A woman fought back, and the crowd joined in, chanting ‘We do not want the Islamic regime!’… Read the rest
Palme Prize to Go Ahead as Planned 
Mar 4th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Organisers say the ceremony will go ahead in honour of Parvin Ardalan, who won for her women’s rights work in Iran.… Read the rest
Ardalan Prevented from Leaving to Collect Prize
Mar 4th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Parvin Ardalan was on the plane for Sweden to collect Olaf Palme prize when the police stopped her.… Read the rest
Parvin Ardalan Defies Jail Fighting for Equality
Mar 4th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ardalan has denounced the country’s Islamic revolution for destroying a generation of Iranians.… Read the rest
Providing a context
Mar 3rd, 2008 6:14 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe archbishops tell us, in the concluding sentence of their letter to the communities secretary:
The relationship between Church and State, reaffirmed by the Government last July in The Governance of Britain, will continue to provide a context in which people of all faiths and none can live together in mutual respect in this part of the Realm.
What does that mean? Anything? Is it anything other than an obvious absurdity? What can it mean to say that a relationship between church and state will provide a context in which people of all faiths and none can live together in mutual respect? Why would it do that? What does a relationship between the state and one particular church have … Read the rest
Finnish Organization Helps Victims of Violence
Mar 3rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
An immigrant woman often faces domestic violence when the perpetrator feels that his power is diminished. … Read the rest
German Organization Rescues Women
Mar 3rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Friend of Hatun Surucu formed an organization to help women escape ‘honour’ killing.… Read the rest
Plea Bargain in Abu Ghanem Trial
Mar 3rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Victim’s female relatives described a reign of terror enforced by men to preserve ‘family honor.’… Read the rest
Afghans Protest Geert Wilders Film on Koran
Mar 3rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No real problems in Afghanistan, so might as well protest some Dutch guy dissing the Koran.… Read the rest
The Sensus Divinitatis Firms Up Your Beliefs
Mar 2nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s better than free weights.… Read the rest
Mo Sings the Respect Song
Mar 2nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
R.E.S.P.E.C.T., I’ll burn down your embassy.… Read the rest
Iraqi Journalists Mourn Murdered Union Leader
Mar 2nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Iraqi Journalists’ Union has picked a new leader, who declared a week of mourning for Shihab al-Timimi.… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on the Squeal of Fundamentalism
Mar 2nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The UN HRC is proposing in all seriousness to protect religion by doctoring its universal defence of freedom of expression.… Read the rest
The Difficulty of Reforming the Hadith
Mar 1st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It is not rationalising but the radical tendency that has the momentum.… Read the rest
Archbishops Fret About Blasphemy Repeal
Mar 1st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘It should not be capable of interpretation as a secularising move, or as a general licence to attack or insult religious beliefs and believers.’… Read the rest
Two Former Islamists Start Think Tank
Mar 1st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Aim is to ‘revive a western Islam’ by removing scriptural literalism, extremism, Islamism.… Read the rest
Berlin Exhibition Closes after Muslim Threats
Mar 1st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Galerie Nord closed after a group of Muslims walked in and threatened staff with violence.… Read the rest
EU Criticizes Iran’s New Penal Code
Mar 1st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Death for apostasy already exists in Iran under Sharia; changes would bring the punishment into the criminal code. … Read the rest
EU Asks Iran to Reconsider
Mar 1st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Iran typically dismisses Western criticism of its legal system, claiming Islamic law is fundamentally different.… Read the rest
Archepiscopal weight thrown around
Mar 1st, 2008 10:39 am | By Ophelia BensonSo the archbishops have changed their minds about not resisting the repeal of the blasphemy laws? They’ve decided to resist after all? Why? Did they look around themselves and decide that religious types don’t interfere with the government enough and they’d better get busy and start meddling?
Dr Rowan Williams and Dr John Sentamu say in a letter today that the Government should not lightly change laws that, though their day-to-day importance may be small, “nevertheless carry a significant symbolic charge.”
Why yes, they do, and that’s exactly why they should be not only changed but ground into powder and then torched. The significant symbolic charge they carry is that it is Not Permissible to mock or tease or … Read the rest
