What is an Ex-Muslim?

Ex-Muslim

/Ex’mʊzlɪm/
noun.

A person who used to believe in Islam but has since left the religion.


Commonly confused with: undercover Mossad agent, paid Christian actor, secret Hindu.

What does it mean to be an Ex-Muslim?

Put simply, Ex-Muslims are people who have left Islam, regardless of their current beliefs. They may identify as atheist, agnostic, or follow a different religion. Aside from leaving Islam, there is no single brush that can be used to paint all Ex-Muslims, as they are not a homogenous group.

Why do people call themselves ‘Ex-Muslims’?

For most Muslims, leaving Islam is thought to be the worst thing a person could ever do. Many don’t realise that leaving is an option, or that life beyond Islam can be fulfilling and meaningful.

As of 2025, leaving Islam is punishable by death in 10 countries.

Aside from legal repercussions, people who question, criticise and/or renounce Islam also risk facing disownment, shunning, threats, stalking, violence, and even murder. This is not unique to the Muslim world and occurs widely across the West, too.

To challenge this stigma and normalise religious dissent, some people refer to themselves as an Ex-Muslim. Others use the term to capture their complex journey with religion, while some choose to avoid the label altogether.

Why do people leave Islam?

There is no universal reason why Ex-Muslims leave Islam. However, according to EXMNA’s Apostate Report, the following factors were identified as common reasons why people choose to leave:

  • Conflicts between Islam and human rights

  • Conflicts between Islam and science

  • Logical contradictions and conceptions of God

  • Internal inconsistencies in the scripture

Common Misconceptions

  • Hi. I’m an Ex-Muslim. We exist. You can watch my story here.

  • Leaving, disagreeing with or critiquing a religion is not the same as hating all of its followers.

    While Ex-Muslims may not be a homogenous group, the vast majority of us stand firmly against anti-Muslim bigotry. In fact, many Ex-Muslims still experience anti-Muslim bigotry themselves. Many of us also have family and friends who are still Muslim. We were once Muslim.

    A person does not automatically hate Muslims as a collective just because they left Islam.

  • Ex-Muslims are constantly accused of leaving Islam to have premarital sex, drink, take drugs and dress “immodestly”.

    In reality, data from the EXMNA Apostate Report shows that the most common reasons to leave Islam include:

    • Conflicts between Islam and human rights

    • Inconsistencies between Islam and science

    • Logical contradictions and conceptions of God

    • Issues with Islamic scripture

  • According to the EXMNA Apostate Report, 60% of Ex-Muslims stated that their experience with the Muslim community had no impact whatsoever on their choice to leave Islam.

    While the remaining 40% stated their experience with the community was somewhat of a contributing factor, 0% identified it as one of the main reasons they left Islam.

  • Though you may not see what happens behind closed doors, Ex-Muslims in the West can also face disownment, shunning, threats, blackmail, stalking, homelessness, violence, and even honour killing.

    The risks posed to Ex-Muslims by their family and community must never be underestimated. If an Ex-Muslim is publicly outspoken against Islam, or is seen to be “promoting apostasy”, they may also be at risk of vigilante violence by members of the public.

  • While Ex-Muslims identify all across the political spectrum, and right leaning Ex-Muslims definitely do exist, data from the EXMNA Apostate Report suggests that approximately:

    • 66% of Ex-Muslims identify as progressive

    • 28% of Ex-Muslims identify as centrist

    • 6% of Ex-Muslims identify as conservative

  • Contrary to popular belief, leaving Islam is not a lucrative money-making business. People who come forward about their apostasy are not receiving any money to do so. They are simply people who want to share their story, normalise dissent and challenge religious stigma.