Rosina Kamis
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| Personal Information | |||||
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| Full Name | Rosina Kamis | ||||
| Alias | Murtad Mama | ||||
| Born | 1980 | ||||
| Died | 2021 (aged 41) | ||||
| Nationality | Malaysian (renounced), Canadian | ||||
| Occupation | Activist, Apostate Advocate | ||||
| Career | |||||
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| Education |
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| Personal Life | |||||
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| Death |
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Rosina Kamis (1980 - 2021), also known by her internet alias "Murtad Mama," was a controversial figure known for her outspoken criticism of Islam and the Malaysian government. Born in Malaysia, Rosina later moved to Canada and renounced her Malaysian citizenship, where she continued to voice her strong and unconventional beliefs to provide support for apostasy. She founded an online advocacy movement called "Murtads from Malaysia"[1], which is now defunct. She was actively engaged online from circa 2003 to 2017.
Early life
Due to her Malay background, Rosina's early life in Malaysia was marked by her forced adherence to Islamic practices. She recounted her experiences of being compelled to attend religious school and learn the Qur'an, which she found "oppressive and nonsensical".[2][3]
In her testimony, Rosina described the strict religious upbringing and the societal pressure to conform to Islamic practices. She expressed frustration with the compulsory veil and the discriminatory teachings she encountered, which ultimately led her to question and reject Islam.[2][3]
Rosina Kamis held strong views about the Malaysian government's practices, including the belief that the country's identity card system was "Taliban-like" and that the government was seeking to arrest her due to her declared apostasy from Islam. Her departure from Islam and subsequent public denunciations were seen as deeply offensive by many Muslims, and her extreme views contributed to her isolation and suffering.[2][3]
Objections to Islam
Rosina Kamis outlined several objections to Islam based on her personal experiences and observations:
Compulsory Religious Practices
She was forced to attend religious school and learn the Qur'an, which she found "oppressive".
Veiling of Women
She objected to the compulsory wearing of the veil, finding it "uncomfortable and discriminatory".
Discrimination Against Non-Muslims
She disagreed with the teachings that non-Muslims (kafirs) were destined for hell, which contradicted her experiences with "kind and respectful non-Muslim friends".
Gender Discrimination
She highlighted issues such as forced marriages, corporal punishment, and the inability of women to serve as witnesses in Shariah courts.
Critique of Islamic Teachings
She found many aspects of Islamic teachings, including certain verses of the Qur'an and Hadiths, to be "inhumane and nonsensical".
Academic and Professional Life
Rosina earned an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology Research from the University of Toronto, graduating with high distinction.[4] Her research interests included the psychology of religion, particularly apostasy, and other areas in social psychology such as interpersonal relations and group processes. She presented her work at various conferences, including the 36th Annual Ontario Psychology Undergraduate Thesis Conference.[4]
Struggles in Canada
After relocating to Canada,[4] Rosina faced numerous personal challenges, including chronic health conditions such as leukaemia and fibromyalgia. These conditions, coupled with her mental suffering, loneliness, and poverty, led her to seek Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in 2021. Her story underscores the ethical and societal complexities surrounding assisted suicide laws in Canada. Some argue that her suffering was a direct result of her actions and choices, particularly her vocal apostasy and attacks on her former faith.[5]
Rosina documented her journey and struggles through a series of YouTube videos and other communications, expressing her feelings of abandonment and the lack of adequate support.[6][7][8] Her death by euthanasia on September 26, 2021, has sparked discussions about the Canadian MAiD system and its implications.[9] To some, her tragic end was a result of her self-inflicted isolation and estrangement from her community.[10]
Criticisms
The forum discussion on incels.is reveals harsh judgments about Rosina's motivations and physical appearance. Participants doubted her genuine suffering, criticized her decisions, and suggested she could have improved her situation through diet, exercise, or finding a partner. Some comments were particularly harsh, labelling her an "attention whore" and questioning her genuine need for MAiD.[11]
Additionally, an article by Ummu Solehah Abdullah reveals Rosina's background and the interaction between Mr. X and Rosina Kamis, confirming her identity as "Murtad Mama". The article provides a detailed account of her academic achievements and interactions regarding her apostasy.[12]
References
- ↑ Originally hosted at Geocities before it moved to its own self-hosting. Fortunately, due to online public pressure, it met its demise in 2005.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Council of Ex-Muslims
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 WikiIslam - Murtad Mama
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 University of Toronto, Rosina Kamis' Student Page
- ↑ Alexander Raikin, "No Other Options," The New Atlantis, Winter 2023
- ↑ Rosina Kamis, "My Educational Background" YouTube, 19 September 2021
- ↑ Rosina Kamis, "Why did I apply for euthanasia?" YouTube, 19 September 2021
- ↑ Rosina Kamis, "Is euthanasia the only solution?" YouTube, 19 September 2021
- ↑ Al Jazeera English, "Do You Want To Die Today? Inside Canada’s Euthanasia Program" YouTube, 18 November 2023
- ↑ Living with Dignity, "Remembering Lives Lived - Rosina Kamis"
- ↑ Incels.is, Sheogorath: "Do You Think Rosina Kamis Was a Fakecel?", January 8 2023
- ↑ Ummu Solehah Abdullah, "Rosina Kamis Adalah Murtad Mama?", 12 September 2003