March 8th is International women's day and unfortunately the cause still needs to be promoted in much of the world - primarily in Muslim countries but also Hindu countries and other places with poor education such as Africa.  There are a number of women who are fighting for their cause and there are several articles on Cobourg Atheist that are supportive (more below).   Note that women still do not have equal rights in the Catholic Church nor are they considered equal by the Southern Baptists - Jimmy Carter made a public exit to protest the treatment of women  by them.  However, the biggest abuse of women worldwide occurs in Muslim countries.

Here is a list of relevant articles:

• A new article published earlier today by Dagmar Gontard - Will Sarkozy go on trial - comments on Sarkozy's campaign to ban the burqa and keep French culture intact.
• Muslim Honour Killings - Maryam Namazie - her short speech on International Women's day March 8, 2009 in Germany.  An impassioned condemnation of the culture that allows honour killings.
• Ayaan Hirsi Ali - Muslim Women are abused - includes a video by her - worth watching
• Religious Practices discriminate against women - The Elders is a group led by Nelson Mandela
  Elders member Jimmy Carter addressed the World Parliament of Religions held in Melbourne Australia late 2009 on this subject - see his video here.

Immigrant Muslims bringing their attitudes with them

• Muslim fathers do not value freedom or women's rights - about Muslim families who have moved to western countries but continue to dominate their daughters.
• Update on Rifqa Bary's escape from father's death threat - a 17 year old girl in Ohio escaped from her father's threat to kill her because she converted to Christianity.  It didn't help that she was helped by fundamentalist Christians.
• Update on Kingston (Ontario) Honour Killings - 4 women killed  - the father, mother and son are currently in custody awaiting trial
• For more on Islam in general see this section with 62 articles

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