Waleed al-Husseini is a Palestinian author and blogger who was arrested for defaming religion in October 2010. He built a blog and social media presence as an ardent critic of religion, Islam in particular, often with a satirical bent. As he conducted most of his online activity from a Palestinian internet café, the cafe’s owner was able to discover his online posts criticizing and mocking Islam. On October 31, he was arrested in the café by police. His case sparked worldwide conversations about free expression and religious freedom in Palestine, with human rights organizations condemning the punitive action.

"I am an atheist. I believe in human rights. I have the right to say these things." - Waleed al-Husseini

Held in prison for ten months, Waleed was eventually released on bail, but police continued to harass and detain him without reason, and he was met with multiple written death threats. Four months after his release, he chose for his own safety to apply for asylum in France and move to Paris. He has remained there ever since.

Waleed's father, Khaled al-Husseini, has claimed his son was "bewitched" by a Tunisian woman he met on Facebook. Most of Waleed's family has disowned him as well.

As an asylee, Waleed has founded the Council of Ex-Muslims of France and become an outspoken critic of fundamentalist Islam and an advocate for secular principles. He has also written an autobiography, titled in English The Blasphemer: The Price I Paid for Rejecting Islam.