Censorship is the first response of orthodoxy, and resisting it is essential to a free society.

In many Muslim-majority countries, restrictions on speech are widespread. Constitutions may promise freedom of expression, but broad exceptions in practice allow governments to suppress religious and political dissent. In recent years, these controls have expanded into the digital sphere, where social media platforms are frequently blocked, monitored, or used to prosecute online speech under the guise of combating misinformation or hate.

These pressures are not confined to authoritarian states. Globally, social media companies enforce content policies in ways that often chill free expression, with ex-Muslims especially affected. Targeted reporting campaigns and vague community standards are easily weaponized, making it harder for dissenting voices to speak openly. Together, these conditions threaten a core principle: the freedom to express ideas without fear, which is vital for ex-Muslims’ safety and autonomy.