puddleperfect

1) I couldn't tell you the exact cost, as I'm not solely responsible for getting them out of their situation. I've spent a total of just under 1k which provided living expenses for 2 of the individuals until they were able to leave the country. I also provided the money for plane tickets for 2 of the individuals. The amount of money is really negligible and I consider it, by far, the best used money I've ever owned.

2) Overt atheism and being a proponent of secularizing the school system, criticizing the treatment of non-muslims by muslims in a way deemed inflammatory , and protesting against gender inequality in a way deemed too extreme for the country of origin.

3) Nothing happened to their families. They were all young and hadn't started their own, and their parents didn't advocate for this behavior, and in one case publically denounced their child and another beat their child.

4) I won't say the exact countries, but they went from North African to European countries.

Edited: for missing answer

From what I understand, that is the majority view among scholars in Sunni Islam. This would be a good question to ask over at the r/exmuslim and r/islam subreddits. There is a variety of views on the subject amongst muslims. I suggest you take a look at this pew poll. Of the muslim majority countries polled the support of the death penalty for apostates varies among Muslims from 5 to 86%

1. The opportunity presented itself, and the benefit to these individuals was so great, and my sacrifice was so small. I consider this the best usage of money in my life. Its like getting a gift for someone, and the gift is the ability to feel relatively safe expressing themselves, and it's on sale in the dollar store.
2. I think that these people wanted very much to change their society for the better, and would love to return home. Whether they can or not? I'm not sure.
3. They all left their families behind.
4. My family doesn't know that I do this. I'm at no risk of being arrested or killed for this in the United States.

Their families were not supportive of them, and their actions. In two cases their family took action against them, either by denouncing their actions publicly, or actually physically abusing their child.

I'm not sure what you're implying would happen to their family, the government didn't take any action against them, nor the population.

one of these individuals had previously served jail time for his views. Generally these governments have anti-blasphemy laws that they use to prosecute these individuals. Some of these laws are one sided (it's illegal to defame islam), others are all inclusive (it's illegal to defame religion), but in the countries where the law is all inclusive, it is generally only used against people who "defame" Islam. What is considered defamation is very vague, and I think that this law is also used as a political tool against secularist.

The popular view's in these countries, even among liberals, is that free speech has its limits. One of these individuals was actually denounced in their country by the liberal blogging community because they felt the line had been crossed.

I don't think that they are becoming a rule, maybe there is a slight nudge among the youth to support secularism, but I think there is no doubt that they are currently the exception.