By Robert Bernstein

Ridvan Aydemir is the “Prophet Apostate” and the final speaker of the Humanist Society of Santa Barbara. Right here is my report on his presentation.

Ridvan Aydemir started his speech on the Humanist Society by explaining a part of his life story. He was born in Germany to spiritual Muslim mother and father from Turkey. They’re nonetheless very spiritual.

Germany was fairly welcoming on the time. The Turks have a problematic scenario in Germany. They have been initially speculated to be visitor employees, however they’ve become everlasting company!

Germany was freer and supplied extra alternatives than Turkey. The Turks are very nationalistic and proud. However they needed to admit that Germany was a greater place to reside!

Ridvan was believed to have an identification in Turkish tradition which is collectivist. He was speculated to be true to that. His mother and father have been proud Turks and proud Muslims. They anticipated the identical from him.

He mentioned Islam isn’t like Christianity, Judaism or different religions. It is an identification as if it have been a nation. In case you depart Islam, you might be thought of a traitor. You’re anticipated to lose every little thing. Even your life.

The Muslim holy guide, the Koran, doesn’t explicitly say that the penalty for leaving Islam (being an apostate) is dying. Nevertheless, it was a part of classical Islamic regulation. Along with the Quran, there’s an oral commentary referred to as the Hadith. The Hadith is a part of the instructing of Islam.

The Hadith makes various statements that decision for the dying penalty for anybody who leaves Islam.

As well as, greater than twenty predominantly Muslim international locations make “apostasy” a criminal offense punishable by dying. Though few of them are literally prosecuted underneath these legal guidelines, the menace may be very actual. As well as, many extra circumstances are executed by lynching vigilantes earlier than the regulation kicks in.

The Turks in Germany have skilled an identification disaster. Ridvan cherished German tradition. How they acted and thought. What he discovered in school. They get pleasure from understanding one another and being equal to one another.

At dwelling, he was informed that non-Muslims have been “disbelievers” and couldn’t be trusted. Particularly the Jews. Do not attempt to study from their tradition. “We might must combat them sometime.”

It was an odd dilemma for him to reside like this. Jews have been a very delicate topic at Muslim spiritual gatherings.

The Hadith speaks of the top of time. Ridvan says Mohammad claimed that the final day wouldn’t come earlier than you kill the Jews.

The Jews will combat us and we are going to combat them. Even rocks and timber will reveal them. Aside from a tree that’s really Jewish. We may also must combat unbelieving and treacherous Christians.

He might have been in second grade when he was taught this. He discovered it scary and horrifying. Inside minutes of listening to this, he needed to face his classmates and his largely Christian trainer.

His father spoke of “Germans” in a degrading and dehumanizing method, that’s, all non-Muslims.

He typically heard claims that the Germans have been racist towards them. He not often heard any real racist feedback from the Germans. However he typically heard the racism of his personal folks.

Then got here September 11. Members of his group mentioned People deserved it. They need to have seen it coming. He does not perceive how he lived like this.

In 2006 he needed to transfer to Turkey as a result of his mother and father determined for the household. They have been Sufis. They’re usually thought of to be the peaceable and tolerant sect of Islam. Who’re mystics and never literalists.

Ridvan had a tough time residing in Turkey. He preferred the folks in Germany.

He tried to get into politics. He even tried revolutionary communism. It was a mistake and it did not work. He hoped that may make a distinction.

In Germany, folks have been handled the identical. In Turkey, girls have been handled as inferior. He was speaking to the girlfriend of certainly one of his greatest mates. He confirmed him the Quran the place he allowed a person to beat a girl in case you concern his vanity.

She seemed very trendy. However she thought it might be good for her future husband to hit her if he thought she was hurting.

He requested if the reverse was true? Is it regular that she “corrects” him? She was silent.

Many individuals assume Turkey was as soon as secular, however he mentioned that was probably not true. It’s true that it’s not as deep in Muslim fundamentalism as another Muslim cultures.

Some girls can go to the seaside in sure locations. Films and music might not be Islamic. Turkey can seem liberal in vacationer areas. However in case you dig deeper into the place most individuals reside, it isn’t as secular and free.

Former ruler Attatürk tried to make Turkey secular, however this was by no means achieved. And the previous 20 years have introduced an Islamist authorities to energy. Revealing the actual face that was there from the beginning, mentioned Ridvan.

Turkish President Erdogan mentioned future younger folks needs to be spiritual and never search hope in “the immoral West”. He insulted atheists as potential terrorists.

Turkey ought to have a shiny future. Younger folks see the West on the Web and love the liberty and happiness they see. And it’s a actuality a couple of hours away.

Ridvan faces lawsuits in Turkey for talking out towards Islam. Nevertheless it’s smooth in comparison with what he might need confronted previously. Within the Nineties, a Turkish man launched himself as an atheist and was rapidly killed. Ridvan would consistently be in bother if he was in Turkey. However folks converse out regardless of the harassment.

He described a girl in Pakistan who had been on dying row for 8 years merely for being accused of being an atheist. She managed to flee to Canada. In the meantime, critics of Islam are accused of Islamophobia for gentle criticism.

“Jurassic Park” actor Jeff Goldblum has mentioned Islam is anti-gay and has been the goal of main assaults on social media. In 2014, Sam Harris and Ben Affleck participated within the Invoice Maher Realtime Program. Affleck referred to as Maher and Harris “racists” for criticizing Islam.

However Muslims converse horrible phrases about non-Muslims. When he left Islam, certainly one of his greatest mates whom he had recognized for 5 years mentioned: “I want to reduce off your head and throw it on Taksim Sq.” which is the most important public sq. in Turkey. .

Westerners worth tolerance. However the right way to tolerate intolerance? Muslims are handled as an oppressed minority who shouldn’t be criticized. However we’d condemn the folks in our personal group who had such horrible views about gays or girls.

Yasmine Mohammed is a former Muslim who lives in Canada. She talks in regards to the irony of “white privilege”. She says if we would like our personal tradition to be improved, why cannot we ask for Muslim tradition to be improved? Good intentions can hinder progress.

Ridvan frequently receives messages from Muslims world wide who really feel unable to talk up. They thank him for talking.

At this level, Ridvan answered questions from Zoom’s viewers.

A visitor was calling from the Muslim nation of Bangladesh. He mentioned it was tough to talk in his nation. They hate the Hindus and wish to restore the caliphate. He was grateful for what Ridvan was doing.

One individual requested if Islam had a constructive affect in historical past. Ridvan admitted that he introduced collectively some disorganized cultures. However he’s positive the story would have been higher if the unity had come one other method.

Others wished to know the teams he helps. He named: the ex-Muslims of North America, the Worldwide Atheist Alliance and the Atheism Affiliation in Turkey, which is a brand new improvement to be allowed.

A visitor recognized as “Umut” mentioned he was an ex-Muslim. However he grew to become a Christian. Ridvan claimed that he’s an atheist however that he’s OK if others wish to have their beliefs.

Umut continued to proselytize for Christianity. He mentioned his Polish spouse had made him turn out to be Catholic. Humanist President Judy Flattery backed down a bit, saying “I went, I did this” in reference to her personal Polish-American Catholic schooling.

Ridvan additionally pushed again, saying that when he was a non secular Muslim he felt that Islam had deep truths that spoke to him personally. It is simple to be fooled.

Ridvan agreed that Islam is healthier in america than in different international locations. And this leads People to have a distorted view of how Islam is in different international locations. “It’s the least Islamic Islam on the planet!”

He thinks that in the long term, Islam will decline. Perhaps quicker than Christianity. Ex-Muslims are extra outspoken than ex-Christians.

He invited folks to assist his YouTube channel “Apostate Prophet”.