All-Women Hindutva Outfits of VHP and Durga Vahini Chant Communal and Islamophobic Slogans In Front Of Mosque in MP
New Age Islam News Bureau
2 January 2025
· All-Women Hindutva Outfits of VHP and Durga Vahini Chant Communal and Islamophobic Slogans In Front Of Mosque in MP
· Christian Convert, Ghazal Marzban, Sentenced to Prison and Flogging for Flouting Hijab Rule in Iran
· New Syrian Gov't Taps Minority Druze Woman, Muhsina Al-Mahithawi, As Governor Of Southern Province
· Stoning Sentences for Hunger-StrikingFemale Inmates in Iran
· Switzerland’s Burqa Ban Takes Effect As Of January 1
· Ethiopian Female Students Protest Against Hijab Ban In Schools
· Taliban Flog Over 580, Including 42 Women, In 2024
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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All-Women Hindutva Outfits of VHP and Durga Vahini Chant Communal and Islamophobic Slogans In Front Of Mosque in MP
All-women Hindutva outfits chant communal slogans in MP's Ujjain
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1st January 2025
Ujjain: The all-woman outfit of the right-wing organisations Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Durga Vahini conducted a massive rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain where female workers echoed communal and Islamophobic slogans by the female activists in front of a mosque.
In a video filmed and spread among the Hindutva outfits, women were seen walking on the streets chanting aggressive slogans while wielding weapons including swords and sticks.
Upon reaching the mosque, the saffron-clad women chanted dog whistles including “Mein Durga banungi, Kaalibanuungi per burkhawalinahibanungi (I will become godess Durga, godessKaali but not a burqa-wearing woman).”
The Durga Vahini conducted their four-day annual meeting in Ujjain. More than 35000 women participants attended the event, according to the claims made by the organisers.
Hindutva leader Ritambhara was the chief speaker of the programmes where she made inflammatory speeches against the minority community, calling for an economic boycott. She also spoke about alleged ‘love jihad’ based on the Hindutva narrative.
Love jihad is a conspiracy theory that accuses Muslim men of intentionally and strategically alluring and entrapping non-Muslim women with the intent to “convert them” to Islam and marry them as part of an “Islamisation project”.
The leader said that Muslims should not be allowed to operate businesses near temples and its rights belong solely to Hindus.
Religious hate crimes continue to rise in India
The rising trend of crimes against minorities in India continued in 2024. In the months before and after the Lok Sabha General Elections. The country witnessed a surge in hate speeches, including inflammatory remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who referred to Muslims as “infiltrators,” and Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh, who openly called for the demolition of mosques.
According to a report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, following the election results, at least 28 attacks on Muslims were recorded between June and August.
2024 has been the year of state assembly elections in multiple areas of the nation other than the Lok Sabha elections, in which Islamophobic propaganda was pushed through various mediums including electoral advertisements. The rise in productions like these amounts to the normalisation of sectarian hate, which incites violence and isolation against minorities.
Source: siasat.com
https://www.siasat.com/mp-all-women-hindutva-outfits-chant-communal-slogans-in-front-of-mosque-3157777/
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Christian Convert, Ghazal Marzban, Sentenced to Prison and Flogging for Flouting Hijab Rule in Iran
Ghazal Marzban, a Christian convert
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January 1, 2025
Ghazal Marzban, a Christian convert imprisoned in Tehran’s Evin Prison, has been sentenced by the Iranian judiciary to six months in prison and 74 lashes for “failure to observe mandatory hijab.”
The 41-year-old woman from Lasht-e Nesha, Gilan Province, was convicted by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. Her charges include “propaganda against the state” and “appearing in public without observing the hijab.”
Sources reveal that one-third of the prison sentence will be enforced, and the remainder will be suspended under supervision for five years, accompanied by a prohibition on using telephones.
Ghazal Marzban began a hunger strike on December 22, 2024, which lasted for a week. She was arrested on November 5, 2024, by security forces in Tehran. After two days in custody at the Vozara Detention Center, she was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.
Notably, Marzban suffered severe rib injuries during her detention, further highlighting her ordeal.
Source: wncri.org
https://wncri.org/2025/01/01/ghazal-marzban-a-christian-flogging/
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New Syrian Gov't Taps Minority Druze Woman, MuhsinaAl-Mahithawi, As Governor Of Southern Province
01 January, 2025
Syria's transitional government appointed its first female governor for the southern province of Suwaida on Tuesday, following the recent appointment of several women to prominent positions.
Muhsina al-Mahithawi, a member of Syria’s Druze minority, was selected to lead her home province, according to state news agency Sana.
Al-Mahithawi is the third woman to hold an official position under the new government, which emerged after rebel forces ended more than five decades of Assad family rule on 8 December.
The move has sparked discussions on the significance of female representation in politics following the overthrow of the Assad regime.
Aiham al-Schufi, an activist from the region, told German news agency dpa that al-Mahithawi had been a prominent figure in the peaceful protests against Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
She was one of the first women to join the peaceful movement in Suwaida against the government, al-Schufi said, adding that she had faced harassment from the authorities.
Al-Mahithawi's appointment could signal a step forward for the war-torn country, especially given the recent appointments of former deputy governor of Syria’s central bank, MaysaaSabrine, to lead the institution, and Aisha al-Dibs as head of the Women’s Affairs Office in the interim government.
However, concerns remain among Syrians about the marginalisation of minorities and women under the new administration.
Al-Dibs's controversial remarks on the role of feminist organisations have sparked public outrage, with many fearing that the new government may limit women’s participation in public life.
In response, Syria’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shibani assured the public on social media that his government would "stand by" women and "fully support their rights."
He expressed confidence in the active role of women in society, stating, "We believe in the active role of women within society, and we have confidence in their capacities."
Meanwhile, Obeida Arnaout, spokesperson for Syria’s new authorities, faced widespread criticism after making sexist remarks about women's roles in a televised interview.
His comments were met with anger and mockery from Syrian women and were condemned by RafifJouejati, Vice President of the Syrian Liberal Party, who previously told The New Arab that they reflected "utter ignorance" about the role Syrian women play in society.
Jouejati further criticised Arnaout’s statement, saying: "Syrian women did not fight in our revolution for freedom, democracy, and equality for over 13 years to have him issue a statement that contradicts the spirit and the goals of the revolution."
The new administration has also faced backlash for reportedly incorporating foreign fighters, including Uyghurs, a Jordanian, and a Turk, into Syria’s armed forces.
This move has raised concerns among foreign governments and Syrians about the intentions of the new government, despite its pledges to rule with tolerance towards the country’s diverse communities.
Amid these developments, Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met with senior Christian clerics on Tuesday, reaffirming his self-proclaimed commitment to safeguarding the rights of Syria’s diverse communities.
Source: newarab.com
https://www.newarab.com/news/new-syrian-govt-taps-druze-woman-governor-suwaida
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Stoning Sentences for Hunger-StrikingFemale Inmates in Iran
January 1, 2025
The 49th week of Tuesdays Against Executions hunger strike was observed in 28 prisons across Iran
On Tuesday, December 31, 2024, the final day of the Gregorian calendar year, Iranian prisoners participating in the “Tuesdays Against Executions” hunger strike campaign marked the 49th week of their protest against the widespread and escalating use of the death penalty in Iran.
In their statement, the hunger-striking prisoners revealed the issuance of stoning sentences for several female inmates in the Qarchak Prison in Varamin. This shocking revelation adds another layer to the regime’s systematic use of brutal punishments.
Over the past week, the Iranian regime reinstated the death sentence for political prisoner MojahedKourkouri, a decision previously overturned. It decreed that amputations—part of their barbaric penal code—could now be performed with anesthesia. This chilling directive aims to normalize cruelty under the guise of judicial procedure.
The prisoners’ statement highlighted the gravity of these injustices. Excerpts of this statement follow:
Remaining silent in the face of such atrocities is tantamount to complicity.
In a period when calls for justice and opposition to executions echo louder than ever, the regime has not only refused to ease its oppressive measures but has intensified them. Recent judiciary rulings permitting anesthesia for amputations seek to desensitize society to inhumane acts while fostering fear and repression. Many theft defendants facing such punishments are victims of systemic corruption, deepening class divisions, and the astronomical embezzlements perpetrated by the regime and its affiliates.
As part of its ongoing misogynistic oppression, the regime has sentenced several female prisoners in Qarchak to stoning under the pretext of “illicit relationships.” At best, these medieval sentences might be reduced to death by hanging, highlighting the pervasive brutality of the clerical regime.
We believe silence in the face of such barbarity equates to complicity. It is imperative to resist this savagery and inhumanity.
In a country witnessing daily executions across its prisons, the regime’s brutality has surged. Between December 21 and 30, at least 41 individuals were executed, including 23 within just three days. Many death row inmates in various prisons have already been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their sentences to be carried out.
MojahedKourkouri, a political prisoner detained for over two years, has once again had his death sentence confirmed by the Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz after an earlier ruling was overturned. His life is now in grave danger.
Participating in this 49th week of the “Tuesdays Against Execution” campaign were prisoners from: Evin Prison (Women’s Ward, Wards 4 and 8), GhezelHesar Prison (Units 2 and 4), Central Prison of Karaj, Greater Tehran Prison, Khorin Prison in Varamin, Arak Prison, Khorramabad Prison, Asadabad Prison in Isfahan, Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, Nezam Prison in Shiraz, Bam Prison, Kahnuj Prison, Tabas Prison, Mashhad Prison, Qaemshahr Prison, Rasht Prison (Men’s and Women’s Wards), Roodsar Prison, Ardabil Prison, Tabriz Prison, Urmia Prison, Salmas Prison, Khoy Prison, Naqadeh Prison, Saqqez Prison, Baneh Prison, Marivan Prison, Kamyaran Prison.
Source: wncri.org
https://wncri.org/2025/01/01/stoning-sentences-hunger-striking-prisoners/
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Switzerland’s Burqa Ban Takes Effect as of January 1
Jan. 01, 2025
Rabat – The controversial Burqa ban has officially taken effect today, January 1, in Switzerland, prohibiting the wearing of full-face coverings in public spaces.
The law, which passed through a nationwide referendum in 2021, echoes an ever-growing wave of restrictions and Islamophobic attacks targeting Muslims in several countries across Europe and beyond.
Switzerland's governing Federal Council said that anyone who unlawfully violates the law faces a fine of up to MAD 11,542 ($1,144). The country justified its burqa ban as a step towards “promoting integration and security.”
The ban sparked online criticism from many people, who argued that it unduly targets Muslim women, encroaching on their rights and freedom of expression and religious practices.
This is not the first time a Western country has enacted similar legislation. Switzerland joins countries like France, Belgium, Denmark, and Austria, which have adopted similar regulations in recent years.
France was the first European nation to ban full-face coverings in 2011, alleging secularism as a core reason. These measures spark heated debates about the balance between individual freedoms and societal values.
There is a broader wave of restrictions on Muslim communities worldwide. In India, states like Karnataka have been the stage of controversies over bans on hijabs in educational institutions. The Uyghur Muslim population, in China, confronts severe limitations on religious expression, including restrictions on wearing traditional Islamic attire.
Rather than promoting inclusiveness, observers note that such policies often exacerbate Islamophobia and deepen societal divisions. Advocates have raised concerns about stigmatizing Muslim women and the broader impact of such bans on minority rights.
As debates over secularism and multiculturalism continue, the question is whether such laws are a step toward equality or a step backward in the protection of individual freedoms.
Source: moroccoworldnews.com
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2025/01/367352/switzerlands-burqa-ban-takes-effect-as-of-january-1
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Ethiopian female students protest against hijab ban in schools
January 1, 2025
The city of Axum in Ethiopia’s Tigray region witnessed protests organized by Muslim female students in response to a decision prohibiting the wearing of hijabs in certain educational institutions, media outlets said, adding that the protesters emphasized that the ban violates their religious freedoms and contradicts their commitment to Islamic teachings.
The students expressed frustration with the policy, questioning why they were being targeted as Muslims in a city considered a significant center for Muslims in Ethiopia, while followers of other religions face no similar restrictions.
Local reports indicated that some teachers barred hijab-wearing students from attending classes, raising widespread concerns within the Muslim community. These protests come amid growing calls for respecting the rights of Muslim female students and ensuring their religious freedoms in public schools.
It is worth noting that Axum is home to numerous mosques and educational institutions and is considered a symbol of religious coexistence in Ethiopia. However, recent policies have sparked fears of increasing discrimination against Muslims in the region.
Source: shiawaves.com
https://shiawaves.com/english/news/116366-ethiopian-female-students-protest-against-hijab-ban-in-schools/
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Taliban flog over 580, including 42 women, in 2024
By Qaseem Azizi
2 Jan 2025
Taliban publicly flogged more than 580 people, including 42 women, in 23 provinces of the country in 2024, according to statistics released by the Taliban-controlled Supreme Court.
In the final two months of the year alone, 93 individuals, including 12 women, were flogged in 10 provinces. The charges against those punished included “adultery, running away from home, sodomy, theft, and acts deemed contrary to Sharia law,” according to Taliban officials.
The public punishments, which have drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates, underscore the group’s rigid interpretation of Islamic law and its escalating use of corporal punishment since returning to power in 2021.
Public executions and floggings
In November 2024, the Taliban carried out a public execution in the eastern province of Paktia. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister and a prominent figure within the Taliban, was reportedly in attendance. The execution marked the first of its kind since the Taliban’s resurgence, further solidifying their embrace of harsh public penalties.
Provinces where floggings have been most frequently recorded include Faryab, Paktia, Khost, Helmand, Jawzjan, Uruzgan, Farah, Ghazni, Kabul, Parwan, Kandahar, Paktika, and Ghor. Sports fields and other public venues have been routinely converted into sites for these punishments, sparking outrage among residents and international observers.
Human rights concerns
Human rights activists and local residents have condemned the Taliban’s actions, describing them as oppressive and a stark violation of basic freedoms.
“We are exhausted by the Taliban’s cruelty,” a Kabul resident said. “They flog men and women in public, turning sports fields into arenas for punishment. We urge the world not to remain silent about their oppression.”
Another resident criticized the group’s tightening grip on daily life. “The Taliban’s brutality increases every day. They flog people under various pretexts, and their oppressive policies are mounting,” the resident said.
In addition to corporal punishments, the Taliban have intensified restrictions on women and girls, further eroding their basic rights. Under the leadership of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the group has enforced a strict interpretation of its “Vice and Virtue” law, issuing decrees that severely curtail women’s freedoms.
Over the past year, the Taliban have barred women from attending schools and universities, banned them from most workplaces, and imposed strict dress codes. These measures have drawn widespread condemnation from international organizations, which have called for increased pressure on the Taliban to reverse their policies.
Amid mounting concerns, Afghan citizens have urged the global community to act. “We cannot endure this oppression alone,” a Kabul resident said. “The world must take a stand against the Taliban’s violations of human rights.”
Despite international criticism, the Taliban appear resolute in their actions, framing their policies as adherence to their interpretation of Islamic principles. Observers warn that without significant intervention, the humanitarian and human rights situation in Afghanistan is likely to deteriorate further.
Source: amu.tv
https://amu.tv/147893/
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