free speech
Non-banned ‘banned’ books and Malaysia’s unjust Islamic justice system
By Brian Pellot — March 20, 2015
In May 2012, Malaysia’s religious authorities raided a bookstore and confiscated “Allah, Liberty and Love.” A store manager was charged for selling the "banned" book, which was only banned six days after the raid. Three years later and she’s still being hounded.
After Myanmar’s ‘Buddha headphones’ conviction, the worst may be yet to come
By Brian Pellot — March 18, 2015
Jail time and hard labor for sharing an image of the Buddha wearing headphones is a shocking violation of free speech. In Myanmar, I’m far from shocked.
U.S. Court rightly nixes Missouri ban on ‘profane, rude, indecent’ speech outside houses of worship
By Brian Pellot — March 10, 2015
On Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit declared Missouri’s 2012 House of Worship Protection Act unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds for its subjective ban on “profane discourse,” and “rude or indecent behavior.” Good call.
Satire won’t stop ISIS, but it’s an important start
By Brian Pellot — March 5, 2015
From the Middle East to Japan, satirists are standing up to the Islamic State with humor, wit and irreverence. These videos, cartoons and tweets are as silly as they are powerful, showing ISIS we won’t submit to its threat-based censorship.
Anti-Semitism * Anti-sex * Anti-women: February’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — March 2, 2015
Cold, short February was jam-packed with some mega atrocities on the religious freedom front. Count your lucky stars it's March, and hope for a better month ahead.
From Charlie Hebdo to the Redskins, newsworthiness must trump fear of offense
By Brian Pellot — February 25, 2015
Obscuring or omitting the very controversy that makes a story newsworthy--be it a Charlie Hebdo cover or the Washington Redskins’ name--does great disservice to our readers.
Condemning the obviously atrocious is a self-serving waste of time
By Brian Pellot — February 18, 2015
Advocacy and religious groups have rushed to condemn Copenhagen, Charlie Hebdo and Chapel Hill using rehashed boilerplates of their mission statements. Absent new information or productive solutions, these generic missives amount to self-serving press releases unworthy of our time.
Hate crime or parking spat, legal bullets killed Chapel Hill victims
By Brian Pellot — February 17, 2015
America’s Second Amendment and illegal firearms abroad too often deny others their rights to life, freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief.
Charlie fallout * Blasphemy * Everything else: January’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — February 2, 2015
New year, new RFR format. Let’s start with a look at how January’s big story played out internationally then spotlight new challenges to religious freedom and freedom of expression across the globe.
Al Mohler’s ‘erotic liberty’ is an offensive misnomer for LGBT rights
By Brian Pellot — January 22, 2015
Al Mohler’s “erotic liberty” has nothing to do with the porn industry. It’s an offensive stand-in for “LGBT rights” that reduces a fight for equality to mere animalism.
‘Friendly’ Pope Francis proves he’s no friend to free speech
By Brian Pellot — January 16, 2015
Religion is fair game for satirists. In suggesting that faith be protected from public scrutiny just because some consider it sacred or sensitive, Pope Francis negates the very essence and definition of free speech.
Porn star Mia Khalifa tackles death threats with humor after hijab sex scene
By Brian Pellot — January 9, 2015
The Lebanese-American adult actress, raised Christian, recently donned a hijab to get down and dirty. The stunt secured her porn star status while prompting a flood of threats and slut-shaming online. Now she’s responding to hatred with humor.
So what if Charlie Hebdo *is* racist? I’m still Charlie
By Brian Pellot — January 9, 2015
If you think #JeSuisCharlie means hating Muslims, gays, women and immigrants, you're missing the point.
#JeSuisCharlie: Why satire is sacred and the Charlie Hebdo massacre was sacrilege
By Brian Pellot — January 7, 2015
Fear, intimidation, even the ruthless slaughter of our colleagues must not stop satirists from scrutinizing, criticizing, challenging and mocking whatever they see fit. When fear forces censorship, fear wins.
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.
