Ex-Muslim Student’s Op-Ed About Leaving Islam Removed Due to “Personal Safety Concerns”

[rug]

June 7, 2015
by Hemant Mehta

Last week, the Daily Californian, an independent student-run newspaper serving the UC Berkeley campus, published a really terrific op-ed by a former Muslim:

Until I was 14, I simply accepted everything I’d been told about Islam. I was taught that being born into a Muslim family is a blessing and is the greatest gift that Allah can bestow upon someone. I initially thought the Sunni path I followed was the one true path, just like my Shia, Bori and Ismaili friends adhered to the teachings of the sects their families followed. I noticed how everyone around me claimed to have a monopoly on the truth, which made me question who was actually right. I started to view Islam — and religion in general — as something dogmatic, irrational, unscientific and, most of all, completely sexist.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Islam, it’s that my former religion, just like any other ideology, has its flaws. Religion should not be immune to criticism. It’s important to have an honest dialogue about religion and identify what can be improved — and that’s exactly what I plan to do.

It’s a very personal piece that, in many ways, defends Islam. Even though the author may not subscribe to it anymore, she believes the faith has been marred by misinterpretations and stereotypes and says she’ll work to fix that.

But it won’t happen with that article.

Because if you go to the website now, it redirects to this editor’s note:

This opinion blog has been retracted because of personal safety concerns.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/06/07/ex-muslim-students-op-ed-about-leaving-islam-removed-due-to-personal-safety-concerns/

The op ed copied and saved here:

http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/38skvp/the_article_written_days_ago_by_an_ex_muslim/crxpkec

[exboyfil]

1. Civilization loses

[Yorktown]

2. 'personal safety concerns', 'in many ways', summarize the problem with 'Islam'.

You wrote

It’s a very personal piece that, in many ways, defends Islam.

The fact that person left Islam despite familial indoctrination shows there are reasons to leave Islam.

The fact she takes the time and the risk to explain those reasons shows how strongly she feels.

The fact she is under threat in the US for leaving the faith is another indictment of Islam.


But you still chose to see her article as 'in many ways, defend(ing) Islam'?

Truly remarkable.

[rug]

3. I didn't write it. Hemant Mehta did.

Truly remarkable.

[Yorktown]

4. Well, you both are remarkable then