Author: Maryam Namazie

Azade Vazifedoost, a student from the open university of Saveh, was killed when men riding on motorcycles grabbed hold of her veil and dragged her along the street, causing fatal head injuries. It is widely believed that the motorists were operating for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s security services attempting to punish those deemed improperly…

Dear Maryam I, on behalf of Organization for Women’s Liberation, congratulate you for being awarded the secularist of the year in England. I am so pleased to see that your efforts to promote secularism, to defend women’s rights and against political Islam has been recognized by the international community. This shows that our movement is…

Maryam Namazie Acceptance speech at National Secular Society Secularist of the Year award ceremony October 8, 2005 London, UK Receiving the Secularist of the Year award is a great honour, particularly given the National Secular Society’s long outstanding work in the promotion of secularism and reason. Whilst there are so many who have worked closely…

After several years of unrelenting campaigning, the International Campaign Against Sharia Court in Canada, led by Homa Arjomand, and comprising of individuals and organisations, demanding the separation of religion from the Canadian justice system has won! Finally, on September 11, 2005, Premier McGuinty had no other choice. He said: “I’ve come to the conclusion that…

International TV interview with Hamid Taqvaee 24 July 2005 Maryam Namazie: There have been many solutions put forward for ending Islamic terrorism in Europe. One of them is an immediate end to Western intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. Hamid Taqvaee: In my opinion, you have to first define the problem in order…

Stand up to Political Islam Warning: religion is bad for our social health Maryam Namazie Published in the Tribune July 22, 2005 It is no longer only in places like Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia where political Islam and religious rule are wreaking havoc but also in the very heart of the secular west…

Political Islam is the problem! Stop appeasing it! Maryam Namazie On the 7/7 Islamic terrorist attack on the people of London Published in WPI Briefing July 14, 2005 The Islamic terrorist attack in London has left more than fifty dead, hundreds wounded, innumerable grieving and a shocked and outraged humanity. The smiling faces of the…

The rise of humanism and secularism in Iran Maryam Namazie Speech given at the British Humanist Association conference held during June 10-12, 2005 Newcastle, UK * Iranian New Year in March is a celebration of the first day of spring. This is obviously not an Islamic holiday and one that had initially been banned by…

Political Islam in the heart of secular Europe Maryam Namazie Speech prepared for the International Humanist and Ethical Union Congress parallel session entitled ‘Women’s rights in religious and secular societies’ July 6, 2005 Paris, France * Sweet 16 year old Atefeh Rajabi was publicly hanged in the city centre in Neka in Iran on 15…

International TV interview with Hamid Taqvaee June 26, 2005 Maryam Namazie: Ahmadinejad, the right-wing candidate of the repressive security forces, the pasdaran and the Baseej won what the media is calling a landslide presidential election victory; his so-called election has been dubbed a surprise political upset in Iran. What has happened exactly? Hamid Taqvaee: I…