Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled a 1998 law limiting marriage to a woman and a man unconstitutional. … Read the rest
All entries by this author
Guardian Stands Up for ‘Mainstream Islamists’
Apr 3rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘British Islamists find themselves under constant scrutiny in Britain from Islamophobes.’… Read the rest
The Finest Tradition of Anglican Humbug
Apr 3rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Compromise depends on people’s willingness not to push their own convictions too far.… Read the rest
No Actually Let’s Not Do God
Apr 3rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is something crass and nasty as well as vulgar in Blair’s quantitative triumphalism.… Read the rest
Islamists’ ‘devotion to social justice’
Apr 3rd, 2009 11:23 am | By Ophelia BensonThe Guardian pulls our chain again.
In recent weeks an unnecessary schism has been created between government and British Islamists…Taken together these incidents reinforce concerns that British Islamists are uniquely held out for political attack, and illustrate the power of key anti-Islamist lobbying groups.
Why is it assumed to be wrong for a particular political group to be ‘uniquely held out for political attack’? It is perfectly possible for a particular political group to be uniquely wrong and bad and harmful, so why would it be inherently wrong to single out such a group for special attention and opprobrium? In other words, why shouldn’t British Islamists be ‘uniquely held out for political attack’?
Well because they are such nice … Read the rest
Preferences
Apr 2nd, 2009 6:38 pm | By Ophelia BensonHere’s a news flash: Arabs are preferred over other nations.
The fact that Allah Most High has chosen the Arabs over other nations is affirmed in rigorously authenticated hadiths of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace; related by Bukhari and Muslim in their “Sahih” in the beginning of the chapter of merits, 5897, on the authority of Wathilah ibn al-Asqa` who said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘Verily Allah has chosen Kinanah from the son of Isma`il, and He has chosen Quraysh from among Kinanah and He has chosen Hashim from among Quraysh and He has chosen me from the Bani Hashim.'”
So that’s that, … Read the rest
A crowd of men stands by, watching silently
Apr 2nd, 2009 1:41 pm | By Ophelia BensonSometimes the red mist of rage just overpowers the ability to say anything judicious or coherent – and one is reduced to impotent vindictive quivering.
Muslim Khan is beginning to do that to me. He’s the Taliban ‘spokesman’ in Swat, and he’s been doing a lot of talking lately. Every fucking word out of his mouth is disgusting bullying crap. (See what I mean? I can’t characterize it any more eloquently than that.)
… Read the restThe two-minute video, shot using a mobile phone, shows a burka-clad woman face down on the ground. Two men hold her arms and feet while a third, a black-turbaned fighter with a flowing beard, whips her repeatedly. “Please stop it,” she begs, alternately whimpering or screaming in
40 Lashes for Using Cloth With ‘Allah’ On It
Apr 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Summary Court in Jeddah sentenced an Asian man to 40 lashes for using a cloth with Allah’s name on it to clean his kiosk.… Read the rest
UN Rights Commissioner Slams Afghan Law
Apr 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Navi Pillay calls the new Afghan law a huge step in the wrong direction. … Read the rest
Critics Say Afghan Law ‘Legalizes Rape’
Apr 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Shiite lawmaker involved in drafting it says the law gives more rights to women than UK or US does.… Read the rest
Anger at Law Imposing Submission on Women
Apr 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Michael Ignatieff said he was outraged on behalf of Afghan women who deserve better from their country.… Read the rest
Taliban Boasts of Flogging Women
Apr 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Spokesman Muslim Khan says Islamic law permits male thugs to thrash women for blah blah.… Read the rest
The Taliban v the Rights of Women and Girls
Apr 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Human rights are not a sideshow. They are the whole game.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo Ponder Blasphemy Day
Apr 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They have to stick up for the almighty, because the almighty never does. Why is that…?… Read the rest
Gordon Brown Conflates Religion With Morality
Apr 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Says markets need morals, then cites various ‘faiths’ as if they had the monopoly.… Read the rest
British Islam After Rushdie
Apr 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Anshuman Mondal finds generational differences.… Read the rest
Beware of Truth!
Apr 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
And don’t go in for none of that pesky careful reading, neither.… Read the rest
Tarek Fatah’s Book Shortlisted for Donner Prize
Apr 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State is one of 5 books nominated.… Read the rest
Bishops say Reiki is totally bogus
Mar 31st, 2009 4:01 pm | By Ophelia BensonLook, if you’re going to use spiritual tools for medial purposes, do it right. It’s just silly to use the wrong kind. Any fule kno that.
… Read the restThe US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has warned Roman Catholics to shun the eastern healing art of Reiki because it lacks scientific credibility and is dangerous to Christian spiritual health. “Reiki therapy finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief,” said the USCCB doctrine committee in a document issued Thursday…”There is a radical difference between Reiki therapy and the healing by divine power in which Christians believe: for Christians the access to divine healing is by prayer to Christ as Lord and Savior, while the essence
Catholic Bishops: Reiki Lacks Scientific Cred
Mar 31st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Reiki therapy finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief.’… Read the rest