Salman Rushdie, author of ‘The Satanic Verses and ‘Midnight’s Children’’, is fighting life-changing injuries to his heart, liver, and eyes after being repeatedly stabbed on-stage while giving a lecture. While the suspect, 24-year-old Hadi Matar, was just indicted by a grand jury on Thursday August 18, he told the New York Post that his motivation came from Rushdie’sattacks on Islam and its beliefs. Rushdie’s controversial 1988 novel left Muslims feeling outraged and that the book’s author was claiming verses of the Qur’an were “the work of the Devil”. ‘Satanic Verses’ is a phrase unknown to Muslims, and coined by Orientalist Western academics who were specializing in the study of cultures considered Eastern. Rushdie’s title immediately sparked protest because it refers to a legend about Prophet Muhammad that both Sunni and Shiite Muslims believe are fabricated by idolators. Rushdie’s book was also considered offensive because it portrayed weakness in the Prophet Muhammad, and Muslims felt that Rushdie was questioning Muhammad’s credibility as the messenger of God. The book was banned in many parts of the world, including Iran, India and Pakistan, and former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini even issued a fatwa - or decree - calling for his death. Though the Iranian government has since separated itself from the fatwa, the price on Rushdie’s head recently increased to over $3M. For nearly a decade, the award-winning author went into hiding and lived under police protection, though in recent years became more lax about this, even venturing outside without bodyguard protection at times. Now, the outspoken defender of writers’ freedom of expression is living openly in New York, and once again at the center of free speech debate in literature.

What Asian horror movies have proven is that there is nothing scarier than a woman, free from her shackles, wreaking havoc on society to get justice. Why is the ghostly, vengeful woman such a prevalent trope, and how does it represent misogyny across Asian cultures? From the infamous virgin ghost, to the seductive “femme fatale” archetypes, there are consistent depictions of the vengeful female spirit throughout Asian stories. The pale, long black-haired woman in a white dress is the scariest ghost of all. While these characters might begin as victims, they become terrifying villains, making it difficult to sympathize with their pain. It’s the unfair deaths these female characters experience that turn their spirits into monsters that are feared and not souls free to rest. There is little understanding of their suffering, or even their existence, mirroring the reality of many. It’s possible this trope persists because scary stories have often been the only outlet to name the violence women face. In patriarchal societies that view women as subservient, many women die in unfair suffering: murder, death connected to sexual assault, and forced suicide. Asian horror has evolved to incorporate deeper commentaries about women’s issues over time like marital anxiety, dissociative identity disorders, and becoming a widow. But irrespective of final outcome,being abused and thus vengeful continues to be the most natural character foundation of Asian women in horror stories and films.

Devastating floods in South Korea have left 2,000 people displaced and at least 14 people dead. Tragically included are a family of three with a 13-year-old girl, who drowned after being trapped in a ‘banjiha’ or semi-underground apartment, the kind of unit prone to flooding, as highlighted in films like Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite. Last week, the Seoul government announced that banjiha units for residential uses will be banned in the future. Critics say it’s too little too late, and ignores the larger issues of inequality and the housing crisis that disproportionately affects low-income families. The torrential rain in Seoul was the heaviest in 115 years. At least 6 people are missing, and thousands are struggling to find shelter. Even more heavy rain is expected this week, with flood and landslide warnings across South Korea.

South Korean cult, Shincheonji, boasts nearly a quarter of a million members and 70 churches across the country. In 2020's first wave of COVID-19, more than half of the country’s confirmed cases linked to Shincheonji, and it quickly became evident this cult was spreading more than COVID. The investigation revealed coercive tactics used on members, including brainwashing and psychological manipulation. For example, Shincheonji’s style of mass worship packs 1,000 people in a room and forbids them to Google what the church is. Known to go to extreme lengths to gain new followers, recruiters admitted to unethical practices to get followers, including operating out of offices disguised as youth centers and inviting unaware Christains to join what they thought was a regular Bible study. This aggressive and disingenuous recruitment actually paid off, with 240,000 followers and twelve tribes. When Shincheonji’s leaders refused to cooperate with authorities, both withholding information and releasing false records of their members, they claimed they were being unfairly targeted as scapegoats. This prompted former members to come forward with stories revealing the insidious ways they indoctrinated and isolated members–specifically young people in their 20s. Other members deny all negative claims and have made it their goal to protect the cult. Will more unhealthy silence be broken, or will Shincheonji members continue to believe this is what service and community mean? Host & Producer Joy Jihyun Jeong Producer Stephanie Tangkilisan Editor-In-Chief Keshia Hannam Director of Photography Boya Sun Additional Research Ella Chi Editor Shakeeb Asrar Animator Samuel Salas & Fitra Pratama Sound Mix Ezound Studios Graphic Design Samuel Kang & Fitra Pratama & Annie Zhao

Hair, in many cultures a symbol of pride amongst women, is one of the fastest growing markets. In the US, hair strands sell for up to $2000. But in South Asia, where women are selling their hair for children’s tuition, two years of growth will get you $3-7. Since there are no regulations on where hair comes from, Asian women and Hindu temples are being exploited by this industry. In 2020, $800,000 of human hair products, believed to be illegally harvested from prisoners in Uighur detention camps, was seized by customs. But there’s still no regulations to stop this from happening. China, India, MyanMar, and Bangladesh are the biggest exporters of hair, while the US is the largest importer. As consumers, here’s how we can have awareness and advocate for ethical sourcing and fair compensation.

Issey Miyake, Hiroshima-born fashion designer, dies in Tokyo. Lover of art, design, and technology, Steve Jobs wore Miyake’s black turtleneck almost exclusively since the 80s. His signature pleated designs were famous for never losing shape and being comfortably stylish. Miyake’s work is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art. Anything else we can add about his legacy in terms of paving the way for other Asian designers to follow in his steps? The Japanese legend had been fighting liver cancer before passing away at 84 years old.