Category: News
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March for secularism
Don’t forget to join the March and Rally for Secularism on Saturday 14th September 2013. We will assemble at 12.30pm in Temple Place, next to Temple Tube Station, the March will start at 1.00pm and end in a Rally at Richmond Terrace, opposite Downing Street at around 2pm. Confirmed speakers include Sue Cox (Survivors Voice),…
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Secular Nation Podcast
You can hear my interview with Secular Nation, which was recorded at the recent Atheist Alliance of America conference in Boston. My interview starts from 7:59 minutes. We discuss multiculturalism, the Left, the far-Right, Islamism… (Thanks to @Dofang)
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Journalist of the year
I won “Journalist of the Year” for my blogging at today’s prestigious 2013 Dods Women in Public Life Awards. I was massively surprised (and pleased) given that other shortlisted candidates included “national treasure” BBC Olympics presenter Claire Balding. Other winners at the award ceremony were the wonderful Malala Yousafzai (International Women’s Rights Champion); Michelle McDowell…
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Lottery indeed
Here is a small Iranian girl giving a sermon in defence of the Quran: I find the use of children in promoting religion or the labelling of children as having a religion particularly sickening; it’s an insidious form of child abuse. As Mansoor Hekmat says in his brilliant piece in defence of children’s rights: The…
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We too yearn for freedom
The outrage over the attempted assassination of 15 year old Malala Yousefzai shot by the Taliban for defending girls’ education; the mass protests against Islamists for the assassination of Socialist leader Chokri Belaid and Amina Tyler’s topless activism in Tunisia where she wrote “My body is not the source of your honour” and “fuck your…
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Your fatwa does not apply here
The brilliant Karima Bennoune has just published her first book: “Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here: Untold Stories from the Fight Against Muslim Fundamentalism.” Inspired by her father Mahfoud Bennoune’s work in Algeria, it tells the stories of progressive people (journalists, artists, women’s rights activists…) who have risked everything to stand up to extremism and…
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I’m a dishonour to culture and tradition; a black mark on faith and religion
Have you heard the lovely Aryana singing about the plight of Afghan women? She’s one of the judges of an Afghan singing competition (The Voice) and has received threats for appearing on TV unveiled. In the below interview in English, she says: Being a woman, the problem is… whatever she does in Afghanistan is a…
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Update on Nahla Mahmoud
As you know, following an interview on Channel 4 on Sharia law, Islamists threatened Sudanese secular campaigner and Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain Spokesperson Nahla Mahmoud with death, calling her a “Kafira” and “Murtada” who has offended Islam and brought “fitnah”. One of those making the threats was Salah al Bandar (or Salah al Bander) who has until recently…
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Marseilles and Boston
I haven’t been able to blog at all recently as my son is off from school and it is near impossible to do anything other than swimming (for 6 hours straight), eating ice cream, or watching Wreck it Ralph for the 100th time. FYI, I’ll be speaking in Marseilles this Saturday and Boston next weekend…
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CEMB needs your support
Dear Friend PROTECT NAHLA MAHMOUD Following her interview on Channel 4 on Sharia law, Islamists have threatened Sudanese secular campaigner and Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) Co-Spokesperson Nahla Mahmoud with death, calling her a ‘Kafira’ and ‘Murtada’ who has offended Islam and brought “fitnah”. The threats have been reported to the police who have…
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New website on Islam and Quran
A Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain member, The Rationaliser, has a new website to help with research on Islam or the Quran. Features include: 1: Search 2: Ability to view each verse word-by-word and to see where else in the Quran the same Arabic word is used (helps with context) 3: Verses have links to…
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I’m in Edinburgh this weekend
I will be speaking in Edinburgh, Scotland tomorrow 11 August 2013 from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm at: The Jam House, 5 Queen Street, EH2 1JE at Skeptics on the Fringe Festival. I’ll be speaking on “Secularism is my right; freedom my culture”. More details here. I know I’ve received a lot of responses to my two recent blog…