Campaign Funding

Integrity is an AAI core value and it is our most important value. This is why we publish, for every campaign, how much money we raise and how we spend it. This is how we give our members and donors confidence that their money is spent prudently and honestly. We also publish a Donations Policy that explains how we make sure money is spent how donors wish it to be spent. To read the policy, click here.

On top of this, we aim to keep our overheads low. The less we spend on such things as wages, web hosting, bank charges, and information systems, the more we have to spend on campaigns and on helping atheists at risk. At present we have only one part-time paid staff member—everyone else and all board members are volunteers who give their time for no pay.

We aim to update campaign income and expenditure on this page monthly.

How you can help

We help a lot of people but it’s only a fraction of those who need help. The single biggest thing that limits how many people we can help is funding. Please help us to do more—become an AAI member or make a donation to our discretionary fund.

Funding Details

Nigerian Blasphemy Appeals | Status: Ongoing

Yahaya Sharif-Aminum aged 22, was sentenced to be hanged on the 10th August 2020 at the Upper Sharia Court sitting at Hausawa Filin Hockey, Kano State, Nigeria. On the same day, in the same court, 13-year-old Umar Farouk was found guilty of blasphemy against God and was sentenced to 10 years in prison with menial labor. Both were given 30 days to file an appeal.

With both detainees having no legal representation and being held incommunicado, there was little or no prospect that either sentence would be appealed. AAI is opposed to blasphemy laws and considers such laws unconstitutional in Nigeria which has a democratic, secular constitution that protects the right of free expression. So we engaged lawyers to appeal both cases and started GoFundMe campaigns to pay the significant costs that would be incurred, especially if the cases progress to the Nigerian Supreme Court. Click here for more information.

Free Mubarak Bala | Status: Ongoing

Mubarak Bala is the President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria. He was detained in Nigeria on April 28 2020 on accusations of blasphemy. He has been held without trial and without access to his lawyers. This campaign is in two parts: advocacy to canvas support of foreign countries, human rights organizations and the Nigerian public to have him released, and to support Mubarak’s family whilst he is incarcerated, For more information see here.

Somali  ex-Muslim woman | Status: Ongoing

We have been assisting a Somali ex-Muslim woman as she is continuing to make her way from Somalia to a destination in Africa to register with the UNHCR. For security reasons, we will call her Khadija.

All costs have been covered out of ASN funds. We have receipts (for all assistance such as visas, lodging, food, etc.) and in situations where there is no receipt, she is keeping a log for all spending from the funds we send her. Details about her cannot be made public until she is settled in her destination. We have people at the destination who will assist her in getting a lawyer when she arrives.

Mohsen & Shagheyegh Asylum Support | Status: Closed

This is an Iranian ex-Muslim refugee couple in Turkey who have been stuck in the asylum system since 2016. We provided emergency assistance due to loss of work related to the Covid-19 pandemic. This comprised $600 raised on Facebook plus $411 from AAI funds. M. and his wife were able to pay for rent, food, and other bills. Later they were able to find other employment to get them by.

AAI Internet Cafe: DR Congo | Status: Closed

Atheist Alliance International has funded and supported the creation of an AAI Internet Café in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The DRC Humanist Association has created the AAI Internet Café to provide a much-needed service in the area and to raise funds for the association’s projects. See more here.

Saudi ex-Muslim in S.Korea | Status: Closed

Mahdi is a Saudi national living in South Korea where he has tried to get asylum for over a year. We raised $6000 through our GoFundMe fundraiser for him. Initially, the funds were to cover lawyer fees for his 2nd appeal for asylum. However, after contacting multiple immigration lawyers in S. Korea, none would accept his case or they asked outrageous fees.

Mahdi received the $6,000 in increments (due to S. Korea not allowing for single large sums of money to be transferred). He received the final disbursement on September 4, 2020 for the final balance of $5,804.94 (minus transfer fees). ASN separately paid an additional $550 from the ASN budget for emergency rent and food for the month of July 2020.

Travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic caused a delay in plans. Now that travel has reopened, we are following through with plans. This case will be updated after Mahdi is relocated.

Quran-burner in Algeria | Status: Closed

Algerian ex-Muslim woman who burned the Quran as an act of solidarity for another woman who was arrested. Married (husband is also an ex-Muslim) and mother of two. She feared harm from her extremely religious family and feared being arrested for blasphemy.

We did a GoFundMe fundraiser with the goal of $3,000 (raised $2,450). An additional $719 from ASN funds was sent to meet the original goal and funds to cover surgery for the removal of an abdominal tumor. We received medical verification of the tumor, lab results, and cost of the surgery. We received evidence that her brother came to her home and threatened her with violence.

Initially, the plan was for the family to leave Algeria and go to Tunisia for safety. However, they decided to travel to Europe and they are now out of Algeria and safe.

Atheist Support Network | Status: Various

The Atheist Support Network (ASN) is the AAI team that supports atheists at risk anywhere in the world. Several of the campaigns listed above were managed by ASN. The table below lists various support work that ASN has dealt with since July 2020. Click here for more information.

A69: Saudi ex-Muslim in Germany: we covered lawyer fees to finalize the granting of his asylum. Case status: Closed.

A70: Somali student:  For this ex-Muslim, we covered final semester tuition. We cannot provide more details since it would put the person at risk. Case status: Closed

A71: Nigerian student: Ex-Christian student and atheist activist. Assistance for food and bills due to Covid-19 pandemic impact. Case status: Ongoing

A72: Atheist in Kenya: A Somali ex-Muslim, UNHCR registered refugee in Kenya. We assisted this individual for a few years (initially we helped him to get registered with UNHCR and then relocated to Kenya). He is also supporting his mother. He is a student and continuing his studies despite many challenges and harassment from Muslim’s where he lives. He has had to move to various places in Kenya to maintain his safety.

He has received grants and other funding that he keeps in a savings account as he prepares to relocate to Canada as a refugee. We are working to get five sponsors (the requirement for refugee relocation to Canada). Another requirement to relocate to Canada is for refugees to have $10,000. He has most of this amount saved and needs $2,771.00 for the total sum. We will hold the funds and transfer them to his account when he set to travel to Canada. Case status: Ongoing

A73: Atheist in Egypt: Ex-Muslim and LGBTQ individual in Egypt escaped from extremist Muslim family. ASN funded rent and food for a short while so he could get started in a safe place on his own. Case status: Ongoing