisation gathers steam in Kerala". Keralakaumudi Daily.
- ^ a b "ExMuslims of Kerala vows to protect rights of those who renounce religion". The New Indian Express.
- ^ "'Ex-Muslims of Kerala' declares Jan 9 as formation day". The Print.
- ^ PTI (9 January 2022). "'Ex-Muslims of Kerala' declares Jan 9 as formation day". ThePrint. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ "M M Akbar refutes Rashid Abdulla's claims". The Times of India. 21 May 2017. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ "സംവാദം | കേരള യുക്തിവാദി സംഘം". YouTube.
- ^ "To believe or not?". The Times of India. 23 January 2021.
- ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/to-believe-or-not/
- ^ "Clubhouse redefines debates on Islam in Kerala". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ TNM Staff (31 January 2022). "Kerala group offers support to those who're ostracised for leaving Islam". The News Minute. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ "Release of Malayali rationalist sought". The Hindu. 19 September 2021 – via www.thehindu.com.