Saudi Arabia used Interpol’s system to get a journalist arrested in Kuala Lumpur for insulting Muhammad on Twitter.
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Inevitably links go out of date.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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Newt Gingrich calls subway riders “elitist”
“Those who, you know, live in high-rise apartment buildings writing for fancy newspapers in the middle of town after they ride the metro.”
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RDF on One Law for All rally for free expression
Richard Dawkins reports, “a large crowd gathered round and some of them, from Muslim families, told me chilling stories.”
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The Pod Delusion: the Rally to Defend Free Expression
One Law for All’s rally, featuring Richard Dawkins, Nick Cohen, AC Grayling, Joan Smith and many others. Listen and enjoy.
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Virginia to deny gay adoption on religious grounds
The ones hurt the most by this bill are the children whose only wish is to have parents that love and care for them.
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Mixed reaction to Bideford ruling
“The High Court judgement is a victory for everyone who believes that democracy and religious freedom is the cornerstone of Western free society,” said Reigate councillor Imran Khan.
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Maya Khan fired over “moral crusade”
She led a group of women that chased young couples through a Karachi park accusing them of bad behavior. To many Pakistanis, the images evoked comparisons with the Taliban.
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Vigilantism in Pakistan
On Samaa TV Maya Khan led a group of women in harassing couples in a Karachi park.
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Community responses to the mistreatment of women are the problem
Is it possible that the difference between Asian and non-Asian men is the level of tolerance that their communities have for abusive and violent behaviour towards women?
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Shunning at Mark Driscoll’s Mars Hill church
Driscoll has preached against “sinning through questioning” and once said publicly he would like to “go Old Testament” on dissenters.
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Bishops see “religious liberty” as good advertising
They think the Catholic church gets less deference than it once did and that that’s an outrage.
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Obama surrenders to Catholic bishops
Administration officials called the expected announcement an “accommodation” that they said sought to demonstrate respect for religious beliefs.
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Bideford Town Council prayers ruled unlawful
Action was brought against Bideford Town Council by the National Secular Society after atheist councillor Clive Bone complained.
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Worries that DSM-5 could define disorders into existence
A serial rapist could be classified as mentally ill, given a diagnosis of paraphilic coercive disorder.
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Lawrence Krauss on the tension between science and religion
A willingness to question even one’s most fervently held beliefs – the hallmark of science – is a trait that should be respected, not reviled.
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Egypt: presidential candidate says no freedom in Islam
“If you claim that Allah considers it your personal freedom, show me your reference? Nobody has ever said that – except for people [who] have no understanding of Sharia.”
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Jesus and Mo protest the free expression rally
We just don’t think people should be allowed to laugh at our freely expressed message.
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Woman escapes Hasidic community
In her memoir, “Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots,” Deborah Feldman chronicles her oppressive upbringing and arranged marriage.
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Catholic cardinal withdraws sex abuse apology
In an interview, Cardinal Edward Egan withdrew his 2002 apology for the Church’s handling of the sex-abuse scandal, which was once read in all New York parishes.
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Obama admin trembles at rage of Catholic bishops
Tries to placate them despite their lack of popular support. Tiny number of Catholic bishops have veto power over US legislation.