Told to take only four wives ‘from the herd’ or remain condemned to death according to Sharia.… Read the rest
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
Pakistan: 5 Women Murdered by Burial Alive 
Aug 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
3 girls planned to marry men of their choice; they and a mother and an aunt all killed.… Read the rest
The Life of Prostitution in Kano, Nigeria
Aug 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A girl can be married at 12 and divorced at 18, with children to support. The way you change a car is the way you change a wife in Kano.… Read the rest
Iran: 2000 Demonstrate Against ‘Honour’ Killings
Aug 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In Kani Dinar a man stabbed his daughter to death for seeking a divorce. She was forced into marriage at 14.… Read the rest
Jerusalem: Woman Beaten for Being Divorced
Aug 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Woman was beaten and threatened with death by members of the ‘modesty squad.’… Read the rest
Katha Pollitt on Obama’s Faith-based Plans
Aug 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In other wealthy industrialized countries, children learn to read in school, not the church basement. … Read the rest
What’s a Pastor Doing Interrogating Candidates?
Aug 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We pretend we’re not applying a religious test when we’re really applying a religious test. … Read the rest
Florida School District Sued Over ‘Witch Hunt’
Aug 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Federal judge reprimands school principal for targeting gays; locals consider principal a hero.… Read the rest
ITV Nixes ‘Imam of Dibley’
Aug 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The lawyers said it might be culturally insensitive. Isn’t everything.… Read the rest
Burchill is Wrong: Religion is Anti-feminist
Aug 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Religion is and always has been antithetical to women’s freedom and equality.… Read the rest
HRH’s Fantasy Farming Won’t Feed Africa’s Poor
Aug 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Organic peasant agriculture is a solution for the angst of affluence, but not hunger. Its apotheosis is the ban on GM crops.… Read the rest
Channel 4 Returns to Undercover Mosque
Aug 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
One preacher calls for adulterers, homosexuals, women who act like men and apostates to be killed.… Read the rest
Effort to Ban Trans-religion Organ Transplants
Aug 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Egyptian Med Assoc wants to prohibit transplants between Muslim donor and Xian recipient or vice versa.… Read the rest
MCB Defends Itself
Aug 21st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Finds a woman, sends her out to say how diverse the MCB is and how elitist its critics are.… Read the rest
‘Elitism’ Has Become a Political Slur
Aug 21st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The political definitions of elitism in the US are now being broadened to include knowledge itself. … Read the rest
Sahotra Sarkar Reviews Steve Fuller on ID
Aug 21st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
For readers seeking an introduction to the technical issues surrounding creationism, this book is useless.… Read the rest
Ed Husain on the MCB’s Betrayal
Aug 21st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The MCB endorsed the new Muslim marriage contract, then backtracked. Bastards.… Read the rest
Catholic Church Blocks Sex Health Advice
Aug 20th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Church allows HPV vaccs for schoolgirls on condition they get no advice on protection from other STDs.… Read the rest
Religious Belief No Excuse for Bigotry
Aug 20th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The free exercise clause does not trump equal rights legislation.… Read the rest
Convert Lets Cat Out of Bag
Aug 20th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘As a Muslim woman living in a secular liberal society, you are caught between two very different worlds.’… Read the rest
