Ahmed Harkan
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Ahmed Hussein Harkan (born 10 December 1982) is an Egyptian atheist human rights activist.
Ahmed Harkan grew up in a Muslim family oriented toward the Salafi movement in Islam. He received religious education from the Islamic scholar Ahmed Al-Burhami. He spent a large part of his youth as an ultra-conservative Salafist and "Muslim fundamentalist". In 2010 Harkan abandoned Islam after a long period of doubt about his religious practices and beliefs. The transformation took its toll on Harkan and led him to burn all his religious certificates and start his education from scratch.[1]
Since then Harkan has been among the few non-believers in Egypt, who has dared to speak openly about being atheist and Harkan has appeared on several Egyptian talk shows to speak about non-religious rights. In a TV-show on the channel Al-Kahera Wal-Nas on October 21, 2014, Harkan explained why he had become an atheist and said that Islam is a "harsh religion," which was being implemented by ISIS and Boko Haram. They are doing "what the Prophet Muhammad and his companions did," said Harkan. The TV-show was Taht al Koubry (under the bridge) with Tony Khalife [2][3][4]
Assassination attempt and arrest
According to media reports, Harkan and his pregnant wife, Nada Mandour (Saly) Harkan, survived an assassination attempt 4 days later - in the evening of October 25, 2014. Harkan managed to flee with his wife after having some injuries and went to the Alhanafie–Alajlany police station to report the incident along with their friend Karim Jimy. Instead of taking action to help Harkan and his wife, the police officers further assaulted them and they were imprisoned charged with blasphemy and "defamation of religion" under article 98 in the Egyptian penal code for asking "What has ISIS done that Muhammad did not do?” on a popular Egyptian television talk show.[5] Harkan's lawyer was humiliated and kicked out of the police station.[1]
Eventually Ahmad and Saly Harkan, and their friend Kareem Jimy were released and charges against them were dropped.
References
- ^ a b Rachael Black. "Freedom to Ahmed Harkan, Saly Harkan, and Karim Jimy". Richard Dawkins Foundation. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ^ "Egyptian Human Rights Activist Ahmad Harkan: ISIS Is Doing what the Prophet Muhammad Did". YouTube. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ "حلقة (القاهرة والناس) عن الملحدين - YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ "This is what happened to Ahmed, this is what's happening in Egypt - - Amine Boukhliq's Blog - مدونة امين بوخليق -". - Amine Boukhliq's Blog - مدونة امين بوخليق -. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ^ David D. Kirkpatrick (8 January 2015). "Raising Questions Within Islam After France Shooting". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 January 2015.