“The government has obviously failed to guarantee basic freedom for the people, which is the freedom from fear.”
Category: Latest News
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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
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Jakarta Post on Irshad Manji
Hundreds of members of the Indonesian Mujahidin Council attacked the LKiS publishing office in Yogyakarta where she was speaking about her book on Wednesday night.
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India’s god laws fail the test of reason
In the decades since independence, these laws have been regularly used to hound intellectuals and artists who questioned religious beliefs.
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Brooklyn district attorney has special rules for rabbis
Many of the rabbis consider sexual abuse accusations to be the business of rabbinical authorities, who often do not report their conclusions to the police.
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Responding to the libel reform announcement
Simon Singh, Dara O Briain, Ben Goldacre, David Allen Green, many more.
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Queen’s speech announces libel reform bill
The bill will open the way to ending libel tourism and protecting free expression for journalists, writers, bloggers and scientists around the world.
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Jesus and Mo shocked that paganism is being taught
Druidry as part of Religious Education in Cornwall? Whatever next?
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Robert Fisk on “appalling racism” in the Arab world
In the Arab Gulf, the treatment of migrant labour – male as well as female – has long been a scandal.
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Valerie Tarico on atheism, religion and stigma
It may be almost impossible to avoiding causing offense while challenging the religious status quo.
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Hawa Akther Jui is learning to write with fingerless hand
Women’s rights activists in Bangladesh point out that the brutal attack on Ms Akther is part of a growing trend of violence against educated women.
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Dublin archbish wants Smyth inquiry
All-Ireland primate Sean Brady had the names and addresses of five children who were abused by Smyth; police and parents were never informed.
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Protesters to picket near Berean Baptist Church
The Military Atheists and Secular Humanists filed an “intent to picket” from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday; other groups are joining them.
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Ndesanjo Macha on modern slavery in Mauritania
A CNN special report titled “Slavery’s last stronghold” reveals that an estimated 10% to 20% of the population lives in slavery.
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More on arrest of abolitionist Biram Ould Dah
He was arrested after members of his organization burnt a religious book that, in their view, is in favor of slavery practices.
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Mauritania: anti-slavery activist arrested
After some youths demonstrated outside the Presidency, demanding the arrest and detention of Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid over alleged contempt for their beliefs.
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India court: Insisting on condom not grounds for divorce
The Bombay High Court judges said arranged couples should get to know each other before marrying.
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Calls for Sean Brady to resign
Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said the Vatican must “move out of denial mode.”
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Kuwait parliament approves death penalty for “blasphemy”
Under the amended bill, any Muslim found guilty of insulting God or Mo or his wives will be punished by death. Non-Muslims get a mere 10 years in prison.
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High school yearbook runs story about being a gay student
And all hell breaks loose.
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Tory Louise Mensch gets called slut, whore, bitch etc
Some tweets: Louise Mensch really is an absolutely Rancid cunt isn’t she? Louise Mensch Political Whore!! We asked some crusties if they’d have sex with Louise Mensch