Why a Muslim and an Atheist Are Fighting Side by Side

[rug]

Posted: 10/13/2014 2:35 pm EDT
Updated: 10/13/2014 2:36 pm EDT
Kashif N. Chaudhry
Physician, writer and humanitarian
Kile Jones
Co-founder of Skeptimergent

I was born in Pakistan, completed my medical school there and then moved to the United States for higher medical training. I also moved to escape the horrid persecution my Islamic sect -- the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community -- faces back home. In America, I could enjoy all the freedoms I was denied under Pakistan's law, most importantly the freedom of speech. I therefore set on to use social media to raise my voice for freedom of conscience world over -- and specifically in parts of the "Muslim world."

During these years of vocal activism, I made a lot of friends and partners. I met Kile, for instance, through a mutual colleague and fellow activist -- Qasim Rashid. Kile is an atheist activist, who shares my passion for the promotion of universal freedom of conscience. We are both opposed to blasphemy laws, theocratic rule, apostasy laws, the persecution of religious minorities and the belittlement of outsiders. We stand for freedom of speech, conscience and the press. So while I am rallying in support of atheist bloggers who have been imprisoned in Egypt or Saudi Arabia, Kile is speaking against Pakistan's Machiavellian second amendment that denies Ahmadi Muslims the right to self-identity.

We both believe that these seemingly peculiar ironies can be harnessed into genuine social change through the connection of our otherwise unrelated groups.

It is precisely for this that we decided to start the group, Ahmadis and Atheists for Freedom of Conscience, on Facebook. Our goal is to get Ahmadi Muslims and atheists together for dialogue and activism, and to create new friendships. Everyone is welcome to join and help us in this important cause. This forum also serves as an opportunity for education. Even though Kile's atheist comrades pride themselves on being versed in matters of religion, for instance, not many of them know about the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. Even fewer know about the community's zealous advocacy of world peace and championing of universal freedom of conscience.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kashif-n-chaudhry/muslims-and-atheists_b_5949650.html

[longship]

1. This is a damned good thing.

More atheists need to get involved in doing things like this. And more Muslims. And more Christians. And more of anybody who believes whatever they believe. After all, the First Amendment is above all about freedom of conscience and to be able to freely express ones conscience without punishment. Also, that government should have no say in the expression of such things.

Give us all that, and everybody wins.

[cbayer]

2. I agree and I am absolutely supportive of efforts like this.

I wish we could find a word other than interfaith to describe these kinds of alliances.

Any ideas? I think the fact that they do include people of different religions and people of no religion is important, but I just haven't see a word that is really suitable.