Iranian Law Student, Fahimeh Soltani, Jailed for 'Inciting War and Bloodshed'
New Age Islam News Bureau
31 May 2025
· Iranian Law Student, FahimehSoltani, Jailed for 'Inciting War and Bloodshed'
· Law Student, Sharmistha Panoli, Arrested For Social Media Remarks On Operation Sindoor
· Three Baha’i Women Arrested In Tehran, Taken To Undisclosed Location
· Syria's Only Female Minister, Hind Kabawat: Lifting Of Economic Sanctions Offers Hope For Recovery
· UAE President Congratulates Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais Named As First Female Secretary General Of UN Tourism
· Village Capital And Standard Chartered Invest In Women-Led StartupsIn Africa And MENA
· Pakistan To Finalise Sale Of Majority Stake In First Women Bank To UAE Next Month
· Reflecting On My Law Journey At 45: Inspired By A 10th Century Female Muslim Scholar
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iranian-law-student-war-bloodshed/d/135733
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Iranian Law Student, FahimehSoltani, Jailed for 'Inciting War and Bloodshed'
MAY 30, 2025
An Iranian law student was arrested on Wednesday and sent to prison to serve a one-year sentence on charges of "inciting war and bloodshed"
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An Iranian law student was arrested on Wednesday and sent to prison to serve a one-year sentence on charges of "inciting war and bloodshed."
FahimehSoltani, a law student at Isfahan University, was transferred to Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan to begin serving her sentence.
The original verdict was issued by Judge Mohammad Reza Tavakoli and later upheld by appellate courts and Iran’s Supreme Court.
In addition to her one-year prison term, Soltani also faces a two-year suspended sentence.
She had previously been arrested in both 2022 and 2024. In June 2023, Isfahan University's disciplinary committee suspended her from studies for two and a half years.
Following her academic suspension, Soltani shared her experience as part of a campaign titled "Speak of Suspension."
She said, “I feel uncertain. I don’t know if I’ll return to university at all. Sometimes I feel despair, and sometimes anger. Being deprived of our basic rights, like the right to education is very disturbing.”
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/141626-iranian-law-student-jailed-for-inciting-war-and-bloodshed/
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Law Student, Sharmistha Panoli, Arrested For Social Media Remarks On Operation Sindoor
by Tanusree Bose
May 31, 2025
According to police sources, a case was registered against Panoli at the Garden Reach Police station on May 15.
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A 22-year-old law student from Pune was arrested by the Kolkata police from Gurgaon on Friday afternoon for allegedly hurting religious sentiments with her remarks on Operation Sindoor on social media.
The police identified the student as Sharmistha Panoli. A fourth-year BBA LLB Honours student at Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Panoli had deleted the allegedly offensive post on Instagram and apologised for her remarks on X. She was produced before a Gurgaon court and will be brought to Kolkata on transit remand, officials said.
“A complaint was received, and the investigation is going on. As per law, all necessary steps will be taken,” HarikrishnaPai, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Port Division, told The Indian Express.
According to police sources, a case was registered against Panoli at the Garden Reach Police station on May 15. The FIR was lodged under sections 196(1) (a) promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community, 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens), 352 ( intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace), 353(1)(c) (statements that incite public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
After the FIR was lodged, attempts were made to serve notice as per the law, but the accused and her family had absconded, police sources alleged. Subsequently, a warrant of arrest was issued, based on which she was arrested from Gurgaon, the sources added.
In her post on X, Panoli had said, “I do hereby tender my UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY whatever was put are my personal feelings and i never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody so if anybody is hurt I’m sorry for the same. I expect co-operation and understanding. Henceforth, i will be cautious in my public post. Again please accept my apologies.”
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/kolkata-police-arrest-law-student-gurgaon-social-media-operation-sindoor-10040208/
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Three Baha’i Women Arrested in Tehran, Taken to Undisclosed Location
MAY 30, 2025
The Islamic Republic’s security forces have arrested three Baha’i women in Tehran and transferred them to an undisclosed location, a human rights organization reported.
Sheyda Rouhani, SheydehTavakoli, and Sheila Tavakoli were detained on Tuesday, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights. Rouhani is a mother of one.
Security agents confiscated Rouhani’s laptop, mobile phone, tablet, property documents, academic certificates, and Baha’i religious literature during the operation.
Personal assets, including gold and foreign currency, were also seized.
The women’s whereabouts, legal status, and condition remained unknown several days after their detention.
No formal charges have been disclosed, and the reasons for their arrest remain unclear.
Baha’is have long been persecuted for their beliefs and are often accused of being spies or acting against the Iranian government.
However, the Baha’i International Community states that no evidence has ever been provided to support these claims.
Over the past two years, the Iranian government has intensified its crackdown on members of the Baha’i faith, imprisoning dozens on spurious charges, denying them access to higher education and employment, and confiscating or destroying their properties.
Human Rights Watch, in its latest annual report, called the suppression of Baha’is and the deprivation of their basic rights systematic, describing it as a crime against humanity.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/bahais-of-iran/141634-three-bahai-women-arrested-in-tehran-taken-to-undisclosed-location/
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Syria's Only Female Minister, Hind Kabawat: Lifting Of Economic Sanctions Offers Hope For Recovery
May 30, 2025
Damascus, May 30 (AP) The lifting of economic sanctions on Syria will allow the government to begin work on daunting tasks that include fighting corruption and bringing millions of refugees home, Hind Kabawat, the minister of social affairs and labour, told The Associated Press on Friday.
Kabawat is the only woman and the only Christian in the 23-member cabinet formed in March to steer the country during a transitional period after the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in a rebel offensive in December.
Her portfolio will be one of the most important as the country begins rebuilding after nearly 14 years of civil war.
She said moves by the US and the European Union in the past week to at least temporarily lift most of the sanctions that had been imposed on Syria over decades will allow that work to get started.
Before, she said, “we would talk, we would make plans, but nothing could happen on the ground because sanctions were holding everything up and restricting our work.” With the lifting of sanctions they can now move to “implementation.”
One of the first programmes the new government is planning to launch is “temporary schools” for the children of refugees and internally displaced people returning to their home areas.
Kabawat said that it will take time for the easing of sanctions to show effects on the ground, particularly since unwinding some of the financial restrictions will involve complicated bureaucracy.
“We are going step by step,” she said. “We are not saying that anything is easy -- we have many challenges — but we can't be pessimistic. We need to be optimistic.”
The new government's vision is “that we don't want either food baskets or tents after five years,” Kabawat said, referring to the country's dependence on humanitarian aid and many displacement camps.
That may be an ambitious target, given that 90% of the country's population currently lives below the poverty line, according to the United Nations.
The civil war that began in 2011 also displaced half the country's pre-war population of 23 million people.
The UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that about half a million have returned to Syria since Assad was ousted. But the dire economic situation and battered infrastructure have also dissuaded many refugees from coming back.
The widespread poverty also fed into a culture of public corruption that developed in the Assad era, including solicitation of bribes by public employees and shakedowns by security forces at checkpoints.
Syria's new rulers have pledged to end the corruption, but they face an uphill battle. Public employees make salaries far below the cost of living, and the new government has so far been unable to make good on a promise to hike public sector wages by 400 per cent.
“How can I fight corruption if the monthly salary is USD 40 and that is not enough to buy food for 10 days?” Kabawat asked.
Women and minorities
The country's new rulers, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa — the former head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, a Sunni Islamist insurgent group that spearheaded the offensive against Assad — have been under scrutiny by western countries over the treatment of Syrian women and religious minorities.
In March, clashes between government security forces and pro-Assad armed groups spiralled into sectarian revenge attacks on members of the Alawite sect to which Assad belongs. Hundreds of civilians were killed.
The government formed a committee to investigate the attacks, which has not yet reported its findings.
Many also criticized the transitional government as giving only token representation to women and minorities. Apart from Kabawat, the cabinet includes only one member each from the Druze and Alawite sects and one Kurd.
“Everywhere I travel… the first and last question is, What is the situation of the minorities?'” Kabawat said. “I can understand the worries of the West about the minorities, but they should also be worried about Syrian men and women as a whole.”
She said the international community's priority should be to help Syria to build its economy and avoid the country falling into “chaos.”
'Rebuilding our institutions'
Despite being the only woman in the cabinet, Kabawat said “now there is a greater opportunity for women” than under Assad and that “today there is no committee being formed that does not have women in it.”
“Syrian women have suffered a lot in these 14 years and worked in all areas," she said. "All Syrian men and women need to have a role in rebuilding our institutions.”
She called for those wary of al-Sharaa to give him a chance.
While the West has warmed to the new president -- particularly after his recent high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump — others have not forgotten that he fought against US forces in Iraq after the invasion of 2003 or that his HTS group was formed as an offshoot of al-Qaida, although it later cut ties.
“People used to call (Nelson) Mandela a terrorist, and then he became the first leader among those who freed South Africa, and after that suddenly he was no longer a terrorist," Kabawat said. She urged sceptics to "give us the same chance that you gave to South Africa.” (AP)
Source: theweek.in
https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/international/2025/05/30/fgn70-syria-female-minister-sanctions.html
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UAE President Congratulates Shaikha Nasser Al NowaisNamed As First Female Secretary General Of UN Tourism
May 30, 2025
Emirati Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais has been elected as the first female head of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
Ms Al Nowais, who has served as corporate vice president of owners’ relationship management at Rotana Hotel Management Corporation, will be secretary general of UN Tourism from 2026 to 2029.
Her "appointment reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to empowering Emirati women in leadership roles and reflects the importance of the tourism sector as a key driver of sustainable economic growth", President Sheikh Mohamed wrote on X.
In a statement on Friday, UN Tourism said its executive council had met "for a milestone session to build on the legacy of the last eight years”.
It added: “Meeting for its 123rd session, the council assessed progress made around the priorities of innovation, investments and education and looked ahead with the nomination of Shaikha Al Nowais as new secretary general from 2026.
"Upon confirmation by the UN Tourism general assembly, Ms Shaikha Al Nowais will become the [first] woman to hold the position.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also issued his congratulations to Ms Al Nowais.
"Our young men and women represent our country and raise its name and flag high, he added in a post on X. "We are proud of them, we rejoice for them, we brag about them to the world, and we advise them to represent the United Arab Emirates with the name, status, and achievements it deserves."
Speaking previously about her nomination for the role, Ms Al Nowais said: “[It] is reflective of the importance our country places on empowering Emirati women in leadership positions. It emphasises the country’s efforts in promoting joint action to enhance the growth and sustainability of the sector regionally and internationally.”
Global challenges such as climate change, the accelerating impact of technology and changing geopolitical dynamics have left the tourism sector at a crossroads, she said.
“These challenges call for resilient, forward-looking leadership and diverse and collaborative solutions that can redefine the future of sustainable and responsible tourism,” she added.
“My goal is to build on successful tourism models and expand them across regions such as Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia and Latin America to promote sustainable and inclusive growth and strengthen the global tourism ecosystem.”
Source: thenationalnews.com
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2025/05/30/uae-president-congratulates-emirati-named-as-first-woman-secretary-general-of-un-tourism/
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Village Capital and Standard Chartered Invest in Women-Led Startups in Africa and MENA
May 30, 2025
In a significant move to address the gender funding gap in emerging markets, Village Capital has partnered with Standard Chartered to invest $200,000 in three women-led startups across Africa and MENA. This initiative, part of Standard Chartered’sFuturemakers Women in Tech Financing Facility, aims to empower women entrepreneurs by providing catalytic capital and support to scale their ventures.
Targeted Investment in Women-Led Startups
The selected startups—BeMe (Pakistan), Dabchy (Tunisia), and FreshSource (Egypt)—are all alumni of Village Capital’s Women in Tech accelerator program. This program focuses on addressing systemic challenges faced by women in entrepreneurship, including limited access to early-stage capital and underrepresentation in key sectors.
Dabchy (Tunisia)
Dabchy is an online marketplace for second-hand fashion, promoting sustainable consumption and reducing textile waste. With over 750,000 users and 4 million listed items, Dabchy is expanding its reach within Tunisia and exploring new markets.
FreshSource (Egypt)
FreshSource is an agri-tech startup digitizing Egypt’s fresh produce supply chains. By connecting smallholder farmers directly to institutional buyers, it reduces food loss and enhances price transparency. The funding will help scale its operations and improve logistics capabilities.
Addressing the Gender Funding Gap
Despite the increasing number of women entrepreneurs, access to venture capital remains disproportionately low. In 2024, women-founded startups received only 2.3% of global venture capital funding, with female-only teams securing even less. This disparity is more pronounced in emerging markets, where women-led startups receive just 7% of venture capital .(m
Research indicates that women-led startups often outperform their male counterparts, delivering higher returns on investment. However, they remain 75% less likely to receive equity financing than men . This funding gap is attributed to factors such as investor bias, limited networks, and a lack of representation in decision-making roles within venture capital firms.
Strategic Significance of the Investment
This investment by Village Capital and Standard Chartered is a strategic effort to close the gender funding gap by providing targeted support to women-led startups in sectors with high growth potential. Village Capital’s approach emphasizes peer selection and ecosystem development, aiming to democratize access to venture funding, particularly in underserved markets. Since its inception in 2009, Village Capital has backed nearly 1,800 startups, funneling over $7.5 billion in follow-on capital through its affiliated funds and network.
Standard Chartered’s involvement underscores its commitment to advancing women entrepreneurs across its footprint. Regina Mukiri, the bank’s Regional Head of Community Impact and Engagement for Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan, stated, “Empowering women is critical to sustainable economic growth. We’re committed to addressing structural barriers to funding through this facility and beyond.”
Source: techinafrica.com
https://www.techinafrica.com/village-capital-and-standard-chartered-invest-in-women-led-startups-in-africa-and-mena/
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Pakistan to finalise sale of majority stake in First Women Bank to UAE next month
May 31, 2025
Pakistan is set to complete the sale of its 82.64% stake in First Women Bank Limited (FWBL) to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month under a government-to-government agreement, officials told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Privatisation.
According to a report by The News, the UAE expressed formal interest earlier this year, and the cabinet approved the transaction on February 6, 2024, Secretary Privatisation Usman Bajwa informed the panel.
This will be the fifth attempt to privatise FWBL after previous efforts in 1994, 1996, 2018, and 2021 failed to materialise. FWBL, established in 1989, currently operates 42 branches across 24 cities. The Ministry of Finance holds the majority stake, while Habib Bank Limited and MCB Bank each own 5.78%, with smaller shares held by Allied Bank, National Bank of Pakistan, and UBL.
Bajwa also updated the committee on the progress of privatising three major power distribution companies — Hesco, Sepco, and Pesco. A Request for Proposal (RFP) to hire financial advisers is expected next month, developed in collaboration with the Power Division and the World Bank.
During the session, lawmakers sharply criticised Pesco for incurring losses of Rs143 billion last fiscal year, with liabilities reaching Rs620 billion and technical losses at 35%. Calls were made for the utility’s closure, while Pesco’s CEO forecasted a Rs20 billion reduction in losses this year.
Hesco faced scrutiny for prolonged power outages, with its CEO attributing issues to line losses. Lawmakers contested this, citing a minimum daily loadshedding of 10 hours. The CEO reported that 200 out of 650 feeders are now free of loadshedding, with plans to add four more by July.
Chairman Farooq Sattar demanded that the finance secretary appear before the panel and urged the Finance Division to release Rs6 billion by September, with the remainder expected next fiscal year. “This is public trust; the Finance Ministry must return it,” he stated.
Source: pakistantoday.com.pk
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2025/05/31/pakistan-to-finalise-sale-of-majority-stake-in-first-women-bank-to-uae-next-month/
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Reflecting on my law journey at 45: Inspired by a 10th century female Muslim scholar
31 May, 2025
As a mid-life mature age student in law, the experience provokes a combination of feelings. I imagine myself standing in a great library surrounded by knowledge, yet I am also standing at the base of many mountains with unfamiliar and narrow pathways, sometimes in flip flops.
I am also constantly thirsty for inspiration when it comes to the evidence of ethics. From tort to equity my expectation that ethics is naturally interwoven into the very fabric of law leaves me parched.
My expectations are for the most part, unmet. This is where life experience – which, as my mother said when I converted – is, “as diverse as our thumb prints,” comes in to quench my thirst.
Temetnosce – “Know Thyself”
Since embracing Islam in 2004, my daily routine is to observe the pre-dawn spiritual practice, then I read.
At present, I am reading Women of Sufism: A Hidden Treasure by Camille Adams Helminski. When I first picked up the book there were plenty of connections to my Islam journey, but seemingly no link to law. I was wrong.
The book introduced me to a female Muslim legal scholar who lived over 1000 years ago. Like all women in the book, she was a Sufi mystic. She was also a scholar in Islamic Law and men and women sought her counsel.
Lubaba was from Syria and Jerusalem and known for her spiritual wisdom, altruism, community service and sound advice on faith, law and order.
This morning at dawn I sat to read.
I learned of a man who sought Lubaba’s counsel. Upon his request for guidance, she gave him the following advice which I reinterpreted to serve my ethics quest.
Imagine Lubaba, a tenth century female Muslim legal scholar contributing to an Australian muslim woman’s legal study more than 1000 years later. There’s a profound level of spiritual and intellectual depth offered in her wise counsel and it struck me as uncommon yet timeless.
Having made a mid-life decision to study law, I never anticipated that my quest to know God would so directly enrich my study of law. Alhumdulillah.
The wisdom we recognise over our years provides meaning far beyond the learning imparted in the ‘classroom,’ awakening and integrating timeless knowledge into the present, all the while moving us forward to new horizons.
* The original quote which Lubaba is said to have advised the man was:
“Knowledge of God bequeaths love for Him; love for Him bequeaths longing for Him; longing for Him bequeaths intimacy with Him; and intimacy with Him bequeaths constancy in serving Him and conforming to His laws.”
Sourced from Camille Adams Helminski, ‘Women of Sufism: A Hidden Treasure, Writings and Stories of Mystic Poets, Scholars and Saints’, (Shambhala Publications Inc, Boston, 2003) 37.
Source: amust.com.au
https://www.amust.com.au/2025/05/reflecting-on-my-law-journey-at-45-inspired-by-a-10th-century-female-muslim-scholar/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iranian-law-student-war-bloodshed/d/135733