Female Inmate Sexually Assaulted Under former Warden Soqra Khodadadi’s Watch in Iran
New Age Islam News Bureau
30 Jan2025
· Female Inmate Sexually Assaulted Under former Warden Soqra Khodadadi’s Watch in Iran
· Muslim Women Groups in Nigeria Demand End To Hijab Harassment
· US Muslim Civil Rights Group Welcomes Recognition Of 'World Hijab Day' In New York
· 'Come And Sit Next To Me': Middlesex County Woman Heads World Hijab Day Movement
· Those Who Want To Wear Burqa Or Hijab Can Do At Home - Maharashtra Home Minister
· Women’s Voices Should Be At Forefront Of Policy, Says UN Climate Champion
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/female-sexually-iran-assaulted-warden/d/134478
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Female Inmate Sexually Assaulted Under former Warden SoqraKhodadadi’s Watch in Iran
JANUARY 30, 2025
The attack happened in view of other inmates while the warden and guards were in the administration office
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A female inmate at Qarchak Prison was sexually assaulted by a group of fellow prisoners during the tenure of former warden SoqraKhodadadi, with prison officials delaying the victim's access to forensic medical examination for two weeks, IranWire reports.
The attack happened in view of other inmates while the warden and guards were in the administration office.
The two-week delay in forensic medical examination effectively prevented the victim from filing a formal complaint about the assault.
While reports of sexual violence by prison officials, interrogators, and security agents against female detainees have emerged over the years, documented cases of prisoner-on-prisoner sexual assault are less common.
The stigma surrounding sexual violence often silences survivors, who may face blame for their assault even within the prison system.
The victim's identity has been withheld for privacy and safety concerns.
The December attack in Qarchak occurred in front of other inmates. Information obtained shows the assault was an act of retaliation after the victim reported drug use by other prisoners to prison officials.
The incident took place around 9 p.m., at the same time that the prison’s social workers, the head of the ward, and the deputy for health affairs were in the warden’s office.
They had gathered to present SoqraKhodadadi, the prison chief, with a gold coin as a gift for Mother’s Day.
Instead of addressing the assault, prison officials under Khodadadi’s leadership delayed sending the victim to forensic medicine for two weeks, ensuring that no physical evidence remained and preventing her from filing a complaint against both the assailants and prison authorities.
This is not the first time women have been subjected to sexual violence under SoqraKhodadadi’s supervision at Qarchak Prison.
A former political prisoner who spent time in Qarchak recounted sexual violence in the prison. She described how an inmate - referred to as a "Mat-Baz” (a term derived from the English "mate", meaning an emotional or sexual partner in prison) - forced a young married mother into an exploitative sexual partnership.
"They repeatedly beat her, locked her in the prison toilet, and deprived her of food until she agreed to the arrangement. Even after she submitted, she was not allowed to leave the bed, which was surrounded by curtains. Only her 'partner' had the right to see her," the former prisoner told IranWire.
There have been multiple reports on the dire conditions at Qarchak Women’s Prison.
The presence of political prisoners in general wards alongside inmates convicted of ordinary crimes has helped shed light on the prison’s conditions.
When Narges Mohammadi and AliyehMotalebzadeh were transferred to Qarchak, their reports on the inhumane conditions led to a response from Reporters Without Borders, as well as warnings from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on Iran, urging immediate action.
Similarly, after the Woman, Life, Freedom protests, authorities detained journalists and activists at Qarchak, leading to renewed exposure of the prison’s conditions.
Detained photojournalist YaldaMoayeri described the lack of safety inside the prison in an audio message.
She said, "Our conditions here are terrible. There are daily fights and beatings. We have no physical security. Over a hundred women are crammed into a sports hall with no facilities or ventilation. The showers and toilets are in horrific condition, and inmates are constantly given sedatives. There are only three toilets and showers for all of us."
However, when discussing sexual abuse and rape among inmates, the focus is often on the general ward, where power dynamics create an even more dangerous environment.
Those with connections to prison guards or who refuse to submit to dominant inmates face an even greater risk.
Neglect of prisoners' safety and well-being under SoqraKhodadadi extends beyond cases of sexual violence.
In December 2021, political prisoner Zahra Safaei, who had suffered a heart attack and undergone surgery and angiography, was denied proper medical care outside the prison - despite doctors’ recommendations.
Instead of addressing her critical condition, Khodadadi’s response to her family was to relocate prisoners and transfer them to Tehran’s Greater Prison, worsening Safaei’s physical and mental suffering.
Khodadadi was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2021 for her role in human rights violations.
Before being appointed as the first female warden of Qarchak in December 2020, she had served for years as a prison officer in Isfahan.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/138584-exclusive-female-inmate-sexually-assaulted-under-wardens-watch-in-iran/
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Muslim Women Groups in Nigeria Demand End To Hijab Harassment
29th January 2025
FILE: Woman wearing Hijab
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The Coalition of Muslim Women Groups in Nigeria has called on authorities to ensure that women wearing hijabs and niqabs are not harassed or excluded from public and private services.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, the coalition — which includes 18 Muslim organisations such as Al Muminaat, NASFAT, and the Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria—emphasised the need for full implementation of court rulings affirming the right of women to wear hijabs.
The demands were made as part of events marking the 2025 World Hijab Day, themed “Hijabis Unsilenced.”
The groups highlighted the importance of raising awareness about the persistent challenges faced by Muslim women in Nigeria.
Despite legal protections, the groups noted, Muslim women in Nigeria continue to face discrimination in schools, the military, and interactions with law enforcement.
They particularly condemned the forceful removal of hijabs by security officers during arrests, calling it a violation of constitutional rights.
In a joint statement, the groups said, “We must commend the Lagos State Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, JamiuAlli-Balogun, and his team of tutor generals, as well as the Lagos State House of Assembly, for acting swiftly to correct these infractions as soon as they were reported.
“While the Lagos State Government, under the leadership of Governor BabajideSanwo-Olu, has made significant strides in protecting the rights of Muslim women and girls, the same cannot be said for places like Ogun State and, at times, Oyo State.
“A particularly egregious violation faced by Muslim women in Nigeria is the forceful removal of hijabs by law enforcement officers during arrests, whether in civil or criminal matters. While arrests in civil matters should not occur, this has not been the case.
“This practice blatantly disregards the constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty and amounts to an assault on the dignity and religious rights of Muslim women. It perpetuates trauma and fear among those targeted.”
The coalition called on the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to adopt policies and provide training to officers on respecting religious expressions, including the right of Muslim women to wear hijabs during interactions with authorities.
They also called on policymakers, educators, security agencies, and service providers to “fully implement the Supreme Court ruling on hijab rights and penalise institutions that flout this decision.”
“Ensure inclusivity in the military and military schools—encourage the Nigerian Navy to permit hijabs as part of the official uniform, in line with global best practices,” the group stated.
The coalition further urged respect for privacy in biometric procedures, calling on the relevant agencies to implement processes for private biometric data capture by female officials.
February 1 marks the annual World Hijab Day in recognition of the millions of Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab and lead lives of modesty.
Source: punchng.com
https://punchng.com/muslim-groups-demand-end-to-hijab-harassment/
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US Muslim civil rights group welcomes recognition of 'World Hijab Day' in New York
29.01.2025
Muslim women hold placards as they gather for solidarity event against racism and Islamphobia on 'World Hijab Day' in New York, United States on February 1, 2019. ( Atılgan Özdil - Anadolu Agency )
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Wednesday hailed a new resolution in the New York State Senate that officially recognized Feb. 1, 2025, as World Hijab Day.
The resolution, introduced by Senator Roxanne Persaud, aims to "encourage religious tolerance, cultural understanding and international solidarity."
"World Hijab Day, in its 12th year, is a platform to promote understanding, dismantle stereotypes, and celebrate the empowerment of women who choose to wear the hijab," CAIR said in a statement.
Noting that "this resolution reflects New York’s celebration of cultural and religious diversity," CAIR-NY Executive Director AfafNasher said, "World Hijab Day is an important opportunity to amplify the voices of hijab-wearing women and to combat the prejudice and discrimination they often face."
"We are deeply grateful to Senator Roxanne J. Persaud for her advocacy and support of this resolution," Nasher added.
World Hijab Day was founded by Nazma Khan in 2013 as a platform to foster religious tolerance and cultural understanding, according to its website. Since its inception, it has been observed worldwide, allowing women of different backgrounds to experience wearing a hijab for a day.
Source:aa.com.tr
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-muslim-civil-rights-group-welcomes-recognition-of-world-hijab-day-in-new-york/3466034
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'Come and sit next to me': Middlesex County woman heads World Hijab Day movement
30.01.2025
A survivor of many battlefields, Nazma Khan is a warrior.
She has also become the leader of a global movement promoting unity, diversity, honor, beauty and understanding.
Khan, who lives in Middlesex County with her two sons and husband, is the founder of World Hijab Day which encourages anyone and everyone to don a hijab and celebrate its meaning on Feb. 1.
"I did it for the sake of changing the world one person at a time," Khan said. "I am a person trying to make this world a better place for my children and the next generation and just leave a legacy."
'I felt like I wasn't a human being'
For Khan the hijab is a symbol of beauty and self-respect, a crown.
The hijab has deep roots in tradition, Islam and modesty. Millions of Muslim women have worn the hijab for generations. But it is a choice, she explained.
From the time she arrived in The Bronx at age 11 as a emigre with her family from Bangladesh in the 1900s, Khan faced bullying and discrimination because of her hijab.
Middle school became her first battlefield.
Khan was the only one at her school wearing a headscarf. She was immediately vilified by classmates. At times, even teachers joined in the persecution.
"I was a little brown girl with a headscarf," she said. "I didn't speak English. I could see eyes on me as soon as I stepped out of my home to walk to school. I was kicked in the hallway. I was made fun of constantly. The girls were super mean − I would sneak in through the boy's entrance just to get away from them. They called me 'Batman,' 'ninja,' because I wore a black headscarf. We didn't have a lot of variety back then."
The bullying became physical, Khan said. She was slapped, spit at, shoved against the lockers and some kids even ripped her head scarf off her head. Her accent was another trigger for the bullies. The feeling of not speaking English well enough still scars Khan to this day.
"I was scared to go to school," she said. "I didn't understand − I had not done any wrong to anybody. I was very polite. I was respectful towards everybody. I never bullied anybody. I was not raised like that. I was super depressed. There was no mental health awareness, none of that. But you know what? I still continued. I understood my parents brought us to America for our education. I could not give up education and not go to school. So, I continued. And besides, I really loved learning."
Khan developed migraines from the stress but received top marks in high school, graduating at the top of her class. She even received a silver medal for physics, just one point away from the gold.
But she couldn't escape the battlefield.
After she graduated high school in 2000, the harassment worsened and became even worse after 9/11.
"Here I am − a Muslim woman who wears a headscarf in the center of everything Manhattan, within close proximity to the towers. So center of a center of a center of it all," Khan said. "I went to a battlefield in junior high and high school right? Now, after 9/11, I am being chased on the streets, labeled as a 'terrorist.' I had men surrounding me in the subways. It was so scary. I would have people leave their seat on the bus or subway − they don't want to sit next to me. Even when you're a teenager, you start to question your life. I would think, 'What did I do?' You don't have the capability to know. I think out of all the things that I went through, I thought the most offensive was the fact that people didn't want to sit next to me.
"I felt like I wasn't a human being."
The torment got so bad at her first college that she switched schools.
But the bullying continued. It was not just students who targeted her, but professors and staff.
Khan refused to give up and she graduated from City College eight years later.
But life didn't become easier for a woman with top marks from a good college with a biology degree.
"I was a woman with a Muslim name − I could not find a job," she said. "I could not even get an interview."
Khan's mother lent her $1,000 to start a business, hoping her daughter would find success and a sense of peace. Khan reached inward to embolden herself, arming herself with what some would have seen as her stumbling block − the hijab.
In 2010 she opened an online shop showcasing hijabs and creating a Facebook community for women who wear a hijab.
Within days, she had 3,000 in the community.
Within weeks, the community grew to 20,000.
Today, the page boasts more than 958,000 followers.
'I am not the only one who's going through this'
What Khan found on the page was an epiphany.
"I would ask women to share the hijab experience with me, and I would have women share the hijab experience, the struggles and different parts of the world," she said. "This little girl − she was 14 years old. She was from the U.K. She told me her classmates forcefully removed her hijab and put some gum, dirt and whatnot in her hair. That actually hurt me a lot. It literally took me back − it was like a flashback to my high school years. Right at that very moment, I realized, 'Oh my God, I am not the only one who's going through this.' "
She realized she could use the online community to bring deserved honor to women who wear the hijab.
"I needed to help this little girl, but how do I do that?," she said. "I thought, 'What if I asked women from all over the world, irrespective of religion and faiths and backgrounds, to just one day wear the headscarf, and then perhaps they would have a better understanding of the hijab and actually get a glimpse of all the struggles and difficulties we face? This way, women could be our allies in creating more inclusive world. So no woman would feel like nobody wanted to sit next to them. Come and sit next to me."
For three years the idea simmered in her mind. Then, in 2013, it boiled over and she founded World Hijab Day.
'It's about time that our voices are heard'
Khan saw World Hijab Day as a way to foster understanding and inclusivity.
"Within a week or so, women from 67 countries heard my call. I counted," Khan said. "I'm trying to change the mind of one person, and there was 67 countries, in one week. I was nervous. It was unexpected. Here I am a little girl who tries to change the world."
By 2014, the initiative reached 44 million people on Facebook.
Since then, World Hijab Day has been recognized bys cities, states and countries, including New York, Oklahoma, and Michigan, parts of Florida and the Philippines. In the Garden State, Newark has recognized World Hijab Day with a resolution.
World Hijab Day is celebrated each Feb. 1 in more than 150 countries.
"There was a need for it," Khan said. "People were able to relate to this."
This year, on World Hijab Day, Khan will be attending several events in person and online. There will be hundreds of events worldwide. This year's theme is for World Hijab Day is "Hijabis Unsilenced," because as Khan said Muslim women who wear a hijab "have been silenced for so many decades − for centuries." It highlights the hijab as a symbol of empowerment, identity and solidarity.
"It's about time that our voices are heard," she said.
Last year, Khan marked the day with the New York Police Department. For the first time, Khan said, some female officers "felt seen."
"I had an officer crying on stage because she was not allowed to wear the hijab and she started now," she said. "The very thing that is being celebrated − so we are bridging the gap."
In 2018, Khan founded the World Hijab Day Organization to increase understanding and tolerance of Muslim women and their religious beliefs. The organization offers dozens of initiatives, workshops and programs for schools, communities, businesses and institutions.
In 2021, Khan also founded International Muslim History Month to dismantle Islamophobia globally by celebrating Muslim history during the month of May.
"We are united through our diversity," Khan said. "That is our mission. But we're not a perfect world, and we can only do our part and focus on the positive."
Khan sees herself as "a girl who went through adversity." But she is not a victim.
"I am someone who is proud of who she is, of her identity," Khan said. "I am a girl trying to change the world so her next generation could have a better world than she leaves behind, so they don't have to go through what she went through. I believe my work is bigger than me. It has to be out there. I am here after a legacy to change the world."
Last year, Khan was invited to speak at the same high school she attended.
"It was the most incredible thing," Khan said. "I went to give a speech and they had no idea who I was. And I had no idea where I was going, because, this was a school I never heard of. When I arrived, it turned out to be my own high school. They had changed their name. They were celebrating World Hijab Day, but they had no idea that the founder went to the same school."
And they had no idea how she had been treated as a student.
"And they were celebrating World Hijab Day," she said. "What warms my heart is when students reach out saying, 'You have changed our school environment.' That actually makes me cry. That makes me emotional every time. I do this now because I have this contentment in my heart, and I am hopefully making a difference. I might have been that little girl who was bullied, but that little girl can can change lives across the world."
Source: mycentraljersey.com
https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/people/2025/01/30/world-hijab-day-movement-led-by-middlesex-county-woman/77511977007/
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Those Who Want to Wear Burqa or Hijab Can Do at Home - Maharashtra Home Minister
SIBY JEYYA
30/01/2025
On Wednesday, maharashtra minister NiteshRane declared that the state government, which is governed by the BJP, will not tolerate appeasement politics. "The politics of appeasement will not be tolerated by our government," stated Rane.
Muslim students should be subject to the same regulations that apply to Hindu students.
In a letter to state education minister Dada Bhuse, Rane asked that burqas not be allowed at testing locations for the 10th and 12th board exams. "Those who wish to wear a hijab or burqa can do so at home, but they should take their exams like other students at the testing locations," he stated. Instances of plagiarism and cheating have occurred when students were wearing burqas. I've written a letter to the relevant minister since I believe that none of this should occur in Maharashtra.
Students wearing burqas have been involved in instances of copying and cheating. I've written a letter to the relevant minister because none of this should occur in maharashtra," Rane stated.
In response to the opposition and Muslim intellectuals' objections, he stated, "They should go to pakistan if they want to take exams while wearing a burqa since we have a constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar, not the Sharia law."
Source: indiaherald.com
https://www.indiaherald.com/Breaking/Read/994787732/Those-Who-Want-to-Wear-Burqa-or-Hijab-Can-Do-at-Home-Maharashtra-Home-Minister
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Women’s voices should be at forefront of policy, says UN climate champion
GHADI JOUDAH
January 29, 2025
MANAMA: Women leaders from the MENA region are playing a transformative role in advancing climate action, a UN climate champion told Arab News.
“Women leaders in green tech and the green economy remain a minority, representing 30 percent of climate negotiations and less than 3 percent at the helm of tech companies,” said Sarah El-Battouty, global ambassador for the UNFCCC Climate Change High-Level Champions.
El-Battouty spoke to Arab News on the sidelines of the Sustainability Forum Middle East in Manama, Bahrain, where she attended the evening event titled “Women’s Leadership in Climate and Sustainability — Amplifying the Voices of MENA’s Changemakers.”
The event, held in partnership with Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Women and the Supreme Council for Environment, aims to showcase the contributions of female experts from across the MENA region.
El-Battouty, who is also chairwoman of ECONSULT Sustainable Architecture, highlighted the importance of diverse leadership, inclusive policymaking and technology in addressing the climate crisis.
“The role of the UNFCCC Climate Change High-Level Champions is critical to the policymaking and way forward for climate action and dialogue between stakeholders,” she said.
El-Battouty said that for many years, climate discussions were dominated by governments and financial institutions, leaving the private sector as mere implementers of policies.
She shed light on the underrepresentation of women in the green economy and tech sectors and the need for their inclusion.
“Among them, women have been selected on merit to put forward the case of solutions led and created by women for women and broader communities from all over the world,” El-Battouty said.
She said that while women played a transformative role in driving climate action, they faced significant economic and social barriers, particularly in access to climate financing.
El-Battouty said that challenges for women-led green initiatives in the MENA region often stemmed from systemic barriers rather than purely socio-cultural norms.
“There are hidden root causes less prominent than social norms verified as key limitations,” she said.
Women-led initiatives struggle to secured financial resources due to gender biases in financing systems, El-Battouty said.
“They are financed in smaller installments and often encouraged to have a male executive to unlock further financing.”
She added that limited ownership of assets, such as land, restricted women from securing collateral for loans. “Many women risk their savings or become indebted from the outset.”
El-Battouty added that unequal access to STEM education reduced opportunities for women to lead in technical and environmental fields.
“Less than 19 percent of women enter STEM education,” she said.
El-Battouty said that advancing inclusive policies addressing the social dimensions of climate change — such as gender equality, education and community resilience — was essential.
“These policies ensure that marginalized groups, including women and children, are part of the solution and recognize that as the most vulnerable to loss and damage and migration, women’s voices should be at the forefront of holistic policy frameworks,” she said.
El-Battouty called for accessible and affordable technology to empower women across all demographics.
“Women engage collaborative approaches, especially with other women, because they recognize them as stakeholders of climate actions, ensuring their livelihoods are sustained and information is learned, co-developed and passed on to generations,” she said.
El-Battouty said that women were critical advocates for inclusive and sustainable practices in industries such as housing and construction, which were responsible for nearly 40 percent of global emissions according to the UN.
“It is women in the industry who have advocated for the inclusion of rural villages, low-income housing and indigenous communities to be included in climate-resilient intervention and green buildings,” El-Battouty said.
Despite challenges, she celebrated the achievements of women leaders in advancing inclusivity and sustainability.
“Women in climate take big risks and face adverse resistance, however, their activism is seeing disruptive and positive steps to be inclusive and leave no one behind,” El-Battouty said.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588298/saudi-arabia
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/female-sexually-iran-assaulted-warden/d/134478