- Andrew Tate's Shocking Call for the Islamization of Britain
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/andrew-tates-shocking-call-islamization-britain
Location: United Kingdom
Andrew Tate, the British-American social media personality and former kickboxer, known for his promotion of misogyny and his current legal battle in which he is facing charges of human trafficking, has ignited online backlash with his recent call for the Islamization of the United Kingdom. This call followed London-based billionaire Asif Aziz's announcement of plans to transform the Trocadero, a key historical landmark, into a mosque. Tate, a recent convert to Islam from a Christian background, lauded the news, tweeting, "Allah is the best of planners and I look forward to seeing The Islamic Republic of Great Britistan in her final form. Alhamdulillah Britain will be fully Islamic soon." However, his comment prompted widespread shock and criticism, with Twitter users challenging his statements about the demise of British culture and the need for an Islamic Republic. One user pointed out, "This is a false dichotomy you assert. A secular UK as it is intended to be. All races and religions and cultures etc living in harmony. That seems like a better and more long term plan."
- After Quran-Burning Backlash Sweden Approves Torah-Burning Protest
Location: Sweden
In an unexpected turn of events in Sweden, a provocative protest took an unexpected twist when Syrian-origin Ahmad Alush, initially granted permission to burn the Torah and the Bible as part of a demonstration, dramatically altered his plans. Poised to light the holy books in front of the Israeli Embassy, Alush abruptly discarded his lighter and declared, “I’m a Muslim, we don’t burn (books). I want to show that we have to respect each other." This abrupt change came as a surprise given the original protest was seemingly retaliatory to an earlier Quran-burning incident. However, Alush's initial plan was not without severe backlash; Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Ariel Muzicant, President of the European Jewish Congress, strongly condemned the proposed act. Moreover, this saga has shaken Sweden's international relations, drawing fierce criticism from Muslim-majority nations and the UN Human Rights Council, threatening its NATO aspirations, and exposing the delicate balance between freedom of expression and preventing religious hatred.
- Iran's Infamous Morality Police Return 10 Months After Protests
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/irans-infamous-morality-police-return-10-months-after-protests
Location: Iran
Ten months after the protests triggered by the custodial death of Mahsa Amini, Iran's notorious "morality police" have made a comeback, resuming their vigilant watch over the country's dress code enforcement. Renamed and equipped with body cameras, this controversial force is actively patrolling cities, keenly enforcing the mandatory hijab laws. Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi, the spokesperson for the Iranian police, has vowed to capture those wearing "extraordinary clothing" and "still insist on breaking the norms." Their oppressive reach has been felt across society, from ordinary women on the streets to even Iranian celebrities. For example, actress Azadeh Samadi was compelled to undergo "counseling" sessions for her alleged "personality disorder" after daring to attend a funeral wearing a cap instead of a hijab. This renewed crackdown by Iran's morality police, or 'Gasht-e Ershad' as they're known locally, has sparked widespread criticism. Responding to the situation, the US special envoy to Iran voiced concern on Twitter: "Concerned by reports that Iran’s so-called morality police are again cracking down to enforce mandatory hijab. It seems the regime has learned nothing from the protests. Women and girls everywhere should be allowed to wear whatever they want." The so-called morality police, a throwback to a repressive past, are thus once again the subject of heated international debate.
- Somali Woman Beaten for Dancing Without Hijab on TikTok
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/somali-woman-beaten-dancing-without-hijab-tiktok
Location: Somalia
In a disconcerting incident, a Somali woman faced a violent backlash from her own brother for dancing without a hijab in a TikTok video. The woman, known as @hafsaqueendjibouti, has a considerable following of 150,000 on the platform. After uploading a video of herself dancing in a sleeveless black dress without a hijab, the clip quickly gained over a million views. However, the subsequent video she uploaded revealed her badly beaten and bruised face, hinting at the violent response she received for not adhering to the hijab rule. In the face of such shocking domestic violence, the Internet's reaction was divisive, with some even praising her brother for 'protecting her honor.' One Twitter user stated, "May Allah reward him for protecting his sister's honor." Regrettably, mainstream media and many progressive activists have been reticent about highlighting this issue, potentially due to fears of appearing Islamophobic. This silence exemplifies the persistent struggles around the debate on Islam in the West and raises questions about the commitment to defend human rights universally.
- Locked in Tradition: Shocking Middle Eastern Laws Trapping Women at Home
Location: Middle East
In a grim reflection of the persistent gender inequality in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), women continue to be shackled by oppressive laws that limit their freedoms and opportunities. According to a report by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security (GIWPS), the MENA region hosts at least seven of the world's worst countries to be a woman. In a chilling testimony, Aya, a nearly 30-year-old Jordanian woman, revealed to the Guardian the debilitating restrictions she faces under male guardianship laws, “I am a prisoner at home,” she stated. "If I go out without my family’s knowledge, they’ll lock me in my room and beat me so hard that I’ll feel pain for months. I’m threatened with death." Echoing Aya's sentiments, Lina, another Jordanian woman, detailed her forced confinement, despite being a significant breadwinner in her family. “You have a spectrum of women who are controlled; some have a curfew, but other women can’t even see their friends at a cafe. You have no ability to have a social life in that respect," lamented Rothna Begum, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. The grim realities of these women underscore the urgent need for legal reforms and the championing of women's rights in the region.
- Religious Coercion Turns Violent: Muslim Man Brutally Attacked in India
Location: India
A 21-year-old Muslim man, Saheb Ali Khan, was brutally attacked in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, India, underscoring the growing religious tensions in the region. Khan was forced to chant "Jai Shri Ram," a slogan commonly used by Hindu nationalists, before being violently assaulted, leading to severe injuries requiring hospital treatment. Recalling the horrifying incident, Khan said, “I was going about my business, heading to buy milk from a nearby shop, when Mukesh Gujjar and four of his accomplices suddenly stopped me. They abused and forced me to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram.' I told him that he couldn't force me to chant the slogan, which enraged him. Within moments, his companions arrived armed with swords, bats, and iron rods, mercilessly assaulting me, targeting my head and body.” Despite the violence inflicted upon him, Khan bravely lodged a case against his attackers, who reportedly have a history of criminal offenses. This incident has sparked calls for better protection for Muslims and other religious minorities in the area.
- Trump’s Attack on Atheists Backfires
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/trump-s-attack-atheists-backfires
Location: United States
Former President Donald Trump's disparaging comments about atheists at the Faith & Freedom Coalition Policy Conference in Washington sparked a pointed response from the Secular Coalition for America. Trump referred to atheists as part of a group of "arsonists, globalists, and Marxists" in a statement that has been denounced by the Coalition, a network of non-religious organizations. Steven Emmert, the executive director of the coalition, reacted to Trump's allegations, saying, “He has used nonreligious people as a punching bag, as he has with many other groups for many years. This just seemed like an odd collection of people to go after. I mean, we are opposed to arsons as well.” Emmert further pointed out the significant size of the non-religious demographic, stating, “Nonreligious people made up nearly 30% of the population. We are not exactly some fringe group,” thereby arguing the folly of disregarding atheists and non-religious people as a potent electoral force.
- Silencing Atheists? Fort Worth Faces Lawsuit for Rejecting Atheist Ads
Location: United States
A local atheist organization in Texas, Metroplex Atheists, has taken legal action against the city of Fort Worth, accusing the local government of discrimination after refusing their application to place banners advertising an upcoming event discussing the dangers of Christian Nationalism. Metroplex Atheists, a group committed to supporting atheists, freethinkers, and agnostics in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, asserted that the rejection violated their constitutional rights. Umair Khan, the President of Metroplex Atheists, detailed their compliance with city policy, saying, “We did everything to meet the City of Fort Worth’s Banner Policy. We were denied purely on trumped-up claims nowhere in the policy, to disguise their prejudice.” The lawsuit is supported by several major organizations, including American Atheists and the American Humanist Association. Metroplex Atheists point out the hypocrisy in the city's decision, given its history of approving banner requests from religious organizations such as Kenneth Copeland Ministries and Texas Christian University, as well as a prior request by Metroplex Atheists themselves in 2019.
- Malaysian Woman Fights Against the Islamic Conversion of Her Kids
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/malaysian-woman-fights-against-islamic-conversion-her-kids
Location: Malaysia
Loh Siew Hong, a Malaysian Hindu woman of Indian and Chinese descent, is embroiled in a contentious legal battle after her three children were forcibly converted to Islam by her ex-husband. The case, unfolding in a nation rife with ethnic and religious divides, has been spotlighted due to its deeply personal yet public implications. Loh, after a long and arduous three-year search, managed to reunite with her children only to discover their religious conversion. Malaysia's law forbids non-Muslims from raising Muslim children, thereby complicating Loh's case. Despite an initial judicial setback, Loh appealed the ruling and her case is currently being heard by the Malaysian secular courts. Amid a charged political climate as Malaysia heads towards elections, Rozana Isa, the director of Sisters in Islam, notes, "People respond to this issue in a very emotional way because it's not just about the children. What comes into play is about how then Islam must be protected at all costs." What started as a private family dispute has escalated into a high-stakes national issue, leading to Loh and her children being harassed and vilified for their perceived challenge to the Islamic faith. Her struggle illustrates the intertwined complexities of religion and politics in Malaysia, and as Loh's lawyer, Srimurugan Alagan, puts it, "The religious authorities feel that by giving in to Madam Loh, we are sacrificing our might of Islam." The outcome of this case, which is expected to conclude by year's end, will set a precedent for Malaysia's approach to religion and personal freedom.
- Armin Navabi’s Latest Writings for Queer Majority!
https://www.queermajority.com/essays-all/women-loving-women-in-islam
We are excited to share a new piece by Armin Navabi, which delves into the rarely explored history of same-sex relationships between women in the Islamic world. This enlightening article uncovers the historical erasure of lesbian and bisexual women in Islamic society, navigating through a terrain rife with male-centric viewpoints, active suppression, and often a hidden and stigmatized existence. From the ambiguity of the Qur'an's stance on women's same-sex relationships, to the oscillating social attitudes over time, Navabi illustrates the diverse manifestations of these relationships throughout history. The piece highlights their presence in poetry, resistance narratives, and even clandestine spaces like bathhouses and Ottoman harems. While acknowledging the prevalent hostility toward the LGBT community in Islamic teachings, the article emphasizes the ongoing debate over their treatment and the potential for more compassionate interpretations of Islam. Unearth this hidden history and join the conversation by reading the full article here!
