All entries by this author

Sign and Sight Gives Useful Overview *

Feb 3rd, 2006 | Filed by

A survey of the European press on the cartoons.… Read the rest



Agnès Callamard of Article 19 on Prophetic Fallacy *

Feb 3rd, 2006 | Filed by

One striking feature of these events is the remarkable absence of sensible dialogue.… Read the rest



Hindutva, California Textbooks and a Smear Campaign

Feb 3rd, 2006 | By Steve Farmer

Last week this article in the Indian magazine Frontline reported that the Hindu Right’s attempts to rewrite California school textbooks on India and Hinduism were meeting with strong resistance from renowned historians and scholars in the U.S. and abroad. Steve Farmer is one of those scholars; he reported on that resistance and the smear campaign against another of them, Michael Witzel, on a listserve last December, and gave B&W permission to publish a slightly updated version. There is recent news here.

Part I: The California Textbook Issue

The smear campaign aimed against Michael Witzel is meant in retaliation for
the critical role he has played since early November – in
collaboration now with hundreds of Indian and Western researchers … Read the rest



Nothing Sacred

Feb 2nd, 2006 8:47 pm | By

Paul Goggins went on the Today programme on the day the religious hatred bill was passed in the Lords version not the government’s version, to explain why the bill (particularly, in the government’s version, with the language about ‘recklessness’, instead of the Lords’) was necessary and a good idea. After some pressing he articulated the basic (I take it) point.

Well I accept, Jim, and we always have accepted that there are fine balances to be drawn here, but religious belief is an important part of identity, and the expression of that religious belief is important to many people, and that others should set out intentionally to stir up hatred about those people because of those religious beliefs has no

Read the rest


French Editor Fired for Printing Cartoons *

Feb 2nd, 2006 | Filed by

Journalists at the newspaper stood by their editor’s decision.… Read the rest



Danish Tabloid Reports There are ‘Extra’ Cartoons *

Feb 2nd, 2006 | Filed by

Akhmad Akkari says extras were added to show ‘how hateful the atmosphere in Denmark is.’… Read the rest



Scott McLemee on Oprah Studies *

Feb 2nd, 2006 | Filed by

The therapeutic ethos is not antithetical to a deep yearning for authority.… Read the rest



Dawkins on the Aftermath of ‘Root of all Evil?’ *

Feb 2nd, 2006 | Filed by

Faith is pernicious because it teaches that believing something without evidence is a virtue. … Read the rest



Guys With Guns Continue Tantrum *

Feb 2nd, 2006 | Filed by

Threat threat threat, demand demand demand, gun gun gun.… Read the rest



Richard Wolin’s The Seduction of Unreason *

Feb 2nd, 2006 | Filed by

Stanley Rosen says Wolin is not good at taking seriously the people he dislikes.… Read the rest



A Fish Called Allah *

Feb 2nd, 2006 | Filed by

Deity reveals self by writing own name on a fish in Waterfoot, near Bury.… Read the rest



Maryam Namazie Starts a Blog *

Feb 2nd, 2006 | Filed by

No prizes for guessing her opinion of the cartoon tantrum.… Read the rest



Writers and Comedians Rejoice *

Feb 2nd, 2006 | Filed by

Rowan Atkinson, Salman Rushdie, Philip Pullman, Hanif Kureishi cheer Commons vote.… Read the rest



Le Soir Sacks Managing Editor *

Feb 2nd, 2006 | Filed by

As a sign of respect for the intimate beliefs and convictions of every individual. Uh…… Read the rest



Remembering Fadima Shahindale *

Feb 2nd, 2006 | Filed by

At conference on globalization of political Islam and its relation to honour killing.… Read the rest



The Cartoons Spread – Across Europe *

Feb 1st, 2006 | Filed by

Seven publications in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain carried some of the drawings.… Read the rest



Campaign: Release our Fathers *

Feb 1st, 2006 | Filed by

Homa Arjomand campaigns to aid imprisoned strikers and their children in Iran.… Read the rest



Fundamental Values are Being Challenged *

Feb 1st, 2006 | Filed by

Totalitarian and authoritarian impulses drive reactions to Jyllands-Posten cartoons.… Read the rest



Discussion of Religious Hatred Bill [audio] *

Feb 1st, 2006 | Filed by

Paul Goggins doesn’t get it.… Read the rest



Childish Tantrums Continue *

Feb 1st, 2006 | Filed by

Arab ministers urge Denmark to punish newspaper which printed ‘offensive’ cartoons.… Read the rest