With the persecution of Salman Rushdie, the continuing furore over ‘offensive cartoons’, and polluters, dictators and terrorist bagmen using British libel law to shield their misdeeds from public scrutiny, the opponents of free speech have never had it so good. This is Nick Cohen’s ten-point plan to stop the rot, protect free expression and turn back the tide of outrage that threatens our right to speak
As an African-American atheist woman Jamila Bey wonders if she even exists
In the aftermath of the firebombing of Charlie Hebdo, reprints of the magazine's Muhammad cover were conspicuous by their absence, notices Frederick Stjernfelt
Natalie Haynes endures a painful crime novel
Can orgasms change the world? Sally Feldman revisits the politics of the climax
Legislation aimed at football chants will not tackle Scotland's sectarian violence, argues Padraig Reidy
Al-Qaeda leaders are increasingly in favour of using women in terrorist attacks, reports Mia Bloom
Over the school holidays hundreds of British girls are taken abroad to undergo a procedure that is internationally recognised as a violation of their human rights. Alice Onwordi reports
We must respond to extremism by protecting liberal values, argues Kenan Malik
Peter Tatchell says it is time to end the twin bans on gay civil marriages and heterosexual civil partnerships