Ex-muslims who changed their identity

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- ausath
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Ex-muslims who changed their identity
OP - April 04, 2010, 10:27 AM

I am a female apostate and had to change my identity to protect myself for obvious reasons. I want to get in touch with others that have also done this. Where I live is secular and I don't have anyone to relate to.

Thanks,

cj

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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #1 - April 04, 2010, 10:34 AM

I thought about it, and about changing my kids identity too, but in the end I decided not to. Still not sure if I made the right choice for them, because for the rest of their lives they will have to face the question "are you a muslim" down to their names alone.

Welcome by the way.

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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #2 - April 04, 2010, 12:46 PM

Quote from: ausath on April 04, 2010, 10:27 AM
I am a female apostate and had to change my identity to protect myself for obvious reasons. I want to get in touch with others that have also done this. Where I live is secular and I don't have anyone to relate to.

Thanks,

cj

When you mean 'charge your identity' you mean giving yourself a new name? changing your name to Mary Smith from an obviously foreign and Muslim sounding name?

"It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up." - Muhammad Ali
- ausath
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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #3 - April 06, 2010, 11:26 AM

Hi Kaiwai,

Yes, gone from islamic name being asked 'How do you pronounce it and spell it' to a very common Christian name the lady at the domestic violence shelter picked for me.

Best thing I ever did, leave home, new identity and start from scratch. I wish I had left earlier to be honest and gotten on with my life.

cj

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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #4 - April 06, 2010, 11:27 AM

Hi BerberElla,

It is harder when you got kids I think, I just had myself to think about. I think changing the name depends on two things, how much it can protect you and how much you can make people believe your new name is yours. I look a bit East European and not like the stereotypical Middle Eastern person (olive skinned and dark haired) so when I give a Christian name with my Australian accent it is believable. My parents are Middle Eastern.

Thanks for the words of welcome too. Looking forward to using this forum.

cj

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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #5 - April 07, 2010, 01:21 PM

Hey CJ

Would you like to make an introduction post telling your story here?
http://www.councilofexmuslims.com/index.php?board=2.0

I think your story is fascinating as you told me on youtube. Others here would like hearing it
- Iblis
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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #6 - April 07, 2010, 03:50 PM

That's interesting. I wonder if lots of people do this.

Luckily being in Canada, this isn't really necessary.

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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #7 - April 07, 2010, 10:57 PM

Quote from: Iblis on April 07, 2010, 03:50 PM
That's interesting. I wonder if lots of people do this.

Luckily being in Canada, this isn't really necessary.

Yeah, but if you're called Muhammad, like 200million other people, it kinda calls for a name change for the sake of not wanting to be association with the practitioners of Islam. I know if I was an ex-Muslim it would the first thing I'd change (along with shaving off my beard and getting a whole new wardrobe to replace those ridiculous 'sunnah pants' etc).

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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #8 - April 08, 2010, 01:29 AM

Changing my name is something I've thought about a lot.

My name is Mohammed which is the most recognizable Muslim. I doubt that there is anybody who doesn't know Mohammed is a Muslim name.

The main reason why I hate it is that not only everybody is gonna assume I'm a Muslim abut also they will think of the bad stereotypes people associate with being Muslim.
I'm a very liberal atheist and while there isn't a name that says "liberal atheist", there are many that makes you just random another guy. With Mohammed people feel like they already know your political/religious views. It happened with me many many times on trains and stuff, you know people talking to me as if I'm a typical Muslim once they knew my name.

I sometimes wish my parents had named me a more generic Arabic name like "Zayd" or "Sayf" or even "Omar".

One last thing, it's not good with the ladies. God I always imagine myself walking up to a girl in a bar trying to chat her up and then going "hey what's up, my name is Mohammed can I buy you a drink"

Having said that, I'm probably not gonna change it not because I fear it might upset my parents or family but because I've always been a Mohammed ad I will always be one. It's how I'm known, it's part of who I am.
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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #9 - April 08, 2010, 01:51 AM

Quote from: Iraqi Atheist on April 08, 2010, 01:29 AM
Changing my name is something I've thought about a lot.

My name is Mohammed which is the most recognizable Muslim. I doubt that there is anybody who doesn't know Mohammed is a Muslim name.

The main reason why I hate it is that not only everybody is gonna assume I'm a Muslim abut also they will think of the bad stereotypes people associate with being Muslim.
I'm a very liberal atheist and while there isn't a name that says "liberal atheist", there are many that makes you just random another guy. With Mohammed people feel like they already know your political/religious views. It happened with me many many times on trains and stuff, you know people talking to me as if I'm a typical Muslim once they knew my name.

I sometimes wish my parents had named me a more generic Arabic name like "Zayd" or "Sayf" or even "Omar".

One last thing, it's not good with the ladies. God I always imagine myself walking up to a girl in a bar trying to chat her up and then going "hey what's up, my name is Mohammed can I buy you a drink"

Having said that, I'm probably not gonna change it not because I fear it might upset my parents or family but because I've always been a Mohammed ad I will always be one. It's how I'm known, it's part of who I am.

You don't have to legally change your name. Just go by a nickname, like Moe

"The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshiped anything but himself."
~Sir Richard Francis Burton

"I think religion is just like smoking: Both invented by people, addictive, harmful, and kills!"
~RIBS
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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #10 - April 08, 2010, 02:12 AM

Quote from: Iraqi Atheist on April 08, 2010, 01:29 AM
Changing my name is something I've thought about a lot.

My name is Mohammed which is the most recognizable Muslim. I doubt that there is anybody who doesn't know Mohammed is a Muslim name.

The main reason why I hate it is that not only everybody is gonna assume I'm a Muslim abut also they will think of the bad stereotypes people associate with being Muslim.
I'm a very liberal atheist and while there isn't a name that says "liberal atheist", there are many that makes you just random another guy. With Mohammed people feel like they already know your political/religious views. It happened with me many many times on trains and stuff, you know people talking to me as if I'm a typical Muslim once they knew my name.

I sometimes wish my parents had named me a more generic Arabic name like "Zayd" or "Sayf" or even "Omar".

One last thing, it's not good with the ladies. God I always imagine myself walking up to a girl in a bar trying to chat her up and then going "hey what's up, my name is Mohammed can I buy you a drink"

Having said that, I'm probably not gonna change it not because I fear it might upset my parents or family but because I've always been a Mohammed ad I will always be one. It's how I'm known, it's part of who I am.

How about 'Thelonious Monk' then you'll be able to say your parents were beatniks thus all questions of Muslim heritage stops lol

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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #11 - April 08, 2010, 08:49 AM

Or even better, Felonious Monk. With the Catholic clergy in the news these days that one is sure to be a winner.

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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #12 - April 08, 2010, 01:33 PM

Quote from: Cool Canadian on April 08, 2010, 01:51 AM
You don't have to legally change your name. Just go by a nickname, like Moe

Yeah but still it wouldn't be a new identity.
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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #13 - April 08, 2010, 01:36 PM

Quote from: Iraqi Atheist on April 08, 2010, 01:33 PM
Yeah but still it wouldn't be a new identity.

You could be clean shaven; that alone will set you apart from most Arabs.

"It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up." - Muhammad Ali
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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #14 - April 08, 2010, 04:01 PM

I have thought about changing my name, and I'm still thinking about it, because:
1. I do NOT want to have a name made famous by a raping racist pedophile.
2. I like "Moe" better when I'm in the West. "Mohammed" just sounds sooo stupid in English.
3. Like Iraqi Atheist said, once you tell somebody your name is Mohammed, they immediately assume you're a muslim.

I was thinking about changing it, but it costs money.... i need a job first

I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star
In somebody else's sky, but why, why, why
Can't it be, can't it be mine

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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #15 - April 08, 2010, 04:06 PM

Quote from: BerberElla on April 04, 2010, 10:34 AM
I thought about it, and about changing my kids identity too, but in the end I decided not to. Still not sure if I made the right choice for them, because for the rest of their lives they will have to face the question "are you a muslim" down to their names alone.

Welcome by the way.

Should that not be left to them to answer for themselves? Would you disown any of your children if they converted to Islam and the Taliban type of Islam?
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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #16 - April 08, 2010, 04:11 PM

Quote from: ausath on April 06, 2010, 11:26 AM
Hi Kaiwai,

Yes, gone from islamic name being asked 'How do you pronounce it and spell it' to a very common Christian name the lady at the domestic violence shelter picked for me.

Best thing I ever did, leave home, new identity and start from scratch. I wish I had left earlier to be honest and gotten on with my life.

cj

The system in the west makes it more easier for women to change their identity as opposed to men. For men it is expected for them to 'deal with it' and often support is reserved for women. Even the police are more sympathetic to women in these situations. For a man to get help from suffering abuse there is alot of social stigma attached to it, even by women. Women are offered far more support then men.
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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #17 - April 08, 2010, 04:11 PM

Think I'm going to shorten my name. It's a bit of a mouthful and obviously Islamic. Few people call me by full name anyway.
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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #18 - April 08, 2010, 07:45 PM

Quote from: kaiwai on April 08, 2010, 01:36 PM
You could be clean shaven; that alone will set you apart from most Arabs.

I like a little stubble.
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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #19 - April 09, 2010, 06:09 AM

Quote from: Iraqi Atheist on April 08, 2010, 07:45 PM
I like a little stubble.

How about a handle bar moustache with a name change to "Max Power"

"It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up." - Muhammad Ali
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Re: Ex-muslims who changed their identity
Reply #20 - April 09, 2010, 06:16 AM

LOL, I would grow a stache like that if I could.

By the way Kaiwai, you should grow a full red beard like this

"The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshiped anything but himself."
~Sir Richard Francis Burton

"I think religion is just like smoking: Both invented by people, addictive, harmful, and kills!"
~RIBS
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