The government is funding the Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation, which has links to Hizb ut Tahrir.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Nepal: 500,000 Animals to be Ritually Killed 
Nov 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The goddess needs blood,’ said a priest at the Gadhimai temple in the centre of the festival site.… Read the rest
The Vatican Accepts No Responsibility
Nov 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Vatican has the power and the immunity, so it washes its hands.… Read the rest
Christian Brothers Hand Over €161m to Victims
Nov 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They came in for scathing criticism in the Ryan report on abuse of children in industrial schools.… Read the rest
Horrific Clerical Abuse in Dublin Archdiocese
Nov 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They moved the problem on, looked after their own financial interests, looked after their priests and not the victims.… Read the rest
Sacked ‘Psychic’ Cop Loses Case
Nov 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It wasn’t his beliefs what done it, it was his getting ‘visibly aroused’ during a training exercise.… Read the rest
Maryam Namazie on the No Sharia Rally
Nov 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
At the rally, over 20 speakers and performers exposed the discriminatory and brutal nature of religious laws. … Read the rest
Anglican Bishops Go on the Offensive
Nov 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Urge Christians to resist ‘political correctness’ by wearing religious symbols during Xmas period.… Read the rest
Lubna Hussein’s 40 Lashes for Trousers
Nov 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She was sentenced to a month in prison, banned from leaving Sudan; is in Paris to promote book.… Read the rest
Destruction of Babri Mosque Was Planned
Nov 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
BJP politicians including Vajpayee planned the destruction of the mosque with ‘military-like precision.’… Read the rest
‘Honour’ Killings Rise in Canada
Nov 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘A few women are really sacrificed to terrorize all women, to push them into submission.’… Read the rest
Goodness With or Without God
Nov 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Greg Epstein wants to split the difference. Or something.… Read the rest
Ayodhya Mosque Blames BJP
Nov 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The report clearly implicates more than 60 people, including the most senior members of the BJP.… Read the rest
India: Parliament in Uproar Over Report
Nov 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Indian Express reported the commission of inquiry had described BJP leaders as ‘pseudo-moderates.’… Read the rest
Darwin Goes Digital for 150th Anniversary
Nov 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
On the Origin of Species was published 150 years ago today; Darwin’s original drafts are going online.… Read the rest
Birther Billboard Stirs ‘Debate’
Nov 23rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No it doesn’t. Invented ‘facts’ don’t stir debate, because there’s nothing to debate.… Read the rest
Dispatches: Return to Africa’s ‘Witch’ Children
Nov 23rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Children as young as two are still being stigmatised as witches and tortured, killed, or abandoned.… Read the rest
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown is Conflicted
Nov 23rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
On the one hand, Islam is not entirely liberal. On the other hand…um…… Read the rest
Heresiarch Follows Sarah Palin on Twitter
Nov 23rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
So you don’t have to.… Read the rest
EU Pressures UK Over Religious Exemptions
Nov 23rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Government agrees, will drop the exemptions from equality legislation for religious organisations.… Read the rest
