3 Oct 2011 | Uncategorized
Gainesville continues to be the battleground for a debate about Islamophobia and free speech in the United States, thanks to the Dove World Outreach Centre, which has its headquarters in the Florida city. Pastor Terry Jones first brought international attention to the centre when he threatened to burn a Koran on the anniversary of 9/11 in 2010. More recently, the centre has been involved in a court case against the Alachua County school board, after student members of the church were sent home for wearing T-shirts saying “Islam is of the devil”. According to Senior District Judge Stephan Mickle, the decision to send home the students does not violate their First Amendment rights, and he said that the message was “confrontational” and “not conducive to civil discourse on religious issues”. On the other hand, Pastor Wayne Sapp was surprised by the ruling, saying he felt that the case was a clear violation of the rights of the students.
The Dove World Outreach Centre actually seems to be a small group of attention-seeking loons, not unlike the Westboro Baptist Church. My attitude towards both organisations is the same: let them express themselves.
At the time of the 9/11 attacks, I was a hijab-wearing student at an American high school. In the few days following the attacks, I remember a few of us complaining about students wearing anti-Osama Bin Laden T-shirts because we were afraid of backlash against Muslim students. Rather than questioning our fear, the administration made the students change their shirts. Looking back, I disagree with the teenage version of myself. I did not feel safer when “controversial” perspectives were not brought up in class and I watched my school become more segregated and tense. Instead, my school should have made more of an effort to create a dialogue and, more importantly, make students like myself feel safe enough to be normal students free to express our opinions.
Gainesville will not have to worry about the Dove World Outreach Centre casting a negative light on the town for much longer. The centre is relocating from the 20-acre property and 20-30 younger members of the church will be moving to a different county. So Gainesville can return to being well known for university football and Gatorade rather than a man with a handlebar moustache and threats to burn Korans.
3 Oct 2011 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Bahrain’s National Safety Court has handed 15 year sentences to protesters in two different cases involving University of Bahrain. In one case, the court gave 15 years in prison to 15 individuals that were participating in protests and vandalism at University of Bahrain, and they were convicted of attempted murder of military personnel during the unrest. In another case, six university students were also sentenced to 15 years in prison for allegedly being involved with the protests. A seventh student was charged with attempted murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
3 Oct 2011 | Uncategorized
The controversial play Saved by Edward Bond is set to be performed in London later this month. The play, which hasn’t been staged in the capital in 25 years, will feature at the Lyric Hammersmith throughout October.
Initially staged in 1965 at the Royal Court Theatre, the piece — which has rarely been performed — explores the lives of a working-class family and a group of young thugs in south London. There was uproar when it was refused a license by the Lord Chamberlain in the 60s. Particularly opposed to the scene in which the thugs stoned a baby to death, the Lord Chamberlain decreed it inappropriate, and critics were disgusted.
The theatre went underground, staging the production in a private club performance, attempting to sneak through a legal loophole, but it was unsuccessful and the Royal Court was prosecuted. During the court case, Laurence Olivier led the theatre community to defend theatrical freedom, supporting the theory that theatre must address current problems. The Royal Court lost the case, but the court case and the scandal in which the theatre and the play found themselves is widely regarded as the fundamental turning point for the abolition of stage censorship, which occurred in 1968.
Director Sean Holmes’ take on the play is described by the Lyric Hammersmith as “a disturbing and visionary account of life in the modern city”.
“Saved” will run at Lyric Hammersmith from 06 October – 05 November 2011
3 Oct 2011 | Index Index, minipost
Forty people have been arrested in Moscow during a gay pride rally. The rally, which took place on 1 October was one of the few gay rights events which had been approved by authorities. Participants in the rally found themselves faced with protesters, some of whom threw tomatoes at them. Authorities are trying to work out how many of those arrested were involved in the rally, and how many were trying to stop it. Attempts to hold gay pride marches in Russian cities in the past have been blocked by police, church activists and football fans. The arrests follow reports that Russia’s Arkhangelsk region has adopted a draft law banning all events promoting homosexuality, including Gay Pride marches.
