Hello, Dissenters

Welcome back to Dissent Dispatch. This week the Unbelief Brief examines Syria’s first UN address in nearly six decades, as President Ahmed al-Shara promises peace abroad while repression festers within. We also bring updates from Nigeria’s blasphemy trial, highlight California Freethought Day, and share the powerful reach of our Why Not Islam billboard campaign.

Unbelief Brief

Yesterday, Ahmed al-Shara became the first Syrian president to address the United Nations in 58 years. Following the decade-long civil war that devastated the country, Al-Shara took the opportunity to pledge a new Syria built on peace and stability and promised friendlier relations with its neighbors as well as the broader international community. 

While all well and good, whether al-Shara can deliver in the long term is questionable. He seems, in many ways, a changed man from 20 years ago, when he was a wanted terrorist affiliated with al-Qaeda. The government of the new Syria, at least in this interim period, remains decidedly Islamist, no doubt in line with the wishes of al-Shara himself. It’s true that he has publicly pledged that religious minorities will be protected and respected in the new Syria, and even included a Christian woman in his interim government. But the vision of a peacefully pluralistic Syria seems to be far from reality at the moment.

Amnesty International has reported on the “massacre” of Alawites perpetrated by “militias affiliated with the government.” Reports of attacks on Druze communities, including sexual violence against women, have also surfaced. The country’s own interim constitution specifies Islamic law as the “main source” of the nation’s legislation, much like other states in the region that criminalize blasphemy and apostasy. Persecution of this kind will undoubtedly continue under al-Shara.

Those with concerns about Syria’s human rights record must hope that al-Shara’s desire to stay on good terms with Western democracies can temper government abuses of power. But this hope is fragile, too. Western nations’ fresh memories of the hostile Assad regime and the catastrophic civil war left them content that the old Syrian government simply didn’t meddle in or cause chaos outside its borders. With an increasingly isolationist United States, human rights abuses within Syria’s border may not register high on American foreign policy’s list of priorities. Even if the government itself shows restraint, the question of whether they tolerate vigilante violence that aligns with its own ideology. Only time can tell.

Persecution Tracker Updates

Today, the Supreme Court of Nigeria is hearing the appeal of musician Yahaya Sharif Aminu, who was sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2020. Read about his case here.

On the Horizon

Celebrate California Freethought Day!

Join us at the California State Capitol on Sunday, October 12 (11:00 AM – 5:30 PM) for a full day of community, conversation, and inspiration. This FREE event brings together an exciting roster of voices, including ex-Muslim cartoonist Haram Doodles and our own Aysha Khan.

Pre-register now to secure your free full-color program and a chance to win over $300 in prizes. And don’t miss the Supporters’ Reception on Saturday, October 11! It’s a sponsor-exclusive evening with speakers, haram treats like wine and beer, and live entertainment 😈.

Why Not Islam Billboard Campaign: A Look Back

Our Why Not Islam billboard campaign has wrapped, and the impact speaks for itself. 

In just one month, the campaign drove nearly 7,000 site sessions from over 5,500 unique visitors. People explored a wide range of topics, with Women in Islam and Scientific Insights drawing the most attention, followed closely by Human Rights, our FAQ, and The Perfection of the Qur’an. Even our Media Kit saw traffic, helping extend our message beyond just site visitors.

The campaign also built lasting connections: 81 new subscribers joined our community. Visitors came from across the globe, with 25 Islamic countries represented and Egypt, Pakistan, and Indonesia leading the way. Overall, traffic from Islamic-majority nations made up about 4.7% of all sessions, showing that our message is reaching people who need it most.

The success of this campaign proves there is real demand for what we are building. Now, we want to hear from you: Where should we go next? Should our next billboards rise in another U.S. city, or should we expand internationally?

Share your ideas and help shape the future of Why Not Islam.

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].

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