#justice for arif

[watch-joey-collect]

[sweetbillwriting]

Only The Road Ahead

Chapter 1

Description: With many obstacles against him, Eddie Barrish has found himself fighting hard to get his life together and be a good father, but bad decisions and lies will always come for you, even if you look forward.

Character: AU Eddie Barrish, played by Bill Skarsgård in the movie Locked (2025). His daughter, Sarah, also has a part in the story.

Warnings: 18+, NSFW, heavy themes.

Notes: New story! This one will also be a long one. Like many others, I fell in love with Eddie, and I hope I do him justice. It has heavy themes and isn't a story for everyone.

“Of course I want to get shitfaced!” Eddie laughed loudly with his phone pressed against his ear. He walked around in only his boxers. Tight, purple ones with an elastic in neon yellow. His skin was golden from hours under the sun on his building's roof, and silly tattoos dotted his skin. He dragged a big, tattooed hand through his bleached hair while laughing with his friend Damian and scratched his scalp lightly, itchy from some days of grease.

“No, no, it will not be any problem. I got a paycheck a few days ago, so it will not be a problem… I think I can even buy you a drink. A cheap drink,” he joked while opening the fridge. It was painfully empty even if he got 400 dollars on his account just two days ago. Having things in his fridge was never a priority; it was just when his daughter was there he would have bread, peanut butter, and jelly at home, but she hadn't been there for a few weeks. It was what he could cook. He took out a bottle of water and a box of cereal from the cabinet and ate them dry right out of the package. 

“Ehh… Can't we be at your place?” Eddie looked around in his apartment. You may believe his apartment was too messy, too dirty, or too small to take guests, but no, he wasn't that sort of guy. His apartment was small, but it was tidy and clean from stuff. He was not a collector, not a person who liked things lying around, especially not when his daughter was there. He liked it clean and simple; he just didn't want the guys to mess it up. 

“I haven't cleaned for weeks; it looks like fuck here. Yeah, literally!” He laughed and corrected his cock in his boxers. He sighed and dragged his hand over his face, unbothered that he just had it down by his unshaven balls. 

“Nice, man. Awesome. I'll buy you a Big Mac or something!” 

When Eddie had hung up, he sat down on his dark blue couch and shook out the round cereal flakes down into his mouth skillfully and flushed them down with the water. He needed to go out a bit; he had had too many days just at home, scrolling through social media and reading depressing news articles. He needed to get drunk and maybe pop a little colorful pill just to make the night even more colorful. He stretched out on the couch. Right then and there he didn't need to stress because the clock was just one, and the only thing he needed to do before going to Damian's was to take a run, buy some beer, take a shower, and then stop by McDonald's on his way down there. He could watch a series if he still had Netflix; the payment had maybe not gone through, or he could take a nap. He moved his pillow and cover to the couch and made himself comfortable. He didn't even start Netflix before he had made up his mind. A nap sounded nice. He slept four minutes later. 

××× 

“What the fuck, I don't owe you a burger! What the fuck are you talking about?” Eddie almost screamed out through his laugh to Arif. He had just thrown a wrapped burger to Damian from the McDonald's bag which made all the other three men look at the burger in jealousy. 

“Buy your own; it's just on the corner! For fuck's sake.” Eddie rolled his eyes, but Arif smirked.

“You don't remember you owe me 50 bucks from the night at Basement?” 

Eddie looked at him with big eyes and with his plump lower lip hanging. Some of the others laughed too. Eddie looked around at them and then threw one of his three cheeseburgers hard into Arif’s chest.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah!” 

None of them were rich, but Eddie was the only one of them who didn't have a steady income. He lived day by day and would sometimes have less than he thought, then the next week he’d have more and act like he had won the lottery. He wasn't stupid in any way, but he could never decide what to do with his life and what fights were worthy to take. He had been fired from the auto shop because he thought it was a good idea to fight about the fact that the boss ate while they worked while the others didn't get to do that. He realized after it had not been worth the fight at all when he once again stood without a job. 

“I saw Cassidy yesterday. Cassidy Lawson! You know, from high school?” Said Damian mostly to Eddie and Kai, who had been friends since kindergarten. Arif and Ricky had become a part of their little group through Damian, who worked with them in the town’s battery industry. Kai worked with cars, just like Eddie had, but at a service point for the town’s buses. 

“Cassidy?” Eddie looked up at Damian from his bag of fries with big eyes. His eyes were always big, though, but now they were at their widest point, looking more and more like two pool balls. 

“Yeah, she's in town, doing a job for the magazine she works for. She's fine as fuck!” 

Eddie threw the bag of fries on the coffee table, glided down in the orange armchair he sat in, and took up his phone from the front pocket of his light blue jeans. Instagram. Instagram. Instagram. He looked at Instagram too much and tried to stop, but now it was important. Shit, fucking Cassidy Lawson. 

“Hey, hey, hey!” Eddie could see the movement of Damian's tattooed arm before he snatched his phone from his hand. 

“Hey!” Eddie screamed back and sat up in the chair. “What the fuck are you doing, man?” 

Damian held his phone to his chest and looked at Eddie seriously. 

“I saw her first.” 

“What? What the fuck? No, you didn't! I wanted to fuck her already in high school!” 

“Me too!” 

“Fuck, you didn't! You didn't want to be close to anyone in the debate club! You just looked at cheerleaders and the slutty ones!” 

Damian looked at Eddie, annoyed at first, but then smirked.

“Sure, okay, but I saw her first now!” 

Eddie scoffed and stood up trying to take his phone from Damian, but Kai interrupted them with a loud voice. 

“Here she is! Cassidy Lawson! Journalist!” 

Eddie reacted at once, steering his eyes toward Kai, where he held up his phone with the girl in a baby blue bikini. Damian tried to stop that, but Eddie, with his long limbs, succeeded in snatching Kai's phone and looked at the girl with big eyes. She was hot. She had been cute and innocent-looking in high school, but now she looked like a beautiful, sexy woman. He clicked her profile pic decorated with a rainbow circle around it and got a loud protest from Kai, but he didn't care. The story was just from 35 minutes ago and filmed at one of the city's trendier bars—Opaline Bar. He had never been there; it was not really in his budget, but Cassidy Lawson was there. His eyes had been so wet looking at her in school. It was many times his sixteen-year-old self had become hard just by looking at her walk through the school’s hallways. 

“Opaline…” 

“We are not going there, Eddie! They will not even let us in!” Kai said and pointed to his face. The tattoo over his eyebrow saying “salty” made it hard for him to enter some places. 

“You can wait outside,” said Eddie with a smirk. “Just… please?” He said pleadingly to all of them. Arif sighed and rolled his eyes towards the other men. 

“Fine!” Said Damian. “Her friend looked hot. Let's check it out,” he said with a smirk when Eddie shined up in a dopey smile. 

××× 

Eddie and the other guys never thought it would be that easy to get an entrance to Opaline Bar. Kai didn't even need to try to cover up his tattoo. The only thing was that the entrance fee was 40 dollars, something Damian and Arif weren't prepared to pay. Kai and Ricky thought it could be an experience, though, especially when they saw the classy girls in high pumps. Walking home with such a girl would be a win. 

Eddie didn't really look at the other girls; he just scrolled through Cassidy's Instagram. She looked like that perfect girl next door and seemed intelligent with her book reviews and economical articles. She seemed to be something more than most girls around him. He put his phone in his jeans pocket when they were by the wardrobe. He didn't pull off his hoodie, though. Maybe it was smart to hide some of his etch-a-sketch looking tattoos in that environment. 

It was quite obvious to all three of them that none of them felt at home in the place before them. The walls had old-looking murals, and the furniture was all golden chrome and printed silk. Some low tables had big puffy pillows with tassels to sit on. It kind of looked like a modern harem minus the half-naked girls, to the boys disappointment. 

“I can get us something to drink… You can find a table… With chairs,” said Eddie, looking around. He was a bit affected by the beers he had been drinking at Damian's, so the 400 dollars, or now the 310 dollars he had in his account, felt like much more. 

The others were just pleased with getting a free drink and looking around at the well-dressed people and colorful drinks in their hands. 

Doubtfully Eddie placed himself in the corner of the bar. He didn't need to be loud to get attention by a bar counter because of his height, but here it was also quite empty, and a bartender with a high hair bun turned to him. 

“Ehm…” Eddie looked around at the booze and gave the drink menu next to him a fast glance before looking up at the bartender again. 

“Three beers.” 

“Sure. What kind? Ale?” 

Eddie shrugged his shoulders; he really didn't care that much. 

“Okay.” 

“Dark, light? Fruity? An IPA?” 

It wasn't like he didn't know what the bartender talked about, but he rarely could feel any difference between them. 

“You pick.” 

While the bartender poured up three beers for him, he looked for Cassidy. He couldn't see her and became a bit nervous. Had they paid so much to get in, and then she had left? 

“51 dollars,” said the bartender suddenly, and Eddie turned to him confused. At first he couldn't understand that he was talking to him. Three beers couldn't cost 51 dollars? The beer glasses standing in front of him were filled with a golden liquid reminding him more of orange juice than beer. He gave the bartender a confused look. 

“It's a NEIPA. You will like it.” The guy smirked at him like he was talking to a skeptical child, and Eddie gave him a strained smile back. He had said the bartender could pick. He paid reluctantly and took the three beers in his big hands. With long fingers it wasn't that hard to carry them all. 

His friends smirked, amused when they saw the beers, but didn't say anything. They understood Eddie had accidentally bought something pricey, and they wouldn't complain over that. Eddie also sighed loudly when he sat down, so they didn't want to ruin his mood more; he could get quite grumpy if you tried him too much. 

The beer wasn't that bad, and after having drunk half of it, Eddie finally saw Cassidy. Her black dress was short in a lacy fabric with long sleeves, while her hair was curled in that way all girls' on Instagram curled it. Eddie looked at her with big eyes while she leaned over the bar counter to make an order. 

“Isn't that your girl?” Ricky asked, and gave Eddie a look but didn't get an answer, but he could see it anyway. Eddie stared at her like she was a unicorn among brown horses. 

Eddie wasn't shy among girls, but he didn't really know how to smoothly get close. He knew he was quite good-looking; he was tall and had a charm many girls liked, but it wasn't girls like Cassidy he usually flirted with. On wobbly legs he stood up without saying anything to his friends and walked up to the bar, just a foot from her. She waited on her order, looking at the bartender mixing her drink, but she gave Eddie a fast look from the corner of her eye. He was tall; no one missed him. He looked down at her in the same discreet way, and after a few times he caught her stare and smiled playfully. Cassidy giggled and missed how her drink was placed in front of her, just to turn to look at Eddie up and down, amused. It was probably because he didn't fit in with his bright red hoodie and well-worn jeans, but maybe it was also because he was cute. He knew he was; now it was just she who should feel the same. 

“Shit, I kind of recognize you,” she said and seemed to take a closer look at his big eyes and plump lips.

“I think I recognize you too… Cassidy? Right? I think we went to school together?” He said it like he doubted it. Just when he said it, the bartender reminded her about her drink and distracted, she paid. Eddie looked down at her classic French-tipped nails and licked his lips. The bartender had destroyed his roll, and he wondered if he could continue with the same slickness. When Cassidy had paid, she took her orange cocktail in her hand and gave him a look up and down. She laughed a little.

“Oh my god! You're that guy that broke into the gym and got stuck there!” 

Eddie did a pained grimace because that story was not his brightest moment, but then he laughed with her. 

“Yeah, yeah, that was me and my buddy Damian…” 

Cassidy continued to laugh and continued to look at him up and down. Eddie couldn't read her eyes to see if she mocked him or if she actually was attracted to him, but he kept himself tall and pretended to not be bothered by her examining eyes. He was just about to ask her to sit down with him when her girlfriends started to shout at her, and Cassidy looked at him with a shoulder shrug. 

“Nice to see you, buddy,” she said before walking away to her girlfriends with a giggle. Eddie looked after her, stunned. He still didn't know if she was attracted to him and felt quite silly when he was left behind by the bar and even more so when he went back to his friends without buying anything. 

“No luck?” Kai asked while drinking Eddie's beer; he had already drunk up his own. Eddie looked towards Cassidy again and shrugged his shoulders, confused. 

××× 

After Kai and Ricky had drunk up the beers, it didn't really feel like they had so much of a reason to stay. It was too expensive to buy more drinks, and neither was the setting their kind of place. Eddie looked towards Cassidy a few times, seeing her laugh with two other women with similar style and vibe. He looked down at his tattooed hands and could see why a girl like her wouldn't give him a chance. Everyone judged the book by its cover. When they stood up, ready to go to a cheaper, more low-key place, Eddie felt a hand on his broad back, a petite hand wearing several golden rings. He looked back at the owner of the hand and met Cassidy's eyes a head lower than his own. 

“Are you going? I thought you might want to have a smoke with me?” 

Eddie looked at her, surprised for a few seconds, and then at his friends who smirked at him. 

“Sure, sure,” he said with a bright smile and slowly started to walk to the door with Cassidy's clicking heels next to him. 

“What was your name?” 

“Eddie. Eddie Barrish.”

Outside they stood side by side by the building's wall, she smoking a thin French cigarette while he blew on his vape. Further away stood Kai and Ricky smoking their own vapes, and on the other side stood her girlfriends, fiddling with their phones. 

They had talked a bit about high school and what happened with people. One guy who had died and a girl who already had six kids. Eddie showed some pictures of his own daughter Sarah, while Cassidy showed some pictures of her cats. 

“I think it's fucking impressive you work as a finance journalist. That's tough shit,” said Eddie with a kind smile. Cassidy giggled a little, embarrassed because Eddie had shown sides she hadn't expected from him. That he knew so much about politics, history, and finance she had never expected from a guy with bleached hair with visible roots. 

“Thanks… But what do you do for work?” She asked curiously. 

“I'm a model,” he said and nodded several times. Cassidy raised her eyebrows with a smile. He was tall and slim and maybe had that sort of trendy trashiness; she couldn't tell. 

“He is!” Kai suddenly said behind him, and looked between Eddie and Cassidy, excited. Eddie looked at him. Worry started to show in his face. He knew what Kai would do; he had done it before, but Cassidy wasn't the girl to appreciate the surprise. Kai took up his phone, searching for something while Eddie laughed unsurely, trying to find a way to tell Kai to back off without sounding like an asshole. Instead, Kai worked faster and pushed his phone in Cassidy's face. 

“Look at this, girl! Fucking impressive, right?” 

Eddie dragged his hand over his face in discomfort and sucked his vape like it was his inhaler.

“He’s an OnlyFans model.” Have you seen that cock?” Kai said, like an enthusiastic seller. Cassidy gave Eddie a look but then lowered Kai's phone so she could see better. Eddie looked down on the screen and saw himself standing in the middle of his living room, dressed in just a fake gold chain around his neck, while a brunette was on her knees in front of him. Cassidy could see every silly tattoo and also his ripped body, but the thing Eddie got most views for was his cock. Cassidy stared at the thick and long member the girl choked on. 

“Is it real?” She asked and looked between Eddie and Kai with big eyes. 

“Fuck, it's real! He just stuffs it down his pant leg all the time!” Kai laughed and shook Eddie's shoulder. Eddie didn't know what to say or do and just stared at his own naked self on the screen, leaning back his head in ecstasy. He didn't dare look at Cassidy because his profession wasn't really anything he was proud of, but it gave him money for rent and food and also child support. He actually had a talent he could get a salary from. When he looked up, he met Cassidy's eyes but also a white Colgate smile. 

“So, like… Do you live close?” 

××× 

They had taken a cab back to his place; it cost 28 dollars, but it was worth it because Cassidy had been on him the whole ride. Their kisses were hungry and messy, and her hand dragged over his crotch as much as she could. Maybe it was also why she let his big, tattooed hands creep in under her dress and hug her warm cheeks. He had a feeling it was his size that just made her interested in him, but he wished she also had been impressed by his intellectual side and his sweet ways, but it didn't really feel like it because she begged to see his cock as soon as they were up in his apartment. She wasn't interested in looking at the pictures of his daughter or the bike standing in the middle of the living room; she just pushed him down in bed and opened his belt and jeans like she was starving. Eddie didn't complain because she was a beautiful girl who obviously wanted him to fuck her all night, but he still could feel disappointment in a hidden chamber in his heart. He was just that OnlyFans model with a big cock for her. It wasn't like a girl like her would date such a guy for real. 

She stood on her knees between his legs while he lay in front of her completely naked. She still had her dress on while looking at his defined abs, poorly made tattoos, and golden chest, but she also looked at his cock. He was completely hard and stood up proudly just in front of her belly. 

“Oh my gosh!” She giggled, doubting if she even dared to touch it. Eddie smirked a little because even if he was disappointed, it would always be funny to see how girls reacted to his schlong.

“Take off your dress and touch me…” he said with a raspy voice and sat up on his elbows. She looked at him with red cheeks and wet lips, and then she did what he said. She stood up next to his bed and pulled off her dress, bra, and panties, and then she crawled up to sit over his thighs. 

“It's… It's fucking huge!” She said with a laugh and laid both her hands over her mouth. 

“I know. You can touch it.” Eddie took a loose grip around her elbow and shook her a bit so she would act, and after some seconds she dared to take his length in both of her hands. Eddie let out a deep exhalation and closed his eyes. Being with Cassidy was like being with any girl at that moment. He didn't want to confess for himself what he actually felt, but the true word would have been objectified. He was just a pretty boy with a big cock, nothing else. 

Cassidy sank down on his condom-dressed cock with a pained sound that got louder when he forced her hips down to meet his. She didn't succeed in taking him fully, though, and awkwardly she rode him, afraid that it would hurt even more. Still, like every other girl, she liked it. He let her ride him to her climax because he knew most girls were not ready for him to take the power the first time they met; they needed to take it at their own pace. He himself didn't come but pretended to do so. He was a porn actor; faking an orgasm with a condom on was easy; he didn't need to show any proof. 

Cassidy looked at him with a giggle after he had deposited the condom and crept down in bed again. She looked at him like she was in love, touching his body like he was the perfect man, but Eddie knew she would be gone the next day when she realized he wasn't. He was a poor, trashy, porn actor with a stolen street sign in the bathroom. She would be happy he used a condom while she ran from his apartment. Eddie followed her acting, though, and acted like a newly in love couple with her until she fell asleep. 

××× 

Just like Eddie thought, he was alone when he woke up. She hadn't left her number, not even a goodbye note. He didn't want to pout over some girl he didn't even know, so he was happier than he usually was that it was Wednesday. His day with his daughter. A year ago, he hadn't appreciated the time with her the way he did now. After an incident surrounding a car, he realized what really mattered in life, and the only answer was Sarah. She was eight now and bright and funny. He could easily hang out with her just as a friend, but he never forgot he was a dad, never again. 

He was thankful he hadn't been drinking that much the night before, and it wasn't hard to get out of bed, take a shower, change sheets, and make himself ready for the outside world. He would meet her at 2 pm at the school’s stairs. Earlier she had been used to him coming late or not even showing up, but that year he had been sitting and waiting on her in the grass just by the school gate. He wasn't like many of the other correct parents and still looked a bit like a teenager, but his daughter was never ashamed of him. Or not that he had noticed. 

He wore a pair of golden Ray-Ban Aviator knockoffs that sunny day with his white tank and dark blue track pants. It was hotter than he had expected, so the gray hoodie he had first had on lay in a pile on the inside of his door. Instead, he showed off well-built arms and silly tattoos while sitting in the grass by the school. Some parents looked at him with distaste, but he didn't care; he was just giddy to see Sarah again.

Two minutes later a group of children her age ran out from the school’s big entrance door; his girl was one of them, and she ran with a big smile towards him. He just stood up on his knees so he could pretend to fall when her little body attacked his much larger one. They laughed together in the grass a while until Eddie stood up, pulling her with him. 

“Hey, Lovebug,” he said teasingly and ruffled her hair. Sarah gave him an annoyed look and fixed her ponytails. 

“Don't call me that!” 

Eddie smirked, used to the protest, and looked towards the gate. 

“Ready to go?” 

He looked down at Sarah with a hand on her shoulder, but she looked towards a group with some grown-ups and kids. 

“I will just say goodbye to Miss Hani.”

Eddie nodded a little. He had met most of her teachers, beige-looking women in their fifties, and a few men in his own age with sweaters and well-trimmed beards. He looked around at the schoolyard while waiting with his arms crossed. He was hungry and hoped she would do it fast until he saw the woman she ran up to. She must have been a few years younger than him and shone just as bright as the sun. She was dressed in a white blouse and floral skirt, stopping just at her knee. She was beautiful. Or beautiful was an understatement; she probably was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She talked with his daughter kindly and fixed her messy ponytails for her before looking in the direction Sarah pointed. She pointed to her father, not bothered at all that he wore a washed-out tank top with track pants. Eddie looked back at them and met Hani’s eyes. He smiled a little embarrassed and lowered his gaze as soon as she had answered his smile. He felt his cheeks get warm, and staring down at the ground, he felt the shock and embarrassment take over. He really was blushing like a little boy. A little boy in love with the sweet teacher. After a while he dared to look up again and saw Sarah come towards him again. 

“Done?” He said stressed, like they had much to do, even if they never had plans. 

“Yep!” 

“So… That was Miss Hani? Is that her first name?” He asked bashfully, but Sarah didn't notice.

“Yeah, she's new. She’s nice.” 

Eddie nodded a little and then looked towards Hani, who laughed with another teacher. He wasn't prepared to meet her eyes again, and especially not to see her smile brightly, just towards him. 

“Yeah, I can see that… Very nice…”

×

@hamburger-sprite @hanamirandak @muchwita @keysandthesea-blog @turbotasticoo @useyourwandbro @forrealandjustsaying

[dailydccomics]

Wonder Woman and the dark Justice League by Guillem March and Arif Prianto

[jesncin]

just binged all your maws meta and WOW i’m vindicated. never liked the show but especially for all the reasons you said, and it’s especially nice to know im not “siding with dudebros” for disliking it.

also extremely crazy that we had the same idea for lois almost?? in my head if dc would hire me i would write her as chinoy with special attention to how american occupation ties into her history… (personally my mom always wanted to be a journalist but felt it was safer to do something else…), reading your chindo lois is like WOW. YOU READ MY MIND.

one last question: i know it’s a bit passé now thanks to #him, but my mom and i watched lois & clark together and i think the show (at least, s1-2 really) still holds up well despite being from the 90s. have you ever seen it? silly fact: when my mom first watched it in the philippines, she legit thought clark could be filipino in that show 😭

omg I love how the jesncin-talks-maws tag is becoming a safe space for Based MAWS dislikers :'D Because it's rough out here! It's really unfair how online spaces in particular have created a black and white culture war over My Adventures with Superman so that no nuanced criticism can come out of it. It just rewards corporations for doing less than the bare minimum and validates them into producing more mediocre stuff. They don't need our protection!! And wow thank you for reading all that!

AAAAH A CHINOY LOIS WOULD BE AMAZING! I love how her history with American occupation could put a much needed critical look into "Truth Justice and the American Way". Man, I'd love for an Asian Lois that could help people like your mom feel seen like that :') I can only hope Chindo Lois comes close to doing something similar. Also special fact, Lois Liando's chindo dad (Yunus Liando) is loosely inspired off of Junus Nur Arif, a chindo journalist.

Oh I'm definitely aware of The Recent Things Wasian Superman Said (yikes) but I'm unfortunately really behind on my classic Superman-adapted media watch! I'm in a Young Justice watch right now but I'd love to check out older Superman shows. I totally see it though!! The wasian features are strong in this man.

[eretzyisrael]

by Dexter Van Zile

Somebody needs to tell the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent nonprofit in the Great White North, that if you live by the witch-hunt, you die by the witch-hunt. Two years after the NCCM helped oust Collin May, a well-regarded lawyer and scholar, from his post as director of Alberta's Human Rights Commission on trumped-up charges of "Islamophobia," the organization was helpless to stop the ouster of Birju Dattani—a Muslim activist with a troubling history of promoting anti-Zionist propaganda on the internet—from his post on Canada's Human Rights Commission.

The controversy over Dattani's anti-Israel messaging began soon after the Trudeau government appointed Dattani director of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, a body charged with, among other things, investigating and sanctioning people who post mean and scary things on the internet. Soon after his appointment, which took place in late June, Dattani was accused of using X, then called Twitter, to promote an article comparing Israel to Nazi Germany and another equating the Palestinians to the Jews during the Holocaust.

Soon after the allegations came to light, Dattani apologized to Jewish organizations for the harm caused by the posts in question. It was to no avail. The revelations prompted a review of Dattani's background, announced by Canadian Justice Minister Arif Virani on July 24. Virani initiated the investigation after it became apparent that the Privy Council, the body charged with vetting Dattani's background, dropped the ball.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent Islamist organization, jumped to Dattani's defense, declaring that he was the victim of a witch-hunt "based on misinformation and poorly sourced allegations."

Unfortunately for the NCCM, the allegations against Dattani were largely confirmed by outside investigators, whose findings were released in mid-August. While speaking with investigators, Dattani claimed he promoted the offensive articles not because he agreed with them, but because he wanted his Twitter followers to see them.

The investigative report stated: "Mr. Dattani advised that the reason for this was that his understanding of 'Twitter ethics' were that one didn't 'comment' on the links that one was tweeting. A tweet, for him, was the equivalent of saying 'look at this' without comment."

But the tweets were only part of the problem, with Dattani admitting to investigators that, in early 2015, he unwittingly appeared on a panel in London that included a speaker from Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT). It's a troubling admission given that HT is a South Asian Islamist organization that seeks Israel's destruction as part of a larger campaign to establish a global caliphate.

To make matters worse, Dattani admitted to appearing on a panel with Moazzam Begg, a former detainee at Guantanamo Bay who was once "a confirmed member of Al-Qaeda" and, according to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, "penned a book in which he freely admitted that he was a jihadist." Dattani appeared on these panels while using the pseudonym of Mujahid, which in some contexts, describes someone committed to a holy war, or jihad, on behalf of Islam.

[imposterzoe]

Hello friend!

You are a most excellent writer!! And I associate you with some of the most beautiful stories that I have ever read! That and you are genuinely kind, friendly, and creative person! (So, so happy that I found your blog and your writing!!)

Any advice on writing Arif would be extremely helpful (I am trying to write my Arif/Beecher fic... not sure that I am doing either character justice...:P)

Also, if you had to choose: Arif or Bismilla?

Sending you warm wishes and good writing vibes! Thank you!

Aww thank you so much for the kind words!

I'm gonna be honest, the snarkier you write Arif, the more accurate it seems to be. That and he's an arrogant hypocrite so his inner dialogue generally goes against his actions.

When I feel like I've lost his voice, I just remember s3 e8 when he turns to Saïd and says "And I suppose I just made up racism" and the keep that tone in my mind as I write the dialogue and it helps. Have no clue if this makes sense but that's how it works for me.

And Arif simply because he's bitchier. If you need more help, let me know! I'll try my best.

[ozimagines]

Holly’s Uncles

Holly Beecher had three uncles, just like Casper, as she once told her dad. Technically she had her father’s actual brother, but the man was totally useless as an uncle. He wasn’t wise or fun or sweet. He just sort of was. Holly loved him, she guessed, but not for any reason. Not like her other uncles. She drew a picture of their family one time, and even though her drawing had two daddies, what really drew the teacher’s attention was the three men standing in the background. Holly was called to stay after school with Mrs. Penney.

“Holly… honey… I know who these two are, and I’m so happy you felt comfortable sharing you have two daddies with the class…” she phrased this as delicately as possible. “Who are these… fellas?”

“Those are my uncles.” Holly answered as if it was obvious. “Uncle Ryan, Uncle Cyril, and Uncle Kareem.”

“Oh… are they your fathers’ brothers?” She asked, noting the skin color on ‘uncle Kareem’. Holly shook her head. Mrs. Penney was so smart, but she was being so dumb right now.

“No, they were in Oz with my dads.”

“…Oz?”

“The prison.” She clarified, already bored with this conversation and picking at her blue nail polish. Mrs. Penney looked concerned. (We’re mandated reporters, people, and kids say a LOT of stuff…) “They’re not bad though. Any of them. Sometimes Uncle Ryan is a jerk though and Pop has to talk to him.”

“They were in prison with both your fathers?” She repeated, flabbergasted. “Holly… could you tell me about your uncles?”

“What do you want to know?”

“Do they ever get angry with you?”

Holly thought for a second and shook her head.

“No.” She thought another second. “Uncle Ryan once told me not to take Uncle Cyril to the park alone though. He was upset but he didn’t yell at me or anything.”

“Why was he upset? Are you allowed to be alone with Uncle Cyril?” Mrs. Penney was taking notes now, best of intentions in her heart, trying to gauge if there was anything worth being concerned about. She knew about Holly’s brother’s murder, and about her father’s alcoholism, but not about the uncles from prison. Holly was a great kid who already saw too much of life.

“Of course I am! He’s my uncle!” Holly said incredulously, not picking up that her teacher was already mentally pressing that little panic button. “But other people don’t understand Uncle Cyril. Other people just think he’s dumb. He’s not dumb though. He’s really smart and so so funny. And he always shares his candies with me, even if it’s right before dinner. He saves me the green apple and watermelon ones, ‘cause they’re my favorites.”

“Tell me about Uncle Cyril. Why do people think he’s dumb?”

“Because he’s redarted.”

“Re-darted?”

“That’s what I hear people call him. Like ‘hey redart’ and all that and daddy said that’s not nice to say. I think it means dumb, but like I said, he’s not dumb.”

Retarded.

“Oh.” Her teacher audibly gasped when she understood. “I didn’t know… ‘re-darted’ people were allowed in Oz.”

“Yeah, Uncle Kareem says it’s a broken system that needs to be burnt to the ground as the voices of the oppressed rise up like a phoenix from the ashes.” Holly blinked and noticed something on Mrs. Penney’s desk; “can I have a lollipop?”

Mrs. Penney was shocked that she heard what she heard from a child’s mouth.

“Your uncle wouldn’t happen to be-“

“Kareem Said. Yeah, that’s him, but he’s not as scary as he seems on TV.”

Mrs. Penney laughed a little at Holly’s candor.

“Is he kind to you?”

“Of course he is. He’s my godfather too. Uncle Kareem always makes time for me, even if he’s really really busy. One time Mr. Arif -I don’t like him, he’s mean- was saying he needed to spend time with his own kind and uncle Kareem was all like ‘she is my kind because she is one who strives for peace and justice’ and I thought that was so cool! He takes me for ice cream every Sunday and reads a prayer from the Koran every night when he comes over. He even talks to Daddy when he’s sad about Mom and Gary.”

Mrs. Penney was smiling a little now. She couldn’t imagine someone as serious as Kareem Said being a goofy uncle with Holly. Holly kept going on and on about how Uncle Kareem played dress up with her one time and he was prince Eric so she could be the little mermaid, holding her up in front of a sprinkler so she could say “part of your… WORLD!” like Ariel. Uncle Ryan always holds her up on his shoulders at parades and helped her sneak extra chocolate chips into their pancakes, even if he could be rude. Uncle Cyril and her were apparently inseparable, Shari no candy and watching movies and building blanket forts. They had movie nights where her father projected cartoons onto a bedsheet, and they both loved Cyberchase, but they both didn’t like the Hacker, the villain. She talked about Uncle Cyril as one would an older brother.

There was a knock on the doorframe. Mrs. Penney turned to see one of the men from Holly’s drawing.

“Uncle Kareem!” She rushed over to him and threw herself in his arms. He accepted it openly, loving his goddaughter more than anything in this world. He regarded the teacher.

“We were waiting for Holly outside,” he shook Mrs. Penney’s hand. “Was she held back for a reason?”

Mrs. Penney showed him the drawing, and watched as his face split into a huge, genuine smile. He tousled her hair.

“I had questions about Holly’s uncles. I’m happy she has so many people in her life that love her.” Mrs. Penney explained. “I wanted to know the names of the men in the picture.”

“She was asking me lots of questions about you and Uncle Ryan and Uncle Cyril. Like if you’re ever mean to me and stuff.” Holly shrugged, sucking on the green apple Lolly pop given to her by Mrs. Penney. Her teacher blushed and turned to Kareem Said, who was still smiling.

“Our family doesn’t look like many others.” He put his arm around Holly’s shoulder. “But we love just as hard and as strong as any other.”

“That much is clear.” Mrs. Penney admitted. “As I said, I’m happy Holly has so many people who love her.”

“She truly does.” Kareem shook her hand and guided Holly outside to where two other men were waiting by a car. She watched out the window as Holly launched herself into the blonde man’s arms, and how the other man had squeezed her arm and kissed her forehead. Mrs. Penney smiled beside herself. Holly had lost a mom, a brother, and a grandfather to Oz, so it was nice to see she walked away with a few more members of her family, not just fewer.

Holly Beecher had three uncles, just like Casper, and each one of them loved her to the moon and back.

[terriwriting]

Felon 47's lickspittle embraces the big lie

Proposal would require using the Notwithstanding Clause to override basic rights

Under Poilievre, your rights would be a matter of negotiation between Conservatives and a foreign dictator

Poilievre said the mandatory life sentence would apply to all people convicted of selling "40 milligrams of this poison," which he said is enough to kill 20 people. He's pitching a 15-year sentence for traffickers convicted of selling smaller quantities, between 20 and 40 milligrams. 

The Criminal Code already allows judges to impose a life sentence for trafficking fentanyl and other drugs. Poilievre's policy would take away the judge's discretion.

Mandatory minimum sentencing policies have been overturned by the Supreme Court in the past, but Poilievre has said he's open to using the notwithstanding clause to pass criminal laws through Parliament if his party forms the next government.

A spokesperson for Justice Minister Arif Virani said the Conservative proposal "would potentially expose every fentanyl user in Canada to an automatic life sentence," and pointed to the existing Criminal Code provisions that allow judges to send traffickers away to prison for life, if warranted.

[dailyjsa]

Black Adam: The Justice Society Files: Cyclone

Writer: Cavan Scott

Artist: Maria Laura Sanapo

Colors: Arif Prianto

[watch-joey-collect]

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Many in Canada’s legal community are expressing concern about how the overloaded court system could be affected by a Liberal bill that would make bail harder to access for some people facing criminal charges. Senators on a committee probing the legislation will enter the final phase of their study next week by going over the legislation clause by clause and suggesting amendments. Federal Justice Minister Arif Virani has encouraged the Senate to pass the bill quickly, saying the fact that all provincial and territorial governments pushed for the measures underlines their urgency. Police leaders also support the bill, saying these are much-needed reforms after a spate of high-profile killings by repeat violent offenders, who in some cases had been released on bail. But civil society groups and legal advocates representing people who are Black, Indigenous or otherwise marginalized say its measures could worsen the overrepresentation of such groups behind bars — something Liberals have promised to address — while failing to make communities any safer.

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[scurvyratt]

Although I didn't like the way Said died, I do think that the only way his story could have ended "happily" was with his own death.

So to explain, Said was a jihadist imo. I know that term has an extremely negative and violent connotation these days, but I don't think that he was a terrorist or extremist lol. Jihad has nothing to do with terrorism: "In its most general meaning, jihad refers to the obligation incumbent on all Muslims, individuals and the community, to follow and realize God’s will: to lead a virtuous life and to extend the Islamic community through preaching, education, example, writing, etc." Many Muslims also refer to jihad as a struggle against oppression. So not every Muslim is a jihadist, but I think Said is due to the fact that he is an imam and civil rights leader.

There are also the concepts of "lesser jihad" and "greater jihad". Lesser jihad is more of a physical battle against those who are oppressing you or committing wrong doings. We can see this in Said when he partakes in the riot for example. Greater jihad is an inward battle against oneself. The struggle against greed, lust, ego, selfishness, evil, etc. There's a ton of examples that can be used for this, especially in the last two seasons when he loses it after he kills Adebisi lol. Also when he gives up on pursuing Cutler's (ex) wife for his cause.

Nowww how does this relate to his death? Well, being a martyr is also a big deal in Islam. Muslims believe that there are seven levels of heaven, and that those who die as martyrs automatically go to the highest level. There are many different ways that one can die as a martyr in Islam, such as dying during child birth or dying while fighting for your independence (everyone who has been killed in the current Palestinian genocide is considered a martyr). But another way, is to die in the pursuit of jihad.

I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore lol, but I think that death as a martyr was like, the perfect death for Said since he was so committed to his jihad, his people, and fighting for civil rights. Also because he could be very self righteous and wanted to be seen as a hero (though I do think he changed in the later seasons, especially after Adebisi. Me doing a character analysis when I don't even remember what happened ijbol). I don't think that any other ending would have been satisfying for him because his ultimate desire was for liberation/equal rights/justice, etc. and like obviously that will never be achieved lol....

Also yes, I do think that Said would probably be considered a martyr since he mainly dedicated his life to Islam and educating/helping others (even tho he was kinda a flop tbh...) and he was assassinated. I mean he even gave up the opportunity to leave prison just so he could stay with his boyfriend Arif the other Muslims.

I know some people say that Said's death was fitting for the show (sudden, random, and by a stranger) but likeeeee. Idk I just did not gaf about that Idzik dude like come on they couldn't have come up with anything else?

Source: https://www.unaoc.org/repository/Esposito_Jihad_Holy_Unholy.pdf

[nfcomics]

BATMAN ONE BAD DAY BANE (one shot) • cover art • Giuseppe Camuncoli • Arif Prianto [Jan 2023]

A PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE DESTROYED BY VENOM! Bane broke the Bat--he's one of the only villains to ever truly vanquish the Dark Knight--but is that all he's ever accomplished? Decades from now, Bane is a washed-up wrestler reliving his glory days in the ring, defeating someone dressed like Batman every day. But when he discovers that there's a new source of Venom in the world, he'll do everything he can to shut down the facility it's coming from for good and make sure that no one takes the poison that ruined his life. An epic saga set throughout Bane's life, expanding on the hopes, dreams, regrets, and failures of one of DC's most legendary villains, brought to you by the iconic creative team of Joshua Williamson (Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, The Flash) and Howard Porter (The Flash, Justice League). For every 25 copies of all eight Premium Variant Covers ordered (200 copies total), retailers will be eligible to order one copy of the BATMAN ONE BAD DAY RAS AL GHUL "Lineup Compilation" Premium Variant Cover for free.

(W) Joshua Williamson (A) Howard Porter (CA) Giuseppe Camuncoli - Arif Prianto

[seemabhatnagar]

Plot earmarked in the development plan can't be put to any other use

Mr Irwyn Fernandes Isidore & Ors v. The State of Maharashtra & Ors

Public Interest Litigation before Bombay High Court

Before Bench of Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar ACJ & Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arif S Doctor J

Background

A PIL was filed by the petitioner for a direction to open all the reserved plots which are earmarked as Christian Cemeteries in the development plan of Thane city. An affidavit in reply is filed on behalf of the Municipal Corporation wherein the Municipal Corporation has given list of plots which have been earmarked as cemetery grounds in the development plan of the city of Thane.  Hon’ble Court didn’t find the remark satisfactory.

Observation of the Court

once the plots are designated as burial ground, cremation ground or Smashan Bhumi in the development plan, then they cannot be put to any other use other than the one designated.

Direction of the Court

The plots which have been designated as Cremation Ground/ Burial Ground/ Smashan Bhumi in the development plan will not be put to any other use other than the one designated in the development plan unless requisite procedure of law is followed for the change of user.

However, it is open to the Municipal Corporation to proceed to take requisite action in respect of the user of these plots contrary to the user designated in the Development Plan.

Seema Bhatnagar

[mediagraph]

Why the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Tamil Nadu Governor Sets a Powerful Precedent

In a rare and bold move, the Supreme Court of India has invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to effectively give assent to 10 pending Bills that had been lying with Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi — a step that not only resolves a legislative impasse but also sends a sharp constitutional message.

A Rare Use of Extraordinary Powers

The bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan stepped in to exercise a power that is sparingly used — especially in matters involving other Constitutional authorities. Article 142, often termed the Court’s "complete justice" provision, was employed to ensure the democratic functioning of the state was not indefinitely stalled by inaction from the Governor’s office.

Reining in the Raj Bhavan

In a landmark step, the Court introduced a one-month time limit for Governors to act on Bills passed by the legislature. This is a significant evolution of the constitutional balance, as the judiciary has traditionally been cautious about imposing time-bound directives on Constitutional posts such as Speakers or Governors.

This ruling could influence a pending case in Kerala, where former Governor Arif Mohammad Khan withheld assent to multiple Bills — an issue that mirrors the Tamil Nadu situation.

Context from Constitutional History

The verdict adds to a growing judicial trend of limiting discretionary powers of Governors. The Supreme Court, in its 1974 judgment in Shamsher Singh v. State of Punjab, made it clear that the Governor must generally act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, with discretionary powers being the rare exception.

Further, in Rameshwar Prasad v. Union of India (2006), the Court held that the Governor's individual judgment cannot be used as grounds for recommending President’s Rule. Similarly, even the clemency powers of the Governor have been brought under limited judicial review, reinforcing the idea that Constitutional authority cannot be wielded without accountability.

A Strong Message to the States and the Centre

The Supreme Court’s assertiveness is being hailed as a “victory for federalism” by many states. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin described it as a historic verdict that upholds the rights of elected governments. Kerala officials echoed this sentiment, warning other Raj Bhavans to take heed.

The ruling may not just settle the matter in Tamil Nadu but could also reshape the conduct of Governors across India, ensuring they don’t become roadblocks in the democratic process.

Conclusion

By stepping in where executive silence created constitutional deadlock, the Supreme Court has reminded all stakeholders — especially Constitutional heads like Governors — that democratic norms must prevail over personal discretion. With Article 142 as its tool, the judiciary has not just dispensed justice, but reasserted the strength of India’s federal framework.

[mbti-sorted]

Arif Virani

Anonymous asked: Arif Virani - entp Justice Minister Canada?