- Taliban Bans Women From University Education
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/taliban-bans-women-university-educations
Location: Afghanistan
On December 20th, the Taliban announced that women would no longer be allowed to attend university. Neda Mohammad Nadeem, the Taliban’s minister for higher education, said the government implemented the ban because women didn’t follow the dress code. Nadeem said, "They were dressing like they were going to a wedding." Afghanistan’s education ministry said that its scholars evaluated the higher education curriculum and environment and declared that attendance for women would be suspended until a suitable “new environment” has been established. The banning also restricts women’s access to education and other essential aspects of society. Humaira Qaderi, US Afghan activist and university lecturer, told the BBC that Afghanistan is “no longer a country, but a cage for women.” Although the Taliban, in general, is opposed to modern education, especially for women and girls, the issue divided the Taliban, with some more moderate officials opposing the ban. In solidarity with the female students, around 50 male university professors and lecturers at public and private universities resigned from their positions, while some male students refused to sit for university examinations.
- Iranian Clerics Demand Amputations & More Executions of Protesters
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/iranian-clerics-demand-amputations-more-executions-protesters
Location: Iran
Recently, the Association of Qom Seminary Teachers, an influential hardliner group of clerics in Iran demanded more blood and urged the authorities to use more inhumane measures against protesters. The association suggests that anyone who participates in anti-government protests to "instigate fear in society" should be treated as a belligerent. Iran's Sharia laws treat belligerence as punishable by death, crucifixion, severance of limbs, and/or exile. The clerics suggested that "The severing of fingers of one hand and toes of the opposite foot could be effective [as a deterrent punishment]" if a person "instigates fear in society, without the involvement of the [opposition] media and without urging others to follow suit." They also claim that exiling would be ineffective as they believe it would "ruin" the image of Iran around the globe, and the government will suffer the cost. Aside from intellectuals, politicians, and activists in Iran, some former officials and high-ranked clerics denounced these horrific acts.
- American Academic Fired Over Islamic Painting Showing the Prophet Muhammad
Location: Michigan, USA
Recently, Hamline University, a private liberal arts college, reportedly refused to renew the contract of an art history professor, for showing images of an medieval Islamic art piece depicting the Prophet Muhammad. Reports say that the professor warned the students in the online class about two minutes before showing the art, allowing students to turn off their cameras if they chose to. One of the students complained about the inclusion of the painting in the class. The painting was an artwork depicting the Prophet Muhammad receiving the first revelation through the Angel Gabriel (also called Jibreel in Islam). The incident sparked extensive media coverage and administrative commentary at the university, with Hamline University’s Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence (AVPIE) calling it “undeniably inconsiderate, disrespectful and Islamophobic.” The professor was reportedly not given any opportunity to explain the lecture and activities, and no academic due process. The President and AVPIE of Hamline University wrote two emails regarding the incident which mentioned that "respect for the observant Muslim students in that classroom should have superseded academic freedom.” PEN America, a literary organization in the United States, wrote a statement on its website condemning Hamline University’s actions towards the professor.
- Israeli Minister Says Doctors Should Be Allowed to Refuse LGBT Patients
Location: Israel
On December 25th, in a radio interview, Israeli politician and incoming minister, Orit Strook, suggested that Israeli doctors should be allowed to refuse treatment to LGBTQ patients. Strook, representative of a religious Zionist party, said that her party is in favor of an amendment to an anti-discrimination law that would allow service providers to deny their services if their religious beliefs are violated. Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, has deemed Strook's remarks "unacceptable." He has denied that his newly formed government, which includes Strook’s party, will cause any problems for the LGBTQ community. After receiving backlash for her comments, she tweeted that she had been referring to types of medical procedures that would be religiously questionable, not explicitly targeting the LGBTQ community. Executive Director of Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, Alon Shachar, stated, "If these ideas materialize and become reality in deeds, they will affect not only the gay community but all Israeli society."
- Egyptian Atheist YouTuber Arrested After Debating Imam
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/egyptian-atheist-youtuber-arrested-after-debating-imam
Location Egypt
Last November, an Egyptian atheist blogger, Hesham Fouad Ahmed aka Hesham El Masry, was arrested by authorities and was allegedly charged with insulting Islam. On October 30th, Hesham joined a debate hosted by Bassem Sam against an Imam, Ahmed Karima. The discussion was broadcasted live on Youtube. Both parties gave each other a chance to talk at the start of the discussion. Unfortunately, the debate quickly turned heated, with Sheikh Karima yelling at Hesham to "Stop!" A week after the discussion, Karima appeared in a video accusing Ahmed of disrespecting Islam. According to The Secular Underground Network, Karima used his "connections to press national security to apprehend" Hesham. Karima also urged the Public Prosecutors in Egypt to arrest Hesham and charge him with disrespecting Islam and to block his channel in Egypt. According to Sarah Leah Whitson, the Middle East and North Africa director of the Human Rights Watch, "Atheists are one of Egypt's least-protected minorities, although the constitution ostensibly guarantees freedom of belief and expression."
- Pope Francis Cautions Vatican Staff That an "Elegant Demon" Is Among Them
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/pope-francis-cautions-vatican-staff-elegant-demon-among-them
Location: Vatican
On December 22nd, in his annual Christmas greeting to the Roman Curia, Pope Francis warned cardinals, bishops, and priests working in the Holy See to beware of the devil that lurks among them. According to the Pope this demon is an “elegant demon” that works in people with a rigid and holier-than-thou attitude when living the Catholic faith. Pope Francis had used his Christmas addresses to reprimand the clergy annually, replicating the experience of a Jesuit-style “examination of conscience.” This year’s address was no different in tone, repeating his critique of different kinds of abuse that even the most religious commit. He told the Vatican bureaucrats that by living in the heart of the Catholic Church, “we could easily fall into the temptation of thinking we are safe, better than others, no longer in need of conversion.” He also used the word “we” many times, therefore including himself in the list of people who should be conscious of the devil in their midst.
- Polygamist Mormon 'Prophet' Caught Transporting Underage Girls in Trailer
Location: Arizona, USA
On August 28th, 46-year-old Samuel Rappylee Bateman, was arrested by local authorities in Arizona for abusing underage girls. The FBI accused Bateman of being a polygamous cult leader with at least 20 wives, many of whom were minors. The reports said that Bateman beat up those who did not greet him as a prophet and engaged in child sex trafficking with the help of his several wives. Bateman was defiant, saying he committed sexual acts against minors in “Heavenly Father’s will.” Authorities have also charged three women, Naomi Bistline, Donnae Barlow, and Moretta Rose Johnson, for kidnapping eight underage girls. Bateman is currently detained in Florence, Arizona, and awaits a trial scheduled for January 10. Aside from accusations of child abuse, he’s also facing charges of destroying evidence, which could carry a 20-year prison sentence. Adam K. Zickerman, Bateman’s attorney, defended him and said that the case revolved around religious persecution.
- Extremist Anti-Abortion Catholic Priest Defrocked For "Blasphemous" Posts
Location: United States of America
Recently, Catholic priest Frank Pavone, a staunch anti-abortion advocate, was defrocked by the Vatican over “blasphemous communications on social media” and “persistent disobedience” to his bishop, who persistently asked him to stop his partisan activism for former US President Donald Trump. The decision to remove Pavone from his position had already been made on November 9th. He was not given a chance for an appeal. Back in 2016, Pavone’s former diocese of Amarillo, Texas, had already investigated Pavone for placing an aborted fetus in an altar and posting a video of it on two social media websites. Pavone accompanied the video with a post arguing that Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party would allow abortion to continue. At the same time, Donald Trump and the Republican Party would protect the life of the unborn. In response to the decision to defrock him, Pavone tweeted, “So in every profession, including the priesthood, if you defend the #unborn, you will be treated like them! The only difference is that when we are ‘aborted,’ we continue to speak, loud and clear.”
- Barbados Decriminalizes Gay Sex!
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/barbados-decriminalizes-gay-sex
Location: Barbados
Recently, The High Court of Barbados has decriminalized gay sex making it the third Caribbean nation to decriminalize gay sex this year! The two laws that were repealed were put in place during the British colonization. One of these laws stated men found guilty of engaging in consensual gay sex could be put behind bars for life. The second law stated that so-called “unnatural offenses” for both men and women could result in ten years in prison with hard labor. Téa Braun, the Chief Executive of Human Dignity Trust, a human rights organization, said, "The striking down of these laws doesn't solve all problems, of course," and "The dismantling of these laws is the first major step, but not the last step." Kenita Placide, the Executive Director of the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality, Inc (ECADE), said, "We really take this win as a stepping stone to ensuring access to justice."
- What We’ve Done to Support Iranian Protesters & How You Can Help!
Atheist Republic is thrilled to announce the official launch of a new project: Operation Iranian Renaissance. Operation Iranian Renaissance (OpIrRen) aims to create easy to understand tools for the Iranian people to equip themselves with practical knowledge for maximizing safety while fighting for their rights. There is a wealth of knowledge shared amongst demonstrators on how to protest safely, but unfortunately there is very little of this content available in the Persian language. Operation Iranian Renaissance has already produced protest Persian-language safety guides and tutorials for treating bleeding & bullet wounds. But there is a lot more work to be done, including:
- Guides for creating self-protective equipment like helmets and goggles.
- Instructions on how to defend oneself against tear gas and police brutality.
- Templates for Iranians with dual citizenship to contact their local and national representatives and pressure them to implement foreign-policy changes that bring about a liberal and prosperous future for Iran.
- And much more!
We need your help. Please help us accumulate the resources and manpower to support freedom fighters. You can discover more about the project and donate at https://www.opirren.com/
