Global Quickies: Blasphemy, Deadly Rituals, and Calling Out Sexism

UK
A couple is sentenced for making fake bomb detectors in their garden shed. They sold them for thousands of dollars. These and other “detectors” are still being used in war zones, drug wars, and against poachers.

CHILE
A 7 year-old girl was drowned by her family while trying to perform a healing ritual with cold water in the tub. The ritual was suggested by a Pastor.

UK
The number of cases of religious or ritualistic abuse of children reported to Scotland Yard has increased year-on-year over the past decade.

IRELAND
Ireland will hold a referendum to remove the crime of blasphemy from its constitution. The offence is punishable by a fine of up to 30 thousand dollars, but before the law was changed five years ago, blasphemy could have led to up to 7 years in prison. Church of Ireland urges caution.

SINGAPORE
The Education Ministry announced that a workshop on managing relationships for junior college students given by the Christian charity Focus on the Family Singapore will “cease its run by end-2014”. This came after a student wrote an awesome letter to her principal calling the course sexist and promoting gender stereotypes. The letter went viral and a successful online petition was started.

POLAND
The head of the Polish Episcopate has said that couples living together prior to marriage are committing ‘self-mutilation of their love.’ Also, men who clean up after themselves might become gay.

BOLIVIA
In Bolivia, one of the most dangerous countries for women in Latin America, activists have been campaigning to get sexist politicians to abandon their campaigns for the upcoming elections. So far, two candidates for congress accused of domestic violence have dropped off the race.

TURKEY (From Hans)
Gentlemen, stop pondering women’s clothing choices: Cool article about how society controls what women wear. “Anyone can wear whatever he or she wants. And what is up to you is to shut up.”

INDIA
“Women’s groups in the southern Indian state of Kerala have criticized the legendary singer KJ Yesudas for saying women should not wear jeans.”

Featured image: Pages from the Focus On The Family Singapore booklet taken by Agatha Tan.