In the chapter titled “The Doctor Will Sue You Now,” the usually affable Dr. Goldacre is indeed angry, and rightly so.… Read the rest
Artist refused to be gagged, withdrew from exhibit 
Nov 2nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“We were concerned that offence could have been taken and this may have impacted negatively on arts funding.”… Read the rest
Padraig Ready on Ireland’s head-in-sand censorship
Nov 2nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A photographer has withdrawn a project from exhibition after local officials objected to the text accompanying the pictures.… Read the rest
Will “new atheism” make room for women?
Nov 2nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“No women are currently recognized as leaders or even mentioned as a force within the movement.” Debatable.… Read the rest
The Islamic regime of Iran plans to execute Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani immediately
Nov 1st, 2010 | By International Committee against Stoning
According to news received by the International Committee against Stoning and International Commitee against Execution on 1 November 2010, the authorities in Tehran have given the go ahead to Tabriz prison for the execution of Iran stoning case Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. It has been reported that she is to be executed this Wednesday 3 November.
We had previously reported that the casefile regarding the murder case of Ms Ashtiani’s husband had been seized from her lawyer’s office, Houtan Kian, and found missing from the prosecutor’s Oskoo branch office so as to stitch Ms Ashtiani up with trumped up murder charges. Ms Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and her lawyer, Houtan Kian, have warned of the regime’s plan to do so on… Read the rest
Policing belief
Nov 1st, 2010 12:14 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe Freedom House report on blasphemy laws underlines the distinction between blasphemy and incitement.
It’s easy to understand why the two get blended together, because hatred of a set of ideas can lead to hatred of people who espouse them. This is obvious to me with regard to people like Glen Beck; to the pope’s ravings about atheism; to sexist rants about feminism. In that sense,… Read the restThere is an important distinction in international law between blasphemy—meaning critical, insulting, or offensive expression against religious doctrines, figures, and deities—and incitement—meaning expression that explicitly encourages and calls for hostility and violence. Of the two, only the latter appears to fit the limited circumstances in which restrictions on freedom of expression are considered acceptable.
Lauryn Oates on negotiating with the Taliban
Nov 1st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Taliban have been quite consistent in their beliefs that girls should not be educated and women who work outside the home deserve to die.… Read the rest
Nicholas Kristof tells Afghan women to get over it
Nov 1st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Teachers and principals should not have to negotiate with deranged, violent lunatic militants for children to go to school.… Read the rest
How internet discussions of sexism go
Nov 1st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Sorry ladies, nothing is sexist until I say it is, plus I heart women, so lick my balls.”… Read the rest
