Brian Pellot
Brian Pellot is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
All Stories by Brian Pellot
DEBATE: Should male circumcision require the snipped’s adult consent?
By Brian Pellot — December 5, 2014
The CDC plans to encourage male circumcision for babies, boys, teens and men, asserting that the procedure can reduce their risk of contracting HIV and other STIs from women. Heteronormative presumptions aside here, should the snip require personal consent?
Why won’t Aung San Suu Kyi say the word ‘Rohingya’? (COMMENTARY)
By Brian Pellot — December 4, 2014
YANGON, Myanmar (RNS) Remaining silent on one of today’s gravest humanitarian crises risks fully compromising Aung San Suu Kyi's credibility and status as an internationally respected stateswoman.
Détente on Christmas * Beard passes * Christ Bless Mississippi: Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — December 4, 2014
This month's religious freedom news and views from around the world. Read with caution. Prozac optional.
When will Aung San Suu Kyi break her calculated silence on Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis?
By Brian Pellot — December 3, 2014
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate is pushing 70. Her hopes for a shot at Myanmar’s presidency next year seem lost. Will Aung San Suu Kyi finally speak up for her country’s persecuted and stateless Rohingya minority in 2015?
Indonesia’s ‘virginity tests’ don’t weed out prostitutes, they violate human rights
By Brian Pellot — December 1, 2014
Two-finger and hymen tests are flawed, misguided, degrading and discriminatory. Meh, says Indonesia, administering them to female police and military recruits.
Myanmar journalists draft Religion Newswriters Resolution on Covering Religious Freedom and Conflict
By Brian Pellot — November 19, 2014
Religion Newswriters assembled 15 journalists, editors and media professionals from across Myanmar for an intensive training course on how best to cover religious freedom and conflict. Here’s the resolution they bring back to their newsrooms.
Brittany Maynard dies * ISIS crucifies teen * Sneaky bat mitzvah: October’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — November 3, 2014
Brittany Maynard ends her life. ISIS fighters crucify a Syrian teen for taking photos. And Women of the Wall host a sneaky bat mitzvah in Jerusalem. This and more in this month’s recap.
Puppy petting event prompts death threats in Malaysia
By Brian Pellot — October 23, 2014
An event aimed at teaching Muslims how to properly pet dogs has bred controversy in religiously diverse Malaysia, highlighting deeply rooted tensions among moderate, conservative and minority viewpoints.
The road to sedition: Malaysia and Myanmar crackdown on dissent
By Brian Pellot — October 21, 2014
On my (lack of) freedom trail across Asia, fresh sedition and defamation charges are pressuring journalists and activists to self-censor government criticism or face hefty consequences.
Under God * Statue porn * Incest rights?: September’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — October 2, 2014
From church-state battles in America to religious freedom news around the world. Catch up on last month’s dirt, now with more snark.
On International Blasphemy Rights Day, I stand with Raif Badawi and against Saudi Arabia
By Brian Pellot — September 30, 2014
Last year a Saudi court convicted Raif Badawi of “insulting Islam” for setting up a website to foster open discussion of religion. He now faces 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes. Badawi is one of many victims of victimless thought crimes who need our support.
Facebook, Twitter and Google back Anti-Defamation League’s 10 best practices for challenging cyberhate
By Brian Pellot — September 29, 2014
Online hatred takes many forms, including anti-Semitism, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia and Islamophobia. Internet companies and the Anti-Defamation League are teaming up to fight these and other forms of intolerance. Will it work?
All Hail Satan, First Amendment Champ
By Brian Pellot — September 24, 2014
Satanic school books, black masses, statues and protests remind us where church-state lines should be drawn in America and highlight the need to protect unpopular speech.
Why I stopped saying America’s Pledge of Allegiance
By Brian Pellot — September 9, 2014
Atheists launched a “Don’t Say the Pledge” campaign on Monday to protest the phrase “under God.” I stopped saying the Pledge in my tweens for more reasons than one.
James Foley and Steven Sotloff were martyrs for freedom, not faith
By Brian Pellot — September 4, 2014
The Islamic State beheaded freelance journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff for their American passports and media credentials, not for their faiths. Falsely portraying the men as religious martyrs cheapens their legacies as truthseekers.
