Anti-ScienceFeminismQuickiesReligionSkepticism

Global Quickies: First Female Bishop, Conviction for FGM, and Astrological Elections

(TW for sexual violence in the last item)

EL SALVADOR
A woman charged with murder for delivering a stillborn baby alone has been pardoned, but at least 16 other women are currently serving 30-to-40 year sentences in Salvadoran jails for similar cases. El Salvador has one of the strongest anti-abortion laws in the world, and hospital staff is required to report suspected abortions to the police.

EGYPT
“An Egyptian doctor has been convicted of the manslaughter of a girl who died after an illegal female genital mutilation procedure.”

UK
“Male domination in the leadership of the Church of England is coming to an end, as the 500-year-old institution consecrates its first female bishop.

TURKEY
“A Turkish court has ordered Facebook to block a number of pages deemed insulting to the Prophet Mohammad, threatening to stop access to the whole social networking site if it does not comply”.

SRI LANKA
President Mahinda Rajapaksa was told by his personal astrologer to call an early election and lost. The astrologer speculates that the opponent’s horoscope was more powerful than the president’s.

CHILE
“Chilean lawmakers on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that recognizes civil unions between same-sex couples. The legislation will now go to President Michelle Bachelet next, who is expected to sign it.”

INDIA
“An Indian state is trying to promote inter-caste marriages by offering a cash incentive.” “Inter-caste marriages are still considered taboo in India, and there have been cases of couples being murdered by their own families – so-called honor killings – as a result of mixed relationships.”

SAUDI ARABIA
“A ‘celebrity’ Saudi preacher accused of raping, torturing and killing his five-year-old daughter has reportedly been released from custody after agreeing to pay ‘blood money’.”

Featured image: Buddhist statue in the former capital city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka. Christophe Menebœuf

Daniela

Born and raised in Mexico City, Daniela has finally decided to abdicate her post as an armchair skeptic and start doing some skeptical activism. She is currently living in Spain after having lived in the US, Brazil and Italy. You can also find her blogging in Spanish at esceptica.org.

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