‘Her writings have always provoked the religious-minded so we have registered a case for provocative literature.’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Dawkins Right on Alt Med, Wrong on Religion 
Aug 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Religion is about ethics, does not compete with science. Oh really?… Read the rest
Gay Nigerians Face Death Penalty
Aug 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Eighteen men have been remanded in prison after arrest for alleged sodomy in northern Nigeria.… Read the rest
Muslim Lawmakers Attack Nasreen
Aug 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She backed into a corner as men threw heavy objects at her head and threatened her with a chair.… Read the rest
Muslim ‘Protesters’ Attack Taslima Nasreen
Aug 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
About 100 protesters burst in, shouting that the author was ‘anti-Islam’. … Read the rest
CDWRME Bulletin for July-August
Aug 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Women in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Israel.… Read the rest
The Attack on Taslima Nasreen
Aug 10th, 2007 | By Rationalist InternationalRationalist International expresses shock and deep concern about the attack on Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen today (August 9) by the radical political outfit Majlis Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (MIM) at the Hyderabad Press Club. She was releasing the Telegu translation of her book “Shodd”. Taslima Nasreen is an Honorary Associate of Rationalist International.
MIM activists, led by three state Legislative Council members (MLAs), raised slogans against Taslima and flung bouquets and chairs at her and others attending the function. However, no injuries have been reported so far.
MIM leader Akhtar Khan, an MLA, said: “She is enemy of Islam, she is a black spot on Muslims.. We cannot bear anyone talking against Islam. She has written books against Islam. We will not tolerate … Read the rest
Great Bullies of History
Aug 10th, 2007 11:35 am | By Ophelia BensonDon’t forget, there is no compulsion in religion.
Lawmakers and members of a political party assaulted the exiled feminist author as she presented a translation of one of her novels in Hyderabad…Many Muslims have accused Ms Nasreen of ridiculing Islam…About 100 protesters, including three lawmakers, from the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party burst in, shouting that the author was “anti-Islam”. Ms Nasreen backed into a corner as objects rained down and she was threatened with a chair, witnesses said.
There is no compulsion in religion, but if an author is ‘anti-Islam,’ then men will throw things at her and offer to beat her with a chair, on the grounds that there is no compulsion in religion.
It’s quite understandable, of course, … Read the rest
Gustav Seibt on Raul Hilberg
Aug 9th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He was the first to ask: how were the victims identified, driven together, transported then murdered? … Read the rest
Roy Hattersley Says Mill is Vieux Chapeau
Aug 9th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mill is, like the Liberal Democrats, ‘comfortingly worthy but out-of-date.’… Read the rest
Raul Hilberg 1926-2007
Aug 9th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Author of the great history ‘The Destruction of the European Jews.’… Read the rest
Eric Alterman on Inequality in the US
Aug 9th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Only in the US are the rich so powerful that their interests become ‘principles’ in political discourse.… Read the rest
Libel Suits Silence Authors
Aug 9th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Deborah Lipstadt on an appalling extension of UK libel law.… Read the rest
Filthy traitor
Aug 8th, 2007 3:00 pm | By Ophelia BensonNever forget, Islam means ‘peace’ – oh and also ‘there is no compulsion in religion.’ Got that?
… Read the restEhsan Jami, a local council member for the Dutch Labour Party and a former Muslim, has been afforded extra protection since Monday this week…The local politician, who also heads a committee established to fight for the interests of former Muslims, was the target of a violent, physical attack outside a supermarket near his home in Voorburg last Saturday…Jami was knocked to the ground and kicked by a group of three men: two young Moroccans and one Somali. During the incidents, his attackers called him a ‘filthy homo’ and ‘filthy traitor’. Mr Jami’s advisor, Afshin Ellian, later pointed out that it was not the
Dutch Ex-Muslim Beaten Up in Voorburg
Aug 8th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ehsan Jami was assaulted by three men who called him a ‘filthy homo’ and ‘filthy traitor’. … Read the rest
Peace Process Fails to Address Sexual Violence
Aug 8th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
HRW reports women and girls continue to be subjected to acts of sexual violence in Côte d’Ivoire.… Read the rest
Anthony Grayling on Atheism
Aug 8th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Grayling explains why he believes atheism to be a well-grounded and ultimately life-affirming position.… Read the rest
Violence Against Women Increasing in Kurdistan
Aug 8th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Kurdish government has overturned lax Iraqi laws; defendants can be charged with ‘deliberate murder.’… Read the rest
Increased Reporting of ‘Honour’ Crime in R’dam
Aug 8th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Authorities say they have received more than 70 reports since January, compared to 30 for all of 2006.… Read the rest
Threatened Journalist Faces Deportation
Aug 8th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mansoor Hassan wrote an article exposing the ‘honour’ killing of a young woman by her own father.… Read the rest
