- Andrew Tate's Quran Challenge Backfired MASSIVELY
https://twitter.com/AtheistRepublic/status/1653437439720161280?s=20
Join the Atheist Republic as they dive into the recent controversy surrounding Andrew Tate, a British kickboxer and recent convert to Islam who is internationally famous for his misogynistic rhetoric, who tweeted a video of a woman tearing up a Bible at a Satanic Temple convention and wrote, "Try the Quran if you're so brave." Many ex-Muslims and atheists, including members of the Atheist Republic community, took up the challenge and shared videos of themselves desecrating the Quran. Tate then reacted by deleting his post and blocking those who participated in the challenge. People reacted to Tate's challenge with a mix of amusement, disbelief, and outrage, with many arguing that it was an irresponsible and dangerous thing to encourage. Tate's reaction was widely criticized for its hypocrisy and for exposing his lack of understanding about Islam and the Muslim world. Tune in to hear all the juicy details!
- Apostate Prophet & Andrew Tate Clash on Twitter
https://twitter.com/ApostateProphet/status/1652724111984975873?s=20
https://twitter.com/ArminNavabi/status/1654858208597651458?s=20
In a recent Twitter showdown, Andrew Tate, a British former kickboxer and controversial convert to Islam known for his misogynistic views, clashed with ex-Muslim champions Armin Navabi and Apostate Prophet. Exhibit A: a tweet from Apostate Prophet revealing he was blocked by Tate, likely for calling out Tate's whitewashing of Islam and alleged pimping history. Joining the ranks of those blocked by Tate is none other than Atheist Republic's Armin Navabi. Armin highlighted the irony of Tate, who claims to be tough but can't handle criticism, resorting to blocking rather than engaging in debate.
Although many young men view Tate as a role model, his inability to address challenges from his critics is telling. Riddled with fallacies and baseless claims, Tate appears to prefer fleeing like a frightened child instead of facing genuine pushback. This has sparked jokes about being blocked by Tate as a new badge of honor for ex-Muslims, akin to having tweets reported as illegal by the Pakistani government or being permanently banned from the r/Islam subreddit.
- Iran in Turmoil: Islamic Cleric Assassinated in Brazen Daylight Attack
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/ukraine-blasphemes-hindu-goddess-kali-sparking-indian-backlash
Location: Iran
In a shocking turn of events amidst the ongoing protests against Iran's Islamic Republic, senior cleric Ayatollah Abbas Ali Soleimani was brutally assassinated in broad daylight. The 77-year-old hardliner was gunned down in a bank in Babolsar, a city just north of Tehran, on April 26. A chilling video captured by a surveillance camera reveals the attacker walking around the bank with a gun before firing at Soleimani. Bystanders intervened to apprehend the assailant, who was later arrested by security forces. With the motive still unknown, Iran's Interior Ministry has launched a special investigation into this high-profile murder. This brazen assassination is just one of many recent attacks targeting Iran's Shia clergy as public discontent with the Islamic Republic reaches a boiling point. On April 16, another cleric was a victim of attempted murder when a car tried to run him over in Tehran. The condition of the 35-year-old cleric is unknown, and authorities are searching for the suspect. Ayatollah Soleimani was a prominent figure and the most high-ranking cleric to be assassinated in recent years.
- Ukraine "Blasphemes" Hindu Goddess Kali, Sparking Indian Backlash
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/ukraine-blasphemes-hindu-goddess-kali-sparking-indian-backlash
Location: Ukraine
In a controversial move that sparked outrage among Indian netizens, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense found itself in hot water after tweeting a provocative image of the Hindu goddess Kali. The image, featured Kali superimposed over mushroom-cloud blast fumes, posing with her tongue sticking out and having a Marilyn Monroe-like upskirt moment, and featured the caption "work of art." This struck a nerve with many Indians who saw it as "Hinduphobic" and an affront to their religious beliefs. Indian Twitter users were quick to call out the disrespectful depiction, demanding an apology and urging key figures, such as India's foreign minister and Twitter CEO Elon Musk, to take action. Feeling the heat of the mounting backlash, the Ministry of Defense deleted the tweet only minutes after posting it. In an effort to mend the damage, Ukraine's defense minister Emine Dzhaparova offered a heartfelt apology, expressing her appreciation for India's support and emphasizing the mutual respect and friendship between the two nations.
- Outrage as Minneapolis Allows Amplified Muslim Call to Prayer Anytime
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/outrage-minneapolis-allows-amplified-muslim-call-prayer-anytime
Location: Minnesota, USA
In a groundbreaking move, Minneapolis recently made history as the first major U.S. city to allow mosques to broadcast the amplified Muslim call to prayer, adhan, at any time of the day. This change, which took effect on April 19th, has been met with celebration from Muslim, Christian, and Jewish leaders alike. However, not everyone is on board with the new ordinance. The Freedom From Religion Foundation(FFRF), an organization for secular Americans, has criticized the decision as "religiously slanted," arguing that it favors one religious group's messages over others. “Allowing religious organizations a special carve-out from Minneapolis’ noise ordinance, which is a reasonable restriction meant to foster a peaceful, quiet community with a well-rested population, is the opposite of equal access,” the FFRF said in its message regarding the noise ordinance. Despite the controversy, Muslim leaders remain open to addressing any noise complaints that might arise.
- United Against Love: Indian Religious Leaders Unite Against Gay Marriage
Location: India
In an unusual display of unity, religious leaders from India's major faiths, including Muslim, Christian, Sikh, and Jain communities, have joined forces with Hindu nationalist groups to... oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage. This comes as India's Supreme Court hears petitions from LGBT organizations seeking to legalize same-sex marriage following the decriminalization of homosexuality in 2018. These religious groups claim that same-sex marriage infringes on holy scriptures and disrupts the "natural family order." However, in a progressive move compared to the other groups, the Hindu-Nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has a slightly more nuanced take on the issue. While they oppose same-sex marriage, in line with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), they do not oppose same-sex relationships. Taiwan is currently the only Asian country to have legalized same-sex marriage.
- How Social Media Giants Turn a Blind Eye to Hindu Nationalist Hate Speech
Location: India
Social media giants are under fire for turning a blind eye to Hindu nationalist hate speech, allowing divisive content to spread like wildfire. Kajal Shingala, a charismatic figure in the Hindu nationalist movement, skyrocketed to fame by posting inflammatory content against Muslims and detractors of the BJP party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. From the beginning, it was clear that Shingala was pro-BJP, pro-Modi, and pro-Hindutva while attacking critics of Modi and the BJP and engaging in hate speech against Muslims, Christians, and even secular Hindus, whom she described as a “blot” and “curse” on Hinduism. Since then, she has expanded her social media presence to other sites, like YouTube and Twitter, with more than 36,000 subscribers and 123,000 followers, respectively. But Shingala had the most presence on Facebook, with more than 369,000 followers as of 2022. Although her accounts faced initial bans due to hate speech violations, Shingala's popularity continued to soar, even attracting attention from prominent politicians, even including a follow on Twitter from Modi himself. As she passionately calls for economic boycotts against Muslims, critics argue that the Indian government and social media behemoths like Meta, Twitter, and YouTube must take responsibility for the unchecked rise of influencers like Shingala, who fuel hatred and conspiracy theories.
- Barbaric Act Of Honour Killing: Pakistani Man Sets Wife On Fire
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/barbaric-act-honour-killing-pakistani-man-sets-wife-fire
Location: Pakistan
A harrowing domestic violence incident in Pakistan's Punjab district have reignited concerns over the country's increasing "honor killings." In Chichawatni, 209 kilometers from Lahore, a man named Tariq viciously burned his estranged 40-year-old wife, Shazia, to death after suspecting her of having an affair. Shazia, who left her husband due to escalating domestic disputes, died upon arrival at the hospital, leaving behind six children. According to the police, Tariq suspected that Shazia was in a relationship with a man in his area. He visited his in-laws, where he doused Shazia in gasoline before setting her on fire and leaving the area. Pakistan's human rights commission reports an average of 650 honor killings annually over the past decade. However, the actual figures could be significantly higher, as many cases remain unreported. These recent cases highlight the urgency for action to combat this brutal practice.
- Iranian Clerics' War on Hijab-lessness: Businesses Closed & Jobs Lost
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/iranian-clerics-war-hijab-lessness-businesses-closed-jobs-lost
Location: Iran
Iran's strict enforcement of mandatory hijab laws has led to widespread unemployment, with thousands of Iranians losing their jobs as businesses shut down due to noncompliance. In March alone, at least 2,000 businesses closed, while in Tehran, 13 cafes and restaurants were forced to shut their doors. The Opal Mall, a significant shopping center in northern Iran, experienced closure, affecting over 450 establishments and 2,500 jobs. Despite the economic turmoil, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remains steadfast in his support for hijab enforcement. However, the crackdown has ignited debate among legal experts and scholars. Law professor Mohammad Mansouri-Boroujeni questioned the logic behind the closures, stating, “Has anyone ever heard of a street being banned because of a murder that happened there? … Businesses cannot be sealed because someone removes their hijab there.” With tensions rising, Iran's unwavering commitment to mandatory hijab laws comes at a significant cost to its economy and people.
