Dutch former Muslims distance themselves from Muslim critic

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On Monday a group of former Muslims publicly distanced themselves from Muslim critic Ehsan Jami. They also denied people who renounce Islam are threatened by Muslim fundamentalists.

Speaking at a press conference deliberately set in the Moroccan El Oumma Mosque in Amsterdam on Monday, the three Iranian-born former Muslims said they have never been threatened by anyone after renouncing their faith.

The press conference was a response to the Declaration of Tolerance due to be signed on Tuesday, September 11, by the Committee for Former Muslims.

This committee was recently founded by 22-year old Jami, also born in Iran, as a means to overcome what Jami called "persistent taboos" in Muslim society about leaving the faith.

Jami, also a member of the city council for Labour in Leidschendam-Voorburg near The Hague, lives in a so-called safe house in a secret location.

He was placed under heavy personal security after being attacked for the third time on August 4.

But at the press conference on Monday, the three Iranian atheists denied people who leave Islam are necessarily exposed to violence or threats.

Behnam Taebi said there was no wave of violence against former Muslims.

"There have been some incidents, but the hunting season on former Muslims has not been opened," Taebi said.

He added he and his friends want to distance themselves publicly from Muslim critic Jami, whom they say is being too "provocative."

They were particularly critical of Jami's plans to sign his Declaration of Tolerance in The Hague on Tuesday, September 11.

Jami is signing the declaration publicly, together with the presidents of other committees of former Muslims from various European countries.

By picking the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York to sign his declaration, Jami is effectively equating all Muslims with terrorists, Peyman Jafari told reporters.

Jafari, who calls himself an "atheist," added, "Muslims and non- Muslims should not be played off against each other."

The three said they have no plans to establish a second committee for former Muslims, simply because, they say, unfaithful Muslims do not have a structural problem.

They added they hope to debate the issue with Jami and his supporters. dpa rl wjh