Rasool Nafisi cites a new tactic in the regime’s campaign against independent free thought.
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Inevitably links go out of date.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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More on Jahanbegloo’s Interview
Said many Iranian intellectuals were in danger of being tricked into ‘acting against national security.’
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Radio Netherlands on Naguib Mahfouz [audio]
Excerpts from the Cairo Trilogy with discussion by Fouad Ajami.
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Dutch Xians Want to Ban Part of Madonna Act
Article 147 says it is forbidden to do or say blasphemous things in public domain when it shocks believers.
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At Al-Ahram: a Special Section on Mahfouz
Egypt has lost a towering figure in the world of literature.
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Once a Lie is Out There, It Stays
Major media keep recirculating them; corrections are ignored.
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Former Aide Notes Bush’s Lack of Curiosity
Bush’s information-processing abilities are under discussion.
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Johann Hari Talks to Shazia Mirza
‘I’m a woman, and I couldn’t stand the repression. I wanted to go swimming, do ballet, ride horses, tell jokes.’
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Droning Bore on Little Atoms [download mp3]
Tedious windbag interviewed September 1.
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New Rules on Homeopathic Claims in Effect in UK
Homoeopathic treatments will be able to list on labels what conditions they are supposed to treat.
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Ramin Jahanbegloo is Out of Prison
Released on bail, perhaps to face trial on unknown charges.
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Canadian Minister Welcomes Jahanbegloo Release
Canada made repeated concerted efforts to obtain consular access to Jahanbegloo.
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Globe and Mail on the Accusations
Part of the case against Jahanbegloo is his Woodrow Wilson fellowship, notes Mohamad Tavakoli.
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Iranian Dissidents Don’t Want US Help
Iranian anger at US government dates back to overthrow of Mossadegh.
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Concerns Over Forced Confession Cloud Release
News tempered by reports of supposed confession made to national media upon release.
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Photographer Not Pleased at Museum Censorship
Museum said it acted on a complaint from a member of Muslim arts group Artists Circle.
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Emdad Rahman on the Real Tablighi Jamaat
It’s not political, not exclusive, not secretive, he says.
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Manchester City Join Stonewall Programme
A spokesman for Stonewall praised the club for being the first to ‘put their head above the parapet.’
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Man City’s Pink Strip
If football is permeated by casual homophobia, what does that say about our society?
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Naguib Mahfouz 1911-2006
Had health problems after 1994 stabbing by Islamist angry at portrayal of God in one of his novels.