Atheist Refugee Relief

Atheist Refugee Relief (German: Säkulare Flüchtlingshilfe e. V.) is a non-governmental organisation founded in Cologne, Germany in 2017 in defence of the human rights of apostates and nonreligious people. The board consists of Rana Ahmad, Mahmudul Haque Munshi and Stefan Paintner. Further groups and associations were formed in Munich (2019), Austria (2019), Hamburg (2019), Stuttgart (2020) and Switzerland (2020).

Organization

Founding in 2017

Atheist Refugee Relief reports that the personal story of Rana Ahmad's flight from Saudi Arabia to Germany in 2015 has been the inspiration to form the relief organization and the wider support network.[1][2][3] The Giordano Bruno Foundation provided 10,000 euros in seed funding.[4] In November 2017, Atheist Refugee Relief was presented to the public on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Central Council of Ex-Muslims in Cologne.[5]

Board

In 2020, the board of directors consists of Rana Ahmad, Mahmudul Haque Munshi and Stefan Paintner.[6]

Members and supporters

The following refugees and activists spoke about their case in public, listed by country of origin:

• Bangladesh: Mahmudul Haque Munshi[7][8]
• Iraq: Amed Sherwan, Worood Zuhair[9][10]
• Iran: Mina Ahadi, Mohamad Hosein Tavasolli, Farid Mahnad, Sina Nasiri[11]
• Mauritania: Yahya Ekhou[12][13]
• Pakistan: Muhammad Ajeef, Alia Khannum[14]
• Saudi Arabia: Rana Ahmad, Loujain Sultan[15]
• Syria: Abdulrahman Akkad[16]
• Egypt: Hisham Nofal[17][18][19][20]

The organisation has been endorsed by Hamed Abdel-Samad,[21] Lale Akgün,[22] Richard Dawkins[23][24] and Michael Schmidt-Salomon.[25]

Activities

Practical help

In Germany, the organisation offers practical help to refugees in their contacts with authorities, doctors and lawyers. It helps them find access to suitable language and integration courses, or physiological and psychological therapy after human rights violations. The organisation is in regular contact with politicians and state authorities. In the atheists' countries of origin, the organisation provides emergency humanitarian aid in acute crises for individuals and groups.[26][27]

Information about countries of origin

The organisation states that in 13 countries worldwide (Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates) the human right to freedom of religion and belief is punishable by death on charges of apostasy or blasphemy. Moreover, prison sentences can be imposed in more than 40 countries.[28]

Official perspectives

From the German government, several statements concerning Atheist Refugee Relief have been made and have been posted on the organisation's website, including Bärbel Kofler, Representative of the Federal Government for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Federal Foreign Office; Michael Blume, Representative of the State Government of Baden-Württemberg against Anti-Semitism; Serap Güler, State Secretary at the Ministry for Children, Family, Refugees and Integration of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and Doris Schröder-Köpf, State Commissioner for Migration and Participation of the State of Lower Saxony.[29]

See also

• Abdulrahman Akkad
• Giordano Bruno Foundation
• Rana Ahmad
• Worood Zuhair
• 2024 Magdeburg car attack

References

1. "The story of our foundation: Rana's escape – Atheist Refugee Relief". Retrieved 2020-08-29.
2. "Rana hielt das Leben unter dem Nikab nicht mehr aus - So befreite ich mich aus dem Käfig aus Stoff". bild.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-29.
3. "The lonely atheist: why renouncing your religion in Saudi Arabia can be deadly". www.newstatesman.com. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
4. ""Eine der wichtigsten politischen Bewegungen weltweit"". hpd.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-29.
5. "Atheist Refugee Relief is presented to the public – Atheist Refugee Relief". Retrieved 2020-08-29.
6. "Press Release: Mahmudul Haque Munshi on the Board of Directors of Secular Refugee Aid – Atheist Refugee Relief". Retrieved 2020-08-29.
7. "Mahmudul Haque Munshi on the board of Atheist Refugee Relief – Atheist Refugee Relief". Retrieved 2020-08-29.
8. Dasgupta, Priyanka (August 8, 2015). "I was the target, but they killed Niloy: Blogger". The Times of India. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
9. "Shiite Islamists threaten human rights activist in Germany – Atheist Refugee Relief". Retrieved 2020-08-29.
10. "Iraq's growing community of atheists no longer peripheral | Nazli Tarzi". AW. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
11. "Atheism in Iran". Atheist Refugee Relief. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
12. Leubecher, Marcel (2019-09-27). "Atheismus als Asylgrund: Auf der Flucht vor dem Islam". DIE WELT. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
13. "Yahya Ekhou". Yahya Ekhou. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
14. ""They poured gasoline on me to set me on fire" – Atheist Refugee Relief". Retrieved 2020-08-29.
15. "Bespitzelung von Asylbewerberinnen". www.zdf.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-29.
16. "Wohnsitzauflage gefährdet homosexuellen Geflüchteten – Atheist Refugee Relief" (in German). Retrieved 2021-06-15.
17. "Mohamed Hisham". Humanists International. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
18. "Ägyptischer Atheist in Deutschland: „Ich will den Islam mit Fakten widerlegen"". bild.de (in German). 2019-08-05. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
19. "Death threats against Amed Sherwan for freedom of expression in the context of religion – Atheist Refugee Relief". 2020-12-19. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
20. Writer, Guest (2018-05-23). "Mohamed Hisham, A Public Atheist In Egypt | Troy Garnaut". Uncommon Ground Media. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
21. "November 2018 – Atheist Refugee Relief" (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-29.
22. "Dezember 2019 – Atheist Refugee Relief" (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-29.
23. "Tweet Richard Dawkins". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
24. "Richard Dawkins interviews Saudi Arabian atheist author Rana Ahmad". YouTube channel of Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science. 2019.
25. "Help for Secular Refugees". www.giordano-bruno-stiftung.de. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
26. "Our concept and practical work – Atheist Refugee Relief". Retrieved 2020-08-29.
27. Mills, Sarah (2019-04-16). "Atheist Refugees Doubly Vulnerable". Atheist Alliance of America. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
28. "Criminalization of criticism of religion and apostasy – Atheist Refugee Relief". Retrieved 2020-08-29.
29. "Endorsements – Atheist Refugee Relief". Retrieved 2020-08-29.

External links

• Official Website