It was a great pleasure to see Shahid, who was as thoughtful and insightful as always and Zafar, who was as smiling and charming as ever. Sorry I missed you, Berbs :(
I enjoyed listening to Maryam and it was interesting to hear Ibn Warraq. The young guy sitting on the left of Maryam was brilliant, as was the old humanist guy on her right. Missed Dawkins - had to get back to the kids.
I was frustrated that I didn’t get the chance to put a question (Basically - How are the CEMB going to ensure that racists and bigots don’t derail the ex-Muslim cause?) - I came downstairs especially to give the question and the guy saw me waving my hand (as Maryam must have too) but I was ignored and then when I thought I would get my chance the mic was taken upstairs where I was at first.
I have to say that the CEMB guys (dressed as stewards in flourescent waistcoats) didn’t make me feel very welcome even though they all knew me from the meet-up in July. They seemed oddly suspicious and unfriendly towards me. Ronnie Miah (sp?) kept telling me to “Shhhh!” every time I tried to speak to him and a couple of the others seemed distinctly cold.
One of the CEMB guys who I knew from the meet-up in July started interrogating me about the guy I was sitting next to and chatting to (it was Shahid) and he insisted that that guy was not an ex-Muslim at all and appeared to insinuate he was a spy!!!! I thought that guy was a bit weird last time I met him - now I’m sure he is.
Anyway - glad I went - though it was strangely reminiscent of my days in left-wing student politics with lots of old hacks around and a feeling of being outside the elite inner circle who were 'more equal than others'. As an ex-Muslim it was strange to feel somewhat alienated at a gathering for ex-Muslims.
Oh well