Exiled Queen Farah Pahlavi: 'Cover or Suffer' Prevails 88 Years after Hijab Abolition in Iran
New Age
Islam News Bureau
10 January 2024
·
Exiled
Queen Farah Pahlavi: 'Cover or Suffer' Prevails 88 Years after Hijab Abolition in
Iran
·
Hijab
Guidelines Issued Amid Ongoing Girls’ Detention in Afghanistan
·
Israeli Teen
Forced To Marry Muslim Man in Uzbekistan - Report
·
Jordan’s
Queen Rania Meets Youth and Women’s Groups Driving Local Initiatives in Wadi
Musa
·
Study on
Violence against Women in Politics in Türkiye is published
·
Young Women
Affected By the Earthquakes In Türkiye Are Empowered Through Gender Equality
Trainings
·
Rugby
Player Api Ratuniyarawa Jailed For Sexually Assaulting Three Women
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/exiled-queen-farah-pahlavi-hijab/d/131491
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Exiled Queen Farah Pahlavi: ‘Cover Or
Suffer' Prevails 88 Years After Hijab Abolition In Iran
Exiled Queen Farah Pahlavi
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10 Jan 2024
Exiled Queen Farah Pahlavi says that 88
years after Reza Shah abolished the hijab, Iran’s “backward regime” has not
been able to reverse the progress of women.
Abolishing the hijab on January 17,
1936, was only one aspect of the modernization attempts by Reza Shah Pahlavi the
founder of the Pahlavi dynasty. He not only freed Iranian women from hijab, but
he also paved the way for them to be active members of society as teachers,
government officials, nurses, and highly educated professionals.
Later in the dynasty's rule, Iranian
women gained the right to vote and run for parliament, preceding many countries
in granting women equal rights. However, the modernization of women and changes
in their lifestyles were significantly reversed with the ascent of
fundamentalist Shiite clerics to power in Iran in 1979.
In a statement released on the occasion,
Farah Pahlavi praised Reza Shah for helping Iranian women to shine and “to free
them from the dungeons of prejudice." She said the occasion is a landmark
in the evolution of Iranian women's modern identity, adding that "many
Iranian women today praise the two kings of the Pahlavi dynasty without even
having lived in their period." The women, she said, demand Iran's return
to the track of progress of that period.
Women in 1950s Iran
Farah Pahlavi, characterized the current
regime of Iran as "evil" and reiterated that "Finally, light
will overcome darkness and Iran will be back on the track to freedom, welfare,
and progress."
The modernization process initiated by
Reza Shah in the 1920s propelled Iran from the depths of the Middle Ages into
the modern world. Women became active and productive members of Iranian society
in this evolving nation, as people transitioned from carts to trains and
enrolled in newly established universities to acquire modern skills, bringing
the country in line with the rapidly developing global landscape.
A modern justice system brought an end
to clerical rule, limiting their involvement to solemnizing marriages and
divorces, which still required registration at the Judiciary offices.
One of the initial actions taken by the
Islamic regime after 1979 was the imposition of compulsory hijab on women. This
was done to facilitate the suppression of women in society and symbolize the
reversal of the modernization efforts initiated during the Pahlavi era.
Later, the clerics established their
domination on the judicial system by replacing judges with clergymen who often
were not trained to handle judicial cases. The law ceased to exist, and every
decision was left to arbitrary ruling by clerics who often came from small
villages.
Meanwhile, the destruction of the
academic system persists as the regime dismisses university professors and
replaces them with regime insiders loyal to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Many
officials bestow upon each other the title of "doctor," often without
having completed high school. It was even exposed during televised presidential
election debates in 2021 that Ebrahim Raisi, who later became president, had
only received an elementary education, yet he holds the title of
"Ayatollah, Doctor Raisi."
The suppression of women is one of the
most elaborate examples of how the Iranian regime works. In early January, Roya
Heshmati, an Iranian woman presented a dramatic account of how she was given 74
lashes for not wearing hijab. As her story went viral on social media, the
regime tried to deny her account. Interestingly, tens of other women came out
to tell their stories about being lashed in previous weeks and months.
Critics say that hijab is the Islamic
regime's last trench to defend its existence and Islamic identity as it has
lost its Islamic credential after major financial corruptions were disclosed.
Nonetheless, the Islamic Republic ruthlessly cracks down on women who defy the
compulsory hijab using the ‘morality police’ and the IRGC's Basij militia,
while also passing laws to enforce hijab with the motto "Cover or
suffer." Particularly, since the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom movement, many
women have been suffering in jail and receiving lashes as religious punishment,
although sharia scholars say there is very little if any about compulsory hijab
and its punishment in the Quran.
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202401090914
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Hijab Guidelines Issued Amid Ongoing
Girls’ Detention In Afghanistan
(File Photo)
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Fidel Rahmati
January 9, 2024
After the detention of several girls by
the authorities of the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice
on charges of “ban hijab” in the outskirts of Kabul, a recent announcement based
on the observance of the hijab guidelines in the eighteenth district of Kabul
has been issued.
According to the announcement released
by the officials of the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice
following a meeting with the school principals in the eighteenth district of
Kabul, the ministry detains girls who do not consider what is called by the
Taliban as an Islamic dress code.
According to the announcement, the
following clothing items are considered unacceptable:
Skirts that are too short and above the
knee.
Very small headscarves that do not cover
the hair.
Tight and prominent pants worn with
short skirts.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for
the Taliban administration, told the media that some girls who were commuting
in the cities for “modelling” were detained and released after a few hours.
Meanwhile, social media users have
shared a photo showing Taliban forces gathering and transferring some girls to
a certain location. However, the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention
of Vice has referred to them as “beggers.”
Recent actions by the Ministry of
Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have raised concerns among girls.
Khaama Press interviewed several girls in western Kabul, and they are worried
about the continued trend of detentions.
Maryam Hosseini, a resident of western
Kabul who works in a private bakery, says she is afraid of being detained when
she leaves her house. She added, “I have three sisters who don’t dare to leave
the house, not even to buy bread.”
According to Maryam, these detentions
are aimed at creating fear and keeping women at home. She believes that such
restrictions are far from promoting education and knowledge.
Sahar, another girl from Kabul, says
that hijab is already being observed by women and girls in society. She says,
“We live in a Muslim society, and everyone wears the hijab. These detentions
are done to create fear among the people.”
Shaharzad Akbar, the former head of the
Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and a prominent figure in the field
of human rights in Afghanistan, has commented on these detentions. She wrote on
her social media X that discrimination against women in this country begins
from birth and does not even cease after death.
Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of
Afghan National Security, has challenged the silence of former politicians,
religious scholars, and ethnic leaders regarding these detentions and added
that this silence contradicts moral, humanitarian, and Islamic standards.
However, the diplomatic representation
of Afghanistan has called the detention of girls in the streets unprecedented
in contemporary Afghan history.
A human rights organization called
“Union of Human Rights Activists” has also described this action by the Taliban
administration as “shameful.” The organization has urged the International
Criminal Court to investigate what is referred to as “gender apartheid” in
Afghanistan.
But the spokesperson for the Ministry of
Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice claims that the girls are detained
for a few hours for guidance and advice on hijab, and they are released
afterwards.
The mass detention of girls continues
for the second consecutive week, and the exact number of detained girls remains
unknown.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/hijab-guidelines-issued-amid-ongoing-girls-detention-in-afghanistan/
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Israeli teen forced to marry Muslim man
in Uzbekistan - report
JANUARY 9, 2024
A 17-year-old Israeli girl was forced to
marry a local Muslim man in Uzbekistan, Channel 12 reported on Tuesday night.
As per the report, the teenager told
Israel Police that under the excuse of a genealogy trip to Uzbekistan, her
parents, olim from Uzbekistan who now live in the Shfela, forced her to marry
the Muslim man of their acquaintance.
According to her, her parents used
physical and mental violence against her and sequestered her in a house to
prevent her from escaping. "At some point, I tried to kill myself, but I
didn't succeed. I wasn't ready to marry this man," she testified.
"My mother told me that I am this
man's property, and I must not resist anything that I must stay with him for
life. That I belong to him, and I must not run away."
"They warned me that if I tried to
cause problems for the man I am going to marry, he would beat me," the
teenager added.
A fortunate escape
During her imprisonment in Uzbekistan,
the girl somehow managed to contact acquaintances in Israel, who in turn
contacted senior officials at the Foreign Ministry. With the help of legal
officials, she was rescued from Uzbekistan and landed in Israel about two
months ago while her parents remained in the country, the Channel said.
A few days ago, the girl's parents were
arrested as soon as they landed in Israel and were interrogated at the Ramle
police station. The parents denied the suspicions against them and said that
the wedding was held with their daughter's full consent.
Parents suspected of a variety of
charges
The parents were brought today for an
extension of detention at the RishonLezion Magistrate's Court. They are
suspected of serious crimes of human trafficking, false imprisonment, threats,
assaulting a minor, and assisting an illegal marriage, Channel 12 said.
The couple's defence attorneys denied
the suspicions against them on their behalf. They asked to release them to
house arrest on the grounds that they could not disrupt the investigation since
a detailed testimony had already been obtained from their daughter. They added
that the parents were interrogated by the Uzbek authorities and were not arrested
for this case which was closed on the grounds of false accusation.
According to them, the parents, who have
six children, are surprised by their daughter's behaviour, for they have three
other daughters who married Muslim men.
Source: jpost.com
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-781472
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Jordan’s Queen Rania Meets Youth And
Women’s Groups Driving Local Initiatives In Wadi Musa
January 09, 2024
AMMAN: Jordan’s Queen Rania visited
Ma’an, a town in Wadi Musa, on Tuesday where she met the founders and
beneficiaries of programs that aim to encourage local economic empowerment, and
some of the young people spearheading local initiatives.
They included Yousef Falahat, the
founder of Thakafat, an organization that provides opportunities for financial
empowerment by connecting members of the community with tourists looking for an
“authentic” experience of the country, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Thakafat’s projects, the majority of
which are led by women, offer visitors the chance to learn more about the area
and its people by spending time with locals and taking part in traditional
activities such as cooking and crafting.
AnmarJbour, a member of Thakafat’s team,
told the queen about the inspiration for the organization’s initiatives and its
plans to expand to As-Salt and Madaba. Others explained how they launched their
own initiatives.
Queen Rania then visited Esraa Kitchen,
a Thakafat initiative that introduces tourists to Jordanian cuisine by allowing
them to sample local fare and help prepare it. To date, it has hosted more than
4,200 visitors from 32 countries, in the process providing part-time work for
local women.
The queen also toured the Nabataean
Ladies Cooperative in Wadi Musa. Founded in 1999, it aims to revive and
preserve the Bedouin art of making silver jewelry, offer a “unique” tourist
experience, and provide employment opportunities for local women. It previously
received a grant from the Jordan River Foundation, which helped it train 26
people in the craft and purchase machinery and raw materials. The cooperative’s
president, FawziyehHasanat, and other board members showed the royal visitor
its silver jewelry workshop and showroom.
Queen Rania later visited Abu Elias
restaurant, which serves traditional Jordanian cuisine, and met young people
from across Ma’an who work to create and expand community-empowerment projects.
Their initiatives include projects
devoted to the arts, environmental awareness, translation and typing, chocolate
making and molding, and voluntary work that helps families in need by providing
assistance packages and renovating homes.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2438891/middle-east
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Study on Violence against Women in
Politics in Türkiye is Published
9 January 2024
A Qualitative Study on Violence against
Women in Politics in Türkiye, prepared in cooperation with UN Women and Terra
Development Cooperative, was introduced at an event organized in Ankara. A
qualitative study, which provides important findings on the causes, occurrence,
and consequences of violence against women in politics, was presented to the
representatives from civil society organizations, public institutions, local
governments, and political parties.
The Study on Violence against Women in
Politics in Türkiye, which was started to be prepared by Prof. Dr.
İknurYükselKaptanoğlu, Project Coordinator of Terra Development Cooperative,
together with her study team in 2022, was carried out within the scope of the
project "Advancing Gender Equality and Women's Leadership in Political and
Business Life” implemented by UN Women and financially supported by the Sweden
through Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). In her
opening speech, Swedish Ambassador to Ankara MalenaMård emphasized the
importance of a political environment free from all forms of violence,
especially for young people.
The study addresses the problem of
violence against women in politics in Turkiye on a broad scale, analyzing
international legislation and norms as well as examples of good practices from
around the world, and evaluating local legislation and policies. Within the
scope of this study, which is the first national study on violence against
women in politics, the dimensions of violence women are exposed to in politics
are covered through qualitative study.
In her opening speech at the event, UN
Women Türkiye Country Director AsyaVarbanova said: "Violence against women
in politics is a widespread human rights violation and a significant obstacle
to women's full, equal and effective participation in political life. Today, as
we release this study report, we call on all stakeholders to take action to
create the conditions for women to exercise their political and civil rights
without fear, discrimination, or violence. Despite the challenges they face,
women continue to prove that when they lead, they bring transformative change
to societies and the world. We must do all we can to ensure their full and
effective participation at all levels of decision-making in political and
public life and equal opportunities for leadership."
İlknurYükselKaptanoğlu, Project
Coordinator of Terra Development Cooperative, expressed her views on the study
as follows: "Stories are very important in our lives. In this research,
instead of focusing on the stories of how women were promoted and elected, we
focused on how they were prevented while struggling to exist in politics, and
we investigated the acts of violence they were subjected to by different
actors. We have shown that the violence that is considered ’normal’ in ‘dirty’
politics, as expressed in the narratives of women participating in politics and
stakeholders involved in politics, is not ‘normal’, and that they are subjected
to different forms of violence from different actors at different stages to enter
and remain in politics. Through this research, we aim to contribute to
data-based policy making and pave the way for taking steps to combat violence
against women in politics."
In-depth interviews and focus group
discussions were conducted with women who are/were actively involved in
parliament and local governments, representatives from public institutions
related to politics and violence against women, civil society organizations,
women and youth organizations of political parties and youth networks.
This research aims to shed light on the
problems of violence against women in politics in Türkiye and make an important
contribution to advocacy work and change processes. Furthermore, the research
results emphasize the importance of developing democracy in the country to
eliminate violence against women, realize gender equality and establish a
society free from violence.
Source: unwomen.org
https://eca.unwomen.org/en/stories/news/2024/01/study-on-violence-against-women-in-politics-in-turkiye-is-published
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Young women affected by the earthquakes
in Türkiye are empowered through gender equality trainings
9
January 2024
In the aftermath of earthquakes in
Türkiye, young women are finding resilience and empowerment. The Community
Volunteers Foundation, in partnership with UN Women, implements a programme
that empowers earthquake affected women through gender equality trainings.
The Community Volunteers Foundation
(TOG) engages with youth through its Gender Equality Mainstreaming Program
within the “Strong Civic Space for Gender Equality” implemented by UN Women
Türkiye with the financial support of the European Union. The 18-month training
program aims to raise awareness among youth aged 17-25 on topics such as gender
equality, positive discrimination, non-violent communication, safe
relationships, the women's movement, fundamental gender concepts, violence, and
methods of combating violence.
Within the Gender Equality Mainstreaming
Program TOG aims to provide training and implement the project in more than 130
TOG communities operating throughout the country and to raise the gender
awareness of 300 young people.
Following the earthquakes in
Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, TOG redirected its project field to the
earthquake zone, recognizing the exacerbation of gender inequalities during
crises and initiated rapid efforts to support the affected youth in the
disaster zone.
TOG conducted an analysis of the gender
equality indices in the region that they had carried out prior to the disaster.
The findings revealed significant disparities, including low female employment
rates, high rates of informal employment in agriculture, widespread early and
child marriages, and a severe lack of female representation in local
government.
“We observed that there is an increased
burden on young women in the aftermath of the earthquakes. Young women found
themselves taking on the care responsibilities for the elderly, disabled and
children. This, in turn, made it challenging for them to continue their
education or pursue employment. Moreover, they lost spaces for socializing. To
address these issues, we established support centers for the psychosocial
well-being of affected youth, particularly young women,” says HazalGünel,
Gender Equality Programs Specialist at TOG.
In collaboration with Elidor, a hair
care brand owned by Unilever, TOG established Young Women Support Centers in
Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya, providing spaces for young women
to study, socialize, and engage in informative and entertaining activities, as
well as increase their awareness and knowledge on gender equality.
“I realized that violence is not just
about physical violence. Forcing someone to do something they don't want is
also a form of violence. I discovered this,” says a woman participant from
Malatya, after attending the gender equality trainings.
“In this workshop, I learned a lot about
the types of violence, and it was very helpful. We can always break out of the
cycle of violence,” says another participant from Malatya.
“Many women did not know that positive
discrimination was a good thing before. But now, they share that they will
demand it,” says a woman participant from Malatya.
In the year 2024, UN Women and TOG are
committed to supporting women’s access to rights and creating spaces for
meaningful discussions and interaction. This partnership aims to catalyze
transformative changes in the lives of numerous women in earthquake-affected
areas.
As part of the Gender Equality
Mainstreaming Program, young trainers will conduct training sessions for 300
young individuals in the coming months. The aim is to inspire them to develop
projects and engage in activities related to gender equality.
The Community Volunteers Foundation
(TOG) is a partner organization of UN Women Türkiye, working to raise awareness
of gender equality among young people and support them as change leaders to
implement their own gender equality projects, within the “Strong Civic Space
for Gender Equality”, funded by the European Union.
Source: unwomen.org
https://eca.unwomen.org/en/stories/news/2024/01/young-women-affected-by-the-earthquakes-in-turkiye-are-empowered-through-gender-equality-trainings
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Rugby player ApiRatuniyarawa jailed for
sexually assaulting three women
9 Jan 2024
Steven Morris
The international rugby player
ApiRatuniyarawa has been jailed for sexual attacks on three women in the VIP
area of a bar in Cardiff on three consecutive nights.
Ratuniyarawa, 37, who represented Fiji
more than 30 times, was in the Welsh capital preparing to play for the
Barbarians invitational club against Wales when the assaults took place.
The women, who were all 19, told Cardiff
crown court that the attacks, which happened in an area earmarked for
Ratuniyarawa and teammates, had left them deeply traumatised and fearful.
When he was arrested at the Hilton hotel
he told police he had never been in trouble before and was only being “fun and
friendly”.
But Ratuniyarawa’s barrister told the
court that the father of four was now deeply apologetic and ashamed of his
crimes, which spelled the end of his career.
The court was told that the first victim
tried to push Ratuniyarawa away when he put his hand down her trousers but
couldn’t because he was so much bigger. The second knew he was a famous rugby
player and much stronger. Ratuniyarawa touched her breast and bottom. The third
suffered bleeding and stomach cramps after he sexually assaulted her.
Sentencing Ratuniyarawa to two years and
10 months for two charges of assault by penetration and one charge of sexual
assault, Judge Lloyd-Clarke, the recorder of Cardiff, highlighted that he had
only stopped attacking the women when others stepped in.
One of the victims tearfully told the
court that the attack “came out of the blue”. She said: “It was sudden,
shocking and very, very painful. I felt degraded, embarrassed and humiliated. I
still do. It was such a painful and personal violation. I feel anxious and
upset and can’t sleep at night without seeing my attacker’s face. I am finding
it difficult to leave my room because I am so panicky.
“This is the worst possible thing he
could have done to me. He is a lot older me. I am scared it will happen to me
again. If he can do this to me, anyone else could. I still struggle thinking he
could think it was OK to do this. He’s ruined my life and I feel like I am in
my own personal hell.”
She said she had lost her hair in clumps
and suffered panic attacks. “I feel I’m in flight or fight mode and fighting to
keep my head above water. I’ve lost all independence and I am scared. This incident
was so violent. This man had his whole career ahead of him. He was such a
high-profile person.”
Another of the women addressed
Ratuniyarawa directly: ‘“You took away my independence, my self worth and my
confidence.” She added: “His face was the last thing I thought of before going
to bed and the first thing I saw when I woke up for weeks after the incident.
“I faced so much guilt and so much
confusion trying to figure out what was going through his head. Why didn’t the
people he was with do anything to stop him, why didn’t the security guard who
was standing there not intercept [him]?”
The third said she no longer felt safe
around men, especially when they were drunk. “I have had suicidal thoughts and
depressive episodes alongside flashbacks,” she said.
Ruth Smith, defending, said drinking
heavily was completely out of character for Ratuniyarawa.
She said the attacks came at a time of
upheaval in his life. He had played for London Irish, which went into
administration last year. He hoped that playing for the Barbarians on 4
November last year would lead to a contract with another club. “Clearly the
opposite has happened.” She said his career was over.
Smith said he was the first to leave his
village in Fiji to play rugby abroad. He sent money back for them to build
community facilities and begin a youth rugby club. She said he lived in a
village in Northamptonshire and had four children with one more on the way.
Smith added: “He knows his legacy is for ever tarnished.”
Source: theguardian.com
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/09/rugby-player-api-ratuniyarawa-jailed-for-sexually-assaulting-three-women
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/exiled-queen-farah-pahlavi-hijab/d/131491