Barry Bearak, South Asia Bureau Co-Chief, 1998-2002: “Mr. Munadi, as well as the other “translators” who have worked—and continue to work—for The Times in Afghanistan are also skilled journalists. They accompany Western reporters into the field, leading as much as following. They are a walking Who’s Who, historian, guide, lie detector, supply sergeant, master of logistics, taking equal the risks without equal the glory or pay. One more thing: “translators” like Mr. Munadi take responsibility for the reporter’s life…With the Taliban driven from Kabul, Sultan returned to his formal journalism studies while also working for The Times. When he was graduated, party was held at a newly-opened restaurant. I had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Munadi’s … Read the rest
All entries by this author
The BBC on the ‘English Defense League’ 
Sep 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘So if it’s not exclusively white, is it just a cover for a wider Islamophobia?’… Read the rest
Colleagues Remember Sultan Munadi
Sep 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A terrible loss.… Read the rest
Tariq Ramadan Says He’s Been Too Nice
Sep 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Take the cartoon riots, or the bombings in Madrid. It leads to mistrust.’… Read the rest
Boris Johnson Cites Valuable Lessons of Islam
Sep 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Such as the importance of community spirit, family ties, compassion and helping those less fortunate.’… Read the rest
Halal Search Engines for Muslims
Sep 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It is so useful to be told what is haram and what is halal.… Read the rest
Male Clergy Coerce Women Into Sex
Sep 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He says it is God’s will and she takes his word for it. Easy.… Read the rest
Get the sick bag, it’s Tony Blair
Sep 10th, 2009 6:18 pm | By Ophelia BensonTony Blair gets more sickening every day. Individualism, financial crisis, profit, communal good, deeper level, materialistic, my generation, urk urk urk.
The danger is clear: that pursuit of pleasure becomes an end in itself. It is here that faith can step in, can show us a proper sense of duty to others, responsibility for the world around us, and can lead us to, as the Holy Father calls it, caritas in veritate.
Ew? Ew ew ew ew EW!
What the hell does he mean ‘the Holy Father’? He’s not my fucking Holy Father! He may be Tony Blair’s Holy Father but he’s not mine, so he’s not ‘the.’ The arrogance of them – thinking there is such a thing … Read the rest
Kristof and WuDunn on the Oppression of Women
Sep 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s not news, so it doesn’t get much coverage.… Read the rest
Dwight Furrow on Sholto Byrnes on Atheism
Sep 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
His entire argument rests on a sophomoric understanding of the work of David Hume.… Read the rest
Extra Vitamins Pointless for Most People
Sep 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
And some are bad for you. Eat a healthy diet, skip the pills.… Read the rest
Blair Talks Rebarbative Kack About God’s Truth
Sep 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
See if you can read this without losing your lunch.… Read the rest
Andrew Brown Swoons for Blair on ‘Faith’
Sep 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Blair understands that religion isn’t applied theology. That belief gets everything precisely backwards.’… Read the rest
King’s Fund Reports on Alternative Medicine
Sep 9th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
An ‘expert report’ can be produced to back any view whatsoever simply by choosing the right ‘experts.’… Read the rest
It Is Sudanese Law That Is Offensive
Sep 9th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lubna Hussein was fighting against laws that objectify and seek to control women. … Read the rest
David Colquhoun Reviews Unscientific America
Sep 9th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In the UK the appeasers of crackpot medicine are widespread but appeasement hasn’t worked there either.… Read the rest
Michael Weiss on Misogyny as Multiculturalism
Sep 9th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How dare two white-skinned Western atheists presume to condemn the Prophet for keeping a 9 year-old bride?… Read the rest
Athena Andreadis on Others and Numbers
Sep 9th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Furniture is useful and can be decorative, but it’s not supposed to move, dammit! … Read the rest
Rome Conference on Violence Against Women
Sep 9th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The women of Iran have been at war with the Islamic clerics’ establishment for at least 150 years.’… Read the rest
Greta Christina on Atheism Sex and Race
Sep 9th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The more atheism seems to be all white male, the more it will stay that way. Does it matter? Yes.… Read the rest
