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| Ex-Muslims: The American who fled 'gay conversion' in Africa | |
| (8 days later) | |
| A midnight taxi to the US embassy; an emergency flight home; a new life in New York. An ex-Muslim tells his story. | A midnight taxi to the US embassy; an emergency flight home; a new life in New York. An ex-Muslim tells his story. |
| Mahad Olad was in a Nairobi hotel room, looking at his mother. She was holding two articles from a student newspaper in New York. | Mahad Olad was in a Nairobi hotel room, looking at his mother. She was holding two articles from a student newspaper in New York. |
| In the first article, Mahad, then 19, said he was atheist. | In the first article, Mahad, then 19, said he was atheist. |
| In the second, he said he was gay. | In the second, he said he was gay. |
| His mother - a Somali Muslim - could not tolerate it. She was sending him, she said, to a group of Sheikhs (tribal leaders). | His mother - a Somali Muslim - could not tolerate it. She was sending him, she said, to a group of Sheikhs (tribal leaders). |
| The Somali Sheikhs would reform him. Return him to the community. Make him Muslim. Make him straight. | The Somali Sheikhs would reform him. Return him to the community. Make him Muslim. Make him straight. |
| Mahad had read about gay conversion in Africa - the long, religious lessons; the abuse - and wanted no part. | Mahad had read about gay conversion in Africa - the long, religious lessons; the abuse - and wanted no part. |
| He was happy being gay. He was happy being ex-Muslim. | He was happy being gay. He was happy being ex-Muslim. |
| He nodded, smiled, and told his mother he would do as she said. Then, after she left the room, Mahad made a phone call. | He nodded, smiled, and told his mother he would do as she said. Then, after she left the room, Mahad made a phone call. |
| As one door closed, another one opened. | As one door closed, another one opened. |
| Ex-Muslims of North America is a group for people who leave Islam. Their slogan is: "We envision a world where every person is free to follow their conscience." | Ex-Muslims of North America is a group for people who leave Islam. Their slogan is: "We envision a world where every person is free to follow their conscience." |
| Many of their members - often the children of immigrants - are shunned by their family. Some receive death threats. Mahad needed their help. | Many of their members - often the children of immigrants - are shunned by their family. Some receive death threats. Mahad needed their help. |
| From the hotel room, he called an Ex-MNA member in Minneapolis, the American city where he grew up. The group contacted the US embassy in Nairobi. | From the hotel room, he called an Ex-MNA member in Minneapolis, the American city where he grew up. The group contacted the US embassy in Nairobi. |
| The Americans were happy to help - Mahad is a US citizen - but there was a problem. | The Americans were happy to help - Mahad is a US citizen - but there was a problem. |
| The embassy was on United Nations Avenue in Gigiri, a neighbourhood of big houses and blue pools. Mahad's hotel was 10 miles away in Eastleigh, a Somali enclave known as Little Mogadishu. | The embassy was on United Nations Avenue in Gigiri, a neighbourhood of big houses and blue pools. Mahad's hotel was 10 miles away in Eastleigh, a Somali enclave known as Little Mogadishu. |
| Embassy staff don't travel there. | Embassy staff don't travel there. |
| Ex-MNA spoke to their Somali members, who spoke to contacts in Eastleigh. A late-night taxi was arranged. Now, Mahad had to slip away without being seen. | Ex-MNA spoke to their Somali members, who spoke to contacts in Eastleigh. A late-night taxi was arranged. Now, Mahad had to slip away without being seen. |
| Mahad was in Kenya with his mother, his older brother, an older sister, a younger sister, and two nephews. His passport was in his mother's room. He crept in, took it while she slept, and went downstairs. | Mahad was in Kenya with his mother, his older brother, an older sister, a younger sister, and two nephews. His passport was in his mother's room. He crept in, took it while she slept, and went downstairs. |
| Mahad scanned the hotel for his older brother. He was still up and - if he found him - would try to stop him leaving. | Mahad scanned the hotel for his older brother. He was still up and - if he found him - would try to stop him leaving. |
| Nervously, Mahad went outside. He found the cab, got in, and headed across from Nairobi; leaving behind the only people he knew in the city. | Nervously, Mahad went outside. He found the cab, got in, and headed across from Nairobi; leaving behind the only people he knew in the city. |
| At the embassy, he showed his passport to the Kenyan guards, and went inside. | At the embassy, he showed his passport to the Kenyan guards, and went inside. |
| A US counsel was waiting. He interviewed Mahad and let him stay at his house, in a gated compound. When they went outside, an armed guard came with them. | A US counsel was waiting. He interviewed Mahad and let him stay at his house, in a gated compound. When they went outside, an armed guard came with them. |
| Four days after reaching the embassy, Mahad left Kenya on a ticket paid for by Ex-MNA. After three flights, he arrived in Ithaca, New York, the city where he goes to college. | Four days after reaching the embassy, Mahad left Kenya on a ticket paid for by Ex-MNA. After three flights, he arrived in Ithaca, New York, the city where he goes to college. |
| It was 31 May 2017. He hasn't seen - or spoken to - his family since then. | It was 31 May 2017. He hasn't seen - or spoken to - his family since then. |
| Mahad knows when he began leaving Islam. The explosion, and the screaming, and the terror, are hard to forget. | Mahad knows when he began leaving Islam. The explosion, and the screaming, and the terror, are hard to forget. |
| He was born in Kenya in 1997, after his Somali parents fled the civil war. In 2001, the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. | He was born in Kenya in 1997, after his Somali parents fled the civil war. In 2001, the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. |
| When he was 13 or 14, they moved back to Kenya for around a year. Mahad enjoyed it. He went to a madrassa - an Islamic school - and didn't question his religion. | When he was 13 or 14, they moved back to Kenya for around a year. Mahad enjoyed it. He went to a madrassa - an Islamic school - and didn't question his religion. |
| And then, in September 2012, the grenade was thrown. | And then, in September 2012, the grenade was thrown. |
| "It happened just a few feet away from me," he says. "They attacked a church. I literally had to run for my life." | "It happened just a few feet away from me," he says. "They attacked a church. I literally had to run for my life." |
| Islamists threw an explosive into a Sunday school. One child was killed; three were seriously injured. That night, Mahad heard a Muslim cleric preaching from a pulpit. | Islamists threw an explosive into a Sunday school. One child was killed; three were seriously injured. That night, Mahad heard a Muslim cleric preaching from a pulpit. |
| "He said the attack was justified," says Mahad. "He was basically a very Wahhabi - Salafi preacher [an ultra-conservative form of Islam]. It wasn't uncommon for him to say these things. | "He said the attack was justified," says Mahad. "He was basically a very Wahhabi - Salafi preacher [an ultra-conservative form of Islam]. It wasn't uncommon for him to say these things. |
| "I was like, this is what my faith promotes. This is what Islam stands for. And if all these theories about Islam being inherently connected to violence are true, then I don't think I can consider myself a Muslim." | "I was like, this is what my faith promotes. This is what Islam stands for. And if all these theories about Islam being inherently connected to violence are true, then I don't think I can consider myself a Muslim." |
| When the family went back to Minnesota, Mahad read widely. He would go online or take out library books, hiding the covers from his family. | When the family went back to Minnesota, Mahad read widely. He would go online or take out library books, hiding the covers from his family. |
| "What solidified my disbelief was reading atheist literature, exposing myself to secularism," he says. | "What solidified my disbelief was reading atheist literature, exposing myself to secularism," he says. |
| "I would read Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, those kind of people. That's how I started gaining the vocabulary for what I was feeling." | "I would read Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, those kind of people. That's how I started gaining the vocabulary for what I was feeling." |
| Discovering Ex-Muslims of North America - who, at the time, existed only on Reddit, an online forum - was also influential. | Discovering Ex-Muslims of North America - who, at the time, existed only on Reddit, an online forum - was also influential. |
| "That's when I realised there was a community of people that are having these issues too, and they go by the name ex-Muslims," he says. "I didn't even think of that term. I didn't know it existed." | "That's when I realised there was a community of people that are having these issues too, and they go by the name ex-Muslims," he says. "I didn't even think of that term. I didn't know it existed." |
| Around the same time, Mahad realised he was gay. | Around the same time, Mahad realised he was gay. |
| "I guess one of the reasons I started questioning religion was because I felt I couldn't reconcile the two," he says. "I did not believe there was a space for me, as a gay person, to be Muslim." | "I guess one of the reasons I started questioning religion was because I felt I couldn't reconcile the two," he says. "I did not believe there was a space for me, as a gay person, to be Muslim." |
| Mahad's father was a religious teacher at a madrassa; his mum worked for a non-profit organisation. Mahad was a teenager torn between two cultures. | Mahad's father was a religious teacher at a madrassa; his mum worked for a non-profit organisation. Mahad was a teenager torn between two cultures. |
| "Being openly gay, openly atheist, is opposed to my culture and my religious background," he says. "It's not something my parents and family members would ever accept." | "Being openly gay, openly atheist, is opposed to my culture and my religious background," he says. "It's not something my parents and family members would ever accept." |
| Mahad is the second-youngest of seven siblings. He wasn't close to any of them. But he was open at school - "It was pretty accepting," he says - and, occasionally, his parents would confront him. | Mahad is the second-youngest of seven siblings. He wasn't close to any of them. But he was open at school - "It was pretty accepting," he says - and, occasionally, his parents would confront him. |
| "I would deny it," he says. | "I would deny it," he says. |
| In his spare time, Mahad was a student activist: American Civil Liberties Union; Planned Parenthood; Black Lives Matter. He wasn't unhappy, but he looked forward to leaving home. | In his spare time, Mahad was a student activist: American Civil Liberties Union; Planned Parenthood; Black Lives Matter. He wasn't unhappy, but he looked forward to leaving home. |
| When he left high school, his mother wanted him to go to college nearby. Instead, he chose Ithaca College, 1,000 miles east in New York state. | When he left high school, his mother wanted him to go to college nearby. Instead, he chose Ithaca College, 1,000 miles east in New York state. |
| "They didn't try to stop me - they just didn't want me to leave," he says. "They said 'If you've got to go, you've got to go.' So I left." | "They didn't try to stop me - they just didn't want me to leave," he says. "They said 'If you've got to go, you've got to go.' So I left." |
| After his first year in Ithaca, his mother said she was visiting Kenya, and asked if he wanted to come. He would be back, she said, on 30 August. | After his first year in Ithaca, his mother said she was visiting Kenya, and asked if he wanted to come. He would be back, she said, on 30 August. |
| "I had nothing planned that summer - no internships, no jobs, nothing," he says. | "I had nothing planned that summer - no internships, no jobs, nothing," he says. |
| "I was like, you know, I might as well go back to Kenya. I was there when I was 13, I was really nostalgic. I was like, 'I want to visit this place again'." | "I was like, you know, I might as well go back to Kenya. I was there when I was 13, I was really nostalgic. I was like, 'I want to visit this place again'." |
| Mahad thought it was a holiday. He even had plans to tour East Africa - Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, maybe Somalia. | Mahad thought it was a holiday. He even had plans to tour East Africa - Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, maybe Somalia. |
| And then, the day after they landed, his mother came to his hotel room. She brought two articles from his student newspaper. | And then, the day after they landed, his mother came to his hotel room. She brought two articles from his student newspaper. |
| Mahad's mother couldn't even read the articles: she doesn't speak English. Someone in Minnesota's tight-knit Somali community had shown them to her, and translated. | Mahad's mother couldn't even read the articles: she doesn't speak English. Someone in Minnesota's tight-knit Somali community had shown them to her, and translated. |
| After fleeing his family in Nairobi, Mahad felt "emotionally devastated". "It was a pretty traumatic experience," he says. | After fleeing his family in Nairobi, Mahad felt "emotionally devastated". "It was a pretty traumatic experience," he says. |
| His American college, though, was a big help. They gave him financial support and somewhere to live, even during summer. He is also grateful to the US Embassy. | His American college, though, was a big help. They gave him financial support and somewhere to live, even during summer. He is also grateful to the US Embassy. |
| Mahad is now in the second year of a political science and history degree. He hopes to work for a non-profit when he graduates; perhaps become a lawyer. But this isn't a happy ending. Not yet. | Mahad is now in the second year of a political science and history degree. He hopes to work for a non-profit when he graduates; perhaps become a lawyer. But this isn't a happy ending. Not yet. |
| "Even when I'm walking outside on campus, I don't feel physically safe," he says. "I feel someone will come and attack me." He has given pictures of family members to campus police. | "Even when I'm walking outside on campus, I don't feel physically safe," he says. "I feel someone will come and attack me." He has given pictures of family members to campus police. |
| Why, then, has he chosen to speak out? "I'm hoping to start a dialogue," he says. | Why, then, has he chosen to speak out? "I'm hoping to start a dialogue," he says. |
| "These things aren't exclusive to Somali people. It happens across various cultures - Muslim families who feel their children are exhibiting what they call deviant behaviour. | "These things aren't exclusive to Somali people. It happens across various cultures - Muslim families who feel their children are exhibiting what they call deviant behaviour. |
| "I want to give a voice to the voiceless. This stuff happens a lot - but people don't speak out." | "I want to give a voice to the voiceless. This stuff happens a lot - but people don't speak out." |
| A US Department of State official said: "We are aware of US-Somali citizens, primarily young adults, who are enrolled in schools in Kenya and Somalia by their parents. | A US Department of State official said: "We are aware of US-Somali citizens, primarily young adults, who are enrolled in schools in Kenya and Somalia by their parents. |
| "These students are often unaware when they are travelling overseas that they will be placed into these schools for an indeterminate amount of time. | "These students are often unaware when they are travelling overseas that they will be placed into these schools for an indeterminate amount of time. |
| "Some of these schools routinely use corporal punishment and abuse. By most accounts, the parents are unaware of the abusive conditions of these schools. | "Some of these schools routinely use corporal punishment and abuse. By most accounts, the parents are unaware of the abusive conditions of these schools. |
| "As we learn more about these facilities, we will pursue outreach opportunities to young adults and parents in the US-Somali community to spread the word." | "As we learn more about these facilities, we will pursue outreach opportunities to young adults and parents in the US-Somali community to spread the word." |