Tag: religion

Interview with Tehmina Kazi

November 6, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
Tehmina Kazi is an activist, writer and author based in Ireland. Tehmina was, until mid 2016, the Director of British Muslims for Secular Democracy (a position she took up in May 2009). British Muslims for Secular Democracy aims to raise awareness within British Muslims and the wider public, of democracy particularly ‘secular democracy’ helping to contribute to […] Read more

Islam: No Justice for Victims of Blasphemy Killings in Nigeria?

November 5, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
A court in Kano state in Northern Nigeria has acquitted five persons who were arrested in connection with the killing of a Christian female trader, Bridget Agbahime, from Southern Nigeria. She was murdered on June 2 at Kofai Wambai market after some exchanges with some Muslims. Her killers attacked her with dangerous weapons and slit […] Read more

Islam – No Mockery Allowed: A New Case

November 4, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
In the UK, a well-known athlete, Louis Smith, has been disciplined and suspended by British Gymnastics – the UK body governing the sport – for having engaged in some private drunken mockery of Islam which he recorded on his phone and which was subsequently leaked to the Press. A British Gymnastics spokesperson commented ‘British Gymnastics […] Read more

Interview with Professor  ​Rebecca Goldstein — Novelist, Philosopher, and Public Intellectual

November 2, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
Professor Rebecca Newberger Goldstein is a novelist, philosopher, public intellectual, and visiting Professor of Philosophy and English at New York University and Visiting Professor of Philosophy at the New College of the Humanities. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What is your family story? I was brought up in an Orthodox Jewish household. My father was a refugee […] Read more

Exclusive Interview with ​Stephanie Guttormson ​- Operations Director for the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science

November 2, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
Stephanie Guttormson is the current Operations Director for the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science – a foundation she joined in March of 2013. Stephanie was the leader of an award winning student group at the Metropolitan State University of Denver which impressively brought in notable names such as Michael Shermer and James Randi to speak on campus. Scott […] Read more

Interview with Tara Abhasakun on the Baha’i Faith

October 26, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
Tara Abhasakun is a journalist based in the USA and occasional Blogger.  Tara talks about her community, the Baha’i faith and feminism. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: As noted in correspondence, you are not a Baha’i scholar. You are a recent undergraduate graduate and a woman Baha’i member. What is your background in Baha’i? Both of my parents […] Read more

Interview with ​Kate Smurthwaite

October 25, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
Kate Smurthwaite is a British stand-up comedian, a human-rights activist, political activist.and a feminist. She regularly appears on British television and radio as a pundit, offering opinion and comment on subjects ranging from politics to religion. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How did you become an activist, comedian, and feminist? Well I became a comedian by doing a number of courses on writing and […] Read more

Extended Interview with Maryam Namazie

October 24, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
Maryam Namazie is an Iranian-born secularist and human rights activist, commentator and broadcaster. She is spokesperson for Iran Solidarity, One Law for All and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. How did you get involved in activism? I became an activist as a result of my own life experiences after an Islamic regime took power in Iran. We fled the country. […] Read more

The Vilification of Ex-Muslims and Islamic Reformers

October 12, 2016 | by | 5 Comments
Those fighting for Islamic reform are some of the bravest, courageous and most important people alive today. We owe them our support. When Martin Luther sent his Ninety-Five Thesis to the Archbishop of Mainz, a document which attacked the cynical selling of indulgences by priests to faithful church-goers, on October 31st 1517, he likely had […] Read more