Help us, help others or yourself!
In 2014 a Freedom of Information request to UK police forces revealed that over 11,000 cases of ‘honour’ crime were recorded between 2010-14. Before accessing support, victims at risk of HBV experienced abuse for 2 years longer
(5 years vs 3 years) than those not identified as at risk of HBV.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of victims at risk of HBV were not eligible for most benefits. 68% of victims at risk of HBV were at high risk of serious harm or homicide, compared to 55% of those not identified as at risk of HBV.
We understand that leaving or questioning a faith can be a difficult and complicated process, and we are committed to providing support and care for individuals who are dealing with the challenges that come with this decision.
Many ExMuslims fear abandonment, ostracism, and persecution if they openly leave their religion. In many Muslim-majority countries, being an apostate or publicly questioning one’s faith is a crime that is punishable by imprisonment, torture, or even death. This fear of persecution can lead to extreme levels of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health issues. ExMuslims who announce their departure from their religion may face ostracism, shunning, and other forms of rejection from their families and communities. In some cases, they may even face violence or persecution from the state or community.
The fear of this kind of abuse can lead ExMuslims to live double lives, hiding their true beliefs and pretending to continue practicing their religion in order to avoid rejection and persecution. This can be emotionally taxing and can lead to mental health issues. At Faithless Hijabi, we understand the challenges that ExMuslims face and we are committed to providing support and care for individuals who are dealing with these challenges.
Yes, we support LGBTQ+ ExMuslims too!
Our focus is on providing support for individuals who face ostracism and persecution for their beliefs, particularly in countries where being an apostate or part of the LGBTQ+ community poses a significant risk to one’s safety. This includes countries in the Middle East, where both apostasy and homosexuality are criminalized. We have built a network of trusted therapists who have experience in dealing with religious trauma and who speak Arabic and English. This has been extremely helpful for ExMuslims in the region who also identify as LGBTQ+, as they often face additional challenges related to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Our therapists are trained to work with these individuals and help them overcome the stigma of mental health, providing them with the support they need to cope with the challenges they face.
We sponsor 12 therapy sessions per referral to help ExMuslims access the care they need.
Our aim is to help people from Muslim backgrounds defeat the stigma of mental health and bring them closer to understanding that there is help out there. We want to be able to provide them with the support they need to overcome the challenges they face and live happy and fulfilling lives.
Our affiliate org Trauma Treatment international provides trauma specific therapy to survivors of torture, war and state persecution, in this case specifically to ExMuslims who have been through extreme trauma.
Therapy Better and Cherry Tree Clinic are UK based clinic providing psychotherapy sessions to clients referred by Faithless Hijabi in English.
Brainstation clinic located in Lebanon offers psychotherapy for clients that speak Arabic.
If you’re looking to join the program to receive this benefit, please email mhprogram@faithlesshijabi.org to join the program or fill out the form below to be contacted
Please note: Our mental health program is not a crisis center and is not equipped to provide immediate assistance for individuals who are at risk of suicide or experiencing a mental health emergency. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency center.
We run on minimal grants, your donation is highly valuable to us
Partnered Clinics
Trauma Treatment International (TTI) is a UK registered charity founded in 2017 by Dr Brock Chisholm, Dr Katy Robjant and Polly Rossdale, leading experts in the fields of human rights, trauma and organised violence.
All of TTI’s work is rooted in evidence-based best practice, carried out by a global network of clinical psychologists. This associate pool is made up of experts who are highly experienced in delivering trauma treatment through individual therapy, group support and community-based therapies.
Brainstation‘s mission is to raise awareness about the importance of mental health, to break the stigma in the Arab World, and to help as many clients/patients as possible deal with mental health problems affecting their daily life and reach their full potential using evidence-based/scientific therapy approaches (CBT – DBT – ACT – IPT – Schema-focused CBT and others).
Brainstation provides therapy in English or Arabic.
Therapy Better is a UK based online platform founded in 2021 that provides users the confidential support of a licensed therapist virtually. Their areas of clinical interest include rape victims, religious trauma, complex trauma, depression, anxiety, physical/sexual abuse, gender & sexual diversity and LGBTQIA support.
The therapy is client driven where therapists work cooperatively with clients to assist them in finding their own path to personal development and positive change. They utilize cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and psychodynamic therapeutic approaches when working with clients.
Luke is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from the United States. He has worked for international universities in Iraq and China providing mental health counseling to students and staff. Luke’s areas of clinical interest include complex trauma, gender based violence, child abuse and religious oppression. He is a clinical fellow at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Luke has worked extensively with women and men from Muslim backgrounds, including ExMuslims.
