free speech – SEDAA

An open letter to Maajid Nawaz: on Islamism, Charlie Hebdo and free speech

27th October 202028th October 2020 admin

By Khadija Khan Dear Maajid, First of all, I would like to acknowledge that you have long been an inspiration to many people from Muslim backgrounds, who were keen to reconcile their religious beliefs with human rights. I personally respect you for your thought provoking and remarkable contribution to the debate around the Islamist ideology and how this has influenced people (sometimes vulnerable) in committing atrocities around the world in the name of Islam. A few years ago, you faced death threats after tweeting a cartoon of Muhammad…

The media highlights ‘terrorism’ but not bee stings: an interview with Mo Dawah

17th August 2017 admin

The last few decades have seen a rise in Islamism, a political movement that favors reordering government and society in accordance with laws prescribed by Islam. More recently we have also seen a rise in the far right and white nationalist movements. Sedaa interviewed Mo Dawah, a community leader, intersectional jihadi and Machete-Secretary of the Beheading Civil Rights org DECAP, to give an analysis on these two movements and what it means for Western civilisation. As Britain’s most important inter-sectional religious supremacist and progressive jihadi contextualiser, what are your feelings…

“ISIS aren’t in England”

27th June 2017 admin

By Amina Lone My heart goes out to the families of the people killed by evil madmen. I am angry, despairing and hopeful. My English resolve keep calm and carry on kicks in. But we must do something. It’s deeds not words time. My frustrations lies in our inability to be wise, balanced or mature. Some politicians, individuals and the media, whipped into a mass of hysteria, have hijacked the debate around extremism, counter- terrorism and security. The pendulum swings from ‘Lets put everyone back on boats and send…

Pakistan: Whither freedoms and whither rights?

13th October 201631st October 2018 admin

By Saima Baig On October 7, 2016, an article appeared in Pakistan’s Dawn Newspaper, alleging that in a civil military leadership meeting, the Government (prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother and other senior officials were present) had told the military representatives that if they did not make more efforts to go after terrorists, Pakistan will be isolated. Journalist Cyril Almeida, one of the newspaper’s senior writers, had reported that an argument had taken place between members of the Pakistani government and the army over lack of action against militant groups,…

The likes of Nazimuddin Samad cannot die in vain

13th April 201629th March 2018 admin

By Malia B Nazimuddin Samad, a 28 year old law student, was brutally murdered on 7th April, 2016 by Islamists in Bangladesh. His ‘crime’ – being critical of Islamism. He is the sixth Bangladeshi atheist/secular blogger to be killed in the last 15 months. The horror of what happened to Nazimuddin has sadly become the norm these days. It is almost an accepted form of hatred and resultant crime because he was provoking the delicate Islamists in his nation. Some asked, what did he expect in return? He was being…

Is Charlie Hebdo ‘Islamophobic’ for echoing liberal Muslim voices?

11th April 20168th May 2017 admin

By Kunwar Khuldune Shahid For a publication that has published barely 10 editions satirising Islam in the past decade, Charlie Hebdo has earned its ‘Islamophobic’ label rather effortlessly. ‘Islamophobia’ even in its most liberal definition would at least imply prejudice against Islam, Muslims or any variation thereof. Accusing a magazine that has mocked Christianity thrice as many times in the same duration, and religion in general twice as much, of bias against Islam betrays – at the very least – bias against the publication. Maybe it’s because there weren’t…