Maryam Namazie

Author's details

Name: Maryam Namazie
Date registered: November 2, 2011
URL: http://www.maryamnamazie.com

Biography

This is my personal blog. Any comments made by me here are my own and don't reflect the various campaigns I work on (unless of course they are attributed to those campaigns). Some of my activities include being Spokesperson of the One Law for All Campaign against Sharia Law in Britain, the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain and Equal Rights Now - Organisation against Women's Discrimination in Iran. I work closely with Iran Solidarity, which I founded, and the International Committee against Stoning on the Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani stoning case amongst others. I am very much on the Left and am Central Committee member of the Worker-communist Party of Iran. Some of my other affiliations are: National Secular Society Honorary Associate and the NSS' 2005 Secularist of the Year award winner; Vice President of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association; Honorary Associate of Rationalist International; and Emeritus member of the Secular Humanist League of Brazil. I was also selected one of the top 45 women of the year 2007 by Elle magazine Quebec. Feel free to comment on any entry and I'll try to respond as soon as possible.

Latest posts

  1. Away until 22 May 2013 — May 15, 2013
  2. Message from Imad: In Mickey Mouse we Trust — May 15, 2013
  3. I support International Imad Day — May 15, 2013
  4. Evening drinks in London with Gita Sahgal — May 9, 2013
  5. Today’s Altab Ali Day 2013 — May 4, 2013

Most commented posts

  1. Nude Photo Revolutionary Calendar is Here! — 193 comments
  2. Malaysia must pay for this and Saudi Arabia too: Hamza must live — 170 comments
  3. 4 April 2013: International Day to Defend Amina; she represents us — 149 comments
  4. You can expect threats if you discuss Sharia — 143 comments
  5. It’s his culture; he can’t shake your hand — 129 comments

Author's posts listings

Mar 20 2013

Happy Nowruz!

noruz

It’s Nowruz today. Nowruz marks the first day of spring and is celebrated amongst Iranians, Afghans, Kurds and others. Below is my take on the Nowruz table, which needs to have 7 things beginning with S (Haft Sin). Mine is basically made up of anything I could get my hands on. There’s a wooden fish …

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Mar 19 2013

Amina represents me

amina

An Islamist preacher says 19 year old Tunisian Amina (FEMEN Tunisia) who posted a topless photo of herself bearing the slogan “my body belongs to me, and is not the source of anyone’s honour” deserves to be stoned to death. A lawyer has said she may face up to 2 years’ imprisonment and fines as a …

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Mar 19 2013

I could have told you that

anti-Muslim Brotherhood banners during a demonstration in Cairo

You must have seen the Muslim Brotherhood statement against a UN Commission declaration against violence against women? The Brotherhood outlines a very, very long list of objections, including what it says is the granting of “girls their complete sexual freedom, as well as the freedom to choose their sex and the freedom to choose their …

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Mar 19 2013

A life free from fear

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Today is the one year anniversary of a sit-in of Iranian asylum seekers in Wurtzburg, Germany which turned into a sort of tent city after the tragic suicide of Iranian asylum seeker Mohammad Rahsepar. That protest kick-started the refugee tent movement in Germany which has helped to highlight the horrendous plight of asylum seekers. In Germany and …

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Mar 19 2013

Iran: Six worker activists arrested; Families stage protests for their release

iwfu-nominated

In the past ten days, six worker activists have been arrested in the city of Sanandaj in the west of Iran, according to reports by the Free Union of Iranian Workers. The six jailed workers are: • Vafa Ghaderi • Seyed Khaled Hosseini • Ali Azadi • Behzad Farajollahi • Hamed Mahmoud Nejad • Sharif …

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Mar 19 2013

Appeal to the authorities of Kurdistan to reverse the death penalty for Kouistane Sediq

ECPM and Iraqi Coalition Statement (1)

Kouistane Sediq is at danger of being hanged in Iraq after being sentenced to death by the court of Kalar for murdering her husband. She is imprisoned in the jail of Salam in Sulaymaniyah and shares a cell with six other women also sentenced to death. Kouistane, a mother of four, has not been allowed …

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Mar 18 2013

A few words on the new pope

jorge-bergoglio-papa-francisco-i (1)

Talking about similarities, there are clearly many between those who take on leadership positions in the church as in Islam. It seems the more your hands are soaked in blood, the more likely you are to get a leading position. It’s definitely like that in the Islamic regime of Iran. As it is in the …

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Mar 18 2013

Yes I dare: On the EDL

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Leslie Seavor has emailed me saying: How dare you insult the EDL on Twitter! You know nothing about it or its members. I’m a member. I’m not far right… Just keep your moronic prejudice to yourself. Well yes, I dare. There is ample evidence that the English Defence League (EDL) is a far-Right racist organisation. Even …

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Mar 18 2013

A few calls for help

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Protest executions in Iran Kamil Alboshoka, a human geography student at Kingston University has asked that I publicise his campaign to defend 5 Ahwazi Arabs facing execution in Iran, including members of his family and friends.  Mohammad Ali Amouri, Sayed Jaber Alboshoka and his brother Sayed Mokhtar Alboshoka, and teachers Hashem Sha’bani Amouri, and Hadi Rashidi (or Rashedi) are charged with “enmity …

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Mar 18 2013

A lesson on sex-segregation with more work to be done

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UPDATE: Peter Tatchell just sent information on Islamists being blocked from meeting at East London University after protests; their meeting was meant to be segregated too. Read more here. I had earlier reported on the sex segregation scandal at University College London (UCL)  during a March 9 debate between atheist Lawrence Krauss and Islamist Hamza Andreas …

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Mar 17 2013

Breaking the Taboo of Atheism in Black Communities

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Leo Igwe, Nigeria’s most prominent human rights activist particularly well known for his work against superstition and witchcraft will be giving a ground-breaking talk on ‘Breaking the Taboo of Atheism in Black Communities’ at a talk organised by London Black Atheists. Here are details if you can make it: Date: Monday 25th March Time: 6.30pm …

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Mar 15 2013

That day has now come and gone

irantribunal

Following a ruling from The Hague in February 2013, where the Islamic Republic of Iran was charged with crimes against humanity for its gross violations of human rights during 1980-1988, Iran Tribunal is holding a meeting in London today at 3pm with witnesses, victims and survivors to raise public awareness and bolster public support for justice. …

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Mar 15 2013

International day of action to defend apostates and blasphemers a success

More than three hundred individuals and organisations called for an international day of action on 14 March to defend those accused of apostasy and blasphemy. Blasphemy laws in over 30 countries and apostasy laws in over 20 aim primarily to restrict thought, expression and the rights of Muslims, ex-Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Countless women, men and …

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Mar 14 2013

Neither Allah nor Master

NadiaElfani

Very often apostasy and blasphemy cases that are highlighted are of men though there are some well known atheist women from the Middle East and North Africa who have courageously challenged Islamism and defended secularism. Everyone knows a few (very few) of them – like Taslima Nasreen, Mina Ahadi and Ayaan Hirsi Ali. But there are …

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Mar 14 2013

Apostasy and Blasphemy are our Right!

Waleed_Al_Husseini

Final Updated: 15 March 22:30 hours In less than 48 hours, more than three hundred individuals and organisations signed up to the call for action to defend apostates and blasphemers. Individuals included Iranian Campaigner Mina Ahadi, Lebanese writer and actress Darina al Joundi, Algerian author Djemila Benhabib, Scientists Richard Dawkins and Laurence Krauss, Moroccan atheist …

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Mar 14 2013

There is no god

Maryam_Namazie_Shahada

Here is my contribution to mark 14 March 2013: International Day to Defend Apostates and Blasphemers:  

Mar 13 2013

The good God of wrath, death, and fatwa

Tomorrow is the International Day to Defend Apostates and Blasphemers. On 14 March, take a few minutes if not more to do something, anything, to highlight the issue and defend the women, men and children facing threats, intimidation and execution. It could be art, a short piece of writing, a quote, a photo, a cartoon, an …

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Mar 12 2013

14 March 2013: International Day to Defend Apostates and Blasphemers

Alber Saber

Countless individuals accused of apostasy and blasphemy face threats, imprisonment, and execution. Blasphemy laws in over 30 countries and apostasy laws in over 20 aim primarily to restrict thought, expression and the rights of Muslims, ex-Muslims and non-Muslims alike. On 14 March 2013, we, the undersigned, call for an international day of action to defend …

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Mar 11 2013

Don’t worry, Chavez will return!

Chavez-Drawn-By-Ahmadinejad-by-Mana-Neyestani

Those mourning Chavez shouldn’t worry. According to Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Chavez is a martyr who will return with the hidden imam. In case you don’t know, the hidden imam never died; he’s hiding and will return to “bring peace and justice to the world”. Yes, really! Most importantly, when he returns, he will be …

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Mar 11 2013

Islamist group banned from UCL for gender apartheid

Earlier I reported on how the Islamic Education and Research Academy, an Islamist front, had segregated women and men at a March 9 debate on Islam and Atheism. I also posted a statement by students who were there about the scandal and a statement by the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. After receiving complaints about sex …

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