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.  Click here to watch on YouTube Find Haram Doodles: Twitter: https://x.com/HaramDoodles IG: @haramdoodles   Official website: https://haramdoodles.com We want to meet you in real life!  Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION!  Click here to go to the official booking page Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness  Host Instagram @sheliseann  Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_  TikTok @cults.to.consciousness  Twitter @cultstocon  **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.** 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices