Liberty depends on defending the freedoms of those who offend us
Only a robust defence of the right to be offended allows individuals to enjoy their own rights to self-expression.
James Brandon
The neo-cons are wrong: our use of torture is the problem, not the media’s coverage
Investigating, examining, debating – and if necessary prosecuting – crimes done in our name is not a threat to democracy; it is intrinsic to it.
5 questions every supporter of intervention in the Middle East should ask
A few questions that every interventionist should consider.
By denouncing ISIS as ‘not Muslims’, moderate Muslims risk making things worse
When moderate Muslim groups use takfirism to tackle extremism, this intolerant doctrine is not challenged but reaffirmed.
Censorship will not consign Jihadism to the dustbin of history
Our government’s lunge for censorship suggests a fear among both officialdom and elected representatives that our society cannot defend itself against bad ideas
1-in-800 young British Sunni men are fighting in Syria/Iraq – this should concern us all
Too many young Muslims are going abroad to fight with ISIS – but we should talk about this without posturing or point-scoring. In June, shortly before ISIS’s take-over of large chunks of northern Iraq, British Muslim commentator and journalist Shariftest
If we really want to help moderate Muslims, we should stop telling them what Islam is
However well-meaning attempts by non-Muslims to define Islam are, they are ultimately counter-productive.