Beyond the culture wars; Jim Herrick; forced conversion to Islam

Dear reader,

Is the West's obsession with the culture wars a mere distraction from more important issues? In our leading article, Kevin Yam, a former Hong Kong lawyer and democracy activist, argues that Westerners could learn from Hongkongers' ability to put aside their ideological differences and unite against the much greater threat of Chinese state authoritarianism.

We are sad to report the recent death of the veteran freethinker, Jim Herrick. Here is an obituary by historian Bob Forder, which examines the role Herrick played as editor of the Freethinker, as well as his decades-long involvement elsewhere in the humanist and secularist movements.

In Pakistan, minority religious communities are feeling vulnerable at the continuing abduction of young girls, who are forcibly converted to Islam and married to their abductors. Shaukat Korai reports.

And we've looked through our archives and dug up the original letter from Albert Standley, a librarian from Colchester, the publication of which in the Freethinker led to the foundation of Republic, the anti-monarchy campaign group.

Articles
In the fight against authoritarianism, the culture wars are a distraction, by Kevin Yam
'There is nothing easy or empty about humanity and reason': in memoriam Jim Herrick (1944–2023), by Bob Forder
Coerced faith: the battle against forced conversions in Pakistan’s Dalit community, by Shaukat Korai
The Freethinker and early republicanism: from the archive

Freethinker YouTube channel
We now have a YouTube channel, @freethinkeruk, where we'll be posting occasional videos to accompany content on our website.

I hope you enjoy this week's articles, and if you do, please share them with others.

Best wishes,

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