Kacem El Ghazzali: The Courage to Think Freely in a Hostile World

by Blessing Simon

Kacem El Ghazzali is one of the few open atheists from North Africa, and that alone makes his story extraordinary. Born in Morocco, he publicly declared his atheism in 2010, a decision that forced him to flee his country after receiving death threats. Since then, he has become an international voice for freedom of expression, secularism, and human rights. Reading about his life and his writings, I see a man who chose honesty over comfort and truth over safety.

Some important ideas and contributions;

Freedom of thought and expression as a basic human right.

El Ghazzali insists that freedom of conscience, the right to believe or not believe, is central to human dignity. He argues that no society can claim to be just if people are punished for their private beliefs.

In Morocco, blasphemy laws and social stigma silence dissent, yet he chose to speak openly, saying that freedom of thought must include the right to reject religion. His courage exposes the hypocrisy of systems that praise tolerance but still criminalize disbelief.

Challenging religious and political hypocrisy.

He has been outspoken against both religious authoritarianism and state hypocrisy. El Ghazzali points out that many governments in the Muslim world use religion as a political tool to control citizens while claiming to defend faith. He has called out how religion is used to justify censorship, patriarchy, and moral policing. His message is that true morality comes from empathy, not divine command. For him, human rights should always come before religious dogma.

Advocating for sexual and personal freedom.

El Ghazzali has also been a strong voice for individual freedom in matters of sexuality and gender. In a region where such topics are taboo, he has defended LGBTQ rights and the freedom to live without shame or fear. His argument is simple: if human beings are to live fully, they must be free to make personal choices about their bodies and lives without interference from religious authorities. His work shows how humanism extends beyond disbelief, it’s about dignity, equality, and compassion for all people.

My reflections, thoughts, and reactions;

As a humanist myself, I feel deeply connected to El Ghazzali’s courage. It takes incredible strength to stand alone against a system where disbelief can cost your freedom or your life. What I admire most is not just his defiance, but his calm, thoughtful way of defending reason and empathy even when surrounded by hatred. He does not speak with anger; he speaks with humanity.

I completely agree with his view that freedom of thought is non-negotiable. No religion, culture, or government should have the power to decide what others must believe. His life reminds me that humanism is not a Western idea, it is a universal one. The right to question is a human right.

I also share his belief that morality does not need religion. In fact, when morality depends on fear of punishment or hope of reward, it loses sincerity. True goodness, as El Ghazzali shows, comes from conscience, not commandments.

At the same time, his story reminds me how lonely it can feel to live as an open atheist in a deeply religious society. The rejection, the suspicion, and the constant need to justify your humanity can be exhausting. Yet, his resilience proves that truth telling has power. He stands as living proof that honesty can survive even under threat.

Conclusion:

Kacem El Ghazzali’s life is a testament to intellectual bravery and moral clarity. He shows that the fight for freedom of thought is not just about belief, it’s about the right to live authentically. His advocacy for free speech, equality, and personal liberty gives hope to those who still live in silence. To me, he represents the best of humanism: reason guided by empathy, courage rooted in truth, and a deep belief that all people deserve to think and live freely.