GETTY Members of the Council of ex-Muslims of Britain took to the streets of the capital

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Members of the Council of ex-Muslims of Britain took to the streets of the capital with a series of controversial banners, in a public display of unity. Among their least controversial signs were: “We’re here. We’re kaffir [unbelievers]. Get used to it”, “Celebrating apostasy,” and “Make LGBT rights universal”. They also displayed a list of Muslim states that punish homosexuality with the death penalty – including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen and Pakistan. The group’s march of protest was met with outrage from devout worshippers and British Muslim organisations, but the group rejected criticism of their actions, saying: “We don’t need your permission to march for LGBT rights or the rights of apostates.”

Despite being met with heavy criticism, the controversial group’s spokesman Jimmy Bangash confirmed that members of the Council of ex-Muslims would continue to loudly protest the persecution of minorities within Islam and any other faith groups. He added: “If religion is legislating against people, like gays, we will challenge that. And we will challenge that boldly. “We will challenge that in meaningful ways, holding signs that provoke thought.” Human rights activist Peter Tatchell backed Mr Bangash’s sentiments, arguing that the group’s participation in the LGBT protest was justified. He said: “Hatred against people is always wrong, whether they’d be Muslim or anyone else. "But criticising bigoted intolerant ideas is entirely right and proper.”

In a show of public support for the group, Mr Tatchell said the group was merely “targeting Islamist homophobia, [not] Muslim people or even Islam, in general.” He added: “The Council of ex-Muslims has never criticised or condemned Muslim people. It has only condemned and criticised Islamist extremists, who advocate hatred and violence against LGBT people.” During a televised debate on Russia Today, Mohammed Shafiq - chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation - described the Council of ex-Muslims as a “rampant Islamophobic organisation” that has made its mission “to demonise Islam and the religious beliefs of Muslims.” The Ramadhan Foundation is a Muslim group that works to promote a peaceful co-existence between all communities living in Britain.

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Mr Shafiq added: “Let’s just say, is there a council of ex-Christians? Is there a Council of ex-Jews? A Council of ex-Hindus? A Council of ex-Sikhs?”, adding that it was puzzling to him that people who opted to cut ties with Islam continued to meddle is Muslim affairs. He said: “Let’s accept that they’ve got a right to leave Islam – then why are they constantly obsessed about Islam? "They need to get a life. Move on. Enjoy their life and their ‘new freedom’ as they tell us.”

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