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. 

And in EXMNA Updates, we’re thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s Draw Muhammad Day Contest—where wit, art, and irreverence collided in spectacular fashion.

Unbelief Brief

According to reporting from Iran International, Iranian courts have “agreed to review a death sentence against controversial underground singer Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known as Tataloo.” The musician, despite his earlier efforts to promote ultra-conservative politicians in Iran in the second half of the 2010s, was accused of “encouraging corruption,” “disrupting Islamic law,” and “publishing obscene content.” His unconventional physical appearance in a regime fixated on adherence to strict traditionalism, coupled with controversial music that drew accusations of “corrupting youth,” guaranteed it was only a matter of time before allies of political convenience turned on him.

In fact, as Iran International also points out, Tataloo even made statements against Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom protesters in the wake of Amini’s murder in Iranian police custody. The lessons of this are twofold. First, that standards for men who violate the customs of physical appearance are much lower than those for women in authoritarian, theocratic societies like Iran. The second is that paying lip service to traditional values is still no guarantee that authoritarians will leave you alone if you dare to express your own individuality outside these bounds.

Stateside, Hadi Matar, the man who stabbed Salman Rushdie in August 2022, has been handed his sentence: he will serve the maximum of 25 years for attempted murder. It beggars belief that Matar, age 27, will be a free man again in a quarter-century. However, since this is the maximum sentence the state of New York allows for attempted murder, it is a positive outcome that Matar has been handed it. It sends a strong message that the offense Matar committed against Rushdie, against the rule of law, and against free expression itself still has no place in any free society.

EXMNA Updates

🏆 Draw Muhammad Day Contest Winners Announced!

This year’s entries pulled no punches—bold, biting, and blasphemous in all the best ways. After reviewing an incredible range of submissions, here are our top three:

🥉 3rd Place: Anonymous

“Common Ground”

This cartoon goes straight for the jugular—calling out one of the darkest things Islam and Catholicism have in common: covering up child abuse. It shows how both religions have used holy symbols to hide harm, and how the feel-good call to ☪️✡️exis✝️ can sometimes gloss over shared systems of abuse—especially timely with all eyes on the Vatican.

🥈 2nd Place: White Devil

“The Almighty Craftsman: Repairing the Split Moon”

A divine mess-up calls for divine repairs—Allah sits at his heavenly workbench, glue bottle in hand, trying to fix a miracle gone sideways. (Surah Al-Qamar 54:1–2, Sahih al-Bukhari 4864, Sahih Muslim 2802a)

🥇 1st Place: Lou

A simple satire on religious violence and censorship. Equal parts chilling and absurd, this one hit hard—and took home the top prize.

Thanks to everyone who submitted—your courage and creativity made this contest unforgettable.

Stay tuned on our social platforms as we feature more highlights from this year’s entries.

Until next week,

The Team at Ex-Muslims of North America

P.S. We’d love to hear from you! Share your feedback at [email protected].