Iraqi Domestic Violence 'On the Rise'
The UN estimates that one in five women in Iraq suffer from domestic abuse, in a society where a woman leaving her husband for any reason is considered grounds for punishment. One rights group says cases of abuse appear to be on the rise since the fall of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein nearly nine years ago. But even for women who do manage to escape their abuse, there are few places in the country they can go to seek refugee. Al Jazeera's Jane Arraf has this exclusive report from the capital, Baghdad.

An Event to End Violence Against Women

Obama's Half Brother, a Kenyan American in China

TIME: Obama's Half Brother Makes a Name for Himself in China >>> Ling Woo Liu, Guangzhou | Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Violent French Husbands 'May Be Tagged'
BBC: Men seen as likely to be violent towards their wives could be forced to wear an electronic tag under a law being debated by the French parliament.

The tag would have to be worn by men who have received a court order to stay away from their partner.

The proposal is part of a draft law on conjugal violence. It has cross-party support and is expected to pass easily.

According to the government, around 160 women in France are murdered by their husbands or partners every year.

Parliament is also considering outlawing psychological violence in the home, because it is seen by many as a precursor to physical violence.

It is rare for the left and the right in France to agree on anything, says the BBC's Hugh Schofield, so the near unanimity in parliament behind this law comes as something of a novelty.

Everyone agrees that domestic violence is bad and getting worse. >>> | Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Dark Side of Martha's Vineyard
THE TELEGRAPH: Beneath its idyllic exterior, Martha's Vineyard – beloved holiday destination of America's well-heeled – is rife with depression, alcoholism, drug abuse and domestic violence.

President Barack Obama enjoying a bike ride with his family and friends while on vacation on Martha's Vineyard. Photo: The Telegraph
America's First Family will wave goodbye to Martha's Vineyard tomorrow after a week's holiday on an island whose name is rarely uttered without the epithet "idyllic".

As President Obama flies his family back home to Washington, they will rapidly be followed by an armada of private jets from the tiny local airport. After next weekend's Labour Day holiday, the exodus of billionaire businessmen, media tycoons and Hollywood stars who summer on the island will be complete. From Oprah Winfrey and Beyonce to Valerie Jarrett and the Clintons, they'll all be gone. In a matter of days, the island's population withers from 100,000 to just 15,000.

More than a few of the quitters must feel a twinge of jealousy for those lucky few left behind on the 23-mile island. They shouldn't. The reality of out-of-season – and that in holiday-starved America means any month outside July and August – is anything but a paradise for most of those left behind.

Martha's Vineyard's dark little secret is one of desperately high levels of depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence and even suicide attempts among a population that struggles to make ends meet in a billionaire's playground when the billionaires have all left.

The last time the island's social problems were publicly totted up – in 2005 - the number of cases of patients treated each year in hospital for alcohol or drug abuse had soared from almost 200 in 2002 to just over 750 three years later. The caseload of patients struggling with depression had grown from 40 in 2002 to 92 in 2005. Suicide attempts climbed almost tenfold, from three in 2002 to 29 in 2005.

Some local experts believe the situation has not got any better. "It's the shadow side of Martha's Vineyard – all the things you don't expect to exist on a luxury island," said Dr Gail Gordon, its former community services senior psychologist. "And it's the seasonal nature of the island that makes our social problems worse. Everyone works so hard over the summer and then there's this let down when all the others go." >>> Tom Leonard | Friday, August 28, 2009

The Saudi Bitch Slap
THE DAILY BEAST: A Saudi Arabian judge declared this weekend that husbands can slap their wives if they spend too much money. Asra Nomani tells us why she is "thrilled" by his outrageous remarks (and his getting busted for them) and why they are a helpful wakeup call for the Muslim world.

The blogs are lighting up with ridicule after a Saudi judge declared this past weekend that husbands can slap their wives on the face if they blow their husband’s money. One headline declared: “Saudi judge says it’s OK to bitch slap your wife.” Said a blogger: “Just more of those Muslim family values in action, folks!” Another headline laid out the news: “Saudi Sharia Judge: Slap the Bitch...” >>> By Asra Q. Nomani | Thursday, May 14, 2009

Nicolas Sarkozy's Ex-wife Cecilia to Move to US to Campaign against Domestic Violence
THE TELEGRAPH: French President Nicolas Sarkozy's ex-wife Cecilia Attias is moving to the US to campaign against domestic violence.

Photo of Cécilia Attias, ex-wife of Nicolas Sarkozy, courtesy of Gala.fr
Mrs Attias, who once complained to police about "brutal exchanges" with Mr Sarkozy before he was president, has set up a foundation with her new husband Richard Attias to promote women's rights.

But she revealed that she will not expect to see much of Mr Attias as he will continue to work largely in Dubai.

The couple lived together in New York when Cecilia, 51, was briefly separated from Mr Sarkozy before they finally divorced.

Mrs Attias told Gala magazine that she was leaving Dubai, where Mr Attias runs a successful public relations agency, because she wanted to "give everything" to her foundation.

She also said that her young son with Mr Sarkozy, Louis, 11, had always "dreamed of living" in New York, where "he has his friends".

Referring to her third husband, Cecilia said: "Richard will continue to work in Dubai, in the United States and elsewhere, but his little family will be based in New York."

At the time of her police complaint the glamorous former model was conducting an on-off affaire with the multi-millionaire businessman she finally married last March.

Mrs Attias plans to work an independent lobbyist, devoting herself to the newly formed Cecilia Attias Foundation for Woman.

Setting out its aims, the foundation's publicity reads: "In 2009, the cause chosen by Cecilia Attias is the fight against domestic violence, a terrible plague that is unfortunately increasing rapidly." >>> By Peter Allen in Paris | Thursday, February 26, 2009

GALA.fr: Cécilia Attias – Je quitte Dubaï avec mon fils: Elle s'installe à New York, son mari poursuit ses activités à Dubaï

Cécilia Attias surprend encore. La voilà qui abandonne Dubaï pour New York. L'épouse de Richard Attias souhaite s'investir totalement dans sa fondation et permettre à son fils de vivre dans cette ville américaine qu'il aime tant...

Richard ne l'accompagnera pas. Cécilia Attias a décidé de quitter Dubaï pour la Grosse Pomme avec son fils Louis. Des rumeurs évoquent une crise de couple, Cécilia Attias nous précise simplement que "Richard continuera à travailler à Dubaï, aux Etats Unis et ailleurs comme toujours; mais sa petite famille sera basée à New York."

Selon d'autres, il s'agirait plutôt d'une crise économique. Soulignant un problème financier, Richard Attias patron d'une société d'événementiels aurait perdu des marchés suite à la fragilité de l'économie à Dubaï. Selon Cécilia Attias encore, "les difficultés financières ne touchent à mon sens que ceux qui colportent de mauvaises rumeurs sur les autres. Personnellement nous, nous allons plutôt très bien..." >>> Valérie Domain | Mardi 24 Février 2009

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback (US) Barnes & Noble >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Hardcover (US) Barnes & Noble >>>