Upcoming EVENTS
Alternative Islam Conference, Koln, Germany, 31 May-1 June, 2008
Maryam Namazie will be speaking at the alternative Islam conference in Koln, Germany on May 31 at 11am and again at 1230pm on a panel with other heads of Ex-Muslim Councils. Her 11am speech is entitled ‘Islam is significant because of political Islam’. For more information, click here.
Political Islam and Freedom of Expression, June 6, 2008, World Humanist Congress, Washington , DC
Maryam Namazie will be speaking at the World Humanist Congress plenary session: Freedom of conscience and Expression at 1:30-2:45pm at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel just off the National Mall.
challengING ISLAM AND political Islam, October 10, 2008 at Conway Hall, London
The Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain is holding an international conference on 10 October - the International Day against the Death Penalty – entitled Challenging Islam and political Islam – to focus on several key questions, namely the problem with Sharia law, including for women's status, freedom of expression and the need for criticism of religion, as well as the separation of religion and the state.
PAST EVENTS
Secularism, Sharia law and the future of civil society, Oxford Secular Society, April 29, 2008, 7:30pm, Oxford
Maryam Namazie will talk about Rowan Williams' recent comments on Sharia law's inevitability for Britain and the future of secularism and civil society. She will explain why political Islam needs to be challenged, and how her organisation is helping.
Medieval Executions in 2008, April 15, Boras, Sweden
Maryam Namazie will be speaking on Islam, stonings, honour killings and women's rights.
International conference against honour killings, April 12, 2008, 5-9pm, London
Maryam Namazie will be speaking at an Organisation for Women's Freedom in Iraq conference in commemoration of Du'a Kahlil, the 17 year old girl who was stoned to death in Iraqi Kurdistan, and to denounce "honour killings" globally.
Sexual apartheid, Islam and political Islam and Women's Rights, International Women's Day seminar, March 10, 2008, Conway Hall, London
The Council of Ex-Muslims and Equal Rights Now, an organisation against women's discrimination in Iran are holding a seminar in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day on March 10, 2008 from 6-10pm at Conway Hall. The seminar will focus on Sexual apartheid, Sharia law, Islam and political Islam and Women's Rights. Confirmed speakers at the seminar are: Louise Couling, Chair of the Regional Women's Committee and member of the National Executive Council of Unison; Joan Smith, Novelist, columnist and human rights activist; Maryam Namazie and Mina Ahadi, the Councils of Ex-Muslims of Britain and Germany and National Secular Society Secularist of the Year award winners in 2005 and 2007 respectively, and Houzan Mahmoud, spokesperson of the Organisation for Women's Freedom in Iraq. The event will be chaired by Hanne Stinson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association. The seminar has been endorsed by the National Secular Society, the British Humanist Association, the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association and Organisation for Women's Freedom in Iraq.
Life after leavingIslam, Cambridge University Atheist and Agnostic Society, January 30, 2008, Cambridge
Maryam Namazie will be speaking at Cambridge University Atheist and Agnostic Society on the ex-Muslim movement and its challenge to political Islam on January 30, 2008 at 7:30pm.
Islam, Religious Diversity and Universal Rights in Multicultural Democracies, Stockholm , Sweden
Maryam Namazie will be speaking at a human rights forum on November 20, 2007 during 13.00-15.30. Other panellists invited include Sadik al-Azm (Chair of Philosophy, University of Damascus , Syria ), Abdullahi An-Nai´m (Professor at Emory University , Atlanta , USA ), and others. Fore more information, click here: http://www.mrdagarna.se/?type=static&id=48&mo=78 .
On Sex and Religion , Scotland
Maryam Namazie will be one of the main speakers at the humanist annual conference in Scotland on October 27, 2007 at the Fishers Hotel in Pitlochry. The theme will be Sex Matters. For more information, click here: http://www.humanism-scotland.org.uk .
Counter Demonstration against Al Quds Day, London
Maryam Namazie will speak at the counter-demonstration in London at 12 pm, 7 October, 2007, Piccadilly Circus.
Annual Reunion of Kindred Humanist Societies, London
On Sunday 30 September from 1430-1700, Maryam Namazie will be the keynote speaker at the reunion being held at Conway Hall, London.
European Parliament Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics, Brussels, Belgium
On September 12, Maryam Namazie will be giving a statement with other ex-Muslims to the European Parliament Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics in Brussels on developments regarding Islam and secularism. For more information, click here.
Launch of the Dutch Ex-Muslim Committee, The Hague, Netherlands
Maryam Namazie will be in the Hague, Holland on September 11, 2007 for the formal launch of the Dutch Ex-Muslim Committee led by Ehsan Jami. For more information, click here .
Against political Islam and cultural relativism, iceland
Maryam will be speaking on Wednesday Sept. 5th from 12:00-13:00 at the Women's Rights Alliance on the veil, women's rights and Islamic laws. She will be speaking at the Institute of International Affairs of the University of Iceland on apostasy, ex-Muslims and the challenge to political Islam on Thursday Sept. 6th at the Oddi building (Humanities) room 101from 12:15- 13:15. For more information, click here.
Don't Mention Islam
Maryam Namazie will be speaking on a panel on how the media is soft on Islam at the Edinburgh Film Festival on August 24, 2007. Other panellists:
Andrew Anthony, Author and Journalist
Arzu Merali, Islamic Human Rights Commission
Inayat Bunglawala, Vice Chair, Muslim Council of Britain
Kevin Sutcliffe, Deputy Head of News & Current Affairs, Channel 4
Maryam Namazie, Spokesperson, Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain
Peter Horrocks, Head of Television News, BBC News
Launch of council of ex-muslims of britain
A British branch of a new Europe-wide phenomenon is to be launched on Thursday 21 June in London. The Council of ex-Muslims of Britain is building on the stunning success of other branches already operating in Germany, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The British Humanist Association and National Secular Society are sponsoring the launch and support the new organisation. The Council will provide a voice for those labelled Muslim but who have renounced religion and do not want to be identified by religion. Rights activist Maryam Namazie will be the voice of the organisation in this country. She said: “We are establishing the alternative to the likes of the Muslim Council of Britain because we don’t think people should be pigeonholed as Muslims or deemed to be represented by regressive organisations like the MCB. Those of us who have come forward with our names and photographs represent countless others who are unable or unwilling to do so because of the threats faced by those considered 'apostates' - punishable by death in countries under Islamic law. By doing so, we are breaking the taboo that comes with renouncing Islam but also taking a stand for reason, universal rights and values, and secularism. We are quite certain we represent a majority in Europe and a vast secular and humanist protest movement in countries like Iran.” Mina Ahadi who initiated the original Central Council of Ex-Muslims in Germany will be attending the launch. She spoke about the aims of the organisation in an interview to Der Spiegel. Mina Ahadi, Mahin Alipour (spokesperson of the Scandinavian organisation), Maryam Namazie and others will be available for interviews at the launch. Ends The launch will be at 11am (until midday), Thursday 21 June Wilson Room Portcullis House Westminster SW1A 2LW A manifesto explaining the aims of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain follows. For more information please contact: Maryam Namazie Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain BM Box 1919 London WC1N 3XX, UK e-mail: ex-muslimcouncil@ukonline.co.uk telephone: 07719166731 website
RELIGION IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PRESENT DAY TERRORISM
On May 31, Maryam will be joining a debate at Oxford Union entitled this house believes religion is not responsible for terrorism. The event will be held in conjunction with Strategic Foresight Group, a global think tank based in Mumbai, who recently published the report - 'An Inclusive World - In which the West, Islam and the Rest have a stake'. It has been prepared on the basis of political consultations with government leaders, militants and other principal actors. This report challenges many of the current assumptions about terrorism and one of its main conclusions is that religion is not the driver of present day terrorism. The debate will analyse whether terrorism is caused by poverty and economic alienation or whether religious leaders are shirking their responsibility for the violence that is blighting many regions of the world.
Against Homophobia
On May 17, 2007, Maryam will be speaking at the Idaho event at Chelsea College of Art in London.
Seminar on women's rights. the veil, and ISlamic and Religious Laws
Join us on Thursday 8 March 2007
For a seminar on Women’s Rights, the Veil and Islamic and religious laws
Speakers: * Mina Ahadi, founder of Central Council of Ex-Muslims * Sonja Eggerickx: President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union. * Ann Harrison: Researcher, Middle East and North Africa Department of Amnesty International’s International Secretariat. * Maryam Namazie: Director of the Worker-communist Party of Iran’s International Relations Committee, 2005 National Secular Society’s Secularist of the Year Award Winner and producer of International TV. * Taslima Nasrin: Physician, writer, radical feminist, human rights activist and secular humanist.
We will also show, for the first time, a short film entitled: “In the name of honour” by Reza Moradi
At University of London Union Room 3D, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HY (Nearest underground stations: Russell Square, Goodge Street)
From 6:00 – 10:00pm
The seminar is co-sponsored by the International Campaign in Defense of Women’s Right in Iran- UK, the National Secular Society and the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association. For more information call: 07719111738 07950924434
Admission is free.
March against the Veil
From Friday 2 March 2007 from Germany via France, Holland and other countries towards the European Commission Building in Brussels
Speakers at the European Commission demonstration: Mina Ahadi Mahin Alipour Maryam Namazie
At Wetstraat 175 Brussels From 2-5pm
In commemoration of 8 March, International Women’s Day, groups of men and women from towards the European Commission and proclaim that the veil is a manifestation of political Islam and a symbol of the oppression of women. The march towards Brussels and the European Commission building will begin on Friday 2 March from Germany. During the march, meetings and speeches will be organised along the way. Once there, they will submit a grievance against the veil to the European Commission. Our march is against the veil. It is the voice of protest of millions of women against this symbol of slavery. We demand the banning of child veiling as well as the banning of the veil in all work places and social centres. Join us in Brussels to express your opposition to the veil and anti-women Islamic laws. Show your support for the widespread women’s liberation and equality seeking movement in Iran.
Long live 8 March, International Women's Day! Long live Women’s Freedom Long live socialism
Worker-communist Party of Iran, Organisation Abroad
17 January 2007
For more information, contact: Germany: Nazanin Boroomand 0049.172.404.4323 Siamak Maki 0049.172.403.7035 Shahnaz Martab 0049.172.971.6227 France: Yadi Koohi 0033624918423 Holland: Bahman Zakeri 0031649906014
Secularism and Humanism are not religions or belief systems
On February 17, 2007 at 6:30pm, Maryam Namazie will be speaking on ‘Secularism and Humanism are not Religions or Belief Systems’. Namazie will discuss the dangers of regarding secularism and humanism as a form of religion, belief or dogma. She will argue that, in addition to this being untrue, it tends to prevent proponents of these ideas from challenging religion head on and putting human beings first. The Leicester Secular Society is the oldest secular society in the world. For more information, go to Leicester Secular Society site.
Equality and Political Islam
On February 10, Maryam will be speaking at a conference of secularists in Paris.
Faith and State: Getting the Balance Right
On January 27, 2007 at Westminister University in London, Maryam will be speaking at St Columb's Park House, a peace centre in L'Derry, Northern Ireland, youth political Forum. The forum brings together young politicians (aged 18-30) from all elected parties around the UK and Ireland, to explore a particular topic or theme - this time on faith and state.
‘Beyond the Veil: Perspectives on Muslim Women in a Western Secular Context’
On 13 November 2006 Maryam Namazie will be speaking at a talk in London entitledas a part of a run up to the Goodenough Conference, The Mosaic of Multiculturalism: Pieces Falling? Changing Perceptions and Reality in Britain. She will be debating with Humera Khan, founder of An-Nisa Society for Muslim women and families in the UK and Maleiha Malik, Lecturer in Anti-Discrimination Law at King's College. The talk will take place at the Churchill Room at 8pm. The talk is being sponsored by the Women's Forum, Goodenough College, Mecklenburgh Square, London WC1N 2AB.
Join the protests
Khatami is a criminal!
He must be arrested and put on trial!
Scotland:
Tuesday 31 October 2006
3:00- 6:00pm
In front of University of St Andrews
St Andrews
Fife KY16 9AJ
Scotland
Speaker:
Maryam Namazie, 2005 Secularist of the Year, Director of the Worker-communist Party of Iran's International Relations Committee
London:
Wednesday 1 November 2006, 4:30 – 6:30pm
Chatham House
10 St James's Square
London SW1Y 4LE
Nearest tube station: Piccadilly Circus /Green Park
Speakers:
- Sofie Buckl, National Executive of the National Union of Students
-Azar Majedi, Director of the Organisation for Women’s Liberation
-Maryam Namazie, 2005 Secularist of the Year, Director of the Worker-communist Party of Iran's International Relations Committee
- Keyvan Javid, Worker-communist Party of Iran
For more information, contact 07984445278 / 07886973423.
Worker-communist Party of Iran - UK Organisation
International Federation of Iranian Refugees- UK
Communist Youth Organisation –UK
Organisation for Women’s Liberation
"Life without Fear Campaign"
Public Meeting
Islamic regime of Iran, political Islam and the right to asylum
Tuesday 21st March 2006
6:00pm-9:00pm
Conway Hall
Lion Square
London
WC1R 4RL
Speaker: Maryam Namazie
Campaign for the rights of Iranian asylum seekers in the UK
We urge you all to support and join "Life Without Fear" Campaign. Together we can make a difference!
http://www.hambastegi.org/ifiruk/eng-page.htm
For more information, please contact:
Siamak Amjadi
Secretary of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees, UK Branch.
Tel: 079 4675 2534 or 079 3186 6985
ifiruk@yahoo.com
To end honour killings, and inaugurating an international
campaign against such crimes. Well known activists speak
about these issues.
Speakers: Mina Ahadi, Homa Arjomand, Fatma Bläser, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Rosa Logar, Azar Majedi, Maryam Namazie, and Christa Stolle
Hannelore Wilmanns from Amnesty International is also speaking at the conference.
Venue:
Fachhochschule Köln
Karl-Schüssler-Saal,
Gebäude Betzdorfer Str. 2
Cologn, Germany
Wednesday 8th March 2006
3-4 pm Press conference
4-10pm Conference
Admission: 20 Eur
Please note, children are not admitted.
