Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning “confesses” killing her husband on Iranian TV
For several weeks the world has watched the unfolding case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani in outrage. Originally sentenced to death by stoning for adultery, she has now appeared on a major Iranian television network, apparently to confess to her involvement in the murder of her husband and his cousin. ‘Appeared’ is not quite the right term though: Sakineh’s face was blurred and her voice dubbed, raising doubts that the person speaking was even her. Her lawyer maintains that it was, but also that she was “severely beaten up and tortured until she accepted to appear in front of camera”.
Read Al Jazeera’s coverage here.
Watch the BBC News coverage here.
[Via Atheist Media Blog]
Faith School Menace
Richard Dawkins’ latest documentary Faith School Menace? examines the role of faith schools in Britain as the coalition government rolls out it’s ‘free schools’ initiative. Through a series of interviews with politicians, teachers and children, Dawkins reveals the depressing realities of faith schools’ discrimination between and indoctrination of children in Britain. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has called for a full parliamentary inquiry into faith schools following the program.
Watch Faith School Menace here. (Unfortunately this video is only available to UK viewers).
[Via Richard Dawkins]
NHS ‘alternative therapy’ blast
We all know how tough it is to find jobs in this economic climate, so how would you react if I told you of one that pays £68,000 a year, only requires you to work for two days a week, and demands no expertise whatsoever. The position: ‘Specialty Doctor in Homeopathy’ for NHS Tayside. Sure they may be cutting 500 jobs in the next year, but you don’t need to feel bad; you won’t be the only one applying.
Read the Express’ coverage here.
From blasphemy to blasphemy rights
Last year the Centre for Inquiry (CFI) celebrated ‘International Blasphemy Day’, a day intended to promote free speech, but which some abused, using it as an excuse to mindlessly insult faith and religion. This year the CFI have rebranded the holiday ‘International Blasphemy Rights Day’ in the hope that attention will be focused on the serious issues surrounding blasphemy and the right to free speech, at home and abroad.
Read more here.
Visit the ‘International Blasphemy Rights Day’ Facebook page here.
[Via Friendly Atheist]
Drug firms hiding negative research are unfit to experiment on people
This week the drug company AstraZeneca settled a class action for £125m after more than 17,500 patients claimed it had withheld information showing that a schizophrenia drug could cause diabetes. AstraZeneca’s publications manager has admitted to the company’s burying of data in a past study concerning the drug, while publishing the positive findings.
Read Ben Goldacre’s article in the Guardian here.
Last Catholic adoption agency faces closure after Charity Commission ruling
This week it was adoption agency Catholic Care’s turn to bend over and take a court ruling up the backside, as the Charity Commission rejected their request to turn away gay couples on the basis of their sexuality. Earlier this year a High Court judge ordered that their case for homophobia be considered, making Catholic Care the last Catholic adoption agency not to have been forced to close down or disassociate with the Church. It would be so easy to end on a joke, but I’m bigger than that.
Read the Telegraph’s coverage here.
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