For Bangladeshis, the pressing issue is not political, but rape and harassment of women
New Age Islam News Bureau
22 March 2025
· For Bangladeshis, the pressing issue is not political, but rape and harassment of women
· UNICEF: 400,000 more girls deprived of education as new school year begins in Afghanistan, total reaches 2.2 million
· Namibia swears in first female president
· Breaking News: CAIR-CT Acknowledges Hate Crime Charge for Assault on Two Muslim Students in Waterbury
· Yasuj Rape Victim Dies After ‘Taking Pills’
· Sheikh Mohamed pays tribute to ‘wisdom and strength’ of women on UAE Mother’s Day
· How Saudi women are turning sand into soil
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/bangladeshis-political-rape-harassment-women/d/134948
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For Bangladeshis, the pressing issue is not political, but rape and harassment of women
22 March 2025
Student groups organised protests and human chains to demand justice and greater protection for women
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Bangladeshi politicians are hotly debating post-Hasina political reforms, elections, and ways to neutralise ousted Premier Sheikh Hasina. However, the average Bangladeshi is worried not about these, but about the breakdown of law order, mob lynching and mounting cases of rape and gender violence under the Interim Government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
According to the Human Rights Support Society of Bangladesh (HRSS), at least 119 people were killed and 74 injured in 114 mob lynching cases in seven months since the Interim Government took office. In January and February alone, there were 30 cases of mob lynching, resulting in 19 deaths and 20 injuries, the report added.
The HRSS Executive Director Ijazul Islam, said that those lynched were suspected thieves, muggers, child kidnapers and violators of Islamic codes for females. Cases were filed, but few were fully investigated, as a result, the perpetrators went unpunished, Ijazul Islam added.
Though mob lynching has been a long-standing issue in Bangladesh, it has intensified now given the deterioration in political conditions since August last year when there was a sudden change of regime. More groups are feeling empowered to take the law into their own hands. Given the inherent weakness of the Muhammad Yunus-led Interim Government, a manifest disorganisation in the police, judiciary and the bureaucracy, and with the army playing a mute spectator, it is now a free-for-all. “Might is Right” in this state of anomie.
As per the HRSS report again, in January and February 2005, there were 107 cases of rape, amongst which, child rape numbered 66 and gang rape 27. There was one murder after rape.
However, the problem of rape is not new. Quoting statistics from the Law and Arbitration Centre, Reuters said that 3,438 child rape cases were filed in Bangladesh in the last eight years. Actually, there were many more child rape victims than reported. At least 539 of them were under the age of six, and 933 were between the ages of seven and twelve. Research showed that in most cases, children were sexually abused or raped by people they knew.
Be that as it may, some of the recent cases are shocking. In Chittagong, a 52-year-old man was apprehended for raping a 10-year-old girl. In Dhaka, a 13-year-old child was admitted to the One-Stop Crisis Centre at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) following a brutal sexual assault by her close relations. The girl died in hospital.
A father was accused of raping his own daughter. A pregnant woman was gang-raped in Keraniganj. A stepfather in Narayanganj was arrested for filming and attempting to rape a teenage girl. According to police headquarters data, put out in the media, the cases of violence against women and children had surged by 19.5% from December 2024 to January 2025.
Harassment of Modern Women
On March 1, a man, Golam MostakimRintu, took offence to two young women smoking at a tea stall in Dhaka’s Lalmatia area and abused them. An altercation that followed led to an assault on the women by the self-styled moral policeman and his gang. Golam MostakimRintu had grabbed the women’s hair, slapped and kicked them. A bystander who had rushed to the aid of the girls, was beaten black and blue. A 11-second video footage of the incident went viral.
What was more shocking, was the authorities’ response to the incident. Instead of condemning the mob attack, Home Advisor Gen. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury focused on the “offence of smoking in public spaces.” MahiyaTabassum of The Daily Star pointed out that according to the Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products (Control) Act, 2005, the location where the incident took place—a roadside tea stall—did not qualify as a “designated non-smoking public place.” Gen. Chowdhury’s attempt to shift the focus from the violence to the act of smoking in a public place was but a blatant effort to justify the assault and absolve the perpetrators, Tabassum wrote.
Chowdhury’s stance only bolstered those who would use the religious card to “justify” the moral policing of women. Tabassum wondered if religious sensitivities could be used as an excuse to harass and curb women’s freedom to choose their lifestyle? She charged that the Interim Government of Muhammad Yunus is more interested in placating its religious fundamentalist partners (like the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh) than in protecting the rights of Bangladesh’s women.
Compromise Agreement
Despite the clear violations of the law, no legal action was taken against Rintu and others who attacked the women smokers. Instead, the victims were pressured into entering into a “compromise agreement”. The agreement was signed by the victims’ parents and not the victims themselves, undermining their autonomy and legal standing as adults, Tabassum pointed out.
The media also reported that “someone identifying himself as a powerful individual” had called the father of one of the victims and coerced him into signing it, further complicating the issue. The fact that law enforcement agencies had facilitated this agreement instead of proceeding with legal action reflected a gross misuse of discretionary power, Tabassum said.
She went on to say that police are resorting to such “compromise agreements” to cover up Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases. The reluctance to hold male perpetrators of GBV accountable reinforces the prevailing culture of impunity, where women are expected to endure harassment and violence without any recourse to justice, she pointed out.
Misogyny runs deep in Bangladesh and in the Indian subcontinent in general. “The entire ecosystem—spanning government officials, the media, law enforcement and political parties—continues to perpetuate abuse,” Tabassum noted. She also highlighted the nefarious role of the media in diverting attention from the crime to something else only to save the perpetrators. For example, some media outlets reported that the protests staged by women against the spate of rapes was an “Indian conspiracy.”
Public Outcry
The case of an 8-year-old girl being raped by her relations set off a huge public outcry. Student groups organised protests and human chains to demand justice and greater protection for women. Several groups demanded the resignation of Home Affairs Adviser Gen. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. In response, the police launched a special hotline to address cases of domestic violence, sexual harassment and rape. Collection of statistics is important, but if no action follows the exercise will be futile.
The “Bangladesh Against Rape and Abuse,” a platform consisting of female activists and concerned citizens, had burned an effigy of the Home Affairs Adviser Gen. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury condemning the inaction against Golam MostakimRintu.
Laws Disregarded
Bangladesh has strong laws to protect women, including the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act (2000) and the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act (2010).
But commentator FarzanaHoque asked, “What good are laws if they are not enforced?” She points out that women who report rape, harassment or domestic abuse often find that police do not take them seriously. Court cases drag on for years and many criminals walk away free. Survivors who seek justice are often shamed, threatened or pressured into staying silent. Justice delayed is justice denied but in Bangladesh, justice is often never rendered at all, Hoque submits.
Nothing explains the problem of gender bias better than what happened at Dhaka University (DU) recently. A female student was harassed just because her dupatta (scarf) was not in the “right place”. The harasser, one ArnobSardar, felt it was his right to police what she wore. But the female student stood up for herself and filed a police complaint. Sardar was arrested, but only to be let off on bail soon.
The rise of digital platforms has also created new dangers. Women now face cyber harassment, online threats and blackmail. Here too, instead of taking action, authorities often advise victims to “just ignore it,” Hoque points out.
Source:dailymirror.lk
https://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/For-Bangladeshis-the-pressing-issue-is-not-political-but-rape-and-harassment-of-women/172-304937
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UNICEF: 400,000 more girls deprived of education as new school year begins in Afghanistan, total reaches 2.2 million
By Fidel Rahmati
March 22, 2025
The new academic year in Afghanistan has begun, but 400,000 girls have been denied access to education. The total number of girls unable to attend secondary and high school has now reached 2.2 million. This situation has sparked international concern about the future of Afghanistan’s girls.
UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, issued a statement on March 22, 2025, warning that the continued education ban threatens the future of millions of girls in Afghanistan. She highlighted the severe consequences this will have on the entire country if the situation remains unchanged.
According to UNICEF, if the ban continues until 2030, over four million girls will remain deprived of education beyond primary school. This will limit their opportunities and affect their overall development, further exacerbating gender inequality in the region.
The education ban not only puts the health and well-being of Afghan girls at risk but also contributes to increased forced marriages and a decline in women’s participation in the healthcare system. This has led to a shortage of female doctors and midwives, which jeopardizes the lives of mothers and infants.
UNICEF estimates that the education ban could result in 1,600 maternal deaths and over 3,500 infant deaths. Despite the grim situation, UNICEF continues to provide support to Afghanistan children, especially girls, through community-based education programs.
The international community has repeatedly urged the Taliban to lift the educational restrictions on girls. However, there has been no change in the stance of the authorities.
UNICEF has called for the immediate lifting of the education ban on girls, describing the current situation as a “catastrophe” that requires urgent action to prevent further harm to Afghanistan children and society.
Source:khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/unicef-400000-more-girls-deprived-of-education-as-new-school-year-begins-in-afghanistan-total-reaches-2-2-million/
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Namibia swears in first female president
March 22, 2025
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is Namibia's first female president
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Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as Namibia's first female president on Friday, reaching the highest office in her land nearly 60 years after she joined the liberation movement fighting for independence from apartheid South Africa.
The 72-year-old Nandi-Ndaitwah won an election in November to become one of just a handful of female leaders in Africa after the likes of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Joyce Banda of Malawi and SamiaSuluhu Hassan of Tanzania.
Sirleaf and Banda, now former leaders of their countries, and current Tanzania President Hassan all attended Nandi-Ndaitwah's inauguration.
Nandi-Ndaitwah's swearing-in coincided with the 35th anniversary of Namibia's independence, but the ceremony was switched from a soccer stadium where thousands were due to attend to the official presidential office because of heavy rain.
The new president made her pledge to defend, uphold and support the constitution in front of other visiting leaders from South Africa, Zambia, Congo, Botswana, Angola and Kenya.
Nandi-Ndaitwah succeeds NangoloMbumba, who had stood in as Namibia's president since February 2024 following the death in office of President Hage Geingob. Nandi-Ndaitwah was promoted to vice president following Geingob's death.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is just the fifth president of Namibia, a sparsely populated nation in southwestern Africa which was a German colony until the end of World War I and then won independence from South Africa in 1990 after decades of struggle and a guerilla war against South African forces that lasted more than 20 years.
“The task facing me as the fifth president of the Republic of Namibia is to preserve the gains of our independence on all fronts and to ensure that the unfinished agenda of economic and social advancement of our people is carried forward with vigor and determination to bring about shared, balanced prosperity for all,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is a veteran of the South West Africa People's Organization, or SWAPO, which led Namibia's fight for independence and has been its ruling party ever since.
She was the ninth of 13 children, her father was an Anglican clergyman, and she attended a mission school that she also later taught in. She joined SWAPO as a teenager in the 1960s and spent time in exile in Zambia, Tanzania, the former Soviet Union and the United Kingdom in the 1970s and 1980s.
She had been a lawmaker in Namibia since 1990 and was the foreign minister before being appointed vice president.
She said she would insist on good governance and high ethical standards in public institutions and would promote closer regional cooperation. She pledged to continue calling for the rights of Palestinians and the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and demanded the lifting of sanctions against Cuba, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
She also said Namibia would continue to contribute to efforts to fight climate change, a persistent threat for an arid country of just three million people that regularly experiences droughts.
Nandi-Ndaitwah's husband is a retired general who once commanded Namibia's armed forces and was formally given the title “first gentleman.” Nandi-Ndaitwah's inauguration came a day after Namibia's Parliament elected its first female speaker.
Source:africanews.com
https://www.africanews.com/2025/03/21/namibia-elects-first-female-president/
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Breaking News: CAIR-CT Acknowledges Hate Crime Charge for Assault on Two Muslim Students in Waterbury
March 21, 2025
(HARTFORD, CT, 3/21/2025) – The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today acknowledged the hate crime charge for the alleged violent assault on two Muslim students in Waterbury, Connecticut, reportedly targeted because of their Arab heritage and Islamic faith.
[NOTE: CAIR’s Washington, D.C., headquarters recently released a national civil rights report documenting a continued rise in Islamophobic incidents across the country, including attacks on Muslim students.]
Two 7th grade twin sisters who wear the hijab were allegedly physically assaulted by fellow students at Michael Wallace Middle School on March 3. The attack resulted in injuries severe enough to require treatment at a hospital. The parents of the victims sought CAIR’s assistance because the felt that they were not receiving sufficient communication from the school regarding disciplinary actions against the perpetrators or a clear plan to ensure their daughters’ safety.
CAIR-CT sent a formal complaint to Waterbury Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Darren Schwartz, demanding an immediate and thorough investigation, compliance with Connecticut’s anti-bullying laws, and a meeting with school officials to ensure that the students are protected.
A news release issued by the City of Waterbury stated in part:
“Investigators determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the legal definition of a hate crime. The Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the findings and confirmed this classification.
“As a result, on March 21, 2025, a 12-year-old female student was charged with Intimidation Based on Bigotry and Bias in the First and Second Degree through a court-issued summons to Waterbury Juvenile Court. As noted in a previous release, another female student was referred to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest, based on her involvement in the incident.
“Additionally, the City of Waterbury Department of Education has verified an incident of bullying, taken disciplinary action, and implemented enhanced school safety measures in response to the incident.”
“This is a tragedy for everyone involved. While we acknowledge the appropriateness of hate crime charges in this disturbing case the girls who were attacked have undergone a severe trauma that will take a long time to recover from. We’re also concerned about the two girls that instigated this attack. To have hate at such a young age for another student is awful. We vehemently disagree with Waterbury’s assessment that this was an isolated case. We’ve heard from other parents of Muslim students that their kids have been harassed because of their religion,” said Farhan Memon, Chair of CAIR-CT. “This result should send a message that bias-motivated actions will not be tolerated in our schools.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source:cair.com
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/breaking-news-cair-ct-acknowledges-hate-crime-charge-for-assault-on-two-muslim-students-in-waterbury/
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Yasuj Rape Victim Dies After ‘Taking Pills’
MARCH 21, 2025
AsmaGhazanfari, a 26-year-old student who was gang-raped in Yasuj, died after “taking pills,” a human rights website reported.
The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported that Ghazanfari died on March 16. Her family held a quiet funeral without media coverage.
“AsmaGhazanfari’s death is highly suspicious,” a source close to her family said. “The family’s silence and the remote funeral location raise questions about whether she committed suicide.”
Reports emerged on December 2, 2024, that classmates had blackmailed and gang-raped Ghazanfari following an online dispute.
They leaked a video of the assault. Yasuj police arrested all suspects.
The attackers also stabbed Ghazanfari, causing injuries that required extended hospitalization.
Her family buried her on Monday in a remote village with few attendees, far from her birthplace.
Source:iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/139922-yasuj-rape-victim-dies-after-taking-pills/
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Sheikh Mohamed pays tribute to ‘wisdom and strength’ of women on UAE Mother’s Day
by ALICE HOLTHAM-PARGIN
MARCH 21, 2025
The UAE President hailed mothers as ‘guiding lights that inspire us to follow our dreams’…
UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nayan has payed a heartfelt tribute to mothers on UAE Mother’s Day.
The UAE leader took to X on Friday March 21 to hail mothers as ‘the guiding light that inspires us to follow our dreams with courage’. The sweet statement, addressed to “my mother and to mothers everywhere” thanked women for their ‘compassion, wisdom, and strength’. “We thank you for all that you do, today and every day,” the statement concluded.
The Dubai Ruler, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai also shared his own sweet tribute to mothers. Also posted to X, Sheikh Mohammed described the love for a mother as an ‘eternal love that never fades.’ “The mother is the first homeland, the first love, the first school,” he posted. Describing our achievements as “part of our mothers’ sacrifices, he added, “Every year, may mothers be blessed with goodness. Every year, may mothers remain the most precious treasure and the greatest blessing. Every year, may mothers be the most beautiful and the best part of life.”
The touching tributes comes on the occasion of UAE Mother’s Day, which is celebrated alongside the wider MENA region on March 21.
Source:emirateswoman.com
https://emirateswoman.com/sheikh-mohamed-pays-tribute-to-wisdom-and-strength-of-women-on-uae-mothers-day/
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How Saudi women are turning sand into soil
ORN SUPAPHOL
March 21, 2025
In the vast deserts of the Kingdom, something remarkable is happening. Barren sand is being transformed into fertile soil, and at the heart of this transformation are Saudi Arabia women.
As a scientist working in sustainability, I expected to be part of an ambitious vision for environmental restoration. What I did not expect was that women would be leading this effort, applying cutting-edge science to revive the land.
Saudi Arabia is at a defining moment in its sustainability journey. With Vision 2030’s Green Saudi Initiative, the Kingdom is making bold investments in reforestation, food security, and climate-resilient agriculture.
But what often goes unrecognized is that Saudi women are leading it.
Saudi women now make up 40 percent of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, graduates, outpacing many Western countries. But they are not just entering labs. They are leading groundbreaking projects in land restoration, from researching water-saving solutions to applying innovative soil technology.
Their presence is growing in some of the Kingdom’s most critical sectors, including climate science, sustainable agriculture, and land restoration. In my own work, I see this firsthand.
Whether in research labs, universities, or the field, Saudi women are leading projects that turn deserts into fertile land, improve water conservation, and develop solutions for a greener future.
One of Saudi Arabia’s biggest environmental challenges is desertification — the loss of arable land due to climate conditions and soil degradation. It requires scientific breakthroughs, innovation, and long-term commitment.
Across the country, Saudi women are rising to meet it.
At Saudi Desert Control, we use Liquid Natural Clay to turn desert sand into fertile soil by increasing its ability to retain water and nutrients. Women scientists and engineers are leading the application of this technology, ensuring that Saudi Arabia can produce food sustainably in one of the world’s most arid climates.
Across the Kingdom, female researchers and agricultural engineers are reducing water consumption, implementing regenerative farming techniques, and introducing climate-resilient crops.
Science thrives on diverse perspectives. In sustainability and agriculture — fields that directly impact communities — the inclusion of women leads to better decision-making, smarter solutions, and long-term resilience.
Many of the most forward-thinking, practical solutions I have encountered in Saudi Arabia come from female scientists and engineers. Their leadership is making Saudi Arabia’s sustainability push more effective, inclusive, and future-proof.
Saudi Arabia’s transformation is often spoken of as something coming in the future. But working alongside incredible female colleagues, I can confidently say the future is already here.
Saudi women are not just part of this change — they are turning sand into soil and shaping a more sustainable world.
I for one celebrate the women leading STEM fields, restoring land, conserving resources, and ensuring that Saudi Arabia’s next chapter is one of sustainability.
To the young women of Saudi Arabia pursuing science and sustainability — your work will define the future. And the future is now.
Source:arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2594417
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/bangladeshis-political-rape-harassment-women/d/134948