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21/6/2010
Northern Ireland: Supporters of creationism abuse language of rights and equality

Last month Nelson McCausland, DUP assembly member and Northern Ireland culture minister, wrote to the trustees of National Museums Northern Ireland about how "to ensure that museums are reflective of the views, beliefs and cultural traditions" of the region. This included a more specific stipulation – referring explicitly to the Ulster Museum, the letter called for alternative views of the origin of the universe to be accommodated. In other words, creationism was to be incorporated into the museum's natural history displays. That an elected minister should make such a suggestion is a development that should be taken seriously.

21/6/2010
Iraqi Kurdistan: Religious leaders meet this week to look at issuing fatwa on FGM

A committee of religious leaders in Iraqi Kurdistan will be meeting this week to look at the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM). Ahmed Shafee, member of the high commission for fatwas assured the media that the committee will hold a meeting to look at the phenomena of FGM in Kurdistan. The head of the media section of the committee, Mula Jaffar Kuani, complained about the report recently issued by Human Rights Watch, saying that “blaming religious leaders for the increase of FGM cases is not right; in addition those who published the report did not consult us during the editing of that report”.

21/6/2010
Israel: Education minister vows to punish Israeli professors who back academic boycott

A few days after saying he intends to take action against Israeli professors who call for an academic boycott of Israel, Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar is scheduled to appear on Monday before the Knesset Education Committee to discuss the limits of freedom of expression in schools. Sa'ar refused to provide Haaretz with details of what action he plans to take. His statements, made in the Knesset plenum Wednesday, "speak for themselves," a spokesperson said.

21/6/2010
Egypt: Personal freedom? An alien concept in Egyptian society

Alexandria's beautiful Corniche by the Mediterranean is one of the most romantic places for a young couple in love to take a stroll. However, there is a sinister side to this picturesque scene that few talk about. At any given time, the coast is crawling with the policemen and plainclothes thugs of the morality police, searching for (unmarried) couples cuddling in a secluded area to terrify and blackmail.

18/6/2010
Somalia: Family of 17-Year-Old Girl Abuses Her for Leaving Islam

The Muslim parents of a 17-year-old Somali girl who converted to Christianity severely beat her for leaving Islam and have regularly shackled her to a tree at their home for more than a month, Christian sources said. Nurta Mohamed Farah of Bardher, Gedo Region in southern Somalia, has been confined to her home since May 10, when her family found out that she had embraced Christianity, said a Christian leader who visited the area. “When the woman’s family found out that she converted to Christianity, she was beaten badly but insisted on her new-found religion,” said the source on condition of anonymity.

18/6/2010
Nigeria: Ondo State government removes ruler of Akure Kingdom for beating up wife
After five years of controversial rule as the paramount ruler of Akure Kingdom , the Deji of Akure, Oluwadare Adesina Adepoju, Osupa III was yesterday deposed by the Ondo State government for beating up his estranged wife, Bolanle, in the street.
18/6/2010
Malaysia: Documentory on Kartika's protest at whipping sentence

One thing is really clear about Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor in the video Mencari Kartika, produced and directed by Norhayati Kaprawi: Kartika, who was sentenced to be whipped, fined and imprisoned for drinking beer because she was a Muslim, was angry at the syariah system that had sentenced her. It is a startling revelation, because nowhere in media reports does the public ever have a sense of how angry she was.

18/6/2010
UN: Special Rapporteur on VAW releases 2010 report
UN Special Rapporteur Rahisda Manjoo has published a thirty four page report on violence again women its causes and consequences. During the period under review, the Special Rapporteur requested invitations to visit Somalia, the United States of America, and Zimbabwe. Earlier requests for country visits had also been made to the Governments of Jordan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Special Rapporteurs typically send a letter to the Government requesting to visit the country, and, if the Government agrees, an invitation to visit is extended. Some countries have issued "standing invitations", which means that they are, in principle, prepared to receive a visit from any special procedures mandate holder. 
18/6/2010
UK: New Report on Sharia Law in Britain

A new report by One Law for All has found Sharia Councils and Muslim Arbitration Tribunals to be in violation of UK law, public policy and human rights (see report here). The report is being launched to coincide with a 20 June 2010 rally on the issue of Sharia law.

18/6/2010
Iraqi Kurdistan: HRW Report: FGM perpetuated by women who want best for their children

While internationally recognized as a form of violence against women and girls, the tragedy is that female genital mutilation is perpetuated by mothers, aunts and other women who love and want the best for their children, who see the practice as ensuring that girls are marriageable, are conforming to the tenets of Islam, and are growing up to be respectable and respected members of Kurdish society.