Afghan Female Cyclist, Yulduz Hashimi, Secures Second Place In Asian Category At Paris 2024-Time Trial
New Age Islam News Bureau
29 July 2024
·
Afghan Female Cyclist, YulduzHashimi, Secures
Second Place In Asian Category At Paris 2024-Time Trial
· Iran Defers Anti-Hijab Activist SepidehRashnu's Sentence
· Four Iranian Women, PakhshanAzizi, Sharifeh, Varisheh, And Simiyari Accused Of 'Armed Rebellion' At Risk Of Execution
·
KidnappedMinor Pakistan Christian Girl
Recovered, Returned to Parents
· Iran Steps Up War On Abortion with 250 New Anti-Abortion Centers
· Saudi Crown Prince’s Remark on Saudi Women’s Freedom To Dress Circulated Selectively
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
Afghan
Female Cyclist, YulduzHashimi, Secures Second Place In Asian Category At Paris
2024-Time Trial
July 29,
2024
YulduzHashimi,
an Afghan cyclist, secured the 26th position out of 35 participants in the
Women’s Individual Time Trial at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She also achieved the
second place in the Asian category.
According
to the Afghanistan Cycling Federation, Hashimi’s performance was a significant
achievement, as she was one of six athletes representing Afghanistan in the
2024 Paris Olympics.
The time
difference between Hashimi and the first-place finisher was four minutes, fifty
seconds, and 89 hundredths of a second. In this competition, Grace Brown from
Australia took the gold, while athletes from Britain and the USA claimed the
silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Despite
her impressive performance, Afghan athletes face severe challenges due to
ongoing restrictions and dire conditions in their home country. The restrictive
environment and lack of support have significantly impacted their training and
preparation.
Many
Afghan athletes struggle to access basic training facilities and equipment,
which hampers their ability to compete effectively on the global stage.
Additionally, political instability and security concerns have made it
increasingly difficult for them to participate in international events.
The
situation for Afghan athletes is further compounded by the economic challenges
facing the country, which limited funding and resources available for sports
development. These barriers not only affect their performance but also hinder
their potential to excel and gain recognition on the world stage.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/afghan-female-cyclist-secures-second-place-in-asian-category-at-paris-2024-time-trial/
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Iran
defers anti-hijab activist SepidehRashnu's sentence
28-07-24
Sepideh
Rashnu
-----------
Following
widespread public outcry, Iranian writer and anti-hijab activist SepidehRashnu,
has had her prison sentence postponed.
Rashnu
was summoned to begin serving three-years and 11-months on Saturday for defying
mandatory hijab laws.
However,
writing on X on Saturday, her brother, Saman, announced that the execution of
her prison sentence has been deferred until August 3. He added that a request
for a second retrial has been filed while expressing hope that the sentence
would not be enforced.
Despite
Iranian authorities bringing forward multiple cases against her, Rashnu
appeared before Evin prison on Saturday without wearing the mandatory hijab,
risking further fines and charges.
On
Friday evening, rights groups and Iranians flooded social media with protests
against Rashnu's summons to begin her prison term. The surge of support
followed a video she released in which she announced that, having exhausted all
legal avenues, she was forced to turn herself in at Tehran’s Evin Prison on
Saturday.
“I
haven't committed any act that justifies being removed from the city and the
streets, denied my education, and imprisoned. Evil has such a grip on our lives
that our bodies, our individuality, and our existence have been criminalized,”
Rashnu added in the video in a post on her Instagram.
Despite
being summoned to prison, Rashnu stated that what is more important than her
prison sentence, is supporting political prisoners facing the death penalty in
Iran.
“Right
now, many prisoners in various prisons are going on hunger strikes every
Tuesday to voice their protest against the death penalty to society, and they
will continue until they bring society and humanity along with them. I believe
the most important issue now is to end this evil as soon as possible,” Rashnu
stated.
Support
has been global. On Friday, the US-based AbdorrahmanBoroumand Center for Human
Rights in Iran condemned Rashnu’s prison sentence, stating that her case
“highlights the ongoing suppression of women's rights and freedom of expression
in the Islamic Republic.”
PEN
America also voiced its support for Rashnu, stating that "Dissidents like
Sepideh embody the role that writers and artists often play in defending human
rights."
Criticizing
the sentence as based on "fabricated national security charges", the
US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) also expressed support for
Rashnu.
Human
rights activist and former Evin detainee, AtenaDaemi wrote on X on Friday that
in Iran “the war against powerful women continues,” adding that women like
Rashnu “continue to fight and civil disobedience despite imprisonment and
repression.”
Rashnu
was first arrested on July 16, 2022, a few days after national “Hijab and
Chastity Day” on 12 July, following the circulation of a video that went viral
on social media showing her on a bus without the mandatory hijab.
The
video also captured her in an argument with a woman identified as RayehehRabi’i
- an Islamic Republic loyalist, who was attempting to force her to wear a
hijab. During the altercation, Rashnu was assaulted by Rabi’i.
Following
her arrest state-run television (IRIB) aired a forced confession of Rashnu on
July 30, 2022, showing visible signs of torture with bruised eyes and
reportedly taken to hospital after the video was recorded.
On
August 15, 2022, Rashnu’s case was referred to Tehran Revolutionary Court for
charges including "gathering and colluding against national
security", "propaganda against the state" and “promoting
immorality and prostitution.”
Rashnu
was eventually released on a bail of eight billion rials ($27,000 according to
exchange rates at the time) on August 30, 2022.
An
undergraduate painting student at Alzahra University, she was detained for
several hours on June 20, 2023, for allegedly not complying with mandatory
hijab laws on campus. She was released on bail and subsequently suspended for
two semesters for her non-compliance with the hijab mandate.
On
November 22, she received a sentence of three years and seven months for
“gathering and colluding against national security,” and an additional four
months for “propaganda against the state.” She was acquitted of "promoting
immorality and prostitution."
In
October, Rashnu was denied entry to her trial in Tehran after announcing on
social media that she would not wear the hijab during the court session. A new case
was opened against her for “unveiling in public,” resulting in a fine of 15
million rials (approximately $260).
Following
the postponement of her prison sentence on Saturday, Rashnu took to Instagram
to urge support for Iranian prisoners faced with executions.
"I
think I can bear these delays, harassments, and even imprisonment but I can't
bear watching people lose their lives...let us advocate for the life of those
who are in danger of receiving a death sentence or have been sentenced to
death," she wrote.
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202407274405
--------
Four
Iranian Women, PakhshanAzizi, Sharifeh, Varisheh, And SimiyariAccused Of 'Armed
Rebellion' At Risk Of Execution
29-07-24
Iranian
authorities have accused four women of "armed rebellion", a sentence
carrying the death penalty, as the country's execution spree continues.
The four
women have been identified as PakhshanAzizi, Sharifeh Mohammadi,
VarishehMoradi, and NasimGholamiSimiyari.
While
Azizi and Mohammadi have received a death sentence in recent weeks, the
verdicts for Moradi and Simiyari are pending. However, given the armed
rebellion charges they face, activists have warned that they could be at high
risk of execution.
Article
287 of the Islamic Penal Code states that any group taking up arms against the
Islamic Republic is considered a rebel and "its members shall be sentenced
to death.”
Rights
groups, activists, and Evin Prison inmates have condemned the authorities'
actions, sparking widespread protests on social media and from human rights
organizations against the Islamic Republic's harsh treatment of female
activists.
VarishehMoradi
Accordin
to Iran International sources, the second court session for VarishehMoradi on
the charge of "armed rebellion" is scheduled for August 4 at Tehran’s
Islamic Revolution Court, presided over by Judge AbolqasemSalavati.
This
date was set without allowing her lawyers access to review her case. During her
first court session on June 13, Salavati, infamously known as the "Judge
of Death" for his severe human rights violations and death sentences on
dubious charges, did not permit Moradi's lawyers to defend her.
NasimGholamiSimiyari
On
Saturday, a court session was held for NasimGholamiSimiyari, a protester of
Iran’s 2022 nationwide "Woman Life Freedom" uprising, on the charge
of "armed rebellion" in a joint case.
The
session took place at Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided
over by Judge Iman Afshari, notorious for human rights violations. Afshari was
sanctioned by the UK in 2022 for being "involved in the commission of
serious human rights violations in Iran, namely being responsible for serious
violations with respect to the right to a fair trial and the right to freedom
of expression of political protesters."
Simiyari
is currently detained at Tehran’s Evin prison and awaits a verdict. She was
arrested on May 18, 2023, by IRGC intelligence agents in Tehran. Initially held
in solitary confinement in Ward 1A, she was interrogated before being moved to
the notorious Ward 2A and finally to the women's ward of Evin Prison on
September 26, 2023.
After
five months, she was charged with "assembly and collusion against national
security," "propaganda against the regime," and "armed
rebellion" in a joint case. US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency
(HRANA) citing GholamiSimiyari’s friend reported that she endured psychological
and physical torture, resulting in forced confessions recorded on camera under
duress.
PakhshanAzizi
Political
prisoner, PakhshanAzizi was sentenced to death and an additional four years in
prison on charges of "armed rebellion." The verdict was handed down
by Judge Afshari of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, with her
lawyers being informed of the judgment on July 23.
On Saturday,
Norway-based Iran Human Rights urged the International community to demand
charges against Pakhshan and all others detained for their peaceful civil
activities to be dropped.
“PakhshanAzizi’s
death sentence has no legal basis and was issued by the Islamic Republic’s
non-independent judicial system at the behest of the security forces in order
to suppress civil movement. The international community must react to her
sentence in the strongest terms,” Iran Human Rights Director, Mahmood
Amiry-Moghaddam said in a statement.
Sixty
female political prisoners at Tehran’s Evin Prison staged an overnight sit-in
on Wednesday to protest against Azizi’s death sentence.
The
Instagram accounts of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi, Iranian civil rights
activist GolrokhIraee, and German-Iranian rights activist NahidTaghavi jointly
announced that Evin's women unanimously demand the annulment of the
Iranian-Kurdish political prisoner's death sentence.
Sharifeh
Mohammadi
Labor
activist Sharifeh Mohammadi was sentenced to death in early July on charges of
"armed rebellion" by Judge Ahmad DarvishGoftar of Branch 1 of the
Revolutionary Court of Rasht.
The
Campaign to Defend Mohammadi stated on Instagram that the sentence is
"based on the pretext of Mohammadi's membership in an independent, public,
and legal labor organization a decade ago, demonstrating the baselessness of
the verdict."
Rights
groups and activists have been campaigning against Mohammadi’s death sentence
since it was issued in July.
Last
year, 834 prisoners were executed in Iran, including at least 22 women, marking
the highest number since 2014, according to Iran Human Rights, making Iran the
world's leading executioner of women.
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202407285566
--------
KidnappedMinor
Pakistan Christian Girl Recovered, Returned to Parents
July 29,
2024
TOBA TEK
SINGH: A minor Christian girl, allegedly kidnapped some five months ago, has
been recovered and handed over to her parents in Chak 233 RB, Hari Singhwala,
Faisalabad.
According
to an FIR registered on Feb 11 under sections 376, 364, 365, 420, 468, and 471
of Pakistan Penal Code, Laiba, 11, daughter of complainant SuhailMaseeh, was
abducted by Irfan Maseeh and his five accomplices and later handed over to
Shafqat Shah who forcibly converted Laiba to Islam and married her.
Several
inquiries by different police teams declared that Laiba was underage and
confirmed that her nikah with Shah was illegal and conducted after her forced
conversion. The probes also revealed that Laiba’s transfer from Darul Aman to
Shafqat Shah violated rules.
Christian
leaders Lala Daniel Robin, Shazia George, Romana Bashir, SaiqaRehmat, Shaheen
Anthony, Pervez Iqbal Bhatti, Yashwa Bhatti and Laiba’s father, SuhailMaseeh
thanked international and Pakistani human rights organisations in a press
conference on Sunday for raising their voices for Laiba’s recovery.
DIES:
Renowned playback singer Ali Raza, who was also a member of the late vocalist
NusratFateh Ali Khan’s team, died after a prolonged illness in a hospital in
Australia on Sunday. He was a resident of D-Type Colony, Faisalabad, and had
been suffering from heart disease.
KILLED:
A man killed his wife over a minor quarrel in Siraj Basti, Samundri,
Faisalabad, on Sunday. Reports said Muhammad Shafiq of Rawalpindi had come to
see his relatives with his wife, Faiza Bibi, and their children. The couple
exchanged harsh words over a domestic issue and Shafiq shot her. She died
instantly. Police have arrested the accused.
PTI:
Twenty-two Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) activists were booked for violating a
ban on rallies by Satellite Town police, Jhang, on Sunday. Complainant ASI
Mahmood Akbar claimed in his FIR, registered under section 188 of PPC, that
section 144 CrPC had been imposed in Jhang. However, PTI activists Farooq Jamil
Gujjar, Usman Kaluana and 20 accomplices took out a rally in violation of the
ban. Raids are being conducted to arrest the PTI activists.
FIA: The
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) established its state-of-the-art ‘Second
Line Border Control’ office at Multan airport on Sunday, the second of its kind
after the first was set up at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. An
FIA spokesperson said the system, installed in collaboration with the
International Centre for Migration Policy Development, will help stop illegal
immigration. The office has been equipped with modern forensic and IT tools to
examine fake visas and other documents.
Meanwhile,
FIA Multan circle arrested Benazir Income Support Programme supervisor Muhammad
Bilal and his accomplice, agent Muhammad Zain, for misappropriation of BISP
funds.
Source: dawn.com
https://www.dawn.com/news/1848591/kidnapped-minor-christian-girl-recovered-returned-to-parents
--------
Iran
steps up war on abortion with 250 new anti-abortion centers
29-07-24
Iran has
established anti-abortion centers in 250 cities, preventing 4,700 abortions,
according to a Health Ministry official.
In an
interview with the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) on Saturday, Saber
Jabbari-Farouji, head of Iran’s Health Ministry's Population Youth Department,
disclosed that the centers are part of the "Nafas" intervention
group.
The
group operates in locations frequently visited by pregnant women contemplating
abortion and collaborates with the likes of pregnancy diagnosis labs,
gynecologists' offices, midwives, general practitioners, and the national
health network, including hospitals, to deter a woman considering an abortion.
Supported
by the IRGC's Basij organization, it is believed that around 60 percent of
women reportedly reconsidering after the interventions.
“In some
instances, the mother may not disclose her intention to abort. Instead, the
child's father, relatives, or even neighbors might inform us,"
Jabbari-Farouji said.
"These
groups then establish an emotional connection with the mother, investigating
the issues she faces. Based on these identified problems, they advise her
against terminating the pregnancy."
Observers
have likened the Nafas group centers, dubbed “anti-abortion patrols,” to Iran’s
hijab enforcement units. In March 2021, the Iranian parliament passed a law
banning public health services from offering family planning, including
contraceptives, vasectomies, and tubectomies, except when a woman's health is
at risk.
In May,
16 human rights organizations condemned Iran’s restrictive sexual and
reproductive policies, calling for the repeal of discriminatory laws.
In a
joint statement, they said that in the past decade, Iran has intensified
efforts to limit women’s fundamental rights, particularly in reproductive
autonomy saying the trend "reflects a broader pattern of increasing
restrictions on women’s rights". Just recently, the UN branded Iran's
policy towards women and girls "gender apartheid".
"Under
the guise of addressing declining population growth, the government has
introduced discriminatory legislation that severely limits access to essential
sexual and reproductive healthcare and family planning services. These measures
criminalize healthcare providers and strip women of bodily autonomy, perpetuating
systemic discrimination,” the joint statement read.
Abortion
in Iran is largely prohibited, with only a few exceptions. Following the Family
Protection and Youth Population Law enacted in 2020, abortions require official
permits.
According
to Article 56 of the Family Protection and Youth Population Law, unauthorized
abortions are punishable by fines, imprisonment, and revocation of medical
licenses with the coroner’s office responsible for filing cases for those
seeking abortions. However, underground abortions are common in Iran as women
lack free access to contraception and means of escaping unwanted pregnancy.
Back in
2022, Saleh Ghasemi, head of the Center for Strategic Research on Population,
said that "only three percent of abortions [in Iran] are legal, and two
percent of abortions are spontaneous." He also said that only four percent
of abortions happen due to what he called "illegitimate relations".
The ban
on abortion in Iran has made women go to illegal and often unsafe centers to
terminate their pregnancies, causing the death of many women and sometimes
causing lifetime complications.
Jabbari-Farouji
further stated that the main reasons for seeking abortions include
unwillingness to have more children, economic hardships, and untimely
pregnancies. He noted that 30 percent of abortion permit applicants cited
economic hardships as their reason.
Iran has
been grappling with inflation exceeding 40 percent annually over the past five
years, alongside low wages and a devaluing national currency.
Despite
these economic challenges, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei prioritizes
increasing the population, viewing it as essential for the Islamic Republic’s
position as a leading Shia country in the Muslim world. Khamenei’s emphasis has
led to increased coercive measures against contraception and abortion.
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202407278721
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Saudi
Crown Prince’s Remark on Saudi Women’s Freedom To Dress Circulated Selectively
29th
July 2024
Recently,
social media users widely circulated a claim attributed to Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman, suggesting that women in Saudi Arabia can now dress as
they wish without needing male permission. The statement said, "From now
on, women in Saudi Arabia can dress however they want without male
permission."
Misbar
investigated the viral claim and found it to be selective.
Misbar’s
investigative team searched the claim online and found it to be taken out of
context.
Mohammed
Bin Salman’s Remark on Women’s Freedom To Dress Is Taken Out of Context
Contrary
to the viral claim on social media, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did
not state that women in Saudi Arabia can wear whatever they want without male
permission.
Misbar
investigated the claim and found it to be a misinterpretation of a CBS News
interview with bin Salman on the "60 Minutes" television broadcast on
March 19, 2023.
According
to the interview transcript, bin Salman stated that women should decide what
type of clothing to wear as long as it is decent and respectful.
His
remark reads, “The laws are very clear and stipulated in the laws of Sharia:
that women wear decent, respectful clothing, like men. This, however, does not
particularly specify a black abaya or a black head cover. The decision is
entirely left for women to decide what type of decent and respectful attire she
chooses to wear.”
Following
the interview, media outlets selectively shared the Saudi Crown Prince's
statement, often using catchy headlines to engage readers.
For
instance, DW highlighted his remarks with a focus on how the remark "could
signify a big step for women's rights," but added that "there was one
catch," and added a headline in the article that reads, “'Respectful'
clothes open to interpretation.”
What Is
an Abaya?
Worn by
Muslim women, an abaya is a long, loose-fitting, robe-like garment that covers
the entire body except for the face, hands, and feet. Through the abaya, women
can express their religious identity and dedication to following Islamic
guidelines regarding modest attire.
In more
conservative social circles, the abaya is a customary part of dress, aligning
with social norms and cultural expectations. It is usually worn over everyday
clothing and paired with a headscarf to cover the hair. Traditionally black or
dark in color, the abaya’s design and aesthetics now vary across different
regions and communities.
Saudi
Arabia Allows More Pro-Women Reforms
Since
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rose to power, he has implemented several
social reforms that have expanded freedoms for women. In 2018, women were
allowed to drive after Saudi state media announced that provisions were being
made to issue driving licenses to women as part of a broader liberalization
effort.
Moreover,
reforms include allowing women to attend public sporting events, albeit in a
'family' zone segregated from male fans. In January 2018, Saudi Arabia
permitted female football fans to enter a stadium in the western city of
Jeddah, marking the first time Saudi women were able to watch a match in
person.
Source: misbar.com
https://misbar.com/en/factcheck/2024/07/29/saudi-crown-princersquos-remark-on-saudi-womenrsquos-freedom-to-dress-circulated-selectively
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/afghan-female-yulduz-hashimi-asian-paris/d/132817