Having renounced Islam and openly criticized its political manifestations, she was condemned to a life cordoned off from the rest of society.… Read the rest
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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Catherine Deveny on the dangers of being outside
Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMen are far more likely to cop violence on the street. So why is no one telling them not to walk alone? Don’t tell me not to walk alone at night. Tell people not to rape and kill.… Read the rest
Mars Curiosity Rover finds evidence of flowing water
Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe finding is based on the presence of rounded pebbles and gravel near the rover’s landing site in Gale Crater.… Read the rest
India: woman beaten to death for practising ‘black magic’
Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA man beat K Jamuna to death because he suspected she practised some witchcraft on a teenager son of his close relative.… Read the rest
Afghan burqa-opponent wins Swedish rights prize
Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAfghan human rights activist, ex-minister and burqa opponent Sima Samar won the Swedish Right Livelihood Award honouring those who work to improve the lives of others.… Read the rest
Lahore judge orders police to charge everyone with blasphemy
Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonEveryone. YouTube, Google, everyone.… Read the rest
Tunisia: cops accused of rape accuse victim of ‘indecency’
Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThere is widespread outrage after 27-year-old victim was summoned by the investigating judge to face chargers of “indecency” from the two men accused of raping her.… Read the rest
Saudi detains Nigerian women on hajj without male boss
Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNigeria has suspended all Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia after the authorities there deported more than 170 women who had arrived without a male escort.… Read the rest
Soraya Chemaly on Facebook’s misogyny problem
Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFacebook has a “12-Year-Old Slut Memes” page which posts photographs of girls and women so that others can comment on their sluttiness.… Read the rest
Austin Dacey on blasphemy fusses
Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThose who study the history of blasphemy laws are condemned to repeat themselves: These laws don’t work.… Read the rest
Greg Lukianoff notes: We Are All Blasphemers
Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe are quick to forget that all of us hold beliefs that are rejections of sacred cows of the past, present, or future.… Read the rest
Catholic priest bans yoga from church hall
Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBecause it’s “spiritual,” not just lolling around on mats.… Read the rest
Mona Eltahawy arrested for defacing “savage” poster
Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe poster states: “In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man.” Mona spraypainted it.… Read the rest
Oklahoma has a blasphemy law
Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRepresentative Randy Grau intends to file legislation that would repeal the blasphemy law in the upcoming legislative session.… Read the rest
The rise of the atheist pendant
Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt started with the “evolve fish” in 1992, and now includes pendants by Amy Roth of Surlyramics and Rachelle Wirfs of ArtAfire.
SPLC on misogyny on the Internet
Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMany of the articles that appear at Itsguycode.com under the heading “Women’s Studies” and “Whiny Feminists” are overtly political — and grossly misogynistic.… Read the rest
Petition Greek parliament to free ‘Geron Pastitsios’
Sep 24th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAnd to abolish Greek anti-blasphemy laws.… Read the rest
Pakistani politician calls on US to ban blasphemy
Sep 24th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe government declared this Friday a national holiday and named it ‘Love of the Prophet Day.’… Read the rest
Greece: man arrested for “blaspheming” a monk
Sep 24th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonUnconfirmed reports say Golden Dawn agitated for his arrest and the government complied. #FreeGeronPastitsios… Read the rest
Rushdie talks about his memoir of the fatwa years
Sep 24th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRaising their voices against known enemies is precisely what writers have done honorably throughout the history of literature.… Read the rest