ExMuslim Activist Speaks Out: Why She Remains Closeted After Leaving Islam

One of her first public appearances unmasked, South Asian ExMuslim, Haram Doodles, recounts what it was like growing up with a life of restriction and fear from her parents, her culture, and God. She reveals the details of why and how she ultimately left Islam. Speaking out now on social media as an artist and ExMuslim Atheist, her art is a collection of haram (forbidden) doodles that advocate in solidarity with other courageous ExMuslims who’ve left Islam as a protest of Islam's strict restrictions. She tells her story to spread the word about Ex-Muslim Awareness Month this December.

Find Haram Doodles:
Twitter: https://x.com/HaramDoodles
IG:   / haramdoodles  
Official website: https://haramdoodles.com

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00:03:26 Haram's life growing up as a child to immigrant parents and a Muslim
00:06:21 Planting seeds of doubt with the dinosaurs
00:08:38 Haram's teen years living with cognitive dissonance and finding ways to grow socially
00:10:58 What pun*shments looked like for Haram growing up
00:11:53 Haram's anxiety about doing the wrong thing and the pressure to answer to a higher power
00:14:27 How learning about other religions gave Haram some perspective on the world
00:16:24 The differences between how men and women are treated in Islam
00:20:45 What the Quran says about women and how Haram felt about it before and after college
00:23:47 How purity culture and modesty rules in Islam are viewed as protection for women
00:27:47 Haram's experience with facing marriage early, how college allowed her to put it off, and the rules she faced around going to school
00:30:23 Religious reasoning for young women and girls getting married
00:33:31 Studying the Quran in college from a professor who was also a Muslim
00:38:01 How women inflict gender roles onto themselves under the influence of Islam
00:40:37 How did Haram's mother feel about her role as a Muslim woman
00:43:22 Shaming others for not practicing Islam
00:43:46 Figuring out what is means to be an American Muslim
00:44:07 Figuring out what is means to be an American Muslim
00:46:07 The lack of support and shaming from Haram's family for not following a Muslim lifestyle
00:48:12 The difficulties of a lack of individuality for Muslim women
00:49:29 TW: Su*cidal ideation
00:51:51 How Haram met her husband and why she started Haram Doodles
00:57:39 What Haram Doodles has done for Haram and her followers
01:00:08 How Haram's drawings can help activate a person's critical thinking in a softer way
01:03:03 Finding bravery in her work as an artist
01:05:01 Haram's moment of freedom in Norway
01:11:54 Truly listening and seeing ex-Muslims for who they are and not for their choice to leave Islam and ex-Muslim awareness month
01:14:22 How Haram is doing now
01:16:22 Taking back power over your own body
01:19:38 Linda, listen

Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

*Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.*