Bible Verses Cast Scourge On Women's Vile & Disgusting Nature

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Vogue Italia is always topical and often irreverent in politically incorrect ways. Posting just now the veiled Clara McNair lensed by Léa Nielsen for the December issue -- coming minutes after hearing the American Muslim father-in-law of San Bernardino terrorist Tashfeen Malik said that he had never seen her face, or even met her -- I remembered earlier Anne writing. Malik always lived under her burka. 

Anne of Carversville is filled with essays about the demands of religious men that they control women's bodies and public personas. As Paris and California, Egypt and Tunisia, Nigeria and Yemen reel from recent terrorist attacks, it might be time for a Bible lesson, one that I wrote on Feb. 25, 2010 called Bound Tightly By the Good Book & God's Will. 

Religious fundamentalism dominates women worldwide, not only Muslim women. In order to maintain perspective, it's important to quote from Christianity's Holy book.. Recently, two Dutch 'pranksters' have scored a YouTube sensation in which they asked members of the public to respond to verses in the Qur'an. Reality is that the duo was quoting from the Bible. 

I share also a followup article written by Lisa Brown Women's Bodies Suffer Under the Immoral Gazes of Righteous Men, written March 8, 2011. 

The provocative fashion editorial images used here were shot by Herring & Herring and styed by Mykel C. Smith. Models in ‘Bound’ include: Damaris Lewis, Julia Goncharenko, Anais Pouliot and Clara Settje.


Gisele Bundchen Burqa Disguise Comes As More Burqa Bans Take Effect

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Gisele’s Burqa Disquise Busted

Did Gisele Bundchen really think she and her sister would remain unknown, scurrying into Paris’ International Clinique du Parc Monceau in open-toed shoes On July 15? Worse yet, the two femmes rode in a car driven by the supermodel’s regular chauffeur.

For real women who must wear burqas or die, open-toed shoes are not permitted.

Gisele reportedly was seeking a nip and tuck on her eyes and her breasts, after having breast-fed two children. The next day her driver picked up the supermodel and sister Rafaela at the Bristol Hotel and drove them to the exclusive Les Sources de Caudalie spa, where the former Victoria’s Secret Angel, who reportedly made $47 million last year as the top model in the world, recovered for five days.

Burqa or not, Gisele was silly to think she could keep her plastic surgery visit under wraps.

On the subject of women wearing burqas, the French are quite sensitive, having banned the burqa on the streets of Paris in 2010.The fact the Gisele pulled the stunt during the month of Ramadan, causing strict Muslims to be offended over her disrespectful act. Her action came at a time when several African countries have instituted new burqa bans, now that the disguise is being used by terrorists.

Then there is the minor matter of Gisele telling her adoring fans that there is “no way” she’d ever have plastic surgery.

Note that there are a few naysayers who insist that the story isn’t true. There have been no denials from the supermodel or members of her staff.

Global Burqa Ban News July 2015

The Dutch debate the burqa — and ban it Politico

The areas covered by the ban — schools, transportation, hospitals and government buildings — are those places where concerns for interpersonal communication and safety are especially critical, said Afshin Ellian, a professor of jurisprudence at the University of Leiden and an expert on multiculturalism, citizenship, and human rights. “People have to be recognizable in such areas,” he said. “And anywhere in a free society, it is crucial that people are able literally to look each other in the face.” In a statement to the press, Plasterk echoed that importance, noting that “in schools you have to be able to look one another in the eyes. If a mother comes to pick her child up at school you need to be able to see if it really is the mother.” (Indeed, in January, 2013, a woman wearing a niqab kidnapped a Muslim child from a local school; the five-year-old girl, who could not see her abductor’s face, thought the kidnapper was her own mother, who also wears a niqab.)

Niger Bans Full Islamic Veil In Diffa After Suspected Boko Haram Bombings International Business Times

Niger banned the full Islamic veil in the country’s southeast border region of Diffa following a spate of suicide bombings by women dressed in the religious garment, an official told Agence France-Presse Wednesday. The attacks have been blamed on the Nigeria-based Boko Haram terror group, which Niger’s army has been battling since February.

“Women in the region are forbidden from wearing the full veil until further notice, in order to prevent suicide attacks by Boko Haram,” Diffa Mayor Hankouraou Biri-Kassoum told AFP.

 

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Queen Rania Pleas For Arab Action Against ISIS

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Queen Rania calls for unity against terrorism GulfNews.com

Jordan’s Queen Rania delivered the comments above and many more, via satellite to the Government Summit in Dubai on Monday, February 2009. Queen Rania was originally scheduled to attend the conference but has remained in Jordan as her husband King Abdullah moves to lead Jordan’s attacks on ISIS over the death of Jordanian pilot Captain Muath Al Kasaesbeh.

Discussions on the future role of governments in this summit could not have come at a more pressing time, said Queen Rania. “We need to act. We are in a race against time to adopt policies and address the priorities which confront us today — most importantly to eliminate the ideology of hate and terrorism.”

She emphasised the need to change education policies in the Arab world to ensure quality education that instils true values of religion, patriotism, coexistence and hard work in the new generations.

To capitalise on the full potential of countries in the Arab world, new policies that foster talent and innovation should be adopted to guarantee enough job opportunities for youth to enter the labour market, said Queen Rania.

Policies should ensure the fair participation of all members of society, women and men, from all ethnic and religious groups, she said.

Many Americans were surprised to learn that the UAE had grounded its military strikes against ISIL/ISIS after the capture of Jordan’s pilot Captain Muath Al Kasaesbeh, unsatisfied with America’s sufficient rescue support systems in the region. The US military rejects the idea that changes were made in response to the UAE action — arguing that rescue support plans were being reshuffled anyway.

The UAE squadron of war planes is striking ISIS targets from Jordan, where they will remain. We currently can’t confirm if Mariam al-Mansouri, who previously led the United Arab Emirates fighter jets attacking ISIL/ISIS is in the new squadron.

Related: Eye | Victoria Beckham Has Passion For UN Ambassador Role |Women & Heart Disease | Apologies To UAE Pilot Major Mariam al-Mansouri

Related: RedTracker: Queen Rania Is Comforter & Activist | Hebun Sinya Killed in Kobani

Anne’s Homes in the Heart of Terrorism

90 West Street New York - The Little Building That Never Bowed To Terrorists Sensual Rebel

I moved to 90 West Street from Jersey City in 2005, wanting to live close to the rebirth of the World Trade Center Area. The events of September 11 had affected me deeply, standing at a municipal building in Jersey City watching the Towers fell. Three of the terrorists lived a few blocks from me, although my beautiful loft was an oasis of its own and I didn’t interact a lot with my community.

My heart was very heavy on September 11, 2001 as I gasped at what was happening. Many people cheered when the World Trade Center towers fell.  They weren’t terrorists — at least I doubt it — but the moment was one of understanding just how complex life had become in America. This complexity has only become more difficult in America and globally in the last decade and a half.

Angelina Jolie Strikes Twice Today

AOC founding muse Angelina Jolie is pictured above at the June 2014 London summit devoted to sexual violence — primarily against women — in war. Angelina embraced Congo campaigner Neema Namadamu, whose own daughter was attacked by a group of men close to home.

Jolie co-hosted the ‘End Sexual Violence in Conflict’ summit in London with former British Foreign Secretary William Hague, her passionate partner in getting G8 nations to formally adopt a policy of treating rape as a war crime.

London Centre on Women, Peace and Security at the London School of Economics

Jolie, a special envoy of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, announced today the creation of a new center that will educate students about the participation of women in “conflict-related processes” and “on enhancing accountability and ending impunity for rape and sexual violence in war,” according to a press release from the London School of Economics.

The Centre is a collaboration among LSE, Mr Hague, Ms Jolie, and the UK Government. Angelina said:

“ I am excited at the thought of all the students in years to come who will study in this new Centre. There is no stable future for a world in which crimes committed against women go unpunished. We need the next generation of educated youth with inquisitive minds and fresh energy, who are willing not only to sit in the classroom but to go out into the field and the courtrooms and to make a decisive difference.”

Brangelina Baby #7

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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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In Solidarity A Million People Or More Reject Radical Islam In Paris

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Biggest Paris Gathering Ever

Estimates of the crowds in Paris today range from the high hundreds of thousands to three million. There is no way to count this many people, but it seems the number of free-speech supporters from around the world in Paris today will settle in around one million. A long list of European heads of government joined French Prime Minister Francois Hollande to march arms and arm as a strong message of international solidarity.

Protestors waved flags in support of the dead cartoonists and other staff at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, the victims of the Marais supermarket seizure, and the dead policewoman on the job for two weeks. Others promoted their own identities as Muslim, Jewish and a host of nationalities — but always with a message of solidarity around pens and pencils and the rights of free speech and public expression. 

Supporting Free Expression In Solidarity With Paris

Two AOC favorites — street activist JR (source of eyeglass banner below) and Queen Rania of Jordan — were in attendance, and we will deal with them in separate articles. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was joined by French President Francois Hollande in a visit to a Parisian synagogue

Left to right in the photo above: Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Union President Donald Tusk, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, Jordan’s Queen Rania, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and other guests.


 

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Self-Moderation & Democratic Principles Under Assault In Paris & Around the World

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On this sad Friday in January, we share news that Saudi blogger Raif Badawi received the first 50 lashes of his 1000 lashes scheduled over the next 20 weeks. The world is rallying on Badawi’s behalf, but there is no evidence that we will be successful on Badawi’s behalf. Please sign the petition in our article.

Sad Day in Paris

This moment the terrorists behind the Charlie Hebdo have hostages in a small printing factory near Charles de Gaulle airport. However, a new hostage takeover by their associates at a Jewish grocery store near Porte de Vincennes. Of course, we are all concerned about these events.

Anne of Carversville: Telling Women’s Stories From Fashion to Flogging

Anne of Carversville has a long history of writing about the conflict of civilizations colliding and the fundamentalists at work in each of them. We are as concerned about the spread of Christian fundamentalism in America as Islamic fundamentalism in Paris.

My own editorial position is not one of being anti-Islamic. I am anti-fundamentalist because adherents of those principles do not believe in free societies. British radical Muslim cleric and lecturer on sharia law Anjem Choudary has written an open letter, published by USA Today, in which he says:

“Contrary to popular misconception, Islam does not mean peace but rather means submission to the commands of Allah alone. Therefore, Muslims do not believe in the concept of freedom of expression, as their speech and actions are determined by divine revelation and not based on people’s desires.”

Soul Spirit Beauty

Being committed to the women of Sudan — to the 40,000 of them that are brutally lashed every year for inappropriate dress and without the world rallying of their behalf as we are for Saudi blogger Raif Badawi — I want to share extraordinary images of the beautiful Sudanese model Ataui Deng, originally from Sudan. (See more on flogging women in Sudan here.)

At this moment, it’s easy for me to explain what ‘fashion to flogging’ is all about at AOC. As Smart Sensuality women and men, we understand that images of Ataui are considered to be heresy in the world of Anjem Choudary.

We see only beauty and not disrespect of any kind in these photographs. And we share a collective belief in self-moderation and democracy — not the lash — as our guide for living and advancing humanity in the 21st century.            ~ Anne

Photographer Jamie Nelson & Model Ataui Deng Create Saturated Beauty Magnificence

Ataui Deng By Tibi Clenci In ‘Art About Heart - La Maison Rouge Paris’ For Exhibition September 2013

Lady Liberty Collides With Fundamentalist Hardliners In Paris

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Lady Liberty Collides With Fundamentalist Hardliners In Paris

Our thoughts are with the people of Paris today, the dead satirists who pushed the envelope of free speech and free expression will speak no more, although a request has gone global for media outlets to publish the anti-Islamic, Charlie Hebdo cartoons tomorrow.

Anne of Carversville will not be among them, as I am blacklasted in the Arab world already and my focus is women’s rights. If Islamists had launched a terrorist attack against the women of Paris for not wearing burquas, we would print anything needed against these brutes who kidnap little girls and decapitate aid workers on international TV.

Probably no single issue in France has done more to divide Muslims and non-Muslims than the burqa ban, a topic at the core of Anne of Carversville’s values and dialogue with women worldwide.  Read on for a look at AOC’s long history on the topic of banning burqas in France.