Category: News
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Exposure: Islam’s Non-Believers
Islam’s Non Believers, a new film by the award-winning film-maker Deeyah Khan, will be aired on 13 October 2016 on ITV Exposure at 10:40-11:40pm London time. The film is the first in depth documentary following the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain and investigating the lives of young women and men in Britain who face threats,…
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#ExMuslimBecause #INeedYourLove
On July 5, 2016 a number of ex-Muslims from Bangladesh, Britain, Iran, Kuwait, Morocco, Pakistan and Syria converged on Kings Cross for a flash “dance” in support of freethinkers and “apostates” across the globe. On their faces and chests, they had written of “Ex-Muslim”, “Kafir”, “Atheist”, “Migrant”, “Refugee”, and “Apostate”. They danced to Shaggy’s “I…
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PRESS RELEASE: Campaigners urge government to fully and impartially investigate Sharia bodies
4 July 2016 Today, an unprecedented number of women’s rights campaigners and organisations from Britain and internationally have submitted a letter to the Home Secretary raising serious concerns about the government’s ‘independent review’ into Sharia courts in Britain. The letter states that the limited scope of inquiry and its inappropriate theological approach will do nothing to…
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With rigour, against Islamism
A statement defending freedom of expression and the right to criticise Islam was published in today’s LIBERATION. Below is the English translation. A corner-stone of our democracy – the freedom of expression and its corollary, the freedom to criticise – is seriously challenged on behalf of a falsified vision of the fight against racism, which equates…
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Algeria: Release Rachid Fodil and H. S. Now
Algeria Suppressing Free of expression and conscience On 9 June 2016, the Algerian National Gendarmerie arrested two social media activists, Rachid Fodil, 27 and H. S., 28 in the Algerian Province of M’sila. They have been accused of propagating blasphemous materials and insulting Islam and the Quran on social media. The two were set to stand…
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Fast-Defying Protest during Ramadan, Apostate Flashmob, Action for Raif, Hate Crimes and more
Dear friend We hope you are well. UPCOMING EVENTS We have a number of interesting events and actions coming up in London over the next two months, including a “Mean Tweets Party,” a Fast-Defying protest in solidarity with those persecuted for eating during Ramadan, and an apostate flashmob. We also have some wonderful speakers lined…
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17 workers flogged in Iran for labour organising
Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization Copy: Trade Unions and participants at the annual ILO Conference, Geneva Dear Mr Ryder Are you aware that precisely on the eve of the annual Conference of the ILO,17 workers of a gold mine in Iranwere whipped following the order of one of the courts of the…
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Is this a joke Facebook? Banned again?
I got an email from someone asking why they couldn’t reach me on Facebook. I tried signing in and got the following message: Have you noticed how I always get banned right after debating an Islamist or criticising Facebook for its censorship of ex-Muslim/atheist pages? What a coincidence that this ban happened right after my…
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Another Europe is Possible
Another Europe’s founding statement appeared in the Guardian on the 18 February 2016. It is reproduced below with some additional signatories. The progressive case for staying in the EU A British exit from the EU would have a seriously detrimental impact on the free movement of people; trade union and human rights; environmental protection; international cooperation;…
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Statement on attacks in Bangladesh
We, the undersigned academics, intellectuals, human rights advocates, and organizations from Bangladesh and around the world, unequivocally condemn recent statements by Bangladesh government officials appearing to blame writers, publishers, and activists for their own deaths at the hands of violent extremists with suspected links to militant Islamist groups. We strongly urge the Bangladesh government to…
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Maryam Namazie and Peter Tatchell honoured for defence of free speech on campuses
On 19 March, the National Secular Society held its annual Secularist of the Year award ceremony. The winner this year was Educate Together which promotes secular education. At the ceremony, two previous winners of the NSS Secularist of the Year award, Maryam Namazie and Peter Tatchell, were honoured for their recent campaigning to defend free…
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The end of free speech?, Bristol Festival of Ideas panel discussion
Here is the audio recording of The end of free speech panel discussion at the Bristol Festival of Ideas on 19 March 2016.