Adam Wagner on lockdowns; Chinese consulate in Manchester; secularism in Northern Ireland

Dear reader,

In November, we continue with our theme of civil liberties, as well as introducing our next theme of 'freethought around the world'.

On civil liberties, we have an interview with leading human rights lawyer Adam Wagner on the loss of our democratic freedoms during the pandemic; and an article on the Chinese Consulate's brutal treatment of protesters in Manchester by Simon Cheng, founder of Hongkongers in Britain.

Meanwhile, Charlie Lynch of Ulster University gives a thought-provoking analysis of the increasing secularisation of Northern Ireland, as shown by its 2021 census. And we have a specially commissioned Jesus and Mo cartoon on the theme of civil liberties, as well as one by Polyp on the culture wars.

Articles
‘The light of democratic scrutiny was switched off for two years’ – interview with Adam Wagner
Jackboots in Manchester, by Simon Cheng (with Chinese translation)
Secularisation and Protestantism in the 2021 Northern Ireland Census, by Charlie Lynch
Cartoon: Jesus and Mo on civil rights, by Mohammed Jones
Cartoon: Entrenched (the impasse of the culture wars), by Polyp

We hope you enjoy these articles, and if you do, please help us to share them as widely as possible.

Best wishes,

Emma Park
Editor, The Freethinker
freethinker.co.uk
@freethinkermag
editor@freethinker.co.uk