All entries by this author

‘Victims of Jihad’ Conference

Aug 27th, 2005 | By

A one-day conference was held at the United Nations in Geneva on April 18 2005, titled ‘Victims of Jihad: Human Rights Abuse in the Name of Islam’. The conference occurred during the last week of the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. On April 12, the Commission on Human Rights passed a resolution condemning the ‘defamation’ of religion. The resolution, titled ‘Combating Defamation of Religions,’ expresses ‘deep concern that Islam is frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism.’ The ‘Victims of Jihad’ conference cast doubt on the wording of that resolution, and the thought behind it.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Azam Kamguian, and Ibn Warraq all addressed the conference, and all kindly sent the … Read the rest



Don’t Teach Just One Controversy, Teach All *

Aug 27th, 2005 | Filed by

Evidence for FSM just as good as for ID so teach that too.… Read the rest



Republican Moron Defunds Condom Program *

Aug 27th, 2005 | Filed by

‘Mr. Coburn, a doctor, has apparently forgotten everything they taught him in medical school.’… Read the rest



Everybody’s a Relativist *

Aug 27th, 2005 | Filed by

Anti-abortionists cannot claim the absolutist high ground.… Read the rest



Interview With Chris Mooney *

Aug 27th, 2005 | Filed by

The think tank strategy is an attack on university-based scientific inquiry. … Read the rest



Come Back, Office of Technology Assessment *

Aug 27th, 2005 | Filed by

Gingrich-revolution Republicans dismantled OTA in a stunning act of self-lobotomy.… Read the rest



Critical Guide to Unselfcritical Guide *

Aug 27th, 2005 | Filed by

Manne seems reluctant to see any of his opinions as being a debatable point. … Read the rest



Who Shifted my Paradigm? *

Aug 27th, 2005 | Filed by

Postmodernist ideas have become a staple of the ID movement.… Read the rest



We Had to Destroy the Woman to Save Her

Aug 27th, 2005 2:41 am | By

I haven’t read Juan Cole before. The snippets I’ve seen here and there that other people have quoted didn’t appeal. But I saw this astonishing item at Drink-soaked Trot Popinjays, so I thought I’d pass it on.

Was American journalist Steve Vincent killed in Basra as part of an honor killing? He was romantically involved with his Iraqi interpreter, who was shot 4 times. If her clan thought she was shaming them by appearing to be having an affair outside wedlock with an American male, they might well have decided to end it. In Mediterranean culture, a man’s honor tends to be wrought up with his ability to protect his womenfolk from seduction by strange men. Where a woman

Read the rest


‘Messianic-hysterical extremism’

Aug 26th, 2005 7:43 pm | By

Secularism, secularism, secularism. I’m tempted to get a bunch of t shirts made with ‘Secularism’ bannered across the front and back.

The prospects for secularism in Iraq are not looking very good. Actually they’re looking terrible.

Under Saddam Hussein, Iraq was a centralised and largely secular state. Now, if the Shia religious parties get their way, it will be a decentralised state with a pronounced Islamic identity. The draft of the new constitution describes Islam as “a main source” of legislation and stipulates that no law may contradict Islamic principles.

Great. There go women’s rights, for a start.

In many ways, Iraq is already dramatically different from the place it was just a few years ago. Mixed marriages between Sunni

Read the rest


Will There Be an Islamic Republic of Iraq? *

Aug 26th, 2005 | Filed by

Draft of constitution stipulates that no law may contradict Islamic principles.… Read the rest



Dante Made Fun With Trendiness and Slang *

Aug 26th, 2005 | Filed by

Or perhaps not all that fun, suggests Helen Vendler.… Read the rest



Amos Oz on the Dream of Non-religious Israelis *

Aug 26th, 2005 | Filed by

We want to live in an enlightened, open and just country, not in some messianic, rabbinic monarchy.… Read the rest



Child Dies After Alternative Therapy for Autism *

Aug 26th, 2005 | Filed by

Cardiac arrest after chelation therapy to remove heavy metals from the body. … Read the rest



Lancet: Homeopathy No Better Than Placebo *

Aug 26th, 2005 | Filed by

Society of Homeopaths says controlled trial is not the way to test homeopathy. … Read the rest



Two Sides to Animal Rights Story *

Aug 25th, 2005 | Filed by

Accounts of debate on Parkinson’s and animal research differ.… Read the rest



Birmingham Rep Riot: Behind the Scenes *

Aug 25th, 2005 | Filed by

Investigative journalist Amardeep Bassey uncovers the story behind the riot.… Read the rest



Two Thirds Oppose State Aided ‘Faith’ Schools *

Aug 25th, 2005 | Filed by

Most respondents against ministers’ plans to increase number of religious schools.… Read the rest



Governments Should Not Push Religion in Schools *

Aug 25th, 2005 | Filed by

Some people’s religious certainties are putting everyone in danger.… Read the rest



Writers’ Guild Anti-Censorship Committee *

Aug 25th, 2005 | Filed by

Attacks on JSTO and Behzti and religious hatred law inspired guild to relaunch committee.… Read the rest