Taslima Nasrin, prominent feminist, Atheist and secularist is seeking freedom of movement and speech in her newly-adopted refuge of India.

Ms. Nasrin is an outspoken international critic of religious intolerance and oppression of women. Theocratic regimes and governments wishing to “not offend religion” have censored or banned her writings. Mobs of religious fanatics have been demanding her execution, and Ms. Nasrin – a native of Bangladesh – was forced to flee her homeland. She is currently hiding in India, but the government, catering to the demands of Islamic and other militant sectarian groups, has restricted her activities and movements.

A monologue by comedienne Kathy Griffin delivered at her acceptance of a creative arts Emmy award will be heavily censored when the program airs this Saturday on the E! entertainment channel. The move comes after the Academy for Television Arts & Sciences caved-in to demands from the Catholic League that Ms. Griffin be chastised for a “vulgar, in-your-face brand of hate speech” and “blasphemous” remarks.

Ms. Griffin, who is an open Atheist, told those attending the awards ceremony that “a lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus … Can you believe this shit? Hell has frozen over. Suck it, Jesus, this award is my god now.”

Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists, told reporters, “It’s permissible to make religious comments at the Emmy Awards and other public events as long as they do not criticize or threaten the self-appointed ‘Religion Police.’ Celebrities can go on national television to ‘thank’ Jesus, or Allah, or Scientology for their success, but an Atheist cannot make an honest and forthright statement that their success came from developing their talents and working hard…”