Tag Archives: Maryam Namazie

Taking The Myth – 29 Feb 2016 Edition

This week on Taking The Myth, Stephen Knight and A Scotsman Abroad discuss the big topics. We talk about: Episode 77 of The #GSPodcast, The Catholic Church refusing to make reporting abusers mandatory, Sam Harris Vs. Maryam Namazie on The Waking Up Podcast and Salman Rushdie’s fatwa. Also, Nathan Lean is definitely a coward, but is he a Muslim? And of course, The ASLAN Awards and more!

Also available on iTunes and Stitcher.

Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/gspellchecker

Listeners get a free audiobook and trial with Audible at http://www.audibletrial.com/gs



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Maryam Namazie on Sam Harris’s Waking Up Podcast

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Earlier this week, I released a podcast interview with a Muslim convert from Boston. In nearly two hours of discussion, I was unable to get them to reveal why they converted, or what they believe about Islam. It was a truly fruitless experience, but I took comfort in the knowledge that I had a strong claim for the most frustrating podcast ever inflicted on the universe. Then Sam Harris released his discussion with Maryam Namazie, as you can hear below:

What the hell happened there then?

I’ve interviewed both Sam and Maryam, and I’m truly grateful for their work. In a world where many think they can just slap ‘activist’ in their Twitter profile and call it a day, Maryam is a true activist in every sense of the word, whose compassion and concern for human rights is palpable.

One of the reasons I enjoy Sam’s output so much is because it covers a huge range of topics, from religion, self defence, violence, meditation, airport security, gun control and more. I always learn something.

I was aware of the shots fired between them (namely over the issue of profiling) before going into this conversation and I was looking forward to some common ground finding, or some opinion changing.

It seems two different conversations were taking place here though. Sam wanted to speak about specific issues and Maryam responded by talking generally about Human Rights. I find this particularly disappointing considering Maryam uses terms like ‘bigot’ and ‘racist’ to describe views like Harris’s, yet doesn’t seem keen to detail the reasons that led her there.

This feels like a missed opportunity. I’m also seeing some bizarre tribal side taking (and abuse) online in response to this discussion. Which is very silly (and unnecessary). I for one see no issues with acknowledging the differences between them, yet continuing to support the great work they are both doing in the fight against theocratic fascism.

I’d be keen to get your thoughts in the comments.

Stephen Knight is host of The #GSPodcast. You can listen to The Godless Spellchecker Podcast here, and support it by becoming a patron here.

Goldsmiths Student Union Fail To Make Any Conclusions In Their ‘Conclusion’

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At the tail end of last month it was reported that Maryam Namazie was subjected to harassment and intimidation by members of The Islamic Society during a planned talk at Goldsmiths University. Video footage arrived shortly after confirming these reports to be true. Goldsmiths Student Union promised an investigation on the 3rd of December, however alarm bells began to ring when instead of immediately condemning the inexcusable behaviour documented in the video –  the Student Union demanded the removal of the footage, in what appears to be a cynical attempt at damage control. Read more

Taking The Myth – 12 Dec Edition

This week on Taking The Myth, Stephen Knight and A Scotsman Abroad discuss the big topics with guest callers. We talk about the appalling treatment of Maryam Namazie at Goldsmiths University by the Islamic Society. We talk the equally awful reaction to it. We share our thoughts on Donald Trump and have a disagreement about teaching humanism in schools. Plus The ASLAN Awards return! A Scotsman Abroad also blames something on religion.

Also available on iTunes and Stitcher.

Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/gspellchecker

Listeners get a free audiobook and trial with Audible at http://www.audibletrial.com/gs



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Muhammed Patel Steps Down From ISOC: What They Must Do Next

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Since Human Rights Activist Maryam Namazie was the target of disruption and intimidation at Goldsmiths University at the hands of Islamist bullies – I’ve been following new developments with great interest.

The latest in this saga sees Muhammed Patel step down as President of the Islamic Society at Goldsmiths according to a statement from ISOC. I’ve documented his questionable associations here previously.

What prompted this step down? It came as a surprise to absolutely no-one when homophobic tweets said to belong to Mr Patel were uncovered. The Twitter account in question has now been deleted, but the internet never forgets:

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The LGBT and Feminist societies who jumped to offer ISOC their solidarity have been strangely silent on these findings.

As is clear from this latest ISOC statement, they are still portraying themselves as the victims in this sorry debacle. Unfortunately for them, video of the event has gone viral. Hundreds of thousands of people have now witnessed the appalling way in which their members behaved. This has also been covered on mainstream news platforms and by prominent free speech organisations.

I’m not sure the ISOC ‘brothers’ quite understand what is happening here. They have thrown the reputation of Goldsmiths university into question on a national, possibly international scale. The heads a Goldsmiths will not be fond of that and will be forced to act. In short, ISOC brothers are not fighting for the reputation of their society, but for their future in higher education. I have two suggestions for action which are well overdue:

1. They should issue an unconditional apology to Maryam Namazie for disrupting her talk and creating an intimidating environment for her and the other students. They should also confirm that this will never happen again.

2. They should confirm that they understand and support free speech – which includes the right to draw cartoons of Muhammad. Or criticise Islamic doctrine and the behaviour of some of its adherents.

These things are unlikely to happen of course, because they are the right thing to do and ISOC have failed to demonstrate a capacity for it thus far. Given their irredeemable character and the embarrassment they have brought their University, I don’t imagine the future looks good for them.

Stephen Knight is host of The #GSPodcast. You can listen to The Godless Spellchecker Podcast here, and support it by becoming a patron here.

Now Goldsmiths #LGBT Society Stands With Islamist Bullies

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Thanks to released video footage, there can be no remaining doubt that Maryam Namazie was subjected to intimidation and general thuggish behaviour during her Goldsmiths University talk by members of The Islamic Society (ISOC). It’s now also clear that ISOC lied about what happened too.

Bizarrely, Goldsmiths Feminist Society then came out not in support of the minority female whom male ISOC bullies attempted to silence, but in support of the aggressors themselves. This catastrophic failure to reason had many asking: “Is it possible to be more morally confused than this?”

As if mistaking this rhetorical incredulity for a challenge, Goldsmiths LGBT Society released a statement in support of ISOC’s thuggish Islamists too. Amazingly, they did this after watching the video footage.

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