Maryam Namazie. Confronting Islamism with Secularism, Blasphemy and Citizenship Rights

EUROMIND. Maryam Namazie (born 1966) is an iranian-born political activist living in the United Kingdom. She left Iran with her family after the 1979 islamic revolution. She is a well-known public atheist, secular humanist and human rights activist in O​ne Law for all launched to give information and legal advice on decisions made by religious-based tribunals such as Sharia Courts”, the C​ouncil of Ex-Muslims of Britain, association founded “to challenge Islamism and apostasy laws and support those who face persecution or intimidation as a result of living Islam”; as well as in many other secular organizations all around the globe. She now hosts a TV programme in persian and english called B​read and roses ​and blogs for the online platform “F​reethought blogs”.​

[@yvest3332]

Maryam Namazie is an admirable lady!

[@blacky93able]

I love Maryam, she,s so brave and goodspeaker! And also Teresa! Freethinking for all!!!

[@RathwulvenBushcraft]

A great and courageous woman. By the way: We western folks must show ex-Muslims like her our full solidarity. Look for the channel “Rationality Rules” and watch the video on how TEDx censored mrs. Namazie’s presentation on the violence and intimidation she had to endure from Islamic fundamentalists. TEDx argued that mrs. Namazie’s criticism could offend fundamentalist and hence must be edited. At the same time, pro-Islamic fundamentalists may speak freely - absurd? Yes. Bigoted too. I am writing as a western, secular sociologist who was raised in a messed up, catholic fundamentalist household and turned into an atheist the more I learned, studied and questioned. My kind isn’t even off half as bad as ex-Muslims. They need us just like the entire world needs solidarity rather than insane and violent ideologies.

[@ZionXaiver]

How, honestly how is a person hating on a beautiful religion a bad one.

[@whatever-ey2ig]

as an afghan yes PLEASE do so! and tell everyone because we keep getting silenced by muslims, fundamentalists AND so called modern/secular muslims, its disheartening to see how many of us leave persecution of our islamic countries for freedom and basic human rights and yet when we criticize these regimes and practices, in the west, we're called islamophobes and get attacked... and in the Middle East we just get killed 🤷🏼‍♀ there's no space for our voices

[@afifkhaja]

12:02 Stoning people is barbaric, backwards, and inhumane

[@Just_logic]

What do you know about stoning?

[@Just_logic]

संदिप मांडे I am having a steak for dinner. Can you read? My comment is a form of a question. Which means I am sending an invitation for discussion and knowledge. How is that defending. Moron.

[@Just_logic]

Twój Stary I will repeat my question. What do you know about stonning? I am still giving you respect although you come across very shallow and ignorant. A sign of ignorant is when you don’t seek knowledge, assuming you know all there is to know.

[@Just_logic]

Twój Stary you do understand that despite me giving you respect, you reject respect and choose to stay ignorant. That is the true definition of stupid. Stupid is a downgrade from ignorant.

[@whatever-ey2ig]

lmao here's comes the islamist trying to rationalise stoning gtfo@@Just_logic

[@whatever-ey2ig]

afghan here 100% agree with Maryam! Our Iranian sisters are so extremely courageous for always raising their voices and fighting for their rights !! End gender apartheid in Iran and Afghanistan ✊🏼

[@zakh33]

I am all for equal treatment for women in all areas of society but is maryam the best proponent of women rights? Look into the authentic values of Islam and you will find that women are protected and extremely valued. It is a shame that some countries abuse and misapply the teachings of Shari'a. They are to blame (Qatar, Iran, UAE, Saudi etc), not Islam.

[@whatever-ey2ig]

@@zakh33 ive read the quran and the hadiths that are considered to be trustworthy and its the most misogynistic set of rules ive ever seen, the problem isnt in the way its applied, its the ideology itself. I dont think any woman with a working brain could ever feel valued by islam and practicing muslims.

[@tedherrala611]

I love her so much, from sweden

[@Just_logic]

Why do you love her?

[@Just_logic]

Twój Stary she is stating her opinion firmly, if that’s what you mean by being brave. As far as intelligent, for those that are ignorant about the depth of the issues she is talking about, she seems intelligent, yet if you have have knowledge about the issue she is addressing, she is full of air. Taking is easy. We can all do it.

[@yvest3332]

It is a pity that we cannot see the slides.

[@realisticclearmind3531]

She is simply great.I wish in that poor mankind are more of here.

[@yvest3332]

Down with faith schools! Keep schools religion-free! Schools are here to make pupils citizens and not believers. Religious beliefs are something strictly personal. That is how we realize how superior Western values are to Sharia/Islamic values.

[@jfth-fq4uw]

Well done Maryam

[@evertekf1599]

I love you maryam from Tunisia

[@andrewwelsh131]

FFS 😢 can't believe that the statement of solidarity was even given

[@ryanh3219]

WTF is that person behind her doing with their hands?!? I can't help but focus on that it's so bizarre!

[@account_nameonline6420]

I think it’s sign language...but she’s not doing it all the time so it’s confusing lol

[@ianjoy5111]

Extreme left is as dangerous as the extreme right. As a left-leaning activist, it is very difficult to embrace her way of thinking. I don’t want her to represent my cause even though we have the same objective.

[@MosesPlays]

I just heard the podcast between Sam Harris and Maryam, It was an actual torture. Sam was trying to show her how much they agree on,and she was insisting on disagreeing with him even though she misunderstood his position. That conversation took place a few years ago,but it was so emblematic on how cancel culture was created before it was called that,and how the left 'eats their own' and will never be able to create conversation or embrace policy to advance its goals. It was really depressing to hear. Go to Sam Harris . org or to his youtube channel,and check it out. Really really offputting behaviour.

[@Sara.S18]

Jesus never fight against people. Please, when you comparing two religions, observe leaders and author of both.

[@ZionXaiver]

Man she needs to be humbled, the way she tries to manipulate and address you people saying that Islam a religion which it's name means peace is bad, demonstrates how anyone who thinks she's a role model are as deluded as flat earthers.

[@Just_logic]

This looks appealing to shallow people and haters. This lady is not sophisticated enough to address this issue.

[@wfcoaker1398]

Would you care to refute any of her points, then?

[@Just_logic]

I will go just for the first couple of minutes. She does not make any distinction between the faith and the political system. Naturally coming from Iran, run by Shia Muslims, and previously secular, also from her first sentence, she has a resentment. So naturally she would be biased. The faith is much more sophisticated. She uses fancy words yet does not hold ground. Indonesia is a Muslim country. So is United Arab Emirates yet the political practice is different. Comparing religions and saying in the fundamental they are the same is pretty shallow. People choose to be violent or peaceful. Secular governments have killed more people than any religion if she bothered to look at statistics. So this emotional speech is good for emotional people. You can criticize Islam. But be prepared to be answered back. But I would suggest people have to criticize objectively so we search for truth. Her talk holds no base. Shall I go on?

[@wfcoaker1398]

@@Just_logic Well, she draws a distinction between Islam the faith, Muslims the people, and what she calls "Islamism" which she defines as a right wing political movement, and equates those right wing groups with other right wing religious movements. What are your thoughts on those distinctions? She points out well the patronizing and hypocritical attitude of the so called "progressives" who homogenize "the Islamic world" as though all Muslims are the same and points out how this silences dissent. Thoughts? Would you agree that it is important to be able to criticize Islamism in the same way as we criticize other religions? What are your thoughts on the fact that leaving Islam is a punishable offence in some traditionally Muslim countries?

[@Just_logic]

Mushrique e Islami Only to a shallow mind she seems intelligent. I know Iranians by heart. I am originally Iranian.

[@Just_logic]

Mushrique e Islami I can recognize an emotional response when I see it. Your reply contains no context. An example of your ignorance is your knowledge with regards to position of women in Islam. Ayesha wife of prophet Mohammad was a prominent figure in Islamic history. But if you want to take the liberal perspective of what position of woman is I agree with you. She wants to be half naked, get drunk as a choice, then if she sleeps with who picked her up, she can accuse him of rape........ When you reply, make sure you include some context, so you won’t be embarrassed.