To put an end to knife crime. Or something.… Read the rest
Islamists Threaten to Murder Defense Lawyer
Aug 2nd, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAfzal Nooristani is defending Sayed Pervez Kambaksh on blasphemy charge, hence death threats.… Read the rest
David Littman’s Statement to UN HRC June 16 2008
Aug 2nd, 2008 | By AWE and IHEUUNHR Council: 8th Session (2-18 June 2008): President: Ambassador Doru Romulus Costea Speaker: AWE Representative David G. LITTMAN. Monday (4:40-6:05p.m.) 16 June 2008
Follow-up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action:Integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations system (item 8)
Mr President
[Words in red not pronounced on President’s advice, after the meeting was suspended 30 minutes]
In the context of integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations System, we wish to draw attention to four examples of widespread violence against women that we believe merit far greater attention from the Council.
1. Regarding FGM, our detailed written statement [The 1st interruption by Egypt’s delegate occurred here; about 15 others … Read the rest
Oh no, not that
Aug 1st, 2008 5:59 pm | By Ophelia BensonYou spotted the irony, I trust?
Once again, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice misses its goals…The latest action from the commission is to ban the sale of cats and dogs in Riyadh. According to Al-Hayat newspaper, the reason behind the ban is a fatwa and the reason behind the fatwa is that some young men take dogs out into the street and use them to annoy families; the fatwa also points out that the ban aims to preserve public morals.
Because dogs like to shove their noses unceremoniously into people’s crotches, and cats probably would if they were tall enough. But no, that’s not the irony.
… Read the restA person can in fact use
Barmaid Explains About Infinite Regress
Aug 1st, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonJesus and Mo don’t quite take it in.… Read the rest
Chiacgo Colleagues Discuss Obama as Teacher
Aug 1st, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWhatever position he held, Obama could clearly see and dispassionately articulate the other side.… Read the rest
Obama at the University of Chicago
Aug 1st, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHis most original course, a historical and political seminar as much as a legal one, was on racism and law.… Read the rest
Danny Postel on Reading Habermas in Tehran
Aug 1st, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe speeches and writings of Akbar Ganji, Iran’s leading dissident, are peppered with references to Kant and Mill.… Read the rest
Online Persecution
Aug 1st, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAnonymous bullies amuse themselves by tormenting strangers.… Read the rest
Teach the children well
Aug 1st, 2008 1:14 am | By Ophelia BensonDid you have a look at the report on Saudi textbooks? It’s horrible, horrible stuff. It’s sickening to read. You feel despair that there are people in the world going about things in this way, ‘teaching’ children in this way. You feel disgusted with human beings.
… Read the restA 2005-2006 Fourth Grade textbook on Monotheism and Jurisprudence instructs students to “hate (tubghida) the polytheists and the infidels” as a requirement of “true faith.” Incongruously, the same sentence instructs that they are not to treat the infidels “unjustly,” but does not provide any clarification of what this meant.
“ Is belief true in the following instances?
a. A man prays but hates those who are virtuous.
b. A man professes