After 9-11, I became fascinated with the destructive force of the belief system those religious fanatics wielded. At first when I began to learn about Islam and decided to convert, my views became very anti-American. This was due to ignorance and naivety on my part. Eventually, I moderated my beliefs and that was when I began wearing the hijab; getting involved at the mosque, and praying/fasting - although I only fasted one time, as I was only Muslim for about a year. The more I learned, the more brainwashed I became. However, I soon began to realize that there were indeed inequalities in this religion, as well as contradictions. As painful as it was, I renounced my faith after a lot of thinking and soul searching. It was hard letting go, but I have stopped mourning and I have never felt as liberated as I do now.

Crow, United States, now agnostic

Although I had had doubts since I was in my teens about the divinity of Islamic teachings, the straw that broke camel's back was reading about what is really in Quran and what Muhammad did in his Medina stay through websites like FaithFreedom.org and books by Ibn Warraq and Anwar Shaikh. Particularly disgusting was his massacre of all Quraiza tribesmen and taking beautiful Rehana - the wife of the tribe leader - to bed the same night; and sex with 17 year old Safia after killing her husband Kinana and his people in Khyber. Other disturbing revelations were Muhammad's marriage to 6 year old Ayesha, his sleeping with slave girls and concubines,his assassinations of his critics, the Quran's declaration of violence against non-Muslims, raping of captive women and slaves & looting of non Muslims as pious act worthy of paradise. That left no doubt in my mind that Islam is not divine, it is a dangerous cult.

Ayesha Ahmed, India, now an atheist

I was forced into Islam because I was underage and because of my father who thought it can help him in his work. I have longed and wished to be a Christian since I was in Primary school, but I had to wait until I was old enough to decide for myself. My dad never forced me or helped me to learn about the Islamic religion. We never even talked about it. I am disappointed there is still a religion like this forcing apostate to remain as a Muslim. Only God can decide one's life and only he can decide we live or die. The law is written by people. Shouldn't we discard what is not applicable to this century instead of killing or forcing people just because of something that is written a long time ago. Cruelty should not be a religion. The world will have no peace if we fight just because of some holy scripts written by our forefathers. Where do we seek help to be a free citizen in Malaysia disregard of what religion and race?

Marianne, Malaysia, now a Christian

If I believed in God and Satan, I would be sure that Islam is the religion of Satan, and Muslims are devil-worshipers. Of course, most Muslims are not evil by nature. Most of my friends still call themselves Muslims because they identify the religion with their cultural roots. However, they have no clue what the religion is truly about, and will probably never find out as they don't bother to attend mosque or read the Quran. In the end, these friends are actually apostates like me. They just have never bothered to label themselves as such due to complacency or disinterest. What scares me is not this multitude of quasi-Muslims, but the multitude of real Muslims. They are the one's that can do the damage. I left Islam after listening to a few of them speak at a CAIR convention. They horrified me with their hatred and bigotry. I went straight home and researched the religious reasoning behind their words. I was shocked to find out that it was these hate-filled monger's who were following Islam, and not I. So now I am an apostate.

Fatima, Morocco, now an atheist

I don't hate Islam - that is a fact. I just couldn't find peace there. The fact that I was always punished for everything, that I have to pray 5 times a day, that I can't drink one glass of wine, can't have a boyfriend, can't wear what I want; all that just annoyed me and then the fact that most Muslims view other non Muslims as atheists and think that non Muslims will go to hell, this just doesn't seem right. To be honest, I didn't officially leave Islam because people here would kill me, but I have cut all relations to Muslims and Islam, I am going to church now, I am happy there, I am waiting till I graduate from university and leave to the states so I can officially convert.

Dima, Palestinian Authority area, now a Christian

I  know what you are trying to prove Sedi, aside from testimonials of people who weren't brainwashed by their religion.

Isn't that marvellous? People being free to decide for themselves?

Clearly Islam doesn't do a very good job of brainwashing people. Is that your point?

It all started 6 years ago when I met the man who would become my first husband. Though I respected Islam, I didn't really want to convert. The local MSA found out and promptly pushed me to "save" myself from sin.

Needless to say, I felt I made a mistake when 2 weeks after my conversion, I was nearly raped by a Muslim man. My first marriage failed and I hastily married another Muslim man who claimed to be a Sufi. As it turns out, he was addicted to pornography and had no respect for women at all. So I came back home after a few months of marriage. Living as a Muslim was hell. I couldn't find a job because I wore a hijab and 9-11 didn't make anything easier for me.

I met my current husband a few years ago. We suffered a lot of mistreatment at the hands of the Muslim community. Finally things got so bad we decided to save ourselves - so we left Islam.
We are Buddhists now and much happier. We have learned how to live again.

Laughingbuddha, Canada, now a Buddhist