Iran's Khamenei Calls Women 'Delicate Flowers' Amid Hijab Law Debate
New Age Islam News Bureau
19 December 2024
· Iran's Khamenei Calls Women 'Delicate Flowers' Amid Hijab Law Debate
· CAIR Action Alert: Call on Tennessee County Jail to Stop Photographing Muslim Women Without Hijab
· Rare Accounts of Life for Women Inside Notorious Iranian Prison
· Winter in UAE: Are women, seniors more prone to UTIs? Doctors explain
· Dolischka dominates Formula Woman Global Nations Cup Qualifying event
· Speech event on Muslim Women's Day in Sana'a
· 125 Bangladeshi Women Migrant Workers: Most Returned Home with Dire Illnesses
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iran-khamenei-women-hijab-law-debate/d/134075
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Iran's Khamenei calls women 'delicate flowers' amid hijab law debate
By ChanshimlaVarah
Dec 19, 2024
Khamenei's comments come amid hijab law debates
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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has courted controversy after he called women "delicate flowers" in a social media post.
"A woman is a delicate flower and not a housemaid. A woman should be treated like a flower in the home. A flower needs to be cared for. Its freshness and sweet scent should be benefitted from and used to perfume the air," he wrote.
The statement comes amid ongoing debates and protests over the country's strict hijab laws.
Global backlash
Hijab law faces international criticism
The hijab law, which Iran's parliament passed in September 2023, seeks to impose stricter restrictions on women's public attire and punish businesses that do not comply with this dress code.
The legislation has been criticized by human rights organizations and countries such as the United States, which have called on Tehran to rein in its oppressive actions against women.
The bill awaits final government approval after being sanctioned by the Guardian Council.
Proposed changes
Iranian lawmakers advocate for amendments to hijab law
In light of the ongoing protests, some Iranian lawmakers are pushing to amend the controversial hijab law.
ShahramDabiri, Iran's vice president for parliamentary affairs, has urged a hold on the bill until necessary changes are made.
Along with the proposed legal changes, Khamenei has ordered Iran's morality police to enforce the compulsory hijab through a campaign called 'Noor' or light.
The 'Noor' campaign seeks to enforce the compulsory hijab with renewed vigor.
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Enforcement campaign
Khamenei directs morality police to enforce hijab law
Last week, Iranian authorities arrested a female singer who performed a virtual concert on YouTube without wearing a hijab.
During the concert, she wore a long black sleeveless and collarless dress and was accompanied by four male musicians.
Women in Iran risk the death penalty or up to 15 years in prison under the new morality laws.
The laws also prescribe harsh penalties for promoting nudity, indecency, unveiling, or improper dressing.
Fines can go up to £12,500 (₹12 lakh).
Source: newsbytesapp.com
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/delicate-flowers-khamenei-makes-cryptic-post-about-iranian-women/story
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CAIR Action Alert: Call on Tennessee County Jail to Stop Photographing Muslim Women Without Hijab
December 18, 2024
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Knox County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office to stop taking unnecessary booking photos of Muslim women without their Islamic headscarf, or hijab, in response to an incident in which the jail publicly posted a photo of a Muslim woman arrested during a peaceful protest against the genocide in Gaza.
A Muslim woman is suing the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in federal court over a booking photo taken without her hijab after she was arrested on May 15 while participating in a pro-Palestinian protest. Layla Soliz was arrested with ten other protesters at the University of Tennessee’s campus on charges of criminal trespass. According to the lawsuit, officers took her booking photo with and without the hijab, a head covering worn by Muslim women as part of their faith, and the Department published the photo without hijab on its website. In doing so, Knox County Sheriff’s Department allegedly violated its own guidelines that state booking photos without religious coverings would not be published.
Though the department has since replaced the online booking photo with one of the women wearing a hijab, it has allegedly refused to remove the uncovered photo from its internal databases. Moreover, the Department allegedly refused to change its policy and will continue to photograph hijab-wearing Muslim women uncovered.
CAIR issued a similar call for justice and a policy change in October 2024 and is now calling on the public to also demand that the Knox County Sheriff’s Department address the violation of the woman’s religious beliefs when it published her booking photo without hijab online.
The Department has allegedly refused to take accountability for this clear violation of its own policies by ignoring and slow-walking Ms. Soliz and her attorney’s demand for justice. On December 16, 2024, Ms. Soliz’s attorneys filed an amended complaint and a memo in support of a motion for a preliminary injunction, which would require the Department to destroy Ms. Soliz’s uncovered booking photos in its internal databases.
CAIR often defends the right to wear hijab in the United States and to be free of harassment or discrimination for wearing Islamic attire.
CAIR also urged the Knox County Sheriff’s Office to make use of CAIR’s Corrections Officer’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices. The guide contains information on Islamic religious practices, dietary needs, and other aspects of free religious exercise in prison settings.
Source: cair.com
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-action-alert-call-on-tennessee-county-jail-to-stop-photographing-muslim-women-without-hijab/
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Rare accounts of life for women inside notorious Iranian prison
Dec 19, 2024
Crouched alone on the floor, in a tiny, windowless cell, Nasim could hear what sounded like other prisoners being tortured. The guard would bang on the door and say: "Can you hear that beating? Get ready, you're next."
She was "interrogated for 10 to 12 hours every day" and repeatedly threatened with execution.
The bare cell, no more than two metres across, had no bed or toilet. Four months in solitary confinement was the 36-year-old hairdresser's introduction to Iran's notorious Evin prison. The only people she saw were her interrogators. She thought that she would "die and no-one would know".
We have pieced together accounts from multiple reliable sources to build a picture of everyday life for Nasim and other women, who are currently being held in Evin prison.
Many were among the tens of thousands of people arrested in connection with the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests that followed the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Mahsa had been arrested for allegedly breaking Iranian laws that require women to wear the hijab and she died in police custody.
While people have spoken about conditions in Evin after they have been released, it is rare to get details of inmates' lives while they are still inside.
What we have heard reveals not only brutality, but a place of complex contrasts where the prisoners continue to campaign for women's rights and defiantly challenge restrictions imposed on them. There are surprising moments too - one inmate, occasionally allowed time alone with her husband, has even got pregnant.
Nasim - who loves rap music and make-up - was taken into custody in April 2023 after joining protests with her friends, one of whom was killed in the government crackdown. She survived interrogations "by thinking about those who died on the street". People who saw Nasim when she came out of solitary confinement have described cuts and bruises on her body and how she was tortured to make false confessions.
Rezvaneh was also arrested following the protests, along with her husband, in 2023. They both ended up in Evin, which has separate sections for men and women. Her interrogators said they would kill her husband and "hit him so much that he would turn black like coal, and purple like an aubergine".
After solitary confinement, interrogations and humiliation, Nasim was moved to the women's wing, that houses about 70 people, including Rezvaneh, most of whom were arrested on political charges.
It is where the British-Iranian citizen NazaninZaghari-Ratcilffe, who was allowed to return to the UK in 2022, spent nearly four years of her sentence.
Most of the women there have been sentenced because of their activism, for offences including spreading propaganda, drawing arms against the regime, and endangering national security.
They live in four crowded cells with up to 20 people in each one and bunk beds stacked three- high.
Living together in cramped quarters often causes friction, and sometimes fights - both physical and verbal - break out. But the women also forge tight bonds.
In winter, "everyone is freezing" and the women "walk around with hot water bottles" to stay warm. In summer, they swelter in the heat.
There is a small kitchen area with a couple of hobs where - if they have enough money to buy food from the prison shop - they can cook for themselves to supplement the basic prison meals that are brought to their cells.
A dark, dirty area at the end of a corridor serves as a place to smoke. A small cemented yard with a little area for plants and a volleyball net provides a bit of outside space.
They can wear their own clothes and are free to move around their living quarters which have two bathrooms. Every evening, they queue to use the toilet and brush their teeth.
It was here, after she had been in prison for about four months, that Rezvaneh found out she was pregnant.
She had struggled with infertility for years and had given up on ever having a baby. But according to Evin's rules, she and her husband - who is still a prisoner in the men's wing - were occasionally allowed to meet in private and, on one of these occasions, she conceived.
When she realised she was pregnant she "cried for several days".
She found "the worst thing was the mental pressure and tensions inside the prison". Finding a quiet place in the crowded cells, where people spend most of their days sitting on their beds, was a constant challenge.
The prison food left her craving apple juice, bread, and meat, which were hard to get hold of. When she could get some meat from the prison shop it was at least twice the price of meat on the outside.
The prison eventually allowed her to have an ultrasound scan at four months, and doctors told her she was having a girl.
As she listened to "each heartbeat the sense of hope became stronger". But she was afraid that the conditions in prison would endanger the baby's health. Rezvaneh was not just concerned about her diet - she has epilepsy and needed to avoid stress. Prison doctors told her she had a high risk of miscarriage.
Vida, a journalist, loves to paint. She uses bedsheets for canvases and paints portraits of the other women.
One, which was smuggled out of Evin, is of Kurdish prisoner PakhshanAzizi who travelled to Kurdish areas of Iraq and Syria to help victims of the Islamic State group. Pakhshan has been sentenced to death, following charges of using arms to fight the Iranian regime, and there is great concern this sentence could be carried out soon.
Vida has been warned not to draw anything with a hidden meaning. On one of the walls in the yard she painted crumbling bricks with a green forest behind them. The authorities sprayed over it.
In a corridor she painted a picture of an Iranian cheetah running. Some of the women "kept saying how much good energy they got from it". But one night the authorities "went and painted over it" and restricted Vida's access to painting supplies.
One of her murals has been left intact though - huge, blue ocean waves on the walls of the corridor where the women go to smoke.
Getting medical care has been a constant battle for the women. One of the inmates, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, has life-threatening heart and lung conditions.
But in prison she has had to fight long and hard for access to a doctor. Relatives said that officials repeatedly blocked treatment because she refused to wear a headscarf to a medical appointment. The authorities only relented after fellow prisoners went on hunger strike for two weeks. Narges was released for 21 days at the start of December on medical grounds.
Behind bars, she and the others have carried out protests, pushing the boundaries and continuing to fight for their rights. Although the law requires them to wear headscarves, many refuse. And after a long fight with the authorities, the women were allowed curtains around the beds so they could have some privacy, out of view of CCTV cameras.
One of the toughest things for the women is waiting to hear their sentences. Nasim's interrogators had threatened her with the death penalty and she had to wait nearly 500 days to find out her fate.
She found solace in her fellow prisoners - who she has described as sisters who give her life and act as "a balm on the wounds" of her wings.
Every morning, one of her friends pulls aside the bed curtain and makes her get up for breakfast.
"Each day we think of something to do, so by the end of the day we can tell ourselves, 'We lived today,'" one of our sources explains.
Others spend their time reading poetry, singing, playing homemade card games and watching TV - there are two televisions where they can watch Iranian channels showing drama, documentaries and football.
It is these small things that kept Nasim going while she waited for her sentence, under the constant threat of execution. When the sentence finally came, she was given six years in prison, 74 lashes and 20 years in exile in a small town far from Tehran. She had been charged with distributing propaganda and drawing arms against the Islamic Republic.
Despite the severity of the sentence, Nasim felt she could breathe again, and embrace the life she thought she had lost.
Three other women in the wing have been sentenced to death for drawing arms against the regime or affiliation to armed groups. However one of them has had her sentence overturned.
More than 800 people were executed in Iran last year - the highest number in eight years, according to Amnesty International. Most were for crimes involving violence and drugs. A handful were women.
So every Tuesday, the women protest against executions, chanting in the prison yard, refusing to move all night and staging hunger strikes. The campaign has spread through jails across Iran, gaining international support. On the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death the women in Evin burned headscarves.
There have been repercussions - sometimes the guards raid their cells and women have been beaten and injured. They can also be taken for further interrogations, put back in solitary confinement or have phone calls and visits blocked. Most of the guards are women and "sometimes they are kind, sometimes they are cruel and hard-hearted, depending on what orders they receive from a higher authority", says one of our sources.
The Iranian government routinely denies allegations of human rights violations, saying conditions inside Evin prison meet all necessary standards and prisoners are not mistreated.
As Rezvaneh's due date approached, the prison authorities allowed her to temporarily leave prison for the birth. In October, she had a baby girl.
But her joy and relief at the safe arrival of her daughter is mingled with fear, sadness and anger. Her husband was not allowed out of prison with her, although she has been able to take their daughter to visit him in Evin.
And because of the stress, Rezvaneh has struggled to produce breastmilk. She is expecting to be recalled to Evin prison soon with her baby daughter to serve the rest of her five-year sentence - if she's not granted an early release, that could be nearly four years.
Babies are usually allowed to stay with their mothers in jail until the age of two. After that they are often sent to a close relative, or if that is not possible, they might be placed in a children's home.
But rather than stop the inmates, one prisoner has said the challenges they face have made her "braver and stronger," supporting their belief that "the future is clear: to fight, even in prison".
Source: bbc.com
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd75g5eyqv2o
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Winter in UAE: Are women, seniors more prone to UTIs? Doctors explain
19 Dec 2024
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in the UAE, affecting a significant portion of the population annually.
Medics explained that women in this region, including pregnant women, may be especially prone to UTIs due to particular climatic conditions. They also noted that UTIs tend to increase during the winter months.
Why UTIs surge in winter
Doctors explained cold weather can suppress thirst cues, leading to dehydration. This concentrates urine, creating an environment where bacteria can thrive.
DrHala Mostafa Kamel Imam, Specialist Internal Medicine, Burjeel Royal Hospital, Asharej, said, “Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can show seasonal trends, with a notable increase during the winter months. Cold temperatures can lead to people drinking less water, resulting in more concentrated urine and an increased risk of infection.”
Doctors pointed out that the winter season often coincides with cold and flu season, “which can weaken the immune system and make individuals more susceptible to infections like UTIs. Those with diabetes may experience worse glycemic control in colder months, which can increase UTI susceptibility".
Why women are more susceptible
Doctors stated that UTIs are common in the UAE, especially among women, adding that "studies indicate that women are significantly more likely to develop UTIs compared to men.”
DrMoujahedHammami, Obstetrics and Gynecology Consultant and Medical Director of Aman Lil Afia clinic in Dubai, said, “In the UAE, UTIs represent one of the most prevalent bacterial infections, impacting a considerable segment of the population each year. Women in this region may be particularly vulnerable to UTIs due to specific climatic conditions, though local studies would provide a clearer understanding of the situation. It is predominantly caused by bacteria, with Escherichia coli (E. coli) being the most common culprit.”
Factors such as inadequate hydration, poor hygiene practices, and prolonged urine retention, among others can increase susceptibility.
Even tight-fitting clothing can trap moisture and irritate the urethra, increasing the risk of bacteria entering the urinary tract, the doctors said.
“This disparity is largely attributable to anatomical differences; women possess a shorter urethra, which facilitates easier access for bacteria to reach the bladder. “In the UAE, cultural practices combined with high temperatures that can lead to dehydration may further exacerbate this issue,” he added.
Likelihood of UTIs rise with age
Healthcare professionals emphasised that the likelihood of developing UTIs increases with age for both genders.
Hammami said, “In older women, hormonal changes such as decreased oestrogen levels during menopause can compromise the integrity of the bladder and urethral lining, elevating the risk of infections. For older men, conditions like prostate enlargement can result in urinary retention, thereby heightening the risk of UTIs.”
Doctors advise if individuals experience symptoms such as frequent urination or pain, it's important to consult a doctor promptly.
Dr Betty John, Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medcare Hospital Sharjah said, “Don't ignore UTI symptoms like burning sensation while urinating, frequent urination, cloudy or bloody urine, strong urine odour, pelvic pain, and fever. If you experience any UTI symptoms, visit your doctor early to prevent complications.“
She added, “Warm showers are gentler on the urinary tract. Some studies suggest that cranberry juice or supplements may help prevent UTIs by reducing bacteria in the urinary tract. Vitamin C/lemon can help acidify your urine, making it less hospitable for bacteria. Protecting your body from the cold can help maintain a healthy immune system."
Source: khaleejtimes.com
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/winter-in-uae-are-women-seniors-more-prone-to-utis-doctors-explain
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Dolischka dominates Formula Woman Global Nations Cup Qualifying event
19 Dec 2024
Austrian racing driver Jorden Dolischka claimed victory in Formula Woman’s Nations Cup Qualifiers at Dubai Autodrome after three closely fought qualifying sessions.
On a unique day for motorsport, we witnessed race action in the form of a time trial set-up at the Dubai Autodrome circuit for 40 of some of the best female racing drivers from across the globe. Jorden produced a superb overall performance throughout the day, to come out on top of the highly anticipated Formula Woman Global Nations Cup qualifiers.
She will no doubt now be one of the favourites for the main finale, scheduled to take place in Dubai next May, after setting the fastest recorded lap was of 1:04.105.
The English participating drivers were clearly on the pace too and both Steph Sore and Kirsty Mansell finished second and third respectively and praise should also be mentioned for UAE-based drivers, ManonRobillard, Sofia Necchi and Darcy Mead, who were all placed near the top of the qualifying times.
The qualifying event was made up of 38 selected drivers from almost 30 separate countries, a hugely impressive global cross section, which is down to the Formula Woman organisation and their extraordinary success of sourcing drivers who would most likely have never had the opportunity to compete at such a high level.
Formula Woman Founder and CEO, Graeme Glew, reflected on the event, saying: “Congratulations to Jorden on an outstanding result. She was a fully deserving winner, and the fact she recorded the fastest lap time in all three sessions, speaks volumes about her overall performance.
“There was some very impressive driving on show throughout the day and all the qualifiers will be delighted that they have made it through to Formula Woman Nations Cup.
“There is so much talent within Formula Woman, and we are extremely proud to have hosted such a successful event, here in Dubai. However, nothing stands still and we have already switched our focus to the main event when we return in May next year. Dubai is an inspiring and exciting location for motorsport, and we are committed to continuing to grow the Formula Woman brand on a global level while using the impressive facilities available to us here.” The Formula Woman Nations Cup will mark a truly special event in motorsport with its all-female grid and format.
Formula Woman is an all-female global racing community with more than 6000 members. It is free to join and is open to women and girls of any level and of any age, from complete beginners with a passion for motorsport, through to seasoned racers and professional drivers.
Source: gulftoday.ae
https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2024/12/19/dolischka-dominates-formula-woman-global-nations-cup-qualifying-event
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Speech event on Muslim Women's Day in Sana'a
18 Dec 2024
Sana'a (Saba) - A speech and cultural event was organized in the Al-Haymah Al-Kharijiyah District, Sana'a Governorate, on the occasion of the International Muslim Women's Day - the anniversary of the birth of Lady Fatima Al-Zahra, peace be upon her.
In the event, the participants' speeches indicated that celebrating this occasion is a revival of the ideals and good example of the believing woman.
Source: saba.ye
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3411185.htm
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125 Bangladeshi Women Migrant Workers: Most Returned Home with Dire Illnesses
Dec 19, 2024
Rahima (not her real name) left Bangladesh for Oman to work as a domestic help and support her five-member family after her husband passed away.
Although she travelled abroad with the hope of securing a better future, she returned home within a year -- in bad shape.
Despite being told she would have to work as a domestic help, she was assigned various other tasks, including working in a poultry farm and carrying heavy water drums up mountainous paths with her bare hands.
"I wasn't given adequate rest, and after missing work for a day due to illness, they didn't allow me to eat."
When she asked for food, she was met with a torrent of verbal abuse.
"When my health deteriorated from the hard labour, my employer told me to see a doctor at my own expense, which meant walking five kilometres to the hospital."
Eventually, Rahima fled and returned to Bangladesh, where she learned that she had developed uterine problems.
She turned to the Wage Earners Welfare Board (WEWB) for assistance, which has over the past three years given medical help to 125 women migrant workers. Most of them had returned from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Lebanon, Qatar, the UAE, and other Middle Eastern countries.
WEWB's records show a concerning trend -- most of these women, like Rahima, were suffering from uterine issues
In 2023 alone, 56 women applied for medical assistance from the organisation and 20 were diagnosed with uterine problems. Meanwhile, 19 had endured physical abuse, 10 were suffering from kidney issues, and seven were battling cancer.
Fifty-four-year-old MaksudaKhatun, from Mymensingh'sGafargaon, returned to Bangladesh from Saudi Arabia on March 16 this year after being diagnosed with kidney disease.
Upon her arrival, doctors found that both of her kidneys were damaged. She now requires dialysis thrice a week, costing her family Tk 35,000 per month.
After applying to the WEWB, she received Tk 1.50 lakh to cover a portion of her medical expenses.
"Apart from this money, I had to spend all the money I saved while working as a domestic worker abroad and even sold a piece of land.
"I don't know how I will manage my treatment costs in the future," said Maksuda, whose husband, a 57-year-old auto-rickshaw driver, struggles to support their family.
Experts said female migrant workers were almost always overworked without regular meals, and were subjected to sexual and physical abuse.
Despite visible signs of illness, they were rarely, if ever, taken to a doctor.
About the prevalence of uterine issues among the workers, Farzana Begum Banik, head of the Gynecology Department at Gonoshasthaya Medical College, said she has encountered several such patients.
"As far as I know, they often don't have access to regular check-ups abroad and can't see a doctor when they're sick. Many choose to remain silent about the abuse they endured to preserve their dignity within their families upon returning."
She added that middle-aged women may naturally develop uterine issues, but poor living conditions play a role.
"Sexually transmitted diseases can also lead to uterine complications."
Migration expert and rights activist CR Abrar stressed the need for a probe and research into why these female workers, who left as labourers, were forced to return after being denied medical care by their employers.
"The health issues of migrant workers have persistently been unattended and neglected for years. Employers abroad should be responsible for their healthcare but when they [the workers] seek it, they are subjected to even termination, which is quite distressful."
He added that the interim government must ensure this through binding contracts, addressing the policy gap and investigating these complaints.
Speaking to this correspondent, the former Dhaka University teacher urged Bangladeshi embassies to play a more active role, including staying updated on the conditions of migrant workers and maintaining regular contact.
"If they could check in with workers once a month, many of these issues could be prevented."
Shariful Islam, deputy director (Welfare) of the WEWB, said they have been providing financial support to returnees based on their medical conditions.
"We have a team of doctors. Based on their examinations, we provide the victims with financial assistance ranging from Tk 50,000 to Tk 1.5 lakh so they can receive treatment."
Source: thedailystar.net
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/125-women-migrant-workers-most-returned-home-dire-illnesses-3779721
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iran-khamenei-women-hijab-law-debate/d/134075