2022 Sees 24 Percent Rise In Crime Against Women, Minors, SC/ST: Indian National Crime Records Bureau Report
New Age
Islam News Bureau
05 December 2023
· 2022 Sees 24 Percent Rise In Crime Against Women, Minors, SC/ST: Indian National Crime Records Bureau Report
· US says Hamas did not want women hostages to reveal treatment
· Disabled Muslim woman and her children abused by man in West London
· Women complain of unfulfilled promises to tackle gender disparity
· Shehla Rashid wrong to say Muslims have it better in India. Violence is systemic & sinister
· Female Artists Promote Nuristani Engraving in Herat
· Western students demand better security after Muslim women allegedly spat on
· Regional Iranian Officials Order Strict Dress Code For Female Public Workers
· Alarm Raised Over Health of Political Prisoner on Hunger Strike
· Ex-Woman Wrestler in Iran Fined Over Photo Without Hijab
· Arab-Afghan Women’s Solidarity Network established
· The hidden dimensions of insecurity in Afghanistan
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/crime-against-women-ncrb-report/d/131259
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2022
Sees 24 Percent Rise In Crime Against Women, Minors, SC/ST: Indian National
Crime Records Bureau Report
05 December, 2023
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
recently released its comprehensive data for 2022, shedding light on the surge
in crime against women, children, Schedule Caste and Tribes (SC/ST) as well as
cyber crimes across the country.
A total of 65,893 cybercrime cases were registered in 2022, marking a substantial 24.4 per cent increase from the previous year’s 52,974 cases.
The crime rate in this category rose from 3.9 in 2021 to 4.8 in 2022. Delving deeper into the cybercrime statistics, a staggering 64.8 per cent of the cases were motivated by fraud, accounting for 42,710 instances.
Extortion followed at 5.5 per cent (3,648 cases), and sexual exploitation constituted 5.2 per cent (3,434 cases).
This alarming increase in cybercrimes highlights the pressing need for enhanced cybersecurity measures and public awareness.
Rise in crime against women
In tandem with the rise in cybercrimes, crimes against women also witnessed an uptick in 2022. A total of 4,45,256 cases were registered, indicating a 4.0 per cent increase from the previous year’s 4,28,278 cases.
The majority of these cases, according to the NCRB data, were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives’ (31.4 per cent), followed by ‘Kidnapping & Abduction of Women’ (19.2 per cent), ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’ (18.7 per cent), and ‘Rape’ (7.1 per cent).
The crime rate per lakh women population increased from 64.5 in 2021 to 66.4 in 2022, emphasising the urgency of addressing gender-based violence.
2.6% decline in murder cases
Moving beyond gender-specific crimes, the report outlines the state of murder cases in 2022. While there was a marginal decline of 2.6 per cent from 29,272 cases in 2021 to 28,522 cases in 2022, the motives behind these crimes are noteworthy.
“Disputes emerged as the primary motivator in the highest number of murder cases (9,962 cases), followed by ‘Personal vendetta or enmity’ (3,761 cases) and ‘Gain’ (1,884 cases),” the report stated.
The metropolitan cities painted a similar picture, with a 3.9 per cent increase in murder cases from 1,955 in 2021 to 2,031 in 2022.
The crime rate also saw a rise from 1.7 in 2021 to 1.8 in 2022. The 19 Metropolitan Cities are Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Pune and Surat.
Kidnappings rise by 5.8%
According to NCRB data, overall kidnapping and abduction cases across the country saw a 5.8 per cent increase, totaling 1,07,588 cases in 2022. Disturbingly, 76,069 victims were children, emphasising the vulnerability of the younger population.
Out of the total victims, 1,17,083 were recovered, with 974 found dead.
Crimes affecting the human body constituted 32.5 per cent of total IPC crimes in 2022.
‘Hurt’ cases accounted for the majority at 54.2 per cent, followed by cases of ‘Causing death by negligence’ (13.7 per cent) and ‘Kidnapping & Abduction’ (9.3 per cent).
The reported cases increased by 5.3 per cent from 11,00,425 in 2021 to 11,58,815 in 2022, with the crime rate rising from 80.5 to 84.0.
“Offences against public peace witnessed a decline of 10.0 per cent in 2022, with rioting constituting 66.2 per cent of the total cases (37,816 cases),” the data stated.
Crime against children, elderly on rise
A disturbing rise was observed in crimes against children, with 1,62,449 cases reported, marking an 8.7 per cent increase from 2021.
“Kidnapping and abduction accounted for 45.7 per cent of these cases, while the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012, contributed 39.7 per cent. The crime rate per lakh children population increased from 33.6 in 2021 to 36.6 in 2022,” stated the report.
Juvenile crimes saw a 2.0 per cent decline, with 30,555 cases reported in 2022. The majority of juveniles (78.6 per cent) in conflict with the law fell in the age group of 16 to 18 years.
“Crimes against senior citizens rose by 9.3 per cent, totaling 28,545 cases. ‘Simple Hurt’ accounted for the highest number of cases (27.3 per cent), followed by ‘Theft’ (13.8 per cent) and ‘Forgery, Cheating and Fraud’ (11.2 per cent),” the report stated.
Crime against SC/ST rose by 14%
The report further stated that crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs) increased by 13.1 per cent, reaching 57,582 cases in 2022.
‘Simple Hurt’ accounted for the highest number of cases (32.0 per cent), followed by ‘Criminal Intimidation’ (9.2 per cent) and cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (8.2 per cent).
Similarly, crimes against Scheduled Tribes (STs) rose by 14.3 per cent, with ‘Simple Hurt’ constituting the majority (28.1 per cent). Rape and assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty followed at 13.4 per cent and 10.2 per cent, respectively.
Financial crime
“Economic offences surged by 11.1 per cent, with forgery, cheating, and fraud accounting for the majority at 1,70,901 cases. The Arms Act reported an increase from 74,482 cases in 2021 to 80,118 cases in 2022, resulting in the seizure of 1,04,390 arms,” the report stated.
However, as per reports, explosives-related crimes saw a decrease, with 88,987 kgs seized in 2022, primarily from extremists, insurgents, terrorists (510 kgs), and other criminals, including smugglers (88,477 kgs).
A total of 2,79,986 explosive devices were recovered, marking a significant reduction from 8,78,293 devices in 2021. –IANS
Source: muslimmirror.com
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/2022-sees-24-rise-in-crime-against-women-minors-sc-st-ncrb-report/
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The killing of women and children in Gaza will end Israel’s rule: Iran’s Raisi
05 December, 2023
This handout picture provided by the
Iranian Presidency on November 11, 2023, shows Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi
speaking prior to boarding an aircraft departing from Tehran's Mehrabad
International Airport to Saudi Arabia to attend a summit. (Reuters)
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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in Tehran on Tuesday that he believed the killing of women and children in Gaza will “end” Israel’s “rule.”
He made the comments while addressing lawmakers in parliament before submitting his government’s annual budget bill for ratification.
“We will witness, God willing, the victory of Palestinians and the destruction of Israel and its fake government,” said Raisi.
Earlier in the day, Israel intensified its bombardment in and around Gaza’s second largest city, as ambulances and private cars came racing into a local hospital carrying people wounded in a bloody new phase of the war in Gaza.
Under US pressure to prevent further mass casualties, Israel says it is being more precise as it widens its offensive into southern Gaza after obliterating much of the north.
Aerial bombardment and the ground offensive have already driven three quarters of the territory’s 2.3 million people from their homes.
Israel says it must dismantle Hamas’ extensive military infrastructure and remove it from power in order to prevent a repeat of the October 7 attack that ignited the war.
The surprise assault through the border fence saw Hamas and other Palestinian militants kill about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capture some 240 men, women and children.
The fighting has brought unprecedented death and destruction to the coastal strip.
The Health Ministry in Gaza said the death toll in the territory since October 7 has surpassed 15,890 people – 70 percent of them women and children — with more than 42,000 wounded.
The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths.
It says hundreds have been killed or wounded since the cease-fire’s end, and many still are trapped under rubble.
Source: alarabiya.net
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/12/05/The-killing-of-women-and-children-in-Gaza-will-end-Israel-s-rule-Iran-s-Raisi-
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US says Hamas did not want women hostages to reveal treatment
05th December 2023
Relatives of an Israel hostage held by
Hamas. (Photo| AP)
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WASHINGTON: A US official said Monday that Hamas militants likely held back on freeing female hostages, ending a pause in Israel's offensive, because they did not want the women to speak publicly about sexual violence.
Israel had paused its offensive in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, as part of a US- and Qatari-brokered truce deal to free around 240 hostages seized during the October 7 attacks, which Israeli authorities say killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians.
Under the truce, scores of Israeli and other hostages were freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Fighting resumed on Friday after the truce broke down, with at least 137 hostages still held in Gaza, according to the Israeli military.
"It seems one of the reasons they don't want to turn women over that they've been holding hostage and the reason this pause fell apart is they don't want those women to be able to talk about what happened to them during their time in custody," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
Miller, citing sensitivities in discussing the treatment of captives, declined to give details on the treatment of the women.
But he said that the United States had "no reason to doubt" reports of sexual violence by Hamas.
"There is very little that I would put beyond Hamas when it comes to its treatment of civilians and particularly its treatment of women," Miller said.
Israeli police have also been exploring evidence of sexual violence during the October 7 attack.
A senior police officer recently told Israel's parliament that an inquiry has gathered more than 1,500 testimonies. Allegations include gang rape and post-mortem mutilation.
Miller said that Israel has briefed the United States "extensively" on its findings into the October 7 attack, although US officials were not on the ground making independent assessments.
"But we have seen Hamas commit atrocities both on October 7 and since October 7, and we obviously condemn those atrocities and support Israel's actions to hold Hamas accountable for them," Miller said.
Campaigners in Israel have derided what they see as a muted international response to gender-based violence during the attack.
Hamas in a statement Monday rejected accusations of rape and sexual violence as "unfounded lies."
Israeli attacks since October 7 have killed nearly 15,900 people in Gaza, about 70 percent of them women and children, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Source: newindianexpress.com
https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2023/dec/05/us-says-hamas-did-not-want-women-hostages-to-reveal-treatment-2638820.html
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Disabled Muslim woman and her children abused by man in West London
Dec 4, 2023
TellMAMA
A disabled Muslim mother described how a man abused her and her children en route to a medical appointment in West London.
Speaking to Tell MAMA, she described how she felt targeted due to her niqab and the added vulnerability she experienced as he blocked the path of her wheelchair before abusing them, and agreed for us to tell their story anonymously.
He stopped in the street, blocking their path, before flailing his arms and disparagingly shouting: “Allah, Allah, Allah!” at her and her children, who also wore Islamic clothing.
After the perpetrator left, she contacted the police, and soon Tell MAMA got in contact with her to offer support.
The anti-Muslim abuse occurred in early November and she described the perpetrator as a white male of an unspeficied age.
She told our Casework Team that this was the first example of anti-Muslim abuse she had reported, recognising its importance after someone told her ‘this is a hate crime, you need to report it’, believing previously that you had to ‘live with such abuse and accept it’.
Her children, she added will gain resilience from the experience, as she wants them to continue being proud of their Muslim identities.
“Everyone should be treated with respect, no matter what your identity is, and it’s no one else’s business,” she said.
Tell MAMA also sent them a self-assestment form for our free counselling service which sits within our existing support structures.
Over the years, we documented various examples of the disproportionate abuse, threats, violence and discrimination Muslim women who wear the face veil experience.
The Met Police investigation remains ongoing.
Source: tellmamauk.org
https://tellmamauk.org/disabled-muslim-woman-and-her-children-abused-by-man-in-west-london/
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Women complain of unfulfilled promises to tackle gender disparity
December 04, 2023
DUBAI: As Gender Day was observed on Dec. 4 at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, female participants advocated for increased awareness regarding climate change’s acute impact on women, especially in the developing world.
Despite the extensive ongoing discussions surrounding the topic, numerous female participants expressed dissatisfaction, asserting that akin to various other facets of climate change, the gender gap has largely remained mere discourse. They highlighted that changes are unlikely to occur, even as the repercussions of climate change, particularly affecting women, continue to heighten.
Vinita Apte, founder of TERRE Policy Centre, a Pune-based NGO working with women living in rural areas, outlined the challenges climate change presents for women, particularly in India.
Apte spoke with Arab News on the sidelines of the forum, saying: “In terms of climate change, women are facing a lot of problems, especially with water scarcity, which is a major issue in their life because they have to walk for long (distances) just to get even a pot of clean water. Besides water, they have a lot of problems typical of climate change in terms of heavy rains or hot summers.”
She added that in the absence of training or outside aid, women, many of whom are illiterate, remain unaware of how to adapt to the current climate crisis.
“They don’t know what needs to be done, like changing farming patterns or how to conserve rainwater and also how to prepare for heat waves,” Apte said.
NalibaMamman, from Nigeria, added that women, especially in rural areas, face several problems due to a lack of resources.
“For cooking, they need to arrange for fuel, which is mainly by cutting down trees in their villages. They need energy to run homes. They are also impacted in terms of farming, getting their produce to the local markets or getting their kids to school,” Mamman said.
The pain of women in developing countries is also being felt in other parts of the world where there is less gender disparity in terms of climate change.
“While in the UK, we may not feel any difference gender-wise, but it is recognized just around the world. And there are a lot of places, especially developing countries, where there is a massive difference between how climate change affects men and women. And so I think there are issues with the different kind of traditional roles that some women have in the community, like collection of kind of resources, water, food, that kind of thing, which can be more difficult in droughts and floods, that kind of situation. Also, the child care and family caring responsibilities fall mainly on the women, which again is, you know, in times of drought, climate crisis, food shortages, water shortages, illness, climate catastrophes, you know, that that’s an added pressure on kind of women as well,” said Rachel Mulholland, a British woman currently working in Saudi Arabia.
In certain nations, government entities, more so than multilateral bodies, have taken note of the issues surrounding women and have initiated action.
Habon Aden Awaleh of Djibouti highlighted that its government has already created a plan to help women adapt to the issues raised by climate change.
However, Awaleh revealed that for women from urban and rural backgrounds, there are implements in place to help lessen the impact of climate change. For the nomadic population, however, which is widespread throughout Djibouti, like many other African nations, the challenge is much greater as these populations are in transit, and therefore, delivering assistance becomes more difficult.
Celina Ewbuomwan of Nigeria highlighted that, like in various facets of the climate change debate, including the gender gap, the era of mere discussions has ended. She asserts it is now imperative to transition from talk to tangible action.
“This year, the whole thing is beyond ambition. We’re talking about action. So we hope that at the end of this, every country will take something back home and be able to implement that next year when everybody’s coming back again. There’s something we have probably a milestone that we say this is what we have done and this is where we are today,” said Ewbuomwan.
“Yes, the issue is there are so many beautiful plans, the issue is implementation, which is the challenge. We must have a timeline to achieve our goals. This year, the theme is ‘Unite. Act. Deliver.’ So, I would like to see some delivery on this issue,” said Mamman.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2420111/business-economy
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Shehla Rashid wrong to say Muslims have it better in India. Violence is systemic & sinister
ARSHIE QURESHI
05 December, 2023
Totalising ‘critical, realistic’ assertions tend to conceal the nuances of a complicated issue. No amount of linguistic sophistication can disguise Muslim victim-blaming as a concern for their welfare. It’s rather simple—any piece of writing that starts with “Muslims must” needs to be taken with a spoonful of salt.
In a recent opinion article in ThePrint, Shehla Rashid takes a reductionist stand by stating that Indian Muslims must take cautionary notes from Gazans. Primarily, the article suggests that Muslims in India must be grateful for the ‘equal’ opportunities offered by the Narendra Modi government. Listing a few schemes without providing any data to substantiate ‘equality for Muslims’ does nothing except seemingly validate the assumption that the vocally pro-Hindu government cares for Muslims and minorities as well. A validation that this government doesn’t even care about.
What the author overlooks is that a country where leadership is determined by the aggressiveness of hate toward Muslims clearly couldn’t care less about ‘equality of opportunity’. What must never be forgotten is that in 2002, Modi, then chief minister of Gujarat, silently watched while Muslims were slaughtered in the communal riots. Reminding Rashid of this now might seem redundant after two decades, but it is important to prevent any attempts to saffronwash history.
Even today, India is no paradise for Muslims. If Rashid wants to boast about reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) benefiting Muslims, then she only needs to look at Home Minister Amit Shah promising to remove the 4 per cent reservation for the minority community if the BJP came to power in Telangana. Not to forget that over the past few years, hate crimes against Muslims have only gone up — mob lynchings, discrimination, and violence against the community have become the norm.
Muslims’ realities aren’t subtle
Under the guise of proposing critical and realistic perspectives, Rashid cautions Indian Muslims that merely claiming political rights is not enough. An assistant professor in sociology, she surprisingly overlooks the systemic and sinister nature of violence against the community. Any critical analysis of violence is incomplete without questioning the structures of power that hinder the growth and progress of a community. The author’s oversight extends to the basic understanding of how violence permeates, deepens, and multiplies not only through direct and implicit forms of violence but also seemingly minor incidents.
What Muslims have witnessed, experienced, and tolerated in contemporary India is by no means subtle. This is a country where a person can face brutal consequences merely over suspicions—of carrying beef, for example.
Progress doesn’t happen in silos. When Rashid paints Muslims as monoliths who are choosing to lag in India’s leap to progress, she conveniently ignores the reality. Her argument would have been relevant in an India where Muslim children in classrooms were not subjected to beatings and humiliation by their peers, and that too on the command and guidance of teachers; where Muslims weren’t unfairly accused of being super-spreaders of viruses; where their businesses were not targeted and disrupted solely because of their identity; and where they weren’t being randomly identified by their beard and skull cap and then publicly shot dead.
What good is a six-digit salary for a Muslim when they are denied simple life choices such as having halal meat or renting homes in preferred neighbourhoods? And what good is ‘civilisational secularism’ when it not only frowns at but actively restricts Muslims from offering prayers in public spaces while simultaneously allowing puja and havans in Parliament?
Victimhood is only natural
While Western secularism relies on a separation of the Church and State, Indian secularism relies on the invisibilisation of minorities and the gradual annihilation of their identity. A romantic view of the Indian civilisation having evolved into a ‘secular’ entity wouldn’t appeal to a generation that witnessed brutal violence against Muslims in the national capital, with young men lynched to death for refusing to chant certain slogans that have nothing to do with ‘secular’ nature of the country. Rashid’s article reinforces that Indian Muslims need to continuously introspect and work on themselves even as the state’s unrestrained assault on rights, livelihood, and identity continues.
Perpetual victimhood is not a liveable condition. But when a community is routinely subjected to violence, victimhood subjectivity as an individual’s social and political reality comes naturally. Urging members of such a community to shed such a sentiment, while the conditions that give rise to it persist, is superficial and inauthentic. And that’s a cover-up that the BJP has mastered over the years. Hindutva Watch documented at least 255 instances of hate speeches against Muslims in just the first six months of 2023, of which 33 per cent openly called for violence against Muslims and 4 per cent were sexist and hateful speeches targeting Muslim women. Clearly, instances of hate toward the community are not episodic; instead, they appear to be systemic, deep-rooted, and significant in scale.
Rashid’s analysis of the West and its value systems goes further in proposing that the apparent shortcomings in Western democracy necessitate an acceptance of the Indian vision of a democratic and secular setup. But are the two setups really comparable? If at all a quantifiable comparison is to be made, it could be a global ranking of countries on the basis of violence toward minorities. An example is the Early Warning Project that ranks India 8th out of 162 countries (just after Afghanistan) for being at high risk of mass killings. Another is the Rule of Law index, on which India ranks 111th on the freedom of religion scale and 116th on the absence of discrimination. From 2015 to 2023, India’s score on fundamental rights indicators has been falling.
To overlook these measures and believe in mere rhetoric is not only ignorant but also malicious. There’s a pattern to public debate every time the rights of minorities are infringed upon. The media and government opinion-makers rely on two arguments while responding to scrutiny by international actors: Either they point out the flaws in the surveys or contend that since the international community has failed to uphold democracy at home, they should refrain from commenting on India’s treatment of its minorities. Such a position suggests that countries can engage in brutalising their own people without being held mutually accountable.
If there’s anything that one should learn from the war on Gaza and the international community’s response, it is the importance of aligning oneself with the right side of history, regardless of the timeframe or the perceived strength of those violating humanitarian laws.
The author is a research scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia. She tweets @ArshieQureshi. Views are personal.
(Edited by HumraLaeeq)
Source: theprint.in
https://theprint.in/opinion/shehla-rashid-wrong-to-say-muslims-have-it-better-in-india-violence-is-systemic-sinister/1872349/
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Female Artists Promote Nuristani Engraving in Herat
04 December, 2023
A group of artist girls in Herat are attempting to develop Nuristani engraving in this province.
Nuristani engraving originally comes from Nuristan province, which has been popular in Herat for three years.
A number of these artist girls, after being deprived of school and university, have turned to the art of engraving.
“Nuristani engraving is made by its formulas; Even its measurement has a formula and it has a certain style in general,” said Suraya Sadat, an artist.
These artists create various works of art by engraving on wood. This art, with its special elegance, requires a lot of patience.
“A lot of precision is needed for this work, which is why women and girls can do this work more easily than men. Because women are very good at this,” said Malika Sadat, an artist.
The girls who have turned to Nuristani engraving after being deprived of education, are trying to replace the feeling of being in school and university classes by participating in this workshop to some extent.
“I was a student and since the day the schools were closed, because I was very interested in engraving, that's why I started the art of engraving,” said MadinaDarwishi, an artist.
According to cultural experts, this art has a history of thousands of years and has spread from Nuristan to other parts of the country.
These artists are trying to revive Nuristani engraving like other ancient arts in Herat.
Source: tolonews.com
https://tolonews.com/arts-culture-186346
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Western students demand better security after Muslim women allegedly spat on
Dec. 5, 2023
Sean Irvine
A person has been charged after multiple Muslim students at Western University allegedly were spat on.
In a statement, a Western spokesperson confirmed an individual faces two counts of assault and has been banned from campus, but the statement did not reveal if they were a student.
On campus Monday, female Muslim students shared they were aware of the incidents.
One woman, Dalal, said it comes as an added worry during a difficult time.
“At this time, we need more support rather than attacks,” she shared.
The president of the campus Muslim Student Association (MSA) said one of the alleged attacks occurred while a female student was passing near Middlesex College.
Yet, Abdirahman Salat said the incident is just one of many in recent weeks that has Muslim students feeling unsafe.
“You have Muslim sisters and brothers who are continuously looking over their shoulders. They have to have a buddy with them, just to make sure they’re not being assaulted or get a comment that is harassing,” Salat explained.
The university acknowledged that “some incidents of Islamophobia and antisemitic acts” have been reported to campus constables.
While Salat appreciates the effort, he is calling on the university to do more to improve safety.
He said Muslim students are overstressed following the removal of their Chaplin earlier this fall(opens in a new tab), the verdict in the trial of the murder of a London Muslim family(opens in a new tab), and — most especially, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war(opens in a new tab).
Salat said the university must work to improve campus attitudes for all those experiencing pain from the conflict to ease tensions.
“The university needs to make sure Muslims are not facing Islamophobia. That our Jewish brothers and sisters are not facing antisemitism. There is no anti-Palestinian hate. This has no place on our campus whatsoever,” he said.
But Salat acknowledged prevention will be a challenge.
He said he is looking to Western to lead the effort to improve campus safety.
CTV News London requested an on-camera interview with Western to discuss the alleged spitting attacks and student concerns. However, a public relations spokesperson stated there was no “availability” by any senior leader on Monday.
Meanwhile, Muslim student Hisham Ellaw said the spitting incidents and campus security are worries he could do without as he fears for family members in Gaza.
“It does feel hard on the heart to hear of such incidents. And, again, safety is not guaranteed here on campus,” he said.
Source: ctvnews.ca
https://london.ctvnews.ca/western-students-demand-better-security-after-muslim-women-allegedly-spat-on-1.6672560
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Regional Iranian Officials Order Strict Dress Code For Female Public Workers
December 04, 2023
Iranian media say the governorate of the central city of Qom has issued a directive mandating female employees in government offices adhere to strict Islamic dress codes, specifically wearing a black chador, a large piece of cloth that is wrapped around the head and upper body leaving only the face exposed, and refraining from using makeup.
The directive, initially disclosed by the Iran Watch rights group's website, marks a further tightening of the Islamic republic's stance on how women can dress in the workplace.
The deputy governor of Qom, AbolghasemMoghimiAraghi, emphasized in the directive the need for female employees to comply with the "laws of modesty and hijab." The requirement underscores the regime's renewed emphasis on conservative dress standards, particularly in Qom, a city known for its religious significance and as a hub for Shi'ite religious education.
The directive's publication coincides with a period of heightened sensitivity and opposition to Iran's mandatory hijab laws.
Nationwide protests under the banner of "Women, life, freedom" have called for the abolition of compulsory dress codes, with Iranian women risking much in their quest for freedom and equality by standing at the forefront of the demonstrations.
This latest regulation in Qom, compelling the wearing of a chador in public offices, is unprecedented in its scope and signals an intensification of the government's approach toward enforcing strict Islamic dress codes.
The hijab, or Islamic head scarf, became compulsory for women and girls over the age of 9 in 1981, two years after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The move triggered protests that were swiftly crushed by the new authorities. Many women have flouted the rule over the years and pushed the boundaries of what officials say is acceptable clothing.
Women also have launched campaigns against the discriminatory law, although many have been pressured by the state and forced to leave the country for safety reasons.
Tensions have run high in Iran over the hijab law since 22-year-old MahsaAmini's death in police custody in September 2022.
Amini's death, which came just days after her detention in Tehran by the morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly, led to nationwide protests and hundreds of demonstrators' deaths across the country.
Despite lasting public anger, parliament around the anniversary of Amini's death approved an updated version of the law that included harsher penalties for violations, including prison sentences of up to 10 years.
In late October, outrage boiled over again after another young woman died following an alleged encounter with "morality" enforcers earlier that month in a Tehran subway car.
ArmitaGaravand, 17, died after falling into a coma after the alleged confrontation on October 1. Some reports have suggested she was assaulted by the morality police, while others have said hijab guards were responsible.
Source: rferl.org
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-qom-women-chador/32713444.html
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Alarm Raised Over Health of Political Prisoner on Hunger Strike
DECEMBER 5, 2023
Two political prisoners incarcerated in Tehran’s Evin prison have warned about the deteriorating health of fellow inmate ZohrehSarv, who has been on a hunger strike for more than 10 days.
The plight of Sarv, detailed by SepidehQolyian and Mahboobeh Rezaei in a letter obtained by IranWire, outlines a pattern of disregard for prisoners’ rights within the country’s judicial system.
Sarv is serving a six-year prison term on charges of "gathering, colluding and propaganda against the system" stemming from her activities on social media.
She launched her hunger strike on November 23 to protest against the harsh treatment and injustices she has faced since her arrest in October 2021.
Over the past decades, many political prisoners in Iran have suffered from serious medical complications caused by hunger strikes, and some have lost their lives.
In their letter, Qolyian and Rezaei described Sarv as a victim of the "unadulterated corruption of the judiciary."
"Under the unbridled influence of the [Islamic] Revolutionary Guard [Corps] within the judicial system, Sarv's lawyer and herself were denied access to the case file throughout the investigation and trial phases," they wrote.
In the absence of any evidence, the court sentenced Sarv “on the orders of the interrogator," they said, adding that her conditional release has been repeatedly denied despite having served one-third of her sentence.
"The interrogator informed Zohreh that her release hinged upon agreeing to work for the IRGC in Iraq," the letter reads.
For 27 months, Sarv has not been able to meet her 75-year-old mother, who is unable to leave the house due to her old age and a hip fracture. The old woman has been attended by a nurse during her daughter’s imprisonment.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/prisoners/123196-alarm-raised-over-health-of-political-prisoner-on-hunger-strike/
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Ex-Woman Wrestler in Iran Fined Over Photo Without Hijab
DECEMBER 4, 2023
Iranian authorities have fined a former woman wrestler for posting a picture of her without a mandatory headscarf on social media.
MassoumehSuleimani recently revealed on her Instagram page that she has been fined 50 million tomans ($1,000) for what the Khorramabad Prosecutor's Office deemed as "acts of violence in cyberspace."
The picture in question showed Suleimani without a head covering at the gravesite of a victim of the brutal state crackdown on nationwide protests that erupted last year.
Suleimani, who gained recognition as a successful wrestler and international referee, was earlier forced to withdraw from the sport due to pressures from the security apparatus.
In defiance of a stern warning by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Islamic Republic continues to interfere in sports, repressing athletes and infringing the rights of sportswomen.
Suleimani was first arrested in December 2019 during widespread demonstrations sparked by a sudden surge in gasoline prices.
She was taken into custody again on May 10 of this year on charges of "incitement to commit violent acts in social media."
The human rights website Hengaw reported in August she had been sentenced to one year in prison.
The case stemmed from the publication of photos depicting Suleimani without hijab at Nika Shakrami's gravesite.
Nika, 16, was abducted and killed by security forces during last year's protests.
The teenage girl, like Suleimani, hailed from Khorramabad.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/123165-ex-woman-wrestler-in-iran-fined-over-photo-without-hijab/
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Arab-Afghan Women’s Solidarity Network established
Fidel Rahmati
December 4, 2023
The Afghanistan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) has announced the opening of the “Arab-Afghan Women’s solidarity” in collaboration with the Arab Research Center to strengthen solidarity and support the efforts of Afghan women.
In a press release, the centre announced that the “Arab women’s solidarity with Afghan women” network was established in collaboration with the “Arab Research Center” on Sunday in the capital city of Maraca.
According to the centre’s statement, the Arab Women’s Solidarity with Afghan Women program was launched with approximately 30 women activists from Afghanistan and 7 Arab countries. The Afghanistan Strategic Studies Center aims to address the situation of Afghan women and advocate for their fundamental rights in regional and international forums by establishing the “Arab Women’s Solidarity with Afghan Women” network.
The centre’s announcement comes as the human rights crisis in Afghanistan has become a serious concern among the people, especially women, prompting efforts to establish a regional network for women’s advocacy to secure their fundamental rights.
Additionally, Amnesty International has launched a 16-day campaign titled “Speak Up for Afghan Women” to advocate for human rights and address the situation of women in Afghanistan. This campaign, supported by numerous civil activists, started on November 25 and will continue until December 10.
Amnesty International encourages its audience to share messages supporting Afghan women and girls by publishing messages from human rights defenders, activists, protesters, artists, politicians, and educators.
Over the past two years, women and girls in Afghanistan have faced increasing restrictions, including the prohibition of girls’ education in schools, universities, and educational institutions, as well as limitations on employment, social activities, and travel, leading to international outcry.
Amnesty International also quoted ParwanehEbrahimkhil, one of the protesting girls, saying, “I suggest that global platforms be provided for Afghan women protesters to tell the heartbreaking stories of women.”
It’s important to note that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has consistently stated that it respects women’s rights in accordance with Islamic laws.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/arab-afghan-womens-solidarity-network-established/
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The hidden dimensions of insecurity in Afghanistan
Fidel Rahmati
December 4, 2023
The Taliban administration in Afghanistan considers one of its achievements in the past two years to be a reduction in conflicts and the establishment of overall security. While this claim is not entirely unfounded when it comes to armed confrontations, the question remains whether the security of citizens is truly guaranteed with a decrease in hostilities between opposing groups. Are people now able to continue their lives in complete safety?
Afghanistan has been a battleground for various conflicts and insecurity for at least four decades, with civilians bearing the brunt of these hardships. With the return of the Taliban group to power on August 15, 2021, the type of war that had plagued Afghanistan for four decades effectively came to an end. According to Rustam Khiadarov, a Tajik expert at the Valdai Club in Russia, the Taliban are now consolidating their power and preparing for long-term governance in Afghanistan.
This expert argues in an article titled “Challenges in Afghanistan: Is the Problem Decreasing?” that a “bad peace” has replaced a “good war” in Afghanistan. However, “bad peace” and “good war” are not clearly explained. It appears that Afghanistan, which had previously suffered from war, has now become a victim of this “bad peace” and its consequences, which cast doubt on the Taliban’s claim of providing security.
While it cannot be denied that the war in Afghanistan has come to an end, analyzed data on the level of attacks, armed conflicts, and other forms of hostilities that fall under the definition of war show a significant decrease in engagement in Afghanistan. But has social security, or the “social security” of citizens, been ensured? The answer to this question is evident in the concept of “bad peace” and its consequences currently affecting Afghanistan’s people.
“Social security” is a comprehensive sociological concept, and various definitions have been proposed. The most general definition relies on the “feeling of fear of crime in the social environment,” indicating that “social security is nothing but a state of people’s peace of mind, free from fear, threats, and anxiety, and the protection of their lives, property, honour, identity, and beliefs from any threat and harm.” With this definition of “social security,” it can be said that despite a significant reduction in armed conflicts in Afghanistan, the “social security” of the people has been severely weakened. Fear, threats, and harm threaten various aspects of their lives in Afghanistan.
In addition to “social security,” the sense of security is also considered an important indicator of social well-being in reports by the United Nations. However, the realities in Afghanistan not only fail to meet the criteria outlined for “social security” but in many cases, violate entirely them. The United Nations Human Rights Council’s report on the status of women in Afghanistan is one example that suggests that “crimes against humanity” may have occurred in Afghanistan. Experts from this council warn that the current situation in Afghanistan may lead to “sexual harassment,” which is considered a “crime against humanity” in the Rome Statute.
Human rights have also been severely undermined in Afghanistan, and reports from the human rights monitoring organization (Rawadari organization) indicate that women have been completely deprived of access to justice in the Taliban’s judicial system.
Furthermore, the human rights organization “Afghanistan Witness” has recently announced in its research that the officials of the Taliban administration have flogged more than 400 individuals on charges such as “adultery, homosexuality, and theft” since October of last year, executed at least two individuals, and stoned at least one person.
Another study by the same organization shows that violence and hostilities against women in the Taliban’s orders have not been reduced; instead, they have spread significantly in the online space and silence women.
All the evidence of human rights violations and the lack of social security in Afghanistan points to the consequences of “bad peace.” As Rustam Khiadarov, a Tajik expert at the Valdai Club in Russia, puts it, “Today, global and regional players in our geopolitical region have chosen ‘bad peace with the Taliban’ instead of ‘good war with the Taliban,’ and its consequences have plunged people’s lives in Afghanistan into crisis.”
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/the-hidden-dimensions-of-insecurity-in-afghanistan/
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