Atheism in Islam is still a hard nut to crack specially for women who are constantly under a strict family surveillance. This applies to modern Muslim women as well. They are expected to dress a certain way (modest they say), not loiter post Maghrib, and be constantly sheltered- home to school/college/office and back home. They, however, do go out with friends to party but by no means can they touch drinks at the bar because its prohibited and they have to return back home. With little or no control over their own life, the entire women community in India struggle with this constant need of being pious and maintaining their sanctity since they are burdened with being the “honor of the family”. Ewwww, Patriarchy!





Then comes those who have given up on religion but have not “come-out” yet. No. Not about their sexuality. Their already collapsed belief. Why? Precisely because leaving a close-knit belief-based system often results in parental disappointment, rejection by relatives and friends. It gets extremely difficult and lonely for atheist ex-Muslim to put their views because they are accused of trying to assimilate into a Western culture and those who do face stigma and even threats of violence Therefore, a crumbled faith still do not have any space in Indian Muslim families.

Image by Chandrashekar Hosakere Matt

And now coming to this sudden lock down for prevention of Covid-19 pandemic has drawn a difficult line to walk for atheist (ex-Muslim) women specially those who haven’t disclosed their religious non-conformity to their family yet. Indian Muslim families are rightly scared of their religion being under rampant attack. Thanks to the lynchings, hate speeches, and oh-so-dramatic Godi Media. Hate is not only being openly preached but also being spread at a much faster pace. There is media that constantly spews-out images of oppressed Muslim women and angry Muslim men. Under such circumstances, they grow even more defensive and closer to their religion because it is the religion which is under the strike and they think they have to save it from these hate mongrels. Such fear clubbed with patriarchy it is not wrong to say that most Muslim women hardly get to put their opinions forward and if this opinion comes from an atheist point of you- God help you! (Haha! Irony)





Muslim women who identify as free thinkers, rebels and atheists, are surely having a hard time living with their family during this lock down. Team Beghairat spoke to one such woman who is a student of Jamia Millia Islamia about her experience being locked down with super orthodox and religious parents. Anjum (identity concealed) explained, “The lock down is suffocating for me. For me leaving religion means leaving my family. I cannot even think of the outcome of telling them that I am not a believer anymore. So, I offer namaz and read the Quran everyday when my mother asks me to do so. My mental health is getting compromised because I am being unintentionally forced by my parents to do something that I now despise.”





Anjum began to doubt her religious convictions while she was reading political science as part of her bachelors at the age of 21. Five years from then, she is now working in a multi-national firm in Mumbai and still hasn’t come out to her family. She added, “I didn’t become an atheist overnight. It was a long and tedious process that went on for about two years or so. Being an atheist in my family is dangerous. My parents will start doubting my dating life. They will think that it is because I am dating a boy from the Hindu faith. I don’t want them to hate him before they even get to know him. He has not influenced me in any way, in fact, I met him after I had given up religion.” Now this, right here, poses even a bigger question- Why does a woman’s choice always confused with “influence”.





During this lockdown, Anjum excitedly spoke before signing off that she came up with a fabulous idea for a brighter future of atheist women in India who were Muslims. “I will become a social media influencer or a politician and advocate for the rights of atheists’ in this country,” she said. This clearly explains that she and many like her want their families to be more supportive and respectful of their religious opinions so that they never have to deal with the mental pressure of choosing religion or family- it is a stupid but tough choice, after all. Team Beghairat couldn't help but smile and wished her all the best for future!





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