Censorship is the first line of defense for orthodoxy, and fighting it is essential to the health of a free society.
One of the most common undercurrents of repressive Islamic regimes is speech control. States’ constitutions may theoretically guarantee freedom of expression, but in practice, most Islamic nations impose broad exceptions to this rule. Restrictions target religious and political dissent alike.
Of particular concern in the digital age is the weaponization of social media. Ideally a tool to facilitate the free flow of ideas, social media content is routinely subject to regime-imposed blocks in Muslim-majority countries, often with the cooperation of the companies themselves. Meanwhile, special laws enacted in these countries in the last decade have singled out online speech for prosecution—often under the false pretense of controlling misinformation and hate speech, sometimes more explicitly stating the aim to curb political and religious dissent.
Globally, social media companies enforce their guidelines in problematic ways, in some cases discouraging an atmosphere of free expression. Ex-Muslims in particular are affected by this. Algorithmic responses to community violations are frequently abused with targeted reporting campaigns, and community standards recently implemented by Facebook provide that content attacking “ideas” and “concepts” can be subject to removal under certain circumstances.
These conditions pose a threat to the principle that one should be always free to express oneself openly—a principle vital for ex-Muslims’ ability to live free from fear and persecution.
It’s Great To Have You Back
This week’s Unbelief Brief takes a hard look at the fallout from the recent ceasefire between Iran and Israel. While war has been narrowly avoided, the path forward for the Islamic Republic remains murky. With regime change chatter fading and American force on full display, Iran’s leaders face a choice: escalate further or turn inward. Meanwhile, as Pride Month concludes, our EXMNA Insights examines the Islamic roots of anti-LGBTQ+ persecution—and reaffirms our commitment to those forced to live in fear for simply being themselves.
Unbelief Brief
Welcome
This week, we reflect on the tragic story of Shakil Ahmed, a young Bangladeshi student reportedly driven to suicide after a months-old Facebook post deemed offensive to Islam resurfaced—triggering mob threats and public outrage. Meanwhile in Pakistan, modest legal progress on child marriage faced fierce resistance from Islamic clerics defending the Prophet’s own example. And a new Human Rights Watch report details how Pakistan’s blasphemy laws continue to be weaponized against the poor and marginalized.
Unbelief Brief
Welcome to Our Latest Issue
Welcome! This week’s newsletter explores a fortuitous Supreme Court deadlock in favor of secularism in Oklahoma, alarming death threats by a UK imam, and the unwavering bravery of Iranian women defying the hijab mandate despite intensifying state crackdowns.
Unbelief Brief
Welcome, Blasphemers
This week, the Unbelief Brief discusses Iran’s flamboyant pop provocateur, Tataloo. He now finds himself at the mercy of the same regime he once championed, a chilling reminder that conformity offers no real safety in theocratic systems. Meanwhile, Salman Rushdie’s attempted killer has finally been sentenced, though justice remains bittersweet.
Welcome to This Week’s Dissent Dispatch
Religious belief may be waning across much of the Western world, but America remains stubbornly devout. Meanwhile, in Britain, Qur’an-burning has nearly become a theological crime—until prosecutors recently walked back an alarming charge against protestor Hamit Coskun. And in Belgium, a misguided headscarf ban risks trading one kind of coercion for another. Plus: it’s your last chance to enter our 2nd Annual Draw Muhammad Day Contest—details below.
Unbelief Brief
Happy May, Dissenters
This week, we’re examining the fine line between religious identity and ideological excuse-making—from Mohammed Hijab defending terror in Kashmir, to Harvard confusing critique with bigotry. We break down Amnesty’s chilling report on the Taliban’s stranglehold over Afghanistan, keep watch on a looming SCOTUS decision that could open the door to publicly-funded religious schools, and unpack why treating Islam as above criticism does no favors to Muslims—or to truth. Plus: Draw Muhammad Day is back! Let the blasphemy begin 😈.
Unbelief Brief
Welcome Back
This week, we’re tracking a global tug-of-war over the hijab—one that’s testing the boundaries of religious freedom, secularism, and state power. In Iran, the regime is cornered, pressured by both defiant citizens and outraged hardliners. In France, new legislation threatens to sideline Muslim women in the name of laïcité. And in the UK, Mubarak Bala calls on lawmakers to practice what they preach by ending their own blasphemy laws.
Unbelief Brief
Welcome Back, Dissenter
In a surprising development, court proceedings in Pakistan involving fabricated blasphemy accusations are being streamed online, signaling a shift in public awareness and concern over the misuse of these laws. Meanwhile, a recent television drama, inspired by the tragic case of Mashal Khan, sheds light on the issue. On a different note, an assault on a hijab-clad woman in Ontario has raised questions about the motivations behind hate crimes. EXMNA Insights takes a closer look at what fasting during Ramadan is really about.
Unbelief Brief
Blasphemy Laws, Global Injustice, and the Fight for Free Expression
Blasphemy laws are as predictable as they are destructive—whether it’s Malaysia’s police pursuing an online post, the Taliban facing international charges, or a Catholic group in Indonesia using the same laws to silence criticism. This week, The Unbelief Brief examines these cases and what they reveal about the unrelenting grip of religious authority in legal systems worldwide. Plus, in EXMNA Insights, we explore the hidden toll of Ramadan on women, where societal pressures override religious exemptions, forcing impossible choices between faith, health, and survival.
