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she-is-ovarit · 11 months

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This is... huge.

GENEVA (22 May 2023) – Threats and intimidation against women expressing their opinions on sex and sexual orientation is deeply concerning, said Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls in a statement today. In the context of disagreements between some women’s rights activists and transgender in a number of countries in the Global North. Alsalem warned that violence against women and intimidation against people for expressing differing views.

“Discrimination based on sex and sexual orientation is prohibited in international and regional human rights law.

I am concerned by the shrinking space in several countries in the Global North for women and feminist organisations and their allies to gather and/or express themselves peacefully in demanding respect for their needs based on their sex and/or sexual orientation.

Law enforcement has a crucial role in protecting lawful gatherings of women and ensuring women’s safety and rights to freedom of assembly and speech without intimidation, coercion, or being effectively silenced. It is clear that where law enforcement has failed to provide the necessary safeguards, we have witnessed incidents of verbal and physical abuse, harassment, and intimidation, with the purpose of sabotaging and derailing such events as well as silencing the women who wish to speak at them.

I am disturbed by the frequent tactic of smear campaigns against women, girls and their allies on the basis of their beliefs on non-discrimination based on sex and same-sex relations. Branding them as “Nazis,” “genocidaires” or “extremists” is a means of attack and intimidation with the purpose of deterring women from speaking and expressing their views. Such actions are deeply troubling, as they are intended to instill fear in them, shame them into silence, and incite violence and hatred against them. Such acts severely affect the dignified participation of women and girls in society.

I am also concerned by the way in which provisions that criminalise hate speech based on a number of grounds, including gender expression or gender identity, have been interpreted in some countries. Women and girls have a right to discuss any subject free of intimidation and threats of violence. This includes issues that are important to them, particularly if they relate to parts of their innate identity, and on which discrimination is prohibited. Holding and expressing views about the scope of rights in society based on sex and gender identity should not be delegitimised, trivialised, or dismissed.

According to international human rights law, any restriction on freedom of expression should be carried out strictly in accordance with the human rights standards of legality, necessity, proportionality and to serve a legitimate aim. Those disagreeing with the views of women and girls expressing concerns related to gender identity and sex also have a right to express their opinion. However, in doing so they must not threaten the safety and integrity of those they are protesting against and disagreeing with. Sweeping restrictions on the ability of women and men to raise concerns regarding the scope of rights based on gender identity and sex are in violation of the fundamentals of freedom of thought and freedom of belief and expression and amounts to unjustified or blanket censorship.

Of particular concern are the various forms of reprisals against women, including censorship, legal harassment, employment loss, loss of income, removal from social media platforms, speaking engagements, and the refusal to publish research conclusions and articles. In some cases, women politicians are sanctioned by their political parties, including through the threat of dismissal or actual dismissal.”

ENDS

Reem Alsalem is the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences;

The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

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a-room-of-my-own · 11 months

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“Discrimination based on sex and sexual orientation is prohibited in international and regional human rights law.

I am concerned by the shrinking space in several countries in the Global Northfor women and feminist organisations and their allies to gather and/or express themselves peacefully in demanding respect for their needs based on their sex and/or sexual orientation.

I am disturbed by the frequent tactic of smear campaigns against women, girls and their allies on the basis of their beliefs on non-discrimination based on sex and same-sex relations. Branding them as “Nazis,” “genocidaires” or “extremists” is a means of attack and intimidation with the purpose of deterring women from speaking and expressing their views. Such actions are deeply troubling, as they are intended to instill fear in themshame them into silence, and incite violence and hatred against them. Such acts severely affect the dignified participation of women and girls in society.

According to international human rights law, any restriction on freedom of expression should be carried out strictly in accordance with the human rights standards of legality, necessity, proportionality and to serve a legitimate aim. Those disagreeing with the views of women and girls expressing concerns related to gender identity and sex also have a right to express their opinion. However, in doing so they must not threaten the safety and integrity of those they are protesting against and disagreeing with.Sweeping restrictions on the ability of women and men to raise concerns regarding the scope of rights based on gender identity and sex are in violation of the fundamentals of freedom of thought and freedom of belief and expression and amounts to unjustified or blanket censorship.

Reem Alsalem is the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences;

#yeeeeaaaahhhhh !!!!!#gender critical #feminism #transgender #radfem

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tieflingkisser · 2 months

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Law for Palestine Releases Database with 500+ Instances of Israeli Incitement to Genocide – Continuously Updated

Since the commencement of our investigative efforts on October 7th, 2023, Law for Palestine has meticulously amassed a compelling body of evidence exposing the proliferation of incitement to violence and genocidal intent perpetrated by Israeli officials and public figures, against Palestinians. Our documentation encompasses over 500 incitements of violence and genocidal incitement, appearing in the forms of social media posts, television interviews, and official statements from Israeli politicians, army personnel, journalists, and other influential personalities. These reprehensible incitements have been categorized into significant thematic areas, including genocidal intent, forced displacement, and collective punishment. What makes this evidence all the more disconcerting is its origin, emanating from the upper echelons of the Israeli government, including the President, Prime Minister, Knesset members, military personnel, and law enforcement. Law for Palestine now publishes this database as a crucial resource for use by the international community, resolute in our commitment to combat the impunity that Israel enjoys and work to bring an end to the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. Together, let us stand united in the pursuit of justice and the cessation of atrocities against the Palestinian people.

#free palestine #palestine #news

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socialjusticeinamerica · 2 years

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Republikkkans are deliberately inciting their deplorables to violence against us.

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mariacallous · 5 months

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The failure to “fully confront” war crimes and the root causes of the 1990s conflicts continues to have devastating consequences for respect for human rights, the rule of law and social cohesion in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner Dunja Mijatovic said in a report published on Thursday.

Almost three decades after the end of the Yugoslav wars, with victims, witnesses and suspects ageing and dying, and with less and less available evidence, criminal prosecutions for wartime crimes are becoming more difficult, Mijatovic explained in the report entitled ‘Dealing with the Past for a Better Future’.

“Time is running out to achieve effective justice, compensation and truth for the victims,” she said.

“The prosecution for war crimes, the search for missing persons and the provision of compensation to victims have recently slowed down or stagnated mainly due to a lack of political will,” she added.

She said that backtracking in the process of dealing with the past “coincides with negative trends in the field of human rights” such as an increase in hate speech, genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals.

“It ultimately threatens the hard-won peace,” she warned.

Mijatovic pointed out that “ethno-nationalist discourse” has been “reinvigorated” in the region, seriously hindering efforts towards reconciliation.

She accused politicians, media, religious leaders and public figures of spreading “harmful narratives”.

“Narratives and actions that cause division and hatred have become a general political strategy, including around elections, and are dangerously undermining efforts to prevent the recurrence of violence,” she said.

The search for missing persons, which helps to establish the truth about the 1990s wars, has slowed down in the last few years, even though 9,876 people are still missing, the report noted.

Numerous civilian victims of the war in the region are still without effective access to adequate reparations, and none of the former Yugoslav countries have adopted comprehensive reparation programmes in line with United Nations guidelines, the report said.

Mijatovic added that other key measures, such as establishing truth and reconciliation commissions, vetting public officials and inclusive memorialisation, have also not been implemented.

She argued that cooperation between ex-Yugsolav states is of key importance in dealing with the past, and called for a revival of efforts aimed at justice and reconciliation, with a victim-oriented approach and zero tolerance for denials of genocide and the incitement of hatred towards other ethnic groups.

She also stressed the intergenerational importance of dealing with the past, calling for more youth engagement and ethnically integrated education systems and history lessons.

“It is crucial to strengthen political and financial support for a strong and resilient civil society working on transitional justice. Civil society is currently the best hope for a better future based on human rights and the rule of law,” she said.

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beardedmrbean · 8 months

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Three men have been arrested in connection with a violent riot following a Quran burning in Sweden.

Unrest erupted after an Iraqi anti-Islam activist Salwan Momika set fire to a copy of the Islamic holy book on Sunday.

Police said they detained 10 people for disturbing public order in the city of Malmo.

Several vehicles were set on fire after about hundred people gathered in response to the burning.

Mr Momika set fire to a Quran in Varnhemstorget, a main square in the city on Sunday afternoon. He has previously desecrated the Quran, in a series of anti-Islam protests, and his actions have caused diplomatic outrage across the Middle East.

Officers said they were pelted with stones, while some demonstrators threw electric scooters at police vehicles.

Several police cars were set on fire in Malmo's Rosengard neighbourhood, which has a a large immigrant population, and has experienced other violent protests in the past.

"I understand that a public gathering like this arouses strong emotions, but we cannot tolerate disturbances and violence like the ones we saw on Sunday afternoon," Malmo police area commander Petra Stenkula told local media.

"It is extremely regrettable to once again see violence and vandalism at Rosengard."

Scandinavia has witnessed a spate of Quran burnings this year.

In June, Mr Momika set fire to a copy outside Stockholm's central mosque, as Muslims celebrated the first day of Eid al-Adha - one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar.

Swedish police had given Mr Momika a permit for the protest, in accordance with their staunch free-speech laws. It later emerged the incident was being investigated for incitement of hatred.

In January, Rasmus Paludan, a politician from the Danish far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party, burnt a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.

Last month, neighbouring Denmark, which has also seen a several public burnings of the Quran, said it planned to ban public desecration of holy books.

Sweden has pledged to explore legal means of abolishing protests that involve burning texts in certain circumstances.

#nunyas news

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swiftsnowmane · 1 year

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Archives of Bahá’í Persecution in Iran

This Archive, which records the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran, has been established by the Bahá’í International Community in response to rising interest both internationally and within Iran to understand the depth and breadth of this persecution. The documents shed light on the decades-long, systematic, and ongoing persecution of the Baha’is, instigated by the clergy and by the government.

"The website, available in both English and Persian....covers a wide range of incidents including systematic discrimination, arrests and imprisonments, physical violence and executions, economic oppression and deprivation, exclusion from education, acts of property destruction and cemetery desecration, and propaganda and incitement to hatred.

This unique collection now contains more than 10,000 documents, images, and audio and video records of instances of persecution in Iran dating back as far as 1848, although the great majority of cases represented in the archive relate to the most recent wave of persecutions that has occurred since 1979. These records, which include copies of government and judicial documents, clerical fatwas, newspaper articles, and other accounts, are presented not only as images of original documents but, importantly, have also been transcribed and made available in text format in Persian and with English translations. The monumental work undertaken to date means that this site has now developed into a resource of unparalleled significance, not only for historians, researchers, film-makers, journalists, and human rights advocates, but also for individuals who may wish to learn about and remember the sacrifices made by their own friends and family members.

The Universal House of Justice has asked us to formally bring the existence of this website to your attention as a resource to assist the worldwide Bahá’í community in defending the rights of the Bahá’ís in Iran and to support a more effective communication of the scope and severity of the persecution to governments, civil society, and the media.

The upsurge in the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran in recent months has given rise to countless expressions of concern and support from leaders of thought, politicians, human rights advocates, and many others. The current social turmoil enveloping Iran has also demonstrated that the oppression which has been suffered by the Bahá’ís for generations is now being visited upon a broad cross section of the Iranian people, with the result that the example of constructive resilience as well as patience which the Bahá’ís have demonstrated throughout the many decades of persecution is becoming increasingly recognized and examined."

—The Universal House of Justice, Department of the Secretariat

The Bahá’í Faith was born in 19th century Persia with the appearance of two prophetic figures—the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. The Báb’s mission was to prepare the way for the coming of a Promised One foretold in all the world’s religions. Bahá’u’lláh claimed to be that Promised One with a divine mission to usher in a new stage of humanity’s unity as a single entity living in a common homeland. His teachings outlined a framework for the emergence of a global civilization that would advance both the spiritual and material dimensions of life. Among those teachings are the oneness of the entire human race; the independent search after truth; the abolition of all forms of prejudice; the harmony which must exist between religion and science; and the equality of men and women. For more information about the Bahá’í Faith visit the official website.

#Baha'i Faith #Baha'is in Iran #Persecution of Baha'is in Iran #Iranian history #Baha'i history #religious persecution #this is why my family and pretty much everyone I knew growing up in the Iranian diaspora had to flee Iran

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dontmeantobepoliticalbut · 2 years

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The news cycle was packed on the last Monday in March. Reporters from coast to coast spent the day feverishly working on stories about the Oscars slap heard ‘round the world, President Joe Biden calling for regime change in Russia, Republican politicians dabbling in cocaine and group sex, and the confirmation process for the first Black female United States Supreme Court Justice.

Things hummed in similar fashion at right-wing outlets, which added their takes to the online cacophony. But at the end of the day, one story assignment popped into the inboxes of a large, yet highly select set of conservative media: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signing the Parental Rights in Education Act.

DeSantis and his friends in conservative media claim the law, which critics have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, is a measure to protect kids from being groomed and prematurely introduced to sexual subject matter at school. It was passed in response to growing outrage, particularly online, a moral panic over teachers supposedly sexualizing their classrooms.

Although educators, LGBTQ people, and their allies have fiercely resisted the law, it’s been widely touted in right-wing circles, part of an effective media campaign by the administration to shunt criticism and tout its importance.

Emails obtained by the Daily Dot reveal the DeSantis administration’s talking points on the Don’t Say Gay bill, a blend of fact and fiction sent to a slew of reporters, producers, editors, and far-right influencers, who in turn covered it in lockstep with the Governor’s views.

This report is based on nearly 900 pages of documents received from a public records request and dozens of articles and tweets by the more than 50 members of the media who received the same email from DeSantis’ press secretary the day he signed the "Don’t Say Gay" bill. These documents, articles, and tweets further underscore how the prominent homophobic and transphobic Twitter account Libs of TikTok factored in as Florida proposed, then passed, the controversial "Don’t Say Gay" law.

The Daily Dot received these records from a request for emails and correspondence from or by DeSantis, his press office, and then-Press Secretary Christina Pushaw that mentioned Libs of TikTok or its account holder Chaya Raichik.

Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok has been described as “an anti-LGBTQ+ hate machine” whose posts incite attacks on teachers, children’s hospitals, and Pride events. (Raichik insists she merely amplifies content and is blameless for the bomb and death threats, violence, and trolling.)

Her account exploded after she created it in late 2020; by the following October, she had 370,000 Twitter followers. But few outside the right-wing Twitter bubble had heard of Libs of TikTok.

One influential and active Twitter user was very familiar with Raichik: DeSantis’ Press Secretary, Christina Pushaw. (Pushaw is now the director of rapid response for his reelection campaign.) In April, Media Matters reported that Pushaw and Raichik had interacted on Twitter over 100 times since June 2021. The previous month, Pushaw said Libs of TikTok “truly opened my eyes” on LGBTQ curriculum in schools.

Records the Daily Dot received show that Raichik communicated with DeSantis’ team.

On Oct. 28, 2021, Raichik DMed to confirm that DeSantis had banned mask mandates in schools. “Have a recording from OCPS board meeting where a board member asks for a 6 week mask mandate for k-12,” she wrote.

Although the account on the other end is not identified, it appears to be Pushaw. It replied in the affirmative and added that the state was withholding funds from schools, including the district Raichik referenced, for disobeying DeSantis’ anti-mask decree.

“We have a legislative session in a couple of weeks to make new laws that strengthen protections for the parents of public school kids, so we can better enforce this law,” she added.

The "Don’t Say Gay" bill was also introduced that session.

The correspondence between Raichik and DeSantis’ team picked back up months later, per records the Daily Dot obtained.

Neither DeSantis’ office nor his campaign, where Pushaw now works, responded to an emailed request for comment on Tuesday.

On March 8, the day the Florida legislature passed the "Don’t Say Gay" bill, Raichik attempted to tell on KinderCare, a privately-held, national provider of childcare and education, for supposedly offering “LGBTQ curriculum.”

“This is illegal in Florida,” she wrote.

The account replied that the Governor hadn’t signed the bill yet, hence the “LGBTQ curriculum”—where kids were asked to switch the caps of markers—wasn’t illegal yet.

However, it reassured Raichik that she’d sent her concerns to the deputy chief of staff in charge of education. “I think if anyone can think of a way to put a stop to this it’s him,” the account wrote. “And he always talks to the gov.”

While Raichik would send tweets to inform on teachers, the account sent Pushaw’s tweets to Libs of TikTok to be amplified.

DeSantis’ press office’s communications about the "Don’t Say Gay" bill and the ensuing coverage of it in right-wing media provide a vivid illustration of just how effective the Florida Governor’s efforts to control the press on the topic were.

On March 28, the day DeSantis signed the bill, his office posted a public release describing the legislation as a “historic” effort to “protect parental rights in education.”

Behind the scenes, his press team worked 50 people in the conservative press. An email from Pushaw went to reporters, producers, and editors at a broad spectrum of outlets ranging from the biggest names in right-wing and social media to obscure blogs and local publications. More than a dozen Fox News employees were on the list, as were people at intensely partisan outlets like the Epoch Times, Post Millennial, and Breitbart News; right-wing political figure Dan Bongino; and influencers Ian Miles Cheong and Brandon Straka.

By analyzing online archives and social media records, the Daily Dot found that each of the two dozen outlets Pushaw contacted covered Don’t Say Gay bill’s signing: Fox News, Epoch Times, Daily Wire, Rebel News, Breitbart News, The Federalist, Daily Caller, Florida’s Conservative Voice, two ABC affiliates, The Capitolist, Washington Examiner, National Review, The Blaze, Telemundo, The Post Millennial, One America News Network (OAN), PJ Media, The Free Press, Newsmax, Newsweek, Town Hall, Alachua Chronicle, and El American.

Many outlets that didn’t receive this email also covered DeSantis signing the bill, and the ones she emailed may have already planned to do so. Some on her list also appear to have attended the bill’s signing.

The content of Pushaw’s email is reflected in the tone and tenor of the recipients’ coverage of the "Don’t Say Gay" bill.

Articles by outlets on Pushaw’s list accused Democrats of “misleadingly attack[ing] … ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill” (Fox News), called it the “parental notification bill” (Daily Wire), and praised the governor for “prevent[ing] the sexualization of children” (El American) by signing the “anti-grooming bill” (The Post Millennial and Rebel News).

Pushaw’s email includes a “myth vs fact” attachment that “debunks common false narratives.”

In its first fact, it says the bill doesn’t ban the word “gay.”

The media echoed this point. “The bill does not ban the word ‘gay’ in school settings,” Fox News wrote.

The document also claims that the bill is about parental rights and implies that schools give kids prescription medication without parental consent. “Schools should never give students medical treatments (for example, cross sex hormones for students who identify as transgender) behind their parents’ backs,” it states.

The Epoch Times noted the bill “reinforces the fundamental rights of parents to make decisions” and ensures parents will be notified and allowed to opt out of any medical care schools might provide their children.

As PolitiFact reported in 2011, Florida already requires schools to obtain written consent before providing any medication, even over-the-counter medications like aspirin. There are no documented cases of Florida schools giving children hormone replacement therapy or puberty blockers, which require a prescription.

While the right-wing press regurgitated the Governor’s claim that the law is necessary to stop schools from sexualizing kids, the email Pushaw sent acknowledged that Florida’s educational standards don’t actually include “inappropriate sexual content or gender ideology.”

Not many of the ideologically affiliated outlets noted the bill was passed to prevent something that Florida was openly admitting wasn’t happening. That’s perhaps because Pushaw insisted schools were teaching those matters nevertheless.

Yet, nearly all her examples of supposed inappropriate instruction kids receive in school occurred outside Florida.

Pushaw also found a way to work Libs of TikTok into her section on what wouldn’t be allowed under Florida’s bill, highlighting a video from the account that happened in Illinois.

The bill also shared a number of examples from other conservative channels like The Post Millennial and The Federalist, the same ones receiving the release Pushaw sent to hype the bill, part of a recursive right-wing loop that’s helped stoke this current panic.

Right-wing coverage of the bill was in lockstep.

Some outlets—particularly the larger, national ones—did address criticisms of the bill and analyze it to varying degrees.

Most on Pushaw’s list glossed over or entirely omitted the fact that "Don’t Say Gay" regulates classroom discussion in all the grades, focusing instead on its prohibition of instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Even the stories that do quote the bill’s language include lines like this one in the National Review, “Rather than a bigoted effort to ostracize LGBTQ students and faculty, the bill is explicit that it is designed to keep curriculum about sexuality out of kindergarten through third-grade classrooms.”

One of Pushaw’s key points, which proponents often repeat, is that the bill doesn’t ban the word “gay” in schools.

“Throughout the bill’s travels through committees as well as the state House and Senate, it has been criticized by some as being anti-LGBTQ and dubbed the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, although the word ‘gay’ doesn’t appear in the verbiage of the legislation,” the Epoch Times noted.

The bill may not include the word “gay,” but it does say “sexual orientation”—twice. Human Rights Campaign Legal Director Sarah Warbelow further pointed out that, while it may not include that specific word, all the content and conduct its supporters claim violates the law concerns LGBTQ people and issues.

“We know that this isn’t going to cause school districts to stop having students read Shakespeare, for example, Romeo & Juliet,” Warbelow said.

The document also claims that it’s a “myth” that the bill requires schools to out LGBTQ kids to their parents, which can be harmful and dangerous—even deadly. Warbelow, an attorney, says this is an inaccurate interpretation, as the law requires schools to get parental consent before providing students with mental health counseling.

The Washington Examiner wrote, “Provisions in the new law bar school officials from ‘[discouraging] or [prohibiting] parental notification of and involvement in critical decisions affecting a student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being.’”

The outlet did not note that this could require schools to effectively reveal their child’s sexual orientation to a parent or guardian.

“Not only is that the only logical way to read that provision, based on leaked documents within numerous counties within Florida, that is how their general counsels are interpreting that provision,” Warbelow told the Daily Dot in a phone conversation on Thursday.

Many of its critics point out that "Don’t Say Gay" is aimed at the LGBTQ community broadly, but most especially at transgender and nonbinary people. Each of the four things Pushaw points to as an example of unacceptable, i.e. illegal, things “found in Florida” schools deal with gender identity. Those items include one children’s and one young adult book apiece that feature transgender protagonists, and two graphics designed to help younger children understand the concept of gender identity and sexual orientation.

Told of how DeSantis’ team influenced coverage, Eli Erlick, who founded the Trans Student Educational Resources, opined that they’re polluting the information ecosystem to obscure the bill’s true meaning.

“By withholding these statements from less biased news sources and news sources that will propagate their agenda, they’re creating this circle of discourse about what the Don’t Say Gay bill really is.”

DeSantis can be downright hostile when the media asks him hard questions or refutes his assertions. Pushaw, his former press secretary and current director of rapid response for his campaign, embodies the same mannerisms. She doesn’t hesitate to attack reporters whose coverage or questions rub her the wrong way.

In August 2021, Twitter temporarily suspended Pushaw for directing her followers to “drag” the Associated Press and its reporter over a story that one of DeSantis’ donors was linked to a hedge fund that invested in Regeneron, the COVID-19 treatment that DeSantis was bellowing about all over the media.

Yet she can be helpful when the press is on her side. When a college student contacted her for help writing a response to their school newspaper’s article criticizing "Don’t Say Gay" last April, Pushaw responded just 30 minutes later. Her lengthy email included all the talking points she’d sent right-wing media the day DeSantis signed the bill and some additional thoughts of her own about the “baseless partisan smear” the school newspaper published.

“Please let me know if you have any questions! Kind regards,” Pushaw wrote in closing.

She took a similarly friendly tone when outlets contacted her for comment about the Washington Post’s plans to reveal Chaya Raichik was behind Libs of TikTok that month.

Pushaw provided these outlets with her entire correspondence with the Post reporter, including several of Raichik’s tweets. “She does a great job exposing degeneracy by showcasing liberals in their own words. It’s a shame that any journalist would want to ruin her life,” she wrote.

“This is why you’re the best in the biz,” a Daily Caller reporter responded to Pushaw.

Politicians commonly curate lists of friendly media and tailor their communications accordingly.

“It’s not unusual for government offices or elected officials to send press releases to media outlets they believe will give them favorable coverage. But professional journalists should verify information and challenge any statements that are misleading or raise other concerns,” Rod Hicks, ethics and diversity director of the Society of Professional Journalists told the Daily Dot in an emailed statement that did not address the specifics of DeSantis’ office’s communications with the press.

“One of the most important roles of a journalist is to serve as a watchdog over government affairs for the public.”

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warningsine · 2 years

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A man has been arrested after a handgun was aimed at point-blank range at Argentina’s vice-president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, in what the government described as an apparent assassination attempt.

Fernández de Kirchner survived only because the pistol – which was loaded with five bullets – did not fire, President Alberto Fernández said.

The incident, which Fernández de Kirchner appeared to endure unharmed, took place as she was greeting supporters outside her home in the Recoleta neighbourhood of Buenos Aires at 9pm on Thursday.

“A man pointed a firearm at her head and pulled the trigger,” the president said in a national broadcast. “Cristina is still alive because, for some reason yet to be confirmed, the gun … did not fire.”

He called it “the most serious incident since we recovered democracy” in 1983 and urged political leaders, and society at large, to repudiate the incident.

The Argentinian newspaper Clarín reported that a 35-year-old Brazilian man, who has lived in Argentina since 1993, had been arrested at the scene.

Thousands of Fernández de Kirchner’s supporters are expected to congregate in Buenos Aires’s famous Plaza de Mayo at midday on Friday to show their solidarity with the vice-president and their disgust at Thursday night’s events.

The dramatic events were captured by television cameras outside Fernández’s home, where supporters had been gathering for days to protest against corruption charges filed against her at court. The footage shows a man pushing through supporters, raising a gun to Fernándezde Kirchner’s face and apparently attempting a shot with the pistol, which seems to misfire. Some reports said the man pointed the gun at Fernández de Kirchner but did not fire. The two-time former president, Argentina’s leading political figure, can be seen reacting, covering her face and crouching down. She was reportedly unharmed.

The security minister, Aníbal Fernández, told local the cable news channel C5N that a man had been detained. “A person who was identified by those who were close to him who had a gun was detained by [the vice-president’s] security personnel. They set him aside, found the weapon, and now it must be analysed,” he said.

The minister said the firearm had five bullets “and didn’t fire even though the trigger was pulled”. He declared Friday a national holiday to give people time to “express themselves in defence of life, democracy and in solidarity with our vice-president”.

The level of verbal violence has grown alarmingly among opposition politicians in Argentina this year, mainly centred on corruption charges filed in court against Fernández de Kirchner. Some extreme opposition politicians have called for the death sentence to be reintroduced for the vice-president.

After the incident, a statement from Fernández de Kirchner’s Frente de Todos party said: “The incitement to hatred emanating from different spheres of political, media and judicial power against the former president, only led to a climate of extreme violence.”

The economy minister, Sergio Massa, called the incident an “attempted assassination”.

“When hate and violence prevail over debate, societies are destroyed and situations like these arise: attempted assassination,” he said in a tweet.

The former president Mauricio Macri demanded an immediate investigation into this “extremely serious” attack, “which fortunately caused no harm to the vice-president”.

“They wanted to kill [Fernández de Kirchner],” tweeted Argentina’s foreign minister, Santiago Cafiero. “This is the most serious act of political violence since the return of democracy.”

Fernández de Kirchner, a powerful and divisive figure in Argentina, is embroiled in long-running accusations that she favoured the construction firm of a close ally for road contracts in her home province of Santa Cruz during her two terms as president from 2007 to 2015.

Prosecutor Diego Luciani last week called for a 12-year sentence for Fernández de Kirchner if convicted, provoking widespread protests across Argentina, including in front of her Buenos Aires home. She responded saying the charges were politically motivated and that she is facing “a judicial-mediatic firing squad”.

Fernández de Kirchner has been widely expected to run for the Senate, and possibly the presidency, in next year’s general elections.

Reports the alleged culprit was Brazilian sent shock waves through Brazil where fears have been growing that the extremist rhetoric of its far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, might inspire some kind of violent incident. Brazil is a month away from a presidential election in which Bolsonaro will face his bitter rival, the leftist former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula has reportedly taken to wearing a bullet-proof vest at rallies for fear of a similar attack from rightwing extremists. Last week, the Guardian saw federal police agents checking dustbins for explosive devices before Lula, who is an ally of Fernández de Kirchner, gave a press conference to foreign media in São Paulo. In 2018, Bolsonaro notoriously called for supporters to “machine-gun” their leftist opponents.

News of the incident in Buenos Aires prompted outrage across the region and beyond.

The Cuban president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, said his country was “appalled” and called the incident “attempted murder”.

“Hate will not prevail,” tweeted Sacha Llorenti, Bolivia’s former ambassador to the United Nations.

Gleisi Hoffmann, the president of Brazil’s Workers’ party, said the attack was “the result of political violence and hate speech”.

“Thank God she emerged unscathed,” wrote Lula, who blamed the attack on “a criminal fascist”.

The Chilean president, Gabriel Boric Font, said the attempted assassination ought to be condemned by the entire continent.

“I send my solidarity to her, to the government, and to the Argentinian people,” he tweeted. “The path must always be that of ideas and dialogue, never that of weapons and violence.”

The sentiments were echoed by Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, who also offered his support to the vice-president and all Argentinians.

“Hatred and violence will never triumph over democracy,” he said in a tweet.

#argentina #vice president #Cristina Fernández de Kirchner #politics #assassination attempt

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filosofablogger · 2 years

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Still More Snark Keeps Rollin'

Still More Snark Keeps Rollin’

I’m sure you’re surprised to hear that I have still more angst that must be relieved in the form of snarky snippets, right? I mean … what could possibly be causing me stress in these peaceful, calm, dog days of summer? Well, let’s see … let me count the ways … By the way, before I forget, a special thanks to Scottie of Scottie’s Playtime for the header image of the Aunty Acid meme … he sent it…

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#AG Merrick Garland #FBI search for classified docs #media and politicians inciting violence #Richard Haass #threats of violence

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illiousferret · 1 year

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cw / tw mass shooting, fucked up politics

hi so like. the colorado shooting. fucking godawful, yeah? people lost their lives, families and friends lost their loved ones. all in all, a horrible situation that won't get better for those involved. i'm. so. fucking. sick and tired. of shootings like this being politicized to the extent they are. turns out the shooter is claiming to be nonbinary. i can't contain the actual fucking anger and disgust that i feel seeing conservatives posting - gloating about it, as if it changes the fact that there were people that lost their lives. pieces of shit like shapiro, walsh, and libsoftiktok, (and various other large, right-wing people) all fucking parading around this news as if it's some w. it utterly fucking disgusts me.

i don't even know where i'm going with any of this, i'm just frustrated that this is something we have to deal with in this godawful country. even if the shooter actually IS nonbinary, and isn't just trying to avoid getting charged with committing a hate crime, what the fuck does it MATTER? it doesn't change the fact that there are lives that were lost. it doesn't change the fact that these conservative politicians and the conservative media spread rhetoric that will inevitably, and already HAS incited violence (for instance, i saw someone post a video of tucker carlson talking to someone who practically said this was on those who support trans people, saying that we should "expect this").

and the worst part for me, personally, is it hasn't even been a fucking week. it hasn't been a god damned week since it happened, not even time for their loved ones to pause and grieve, and it's already being fucking politicized. it's already being pushed as some fucking narrative that hurts lgbt people. that there's already an agenda that these evil people are trying to push, over the lives of the innocent that were murdered. that this cycle keeps fucking going, and that i'm afraid for the future for what innocent lives could be taken next because of it.

i'm just fucking tired.

#tw #cw #transphobia #homophobia #lgbtphobia #colorado shooting #political #i'm not good with tagging serious stuff #if anyone can add any tags that will help keep this from those who don't want to see this please tell me #as in like tell me the tags i'd need to add here obv #mass shooting

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coochiequeens · 1 year

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The transwoman who originally sued this guy has since passed but he still is facing fines. Just for calling Greece’s self Id bill a disgrace.

An Athens misdemeanor court has sentenced a retired Greek football star to 10 months imprisonment and a 5,000 Euro fine for “transphobic” Facebook posts from 2017, in the first case of its kind in the country.

Vasilis Tsiartas, who formerly played for Greece’s national football team, became the target of legal action following a lawsuit filed by Marina Galanos, a prominent Greek trans activist.

Galanos had called into attention Facebook posts made by Tsiartas following the approval of a bill reforming Greece’s gender self-identification laws in 2017.

The bill, which ultimately passed, removed the medical requirement from the process of changing legal gender, and dropped the minimum age to 15. Prior to this, those who sought to change their gender on official documents had to undergo sex-change surgery and extensive testing.

In response to the contents of the bill, Tsiartas, who has conservative political views, had taken to Facebook to express his thoughts. According to You Weekly, Tsiartas wrote: “The first gender changes should be made by the children of those who voted for this disgrace. Let’s see what pride they have. PS: Legitimize pedophilia and complete the crimes.”

A few hours later, Tsiartas posted: “God created Adam and Eve.”

Tsiartas was not the only notable Greek national who vocally opposed the bill’s passing in 2017. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a politician and the leader of the center-right New Democracy Party, had similarly taken to social media to post on the issue.

On Facebook, Mitsotakis wrote: “It is inconceivable to bar 15-year-olds from consuming alcohol, yet we are enabling them to make such an important decision.”

Mitsotakis has since become the incumbent Prime Minister of Greece.

The Greek Orthodox Church also opposed the legislation and called for it to be withdrawn. Originally in Greek, the Church published a statement saying the bill “defies customs and common sense, and, above all, destroys people.”

Despite the bill’s widespread controversy, Tsiartas was targeted by activists for his comments, and subjected to a lawsuit filed by Marina Galanos, who was then the President of the Transgender and Intersex Support Association. Galanos passed away in 2021 while the proceedings were still in progress.

Tsiartas’ conviction for his statements is the first under Greek’s “anti-racist” law 927/1979 for “public incitement to violence or hatred due to gender identity.” The 927/1979 law, while named for racial discrimination, was amended in 2014 to cover a wide spectrum of protected characteristics including race, color, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.

Tsiartas was ultimately sentenced to 10 months imprisonment and a 5,000 Euro fine. The jail term is suspended, meaning Tsiartas will not spend any time behind bars unless he commits another violation within a certain conditional time frame.

Following Tsiartas’ conviction on Thursday, another man was sentenced for similar “transphobic” statements made on social media as a result of a lawsuit filed by Marina Galanos. The unnamed individual was handed a 7 month jail term, suspended.

Galanos’ lawyer, Vassals Sotiropoulos, boasted about the convictions in a thread posted to social media.

On Twitter, Tsiartas stated he was planning on appealing the conviction, and would be posting further details on his legal plan of action next week.

By Yuliah Alma Yuliah is a junior researcher and journalist at Reduxx. She is a passionate advocate for women's rights and child safeguarding. Yuliah lives on the American east coast, and is an avid reader and book collector.

#Greece #Vasilis Tsiartas #Marina Galanos #Censorship #Facebook #esident of the Transgender and Intersex Support Association

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midnightfunk · 2 years

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Donovan said she hopes her research can help show social media companies and authorities when they need to act before a similar flash point occurs in the future.

“What we’re trying to understand is really the new potent forms of political violence that can come from agitation online, that creates this kind of fervor. And then, once the match is lit by a politician, we have to have appropriate responses by other actors, including not just law enforcement, but journalists and technologists,” Donovan said.

“I do believe that the only way to come at this problem of networked incitement is with a whole of society solution.”

#january sixth #treason #sedition #secession #insurrection

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shortmeteor · 27 days

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This felt sad and relatable...:

We usually didn’t think conspiracy theories were useful (let’s say). They mostly seemed to fulfill psychological needs to make the world make sense. It didn’t for the simple reason that it’s too big, too complex to easily get an adequate overview. Clearly this was why these theories appeared more as we were given more information (mass media, news etc.). So conspiracies simplify everything into a manageable size.

However. What now?

Watching the news today, how can one not become a conspiracy nut? These are, what seems to us, facts: 1) The world is on the brink of an ecological collapse that will create societal collapse, wars, famine, etc., on an unimaginable scale 2) The people “in charge” (politicians, billionaires, etc.) know this and do not intend to do anything to stop, or even mitigate it 3) We see the rise of fascism, and an increase in military spending, police, etc. (the US is the most obvious example, of course), which would seem to be the way to deal with foreign and domestic problems: imprison and/or kill them 4) The gaza situation as (yet another) training ground for this (and for the use of AI etc.) and as a psychological attack on people world-wide (“get used to violence, repression, death, massacres, horror”) 5) AI in general, steal jobs, make it possible to centralize control more, etc., 6) make life even harder so people don’t dare/can’t afford to even protest 7) incite xenophobia to divide people

#conspiracy theories #the world #politics #apocalypse

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lokapriya · 5 months

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New Post has been published on Lokapriya.com

New Post has been published on https://www.lokapriya.com/deepfake-technology-the-potential-risks-of-future-part-i/

DeepFake Technology: The Potential Risks of Future! Part I

Imagine you are watching a video of your favorite celebrity giving a speech. You are impressed by their eloquence and charisma, and you agree with their message. But then you find out that the video was not real. It was a deep fake, a synthetic media created by AI “(Artificial Intelligence) that can manipulate the appearance and voice of anyone. You feel deceived and confused.

This is no longer a hypothetical scenario; this is now real. There are several deepfakes of prominent actors, celebrities, politicians, and influencers circulating the internet. Some include deepfakes of Film Actors like Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves on TikTok, among others. Even Indian PM Narendra Modi’s deepfake edited video was made.

In simple terms, Deepfakes are AI-generated videos and images that can alter or fabricate the reality of people, events, and objects. This technology is a type of artificial intelligence that can create or manipulate images, videos, and audio that look and sound realistic but are not authentic. Deepfake technology is becoming more sophisticated and accessible every day. It can be used for various purposes, such as in entertainment, education, research, or art. However, it can also pose serious risks to individuals and society, such as spreading misinformation, violating privacy, damaging reputation, impersonating identity, and influencing public opinion.

In this article, I will be exploring the dangers of deep fake technology and how we can protect ourselves from its potential harm.

How is Deepfake Technology a Potential Threat to Society?

Deepfake technology is a potential threat to society because it can:

Spread misinformation and fake news that can influence public opinion, undermine democracy, and cause social unrest.

Violate privacy and consent by using personal data without permission, and creating image-based sexual abuse, blackmail, or harassment.

Damage reputation and credibility by impersonating or defaming individuals, organizations, or brands.

Create security risks by enabling identity theft, fraud, or cyber attacks.

Deepfake technology can also erode trust and confidence in the digital ecosystem, making it harder to verify the authenticity and source of information.

The Dangers and Negative Uses of Deepfake Technology

As much as there may be some positives to deepfake technology, the negatives easily overwhelm the positives in our growing society. Some of the negative uses of deepfakes include:

Deepfakes can be used to create fake adult material featuring celebrities or regular people without their consent, violating their privacy and dignity. Because it has become very easy for a face to be replaced with another and a voice changed in a video. Surprising, but true.

Deepfakes can be used to spread misinformation and fake news that can deceive or manipulate the public. Deepfakes can be used to create hoax material, such as fake speeches, interviews, or events, involving politicians, celebrities, or other influential figures.

Since face swaps and voice changes can be carried out with the deepfake technology, it can be used to undermine democracy and social stability by influencing public opinion, inciting violence, or disrupting elections.

False propaganda can be created, fake voice messages and videos that are very hard to tell are unreal and can be used to influence public opinions, cause slander, or blackmail involving political candidates, parties, or leaders.

Deepfakes can be used to damage reputation and credibility by impersonating or defaming individuals, organizations, or brands. Imagine being able to get the deepfake of Keanu Reeves on TikTok creating fake reviews, testimonials, or endorsements involving customers, employees, or competitors.

For people who do not know, they are easy to convince and in an instance where something goes wrong, it can lead to damage in reputation and loss of belief in the actor.

Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Deepfake Technology

Ethical Implications

Deepfake technology can violate the moral rights and dignity of the people whose images or voices are used without their consent, such as creating fake pornographic material, slanderous material, or identity theft involving celebrities or regular people. Deepfake technology can also undermine the values of truth, trust, and accountability in society when used to spread misinformation, fake news, or propaganda that can deceive or manipulate the public.

Legal Implications

Deepfake technology can pose challenges to the existing legal frameworks and regulations that protect intellectual property rights, defamation rights, and contract rights, as it can infringe on the copyright, trademark, or publicity rights of the people whose images or voices are used without their permission.

Deepfake technology can violate the privacy rights of the people whose personal data are used without their consent. It can defame the reputation or character of the people who are falsely portrayed in a negative or harmful way.

Social Implications

Deepfake technology can have negative impacts on the social well-being and cohesion of individuals and groups, as it can cause psychological, emotional, or financial harm to the victims of deepfake manipulation, who may suffer from distress, anxiety, depression, or loss of income. It can also create social divisions and conflicts among different groups or communities, inciting violence, hatred, or discrimination against certain groups based on their race, gender, religion, or political affiliation.

Imagine having deepfake videos of world leaders declaring war, making false confessions, or endorsing extremist ideologies. That could be very detrimental to the world at large.

I am afraid that in the future, deepfake technology could be used to create more sophisticated and malicious forms of disinformation and propaganda if not controlled. It could also be used to create fake evidence of crimes, scandals, or corruption involving political opponents or activists or to create fake testimonials, endorsements, or reviews involving customers, employees, or competitors.

Read More: Detecting and Regulating Deepfake Technology: The Challenges! Part II

#ai #ai-and-deepfakes #cybersecurity #Deep Fake #DeepFake Technology #deepfakes #generative-ai #Modi #Narendra Modi #Security #social media #synthetic-media #web

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