Milad Resaeimanesh is a Leader in the Central Committee of the Ex-Muslims in Scandinavia. Here we talk about his life, work, and views.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What was early life like for you, e.g., geography, culture, language, religion or lack thereof, education, and family structure and dynamics?
Resaeimanesh: I was born in Mashhad, Iran. I have only one younger sister. I have been studying religion since I started my primary school. I also have been practicing the Islamic rules, like praying, fasting etc. However, soon I started my high school studies, as many other Iranian teen agers, I turn to be an atheist, or an ex-Muslim.
Jacobsen: What levels of formal education have been part of life for you? How have you informally self-educated?
Resaeimanesh: I have Foundation degree in computing from Nottingham Trent International College and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Nottingham Trent University.
Jacobsen: As an Executive in the Central Committee of the Ex-Muslims in Scandinavia, what tasks and responsibilities come with the position?
Resaeimanesh: I am the admin of the CCES website, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. I am also responsible for our monthly TV program. I am also the member of the council of the CCES, which decides about the policies must be followed.
I supervise the new members’ responsibilities, and I am one of the spokespersons of the CCES.
Jacobsen: What have been the more prescient concerns of the ex-Muslim community in Scandinavia?
Resaeimanesh: Criticizing Islam is mostly done by the far-right wings. Although they have way different purposes, the far-rights follow almost the same patterns as us.
Consequently, we as a political organization human based goals, who fight for a world based on equality, where the place ones born is never an issue, must clearly differ our activities with the far-right wings.
Jacobsen: Some ex-Muslims may seek help and even asylum. However, they may not know the way to do it.
How can these newer or unsafe ex-Muslims ensure greater personal safety? How can they seek help in coverage or community? What are the mains things to consider in seeking asylum for them?
Resaeimanesh: The Central Committee of the Ex-Muslims in Scandinavia is a political-social organization. We Demand: Universal rights and equal citizenship for all. We are opposed to cultural relativism and the tolerance of inhuman beliefs, discrimination and abuse in the name of respecting religion or culture.
Freedom to criticize religion. Prohibition of restrictions on unconditional freedom of criticism and expression using so-called religious ‘sanctities.
Freedom of religion and atheism.
Separation of religion from the state and legal and educational system.
Prohibition of religious customs, rules, ceremonies or activities that are incompatible with or infringe people’s rights and freedoms.
Abolition of all restrictive and repressive cultural and religious customs which hinder and contradict woman’s independence, free will and equality. Prohibition of segregation of sexes.
Prohibition of interference by any authority, family members or relatives, or official authorities in the private lives of women and men and their personal, emotional and sexual relationships and sexuality.
Protection of children from manipulation and abuse by religion and religious institutions.
Prohibition of any kind of financial, material or moral support by the state or state institutions to religion and religious activities and institutions.
Prohibition of all forms of religious intimidation and threats.
So, if an asylum seeker, joins us, his or her activities with us may help his/her asylum case.
Jacobsen: Who have been important intellectual leaders, writers, and speakers on the issues of ex-Muslims?
Resaeimanesh: The best person I know is Mina Ahadi, the founder of the council of the Ex-Muslims.
Jacobsen: What community and social activities does the Central Committee of the Ex-Muslims in Scandinavia provide for new members? For those newer members, what tend to be either life skill issues or integration issues?
Resaeimanesh: We run social events. The theme of the events is decided by the council of the CCES. We also are very active on the social networking websites and applications.
We ask the new members, to provide and create materials we can publish online, write articles expressing their feeling and opinions about Ex-Muslims issues, etc.
Jacobsen: What other ex-Muslim organizations have been important allies in the work for seeking asylum, building ex-Muslim coalitions, and gathering force for larger scale activist efforts?
Resaeimanesh: Ex Muslims organizations, all around the world belongs to the same movement, though they based on different countries, and they mostly focused on the issues and events happen on the based country.
In 2017, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the council of Ex-Muslims in Cologne, Germany.
Jacobsen: How can people become involved through the donation of time, the addition of membership, links to professional and personal networks, giving monetarily, exposure in interviews or writing articles, and so on?
Resaeimanesh: Those who are interested in participating and being involved, can simply fill in the membership form though our website. Our monthly activities will be explained to our new members, and they decide which part of our activities and how they would like to participate.
We at the CCES are also very keen and open for the new suggestions in order to improve our performances.
Jacobsen: Any final feelings or thoughts based on the conversation today?
Resaeimanesh: I believe, we can build a society based on humanity and equality. This can be reached only if we all rise, and fight for it. I
would like to ask everyone not to remain silent but to stand and fight for a better world. Joining or supporting us, can be seen as an effective way to support the movement we represent.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Milad.
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Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the Founder of In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal and In-Sight Publishing. He authored/co-authored some e-books, free or low-cost. If you want to contact Scott: Scott.D.Jacobsen@Gmail.com.
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