Minnesota Atheists Becomes a Supporter of ARAP
Minnesota Atheists has become the first local American organization to be an official supporter of the Atheist Refugee Assistance Program (ARAP), located in Turkey. Other supporters of ARAP include the international organizations Center for Inquiry (CFI) and Atheist Alliance International (AAI). To become a supporter requires a minimum donation of $3000 a year.
ARAP was founded in 2020 by Emir Onur Romano Cilek, an atheist refugee himself, currently living in Victoria, BC, Canada, to help atheists whose lives are at risk due to persecution from religious people.
ARAP helps atheist refugees in the following ways:
- Accommodations: Assisting with short-term and long-term housing solutions.
- Job Search: Assisting in finding employment opportunities in Turkey.
- Legal Aid: Providing Turkish Immigration lawyers.
- Official Letters: Issuing letters of support/reference.
- Direct Guidance: Providing Financial, Educational and/or Mental Health consultations.
ARAP runs an atheist safe house in Turkey called “The Lighthouse”. This is a temporary shelter in Istanbul. ARAP has helped refugees from Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Somalia, Kenya, Georgia, Armenia, Egypt, Yemen, and Libya.
Some refugees end up staying in Turkey permanently and some go on to seek asylum in other countries, sometimes in Europe and in Canada. You can see some of the people who have been helped at Saved Lives.
Minnesota Atheists has always cared about the fate of atheists worldwide. That’s why we are affiliates of Atheist Alliance International (AAI) and also Humanists International (HI).
For Minnesota Atheists to be an official supporter of ARAP requires a donation of $3,000 per year. If you would like to help us pay for this, you can go to our website to Make a Donation and in the comments area enter “ARAP.” Or mail us a check and in the memo line write “ARAP.”
