A festival of the freethought movement – celebrating humanism, secularism, atheism and the ethical movement past and present is coming to Conway Hall. Weekend of 30 Aug/1Sept. Info and tickets 👇 conwayhall.org.uk/freethoughthis…

“Just as education for girls is banned, questioning it is also banned” —Taliban Minister of Education. Afghanistan is a living dystopia, yet the world turns a blind eye. Girls’ education faces permanent erasure. The world fell for their false promises. It’s time to WAKE UP.

Clear and obvious harms are caused by medically unnecessary circumcision. But as one parent points out in this piece, authorities are "scared to do anything because it's a religious issue". Religious privilege shouldn't impede child rights. secularism.org.uk/news/2024/08/p…

Feeble arguments for ritual #circumcision from John McGuirk 👇 “does not impact sexual function” ❌ “surely we should also ban ear-piercing” ❌ “If a child cannot consent to circumcision, then how can a child consent to baptism” ❌ gript.ie/circumcision-i…

Sorry to see this. The folks at Ekklesia have made a valuable contribution to public discourse, demonstrating that religious belief is perfectly compatible with secularist principles – and that personal faith can thrive without infringing on the rights and freedoms of others.

Sweden's commitment to free expression is being put to the test as Quran burners face trial for hate crimes. They stand accused of "agitation against an ethnic group". But surely Quran burnings target a book, a set of ideas, not people or individuals. dw.com/en/sweden-puts…

Nordmarka, Just twenty minutes from central #Oslo. Trail running heaven. So much to love about Norway 🇳🇴

Dissent is vital for progress. Dissenters and blasphemers challenges to dogmas have enabled freer, fairer, more equal, tolerant and secular societies. Great to be at and sponsor a conference dedicated to celebrating it. #CDOslo2024

At #CDOslo2024 I spoke on a panel on secularism as a cornerstone of free expression. I stressed the necessity of free speech to the flourishing of all other rights - and the need to protect the space to speak freely about religion. A need ex-Muslims here are acutely aware of.

Great to hear from Cemal Knudsen Yucel at #CDOlso2024. He used to be an Islamist in Turkey and now runs the Norwegian chapter of ex-Muslims. Incredible journey.

Poignant final session of #CDOslo2024 hearing from blasphemous women on the frontline of the fight for freedom of expression and all the other rights and freedoms that flow from that. Stark truth from Maryam Namazie مریم نمازی that even the fact of being a woman is an act of blasphemy.

New morality law affirms Taliban’s regressive agenda, experts call for concerted action | OHCHR ohchr.org/en/press-relea…

For Hindu fundamentalists the slaughter or consumption of cows is a form of #blasphemy. Grotesque and insane that in modern India people are being killed for a lack of reverence for gods. independent.co.uk/asia/india/har…

👍👏🏼👇🏽 The Lords Spiritual should go too. Unelected by The Church of England Unelected to Parliament. Representatives of a homophobic institution that puts L #LGBTQI+ lives at risk. Humanists UK National Secular Society

Good to hear Prince William is thinking of removing the monarchy's constitutional entanglement with religion. Defending outdated and absurd religious privilege shouldn't the role of a head of state in modern Britain. mirror.co.uk/news/royals/pr…

Great to see the Network of Sikh Organisations calling on the government not to incorporate the contested definition of Islamophobia into law. Completely agree. Doing so would create division and fundamentally undermine free expression.

We were honoured to speak at and sponsor #CelebratingDissent in Oslo last week. Inspiring to join with #ExMuslims to celebrate #secularism, #HumanRights and #FreeSpeech secularism.org.uk/news/2024/09/e… #CDOslo2024

Disappointing that the Labour Government hasn’t proposed ending the automatic right of Anglican bishops to sit in the Lords. Another sensible and long overdue measure. #EndReligiousPrivelege