Former Muslims United: Tallahassee, Wednesday March 10

We just received the following press release from Former Muslims United:

Former Muslims Speak Out About Muslim Day
At the Florida State Capitol:

A Panel Discussion With:

• Nonie Darwish
  
• Jerry Gordon
  
• Shaheryar S. Gill
  
• Rabbi Jonathan Hausman

Nonie Darwish and Jerry Gordon are directors of Former Muslims United, Incorporated. Former Muslims United is a new civil rights organization formed in late 2009 to advocate for the rights to religious freedom and freedom of speech for people who have left Islam. Under the Islamic Shariah legal doctrine, Muslims are not permitted to leave Islam. Under Shariah law former Muslims may be the victims of extra-judicial violence, forced divorce, discrimination and murder. Former Muslims are denied free speech under Shariah law, as numerous Shariah authorities describe any criticism of Islam or Shariah by former Muslims as “treason.”

[Further information about this event, including details about time and place, is below the jump.]
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Where:		IMAX Theatre
		www.challengertlh.com
		200 South Duval Street
		Tallahassee, FL 32301-1738
		(850) 644-4629
When:		3:00 to 4:00 PM
		March 10, 2010
Contact:		Nonie Darwish (866) 760-6682
		Jerry Gordon (866) 898-7994

In the fall of 2009, Former Muslims United mailed copies of the “Freedom Pledge,” asking Muslims to repudiate the Shariah law consensus permitting execution of apostates from Islam, to more than 111 Muslim American leaders of 50 organizations. Only two pledges were returned from Dr. M. Zhudi Jasser of the American Forum for Islam and Democracy and Dr. Ali Ayami, executive director of the Washington, DC — based, Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Saudi Arabia. A press conference was held by FMU on February 18, 2010 at the House Rayburn Office Building in Washington, DC presenting these findings. FMU directors, Nonie Darwish, Wafa Sultan and Amil Imani answered questions about the Freedom Pledge campaign, the mission and activities of this civil rights organization for former Muslims.

In late February, 2010, FMU sent Freedom Pledge requests to 47 Florida Muslim leaders, including Ahmed Bedier, founder of United Voices for America (UVA) and former Tampa Council of American Relations (CAIR) chapter executive director, four Florida CAIR Chapter executive directors and the leaders of 42 Mosques in Florida. The results of the Florida FMU pledge campaign will be presented at the America On Guard briefing for State legislators and staff on Wednesday, March 10 organized by the Florida Security Council in opposition to Muslim Day at the Florida Capitol. The America On Guard briefing on March 10 is part of a two day program of events sponsored by the Florida Security Council.

FMU has submitted cases of threats and discrimination to the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice and has assisted in several individual cases of former Muslims seeking help. FMU has issued a proposal to the Islamic Society of North America to conduct a parallel session on “Civil Rights, Social Justice, and the Rights of Former Muslims to Religious Freedom and Freedom of Speech in America” at the ISNA July 2-5, 2010 Annual Convention.

At the Tallahassee, Florida America On Guard briefing, FMU and ACLJ panelists will discuss the ongoing threats to civil rights of former Muslims and their plans to expand their activities on behalf of former Muslims in the U.S. and worldwide.

Copies of the list of individuals and organizations that have been mailed the Freedom Pledge in the State of Florida will be provided at the Tallahassee, Florida event.

For more information, contact Nonie Darwish at (866) 760-6682

Email: info@formermuslimsunited.org

www.formermuslimsunited.org