Ahmed Hussein Harkan (Arabic: أحمد حسين حرقان[ˈæħmæd ħeˈseːn ħɑɾˈqɑːn]) (born 10 December 1982) is an Egyptian free speech activist. He is a blogger, vlogger and founder of the Free Mind e-channel,[4] and frequently appeared on several Egyptian talk shows to discuss the rights of nonbelievers during his 10 years as an atheist and activist from 2010 until 2020. On March 30, 2020, four months after completing a 57-day hunger strike protesting for his right to leave Egypt and marry his fiancée in Tunisia, Harkan said he had returned to Islam.[5] After he managed to leave Egypt to Tunisia in January 2021, Harkan returned to his activities again as an atheist activist. And after a few months he spent in Tunisia he moved to Italy and continued his activities.[6][7]
Ahmed Harkan
Ahmed Harkan speaking on his YouTube channel in March 2018
Nada Mandour[1][2] alias Sally Harkan[3](m. 2014; div. 2016)
Website
ahmedharqan.com
His first name is alternately romanised as Ahmed and Ahmad, his surname as Harkan and Harqan.[3][8] Sometimes he used only his first and second name to identify himself as Ahmed Hussein.[2][9]
Harkan grew up in a Muslim family oriented toward the Salafi movement in Islam. He received religious education from the Islamic scholar Yasser Al Borhamy.[3] He spent a large part of his youth as an ultra-conservative Salafist Muslim fundamentalist.[3] In June 2010,[10] at the age of 27, Harkan decided to break with his past, burn all his religious certificates and start his education from scratch.[3] His mother was in shock when he revealed his atheism, and his sheikh Yasser sent him to a psychiatrist, who concluded Harkan wasn't insane but just an atheist. Yasser rejected the diagnosis and insisted Harkan was "sick with doubt".[9]
ActivismEdit
Since his apostasy, Harkan was among the few non-believers in Egypt who dared to speak openly about being atheist, and he was invited to appear on several Egyptian talk shows to discuss the rights of non-religious citizens.[3]
2014 assassination attempt and arrestEdit
According to media reports, Harkan and his pregnant wife, Nada Mandour (Sally) Harkan, survived an assassination attempt on the evening of 25 October 2014. Harkan managed to flee with his wife after receiving some injuries and went to the Alhanafie–Alajlany police station to report the incident, along with their friend Karim Jimy.[3] The attackers chasing them told the police Harkan had "insulted Islam and compared the Prophet to Islamic State" on television.[1] Instead of taking action to help Harkan and his wife and his friend, the police officers further assaulted them[11] and they were imprisoned and 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 an Egyptian television talk show.[8] Harkan's lawyer was humiliated and kicked out of the police station.[3] After 24 hours in detention,[1] Ahmad and Sally Harkan and their friend Jimy were released, and charges against them were dropped.[3] However, they had to move to a different house to avoid threats and abuse.[1]
Later activismEdit
In the autumn of 2014, Harkan and Mandour launched the Free Mind TV channel, which seeks to promote non-religious liberal ideas. With Harkan as show host and Mandour as camera operator and director, episodes were recorded at a secret location in Egypt, and edited and produced in a studio in the United States by Iraqi producer Khaldoon Alghanimi.[1]
Ahmed Harkan discussing sexual repression in the Middle East (2017)
On 24 March 2015, Harkan participated in an open discussion between non-religious Egyptians, moderated by researcher Amr Ezzat and hosted by the Religion and Freedoms Forum at the headquarters of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Ezzat questioned whether Harkan's outspoken atheism on television was an effective method of activism: "I advised him [Harkan] not to do so publicly or he would go to prison, but he said society needed such a shock. I wonder if that shock would have a positive impact on the rights of non-believers."[4] Harkan defended his appearance by saying: "If all atheists speak out, the state will no longer treat them as an undesired minority."[4] To an audience member who said that atheists would receive more sympathy if they did not frequently "insult religion", Harkan answered that "We have the right to express ourselves," and Ismail Mohamed (host of The Black Ducks) added: "Can we first have our rights before we talk about insults and foul language?"[4]
In October 2019, Harkan was banned from traveling outside of Egypt by national security in Cairo airport when he tried to travel to marry his fiancée in Tunisia. He went on hunger strike, ending after 57 days in December 2019.[12]
Pretending Returning to IslamEdit
On 30 March 2020, four months after completing a 57-day hunger strike protesting for his right to leave Egypt and marry his fiancée in Tunisia, Harkan said he had returned to Islam.[5][13] in January 2021 harkan Left Egypt, Harkan said that when he decided to brake the hunger strike he had started to study a backup plan. After 57 days he went to the very south of Egypt Abo-Sunbul and Naser lake which is a border between Egypt and Sudan; there where he had a look at the Roadway that he might go through; which he eventually did cross it after a whole year of studying the situation, One of the essential steps that he made sure to be done before applying his plan is to announce that he have got back to Islam. The point behind this announcement was to avoid benign recognized by the terrorists while he is walking to Tunisia. Harkan made it to Tunisia all the way from Egypt walking literally on his feet passing by Sudan, Chad, Libya through the desert. After a while there in Tunisia Harkan moved to Italy.[6][7]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdeHeather Murdock (30 April 2015). "Defying Taboo, Middle East Atheists Launch TV Channel". Voice of America. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
^ abFrance 24 rendered her name as "Nada Monder" in 2014. Sonia Dridi & Yahya Fahiem (29 September 2014). "Reportage : Le Caire mène la guerre à l'athéisme". France 24 (in French). Retrieved 20 August 2018.
ahmed, harkan, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, must, removed, immediately, from, article, tal. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page especially if potentially libelous Find sources Ahmed Harkan news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Ahmed Hussein Harkan Arabic أحمد حسين حرقان ˈaeħmaed ħeˈseːn ħɑɾˈqɑːn born 10 December 1982 is an Egyptian free speech activist He is a blogger vlogger and founder of the Free Mind e channel 4 and frequently appeared on several Egyptian talk shows to discuss the rights of nonbelievers during his 10 years as an atheist and activist from 2010 until 2020 On March 30 2020 four months after completing a 57 day hunger strike protesting for his right to leave Egypt and marry his fiancee in Tunisia Harkan said he had returned to Islam 5 After he managed to leave Egypt to Tunisia in January 2021 Harkan returned to his activities again as an atheist activist And after a few months he spent in Tunisia he moved to Italy and continued his activities 6 7 Ahmed HarkanAhmed Harkan speaking on his YouTube channel in March 2018BornAhmed Hussein Harkan 1982 12 10 10 December 1982 age 40 Alexandria EgyptNationalityEgyptianKnown forHuman Rights ActivismSpouseNada Mandour 1 2 alias Sally Harkan 3 m 2014 div 2016 Websiteahmedharqan comHis first name is alternately romanised as Ahmed and Ahmad his surname as Harkan and Harqan 3 8 Sometimes he used only his first and second name to identify himself as Ahmed Hussein 2 9 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Activism 2 1 2014 assassination attempt and arrest 2 2 Later activism 2 3 Pretending Returning to Islam 3 ReferencesEarly life and education EditHarkan grew up in a Muslim family oriented toward the Salafi movement in Islam He received religious education from the Islamic scholar Yasser Al Borhamy 3 He spent a large part of his youth as an ultra conservative Salafist Muslim fundamentalist 3 In June 2010 10 at the age of 27 Harkan decided to break with his past burn all his religious certificates and start his education from scratch 3 His mother was in shock when he revealed his atheism and his sheikh Yasser sent him to a psychiatrist who concluded Harkan wasn t insane but just an atheist Yasser rejected the diagnosis and insisted Harkan was sick with doubt 9 Activism EditSince his apostasy Harkan was among the few non believers in Egypt who dared to speak openly about being atheist and he was invited to appear on several Egyptian talk shows to discuss the rights of non religious citizens 3 2014 assassination attempt and arrest Edit According to media reports Harkan and his pregnant wife Nada Mandour Sally Harkan survived an assassination attempt on the evening of 25 October 2014 Harkan managed to flee with his wife after receiving some injuries and went to the Alhanafie Alajlany police station to report the incident along with their friend Karim Jimy 3 The attackers chasing them told the police Harkan had insulted Islam and compared the Prophet to Islamic State on television 1 Instead of taking action to help Harkan and his wife and his friend the police officers further assaulted them 11 and they were imprisoned and 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 an Egyptian television talk show 8 Harkan s lawyer was humiliated and kicked out of the police station 3 After 24 hours in detention 1 Ahmad and Sally Harkan and their friend Jimy were released and charges against them were dropped 3 However they had to move to a different house to avoid threats and abuse 1 Later activism Edit In the autumn of 2014 Harkan and Mandour launched the Free Mind TV channel which seeks to promote non religious liberal ideas With Harkan as show host and Mandour as camera operator and director episodes were recorded at a secret location in Egypt and edited and produced in a studio in the United States by Iraqi producer Khaldoon Alghanimi 1 source source source source source source source source source source source source source source Ahmed Harkan discussing sexual repression in the Middle East 2017 On 24 March 2015 Harkan participated in an open discussion between non religious Egyptians moderated by researcher Amr Ezzat and hosted by the Religion and Freedoms Forum at the headquarters of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights Ezzat questioned whether Harkan s outspoken atheism on television was an effective method of activism I advised him Harkan not to do so publicly or he would go to prison but he said society needed such a shock I wonder if that shock would have a positive impact on the rights of non believers 4 Harkan defended his appearance by saying If all atheists speak out the state will no longer treat them as an undesired minority 4 To an audience member who said that atheists would receive more sympathy if they did not frequently insult religion Harkan answered that We have the right to express ourselves and Ismail Mohamed host of The Black Ducks added Can we first have our rights before we talk about insults and foul language 4 In October 2019 Harkan was banned from traveling outside of Egypt by national security in Cairo airport when he tried to travel to marry his fiancee in Tunisia He went on hunger strike ending after 57 days in December 2019 12 Pretending Returning to Islam Edit On 30 March 2020 four months after completing a 57 day hunger strike protesting for his right to leave Egypt and marry his fiancee in Tunisia Harkan said he had returned to Islam 5 13 in January 2021 harkan Left Egypt Harkan said that when he decided to brake the hunger strike he had started to study a backup plan After 57 days he went to the very south of Egypt Abo Sunbul and Naser lake which is a border between Egypt and Sudan there where he had a look at the Roadway that he might go through which he eventually did cross it after a whole year of studying the situation One of the essential steps that he made sure to be done before applying his plan is to announce that he have got back to Islam The point behind this announcement was to avoid benign recognized by the terrorists while he is walking to Tunisia Harkan made it to Tunisia all the way from Egypt walking literally on his feet passing by Sudan Chad Libya through the desert After a while there in Tunisia Harkan moved to Italy 6 7 References Edit a b c d e Heather Murdock 30 April 2015 Defying Taboo Middle East Atheists Launch TV Channel Voice of America Retrieved 19 April 2018 a b France 24 rendered her name as Nada Monder in 2014 Sonia Dridi amp Yahya Fahiem 29 September 2014 Reportage Le Caire mene la guerre a l atheisme France 24 in French Retrieved 20 August 2018 a b c d e f g h i Rachael Black Freedom to Ahmed Harqan Sally Harqan and Karim Jimy Richard Dawkins Foundation Retrieved 19 April 2018 a b c d Non believers express their thoughts at Religion and Freedoms Forum Egypt Independent 1 April 2015 Retrieved 19 April 2018 a b Unlu ateist Musluman oldu Koronavirus surecinde yasadiklarimiz Yeni Akit 1 April 2020 a b احمد حرقان والطريق إلى الحرية retrieved 18 June 2021 a b شكرا أخي حامد عبد الصمد retrieved 18 June 2021 a b David D Kirkpatrick 8 January 2015 Raising Questions Within Islam After France Shooting The New York Times Retrieved 12 January 2015 a b Elizabeth Arrott 5 December 2013 Egypt s Atheists Struggle to be Heard Not Jailed Voice of America Retrieved 19 April 2018 Passant Darwish 14 January 2015 Egypt s war on atheism Al Ahram Retrieved 19 April 2018 Atheist Egyptian couple escape a lynch mob only to be beaten by the police Dotmsr 8 December 2014 Retrieved 6 March 2018 Hameed Sadia 19 November 2019 Egypt Let Ahmed Harkan Travel Now Ex Muslim His announcement on YouTube in Arabic https www youtube com watch v MVDMMCWJd70 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ahmed Harkan amp oldid 1169533533, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
