Or is it.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Paris Welcomes Taslima Nasreen 
Jan 3rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Nasreen, under threat of death from Islamists who accuse her of blasphemy, will live in Paris.… Read the rest
The Mullahs Are Afraid of Shirin Ebadi
Jan 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She has been exposing government violations of human rights and defending rights activists. … Read the rest
For Kurdish Girls: Genital Mutilation
Jan 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘We don’t know why we do it, but we will never stop because Islam and our elders require it.’… Read the rest
WSJ Exonerates Community Reinvestment Act
Jan 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The 1977 CRA wasn’t the cause, or even a major contributor, to the subprime mortgage debacle.… Read the rest
You’ve Finished the Quran: Time for Suicide Attack
Jan 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In the madrassa, Shakirullah memorized the Quran in Arabic; he relied solely on the mullahs’ interpretations.… Read the rest
Girl Molester Considers Himself ‘the Son of God’
Jan 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Bent, 67, admitted lying naked with two girls but said any touching was an act of religious healing.… Read the rest
US: Majority Thinks Religion Can Fix Everything
Jan 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Only’ 53 percent say religion ‘can answer all or most of today’s problems.’ Only?… Read the rest
At Least It’s an Ethos
Jan 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Language skills are valuable yet political and economic conditions put ‘anti-ideological’ pressure on universities.… Read the rest
‘Bullying Atheism’ is a Threat to Public Debate
Jan 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Believers are terrified they will be whipped and stripped of all their possessions and imprisoned.… Read the rest
Gambia: Missionaries Sentenced to Year in Prison
Jan 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Magistrate found the offences ‘very shocking’; no respect for the country, the government, the president.… Read the rest
Mukoko and Others to Remain in Jail
Jan 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The regime hopes their scars will heal before the trial.… Read the rest
A Challenge to the Dutch Version of Tolerance
Jan 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The mistake we can never repeat is stifling criticism of cultures and religions for reasons of tolerance.’… Read the rest
Half of Catholic Adoption Agencies Obey Law
Jan 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
And other half refuse.… Read the rest
Vatican Declares Itself Not Subject to Italian Laws
Jan 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
One day laws could legalize euthanasia or civil unions between homosexuals; horrors.… Read the rest
Dieudonné Gives Award to Holocaust Denier
Jan 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
French comedian, known for anti-Semitic ‘jokes,’ gave the award for ‘insolence’ to Robert Faurisson.… Read the rest
Gordon Brown Opposes Assisted Dying
Dec 31st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Told Murphy O’Connor it was not for him to create laws to ‘put pressure on people to end their lives.’… Read the rest
Review of Grayling’s The Choice of Hercules
Dec 31st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Essays on what constitutes the good life, and whether both pleasure and duty have something to teach us. … Read the rest
The Year in Books
Dec 31st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ted Hughes; the plot to murder Orhan Pamuk; Midnight’s Children; The Jewel of Medina…… Read the rest
Dacey and Koproske on Islam and Human Rights
Dec 31st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is now an alternative human rights system, layered with exceptions, omissions, and caveats. … Read the rest
