Iranian Woman Confronts Cleric In Viral Video, Removes His Turban To Use It As Hijab
New Age Islam News Bureau
7January 2025
· Iranian Woman Confronts Cleric In Viral Video, Removes His Turban To Use It As Hijab
· Iran Executed At Least 31 Women In 2024 Claims Human Rights Monitor
· Gauri Khan Did NOT Convert To Islam, PICS With Shah Rukh Khan At Mecca Are Not Real
· England Urged To Boycott Champions Trophy Game Against Afghanistan Over Taliban Suppression Of Women’s Rights
· More Iranian Women Forced Into Illegal Abortions
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iranian-woman-confronts-turban-hijab/d/134270
------
Iranian Woman Confronts Cleric In Viral Video, Removes His Turban To Use It As Hijab
January 07, 2025
Screengrab from the viral video showing the woman confronting a cleric in Iran | X
-------------
A video from Iran showing an angry woman confronting a cleric at an airport in Mehrabad has gone viral. The woman, who has not been identified, wasn't wearing a hijab despite Iranian laws mandating one.
The video, posted on social media by Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad, shows the woman confronting the cleric, before angrily removing his turban. She is heard shouting, “So you have honour now?" in the video.
The woman also questions the cleric about her husband. "What did you do to my husband?" It is unclear when the incident happened.
Alinejad claimed the woman confronted a cleric harassing her for not wearing a hijab. "'In a bold act of defiance, she removed his turban and wore it like a scarf, turning oppression into resistance. For years, clerics have claimed their turbans and robes are sacred and untouchable, but this woman’s act of protest shattered that myth. Iranian women are exhausted and enraged by gender apartheid," she posted.
However, Mashregh News, a media outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that the incident was unrelated to hijab and claimed the woman had "psychological problems." It added that the woman was detained for some time, but later released "with the consent of the complainants."
However, social media users rubbished Mashregh News for misrepresenting the incident as a psychological issue and called it a powerful act of protest. "Her transformation of the turban into a mandatory scarf is an innovative form of resistance," one user said.
Another wrote: "That is a lady who has just had enough. You cannot scare people who reach that point. Courage and its shadow of defiance wins out in the end."
This isn't the first time that such acts of defiance come from Iran. Last November, a female student at the Azad University in Tehran’s Science and Research was seen stripping down to her undergarments, in what many called a protest against the regime. However, the officials claimed she was mentally unstable. The official narrative was countered by Iranian psychology and psychiatry associations who hit out at the government last year for misusing psychiatry and psychology to suppress opposition to mandatory hijab.
Source: theweek.in
https://www.theweek.in/news/middle-east/2025/01/07/iranian-woman-confronts-cleric-in-viral-video-removes-his-turban-to-wear-it-over-her-head.html
---------
Iran executed at least 31 women in 2024 claims human rights monitor
Jan 06, 2025
Representative image: Iran has executed more than 30 women in 2024 as per an NGO(ATTA KENARE / AFP)
-----------
Iran in 2024 executed at least 31 women, an NGO said on Monday, warning that female prisoners were increasingly being caught in a surge in the use of capital punishment in the Islamic republic.
Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), which closely tracks executions in Iran, said in a report that the figure for 2024 marked the highest number of women to be hanged in Iran since it started documenting the use of capital punishment in 2008.
It added that at least 241 women were executed from 2010 to 2024, mostly on drug and murder convictions, adding that 70 percent of those executed for murder had been convicted of killing a husband or partner, often in the context of domestic violence.
Activists are increasingly alarmed over the surge in hangings in Iran, accusing the Islamic authorities under supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of using capital punishment as a tool to instil fear throughout society particularly in the wake of 2022-2023 nationwide protests.
IHR said in November that there has been a dramatic increase in executions in 2024, with at least 166 recorded in October alone, the highest number for a single month since it began recording executions.
"The execution of women in Iran not only reveals the brutal and inhumane nature of the death penalty but also exposes the deep-rooted gender discrimination and inequality within the judicial system," said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam.
IHR said that of the 241 women it documented as being executed between 2010-2024, 114 women were executed for murder, while 107 women were executed on drug-related charges.
"Many women executed for murder were victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse who acted out of desperation," said IHR.
Iran's Islamic law of retribution known as qisas -- where another life must be taken after a killing unless the victim's family forgives or accepts a payment -- means that extenuating circumstances such as domestic violence may not be taken into account by a court.
"Iran's judicial system rarely considers these circumstances as mitigating factors in sentencing," said IHR.
As an example, IHR cited the case of Zahra Esmaili, a woman it said was forced to marry her neighbour, a ministry of intelligence official, after falling pregnant as a result of him raping her. He was physically violent towards her and her children, IHR said. She was convicted of murdering him in 2017 and sentenced to death.
"Her husband's family insisted on qisas with her mother-in-law personally carrying out the execution" in 2021, it said. Her lawyer later said that Esmaili had suffered from a heart attack after witnessing a group execution before hers but "they still hung her lifeless body," IHR said.
One of the most high-profile cases in recent years was the October 2014 hanging of 26-year-old Reyhaneh Jabbari, who was convicted of murdering a former intelligence officer she maintained had tried to sexually assault her.
Her story was the subject of the documentary "Seven Winters in Tehran" which was shown at the Berlin Film Festival in 2023 and won praise from critics.\
Source: hindustantimes.com
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/iran-executed-at-least-31-women-in-2024-claims-human-rights-monitor-101736170853979.html
---------
Gauri Khan Did NOT Convert To Islam, PICS With Shah Rukh Khan At Mecca Are Not Real
Jan 7, 2025
Just a few days ago, a photo of Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan and their son Aryan's picture went viral on the internet. This photo was said to be at Mecca and it was being rumoured that Shah Rukh along with his family, brought in the New Year at Mecca. The internet was also abuzz with the fact that after 33 years of their marriage, Gauri has now converted to Islam. In this photo, Gauri can be seen wearing a hijaab while SRK and Aryan are in white kurtas.
However, here's some fact check. There is no truth to this photo and according to NDTV, it has been generate via AI (Artificial Intelligence). Hence, there is no truth to the rumours that Gauri has converted to Islam.
For those not in the know, Shah Rukh and Gauri got married in 1991, and their was an interfaith marriage. With Gauri being a Hindu, her family had not accepted the marriage for a long time but they finally did and their love triumphed. Earlier, in an episode of 'Koffee With Karan', Gauri had opened up about how she and SRK have respected each other's religion, while following their own.
She had said that she wouldn't convert to Islam though, she respects his religion. Gauri had told Karan Johar, "There is a balance. I respect Shah Rukh’s religion, but that doesn’t mean I would convert and become a Muslim. I don’t believe in that. Everyone is an individual and follows their religion. Of course, there should be mutual respect. Shah Rukh would never disrespect my religion, and I wouldn’t disrespect his."
Source: indiatimes.com
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/fact-check-gauri-khan-did-not-convert-to-islam-pics-with-shah-rukh-khan-at-mecca-are-not-real/articleshow/117013294.cms
---------
England urged to boycott Champions Trophy game against Afghanistan over Taliban suppression of women’s rights
January 07, 2025
England should refuse to play the Champions Trophy cricket match against Afghanistan next month according to a letter signed by more than 160 U.K. politicians.
The politicians want the England and Wales Cricket Board to take a stand against the Taliban regime's assault on women's rights and boycott the men's one-day international against Afghanistan in Lahore, Pakistan, on Feb. 26.
Female participation in sport has effectively been outlawed since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, a move that puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board in contravention of International Cricket Council rules.
Because Afghanistan's men are still allowed to compete by the ICC, a strongly worded letter has emerged from the U.K. parliament pleading for the ECB to make its own moral objection.
Penned by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi and signed by a cross-party group from the House of Commons and House of Lords including Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn, it raises the “insidious dystopia” unfolding in Afghanistan.
The statement, addressed to ECB chief executive Richard Gould, concludes: "We strongly urge the England men's team players and officials to speak out against the horrific treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban.
"We also urge the ECB to consider a boycott of the upcoming match against Afghanistan... to send a clear signal that such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated.
“We must stand against sex apartheid and we implore the ECB to deliver a firm message of solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their suffering has not been overlooked.” Gould issued a swift response, reaffirming ECB principles while suggesting it favoured a uniform approach from all member nations rather than acting alone.
“The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime,” he said.
“The ICC constitution mandates that all member nations are committed to the growth and development of women's cricket. In line with this commitment, the ECB has maintained its position of not scheduling any bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan.
“A coordinated, ICC-wide approach would be significantly more impactful than unilateral actions by individual members.
“We understand the concerns raised by those who believe that a boycott of men's cricket could inadvertently support the Taliban's efforts to suppress freedoms and isolate Afghan society. It's crucial to recognise the importance of cricket as a source of hope and positivity for many Afghans, including those displaced from the country.”
Source: thehindu.com
https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/england-urged-to-boycott-champions-trophy-game-against-afghanistan-over-taliban-suppression-of-womens-rights/article69071028.ece
---------
More Iranian women forced into illegal abortions
JANUARY 6, 2025
Although Iranian authorities have widely restricted access to abortion in an attempt to reverse demographic decline, more women are going outside the law to end unwanted pregnancies.
According to figures from the Iranian Ministry of Health reported by the Khabaronline news website in June 2024, over 600,000 illegal abortions are performed annually in Iran.
Experts say poverty, joblessness, and lack of social security are contributing factors forcing women to undergo an abortion despite serious risks.
In November 2021, Iranian lawmakers, under the auspices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei passed a law called the "rejuvenation of the population and support of the family."
The "population law," which is in effect for a 7-year trial period, quickly drew condemnation.
UN human rights experts issued a statement calling for the law to be repealed. They decried the legislation as a "direct violation of women's human rights under international law."
"This law violates the rights to life and health" by blocking access to a "range of reproductive health services" and information on reproductive rights, the UN activists.
Severe restrictions on reproductive health care
Under the population law, abortions in the case of a threat to life of the mother or fetus will only be allowed by the permission of a panel consisting of a judge, a court-appointed doctor and a forensic doctor.
Doctors or surgeons who perform abortions illegally risk the permanent loss of their license, prison sentences of two to five years, and heavy fines.
Contraceptives are also no longer provided free of charge in health centers or pharmacies. Additionally, the law criminalizes any form of sterilization, including procedures such as vasectomy and tubal ligation.
The Islamic penal code allows men to report their wives for having an abortion. In such cases, the women face fines, depending on the results of forensic investigations.
No more genetic testing before pregnancy
In October 2024, the head of the Center for Population Growth at Iran's Ministry of Health warned that center staff were actively identifying couples planning abortions in hospitals and doctor's offices to pressure and dissuade them from doing so.
The law also abolished the obligation to undergo genetic testing before pregnancy. Before its adoption, abortion was permitted if the fetus was proven to have severe disabilities by three doctors. This is expected to lead to a dramatic rise in birth defects.
According to the law, laboratories must register their patients' data online. This allows for pregnant women to be identified and punished if they later fail to give birth.
"Data clearly shows that criminalizing the termination of pregnancy does not reduce the number of women who resort to abortion," the UN experts said. "Instead, it forces women to risk their lives by undergoing clandestine and unsafe procedures."
Women turn to black market abortions
There are multiple indications that government restrictions have turned Iran into a booming black market for abortion drugs.
Dr. ParvinDelshad, a doctor and lecturer at the University of Queensland in Australia, told DW that these restrictive laws increase maternal mortality through "underground abortions."
"Regardless of whether the abortion is performed at home using medication to promote bleeding or by surgical intervention, it must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. In both cases, it must be ensured that there is no danger to life," she said.
Delshad emphasized that doctors must ensure that women planning an abortion do not suffer from sexually transmitted diseases, as this increases the risk of pelvic infections and subsequent infertility.
According to the doctor, women who take illegal abortion drugs are often unaware of the health complications and put their lives at risk by having unsafe pregnancy terminations.
Data from the Iranian Ministry of Health indicates around 60% of abortions are carried out at home using abortion pills, 30% in doctors' clinics and 10% in "herbal stores" using herbal preparations.
Iran's population problem
In November 2024, Iran's deputy health minister, Alireza Raisi, warned that declining birth rates mean Iran's population could decrease by 50% before 2100.
Along with the strict restrictions on reproductive health, Iranian authorities are offering "incentives" under the population law to encourage families to have more children.
These include providing 200 square meters of land for a family with a third child, brand new vehicles for mothers having a second child, and full health insurance for unemployed mothers with three or more children.
However, a sociologist at the University of Tehran told DW that he doubts Iranian authorities can actually provide these incentives to families.
"Before discussing population growth, we should ask ourselves how many resources are actually available. Can these promises be fulfilled at all?" the expert said under the condition of anonymity. He added that without the full acceptance of the Iranian public towards having more children, the laws will only have a superficial effect, even if they are imposed by oppressive measures.
"What about the quality of life and social well-being? Is there fair access to healthcare and education? And what is the capacity of the labor market?" he asked.
Even if the laws entice more people in economically depressed situations to have more children, the structural problems in Iran's economy and society will remain a challenge to growth in the future, according to the sociologist.
Source: dw.com
https://www.dw.com/en/more-iranian-women-forced-into-illegal-abortions/a-71229081
---------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iranian-woman-confronts-turban-hijab/d/134270