Month: January 2019

020 – Interview with Saudi Exmuslim Zac Alrayyis In Germany

Interview with Abdulrazzaq (Zac), a Saudi Exmuslim in Germany. He talks about why he decided to stay in Germany, his experiences growing up in Saudi Arabia in a strict conservative religious family, going to Islamic school, not being able to listen to music, and how he ended up leaving Islam. He also speaks about the challenges of his new life in Germany.

YouTube version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/ghX9vTnnleQ

Timestamps:

0:00 Introductions
1:13 How Zac got to Germany.
3:50 What was life like in Saudi Arabia and how did Zac end up where he is right now? – Fundamentalist family, no music or heavily controlled TV entertainment, and the cultural shift as he was growing up.
11:20 Saudi government and how it doesn’t like Jihad. How rampant is the culture of Jihad in the communities? The lack of secular voices in Saudi Arabia.
14:25 How did Zac become an atheist at 13? What materials was he reading that made him question Islam?
16:50 How Zac’s private school taught concepts like evolution, slavery, treatment of non-Muslims, consent, and marital rape? How the government-mandated religious education curriculum and books propagate extreme views
25:00 Abdullah Zac’s YouTube channel.
25:55 Which content made Zac question Islam? (continued). Is the internet a problem or a solution to many of our problems?
29:50 Was Zac outspoken about his apostasy in Saudi Arabia? What risks are associated with speaking out? Being open and outspoken online
34:00 How Zac got permission to study overseas? Was he always planning on staying in Germany and seeking asylum? Why Germany?
37:00 What made Zac decide to stay in Germany and how scary was this decision? The experience of being able to safely and openly identify as an atheist. The pressure that comes with being an outspoken ex-Muslim.
47:00 Zac’s prospect of letting his parents know about his apostasy and activism – The reaction that he is anticipating from his parents. Safety precautions that Zac is taking along the way. Zac’s anecdote of an incident when his father cornered him about his beliefs at the Mosque.
55:55 Raif Badawi’s story (a quick recap) – How Wahhabi government is extreme even on people who have just criticized minor details of Islam even when they are still Muslim as a way to quell any effort of reforming Islam and hold on to power.
1:05:19 Abdullah Zac’s plans for the future – The process of seeking asylum, if granted asylum what does he hope to pursue? Having a community of people who are helping Zac through the asylum-seeking process.
1:10:08 Why is it Muslims do not use toilet paper?
1:11:11 How is the situation like for women apostates in Saudi Arabia? How would Zac’s story be different if he were a woman?
1:11:40 Zac’s edited Saudi flag.
1:13:15 Message for closeted ex-Muslims in countries like the Maldives.
1:15:13 The impact of the story of Rahaf Al-Qunun and other asylum seekers. the problem of escapees being detained in transit and being sent back to Saudi Arabia.
1:23:27 Final remarks.