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Ex Muslims of Kerala
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Why Ex-Muslims ?

In the last few years, Kerala has seen a rise in the number of ExMuslims, especially the youth who were influenced by rationalism, scientific temper and having studied Islam themselves, could no longer stay in the fold of Islam. The degree of physical, mental, and social persecution they had to face and are still facing is intolerable and unacceptable. There are still thousands of closeted ExMuslims, who are afraid to come out in public to declare their apostasy or to denounce Islam on account of fear of persecutions.
This is the reason why the organization “ExMuslims of Kerala” is relevant today. To protect the basic human right to live without any religion, to take effort to normalise dissent, blasphemy, and apostasy, and to support people who publicly announce their apostasy, both emotionally and morally.

Our vision

To protect the basic human right to live without any religion, to take effort to normalise dissent, blasphemy, and apostasy, and to support people who publicly announce their apostasy, both emotionally and morally.

Meet the Team
Our vision

Normalise dissent, blasphemy, and apostasy, and protect the basic human right to live without any religion

Meet the Team
7
Years of experience
About_Rev

History of The Movement

On, August 2, 1947, Ramasimhan, his brother Dayasimhan, Dayasimhan’s wife Kamala, their cook Raju Iyer and other members of their family were brutally slayed by Islamist Jihadis in Malaparamba, Malappuram district, merely two weeks before the independence of our country. The reason was bizarre, yet, heart wrenching: they chose to renounce Islam and accept Hinduism as their religion. This incident was the first recorded instance that marks the birth of Islamic terrorism in Kerala.

After Independence.

The history of rationalist movements in Kerala owes its credit mainly to the Kerala Yukthivadhi Sangham (KYS), roughly translated as “Kerala Rationalist Association”, who were the pioneers in activating rational thinking among people, and invoking their critical opinion on various belief systems, religions, customs, and traditions, that were highly revered by the people, of which a majority were illiterate, poor and oppressed.

About_Com

It is quite difficult and almost impossible to get exact information on ExMuslims during the early history of the state of Kerala, as social reform movements were mainly motivated by the desire to educate people and uplift them to a life of knowledge and dignity, and islam and Islamic criticism was rarely a matter of concern in those days. Another reason apart from the meagreness of islamic fanatics and extremists is, the Muslim community of Kerala was led by the Sunni leadership, and they were quite tolerant, peace loving and most of them were aligned to the national freedom fighters and other national political movements. They were also the converted descendants of native Keralite population who knew and had tasted the fruits of religious peace, harmony, and tolerance, and wouldn't dream to disrupt the existing peace that was prevalent in Kerala.

It was in the 1970s that serious Islamic criticism had begun under the banner of KYS, by people who left Islam to adopt rationalism. One of the earliest critics of Islam was KK Abdul Ali, an Arabic teacher from Kappad in the district of Kozhikkode, who started to write as well as speak against Islam. Another prominent name in the history of ExMuslims and criticism of Islam in Kerala is that of Dr EV Usman Koya, a general physician from Cheruvannoor in Kozhikkode. They were joined by an Abdulla of Meppayoor, Kozhikkode, and the trio could be referred to as the very first well informed and researched critics of Islam. It was to this trio that the well-known and popular Islamic critic of recent decades, EA Jabbar who was a school teacher from Malappuram, came and began his journey of activism.

About_QE

The four of them prepared together, wrote articles and handouts that were published by Kerala Yukthivadhi Sangham (KYS), and spoke publicly against the countless inadequacies in Islam. Saidh Mohammed, a prolific writer and critic of Islam, who was from Anakkayam in Malappuram, also later joined them. Saidh Mohammad has written a number of articles criticizing Islam in magazines like Yukthi Rekha, Yukthi Vicharam etc.

Mohammed Khan, from Trivandrum, also got involved in this movement, who was also closely associated with the KYS.VK Kunjahammad (teachers) and M Chekkunni (post master), both from Malappuram district, were also involved in Islamic criticism, but Kunjahammad was more involved in Islamic criticism than M Chekkunni. VK Kunjahammad had written articles and translated few books to Malayalam. Then comes CK Abdullakutty from Wayanad, a critic of Islam. He was a former district secretary of KYS in Wayanad. Parakkal Muhammed and Sidhic PA were later ExMuslims, who deserve mention. They too were active members of KYS.

About_eq

At present, the most popular public ExMuslims are Liyakkathali CM, Arif Hussain Theruvath, Sherin Rashid, Surumi Salman, Fouzia Teacher, Safiya PM, Jazla Madasseri, Ummer Pookkayil, Shafeeq MK, Suhail Kalliyath, Jazar Mohamed and many others, representing the length and breadth of Kerala. The advent of internet and social media has helped this movement gain commendable confidence and reach out the public to make them aware of the perils of Islam in their personal and social lives.