Some of the most egregious violations of human rights, including prosecutions for “blasphemy” and restrictions on women’s autonomy, occur in Islamic theocracies and Islamic republics. In these countries, secular reason defers to religious orthodoxy.
Under a philosophy that does not acknowledge the existence of universal human rights and instead classifies people’s worth by whether they belong to a religious tribe, this is deliberate. It leads to an atmosphere in which meaningful dissent is stifled, oppression based on religious doctrine is mandated, and truth is hidden from view. At their core, theocracies usurp the right of a country’s people to self-rule, instead placing that power with religious authorities.
The judgment of the world and the domain of government should be determined by empirical reality, rational deliberation, and the common good. Our vision is a world where religion is firmly a matter of private conscience and never involved in government.
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 Back, Dissenters
This week, we take a look at the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran and what it could mean for the future of the Islamic Republic. With reports of shifting public sentiment and rising nationalism, Iran’s trajectory is far from certain. We also examine new findings from Pew Research on global religious demographics from 2010 to 2020—highlighting Islam’s rapid growth and the steady rise of the religiously unaffiliated.
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.
