Expanding Our Assistance for Apostates Program Through International Collaboration
At the Centre for Inquiry Canada, we have always believed that human rights are universal—that the freedom to think, question, and disbelieve is as fundamental as any other liberty. This conviction drives our Assistance for Apostates (A4A) program, through which we support individuals fleeing persecution for their rejection of religious belief. Today, we are proud to announce an important expansion of this work: CFI Canada has become an official partner of the Atheist Refugee Assistance Program (ARAP), joining CFI Transnational, Atheist Alliance International, Ateizm Dernegi International, and the David P. Silverman Charitable Fund in supporting this vital initiative.
Turkey hosts the largest refugee population in the world, with millions having fled conflict and persecution in Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, and across the broader Middle East and North Africa region. Among these displaced people are secular humanists and non-believers—individuals who face a double burden. They have escaped their homelands, often under threat of imprisonment or death for apostasy or blasphemy, only to find themselves vulnerable once again within refugee communities where religious conformity is frequently expected and enforced. The challenges they face are immense: navigating a complex immigration system, often without legal support, while hiding their true beliefs from fellow refugees who might threaten them.
ARAP was established in 2020 by Ateizm Derneği, Turkey’s humanist NGO with approximately 500 members, to address this critical gap in refugee services. It remains the only organization in Turkey specifically dedicated to supporting non-believing asylum seekers. The program provides comprehensive assistance, including legal aid, accommodation through their safehouse facility, job placement support with CV translation and interview guidance, and official letters of verification for UNHCR and immigration authorities. Since its founding, ARAP has delivered 85 legal aid cases, provided 85 letters of support, responded to 116 guidance inquiries, arranged 27 accommodations, and helped place 27 refugees in employment.
In 2025 alone, ARAP delivered 57 services and accepted 16 new cases into its program after a very thorough vetting process. Perhaps most importantly, the organization achieved zero deportations—every accepted case remains protected. This remarkable record speaks to the dedication of ARAP’s team and the effectiveness of their case management approach.
A centrepiece of ARAP’s work is the LightHouse, their safehouse facility providing emergency shelter for non-believers facing immediate danger. Launched in March 2025 as a women’s shelter with support from the David P. Silverman Charitable Fund, the LightHouse sheltered five cases totaling eight individuals, including children, in its first year. In March 2026, the LightHouse will undergo a major expansion, relocating to a 330 square metre condominium in central Istanbul with capacity for 10 or more beds, allowing stays of up to 180 days or more. Starting in April 2026, the facility will be open to all genders, dramatically expanding its ability to serve those in need.
Another significant development in 2026 is the expansion of ARAP’s scope of services. Until now, the program has served exclusively non-Turkish atheist refugees who fled their home countries to seek asylum in Turkey. Beginning this year, ARAP will also provide support to qualified refugees who have had to flee from Turkey due to religious persecution—recognizing that for some non-believers, even Turkey has become too dangerous. This expansion represents a meaningful evolution in ARAP’s mission to protect all those persecuted for their non-belief, regardless of their country of origin.
This partnership emerged organically from our shared work. ARAP currently has multiple cases approved by both UNHCR and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for relocation to Canada. Meanwhile, CFI Canada’s A4A program has been supporting our own relocation case—a Pakistani asylum seeker known by the pseudonym “Omer,” who faced persecution for blasphemy in his home country and has spent years waiting in limbo while his Canadian sponsorship is processed. It was through this parallel work—ARAP guiding refugees through the Turkish immigration system while A4A supports their journey to Canada—that our paths crossed and this partnership took shape.
The collaboration aligns perfectly with CFI Canada’s mission to foster a secular society based on reason, science, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values. Since our founding in 2007, we have worked to provide a voice for those of minority worldviews, including atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists. Our A4A program was established precisely because we recognize that non-believers face unique challenges when seeking asylum—challenges often overlooked by traditional refugee assistance programs. In Canada, we have advocated for changes to refugee regulations that would extend the same protections to non-believers that religious refugees receive. Internationally, we work with partner organizations to support those in immediate danger.
We are confident in this partnership because of ARAP’s strong governance structure. In 2022, ARAP’s governance transferred to Ateizm Dernegi International Foundation in British Columbia, Canada, protecting staff, refugees, and safehouse operations from potential interference. The organization maintains rigorous accountability through twice-weekly team meetings, real-time task tracking via project management software, end-to-end encrypted communications, and annual reports inspected by a Board of Auditors. All staff and volunteers sign confidentiality agreements to protect the vulnerable individuals they serve.
As Canada’s only national secular education charity, CFI Canada is proud to support this essential work. But protecting those persecuted for their non-belief requires a community effort. We call on other like-minded organizations—humanist groups, freethought societies, secular NGOs, and human rights organizations—to consider joining this partnership. ARAP’s minimum partnership commitment is $3,000 USD annually, but contributions of any size make a difference. Partners receive access to weekly meetings, financial and performance reports on demand, logo placement on ARAP materials, and recognition in interviews, news coverage, and social media.
For those who have lost everything for thinking freely, ARAP offers a second chance at life. Through our partnership, CFI Canada is helping to ensure that the beacon of hope continues to shine. If your organization shares our commitment to protecting freedom of thought and conscience, we invite you to join us. Together, we can build a world where no one faces persecution simply for the courage to question.
For more information about partnering with ARAP, visit www.atheistrefugeesturkey.com or contact international@ateizmdernegi.org.tr. To support CFI Canada’s Assistance for Apostates program, visit centreforinquiry.ca or contact Onur Romano (CFIC Human Rights Chair).