He is accused of despising science and defending the Inquisition’s condemnation of Galileo.… Read the rest
Dinesh D’Souza Wins NH Bad Faith Award 
Jan 16th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Edges out pope, Archbishop Francisco Chimoio, Westboro Baptist Church. Congrats Dinesh!… Read the rest
Cathleen Schine Reads Katha Pollitt
Jan 16th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She is too inquisitive, too enchanted by the unexpected, to be a really proper ideologue.… Read the rest
BBC1 Documentary on Forced Marriage
Jan 16th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Jasvinder ran away to escape a forced marriage. Her sister committed suicide by setting herself on fire.… Read the rest
Nigel Warburton on ‘The Grasshopper’
Jan 16th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A brilliant and witty book, superbly written and with serious and original contributions to make. … Read the rest
One Woman’s Story of Manipulated Marriage
Jan 16th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘We are taught to be submissive and stay silent. But staying silent can kill you.’… Read the rest
Carlin Romano on John Gray
Jan 16th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
His opinion is not entirely favourable.… Read the rest
The pope stays home
Jan 16th, 2008 11:48 am | By Ophelia BensonWell good. Excellent. It’s about time. Some teachers and students at a university have pointed out that Papal epistemology does not belong at a university. That Papal ways of knowing are not academic ways of knowing; that, in short, there is indeed a tension between reason and ‘faith.’ Well done.
… Read the restPope Benedict XVI last night called off a visit to Rome’s main university in the face of hostility from some of its academics and students, who accused him of despising science and defending the Inquisition’s condemnation of Galileo…[A] letter [was] signed by more than 60 of La Sapienza’s teachers, asking that the invitation to the Pope be rescinded. The signatories of the letter said Benedict’s presence would be “incongruous”.
Relax and enjoy it
Jan 15th, 2008 7:23 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe bishop of Oxford is ‘personally very happy for the mosque to call the faithful to prayer in East Oxford’. I don’t suppose he lives there, does he? Or does he.
“Faith is a very important factor in the lives of 80 per cent of the world’s population and a public expression of that faith is both natural and reasonable…It is good that we should be reminded of the faithfulness of many members of the community.”
Is it? Why? And even if it is, we get reminded quite a bit already, don’t we?
… Read the rest“It is natural that Muslim communities will gather in a particular area and what matters is that we demonstrate the kind of respect that is the
Aziza Abdel-Halim Plans Coalition to End Abuse
Jan 15th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some victims felt helpless because when they sought the advice of their imam he sided with the abuser. … Read the rest
MPs to Probe Abuse and ‘Honour’ Crime
Jan 15th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Labour MP says the voices of victims of forced marriage and ‘honour’ crimes are not heard often enough.… Read the rest
Fariba Amini on Human Rights in Iran
Jan 15th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Islamic regime has trampled on its citizens and insulted the intellect and wisdom of its own people.… Read the rest
Bishop of Oxford Urges Relaxation and Respect
Jan 15th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘It is good that we should be reminded of the faithfulness of many members of the community.’… Read the rest
Citroen Apologizes for Mao Ad ‘Insult’
Jan 15th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mao is still revered despite policies which ended in the deaths of millions. Nobody’s perfect.… Read the rest
The Cosmopolitan Possibility
Jan 15th, 2008 | By Paul Sikander, introduction by Gina KhanGina Khan would like to introduce Paul Sikander, the author of this article. A lawyer who grew up in London and the West Midlands, he has also observed the rise of Islamism in Birmingham at close quarters over the last twenty years.
As British Muslim women, we struggle from within to raise our voices and to be heard, we are looking through bullet-proof glass windows as we watch the MCB and other bodies manipulate the media or the government; we never get consulted. It is encouraging to find another voice who breaks his silence today on Islamists and the hypocrisy, control and Islamism that Muslim women and children can be subjected to in Britain. I hope every governing body in … Read the rest
Past Imperfect
Jan 14th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Charlie Wilson helped to bring down a project of secular modernisation. Clever.… Read the rest
Brian Whitaker on Human Rights and Universalism
Jan 14th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is no room for selectively excluding some humans on the pretext of local circumstances or cultural norms.… Read the rest
Brian Whitaker on HRW and Honour Killings
Jan 14th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many governments that sign up to treaties such as CEDAW face resistance from conservatives at home.… Read the rest
Loudspeaker Plan for Oxford Mosque Not Popular
Jan 14th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Neighbours think it might be a tad noisy and intrusive. And theological.… Read the rest
Gina Khan Interview Part 4
Jan 14th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Inayat Bunglawala is a good example of what I mean by the extreme version of Islam.… Read the rest
