In case we haven’t had enough no-platforming today, in case we haven’t had enough damnfoolery from UK university feminist societies today, in case we haven’t had enough of mouthy feminist women being stabbed in the back by other feminists today – we can contemplate the fact that the Bristol Feminist Society decided to no-platform Sarah Ditum because somebody somewhere said she said something transphobic maybe perhaps but don’t quote them.

Sarah Ditum ‏@sarahditum 6 hours ago
Too perfect. No-platformed by @TWSSMagazine (Bristol uni femsoc mag) because they won’t have anyone “accused of transphobia” on a panel.

Obvs they claimed “unforeseen circs”. Too cowardly to keep their invitation, too cowardly to say why. But I have the emails @TWSSMagazine

Well don’t … Read the rest

The BBC is reporting on another Twitter fuss.

Amidst the news of a mass shooting in California, a lively debate erupted on Twitter over the power and utility of offering “prayers” in the wake of such an event.

It’s political boilerplate to offer “thoughts and prayers” to the victims of violence, and the majority of Republican presidential candidates took this approach after a shooting in California left 14 people dead and more injured.

“Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and the first responders in San Bernardino who willingly go into harm’s way to save others,” wrote Ted Cruz.

Well, you know, I wish they wouldn’t do that. I usually keep it to myself, at least when … Read the rest

Here is the video of Maryam’s talk at Goldsmiths on Monday. Now we can see for ourselves what actually happened.

I’ve watched 25 minutes so far.

At 9 minutes a guy in the front row all in black including a wool cap gets up to take photos of the audience.

At 11:30 there are snickers and mutterings when Maryam mentions the murders of atheist bloggers in Bangladesh.

At 12 two guys in the front row start objecting to being filmed; Maryam tells them to stop talking or get out, the ASH guy who introduced her tells them questions will be at the end, they keep talking and shouting. The noisiest guy, in a grey flat cap, has the gall to … Read the rest

Another one. Is it going to be every other day now? Every day? Several per day?

The New York Times is live updating.

A little over an hour ago –

Police Report Multiple Fatalities, Possibly as Many as 12
Coral Castro, the multimedia coordinator for the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, said that details about the shooting were still in flux, including the number of suspects and casualties.

But she reported that there were “possibly 12 fatalities.”

Ms. Castro said the department was assisting in the investigation and she emphasized that information was still coming in. The police are searching for three possible suspects, she said, but no one is in custody.

She said a news conference would be held

The Goldsmiths Feminist Society removed their statement of solidarity with Goldsmiths Isoc from Facebook but they later tweeted the tumblr version, which remains.

Goldsmiths Feminist Society stands in solidarity with Goldsmiths Islamic Society. We support them in condemning the actions of the Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society and agree that hosting known islamophobes at our university creates a climate of hatred.

We showed our support on our Facebook page by sharing ISOC’s post with a message of solidarity. Our Facebook page is designed as a space for us to communicate with our members, and their safety is our first priority, under the policies set out by our Student Union. We reserve the right to remove comments and posts that

Daaaaaaaaaamn – the Goldsmiths Feminist Society expressed solidarity with…ISOC.

The post has apparently been deleted now, but hell and damn, what is wrong with everyone?… Read the rest

Hooray, a December panto at the Norwich Playhouse.

Spooky Kid Productions presents
JACK THE RIPPER THE PANTO

Thu 10th Dec to Sat 12th Dec – 7:30pm
2 hours plus interval
£15 all tickets (+ £1.20 per transaction when tickets posted)

Ahahahahaha look at her, isn’t that funny? No teeth, because she’s poor, you see, and big tits because she’s a whore, and terrified because of the knife. How funny! What larks!

OVERVIEW

Based on the 19th century’s most notorious killer, Jack The Ripper The Panto is a love story with prostitutes, murders, drugs and a good old sing song.

After a spate of unfortunate “incidents” Jack Ripper is forced to flee to London with only Manson, the psychotic cat,

There’s a petition you can sign to stop the stoning of the Sri Lankan domestic worker by the Saudi fascists.

A 45 year old, unnamed Sri Lankan migrant domestic worker and mother of 3 has been sentenced to death by stoning in Saudi Arabia for “adultery.” Zina – that is any sexual relations outside of marriage – are Hudud crimes or “crimes against God.”

The man in the alleged relationship who is single has been sentenced to 100 lashes for “fornication.”

The Muslim Women’s Research & Action Front Sri Lanka says that the stoning is imminent and to take place on Friday 4 December 2015.

We, the undersigned, condemn the death penalty and stoning or flogging, including for private sexual

Goldsmiths ISOC posted its ludicrous version of what happened at Maryam’s talk yesterday, claiming that their members were harassed by the Goldsmiths ASH.

Goldsmiths Islamic Society (ISOC) would like to categorically condemn the vile harassment of our ISOC members (both male and female) by the Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society (ASH).

On Monday 30th November, students of Goldsmiths University, alongside members of the public attended an event organised by the ASH titled “Apostasy, Blasphemy & Free Expression, In the age of ISIS”. The ASH invited Maryam Namazie, who is known as a notorious islamophobe to speak at the event, despite our polite request for them to reconsider. The university should be a safe space for all our students. Islamophobic views

So there’s this preacher in Tempe, Arizona…which can just mean he’s some guy who got a few people to listen to him say things somewhere. He could be some guy who invented his own church and got a few neighbors to sit in front of him while he delivers “sermons.” Or he could be a Baptist in good standing; who knows. The point is that “preacher” doesn’t tell you much of anything. We know a few people listened to him because we can hear a few people laughing slightly on the video.

So there he is, in Tempe, and he says all the “homos” should be killed because Leviticus, and that would cure AIDS.

Conservative “Christian” Pastor Steven Anderson

That’s a loss:

The Moroccan writer and sociologist Fatima Mernissi, known for her pioneering work in the field of Islamic feminism, has died.

Her work also touched on broader issues of human rights and democracy in the Arab and Muslim worlds.

Her best known work, Beyond the Veil, examines Islam from a feminist perspective and critiques traditional, male-dominated interpretations.

…

Moroccan-American author Laila Lalami was among many others who paid tribute to Mernissi, writing that “in addition to being a wonderful scholar, Fatema Mernissi was a kind and generous human being. A rare combination.”

Mernissi’s work drew attention to the active political role played by women in the early history of Islam, for example in her book The Forgotten