‘Why should one think that, because knowledge has grown, human beings will be less prone to cowardice and cruelty?’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Harvard Islamic Chaplain Pro Death for Apostasy 
Apr 16th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Even if it makes some uncomfortable in the face of the hegemonic modern human rights discourse, one should not dismiss it out of hand.’… Read the rest
Faisal Gazi on Kenan Malik’s Fatwa to Jihad
Apr 16th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The grievance culture of radical Islam is winning the battle against Enlightenment values.… Read the rest
Parents Charged With Starving Children
Apr 16th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Parents sought to raise children ‘in strict obedience to Islam’ by starving, beating, taking out of school.… Read the rest
Gestures and Symbols
Apr 16th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The queen, for the first time in her public career, put her hand on someone. A bit of the world turned upside down.… Read the rest
Zuma Sues the Guardian
Apr 16th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He is demanding an apology and damages and has appointed a London law firm to act on his behalf.… Read the rest
Sewing Machine Hoax Hits Saudi Arabia
Apr 16th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Less ‘austerity’ in education might help.… Read the rest
Alors, ça suffit maintenant
Apr 15th, 2009 5:16 pm | By Ophelia BensonOne or two more items, by way of mopping up. (And just in case there is any doubt on the matter, as apparently there was for at least one commenter: no I don’t think the importance of the subject is in proportion to the time I’ve spent on it; no the fact that I’ve done several posts on it doesn’t mean that I think words are more important than, say, marrying a child of 8 to a man 52 years her senior. I’m just interested; and there is a lot of disagreement and a lot of testimony. I’m interested in language – this is not a big surprise, surely; one of the first things I did with B&W was to … Read the rest
Megachurch Sics Cops on Critical Blogger
Apr 15th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A blogger critical of a minister wants to know why his Web site was investigated by a police detective.… Read the rest
Saudi Arabia Plans to ‘Regulate’ Child Brides
Apr 15th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Marriage of man age 60 to girl age 8 caused a fuss. Saudi practices ‘austere’ form of Islam.… Read the rest
Fuss Over ‘Faith’ Schools
Apr 15th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Heritage, faith groups, core part, identities, limit expression, community cohesion, quack quack.… Read the rest
Critics Accuse Mixa of Rewriting History
Apr 15th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Freethinker associations were disbanded by the Nazis and avowed atheists were persecuted.… Read the rest
Welcome to austerity
Apr 15th, 2009 11:59 am | By Ophelia BensonSaudi Arabia has seen the error of its ways. Or perhaps not.
Saudi Arabia says it plans to start regulating the marriage of young girls, amid controversy over a union between a 60-year-old man and a girl of eight. A court in Unaiza upheld the marriage on condition the groom does not have sex with her until she reaches puberty.
Oh good; because the only problem with marrying a child of 8 to a man of 60 is of course that she won’t much want him to fuck her, yet. There is no other problem. No problem with ending her schooling, no problem with her having to live with (and under the rule of) a man more than seven … Read the rest
Kenya: Girl Bled to Death After Infibulation
Apr 14th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She was seven years old.… Read the rest
Massimo Pigliucci on Faith and Reason
Apr 14th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Faith is one thing, trust is another, belief is another again.… Read the rest
Things Getting Worse in Pakistan
Apr 14th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Taliban insurgents are teaming up with local militant groups to make inroads in Punjab.… Read the rest
Michelle Goldberg on Women, Sex and Power
Apr 14th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Religious traditionalists excoriate feminists and family planners as agents of Western cultural imperialism. … Read the rest
Roxana Saberi Goes on Trial in Iran
Apr 14th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She was charged with buying alcohol, then lacking a press card; now she’s charged with espionage.… Read the rest
Nightmare in Afghanistan
Apr 14th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Three Taleban mullahs brought them to the local mosque and passed a fatwa that they must be killed.… Read the rest
Taliban Murders a Couple for Trying to Marry
Apr 14th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Two adults attempted to marry; the Taliban kidnapped them and shot them in front of a mosque. … Read the rest
