Cologne Attacks Raise Major Questions About Arab Men & Women's Safety In Western Countries

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Cologne Attacks Raise Major Questions About Arab Men & Women's Safety In Western Countries

Over the New Years holiday, Germany experienced significant attacks of a wide-ranging nature on women living there. Writing for The New Yorker, Amy Davidson describes the scene -- NPR estimates that 1000 men gathered by Cologne's famous cathedral and central hub train station -- on New Year's Eve in Cologne as reported in Der Spiegel:

That night, as revellers filled the station platforms and—following a dubious German tradition—tossed firecrackers, they were pushed out into already crowded streets. There, groups of men who, according to eye-witness accounts and subsequent police investigations, were primarily foreigners from nations in North Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans, targeted women and surrounded them. Some of the men groped and taunted them, while others stole their wallets and their cell phones. Women, accompanied or not, literally ran a ‘gauntlet’ through masses of heavily intoxicated men that words cannot describe.” The atmosphere was “chaotic and shameless.” Women reported men grabbing at their breasts and between their legs, among other violent and sexual assaults. With the press of the crowd, there was nowhere for the women to go and, although they screamed for help, the police had no effective response; the report described them as overwhelmed, and some witnesses said that they seemed to stand by in confusion. The police report expressed relief that no one was killed, but that appears to have been a matter of luck, not the result of any actions on the part of law enforcement. The chief of police has already been pushed into early retirement.

"A lot happened on New Year's Eve in Cologne, much of it contradictory, much of it real, much of it imagined," wrote the staff of Der Spiegel, who obtained an internal police document about the night's events. "Some was happenstance, some was exaggerated and much of it was horrifying."

Boys Club | Blogger Raif Badawi Case Referred Back To Saudi Supreme Court

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The second lashing of Saudi blogger and father of three young daughters Raif Badawi has been sent back to Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court. Badawi was not flogged yesterday, based on a doctor’s assertion that it might kill him, after last week’s 50 lashes.

Given the lack of a penal code in the Saudi court system, we’re not exactly sure what this means. All are hopeful, however, for the release of Raif Badawi.

The current punishment calls for Raif Badawi to receive 1000 lashes over a period of 20 consecutive weeks, along with 10 years in prison and a fine of about $260,000. Badawi, 31, was found guilty of offences related to his blog, the Saudi Free Liberals Forum, as well as accusations that he insulted Islam.

Protests erupted worldwide and on AOC,  as news of the punishment came via UK’s Amnesty International. To add insult to injury, Saudi leaders marched in Paris last Sunday in support of free speech. Thankfully, the whole world was watching the ultimate in national hypocrisy by the Saudi government!

Protests to free Raif Badawi erupted around the world in front of Saudi embassies. Ensaf Haidar, the blogger’s wife, believes that if leaders such as UK Prime Minister David Cameron and — presumably — US Secretary of State John Kerry put pressure on the Saudi government, her husband would be deported to join her in Quebec, Canada.

Haidar and their three children fled to Canada after a Saudi cleric issued a fatwa against her husband in 2011, leading to an attempt on his life. The Guardian writes:

Haidar revealed that because of the attention the case was getting she had to tell her young children – Najwa, 11, Terad, 10, and Miriam, seven – what was happening. “Raif is all over the internet, so I wanted them to hear from their mother and not from someone they don’t know. It was very hard for them to understand. It’s a very brutal thing for children to hear and they were very sad. They had a lot of questions and they were very worried for him.”

Haidar’s own family have been forced to disown her and Badawi’s father had to appear on Saudi television to condemn his son – the Saudi authorities will punish entire families of those they see as dissidents.

 

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Israeli Newspapers Photoshop Out Women Leaders From Paris March

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Israeli Newspapers Photoshop Out Women Leaders From Paris March

The actual photo from Sunday that included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and EU foreign affairs, security chief Frederica Mogherini and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

Eye | John Galliano Returns At Teatime London | Hollywood Stands For Charlie | Adidas Originals Ad Campaign

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Helen Mirren shows support for free speech, holding Je Suis Charlie sign at January 11 Golden Globe awards in Hollywood.Adidas Originals | #OriginalSuperstar

Some of the best, memorable ad campaigns are launched by athletic brands, and the new Adidas Originals campaign hits a real high note inspite of a strong bass line. In the age of selfiedom — now promoted in more not memorable Spring 2015 campaigns than we can count — Adidas has a values-driven message: stop being obsessed with your own fame.

You can live through the lives of celebrities, says Adidas, even if you are Rebecca Harrington writing about her adventures in celebrity dieting in I’ll Have What She’s Having, out this week from Vintage. New York Magazine features Harrington’s ‘I Tried Taylor Swift’s Diet and It Was A Joy’.

John Galliano Returns to Runway Today

John Galliano with model Cara Delevingne at a London party December 2014.Former Dior Creative Director and Designer John Galliano will return to the fashion world today, as he debut’s French Label Maison Martin Margiela Artisanal collection at London’s menswear show. WWD reports that Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz, Burberry’s Christopher Bailey and milliner Stephen Jones are expected to attend the event.

Jones says that the event will occur at 4:30 pn London time at a “warehouse space in Westminster”.” It’s ‘Teatime’,” explained Margiela spokeswoman Jade Guishard, “which is very English.”

Perfect Timing?

If Guishard is right and timing is everything in life, Galliano might wish for a different day to showcase his work. The impetuous, alcoholic design talent, who has received major support from Vogue’s Anna Wintour and supermodel Kate Moss in his recovery, faced a deadly public relations backlash over his antisemetic, drunken February 2011 rant at the La Perle cafe in the Marais.

Unfortunately, the Marais is also the location of Paris’ terrorist attack at a kosher supermarket, with four dead bodies now headed for Israel, rather than burial in France. Anti-Semetic attacks and incidents in France more than doubled during 2014, says the French Ministry of Interior. About 7,000 French Jews moved to Israel from France in 2014 up from 3,300 in 2013. It’s believed that 15,000 French Jews will migrate to Israel this year, writes Middle East Eye.

Note that anti-Muslim attacks have also increased in France and throughout Europe over the same period.

Whether current events will impact the viability of Galliano’s return to fashion design will be decided after the first collections are shown. Galliano may no longer be relevant as a designer, writes The Guardian. Certainly his theatrical, over-the-top designs have no place at Martin Margiela. After phase one’s focus on the clothes, European retailers will decide whether or not to embrace again fashion’s bad boy now enjoying a revitalized, sober life based on values that resonate — or so he says.

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Eye | Spring 2015 Designer Brands | Ralph Lauren

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Ralph Lauren brings safari splendor to new heights — or volumes — with Bruce Weber’s kickoff of the first image of Sanne Vloet surrounded by camels and the incredible safari-inspired gown that closed out Lauren’s Spring 2015 designer show.

As we wait for more images from the Ralph Lauren Spring 2015 campaign, enjoy Lauren’s safari-inspired glamour from the ready-to-wear collection.

Ralph Lauren Spring 2015 Polo Restaurant

The Polo Bar is located just a few steps east of Ralph Lauren’s flagship store at Fifth Avenue and 55th Street. WritesThe New York Times:

“I’m about longevity, I’m about timeless,” Mr. Lauren said, sipping a cup of his own brand of coffee. “It was not my idea to be trendy. I don’t want to be the hot restaurant. I want to be the restaurant you want to go to twice a week.”

Ralph & Ricky Lauren: 50 Years and Counting