Social Items

TPQ
People And Nature ☭ Written by  Simon Pirani.
1-May-2026
Try Me For Treason is a 50-minute film, in English, featuring speeches made by anti-war protesters in Russian courts. 
It has been made by a group of actors to draw English-speaking audiences’ attention to the stand taken by Ukrainians, and Russians, against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Youtube premiere of the film will be broadcast on Sunday 17 May at 20.00 UK time. To participate, go to this link and hit “Notify me”:
☭ Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, thousands of people have been arrested for protesting against the war. Many appear in court, facing years of imprisonment. What do they say to the judges? What would any of us say? This 50-minute film, in English, features some of their speeches in court.

☭ The speeches are from the book Voices Against Putin’s War: protesters’ defiant speeches in Russian courts (Resistance books, 2025). You can buy a copy, or download a free PDF, via this page.

☭ Readings by John Graham Davies, Leila Mimmack, Gareth Brierley, Maya Willcox and Nick Evans. Script by Simon Pirani and John Graham Davies. Videography by Anthony Aldis.

☭ From Sunday 17 May the film will be free to view, or download, on Youtube, under a Creative Commons licence.

And here is a trailer to share:

There will be an in-person film premiere in London at 6.30pm on Sunday 17 May, just before the Youtube premiere – all welcome! – details below.


☭ This film (which I helped to put together) conveys something of the reality of opposition in Russia to the Kremlin’s aggression in Ukraine: defiant individual protests, and these brave speeches in court, are almost the only public expressions of this opposition. But the importance of the stand these people are taking can not be measured in numbers. At a time when not only Russia but also the US, Israel and other powers are plunging the world into a terrifying array of new wars, this has international relevance. So I ask readers to sign up for the Youtube premiere and circulate information about the film -  Simon Pirani, 1 May 2026.

☭ Political prisoner Aleksandr Nesterenko: they fabricate cases, just as they did in Soviet times.

☭ People & Nature is now on mastodon, as well as twitter, whatsapp and telegram. Please follow! Or email peoplenature@protonmail.com, and we’ll add you to our circulation list (2-4 messages per month)

Try Me For Treason 🎥 The Film

Frankie Quinn with a poem from his expansive body of work. 

Bullet

Bullet Slice, slick, shape cut deep, air burst
 Spiral, twisted point to pain, copper
 Flacked jacket deep in shattered bone
♞♜♝
Mouth let smoke assist to open wound 
With hopeless vision of soft hollowed stare
 Halted, gasp, flashed bright in darkness 
♞♜♝
 Snarled, whistle, clashed with sound,
Convulsed shape splashed on red washed ground
 bold, streaks, none in line. Ending time

⏩ Frankie Quinn is a former republican prisoner who is now a community activist. He is the author of Open Gates, a book of poetry.   

Bullet

Dr John Coulter ✍ The might of the Right! 

That’s the message which the Reform UK party has sent not just to 10 Downing Street and the Prime Minister’s desk, but right across the entire Westminster political establishment.

One of the key messages from Reform’s victories in mainland Britain’s elections in Scotland, Wales and England is that Hard Right politics are now part of the mainstream. Being Hard Right is no longer dismissed as being on the lunatic fringe of the political spectrum.

If the weekend results in Britain are taken as a benchmark and repeated in the next Westminster General Election, Reform boss Nigel Farage will be the next UK PM.

While such a prospect may well initially be welcomed with much cheering among Unionism in the UK generally, it could well bring the Northern Ireland pro-Union community down to earth with a rapid political bump.

In sporting terms, as a life-long Arsenal supporter, I’d compare the Reform victory at the weekend to the euphoria I felt when my beloved Gunners reached the Champions League final later this month for the first time since 2006 - only to learn that their opponents will be the fast-flowing Paris Saint-Germain team, affectionally known as PSG!

While Farage has consistently proven himself to be a vote winner - you need only look at his record in European elections with the United Kingdom Independence Party (Ukip) and later with the Brexit Party - the big question for the pro-Union community in Northern Ireland remains; can a Farage-led Westminster Government be trusted with the Union?

Oh yes, Scottish and Welsh nationalists can kiss goodbye to any hopes of an independence referendum while Farage has the keys to 10 Downing Street, but given past experiences with supposedly Right-wing administrations in Downing Street, perhaps the weekend euphoria at the Reform Hard Right victory will soon evaporate in Ulster.

Let’s not forget the track record of supposedly Right-wing Tory administrations in their treatment of the pro-Union community in Northern Ireland. In 1972, when Ted Heath was PM, he was responsible for the proroguing of the original Unionist-dominated Stormont Parliament which had run Northern Ireland for decades. Okay, Heath was regarded ideologically as a ‘Tory Wet’, but his administration was still - albeit slightly - Right of centre.

But the real lesson for Ulster’s pro-Union community from a Right-wing Tory administration in Downing Street came in 1979 after the Westminster General Election when Maggie Thatcher swept to power.

Unionists were hoping for a ‘no punches pulled’ policy towards the terror campaign by republicans. Even then Ulster Unionist Party leader, the late Jim Molyneaux, would talk privately about his ‘special relationship’ with Thatcher.

That was all to come to a crashing halt in November 1985 when Thatcher signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement which gave Dublin its first real saying in the running of Northern Ireland since partition in the 1920s.

While Thatcher was viewed nationally as a tough-talking Right-wing PM, Northern Ireland Unionism felt totally betrayed by the 1985 Hillsborough accord. Even all the marching as part of the Ulster Says No campaign failed to scupper the so-called Dublin Diktat.

Northern Ireland’s position within the Union was perceived to be further diluted in December 1993 when then Tory PM John Major signed the Downing Street Declaration with Dublin, a document which laid the foundation stone to the disbanding of the RUC and its replacement with the PSNI.

Okay, so those PMs were Tories of various shades of the Right. But with Reform, we in Northern Ireland Unionism must never forget that many who have defected to Reform have come from the Conservative party.

During my time as Northern Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Star, I had the opportunity to interview Farage during his time in Ukip. While it was more a pub conversation than a formal interview, Farage made the same Right-wing uttering I’d heard in my past interviews with Right-wing Unionists, such as Rev Martin Smyth, Molyneaux, Enoch Powell, and Rev Ian Paisley.

So what should Unionists be learning from Reform’s weekend victory? The answer is tactically simple. Unionist leaders must be holding talks as soon as possible with Farage and his team to draw up a policy which will be set in political concrete in the event of Farage becoming PM in the next few years.

It must be a clear manifesto commitment with Reform; not a Molyneaux-style ‘special relationship’ of private conversations in the corridors of Westminster.

The combined Unionist leadership must not sit on their hands and simply pray for a Farage victory in a couple of years. Now is the time for forward planning. Firstly, they must persuade Farage that while Reform has organised in Northern Ireland, the party should not contest elections and further fragment the pro-Union vote.

Unionism should also campaign for the reform (forgive the pun please!) of the Stormont institutions, making the posts of first and deputy first minster elected as in 1998 - by designation, not by the largest parties as was given away by the DUP in the 2006 St Andrews Agreement.

And there must be a guarantee by Reform that the current hounding of security forces veterans for Troubles-related incidents will be binned.

Likewise, the names of those suspected of committing some of the heinous terrorist atrocities during the Troubles, especially unsolved murders, bombings and attacks, should be revealed in the Commons using parliamentary privilege.

There should be no more wasting of millions of pounds on needless inquiries. Parliament should be the place for naming and shaming.

Reform caused a lot of controversy during the election campaign in Britain with talk of detention camps for illegal immigrants while they are being processed for deportation.

Perhaps if Reform comes to power, those camps could be established in Northern Ireland as a welcome jobs boost for the construction industry, prison service and supporting employment.

And if Reform is pledging to halt the small boat crisis, then the UK will require a much expanded Royal Navy to mount an iron blockade across the English Channel. Northern Ireland has an impressive record in ship building. Those contracts for the new much-needed ships must come to Ulster.

During the Troubles, Northern Ireland had a reputation of housing some of the worst terrorists of that era. Given that experience, the creation of the special camps for illegal migrants and illegal asylum seekers and the funding and jobs it would bring to Ulster should be top of a PM Farage’s agenda. But will Farage turn out to be another Thatcher? Only time will tell, but Unionism must tread carefully if it is to play the Reform card.
 
Follow Dr John Coulter on Twitter @JohnAHCoulter
John is a Director for Belfast’s Christian radio station, Sunshine 1049 FM. 

Unionism Must Apply Maggie Experience To Nigel’s New Dawn!

Lynx By Ten To The Power Of One Thousand Nine Hundred And Sixty Eight

 

A Morning Thought @ 3142

Azar Majedi & Homa Arjomand ✍Maryam Namazie’s belated reply or a timely damage control?

Maryam Namazie after nearly two years has responded to Azar Majedi and Homa Arjomand’s article: Masks are Torn! EX-Muslim from Frying Pan to Fire,  which was written in response to her article Azar Majedi and Homa Arjomand’s Islamist propaganda and Morality.

The first question that comes to mind is why it has become necessary to respond to a critique from two years ago? A critique that came to fore and got heated around the Palestinian genocide. It is because, if 8 months into the genocide (when our article was published) many, such as EX-Muslim, Secularist, Humanist and mainstream Feminist organisations could get away with keeping silent about Israel’s genocide in Gaza and look the other way, without risking their reputation as “progressive and humanitarian”, now it is impossible. Even some European states are now condemning the genocide and boycotting the Eurovision, because of Israel’s participation.

The murder and bloodshed committed by Israel with the full support of the US and the West is out in the open and impossible to look away from. The “anti-Semite” catch phrase used to gas-light those who opposed the genocide and Israel, has lost its edge. It only creates backlash now.

So why is it now the time to reply? Because, more than anything, it is about damage control; Maryam’s, her organisation and her movement’s reputation is at stake. Their reputation has been stained by hypocrisy, double standard, racism and pro Israel/Zionist tendency. Therefore, in order to stay effective, she needs to whitewash her reputation as a “left progressive.”

These bloody three years have changed the world. The world is awakening, eyes are opening up. The world is empathising with Palestine and people have come to the streets in solidarity with Palestinians and all victims of Israel/US. People see the real reason for all this murder, destruction and misery in the whole region. Therefore, in order to remain among the “left progressives” one must distance oneself from the genocide and Israel and the US. Two years ago when Maryam wrote her first article calling us “Islamists” she still did not dare, nor saw it necessary to openly condemn the genocide and Israel.

There is another event that makes her article even more necessary, the war on Iran by US and Israel. Maryam is expected to make a stand; Iran is her birth place, a difficult situation. But here too, she uses the “Islamism” and “religious-Right” (whatever that means) to soften the blame on US and Israel.

War on Iran

She states No to war, but formulates the argument around the topic in a way that this “No” becomes conditional to the “No” to the Islamic Republic. Therefore, this slogan becomes viable when either there is no Islamic Republic or it is attacked at the same time. Every decent, freedom-loving and progressive person agrees to the No to the war and Islamic Republic. However, the point under debate is that these two No-s are not dependant on each other and any effort to represent them as such is an attempt to justify the war, to soften the critique against the war and to whitewash the warmongers. This is the main point that Maryam tries to mystify. This is not a puzzle; it is a clever way to soften the blame and criticism towards Israel and US.

EX-Muslim and Co. have used this technique for the past 2 decades: Turning the narrative around in order to benefit state terrorism, US and Israel, by pointing the finger at Islamists. This is to imply that if Israel commits genocide, wipes off a whole people from the land, if it is constantly expanding, it is because of Hamas and Islamic Republic. This resonates with the same “victimhood” mentality that Zionism is built upon. A very useful and simple formula!

To imply that Islamic regime is the cause of war, it’s either propaganda or idiotic. Islamic Republic is responsible for many crimes, crimes against humanity, brutal exploitation and enormous suffering imposed on the people, but it is not the cause of this war. Islamic regime cannot both be so clever to be the leader of Islamic terrorism which Maryam and her movement deem as more dangerous than state terrorism and at the same time so dumb to cause a war which is a real threat to its survival. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Can you see how this “religious-Right” monster and Islamism come to the rescue of Israel and US in their obvious crimes against humanity? One must just remind her that your just hatred of the Islamic Republic cannot and should not be used to soften, or even subtly justify another crime. One does not need to condemn Islamism anytime one feels the need to condemn state terrorism, that is, US imperialism spearheaded by Israel.

An attempt to discredit us!

Maryam’s first attempt to label us “Islamist” two years ago had a purpose, trying to discredit two known socialists, women’s rights and secular/atheist activists who defended the Palestinians throughout their political history and condemned the massacre and genocide of the Palestinians and who rightfully criticised the secular/humanist/feminist movements for their deafening silence. She called us “Islamists.”

We refuted all her arguments and propaganda in the above-mentioned article. A response to our article does not have any meaning or credibility without a solid clear condemnation of Israeli’s genocide in Gaza. Therefore, Maryam kept quiet because at the time it was not possible for her to do so and the world still was under such deep propaganda that one could perhaps get away with silence. We described her situation in our article titled . . . from Frying Pan to Fire. Just to mention an example: In a secularist conference in Paris months after the start of genocide they criticised Islam in and out, nothing about Judaism and no mention of the bloodshed in Gaza which they could watch right there on their screens. This long wait is not accidental, it is calculated propaganda technique. She is acting according to a script again.

The main thesis of Maryam’s article

The article presents a false, arbitrary dichotomy:

A politics of emancipation must confront both imperialism and the religious-Right. The attempt to subordinate one to the other is a form of political erasure.

What does she mean by “religious-Right?” No explanation is given. Is there also a religious-Left? If yes, which religion? Does she tolerate that?

One can assume that by this term she means Islamism. Because the only religion she criticises is Islam. The only religious political movement she refers to is Islamist. She has not even once specifically criticised Judaism nor Israel as a Jewish apartheid state; and no mention of Zionism as a terrorist movement which fought for the creation of Israel and it is still running the show.

The whole article is incoherent, pompous and superficial. She uses a lot of empty jargons to say Azar and Homa are pro-Islamists. The arguments are haphazard, arbitrary and inconsistent. It seems the aim is to create mist and fog rather than throwing light at some political and philosophical truth as it is claimed. It is propaganda not reasoning and arguments. She seems to have a script she has to follow.

Her article does not contain a polemic, a reasoned argument trying to prove the false position of the other side; it is rather more gas-lighting. Her method is exactly like what we have observed in the past two and half years - call your opponent an “anti-Semite” or pro Hamas. But, this doesn’t work anymore. It has lost its power. It’s been exposed.

Our position is that a Socialist, a progressive, a freedom-loving person with conscience must condemn any forms of reaction, brutality and oppression. We condemn and oppose the Islamist movement for all its crimes and oppressive methods. We have fought against the Islamic Republic since the moment of its inception. But we do not lose perspective. We have a clear vision based on a clear analysis of the political situation in the region and worldwide. It was the US imperialism with Israel as its spearhead that created the Islamic movement and have supported and funded it while “fighting” it. This was a clever scenario to create war and devastation in the region to achieve the goal of the New Middle East and the Greater Israel. They are admitting it themselves, but these “anti-Islamists” refuse to listen.

Islamic Republic was brought to power through a regime change imposed on the 1979 Revolution in Iran. All Islamic terrorist organisations, Al Qaida, Taliban, and ISIS were created by CIA, Mossad and MI6. Hamas was created by Israel. They have been funded by the US. (There are videos of US officials, including Hillary Clinton, and former intelligence officers who have admitted this.) Yes, we condemn them both, but we don’t use one to excuse the other side.

Maryam writes:

Islamism was fostered in specific historical conditions such as the US Cold War strategy to create an Islamic belt around the Soviet Union and the West’s role in the expropriation of the Iranian revolution by Islamism. (In clear speech, the West organised a regime change to abort the Iranian revolution.) These origins are relevant. But causation is not exoneration.

We are baffled by what she really means by this pompous expression: “causation is not exoneration.” She is apparently implying that we are “exonerating” Islamic movement; but on what basis? Her response is not clear. She continues, by stating without any proof, that:

Their politics is clear: political positions must align with one of two opposing camps; critique becomes illegitimate if it risks benefiting the other.

It is difficult to make sense of her arguments; one un-based claim after another.

Another example of a vague and arbitrary statement:

Hamas, enabled by Israel as a counterweight to the secular PLO, is not reducible to Israeli strategy. To explain them as secondary displaces the social relations through which domination is exercised.

This is another example of pompous and hollow argument. What does she mean by “is not reducible to Israeli strategy?”

Hamas was created by Israel in 1987 as an instrument to divide and weaken Palestinian resistance movement, which was mainly secular with leftist tendencies. “Divide and Rule” is the main reason for this creation. Furthermore, Israel has used Hamas to completely occupy Gaza and to create a concentration camp there. This is the history before the recent genocide. Since its creation by Israel, Hamas has been used as the main tool to justify murder, genocide, expansion and ethnic cleansing. Hamas card has played a monumental role in Israel’s politics of expansion and occupation, i.e. its political strategy. That is why Hamas was being funded by Qatar on the request/order of Israel/US until 7th of October 2023 and beyond. (Netanyahu has been taped in 2019 where he adamantly defends funding of Hamas.)

Another mind-blowing statement that is in fact amusing is as follows:

Dissent is judged not on its truth but on its geopolitical alignment. This is the politics of enforced binaries. It is also Eurocentric. By centring Western power as the organising axis, it renders all other forms of domination derivative.

This is a desperate attempt to look clever and sophisticated when one has no valid case or argument. It is shocking to see the term Eurocentric is used in this upside down context. It seems she has lost any coherent train of thought. The article in reality is empty of any viable thesis or argument. The aim is not to encourage a debate to reach some eye-opening conclusions. It is to defend her reputation so as to continue to whitewash atrocities by the US imperialism and the West spearheaded by Israel by justifying their actions as a response to actions of an Islamic evil created by the perpetrator themselves. A very clever scenario!

EX-Muslim is a mosaic in the “Clash of Civilisation” myth which was scripted to prepare the world for a total destruction of a region, killing millions of people, ruining a whole region to rubbles and destroying any reminiscence of ancient civilisations; that is to erase a whole people, their memories and histories. This narrative was necessary for the extension of the colonialist project which was planted after the WWI; the creation of Israel until the Greater Israel is reached and the New Middle East is formed. They have succeeded to carry out the project, by killing many million human beings and the total destruction of the region.

It is not necessary to dwell much on the origins of EX-Muslim, we have elaborated on it before. It is sufficient to say that the patron of British EX-Muslim, the main donor and moral supporter of CEBM is the famous atheist Richard Dawkins who in the midst of genocide and activation of far-right and anti-Muslim sentiments in England, in an interview with L Rachel Johnson at LBC radio described himself as a "cultural Christian”, expressed discomfort at the promotion of Ramadan over Easter and the rise in number of mosques in Europe, calling the decline of Christian culture "dreadful." He specifically noted that in places like Africa, if Christian and Muslim missionaries are fighting for loyalty, he is "on Team Christianity". (Using the term missionaries for Islam is rather odd. Perhaps he was softening the word mercenaries.) 

To add salt to the wounds, his name has come out on Epstein files.

Epstein was supporting him and some other “atheist philosophers.” One wonders why Epstein, a high member of American ruling class with access to anyone anywhere in the power structure, a representative for Rothschild, the family to whom Balfour Agreement was addressed by the British Prime minister, a man who was at the top of a Mossad intelligence/blackmail operation, (called honey trap) who was so “fanatically” Jewish that called any non-Jewish “Goyum”*, was interested in an atheist professor? One should try to scratch the surface and look deeper.

The role some of the famous atheists played in demonising Muslims, creating a psychological environment where people in the West saw Muslims and people in the Middle East as lower beings is undeniable. They played a significant role in propaganda campaign in the war on Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, now Iran, but first and foremost Palestine; people like Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. When one sees this reality, then everything falls into place. US, the West spearheaded by Israel wrote and executed the scenario and the narrative for decades in order to forge the total destruction and occupation of the Middle East. Netanyahu warned about Islamic terrorism in a conference in Washington in 1984 and the rest is history.

Secularism and humanism as a movement have been predominantly focused on Islam, some critique of Christianity almost nothing about Judaism. The secularist/atheist think-tank played an important role in demonising Muslims and implementing the anti-Muslim narrative deeply in society.

Maryam throws this so-called critique us:

The same logic that reduces dissent to imperial instrument also reduces dissenters to a homogeneous bloc serving a single geopolitical function.

Honestly, we do not comprehend what she means. Chat GBT writes more clearly, argues more logically and coherently.

Protest or not protest, that is not the question!

Maryam writes:

If political legitimacy is determined by which camp you are aligned with, then forms of resistance that do not conform to it are recast as illegitimate.

Another pompous claim! We must state that these claims are arbitrary and self-made.

We have criticised her and EX-Muslim for their provocative actions. This is not to deny them the right to protest and freedom of expression; these are legal concepts. We are criticising their methods and actions as socio-politically harmful. We find drinking alcohol and smoking in front of places which are identified with Islam or Muslims during Muslim fasting provocative, which helps intensify anti-Muslim environment in the West and create a climate of hostility. It demonises Muslims. Moreover, it is contrary to the secularist doctrine of rationality and logic. What is your message? Is fasting bad, alcohol and cigarettes good? Are the two latter superior to the former? A claim which you don’t need to be a doctor or a health practitioner to refute; the response might be: the aim is not to compare the two acts but to mock fasting and Islamic rules. This is playing in the hands of far-Right. From the fear of Islamism you run towards the far-Right, Reform Party and Tommy Robinson.

Our criticism of your provocative actions has nothing to do with which camp you belong to. We are concerned about the effects of your actions on the society, in intensifying hostility towards Muslims, demonising Muslims, harassing Muslims and feeding the fascist (far-Right) movement that has become incredibly aggressive.

Your acts against “religious-Right” are helping the “far right.” In Britain it is the Reform Party and Tommy Robinson who benefit the most from your mockery of Islam. Your “fast-defying” methods are toxic, in the midst of alarming anti-Muslim racism, when Muslims are being attacked and run over by cars; EX-Muslim continues to demonstrate in these provocative modes. Drinking alcohol and smoking in front of places identified with Islam and Muslims is not mind-opening, it is not about rationality, reason, against superstition; it is toxic. Just imagine if some young kids take your advice of drinking and smoking and laughing at people who fast.

It is interesting that mocking Muslims by drinking alcohol in the place of worship is not EX-Muslim’s invention, it is historical. French colonialist army officers used to enter mosques in Algeria and North Africa, on horseback and drink wine in the 19th century to belittle and dehumanise Algerians. Maryam has modernised an entrenched and despised historical act with pride on one side and disgust on the other. Perhaps, this is why the French government has awarded her with a medal. Showing their gratitude for bringing French history to life in the most “modern” way possible!**

Naked protest alienation not liberation!

Azar Majedi has written an article to criticise the false idea that naked protest by women is a liberatory tool. We are not going to debate this here. We will leave this to another occasion. But mentioning one fact is crucial and it completes the whole puzzle of EX-Muslim and its actions.

Naked protest in this modern form started by FEMEN an originally Ukrainian feminist organisation which is located in France since 2013. FEMEN is a regime-change tool, established by a man in 2008 in Ukraine, stating that they use female naked body to protest because it attracts more attention. They played a significant role in the Colour Revolution in Ukraine, 2011-2013. Their then deputy leader Inna Shevchenko (as their leader was still a man) moved to France and very soon after arrival, President François Hollande in July 2013 unveiled a new French postage stamp featuring a Marianne (the symbol of the French Republic) that was designed based on Inna Shevchenko, The stamp was unveiled on Bastille Day (July 14, 2013) to represent the youth of France. This is considered a very high award being offered to a foreigner. Then Manuel Valls, Hollande’s prime minister awarded Maryam Namazie with Prix International de la Laïcité (International Secularism Prize) 2016.

Awarding one of the highest national symbols to a foreign national is a very significant act, it cannot be overlooked. One must look deeper. FEMEN is supported and promoted by the West for the purpose of regime change in Ukraine and since moving to France it has become an important anti-Muslim tool. Perhaps now one can connect the dots; the connection between EX-Muslim and FEMEN becomes clear as well.

Awards are not given without a reason and expecting something in return. From national awards to Noble peace prize are political tools. And here, can you see the connection? FEMEN and EX-Muslim united in action as propaganda tools of Western imperialism.

The last word: As we already stated, Maryam’s article is empty of any serious content or logical argument. We tried our best to respond to the points as to demystify the debate. We must tell Maryam, that this method if it once worked, it does not work anymore. You must clearly, strongly, unequivocally condemn the genocide of the Palestinians by Israel supported by US and the West, i.e. State Terrorism. The Wishy-washy, liberal statements of always condemning Islamists for crimes committed by Israel/US, such as the one below, do not save your face. Your reputation is vastly tarnished. You are losing your use-value.

Maryam says:

Opposing the Israeli state's genocide in Gaza is a moral and political necessity. But progressive politics does not end with denunciation of one pole of power. It interrogates all dominant forces, including those within societies facing imperialism and occupation.

Even here she is not ready to categorically condemn the Israeli genocide. She nonchalantly opposes the genocide and immediately adds a “but”, the famous “but.” While she insouciantly refers to, in one short sentence, a historical genocide which brutally killed thousands, including thousands of children; in the same article she writes a long heart-breaking description and condemnation of 7th of October and Hamas. A day that has shown how Israel is capable of killing its own citizens for its political project; Israeli media, including Haaretz have exposed the role of Israeli army in killing many of the “hostages” according to what is called the “Hannibal Directive.” The rape and child beheading accusations have not been proved or confirmed by any credential body; some of the testimonies of freed hostages completely contradict the Israeli narrative of the treatment of hostages.

If you want to be on the right side of the history you have to accept your fault and make an honest turn around. You can’t whitewash your silence, your complicity by throwing empty jargons at your critics. These jargons do not mean anything. They do not serve the purpose you intend. You know it and we know it. It is now time for the people to also see it.

* Goyum or Goyim (singular: goy) is a Hebrew and Yiddish term for a non-Jewish person or people, literally translating to "nations" or "peoples". While neutrally used within some Jewish communities, it is often considered pejorative depending on context and tone. It is sometimes utilized by anti-Semitic groups as a derogatory term or in conspiracy theories. (AI. Online)

** According to data released in February 2025 by the anti-hate crime monitoring group Tell MAMA, assaults against Muslims in the UK surged by 73% in 2024 compared to the previous year. However, EX-Muslim still continues with its provocative, dehumanising acts. But they are very sensitive to what they call anti-Semitism.

⏩ Asar Majed is the Chairperson of Organisation for Women’s Liberation.

⏩Homa Arjomand is an Iranian political activist, resident in Canada, where she is a member of the International Campaign against the Sharia Court and the Director of Children First Now.

Ultimate Absurdity!

The Guardian 📰 Written by Patrick Wintour. Recommended by Hedley Lamarr. 

26-April-2026

Head of UN’s humanitarian agency frustrated that $2bn daily cost of conflict comes amid big cuts to aid budgets

The $2bn (£1.5bn) a day that Donald Trump was spending on his reckless war in Iran could have funded saving more than 87 million lives, the head of the UN’s humanitarian agency, Tom Fletcher, said on Monday.

He also warned the normalisation of violent language, such as threatening to bomb Iran back to the stone ages, was very dangerous since it encourages every “wannabe autocrat” to use similar threats and tactics, including the destruction of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Speaking at Chatham House in London, Fletcher, a former UK diplomat and adviser on foreign policy to successive prime ministers, also accused British politicians of forming a circular firing squad for more than 10 years which has left the UK in a “defensive crouch”.

The scale of the recent UK aid cuts had been so severe that people giggle at conferences where the UK claims to be thought leaders on the subject, he said, before later adding the judgment might seem harsh.

Continue @ Guardian. 

US Spending On ‘Reckless’ Iran War Could Have Saved 87m Lives, Says UN

Ukraine Solidarity Group ✊ A Digest of News from Ukrainian Sources ⚔ 5-May-2026.

In this week’s bulletin

⬤ Ukrainians on the Global Sumud Flotilla.
⬤ Try Me for Treason film.
⬤ New report on the freedom of movement of civilians in the occupied territories.
⬤ More evidence of Russian torture of prisoners and torture to death.
⬤ Mass grave of Russia’s victims found in occupied Mariupol.

News from the territories occupied by Russia

The Face of Resistance: The Story of Military Expert Dmytro Shtyblikov (Crimea Platform, May 1st)

‘Three and a half years of search for my Yura’ (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, May 1st)

Ukrainian political prisoner tells Russian court of torture after which you’ll sign anything (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, May 1st)

Deliberately concealed mass grave of Russia’s victims found in occupied Mariupol (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, May 1st)

One Out of Ten. Russians Tortured a Kherson Environmental Officer to Death (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, April 29th)

Russia sentences abducted and tortured Melitopol journalists to 26 years for pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, April 29th)

Uzeir Abdullaiev Spends 10th Consecutive Birthday as Political Prisoner (Crimea Platform, April 30th)

Abducted by Russians Four Years Ago: Crimean Human Rights Defender Iryna Danylovych Remains Illegally Held in a Penal Colony (Crimea Platform, April 29th)

Weekly update on the situation in occupied Crimea (Crimea Platform, April 28th)

Crimean pensioner sentenced to six years for social media comments against Russian aggression (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, April 28th)

Secret Russian court upholds ‘foreign agent’ repression against Crimean Tatar human rights defender Lutfiye Zudiyeva (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, April 27th)

EU follows Ukraine in holding Russians to account for illegal excavations in occupied Crimea (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, April 27th)

One belt, one Donbas: China gaining foothold in Russian-occupied Ukraine (The Insider, April 27th)

55-year-old from Russian-occupied Skadovsk sentenced to 12 years for supporting Ukraine (Tribunal for Putin, April 23rd)

Freedom of movement in occupied territories: Taking the long way around (Alter Pravo, April 2026)

News from the front

Cyberspace as Another Front of War (Tribunal for Putin, May 2nd)

Ukraine’s drone forces commander says no part of Russia is safe from strikes, as drones hit oil infrastructure deep inside the country (Meduza, May 1st)

News from Ukraine

Corruption scandal latest: is Zelensky implicated? (Kyiv Independent, 3 May)

Ukraine bypassed as Russian archaeologist wanted for crimes in occupied Crimea freed in 'Poland - Belarus' exchange (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, April 30th)

A Museum of Childhood in Unchildlike Times (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, April 28th)

War-related news from Russia

The anti-war protesters imprisoned in Russia – in their own words (Labour Hub, May 3rd)

Political prisoner Aleksandr Nesterenko: they fabricate cases, just as they did in Soviet times (People and Nature, May 1st)

Wrong side of the law: The Russian state is institutionalizing abductions, torture, and other repressive practices (The Insider, April 30th)

A ‘Turgenev girl’ and her cats: Siberian war resister Arina Ivanova (The Russian Reader, 30 April)

Tuapse: Russia’s Pride (The Russian Reader, 29 April)

The home front: Opponents of domestic violence are facing increased pressure in wartime Russia (The Insider, April 28th)

Torture of Political Prisoner Azat Miftakhov by Putin Regime Continues (Russian Reader, April 27th)

Analysis and comment

May Day: Ukrainian Trade Unions Call for Global Solidarity (Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, May 1st)

Why Stop the War and No2NATO lie about the 2014 deaths at Odesa (Red Mole, April 27th)

Events of 2025 (Human Rights Watch, April 2026)

International solidarity

Israeli Navy’s criminal attack on Gaza flotilla: Release them all now! (labour Hub, May 1st)

Help Ukraine’s Children Learn in Safety (Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, April 30th)

Breaking the Gaza Blockade: Ukrainians on the Sumud Flotilla (Commons.com, April 29th)

Pussy Riot Shows Art by Russia’s Prisoners in New Protest Exhibition (Hyper Allergic, April 27th)

Ukrainians join Global Sumud Flotilla Mission to Gaza (Labour Hub, April 26th)

Upcoming events

Sunday 17 May: premiere of Try Me For Treason, the film. In-person premiere in London: 6.30pm, Upstairs room, the Lucas Arms, 245a Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8QY (arrive for drinks from 6.0pm). Youtube premiere at 8.0pm. Information at trymefortreason.org.

🔴This bulletin is put together by labour movement activists in solidarity with Ukrainian resistance. More information at Ukraine Information Group.

We are also on twitter. Our aim is to circulate information in English that to the best of our knowledge is reliable. If you have something you think we should include, please send it to 2U022ukrainesolidarity@gmail.com.


We are now on Facebook and Substack! Please subscribe and tell friends. Better still, people can email us at 2022ukrainesolidarity@gmail.com, and we’ll send them the bulletin direct every Monday. The full-scale Russian assault on Ukraine is going into its third year: we’ll keep information and analysis coming, for as long as it takes.

The bulletin is also stored on line here.

To receive the bulletin regularly, send your email to:
2022ukrainesolidarity@gmail.com.
To stop it, please reply with the word “STOP” in the subject field.

News From Ukraine 💣 Bulletin 194

Friendly Atheist ★ The man who reshaped white evangelical politics also helped create a culture where victims of abuse never stood a chance.

In 2015, when Sen. Ted Cruz was running for president (and before Donald Trump was seen as a viable candidate), he ran an ad featuring an endorsement from Paul Pressler.

Pressler said he had known Cruz since he was a teenager and “observed personally” Cruz’s integrity and principle. He went on to say:

I’ve dedicated my life to the conservative principles on which our country was founded, and I know Ted Cruz has done the same thing and that he will stand firm.

That’s downright wild to watch in hindsight because, in the decade since, Cruz has proven to be nothing but a MAGA cultist who doesn’t give a damn about the Constitution. He’s a right-wing zealot who’s never seriously been considered a model for integrity. You knew that back in 2015. I knew that back in 2015. Why didn’t this guy know?

In fact, who the hell is he and why was his endorsement such a big deal at the time?

The video listed Pressler as a former Texas state representative, a retired district and appellate court judge, and leader of the “Conservative Baptist Resurgence.” 

The Dark Legacy Of Paul Pressler And The Southern Baptist Convention

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)