Blasphemy...

Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, and a Christian, was sentenced to hang for blasphemy in Pakistan. She had angered fellow farm workers - all Muslims - by taking a sip of water from a cup she had fetched for them on a hot day. When they demanded she convert to Islam, she refused, prompting a mob to later allege that she had insulted the prophet Mohammed. She has been in prison, in solitary confinement, for the past eight years. Her sentence has now been quashed, on the sensible basis that she has no case to answer. However, members of TLP a fast-growing political party dedicated solely to the punishment of blasphemy, have vowed to hunt her down and kill her, along with the judges who decided she should be freed.

Sam Harris has been criticised for suggesting that “the Muslim world is utterly deranged by its religious tribalism”, but he was right. How can we talk to people who believe such nonsense, and who believe it with unshakeable conviction? How could that conversation even start?

A poor month for Alamy sales was rescued by a late surge of sales, including this shot of Scale Lane Bridge in Hull...