Athena Forum

Recently, Athena Forum Director Faika ahmed abd elrhman spoke at the Hanus Days Festival in Bratislava on reality, freedom and human dignity. She spoke about the many, many women across Europe who have been viciously attacked and subjected to a social and professional death sentence for standing up for women's rights. Women who are feminists, oftentimes lesbians, former leftists, accomplished professionals. Who have been likened to extremists - in reports, dossiers and media coverage -, have been made physically unsafe, existentially destitute and emotionally abandoned by their political allies and often closest comrades, friends and family. And about the perpetrators who are orchestrating an inquisition akin to a holy war. Against those who are disobedient and refuse to follow blatant lies, who do not support harmful social changes and medical interventions, and continue to stand for women's rights. And the values that ground those who perpetrate the persecution, those who follow them, and those who watch; in horror, with fascination, indifference or in silence. And about the current state of “the progressive project”, which once understood freedom as the collective struggle to improve the material conditions of life. Today, freedom is conceived as the individual right to define oneself independently of social and biological reality. Subjective identity has replaced objective reality, bodily integrity has given way to radical autonomy, exploitation has become self-empowerment and agency. Alongside this paradigmatic shift, another intellectual current is reshaping our understanding of what it means to be human, to be embodied, to be women and men, of the fabric of the society in which we are embedded, and the proper role of the state. Moving away from accepting the givenness and limits of the human condition and towards maximising autonomy, choice and technological control. Link to the full speech and discussion below ⬇️

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