The Turkish government argues that judging what happened in eastern Turkey in 1915-16 should be left to historians, and that the new French law will restrict freedom of speech.… Read the rest
NSS on LSE Student Union v principle of free speech 
Jan 25th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“These statements by the Student Union are deeply shocking. They appear to be prepared to sacrifice the primary principle of free speech on the altar of claimed offence.”… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on how not to offend
Jan 25th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We must ensure that everyone’s beliefs are protected. Well not quite everyone’s.… Read the rest
Ministry of Truth on manipulations of LSE Students’ Union
Jan 25th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A motion to limit voting rights at general meetings looks like another cynical ploy designed to head off any possibility of LSESU ASH rallying support.
Spot the agenda
Jan 24th, 2012 10:33 am | By Ophelia BensonThe letter to the Guardian cited a survey.
“Muslims deserve a better press than they have been given in the past decade.” And according to a recent ComRes poll, one in three people in Britain today believe that the media is responsible for “whipping up a climate of fear of Islam in the UK”.
The letter calls it a ComRes poll, but that’s just a brand name. What it really is is an Ahmadiyya Muslim Association survey, and to be exact, it’s an Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK Islamophobia Survey. It’s not an impartial bit of research, it’s an agenda-driven poll.
… Read the restThe poll was commissioned by one of the UK’s oldest Muslim groups, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, in order
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Jaipur: Islamist bullies block Rushdie video talk
Jan 24th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Announcing the cancellation, an emotional Sanjoy Roy said: “We have been pushed to the wall…Earlier today, a number of organisations came to us and threatened violence.”… Read the rest
Islamist misogyny on the rise in the Maldives
Jan 24th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Shadiya Ibrahim, a long-time campaigner for women’s rights, said the society was growing steadily more oppressive of women.… Read the rest
Bruce Gorton on bad times for free expression
Jan 24th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
On the 11 of February, One Law for All is arranging a rally to stand up against this. Are you prepared to stand up and say “We give this kuffar the right to speak”?… Read the rest
LSE Students’ Union issues statement on ASH
Jan 23rd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“The offensive nature of the content on the Facebook page is not in accordance with our values of tolerance, diversity, and respect for all students.”… Read the rest
Nigeria: police find bomb-filled cars in Kano
Jan 23rd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Police said they found cars and vans filled with explosives in Kano three days after Boko Haram carried out a deadly attack there.… Read the rest
Seeing what you want to see
Jan 23rd, 2012 4:03 pm | By Ophelia BensonKaren Armstrong tells us all, not for the first time, how swell Islam is.
First, she tells us the problem. It’s that “western people” think Islam is “a violent and intolerant faith” but this is all wrong. Couldn’t be more wrong. Very very wrong. It’s the hajj what does it, you see. Religion is like ice skating, you learn it by doing it, so the hajj teaches people to do all the good things.
The ancient rituals of the hajj, which Arabs performed for centuries before Islam, have helped pilgrims to form habits of heart and mind that – pace the western stereotype – are non-violent and inclusive.
Which is why everywhere we look, or nearly everywhere, that’s what … Read the rest
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
That’s how it’s done
Jan 23rd, 2012 3:37 pm | By Ophelia BensonThere was a time when Lego knew how to market to girls without treating them like idiots or aspiring princesses.
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Too much conflation of being offended and being intimidated
Jan 23rd, 2012 12:27 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe LSE Student Union Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society has told the LSE Student Union to take a flying jump. I should think so too.
… Read the restThere are no reasonable grounds for the LSESU’s instruction because we are in no way violating their policies or byelaws. The cartoons on our Facebook page criticise religion in a satirical way and we totally reject any claim that their publications could constitute any sort of harassment or intimidation of Muslims or Christians.
That there was no deliberate intention to offend is illustrated by the fact that the cartoons were posted only on the LSESU ASH page and not in other spaces. But even if some people are offended, offence is not a sufficient
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Skeptic lawyer on the two sorts of limits to law
Jan 23rd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The first concerns what one ought to do (with law). The second concerns what it is possible to do (with law). Principled v means-end.… Read the rest
Karen Armstrong says how great Islam is
Jan 23rd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“The ancient rituals of the hajj…have helped pilgrims to form habits of heart and mind that – pace the western stereotype – are non-violent and inclusive.”… Read the rest
More on arrest of Indonesian atheist
Jan 23rd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Official said that he had yet to decide whether Alexander would be dismissed from his post. “I told him that there was no place in this country for his beliefs,” he said.… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on how freedom goes
Jan 22nd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The people the liberal mainstream lets down are liberal Muslims and ex-Muslims who need help in their fight against theocratic oppression.… Read the rest
