Coroner believes the concept of arranged marriage was central to the circumstances leading up to her death. … Read the rest
All entries by this author
Ethnocentric feminism
Jan 11th, 2008 11:38 am | By Ophelia BensonI had a hard time tearing myself away from the computer Wednesday and Thursday mornings to catch the bus downtown to the courthouse, because there was a lively (not to say acrimonious) discussion on a Women’s Studies list I subscribe to, about Female Genital Mutilation. I may have done something myself to contribute to the acrimony. Okay I did. I got annoyed. Repeatedly. (But one is limited to two messages a day, so there was a limit to the damage I could do.)
It started with the (astonishing, I thought) fact that the practice was called ‘circumcision’ – which staggered me because I thought it was apologists for the practice who called it that and that opponents all called it … Read the rest
Binyavanga Wainaina on Kenya 
Jan 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The bloody attacks here do not reflect primordial hatreds. They reflect the manipulation of identity for political gain.… Read the rest
Speigel Talks to Wangari Maathai
Jan 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
At some point we will have reached a level at which violence becomes an end in itself and can no longer be stopped.… Read the rest
Whereabouts
Jan 10th, 2008 7:54 am | By Ophelia BensonJust in case you’re wondering if I’ve run off to Las Vegas or something, I can explain. Posting is light at the moment because I have jury duty. I’ll catch up at the weekend, if not sooner.… Read the rest
Terry Sanderson on Blasphemy Law
Jan 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Proposed restrictions on ‘incitement to religious hatred’ and ‘defamation of religion’ show up around the globe.… Read the rest
Amendment to Abolish UK Blasphemy Law
Jan 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Signatories include Philip Pullman, Ricky Gervais, Richard Dawkins, Nick Hytner. … Read the rest
Research on Boredom
Jan 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Level of attention, an aspect of conscious awareness, plays an important role in boredom.… Read the rest
The US Doesn’t Understand Pakistan
Jan 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Pakistan’s national identity is based on not being Hindu – a thin reed on which to hang a unified state.… Read the rest
HNN Interviews Charlie Savage
Jan 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Cheney has wanted to restore the imperial presidency for three decades.… Read the rest
Canadian Islamic Congress v Maclean’s
Jan 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Canadian Islamic Congress has launched two human rights complaints against Maclean’s. … Read the rest
Tariq Ramadan is Rather Bossy
Jan 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Islamic studies must be taken seriously. Politicians, university administrators, faculty and students must say so.’… Read the rest
More Power for Muslim Women
Jan 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Bunglawala says the government wants Muslim women to act as spies.… Read the rest
Funny Way to Apologize
Jan 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Vatican calls for ‘perpetual adoration’ of eucharist to atone for sex abuse.… Read the rest
Iranian Artist Threatened With ‘Execution’
Jan 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She photographed gay men wearing masks of the prophet; her work was removed from the Hague museum.… Read the rest
Doubts About Education in Islamic Seminaries
Jan 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
16 of the 25 UK seminaries, producing 80% of graduates, are Deobandi.… Read the rest
British Imams Get Inadequate Training
Jan 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Musharraf Hussain gives withering assessment of training in many of Britain’s 26 Islamic seminaries. … Read the rest
H E Baber on the Solidarity of the Oppressed
Jan 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
First we needed to combat the oppression of minority males; then there would be time for luxuries like feminism.… Read the rest
Rebecca Goldstein on Falsifiability
Jan 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Scientists don’t, and shouldn’t, jettison a theory as soon as a disconfirming datum comes in.… Read the rest
Indirect effects
Jan 7th, 2008 11:43 am | By Ophelia BensonThe Vatican is planning a party. Sounds like fun.
… Read the restThe Vatican has called on Catholics to atone for the sex abuse scandals that have engulfed their church in recent years by taking part in what may be the largest global prayer initiative ever seen…[E]very diocese in the world should name a priest to work full-time on the arrangements for the “perpetual adoration” of the eucharist. This would involve parishioners taking turns to keep a round-the-clock vigil in front of a consecrated host representing the body of Jesus…The aim was “to make amends before God for the evil that has been done and hail once more the dignity of the victims”, who had suffered from the “moral and sexual conduct
