Category: Notes
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Islam and the “culture of offence”: missing the point
First published in Open Democracy on 12 February 2015 In the age of ISIS, dissent and criticism of religion is a life and death necessity. It has been – and remains – key for human progress. Dissent and criticism of religion has always been a crucial aspect of free expression. Historically, it has been intrinsically linked…
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Charlie Hebdo: There is no “culture of offence”
Below are my opening remarks at a 29 January panel discussion organised by UCL Atheist Society entitled “Living in outrageous times: Charlie Hebdo and the culture of offence”. The two other panellists debating the issue reminded me of Caroline Fourest’s saying: “Racism must not excuse fundamentalism and fundamentalism must not excuse racism”. Peter Bradley, director of Speakers’…
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A defence of Charlie Hebdo must also turn into defence of other blasphemers and apostates
FRENCH: Toute défense de Charlie Hebdo doit également devenir celle d’autres blasphémateurs et apostats SPANISH – BELOW Those of us who have openly criticised Islam and Islamism have faced many a threat and intimidation from the far-Right Islamist movement. I have had phone calls saying I will be decapitated to recorded messages from the Islamic…
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After the Charlie Hebdo Massacre, Support those Fighting the Religious-Right
FRENCH: Après le massacre de Charlie Hebdo, Soutenons ceux qui se battent contre la droite religieuse SPANISH: Below After the massacre in Charlie Hebdo in Paris on January 7, 2015, expressing indignation, as so many are doing, is not enough. A quick look at the English-speaking media shows that whilst many condemn the violence itself,…
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For Charlie Hebdo: Rage and Solidarity
My message to Charlie Hebdo’s editor in chief, Gerard Biard: Dear Gerard I spoke on a panel with you in November last year at the International Feminist and Secular Network in Paris. I am writing to express my outrage at the cold-blooded murder of freethinkers at Charlie Hebdo today and to give my unequivocal support.…
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You can defend your precious regime, I will defend revolution
It was recently brought to my attention that Kaveh Mousavi has written on my “misrepresentations” about Iranian politics. I don’t know who he is and haven’t followed his writings but this one post is sufficient for me to place him on the political spectrum of Iranian politics. All else is smoke and mirrors. The crux…
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Islam in the state is the end of everything worthy of a 21 century life
The below is my opening remarks at the World Humanist Congress today 9 August 2014. In this day and age, there is most certainly something about Islam. Not because it is any worse than other religions. As I have said many times before, all religions are equal and equally bad. No religion looks favourably upon…
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Sharia law is madness
The below is Maryam Namazie’s editorial published in the April 2014 issue of Unveiled: A Publication of Fitnah – Movement for Women’s Liberation. Sharia law is highly contested and vehemently opposed in many places across the globe. In Algeria, women’s rights activists singing for change label 20 years of Sharia in the family code as 20 years of…
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I will be nude, I will protest, and I will challenge you to your core!
All religions have a disturbing view of the female and her body. Islam is no different. Given that Islamism – a regressive political movement with state power and political influence in many places – is using Islam as its banner, however, women’s sexuality and bodies are policed and criminalised and misogyny is encouraged and imposed…
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Nude protest for Intl Women’s Day
Today, 8 March, International Women’s Day, Amina Sboui, Aliaa Magda Elmahdy, Solmaz Vakilpour, Safia Lebdi, Meriam Russel and myself protested nude in support of women’s rights in the Middle East and North Africa at the Louvre in Paris. I didn’t want to just hold the Islamic regime of Iran’s flag so I cut out the…
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Not an Islamic revolution
The Islamic regime of Iran celebrates the “Islamic revolution” today. But Islamism has only brought untold misery and brutality to the people of Iran (and the world). Islamism is not a cause for celebration; it only came to power on the back of a suppressed revolution and the slaughter of a generation. Whilst history is…
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On World Hijab Day
World Hijab Day Editorial from latest issue of Fitnah’s Unveiled 1 February is World Hijab Day. What next? Maybe a World Mutilation Day to show support for women and girls who have been mutilated and World Child Marriages Day when we can marry off our under-aged daughters to show support and solidarity with religious and…