Skepticism

Global Quickies: Lizard people, bigots, and breaking taboos in Iran


IRAN

Maryam Namazie and a group of activists originally from Iran want to start Bread and Roses – a weekly taboo-breaking, freethinking political-social TV magazine in Persian and English broadcast in Iran and the Middle East as well as globally via satellite TV and social media. They’ve set up an Indiegogo page so you can help them out.

NEW ZEALAND
Prime Minister John Key is not a reptilian alien, and he has the doctor’s note to prove it. After a citizen posted the question via an Official Information Act request, Key had himself checked by a doctor and a veterinarian to confirm that he was not, in fact, a lizard from outer space.

SYRIA
A girl was stoned to death for having a Facebook account, which was deemed immoral and deserving of the same punishment as adultery.

MALDIVES
With a new president, the country is returning to religious conservatism. His top priorities set for 2014 include blocking all religions except Islam in the nation, ensuring that all laws and regulations adhere to Islamic principles and developing and strengthening the Islamic Fiqh Academy to issue fatwas.

RUSSIA
Two Pussy Riot members and an Italian trans* legislator were arrested in Sochi this week. Police claim that the Pussy Riot band members, plus a group of people including journalists, were detained for questioning in connection with a theft in their hotel. Vladimir Luxuria, the first openly trans* legislator in Europe and gay rights activist, was arrested for holding a “Gay is Okay” banner.

KUWAIT
A man was sentenced to 1 year in prison for posting opinions and being sarcastic on the internet, insulting the prophet, and calling for atheism.

GAMBIA
Anti-gay rhetoric continues throughout Africa. This week Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, called LGBT people “vermin” to be fought against like malaria-causing mosquitoes.

Featured image: Vladimir Luxuria’s Twitter (@vladiluxuria). The tweet can be translated as: I am at Sochi! Saying hello with the colors of the rainbow, in Putin’s face!

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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One Comment

  1. Well, obviously his doctor’s a reptilian alien too. Isn’t that how these things always go?

    (Also, am I missing something that Facebook is the same as adultery?)

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