by Heather Hastie | Jan 18, 2015 | Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, New Zealand, NZ Politics, Religion
According to Wikipedia: Blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God, to religious or holy persons or things, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable. Blasphemy laws, therefore, are designed to protect religion...
by Heather Hastie | Jan 12, 2015 | Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, International Politics, Religion
When free speech is attacked, we all suffer. So often in the past, those who have been attacked for speaking out haven’t attracted the support they should have either because of what they have to say, or who they are. We have allowed our opinion of the speech of...
by Heather Hastie | Jan 8, 2015 | Democracy, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, International Politics, New Zealand, Religion
Well, we knew it would happen. In my last article on this I said: I hope this revolting act will help those who decry any criticism of Islam as Islamophobia recognize just what a problem it has the potential to be. Any belief system that includes an invocation to kill...
by Heather Hastie | Jan 7, 2015 | Democracy, Freedom of Speech, Great Britain & Europe, Human Rights, Religion
Warning: If you find images of Muhammad, prophet of Islam, offensive, don’t read this article. If you decide to read it anyway, don’t blame me. By now you will have heard of the appalling event at the Paris offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie...
by Heather Hastie | Oct 24, 2014 | Health, Human Rights, Middle East, Religion
Orla Guerin of the BBC, a reporter I admire greatly, today presented this report about FGM in Egypt. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be a way to embed it into this article, but I urge you to go to the link and watch it. It’s only 2:49 long. In the...
by Heather Hastie | Oct 12, 2014 | Health, Human Rights, Religion, Women
There was a window when Reza Aslan had my sympathy. At the end of July Fox News reporter Lauren Green interviewed him about his book Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth. Green’s opinion seemed to be that as a Muslim, Aslan had no right to write a book...
