Category: News
-
Seriously, we are intolerant!?
Below is my speech at my first ever QED Conference in Manchester. It’s a real pleasure to be here. It’s my first QED and for that matter skeptic event. I’m grateful for the things I have learnt this weekend. I have to admit that I would most probably never have attended a talk about werewolves…
-
Dim-witted idiocy or revolutionary? In defence of nude protest
Azar Majedi of the Organisation of Women’s Liberation – Iran has attacked the Nude Photo Revolutionary Calendar and supporting video of Iranian women as being similar to the tabloids (namely the Sun’s page 3), ‘dim-witted idiocy’ and ‘buffoonery’ and Golshifteh Farahani’s nudity as ‘commercial’ whilst supporting Egyptian blogger Aliaa Magda Elmahdy’s nudity. In her attacks…
-
Talking to Maryam Namazie: Stripping for Iran
In an interview with Now Lebanon published today I say: It was difficult to find women for the calendar; many of those who had originally agreed to do it pulled out for various reasons, including because they couldn’t do full frontal nudity in keeping with Aliaa’s original photo. Also initially I had decided to include…
-
In defence of the Iranian asylum seekers in Würtzburg
Following the tragic suicide of Iranian asylum seeker Mohammad Rahsepar in protest to the abysmal situation of asylum seekers in Wurtzburg, Germany, a group of Iranian asylum seekers, supported by the International Federation of Iranian Refugees, have organised a sit-in since 19 March to bring attention to the plight of asylum seekers in the country.…
-
We love you too!
You know the people to people solidarity I keep harping on when I’m asked what one can do to intevene? I always tell people to stop thinking they represent ‘their’ government and to think beyond the given box of ‘security’ and ‘stability’ and instead see that how their interests lie intrinsically with people in Iran…
-
Happy Nowrooz
Just returned from a debate on Islam, Multiculturalism, and Free Expression with DV8 Physical Theatre’s Director Lloyd Newson and ‘Muslims for UK’ Inayat Bunglawala on issues raised by the brilliant DV8 production ‘Can we talk about This?’ at the National Theatre. I’ll blog about it soon. For now I want to wish all of you…
-
I am not someone’s honour…
Here’s another photo from Iran via Kian Azar in support of the Nude Photo Revolutionary Calendar and corresponding video. The signs on the wall say: ‘No to Hejab’, ‘I am not someone’s honour’, ‘Women=Men’, ‘No to Stoning’, ‘Down with the Islamic Republic of Iran’, and what seems to say ‘No to gender apartheid’. The woman…
-
Freedom of Speech, Multiculturalism and Islam
On 19 March 2012 I’ll be on a panel discussion on ‘Freedom of speech, multiculturalism and Islam’ with Inayat Bunglawala, Founder and Chair of Muslims4UK, and DV8’s Artistic Director Lloyd Newson to discuss issues raised in their new production ‘Can We Talk about This?’ at Lyttleton Theatre, National Theatre, London. Tickets £4 (£3 concessions) Running…
-
Long live Peter Tatchell
On Saturday, I went to the National Secular Society’s Secularist of the Year award ceremony. Peter Tatchell was the deserving winner for his life-long commitment to human rights. NSS President Terry Sanderson said of him: ‘But he has persevered and now he has made the unprecedented transition from public enemy number one to national treasure.’…
-
Poor Little Victims (yeah right!)
At the Queen Mary talk two nights ago, I had yet another Sharia apologist come up to me and ask whether I would be willing to debate the pro-Sharia lobby so that there can be a ‘fair’ hearing on the issues. Well I have always ‘debated’ with Islamists when possible (knowing full well that they…
-
We won’t be silent
Here’s Hassan Radwan’s video to mark International Day to defend Blasphemers and Apostates. Hassan who is on the Management Committee of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain gathered statements from Muslims, ex-Muslims and non-Muslims for the video.
-
14 March 2012: International Day of Action to Defend Blasphemers and Apostates
Just a reminder that today is the International Day of Action to Defend Blasphemers and Apostates. As I said before, I will be marking the day by speaking at Queen Mary College on Sharia and Human Rights, which had been cancelled earlier due to Islamist threats. What will you be doing to mark this day?…