Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Campaigners Urge UN Torture Investigation Into Jailed Mother’s Captivity
The UN is being urged to investigate the case of jailed British mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe whose 22-month imprisonment in Iran “amounts to torture”.

Nazanin is serving a five-year sentence over allegations, which she denies, of plotting to overthrow the Tehran government, having been arrested in the country while on holiday with her daughter in April 2016.

Nazanin’s husband, Richard Ratcliffe, said on Wednesday: “I think we have passed the threshold where Nazanin’s treatment is torture.

“These ongoing games remain a kind of psychological torture of continual ups and downs, and pressures impacting on Nazanin.”

Submissions made by charity Redress, on behalf of the Free Nazanin campaign, detail for the first time the “exceptionally harsh treatment inflicted” on the 39-year-old, including “conditions of solitary confinement, the psychological pressures in the arbitrary detention and court proceedings, and her use as a tool of pressure in wider diplomatic affairs”.

The UN is being asked to request information from Iran on Nazanin’s treatment; to request the country cease “any torture and ill-treatment immediately” and to investigate the allegations with a view to prosecute those responsible. It also asks that the UN press the UK Government to “ensure that it is taking any necessary steps to fulfill its obligations to protect British citizens from torture and ill-treatment”.

The submission was delayed as Nazanin’s family had been “led to believe” she would be freed, on temporary release, in time for Iranian Independence Day on 11 February.

Independence Day is typically a day when prisoners are released in Iran, Redress said.

“Unless urgent action is taken now, the appalling treatment that Nazanin has suffered at the hands of Iranian authorities is likely to continue, with the devastating consequences that we have already seen on her physical and mental health,” said Rupert Skilbeck, director of Redress.

“The serious allegations of torture and ill-treatment in this case demand a closer and urgent examination from the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.”

Being placed for eight and half months in solitary confinement, “suffering inhumane conditions” in a cell measuring 1.5 x 2 square meters with no window, natural air or light, has had an “extremely severe impact” on Nazanin, Redress said.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has previously considered that solitary confinement amounts to torture or ill-treatment if lasting more than 15 days, the charity noted.

Redress said of Nazanin’s condition:  “Nazanin has suffered from blackouts, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, difficulty walking and moving her arms and hands, and suicidal tendencies. “She continues to report darkly negative feelings, uncontrollable bouts of anger and sometimes feeling numb, unable to join in laughter or conversation. She struggles to be in company and to put on any weight, after having suffered severe weight loss during her detention.”
Redress said it put “particular emphasis” in the submission on the “maximum psychological pressure” that Iranian authorities have exerted on Nazanin with the purpose “to demoralise her and put her in a situation of complete powerlessness”.

The submission states that Nazanin’s treatment “is based on discrimination against her for being a British citizen”, and Redress claims, the aim of it is to  force her into a confession and coerce the British government into negotiating a deal for her release.

Announcing the move, the Free Nazanin campaign detailed how “psychological games remain ongoing” with the judiciary with her family being told in January that she would “likely soon be released”, and then again last week, that the case against her was closed, yet, “there is no release date”.

Richard Ratcliffe had hoped his wife would be released on Boxing Day last year, after a judicial database listed Nazanin as being eligible for early release.

Those hopes came after fears that the mother-of-one’s sentence would be doubled after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson falsely claimed she was in Tehran training journalists.

Later this month Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will be travelling to London and Ratcliffe has requested a meeting to demand his wife’s release.

The UN submissions key claims are:  • The level of psychological abuse in Nazanin’s case meets the UN criteria of torture, particularly given her vulnerability as a mother of a young child. • Her abuse involves the coordinated interaction of a variety of Iranian state agencies. It is not just due to the pressures and manipulations of her interrogators, or the poor conditions of her detention. Her abuse has been coordinated with the use of the court system to arbitrarily invent and close new court cases; the state TV news to spread false and abusive information about her; and even the consular services to assert the authorities’ control over her daughter and access to her family. It constitutes torture because the whole armoury of the state is used to maximise psychological pressure. • The purpose of this abuse to exert political pressure. Nazanin is held as a bargaining chip in ongoing political battles that have nothing to do with us. Court proceedings against Nazanin, propaganda against her, promises of release or even temporary release, are used as an extension of domestic and diplomatic pressure. All these games in Nazanin’s case are used by the Iranian authorities to put pressure on others through Nazanin.
The submission, the Free Nazanin campaign said, had been prompted by a number of factors, such as the second court case, her health and the “promises and games” being played by the Judiciary.

Redress said these included threats that Nazanin’s daughter, Gabriella – who is staying with her grandparents in Iran and currently visits her mother twice a week – would be sent back to the United Kingdom, “and that she would not see her daughter again”.

The call for an urgent intervention from the UN expert on torture comes at a “moment when there has been a deterioration in the situation of a number of dual nationals in Iran”, Redress said.

It cited the cases of Canadian-Iranian professor Kavous Seyed Emami, who died in prison on 9 February 2018, after being in detention for 17 days, and 81-year-old US-Iranian citizen Baquer Namazi, who was brought back to prison on 6 February 2018, less than two weeks after he had been granted temporary leave because of potentially fatal heart problems.

Richard Ratcliffe’s full statement:  “I think we have passed the threshold where Nazanin’s treatment is torture. These ongoing games remain a kind of psychological torture of continual ups and downs, and pressures impacting on Nazanin. I have asked the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture to follow up on Nazanin’s case with both governments, to respect their obligations to protect Nazanin, and to find a way to bring her home.” “I would like to meet the Iranian Minister when he comes to the UK to ask how he plans to bring this torture to an end? What is blocking her release now she is eligible? Now that the Judiciary have approved?” “I have requested to meet the Deputy Foreign Minister. I have even invited him to Nazanin’s, Gabriella’s and my house. I have spent a long time criticising the Iranian government – but it is important to give them a chance to explain: how they are planning to bring her home. It is a point of basic respect – that I offer him the chance to see Nazanin’s home and the pictures of her and Gabriella on the wall, to affirm that Iran’s government protects its citizens.” “The question Nazanin asks: If the Judiciary is independent, as President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarif have told the world repeatedly, now the case has been closed by the Judiciary and IRGC, and in the hands of the MFA – why is Nazanin still in prison? What is the MFA holding on for? I promised Nazanin that is the question I will ask the Minister, and request journalists ask on our behalf.” “At Christmas it felt we were so close to a release. That is what we were told to look out for on December 28, that is what the computer said. It is what it still says now. So it is not clear why the conversation moved back to one about furlough. That is where we were back in August. Talk of temporary release feels far less than the situation merits. Now she is eligible for release. Not just a holiday from prison, but time to come home. But in truth anything that gets her out of prison this Valentines can only be a good thing.” “Three months ago the Foreign Secretary promised he would leave no stone unturned. It is almost two months since his trip to Iran. It is more than one month since our Christmas hopes did not come to pass. We can’t keep waiting in the doorway of our dreams, waiting for the governments to deliver. So that is why we have resumed campaigning. That is why we have requested to meet the visiting Minister.” “Nazanin asked me to extend her deepest sympathy to all the new prisoners and the families of those recently arrested, but particularly the family of Prof. Seyed-Emami. They remain in her prayers, and the prayers of the women’s ward.”

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/nazanin-zaghari-ratcliffe_uk_5a82f56be4b0892a035342bb

Lawsuit Reveals Vice’s Toxic Culture Includes Massive Gender Pay Disparity

Vice has fostered a culture of sexual harassment and gender disparity for years, and now it could be open to several class action suits. 

www.advocate.com/media/2018/2/13/lawsuit-reveals-vices-toxic-culture-includes-massive-gender-pay-disparity

Was Adam Rippon robbed at his Olympic debut?
Rippon ripped off?

www.queerty.com/adam-rippon-robbed-olympic-debut-20180213?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Wandergruppe wird von Bär überrascht – dann wird ein Hund zum tragischen Helden

www.huffingtonpost.de/entry/hund-bar-wandern-held_de_5a8358e0e4b0cf06751f7463

‘음주운전’ 준케이 “깊이 반성, 2PM·팬에 미안”..JYP “향후 활동중지”[종합]

www.huffingtonpost.kr/entry/2pm-junk_kr_5a838698e4b02b66c5131364

「ちゆ12歳」バーチャルYouTuberデビューにインターネット老人会が歓喜　現実にさよならを告げる表現のカタチ

2月14日未明、インターネット上を一つのニュースが席巻した。バーチャルネットアイドルとして知られる「ちゆ12歳」が、バーチャルYouTuberとしてデビューしたという報だ。

■バーチャル美少女の元祖「ちゆ12歳」とは

「ちゆ12歳」は、ウェブサイト上の架空キャラクターだ。

正式には「バーチャルネットアイドル ちゆ12歳」。同名のサイト（2001年2月14日開設）の「管理人」という設定で、時事問題から漫画やアニメ、特撮、宗教に至るまでジャンルを問わず評論している。

同サイトは、ジャンルをまたぐ造詣の深さと独特の文章で多くのファンを獲得。2000年代のネット黎明期に「侍魂」などと並ぶ人気テキストサイトとして君臨した。

「ちゆ12歳」は、自身を「仮想世界に生きる”電子の妖精”」「実体を持った女性よりも空想の美少女が好きだ！という二次元コンプレックスな方のために生まれた新しい形のネットアイドル」と紹介している。

いわば「バーチャルアイドル」と「ネットアイドル」を掛け合わせた、「バーチャルネットアイドル」の原点だ。

最近インターネット上では、女性キャラクターのモデリングに声をあてて、動画やストリーミング配信で情報を伝えたり、他のユーザーと交流する「バーチャルYouTuber」が流行。その始祖ともいえる。

もっと平たく（誤解を恐れずに）言えば、「初音ミク」のご先祖さまのような存在かもしれない。

そんな「ちゆ12歳」がバーチャルYouTuberとして「デビュー」した。

■インターネット老人会、大いに沸く

「『ちゆ12歳』バーチャルYouTuberデビュー」の報は、瞬く間にネット上を駆け巡った。Twitterでは、日本のトレンドで1位を記録した。

往年のネットユーザーたち（通称「インターネット老人会」）は回顧とともに、驚きと敬意を込めて感想をつぶやいた。

ちゆ12歳なにしてんの！？
バーチャルYoutuberってお前！！！！ pic.twitter.com/omWAh97Tra

— 本命チョ狐は尻尾の香り (@Aratani_SS) 2018年2月13日

何でこんなに驚いてるかって説明しよう！
ざっくり言ってしまうと、ちゆ12歳さんとは「バーチャルネットアイドル」。ホームページ文化全盛期のバーチャルYouTuber筆頭のような存在…要は「キャラクターがホームページを運営している」というのを最初にやりだした人物。2001年頃だから17年程前の話。

— 十五夜　龍雅 (@ryuhga) 2018年2月13日

CCさくらや魔法陣グルグルや封神演義がアニメ化され吉野家コピペがTwitterで流行りちゆ12歳がトレンドに上がる
今年って本当に2018年？

— 本命チョ狐は尻尾の香り (@Aratani_SS) 2018年2月13日

■「ちゆ12歳」が「生存報告」で綴った言葉

2001年当時12歳だった「ちゆ12歳」だが、単純計算すれば2018年には29歳になる。隔世の感があるが「永遠の17歳」の声優さんもいらっしゃるので、そこはスルーだ。

「ちゆ12歳」は2月14日に「生存報告」と題した記事で、こう綴っている。

「このウェブ廃墟を訪れてくださるインターネット古参兵の皆さまの2018年現在の興味を推理すると、おそらく、バーチャルネットアイドルの視点から、バーチャルユーチューバーについてどう思うか、みたいなトークが期待されていると思われます」

「そういえば、10年前に、NHKの『ザ☆ネットスター！』という番組から、『初音ミクをどう思いますか？』といったインタビューを受けたのですが、そのときも、『特に面白いことが言えないのでパスします』みたいな回答をしていたら、放送の当日になって、「インタビュー全部ボツにします」という連絡を受けました」

「バーチャルYouTuberについても、バーチャルネットアイドルと似ているといえば似ているけど、関係ないといえば全っ然ないというか……」

「こう、バーチャルネットアイドルと志保ちゃんのエミュレータニュースの関係性みたいな話になってくると思います」

「初音ミクさんについても、バーチャルYouTuberの方たちについても、たくさんファンアートとか動画とか作ってもらっているのは、すごくうらやましいなーと思って見ています」

「ちゆもいまからYouTubeデビューしたら実質的にバーチャルYouTuberなので、ちょっとだけでも、あのファンアート群に混ぜてもらえないかなぁ、とか」

■「バーチャルYouTuber」＝外見から解放された自己表現の可能性

「バーチャルYouTuber」には、なんとも言えない魅力がある。それを言語化することは難しいのだが、そこには確かにファンが集まり、コミュニティが形成され、思い思いの時間を楽しんでいる。

最近では、バーチャルYouTuberの代表的存在「キズナアイ」（チャンネル登録者152万人）が写真集を発売。仮想と現実が倒錯したような状況が生まれ、人々の度肝を抜いた。

ハイテンションかつ舌足らずな喋り方でネット民の心を鷲掴みにした「輝夜月（かぐやるな）」も躍進を続けている。通称「見るストロングゼロ」とも評される彼女の動画には、200万再生を突破した作品もある。

「バーチャルYouTuber」が革命的なのは、肉体的にも精神的にも、しがらみがないという点だろう。

女性が女性の、男性が男性のモデリングを使用することはもちろん、男性が女性キャラのモデリングとボイスチェンジャーを用いて活動することもできる。その逆も、だ。

3Dモーションキャプチャーを使えば、自分の動きに連動して画面の女性キャラクターが同じ動きをする。仮想空間ではあるが、自分自身が理想とする「キャラになる」ことができる。

あるTwitterユーザーが「女の子になりたいと思っていたら、わりとなれそうな世の中になってきててほんと最高」と記していたが、まさにその通りなのだ。

可愛らしいキャラクターでありながら、声が明らかに男性の「ねこます」（通称「バーチャルのじゃロリ狐娘Youtuberおじさん」）という存在も人気を博している。

「外見」にとらわれない「バーチャルYouTuber」は、自己表現の一つの形として昇華され始めている。

ネット文化に精通していることで知られ、ボカロPの「朝P」としても活躍する朝日新聞の丹治吉順記者は、自身がVR空間内で「初音ミク」に扮してみたことをTwitterで報告。その所感を綴っている。

今までは「かわいくなるワケのない自分」という大前提の元に、客体としてのミクをかわいくすることが重点だったわけです。しかし自分がミクになれるなら、そのときミクは主体となり、きっと #私かわいい のタグが意味を持ち始める。これはなかなか今日的な問いかけでありますね、うむ。#PlayAnimakerpic.twitter.com/vigXwFvfHZ

— 丹治吉順 a.k.a. 朝P (@tanji_y) 2018年2月3日

私も最初は、その3Dアニメの製作から始めたのですが…、VR空間内の自分が美少女になっていることの劇的なヤバさに気づくのに3分もかからず。気がついたら自分がいろんなポーズを取ったり、「どの角度から撮るとかわいく見えるか」とかの恐ろしいことを、夢中になって考えたりしておりました（笑）。

— 丹治吉順 a.k.a. 朝P (@tanji_y) 2018年2月4日

こうした感覚について、丹治記者は、紀貫之が女性に扮して平仮名で記した日記文学「土佐日記」を例にとって「土佐日記ver2.0」「土佐日記ver.2010」と表現している。

■「ネットはあまり世知辛くない」

一方で「ちゆ12歳」は、自らが「バーチャルYouTuber」として活動した場合について、不安気な様子でこう記している。

「私がYouTuberをしても、バーチャルYouTuberというよりも、岡田斗司夫になると思うのですよね……」

ひとつ言えるのは「人は見かけによらない」ということだ。

「男もすなる日記といふものを、女もしてみむとてするなり」

「土佐日記」を記した紀貫之は、初の勅撰和歌集『古今和歌集』の選者の一人で、平安前期の代表的知識人だった。

21世紀の今、仮想世界で「外見」から解放された状態で、ジェンダーや社会的立場を超え、思い思いの自己表現が可能となりつつある。

「外見」という現実のしがらみに、さよならを告げる時がきたのかもしれない。

「現実は世知辛くても、ネットはあまり世知辛くないという」

（なぜオッサンはかわいいに憧れるのか 「バーチャルのじゃロリ狐娘YouTuberおじさん」独占インタビュー（前編）――PANORAより）

インターネットは、まだまだ面白い。

www.huffingtonpost.jp/2018/02/13/tiyu_a_23360850/

Oxfam Scandal: Minnie Driver Quits As Oxfam Ambassador After ‘Abhorrent Mistakes’
British actor Minnie Driver has become the first celebrity ambassador of Oxfam to quit their role over the sex scandal engulfing the charity.

Driver said she was “horrified” by the mounting allegations levelled at the organisation as she condemned the leadership’s “abhorrent mistakes”.

On Twitter, the London-born star said she was “in no uncertain terms” withdrawing her support for the charity after more than 20 years working with it.

Her resignation came as:

– The UK’s biggest firms, including M&S and Visa, reportedly said they could axe donations to the charity. – The Duke of Edinburgh scheme threatened to remove teenager volunteers from Oxfam stores, saying it was “reviewing our association with Oxfam”. – 1,200 people cancelled standing orders donating to the charity.

On Twitter, she wrote: “All I can tell you about this awful revelation about Oxfam is that I am devastated.

“Devastated for the women who were used by people sent there to help them, devastated by the response of an organisation that I have been raising awareness for since I was nine-years-old.

All I can tell you about this awful revelation about Oxfam is that I am devastated.Devastated for the women who were used by people sent there to help them, devastated by the response of an organization that I have been raising awareness for since I was 9 years old #oxfamscandal

February 13, 2018
“I have worked with Oxfam almost exclusively on the rights and plight of women in developing countries.

“Women who have to supplement their factory/manual labour with sex work…There are NGOs who do not cover up the egregious abuses of their employees.”

Earlier in a statement, she said: “I am nothing short of horrified by the allegations against Oxfam International.

“In no uncertain terms do I plan to continue my support of this organization or its leaders. And though it is unfortunate that after 20 years I am no longer able to advocate and defend through this specific framework, social and economic injustice is more globally prevalent than ever.

“I certainly will not let the abhorrent mistakes of a troubling organization stop me or anyone else from working with good people in this space to support a population of human beings around the world that needs our help.”

A spokesperson for Oxfam praised Driver’s commitment to the charity and to ending global poverty, adding: “Her decision to step down as an Oxfam Ambassador saddens us deeply, but we also understand and respect her choice.”

Oxfam is facing a Charity Commission inquiry after a bombshell Times investigation first reported allegations of sexual impropriety by senior aid workers in earthquake-hit Haiti in 2010.

Its deputy chief executive, Penny Lawrence, resigned on Monday over the scandal, which grew to include allegations in other countries where Oxfam worked, including the UK.

HuffPost UK on Tuesday night revealed Oxfam was scrambling to ensure safety in its high street shops after being forced to admit thousands of volunteers work alongside children without criminal records checks.

The crisis-hit charity admitted it is reviewing the use of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on the 23,000 volunteers, including those who help run stores where it allows 14-year-olds to work.

Oxfam also confirmed 52 safeguarding incidents occurred within its trading retail division last year, and a former Oxfam volunteer manager told HuffPost of her fears abuse could “absolutely” take place in shops.

Other charities, including Barnardos, British Heart Foundation, and Age UK on Tuesday night confirmed to HuffPost they had also received multiple allegations relating to safeguarding in the past year.

It follows comments from Oxfam’s former global head of safeguarding, Helen Evans, who claimed on Monday there had been three incidents of child abuse in its shops within a single month in 2015.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/mini-driver-oxfam-quits_uk_5a8364f6e4b02b66c51300c8