Ex-Muslim activism in Kerala
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Since 2019, Ex-Muslim new atheism has been developing into salient collectivization of activism in Kerala. Until 2021, most forms of activism had been mainly limited to online social media platforms. Since 2021-2022, an offline debate among Kerala's prominent intellectuals, some organizational mechanism has been formalizing for support of Ex-Muslim activism in Kerala.
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- The trend is catching pace in India too, especially in Kerala. An organisation has recently been formed to provide those who renounce Islam, a platform to express and gather fearlessly. “Ex-Muslims of Kerala” is an attempt by the educated Muslim youth, who thought to exit the religion and become free thinkers. It has declared January 9 as ‘Kerala Ex-Muslim Day’. It is a historic development as many members in the group are active in social media debates attracting more like-minded people to their fold. Kerala, with Islamic radicalization growing unimaginably voluminous in its Malabar region, has become a hotbed of Islamist activities which the state administration is purposefully silent about. Most of the members in the group face economic and social boycotts and sometimes receive violent reactions from the radicals. Excommunication of people who left Islam is normal in the community and thanks to democracy that apostasy is not punishable under the constitution. The movement in Kerala provides social, economic and legal support to the Ex-Muslims.
- In probably a first in India, an organisation has been formed in Kerala to provide a platform to those who are renouncing Islam, a move which has significant socio-political implications. Although there are rationalist movements and religious reformist movements in our country, there was no organisation until now to represent those who leave a religion and want to continue as non-religious, neutral person(s). Now, a group of people who renounced Islam have come together to form ‘Ex-Muslims of Kerala’ and also decided to observe January 9 as ‘Kerala Ex-Muslim Day’. Moreover, considering India’s religious history, the ex-Muslims’ movement of Kerala can be viewed as a unique historical development.
- A group of people “who abandoned their religion” have floated a new organisation called ‘Ex-Muslims of Kerala’, offering a platform and support to those who stopped practising Islam. The organization observed January 9 as ‘Ex-Muslims Day’.
