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My name is Dolly, and I am an ex-Muslim and a lesbian activist. I had to leave my home country, Egypt, to seek asylum in Tbilisi because my life was in danger. I was outed as a lesbian, and not only was I threatened by Islamists, but my Salafist family also posed a risk to my safety. I had to leave behind everything I knew, including my family and friends, and start a new life in a foreign country. This was not an easy decision, but it was necessary for me to live my life authentically and safely.
Since arriving in Tbilisi, I have faced many challenges, including financial struggles. As an asylum seeker, I do not have the same access to employment opportunities as citizens, and it has been difficult to make ends meet. However, despite these challenges, I have continued my activism in Tbilisi. I have joined local LGBTQ+ groups and participated in demonstrations, hoping to make a difference in this new community. It has been a difficult journey, but I am proud of the progress I have made so far.
Looking back, I realize how far I have come from the scared, isolated person I once was. I am grateful for the support I have received from my new community and the strength I have found within myself. I know that there are still many challenges ahead, but I am determined to continue fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and creating a better, more accepting world for us all.
In Egypt, being an ex-Muslim and a member of the LGBTQ+ community can lead to severe persecution, as the country lacks laws protecting the rights of these individuals. The situation is even worse for those who are both ex-Muslims and members of the LGBTQ+ community, as they are considered apostates and are often subjected to violence and death threats.
The government is known to target and harass individuals who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and they are often denied the right to marry, adopt children, or receive healthcare. Moreover, the government has been known to conduct arbitrary arrests and detainment of LGBTQ+ individuals, with some being subjected to torture and abuse while in custody.
To make matters worse, there is little support for these individuals from their families or communities, as homosexuality is often seen as a taboo topic and ex-Muslims are shunned by many. This leaves many activists with no choice but to flee the country and seek asylum in other nations where they can live safely.
As an activist who is both an ex-Muslim and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I had to leave behind everything I knew in Egypt to start a new life in Tbilisi. This was a difficult decision, as I had to leave behind my family, friends, and the work I had been doing to fight for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals in Egypt. However, I knew that I could not continue my work in Egypt without putting myself in danger, and so I made the difficult decision to leave.
As an ex-Muslim and Lesbian activist, I face a unique set of challenges in addition to the general struggles of being an asylum seeker. In Egypt, being a member of the LGBTQ+ community is considered a crime, and ex-Muslims are often targeted with violence and death threats.
To escape these threats, I had to leave everything I knew behind and seek asylum in Tbilisi, Georgia. While I am grateful to be in a safer environment, I still face discrimination and barriers as an asylum seeker and as a member of these marginalized communities.
One of the biggest barriers I face is finding employment. Many employers are hesitant to hire an asylum seeker, and even if they do, the pay is often insufficient to cover basic needs. As an ex-Muslim and lesbian woman activist, my employment opportunities are even more limited, as many employers discriminate against individuals with these identities.
Furthermore, I have limited access to resources that could help me in my life here. For example, obtaining legal status in my host country can be a lengthy and complicated process, and without proper documentation, I cannot access certain resources such as grants or employment opportunities.
I’m facing many obstacles, but I’m determined to keep fighting for the rights of ex-Muslims and LGBTQ+ individuals. I strongly believe that everyone deserves to live a life without discrimination and persecution, and I’ll do everything in my power to make that a reality.
I’m grateful for all the support I receive, whether it’s donations, sharing my story, or simply kind words of encouragement. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who are marginalized and oppressed.
That’s why Secular Underground Network set up a fundraising page to help me pay rent and feed myself. The donations I receive will enable me to focus on my life, and activism and make a difference in the lives of those who share my plight.
I am grateful for every donation, no matter how small. With your support, I can continue my work and fight for the rights of ex-Muslim and LGBTQ+ individuals.
If you’ve made it this far, I wanted to ask if you could help me out by donating to my fundraising page. Every little bit counts, and with your support, I’ll be able to keep doing the work that makes a difference in so many people’s lives. Thank you so much for considering it!
If you’ve made it this far, I wanted to ask if you could help me out by donating to my fundraising page. Every little bit counts, and with your support, I’ll be able to keep doing the work that makes a difference in so many people’s lives. Thank you so much for considering it!
As an ex-Muslim and member of the LGBTQ+ community, I understand the difficulties that come with this journey. It is a long and arduous path that requires courage and determination. However, I am determined to undertake this journey because it is crucial to me. It is important to continue to work towards a world where everyone is treated equally, regardless of their race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.
| In our adoption program we connect sponsors to individual clients. For many of the individuals we helped to escape persecution, a long journey starts to get asylum or a resident permit. Not all the countries they flee to, give support to asylum seekers. In the meantime, they face obstacles to getting paid work and becoming self-supporting. Forming support groups around them to follow helps them with some basic income and some moral support so they get a fair chance to build up a new life. For as much as 5 USD or EURO per month, you can support a client and connect to him or her personally to get regular updates. |
I have faced many challenges along the way, but I remain steadfast in my beliefs. I am committed to living my life authentically and fighting for the rights of those who are marginalized. I believe that by being true to oneself, we can inspire others to do the same.
I am grateful to have the support of individuals like you, who recognize the importance of this journey. With your support, I can continue to push for change and create a better world for all. Together, we can make a difference and pave the way for a brighter future.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. My hope is to inspire you to support the cause of ex-Muslim and LGBTQ+ activists. We can work together to create a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background or identity.
If you can, please donate to my fundraising page and share my story with others. Together, we can make a difference.
Here is the link to my fundraising page: [https://donorbox.org/help-dolly-an-lgbtq-activist-from-egypt-to-build-up-a-new-life]
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. I hope it inspires you to take action and support the cause of ex-Muslim and LGBTQ+ activists.
Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash
