Nicaragua votes in new abortion ban, even in cases where the mother’s life is at risk.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Murderous New Abortion Ban in Nicaragua
Oct 28th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWomen’s rights groups in Nicaragua plan to file an injunction to stop a new law banning all abortions.… Read the rest
Hitchens Interviewed
Oct 28th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘It’s very important to these people that they still have their oppositionalist credentials. I think it’s narcissistic.’… Read the rest
Double Sids is Rare but so is Double Murder
Oct 28th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBen Goldacre notes a well documented piece of flawed reasoning known as ‘prosecutor’s fallacy.’… Read the rest
Mass resistance is the other side of mass oppression
Oct 28th, 2006 | By Azar MajediIn describing women’s conditions in a particular country, one refers either to laws governing that country or to statistics. In this manner, one either exposes the extent of the oppression women suffer, or admires their achievements. With respect to women living under the rule of Islam, it is pure discrimination and oppression, subjugation and state violence. If women are considered second class citizens in many countries, in Islam-ridden countries they are not even considered citizens. They are extensions of men. In fact, according to Islam, the concept of citizen is non-existent. There is a relation between God and religious hierarchy and a collective of right-less, conscious-less men, with women as their slaves. As a matter of fact this is true … Read the rest
Getting the message
Oct 27th, 2006 7:56 pm | By Ophelia BensonSheik Hilali clarifies things.
Australia is a multicultural society. Whoever wants to, let them take their clothes off. Whoever wants to go naked, let them go naked. Whoever wants to get drunk, let them get drunk. Whoever wants to smoke hashish, let them smoke hashish. It’s a free country, it’s none of our business. But it is our right to tell our women (that they dress appropriately).
And, presumably, that they stay home and stay in their room, since that’s what he said the first time. So anyway – who’s the ‘our’ in that sentence? Who is the ‘we’ who get to tell ‘our’ women what to do? Men, of course. It always is. ‘We’ are people and ‘we’ … Read the rest
The Mufti Wasn’t Kidding, Psychiatrist Notes
Oct 27th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The mufti meant exactly what he said, and those views are widely held,’ says Tanveer Ahmed.… Read the rest
Cheney Calls Waterboarding a No-brainer
Oct 27th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘We don’t torture. That’s not what we’re involved in.’ But waterboarding is fine.… Read the rest
Moses Joins the Reading Group
Oct 27th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHe doesn’t quite get it though.… Read the rest
No One Can Sack Me, Hilali Says
Oct 27th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘[L]et them smoke hashish. It’s a free country, it’s none of our business. But it is our right to tell our women.’… Read the rest
German Muslim MP Receives Death Threats
Oct 27th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonEkin Deligoez received threats after she urged women to unveil; is under police protection.… Read the rest
Italian MP Gets Inspiration from B&W
Oct 27th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAt least, according to Islamophobiawatch, which cites an article by Maryam Namazie.… Read the rest
Entitlement and tyranny
Oct 26th, 2006 7:52 pm | By Ophelia BensonMore on Michael Bérubé’s What’s Liberal and consensus, agreement, universalism, and how to think and argue about them. I basically agree with it, but there are places where I think it could use some expansion, or some further stipulation, or both. I think there are some lurking unacknowledged tensions; once they’re pointed out all will go swimmingly. Page 260:
… Read the restI don’t think I’m asking for all that much in the way of intellectual conformity, consensus, or (gasp) tyranny. The version of universalism I’m proposing does suggest that it might be good and useful to say, “No matter how or what you think, you fellow human, you are entitled to food and shelter and health care and education and political representation.”
Meat
Oct 26th, 2006 4:50 pm | By Ophelia BensonOkay so what’s the big deal. Everybody lighten up a little. So the guy compared women to uncovered meat, so what – it’s his sincere opinion, and that’s his culture, so take a chill pill. Anyway is he wrong? Is he?
If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside…without cover, and the cats come to eat it…whose fault is it, the cats’ or the uncovered meat’s? The uncovered meat is the problem. If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred.
Obviously he’s not wrong. Come on, be honest – you know he’s not. The analogy is watertight. If you take out a piece of chicken, and put it outside … Read the rest
Statement and Petition on Homeopathy Regs [pdf]
Oct 26th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe new regulations on homeopathic products compromise standards of evidence.… Read the rest
Lords to Debate Annulment of Homeopathy Bill
Oct 26th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNew regulations permit homeopathic products to make evidence-free medical claims.… Read the rest
Father Refuses Life-saving Surgery for Daughter
Oct 26th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFather took advice of traditional healers to veto op but law intervened: child will get surgery. … Read the rest
New Law on Domestic Violence in India
Oct 26th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonEvery six hours, a young married woman is burned, beaten to death or driven to commit suicide, officials say.… Read the rest
Cleric Suggests Swaying Women Cause Rape
Oct 26th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘You get a judge without mercy and he gives you 65 years…but the problem all began with who?’… Read the rest
Danish Court Rejects Motoons Defamation Suit
Oct 26th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNot enough reason to believe the cartoons were intended to be insulting or harmful to Muslims.… Read the rest