Apostasy and Honour-Based Abuse in Britain

Join us for a panel discussion exploring the shared experiences of those who have faced apostasy-related violence, honour-based abuse and family disownment. Hear from survivors who have experienced and escaped these abuses and are now living free from harm. Learn from experts who work with victims and raise awareness of these highly sensitive issues.

Panellists

Aliyah Saleem was born into a Pakistani Sunni family and was educated at an Islamic girls' private boarding school in Nottingham, before studying Islamic theology in Pakistan. In 2015 she co-founded Faith to Faithless to raise awareness of apostasy which became a programme of the national charity Humanists UK. Aliyah is an advocate for secular education and in 2018 published her first book, ‘Leaving Faith Behind’.

Ste is an ex-Jehovah's Witness and comes from a long line of prominent elders in the faith. His great grandfather was one of the first Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Caribbean. After leaving the religion in 2007 Ste was disowned by his family and made homeless. Ste hosts regular meet-ups for apostates and is a French and Japanese translator.

Teddy Prout is an ex-evangelical Christian. 'Born again' at 16 years old he struggled with the theological condemnation of being gay while identifying as a gay Christian. He was repeatedly offered gay conversion therapy throughout his time in the church. He left the religion in his mid-30s. Teddy is the Director for Community Services at Humanists UK.

Zee is a British-born survivor of forced child marriage. Raised in Bradford, the youngest of five, and the only girl, she was promised at birth to a man she had never met in Afghanistan. She ran away from home at 13 years old, and never went back.

Will Bose manages the Faith to Faithless programme for Humanists UK. He is the vice-chair of Karma Nirvana, a national charity that has supported victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage for 25 years. In 2018 Will co-chaired the Girls Not Brides UK campaign, part of a global coalition set up to end child marriage funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Following the discussion, there will be an opportunity for Q&A with the panel.