If the United States is to live up to its role as a global standard bearer for pluralism and civil liberties, we must uphold our international commitments to accept persecuted refugees, including those persecuted on the basis of their religion or lack thereof. Ex-Muslims around the world are routinely subjected to intimidation and physical violence at the hands of not only their governments, but their families and neighbors as well. From 2016 to 2020, the number of refugees admitted to the United States dropped by 86 percent. The annual presidential determination has reduced the number of refugees from 18,000 to 15,000 in 2021, the lowest in the program’s history. These are more than just numbers—they represent thousands of individuals living in constant fear and seeking a better life in the United States. EXMNA calls for measures that lift barriers to ex-Muslims seeking asylum and refugee status in the United States, and actively petitions and works with lawmakers to this end.
Ex-Muslims have been silenced on social media platforms by extremists who manipulate reporting tools that are meant to restrict violent and illegal content. By co-opting the platform’s reporting system, bad actors are able to deny ex-Muslims a safe haven for support and community. Ex-Muslims who create or participate in such groups and pages have been systematically targeted and threatened with violence. Facebook has further exacerbated the problem by shifting its policy toward hate speech. The platform previously allowed for criticism of religion by ensuring that by separating people from ideas—people should be protected from hate, but ideas shouldn’t be protected from criticism. These new community guidelines further marginalize atheists and ex-Muslims in particular.
EXMNA believes Congress must take action to ensure that social media companies protect users’ free speech and ensure religious dissent isn’t misclassified as illegal content, and actively petitions lawmakers and social media companies alike in the furtherance of these goals.
Over 80 countries around the world use blasphemy laws to persecute and imprison religious minorities and dissenters. These laws disproportionately target women and LGBT populations with penalties as severe as imprisonment and death. In the past, EXMNA has worked with lawmakers to encourage the passage of House Resolution 512 and Senate Resolution 458, which call for a global repeal of these laws and request the President and Department of State take immediate action in bilateral dealings with these nations. We will continue to work with both branches of government to ensure state-sponsored religious oppression is never tolerated.
In the past, EXMNA has led and engaged in social media campaigns, such as the #AwesomeWithoutAllah campaign encouraging ex-Muslims to share their stories. In addition, EXMNA has spearheaded offline campaigns to raise awareness and change the dialogue around ex-Muslim issues, including billboard campaigns in major American cities highlighting that nearly 1 in 4 American Muslims have left the faith.
EXMNA continues to actively engage in these campaigns on a regular basis.
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