Saudi justice officials claim rape victim has ‘confessed’ to affair. So what?… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
‘Gulabi Gang’ Tackles Sexism in Uttar Pradesh 
Nov 26th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Locals unsurprised at a women’s vigilante group in this landscape of poverty, discrimination and chauvinism. … Read the rest
Taslima Nasrin is Now Homeless
Nov 25th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rajasthan government is awaiting a direction on where Nasrin would stay. … Read the rest
Blair Feared ‘Faith Nutter’ Label
Nov 25th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘If he sees a very attractive woman his eye will wander.’ Oh good, he’s normal then.… Read the rest
Richard Jenkyns on the Idea of a ‘Canon’
Nov 25th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
More plausible to suppose a spectrum of creative ability than a sharp division between genius and the rest. … Read the rest
Not All Religions Fret About ‘Playing God’
Nov 25th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some don’t have ‘God,’ some don’t object to playing the part.… Read the rest
Leon Kass Offers Obscurantist Nonsense
Nov 25th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Scientific ideas and discoveries are being enlisted to do battle against our traditional religious and moral teachings.’… Read the rest
The Homeopath to Success
Nov 25th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Why should it be that only those who believe in homeopathy are allowed the benefits of the placebo effect?… Read the rest
3 Iraqi Cousins Behead Aunt and Uncle
Nov 25th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Militant cousins considered uncle an infidel because he did not pray and wore western-style trousers. … Read the rest
Christian ‘Offended’ Over Steve Jones Lecture
Nov 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘As a Christian I am offended that the lecture…has so clearly been chosen to antagonise Christians.’… Read the rest
Maker of ‘Undercover Mosque’ is Angry
Nov 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many of the mosques had a public image as moderate. Yet the preaching was antisemitic, homophobic, misogynist.… Read the rest
Imam Beat Boy With Mop Handle
Nov 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The highly-educated imam can reportedly recite the Koran word for word.’… Read the rest
Morality and Religion Are Not One and Indivisible
Nov 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Archbishops mistaken to think there cannot be any meaningful secular morality.… Read the rest
‘Blasphemous’ Feminist Nasreen is Threatened
Nov 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Nasreen is adamant that her work is not blasphemous but that it campaigns for the rights of women.… Read the rest
Muslim Women’s Group to Advise UK Gov’t
Nov 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
National Muslim Women’s Advisory Group is led by 19 women from a wide range of professions and traditions.… Read the rest
Tsk – Falling Standards Again
Nov 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Scientists contacted by Nature say that AS-level coursework would be unlikely to help a terrorist. … Read the rest
Free Women Activists in Iran
Nov 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Maryam Hosseinkhah, Delaram Ali, Ronak Safar Zade, Hanna Abdi, lashed and imprisoned.… Read the rest
AI Appeals for Release of Maryam Hosseinkhah
Nov 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Journalist and women’s rights defender held for peaceful activities supporting equal rights for women in Iran.… Read the rest
Reporters Without Borders on Maryam Hosseinkhah
Nov 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Zanestan, a women’s online bi-monthly founded in 2005, has been closed since 12 November 2007.… Read the rest
Payvand on Maryam Hossienkhah
Nov 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The site of the Women’s Cultural Center was shut down by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. … Read the rest
