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Accommodation
Assisted with short-term (SafeHouse) and long-term housing solutions.
Job Search
Assisted with securing employment.
Legal Aid
Provided Turkish Immigration lawyers.
Official Letters
Issued letters of support/reference.
Direct Guidance
Provided Financial, Educational and/or Mental Health consultations.
A Safe Haven for Humanist Refugees
Are you a non-believer asylum-seeker in Turkiye looking for a safe place to call home? Look no further! Atheist Refugee Assistance Program (ARAP) provides short-term shelter (up to 400 days) in our SafeHouse, and long-term housing solutions as a secure environment where you can thrive and be yourself without fear of discrimination or persecution. Our team is dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive safe environment where you will feel supported and valued. We provide resources and services to help you rebuild your life and connect with like-minded individuals.
WHO WE ARE
Beyond Religion
ARAP Promotes Humanist Values for a Better Society
Introducing the Ateizm Dernegi (Association of Atheism, Turkiye): a groundbreaking non-profit organization, the first and only legally recognized atheist human rights organization among Muslim-majority countries, recognized and accredited by the Republic of Turkiye, European Union, and United Nations. Our mission? To provide a safe space for free-thinkers who reject religious dogma and supernatural beliefs, empowering them to express their philosophical views without fear. We are a community of individuals who value science and logic over holy books, prophets, and superstitions. We believe in the power of empathy, tolerance, and reason – the greatest evolutionary acquisitions of humanity. Our goal is to create a society based on science and reason, where the beauty of our planet is preserved for generations to come.
ARAP Prerequisites
Before applying for assistance, please make sure you meet our mandatory prerequisites:
(A) If the applicant is an existing refugee of the Republic of Turkiye, one must be able to show proof that they have clearly stated their non-believer status in official Turkish immigration documents.
(B.1) If an applicant is a future asylum-seeker, one must be currently in Turkiye, and be able to show supporting evidence* to their non-believer status. *Evidence: The applicant must engage in, or have engaged in, public secular rights activism and be able to provide documentation of a “body of work” covering at least one full year.
(B.2) The applicant must provide supporting documentation regarding the persecution and/or discrimination they have faced.
Please Note
The prerequisites to qualify for The Lighthouse (SafeHouse) are different, and are subject to change.
WHAT WE DO
Atheist Refugee Assistance Program: Helping Non-Believing Asylum Seekers in Turkiye Rebuild Their Lives
The Atheist Refugee Assistance Program (ARAP) is an initiative launched by Ateizm Dernegi International Foundation in British Columbia, Canada which is the sister NGO of Ateizm Dernegi in Turkiye (est. 2014). We aim to provide crucial support and assistance to non-believing refugees who have sought refuge in Turkiye due to religious persecution and the need for a fresh start. This program was established in 2020, following the inspiration of the "Atheist Support Network" by Atheist Alliance International and the "Secular Rescue Program" by the Center for Inquiry Transnational.
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