Bahrain Bars Entrance to Atheist Poet

Joumana Haddad, a Lebanese journalist and poet, has apparently been denied entrance to Bahrain because she's an atheist. Haddad was scheduled to attend a cultural event organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. News of Haddad coming to Bahrain sparked a sharp backlash, with critics accusing her of targeting Islamic values and “[advocating] pornography and adultery to Bahrain to spread her sick mentality.” Haddad said the decision was made on Friday. “There is nothing I can do even though I really wanted to take part in the event dedicated to poetry,” she told a Lebanese newspaper.