articles of interest.

• while the world has been focused on the still-disputed election results from this past summer, Iran's morality police has been hard at work. their latest efforts have been focused on... mannequins. apparently, the curvaceous bodies of the plastic, inanimate objects are too seductive, and shopkeepers have been warned that all mannequins must be properly covered, particularly with the Muslim veil, or Hijab.
• good news! there have been promising results for a new vaccine that may help decrease the chances of contracting HIV, which leads to AIDS, by 31%! up until this point, it was generally believed that an HIV-vaccine was impossible, but recent trials have undoubtedly renewed hope.
• like Betty Makoni, another CNN Hero is making waves with her good work. After surviving a violent marriage, Rabia Iqbal is making it her life's mission to help Muslim women heal after abuse.
• another woman is bravely giving a voice to the silenced by speaking out after her horrific past. Jennifer Schuett was only 8 years old when she was abducted, raped, and left to die. now, she has gone public in an attempt to find her attacker and draw attention to the very real issue of rape and sexual assault. it is a graphic story, but you can read more here.
• most recently, the media has been in a frenzy about the arrest of acclaimed director Roman Polanski for a crime he committed 32 years ago. in 1977, Polanski met a 13-year-old model named Samantha Geimer and allegedly gave her champagne and half a Quaalude pill before raping her. after his initial arrest, guilty plea, and conviction for sex with a minor, Polanski served 42 days before fleeing to France to avoid further prosecution. As he is a French citizen, he escaped extradition and has continued to work overseas for the past three decades. However, over the weekend while in Switzerland, Polanski was picked up and various groups are now up in arms about the arrest, arguing that he has already served his time for a crime committed so long ago. But, really... does the time that has passed change the fact that he drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl?! People have also cited the testimony of his alleged victim, Samantha Geimer, as evidence of his deserved amnesty, as Geimer has gone on record as saying that she does not want Polanski to be prosecuted for the crime. In fact, she has argued that the media has done more harm to her than Polanski ever did.