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Case Studies — Stories of Success

Here you can find case studies of our work in practice: the stories of challenges we face, examples of our successes, and how we work to provide positive solutions.

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Case Study / 20 October 2021

Mahmoud’s journey to freedom

How we helped a Somali professor persecuted for blasphemy and apostasy to reach safety.

The persecution

In 2019, Professor Mahmoud Jama Ahmed became the target of religious fundamentalists because of his criticism of Islam. Arrested in March 2019, he spent 307 days in jail on blasphemy charges. After being released on presidential pardon in February 2020, some Imams started preaching that Mahmoud should be killed, because he am an ‘apostate of Islam’ and apostates should be killed even if they repent.

One year in hiding

Mahmoud and his family left Somalia and found shelter in a neighbouring country, where they lived in hiding for one long year thanks to the support of Humanists International, who provided financial assistance.

Safety

In April 2021, Mahmoud and his family managed to resettle to a safe country, where they are slowly rebuilding their lives. As confirmed by Mahmoud himself: "All this could not have been possible without the support of Humanists International."

The persecution
One year in hiding
Safety
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Case Study / 20 October 2021

Providing free mental health therapy to ex-Muslims at risk

An example of how we support our Members and Associates around the world through our Growth & Development Plan.

Membership application

Faithless Hijabi was established in October 2018 and since then the organization helped hundreds of ex-Muslims from all over the world to overcome the challenges related to leaving Islam. In July 2020, Faithless Hijabi applied for membership with Humanists International. On 16 October 2020, the General Assembly ratified their membership: Faithless Hijabi is officially an Associate of Humanists International.

The grant

In December 2020, Humanists International announced the 2021 Grants Scheme. Faithless Hijabi applied for a grant for their Mental Health Program. After careful evaluation, the Grants Committee of Humanists International awarded £5,000 to support the project.

Project implementation

After receiving the first half of the grant, the Mental Health Program received a significant boost, managing to support more than 20 ex-Muslims in developing countries between March and October 2021.

Membership application
The grant
Project implementation
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Case Study / 11 July 2019

Forming a coalition against “blasphemy” laws

In the aftermath of a terrorist attack, we co-founded a campaign to End Blasphemy Laws worldwide.

A response to tragedy

We have always campaigned against "blasphemy" laws. But in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo in January 2015, Humanists International and several other organizations wanted to redouble and pool their efforts to oppose "blasphemy" laws, in favour of freedom of expression.

Forming a coalition

With several organizations all considering new efforts at exposing the dangers of "blasphemy" allegations and the laws under which they are prosecuted, we co-founded an international coalition of rights groups, including freedom of expression advocates and groups including both religious and humanist or other non-religious perspectives.

Launching the End Blasphemy Laws campaign

By the end of that month the coalition was able to launch a new campaign site, hosted by Humanists International. The End Blasphemy Laws campaign uses data adapted from our Freedom of Thought Report to provide information on "blasphemy" used by activists around the world. With our coalition partners with continue to coordinate on campaign actions, aimed at abolishing "blasphemy" laws worldwide.

A response to tragedy
Forming a coalition
Launching the End Blasphemy Laws campaign
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Case Study / 5 July 2019

Monitoring discrimination against the non-religious

A report on discrimination and persecution against humanists, atheists, and the non-religious.

An invisible minority

Humanists, atheists and the non-religious face discrimination in many countries. In very religious societies or authoritarian regimes they can be targeted for speaking out. Yet the idea of a non-religious minority facing their own distinct set of issues was little talked about by human rights bodies. We wanted to change that.

Our flagship report

We worked with our member organizations and volunteers to produce a new annual human rights report: The Freedom of Thought Report. First published in 2012, the report considers every country in the world, documenting discriminatory laws and overt persecution specifically against non-religious people.

Increased understanding and influence

The Freedom of Thought Report has become the go-to place to find out more about human rights violations and discrimination faced by non-religious people. It is quoted in UN reports, books on human rights law, and utilized by human rights activists and NGOs.

An invisible minority
Our flagship report
Increased understanding and influence
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Case Study / 2 July 2019

Humanists Liberia: how we helped to establish a new national organization

How do new groups start without contacts or resources? We can help.

First steps

In Janury 2019 a Liberian humanist wrote to us saying, "I am contemplating on starting a humanist organization in Liberia." We began by providing helpful guides on running a humanist group, assisting with the development of a visual identity, and promoting the group's new social media accounts.

International membership and Café Humaniste

Humanists Liberia was welcomed into the membership of Humanists International and then received three grants from our Café Humaniste programme to organize three different events.

The legal registration

In April 2020 Humanists Liberia managed to be officially recognised by the State as an organization. This great news comes during the lock down, while members of Humanists Liberia are doing their best to support their community.

First steps
International membership and Café Humaniste
The legal registration
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Case Study / 1 February 2019

Café Humaniste

A series of events to spark debate and form new connections.

How to help new groups to grow?

New organizations can struggle to bring people together, especially in countries where 'humanism' may not be an established term. We asked ourselves: how can we help new humanist groups to get their first events running?

Creating an events program

We created a new "Café Humaniste" brand for events events discussing issues of national or international importance, where humanists could come together in a freethinking spirit to share their ideas.

How to organise a Café Humaniste

We reached out to new and developing humanist groups in our network, offering advice, grant funding and other support to run new events and help them to perform their own outreach to potential supporters locally.

How to help new groups to grow?
Creating an events program
How to organise a Café Humaniste
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