Islam is a deadly, cancerous religion.

Let me preface this with the fact that I am a refugee who moved out of Iran when I was four years old. My Dad is Muslim and my Mom is Baha’i. I am an atheist.

We lived in a wealthy part of town in a perdominately Kurdish neighborhood.

When I was 2 years old, guards stormed our house every few weeks, at random hours of the day. Sometimes at 2pm sometimes at 2am. I remember running towards my Dad as they barged in with no warning. Riffles in hand, finger on the trigger. They wouldnt acknowledge my mother, and one time when she didnt have enough time to cover herself before they barged in they hit the end of the riffle to her face. Her jaw was swollen for a month. At the age of 4 my parents realized that I could not attend college since my mom was Bahai. Bahai’s are not allowed to go to college because islam.

I find myself so angry at the Muslim community for remaining silent in times like this. There is so much anti-semitism and anti christianity but when Islam needs to be held accountable, everyone remains silent.

People are arguing that this isn’t about religion, but it is. The revolution in Iran is what happens when people live under a theocratic state. Religion is being used to murder ethnicities, kill and oppress women and even children. It is consistent. Islam is one of the only religions that promotes self harm with regards to killing others in order to promote their religion. Why is there no public outrage over this? Why are more muslims not mad. Why is Islam not held accountable? It is the second most populous religion, and yet not a single person condemns the violence that Islam promotes.

I am angry and sad for my people, but I am extremely disappointed in the Muslim community constantly undermining our voices by rebuttling that this isnt islam. Yes it is. It is about religion.

People don’t understand what life is like under a theocracy. It is oppressive, and it is deadly. I was forced to wear a hijab in my passport picture at the age of four. My mom and I weren’t allowed our own passports. so we are on the same passport as my father. That is what living under a regime that values religion and a messiah over valuing human life is like.

Edit: Thank you for all the kind words and awards! I’ve received some death threats in my inbox from Muslims who are quoting the Quran to me and others are asking about what else I remember.

I left Iran right before I turned 5, most of my memories are traumatic so I remember them more than happy memories. Our house was burned down, my grandfather was imprisoned for a year, my mom was beaten in front of me, a guard picked me up by my hair when I talked back to him. The last straw was when a guard threatened to rape me. I was 4. These comments and some of the messages I receive make me happy I don’t associate with a religion that constantly promotes violence against women, and when it’s spoken out against, people then again promote violence towards the oppressed.