Burqa Ban Bill, Targeting Muslim Women, Approved By Portugal’s Parliament
New Age Islam News Bureau
18 October 2025
· Burqa Ban Bill, Targeting Muslim Women, Approved By Portugal’s Parliament
· Atash Shakarami, Aunt of Slain Teen Iranian Protester, Nika,16, Faces Flogging for 'Spreading Lies'
· Iran Proposes Making 'Pact Of Mercy' Among Women Worldwide
· Dr. Nahla Al-Saeedi, Advisor to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, as Chief Guest University Of Gujrat Hosts Session On Role Of Muslim Women
· Iran’s Women’s Rowing Duo Wins Gold At Asian Championships
· UAE–Pakistan Ties: Abu Dhabi’s IHC Acquires Majority Stake In First Women Bank
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/burqa-ban-bill-muslim-women-parliament/d/137306
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Burqa Ban Bill, Targeting Muslim Women, Approved By Portugal’s Parliament
17 Oct 2025
The bill means wearing face veils for ‘gender or religious’ reasons in public will result in fines. Photograph: Omer Abrar/AFP/Getty Images
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Portugal’s parliament has approved a bill banning face veils worn for “gender or religious” reasons in public, in a move seen as targeting Muslim women who wear face coverings.
The measure was proposed by the far-right Chega party and would prohibit coverings such as burqas (a full-body garment that covers a woman from head to foot) and Niqabs (the full-face Islamic veil with space around the eyes) from being worn in most public places. Face veils would still be allowed in airplanes, diplomatic premises and places of worship.
The bill stipulates fines for those wearing face veils in public ranging between 200 euros and 4,000 euros (£175 and £3,475).
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa still has to approve the bill. He could veto it or send it to the constitutional court for review.
If signed into law, Portugal would join a number of European countries such as Austria, France, Belgium and the Netherlands who have full or partial bans on face and head coverings.
Not many women in Portugal wear such coverings, but the issue of Islamic veils has generated controversy similar to other European countries.
Chega cited France and other EU countries’ rationales for banning face coverings commonly worn by Muslim women. The party received support for the bill from center-right parties.
In its bill, Chega said that hiding the face subjects individuals – especially women – “to situations of exclusion and inferiority” and was incompatible with principles such as “liberty, equality and human dignity”.
Lawmakers from left-leaning parties disagreed.
“This initiative is used solely to target foreigners, those who have a different faith,” said center-left Socialist party lawmaker Pedro Delgado Alves whose party voted against the bill.
He said that while no woman should be forced to wear a veil, the far-right party’s approach was wrong.
Source: theguardian.com
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/17/burqa-ban-bill-approved-by-portugals-parliament-seen-as-targeting-muslim-women
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Atash Shakarami, Aunt of Slain Teen Iranian Protester, Nika,16, Faces Flogging for 'Spreading Lies'
OCTOBER 17, 2025
Atash Shakarami announced on her Instagram account that the 38-lash sentence issued against her and sent to the judgments enforcement branch, which will carry it out in the coming days
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The aunt of a teenage girl killed during Iran's 2022 protests faces flogging within 10 days after a Revolutionary Court convicted her of “spreading lies.”
On Thursday, Atash Shakarami announced on her Instagram account that the 38-lash sentence issued against her and sent to the judgments enforcement branch, which will carry it out in the coming days.
The sentence comes from a complaint filed by Nasrin Shakarami, mother of 16-year-old Nika Shakarami, killed during the nationwide protests that erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Nika, 16, disappeared on September 20, 2022, during an anti-government protest in Tehran.
Her family found her body in a mortuary outside the capital after spending days looking for her in prisons, detention centres, police stations, and hospitals.
Nika’s aunt and uncle were later arrested and appeared on state television, saying Nika had been “thrown” from a multi-story building located close to her home.
Officials told the state media that there were no bullet marks on Nika’s body and that her death was unconnected to the protests or any security operations responding to the protests.
A document leaked to the BBC, however, revealed that she was sexually assaulted after being detained during the protests.
The Revolutionary Court of Lorestan Province convicted Atash Shakarami on charges of "spreading lies." An appeals court upheld the sentence in its entirety.
In an audio file Atash Shakarami posted to Instagram, a person identified as Nasrin Shakarami's lawyer can be heard telling her, "Either apologize or the sentence will be executed in ten days."
The lawyer suggested she could avoid the punishment by apologizing on social media.
"Maybe if you post a story and apologize, she will consent," the lawyer sad in the recording.
Atash Shakarami has been a vocal advocate seeking justice for her niece since Nika's death.
She has said security forces have threatened her multiple times since she began speaking out about the circumstances of her niece's death.
She has also reported being pressured by friends and acquaintances on several occasions to stop pursuing accountability for Nika's killing
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/145626-aunt-of-slain-teen-iranian-protester-faces-flogging-for-spreading-lies/
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Iran proposes making 'pact of mercy' among women worldwide
October 17, 2025
The pact aims to keep kindness alive in politics, economics, and science, IRNA quoted Behrouz-Azar as saying. It will be a charter based on particular principles including protecting dignity of human life, providing additional support to children and women during crisis, promoting dialogue instead of violence, exclusion and sanctions, and safeguarding the rights of anything that exists on the earth from plants and animals to water and soil, as well as utilizing science and technology to serve the humanity rather than starting wars, imposing sanctions, or suppressing humanity.
The official went on to say that “We live in an era where science and technology have transformed the world; artificial intelligence is influencing decision-making, and robots have replaced humans.
The Earth is getting hotter, the gap between the rich and the poor is widening, and loneliness is becoming more prevalent. Technology has made us more connected, but not necessarily closer.
Today, we have more information, but less peace. In recent years, we have witnessed the dark side of technology in hybrid warfare, the manipulation of public opinion, the expansion of digital hatred, and the use of artificial intelligence for destruction. These experiences highlight the profound crisis of the modern era. Despite external progress, many individuals grapple with an inner void.”
The Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women was held on October 13 and 14 in Beijing, China.
The meeting was held with the theme of “One Shared Future: New and Accelerated Process for Women’s All-round Development.’
Co-hosted by China and the UN, the meeting brought together heads of state, government leaders, parliamentary leaders, deputy prime ministers, ministerial officials, leaders of international organizations, and representatives from various continents.
The participants discussed the global challenges, including climate change, technological and digital transformation, and war-inflicted crisis, as well as reviewing each country’s progress in empowering women.
On the sidelines of the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, Behrouz-Azar held meetings with Sheng Yiqin, President of the All-China Women’s Federation, and the Uzbek Chairperson of the Committee for Family and Women, Makhkamova Zulayho Bakhriddinovna.
During the meeting with the Chinese official, Yiqin said Iran and China are two ancient civilizations with rich cultures, and women in the two countries have a crucial part in making social progress and maintaining the family foundation. China is ready to foster cooperation and coordination with Iran, particularly in the women’s field, in line with the two countries' strategic partnership, and under the leadership of the two presidents.
For her part, Behrouz-Azar elaborated on women’s achievements in the country. She said over the past few years, the country has passed and implemented several laws supporting pregnant women and working mothers. Iran is also strengthening infrastructures for vocational training and boosting employment capacities to help women play a more effective role in the national and international economy.
Fostering growth in Iranian women’s handicrafts export and expanding international markets for cultural products are among the important plans of the government to empower women, she added.
Behrouz-Azar also met the Uzbek Chairperson of the Committee for Family and Women, Makhkamova Zulayho Bakhriddinovna.
During the meeting, the two sides agreed on expanding cooperation in vocational training, women’s employment, entrepreneurship, and handicrafts.
Bakhriddinovna invited Behrouz-Azar to travel to Tashkent to sign a memorandum of understanding in the women’s sector.
Source: tehrantimes.com
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/519186/Iran-proposes-making-pact-of-mercy-among-women-worldwide
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Dr. Nahla Al-Saeedi, Advisor to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, as Chief Guest University Of Gujrat Hosts Session On Role Of Muslim Women
18 Oct 2025
GUJRAT - The Department of Islamic Studies, University of Gujrat (UoG), organised a session titled ‘Role of Muslim Women and Contemporary Challenges’ at Hafiz Hayat Campus. Renowned scholar and advisor to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University, Egypt, Dr. Nahla Al-Saeedi, was the chief guest, while Dean of the Faculty of Arts Prof. Dr. Zahid Yousaf presided over the session. Addressing the participants, Dr. Nahla Al-Saeedi highlighted the pivotal role of Muslim women in the moral and intellectual development of the Ummah, social balance, and progress of society. She said contemporary intellectual and moral challenges could be effectively addressed through a blend of knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual insight.Prof. Dr. Zahid Yousaf said the session marked a milestone in promoting international academic collaboration. Head of the Department of Islamic Studies Dr. Syed Hamid Farooq Bukhari welcomed Dr. Nahla Al-Saeedi, terming her visit a great academic and spiritual honor for the university. At the end of the session, a commemorative shield was presented to Dr. Nahla Al-Saeedi, followed by a luncheon held in her honor, attended by faculty members and students.
Source: nation.com.pk
https://www.nation.com.pk/18-Oct-2025/uog-hosts-session-role-muslim-women
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Iran’s Women’s Rowing Duo Wins Gold at Asian Championships
2025/10/18
Tehran - BORNA - Iran’s Zeinab Norouzi and Kimia Zare outpaced competitors from India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Hong Kong to win gold in the women’s lightweight double sculls, finishing first with a time of 7:30.22.
In the women’s heavyweight double sculls, Mahsa Javer and Fatemeh Mojallal finished third with a time of 7:22.30, earning the bronze medal. Crews from Uzbekistan and Vietnam took gold and silver, respectively.
The event featured strong competition between teams from Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, and Singapore.
In the men’s lightweight double sculls final, Amirhossein Mahmoudpour and Amirreza Abdali secured the bronze medal with a time of 6:43.24, finishing behind India (gold) and Uzbekistan (silver).
Mahmoudpour also competed in the men’s lightweight single sculls final, finishing sixth with a time of 7:26.20, while rowers from Hong Kong and Uzbekistan took first and second place.
So far, Iran has won one gold and two bronze medals at the ongoing Asian Rowing Championships in Vietnam.
Source: borna.news
https://borna.news/en/news/1815/iran%E2%80%99s-women%E2%80%99s-rowing-duo-wins-gold-at-asian-championships
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UAE–Pakistan ties: Abu Dhabi’s IHC acquires majority stake in First Women Bank
October 17, 2025
Abu Dhabi: International Holding Company (IHC) has acquired a majority stake in Pakistan’s state-owned First Women Bank Limited (FWBL) following a privatisation process under Pakistan’s Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions Act of 2022.
The announcement was made in the presence of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of 2PointZero, and Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The deal marks the first bank privatisation in Pakistan under a government-to-government framework, highlighting the strengthening economic partnership between the UAE and Pakistan.
Founded in 1989, FWBL operates 42 branches across Pakistan, offering retail, SME, and corporate banking services. IHC’s acquisition aims to boost the bank’s capital, expand its operations nationwide, and modernise services with AI-driven technology and digital banking solutions.
Planned modernisation includes:
Upgrading core banking infrastructure and automating processes.
Integrating AI and advanced analytics to enhance efficiency.
Investing in talent development and fostering a performance-driven culture.
Rebranding the bank to reflect a wider mandate and promote financial inclusion.
“Our investment in First Women Bank reflects IHC’s confidence in Pakistan’s financial sector and our shared vision for sustainable growth. We look forward to supporting the bank’s modernisation through technology and AI, driving innovation and long-term value creation,” said Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC.
The acquisition follows IHC subsidiary International Resources Holding’s (IRH) joint venture with the Government of Balochistan and local partners in February 2025, further reinforcing UAE–Pakistan economic cooperation.
These initiatives reflect IHC’s strategy to foster sustainable growth, drive technology-led transformation, and strengthen global economic connectivity.
Source: gulfnews.com
https://gulfnews.com/business/banking/uaepakistan-ties-abu-dhabis-ihc-acquires-majority-stake-in-first-women-bank-1.500312039
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/burqa-ban-bill-muslim-women-parliament/d/137306