Political satire is good fun, but religious satire makes people scamper away in fear.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
UN Calls for End of Impunity
Mar 11th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Violence against women is rightly termed the most common but least punished crime in the world.’… Read the rest
Impunity for Violence Against Women
Mar 11th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonLook, if a woman never leaves home, she’ll never be raped, so if she’s raped, it’s her fault.… Read the rest
Report on Women’s Rights Seminar
Mar 11th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWomen standing up for their rights against a controlling and often violent religious establishment.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on Knowing all the Answers
Mar 10th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOr at least believing you know them. Good enough.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on Certainty and Doubt
Mar 10th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe barmaid isn’t so sure.… Read the rest
Johann Hari on Genuinely Comprehensive Schools
Mar 10th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonVoices of raw class privilege cast off meritocracy to demand privileges for People Like Us.… Read the rest
Michael Walzer Replies to Jerome Slater
Mar 10th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTalk of ‘the political power of American Jews’ is a very dangerous trope.… Read the rest
Evangelicals ‘Speak Out’ Against Gay Rights
Mar 10th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonEvangelical Alliance says regulations will unfairly jeopardise expression of religion and belief.… Read the rest
An historic 8 March in Iran
Mar 10th, 2007 | By Maryam KoushaPeople in Iran welcomed 8th March this year by organising many events well ahead of the actual day in different cities all over the country. It culminated in major gatherings on Thursday, international women’s day. People were passionate about the day, had prepared manifestos, resolutions and banners demanding equality, condemning gender apartheid and women’s oppression. As usual the Islamic regime tried everything to halt and prevent these events. Despite massive paramilitary and secret police presence, many pickets and gatherings took place.
Tehran
Several thousand people gathered around Tehran University by 4 pm Tehran’s time to start an 8 March rally which was called by 8 March organising committee, endorsed by OWL. However, this gathering was prevented from commencing by the … Read the rest
Keep your dang bulwark
Mar 9th, 2007 12:04 pm | By Ophelia BensonYou know, bulwarks are useful things when there’s a hurricane, or a flood, or maybe a mob of ravenous aggressive rabbits approaching the town; but other times, not so much. There are some bulwarks we don’t much want, some bulwarks we’d rather not have, thanks. Take your bulwark and go away. This one for instance.
Why has the church taken a stand on [the issue of gay adoptions] when it barely protested against the introduction of civil partnerships last year? Is this largely a symbolic issue, a stand-in for a much deeper debate about the relationship between faith and the state? Does the church see itself as the last bulwark against an encroaching tide of liberalism?
Maybe so, and … Read the rest
‘Faith’ in the State
Mar 9th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Does the church see itself as the last bulwark against an encroaching tide of liberalism?’… Read the rest
Gambian Dictator Says He Can Cure AIDS
Mar 9th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOnly on Thursdays though. Method based on healing properties of seven herbs and Koranic prayers.… Read the rest
PBS et la Querelle Autour de Mme Einstein
Mar 9th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Un bien mauvais service à rendre que de réparer les injustices d’hier par des approximations, des demi-vérités, voire de falsifications.’… Read the rest
Australian Muslim Group Tells Imams to Shut Up
Mar 9th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonLebanese Muslim Association tells 5 clerics to stop talking to media.… Read the rest
Swiss Court Convicts Turkish Politician
Mar 9th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOf racial discrimination for denying that mass killings of Armenians in 1915 amounted to genocide.… Read the rest
Nawal Al-Saadawi Takes a Break from Egypt
Mar 9th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSees appeasement of the MB leading to increased religionism in society.… Read the rest
Religion and Secularism in Israel
Mar 9th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSecular Israelis feel severely constrained by religious strictures. … Read the rest
Ehsan Masood on Multiculturalism in Canada
Mar 9th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonCanada has the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. … Read the rest
Libya Forbids Women to Travel
Mar 8th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonGovernment forbids women under 40 to travel abroad without a legal male guardian.… Read the rest