Welcome Back, Dissenters

This week we cover rising religious tensions in South Asia, the stark reality behind Islam’s praise of motherhood, and a final reminder to submit your entries for our Draw Muhammad Day Contest. Let’s get into it.

Unbelief Brief

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following India's retaliatory strikes for the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, primarily Hindu tourists. India attributes the attack to the Islamic Resistance Front, an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, and contends that the group operates as a proxy for Pakistani military intelligence. In response, India launched "Operation Sindoor," targeting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir identified as "terrorist infrastructure." Pakistan reports that these strikes resulted in 31 civilian deaths, including women and children, and has vowed retaliation. The situation remains volatile, with both nations exchanging artillery fire and accusations, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. 

While both countries' current leaderships are influenced by religious nationalism—Hindu in India and Islamic in Pakistan—Pakistan's record on religious freedom has drawn particular scrutiny. A report by the Centre for Social Justice documented 344 new blasphemy cases in Pakistan in 2024. Notably, 70% of the accused were Muslims, with Ahmadis Muslims, who are not recognized as Muslim by the state, Hindus, and Christians comprising 14%, 9%, and 6% respectively. This data underscores that blasphemy laws, often criticized for targeting religious minorities, are also used against members of the majority community, highlighting their potential for widespread misuse.

As the international community urges restraint, the path forward remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is the profound human cost of this conflict, which continues to claim lives across religious and national lines.

On the outskirts of Damascus, sectarian violence erupted last week following a blasphemy accusation. An audio clip allegedly featuring a Druze cleric “insulting the Prophet Muhammad” spread online, triggering a violent response: “unidentified fighters in armored vehicles” shelled the suburb of Jaramana, killing at least 12 people. Syrian authorities later stated the cleric was not responsible and called for calm, but the incident casts serious doubt on any hope for a future reconciliation between Islamist dominance and religious tolerance in Syria.

EXMNA Insights

Mother’s Day Critique: The Status of Mothers in Islam

Motherhood is often romanticized in Islamic tradition with sayings like “Paradise lies at the feet of mothers,” yet this poetic reverence rarely translates into real rights or protections. In practice, many Muslim-majority countries apply Islamic jurisprudence, or fiqh, in ways that systematically disadvantage mothers—especially those who are divorced or widowed. Despite the rhetorical praise, women are treated as subordinate to male authority: dependent, vulnerable, and easily discarded.

Islamic law prioritizes men as providers and legal guardians, granting them unilateral authority in family matters. Custodial laws in many Muslim countries reflect this gender hierarchy. In countries like Iran and Pakistan, mothers usually lose custody of their children after a certain age—typically seven for boys and nine for girls—in accordance with Islamic law and with regard to the mother’s ability or the child’s wishes. Fathers retain legal guardianship, meaning that even when mothers have physical custody, they must still seek the father's permission for key decisions such as travel, education, or healthcare. In many jurisdictions, a mother’s right to custody is automatically revoked upon remarriage. In Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Personal Status Laws stipulate that a mother can lose custody if she remarries someone who is not a close relative of her former husband.

This male-centric legal framework leaves divorced mothers particularly vulnerable. With their social status diminished, they are often pressured into exploitative relationships. In communities where polygyny is accepted, these women are commonly approached as second, third, or fourth wives—seen as “used” or “damaged” and thus unfit for a first marriage. Economic insecurity caused by unequal inheritance laws and the lack of property or guardianship rights further undermines women's autonomy. Many are forced to choose between poverty and abusive marriages, fearing the loss of their children.

On Mother’s Day, it’s worth asking whether a system that glorifies mothers in verse but deprives them of rights in law can truly claim to honor them. Real respect for mothers requires more than flowery rhetoric—it requires legal personhood, financial independence, and equal custodial rights. Until that happens, the reverence Islam professes for mothers continues to remain tragically hollow.

On The Horizon

⏳ Reminder: Draw Muhammad Day Contest Deadline Approaching!

Have you sent in your entry yet? Our second annual Draw Muhammad Day Contest is still accepting submissions—but not for long. The deadline is May 16, and the blasphemous bounty awaits: cash prizes for 1st and 2nd place, plus EXMNA merch for standout entries.

Humor is rewarded. Satire is encouraged. AI-generated content is welcome—but only if it’s clearly labeled and creatively executed. Text-based pieces are fair game too.

📧 Send entries to [email protected] with “Draw Muhammad Day Contest” in the subject line.

✅ Please ensure submissions comply with Instagram and Facebook guidelines.

Don’t miss your shot to turn heresy into art.

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].

Whether it’s giving $5 or $500, help us fight for a future where all are free to follow their conscience.