Paris, July 8, 2013
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The main purpose of the new movement is the struggle of former members of the Muslim community who have become atheists and criticism of Islam. "We are a group of atheists and non-believers who repeatedly faced threats; many of us were arrested for blasphemy," said the founders of the council.
They have chosen as their "symbol" Chevalier de la Barre, a young French aristocrat who was executed on July 1, 1766, "for singing mocking songs in the presence of a Church procession." For French people, the history with de la Barre is a warning against any demonstration of religious intolerance.
Waleed Al-Husseini, a Palestine blogger who was arrested for several months in 2010 on charges of a blasphemous Internet-activity, is considered by the members of the movement as a true "hero". There are natives from Morocco, Algeria, Pakistan, Iran, Senegal and other countries among the members of the council of former Muslims.
The council's emblem is a white contour of France with a
red crescent and blue letters "EX". Similar
councils exist on the territories of Germany and Great
Britain