by Heather Hastie | Jan 31, 2015 | Human Rights, Religion, Women
Since 2013, 1 February has been World Hijab Day. It was started by a New York woman, Nazma Khan. Khan moved to New York from Bangladesh with her parents at the age of eleven. She was the only child at her school wearing the hijab and was bullied. It seems from her...
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 | Dec 7, 2014 | Atheism, Religion, Terrorism
Most mornings, the first thing I do is read my favourite website: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution is True, named for his book of the same name. It’s still the day before in Chicago, where Professor Jerry Coyne usually writes from. So, when I wake up a there are already a...
