“Criticism of Islam is inherently racist.” “You lot hate Muslims. Shame on you for further burdening people who are already oppressed and marginalized.”

We do not hate Muslims.  We are the children, sisters, brothers, and cousins of Muslims.  We are close friends with Muslims.  Many of us still participate in the Muslim community and dissimulate our controversial opinions.  Many of us still participate in Muslim festivities such as Eid and Chand Raat, enjoy Sufi poetry and music, and at times dress in clothing associated with Muslim societies.  We have left Islam not due to hatred of Muslims but out of conviction that the truth claims of Islam are false and that Islamic social morality has done great harm to human beings and animals, most especially Muslims themselves.

There is a great deal of racism and xenophobia in contemporary society and no little part of it is directed against Muslims.  Muslims have been subject to government surveillance, racial profiling, civil rights violations, even physical violence.  The irrationality and vileness of this abuse does not, however, render the claims of Islam true.  Nor does it excuse the human rights abuses, racism, sexism, and homophobia that Muslims have committed, often in the name of Islam.  Ex-Muslims have frequently been the most ill-served, experiencing both the racism and sexism of Western societies and the gynophobia, racism, and emotional and physical abuse that exist within many Muslim communities and homes.