I agree with you, the struggle of leaving Islam in legal and social. i have few exchristian friends and their experience leaving the relligion is not as difficult as mine. However for me i have to leave my country of origion and now i am socially isolated.

@Fatemah I was raised N of Detroit in a predominantly Jewish community. My closest friend was Chaldean, Christian from Iraq with three older brothers, born and raised in Iraq. My friend met and wanted to marry a widowed Catholic of N European descent and it took her years to share this with her brothers. They reconciled to this over time but she was fully aware how fortunate she was that her brothers were progressive. I don't know how/when I first became aware of Arab women being killed for...well, being human, having feelings and acting on their own instincts. I've had many Arab friends/acquaintances over the years.
You will make friends here, Fatemah and find support. We all can learn from you and hopefully, you'll feel less isolated. Are you both Arab and Muslim? I hope you'll share what you're comfortable with, publicly or privately. It's nice to meet you! I'd imagine you are one courageous woman!

Gareth...I suspect that Fatimah has a different set of circumstances than many of us and I for one hope that eventually she will share...if not in this post then over time. Things we can learn from one another. HUGS and forgive me for wanting this discussion to go in a different direction...

what do you mean im not serious?

i think sometimes it depends, like my struggle was a bit different than other ex-muslims. i was more socially affected maybe because when i left Islam i was already living in Canada!

@Fatemah different than other ex-muslims in what way? Is it your own family or the muslim community at large you feel isolated from, both? Are you also feeling isolated leaving Islam and living in Canada? The more we know, the more we understand. Every persons journey is different. I am curious and hope my questions don't feel nosy. Answer or ignore questions on this site is not rude.

@crazycurlz i guess my family is different than the main stream back home. i grew up feeling Islam is just bunch of social activities we do at home. my parents didnt go to the mosque unless it is specific religous events. i'm isolated from my family just for the fact being here alone. and isolated from the Arab commuinty in canda just for being not muslim. i'm building bridges with people likeminded from different backgrounds, it is kinda tough as you don't have any base to build on.

@crazycurlz i heared from other ex-muslim they were kicked of parents house, sent back home when they are living in a western country, or abused emotionally and physically. even in the western countries were we think we are safe to leave Islam some people are not safe situations.

@Fatemah You know very well that in parts of the world leaving Islam means death. For most other religions it's a little social awkwardness or family hostility at worse.

@Gareth here's the thing. I think most people coming out of Arab/Muslim countries have been brainwashed in a medieval kind of way. Call me naive, but is it possible that it takes time to 'acclimate' when you leave that kind of environment?

@crazycurlz I'm addressing the question, not a hypothetical back-story.

@Gareth true i agree. this is what i said on previous comments!

@Gareth, @crazycurlz yeah it is possible it all depends on the amount of damage religion done in the first place. i can say from my experience the majority stay in Islam for its social benefit,fear of isolation, persecution. those who do,have different circumstances, some of them leave everything behid and start new life some of them would be struggling with minor issues.

@Gareth okay. Consider me 'told'

@Fatemah '...the majority stay in Islam for fear of persecution'. That's Islam, Fatemah, in your words. That's not Judaism and although Christianity is based on belief in Jesus or don't belong, the medieval period of Christianity ended centuries ago and Christianity no longer persecutes in the way Islam does. Islam is in the dark ages still. I can imagine you feel isolated. And I can imagine that you understand the fear that many people in the West feel at the thought that Islam is spreading in the US/UK/Europe?

@crazycurlz i completely understand and agree. There is huge discussion on that with my exmuslim friendsand among exmuslim , who live in the west. unfortunately Liberal potiticians in the west like to see it as balck and white issue. either you treat Islam with respect and give it free pass because it is minority or you are conservative racist (even though Islam not a race). all of us who left Islam and live in the west are concerned of this spead of Islam and its backward ideology. it is not a secret but Liberal politicians want to do this for political gain. we left their countries and now they are following us.

@Fatemah I agree with you...there are too many people in positions of power who slant reality in order to influence others. This is what trump's sidekick coined 'alternative facts'. We are all in this together anyway. Everyone of us trying to separate reality from insanity. So, at the very least, I hope you will begin to feel that you are not alone through all of this. My parents were first generation American. My paternal grandfather came from Greece at age 14, alone. My maternal grandparents were Jewish from Poland. My great grandfather was killed in his bed and my great grandmother died in the camps. My parents raised us without religion. But they also raised us in a predominantly Jewish but very mixed community. So my best friend was Chaldean from Iraq. I totally understand the immigrant mind and how hard it is for children, too. Feel free to email me if you ever want to. So many interesting, intelligent people here. I hope you'll continue to share and in time, you'll find your peace, too!

@crazycurlz thanks my dear.