The firestorm that erupted over blogger Daryush Valizadeh's proposal that domestic rape be legalized has caused the cancellation of many of his meetings all over the world.
Valizadeh has been labeled misogynistic because of his proposals that the best way to combat rape is to legalize it at home. His group, Return of Kings, is composed of self-described "neomasculine" men who dismiss gender equality and believe that the only assets that a woman possesses are her physical loveliness and her capacity to bear children. These opinons have been denounced by many leaders across the globe who have pointedly said that Valizadeh and his followers are not welcome in their city.
As a result, the blogger was compelled to cancel his meetings for fear of the safety of his men. CBC News quotes him as saying, "I can no longer guarantee the safety or privacy of the men who want to attend on Feb. 6, especially since most of the meetups cannot be made private in time," He also lambasted his critics for being "a loud, obnoxious, dishonest, and potentially violent mob."
CBC also reports that the mayors of major Canadian cities like Edmonton, Otawa, and Vancouver were the first to post on social media that the Return of Kings was not welcome in their areas.
Fox 4 News adds that Texan Governor Greg Abbott also banned the Return of Kings from entering the state, calling their viewpoints "disgusting." Apparently, Valizadeh had planned meetings across 165 US cities.
The Journal reveals that the Return of Kings' meet-ups have also met with international resistance. About 43 nations had been located as places for meet-ups. Australian citizens have openly called for a ban against the group, forbidding their entry. Reada Cronin, councillor of an Irish town, said that there is no place for the group in Ireland. He called their views "misogynist, homophobic, and transphobic."
In face of all this opposition, Valizadeh protested that his blog post on legalized domestic rape was "satire", which his critics failed to comprehend.
