Kyrgyzstan Launches Raids to Enforce Niqab Ban in Public Places
New Age Islam News Bureau
4 April 2025
· Kyrgyzstan Launches Raids to Enforce Niqab Ban in Public Places
· 'Nothing We Can't Do': Gladiators' First Hijabi Contender Aims to Inspire
· Wycombe MP Emma Reynolds Attends Four Iftar Gatherings During Ramadan
· Iranian Author, SanamMahloudji, Shortlisted for Women’s Prize for Fiction
· Athletes Frustrated as France Mulls Muslim Headscarf Ban In Sport
· Saudi Arabia’s ‘Fundamental Transformation’ Drives Women’s Economic Empowerment
· Mentally Challenged Elderly Muslim Woman Detained for Offering Prayer Near The District Magistrate Office In UP
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/kyrgyzstan-launches-niqab-ban-public-places/d/135060
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Kyrgyzstan Launches Raids To Enforce Niqab Ban in Public Places
April 4, 2025
Source: The State committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic
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Kyrgyz police have conducted street patrols in Jalal-Abad, speaking with women about the country’s ban on wearing the Niqab, a face veil worn by some Muslim women, in public places. The State Committee for National Security released photos from the enforcement efforts.
Kyrgyzstan’s law on religious freedom and religious associations, which prohibits wearing the Niqab in public spaces, took effect in late January 2025. Violators face a fine of approximately $230. On April 2, law enforcement officials held a meeting in Jalal-Abad to enforce the ban and raise awareness among women wearing niqabs in public.
The law also bans clothing that «prevents personal identification, » attempting to convert non-religious individuals or atheists, performing religious rituals in nursing homes, prisons and military units, and distributing religious literature through door-to-door visits or in educational institutions.
In December 2024, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan expressed support for a similar Niqab ban, a topic that has been debated in society for years.
Source: kursiv.media
https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2025-04-04/engk-yeri-kyrgyzstan-launches-raids-to-enforce-niqab-ban/
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'Nothing we can't do': Gladiators' first hijabi contender aims to inspire
Apr. 4, 2025
Aneila Afsar made history as the first contender to appear on Gladiators wearing a hijab
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When AneilaAfsar first appeared on Gladiators, she made history.
The popular BBC One show which pits gladiators against contenders in a series of physical challenges was rebooted last year and Aneila has made it to Saturday's semi-finals.
She became the first person ever to compete on the show wearing a hijab and says she gains strength from wearing it.
"I love that I have the opportunity to go on this iconic show and inspire young Muslim girls, women from my community, and show them that there's nothing we can't do," the 26-year-old tells BBC Newsbeat.
Many Muslim girls and women wear the hijab, an Islamic head covering, as a symbol of modesty.
Aneila hasn't always worn one, only choosing to cover her hair three years ago, and part of that was because she didn't see other hijabis within sports.
'My superpower'
The mum-of-two from Lancashire is a former taekwondo champion, winning a Commonwealth Championship in the youth category.
Back then, she "didn't have the courage to embrace the scarf".
"Part of that was because of not having female Muslim role models in the sport or sports in general.
"It was hard adapting to wearing a headscarf while being in the fitness industry.
"Going from not covering to then covering everything which includes your hair, you can feel as if people are staring, you don't feel confident," she says.
But as she got older, Aneila found the confidence to be that role model herself and now she sees the hijab differently.
"It's empowering, it's my superpower. I love it."
The hijab can sometimes be a controversial topic in sport and at last year's Paris Olympics, French athletes were banned from wearing one even though the International Olympic Committee allowed them to.
In 2023, Moroccan footballer NouhailaBenzina made history as the first player to wear a hijab at the Women's World Cup. They had been banned until 2014 by the game's governing body Fifa.
Since first appearing on the show, Aneila says not everyone has been so positive about her hijab though.
She's posted about receiving Islamophobic and racist abuse on social media, but says overall it's been heavily outweighed by the encouraging reaction.
That's important to Aneila who says she wants to show "you can wear a hijab, be involved in fitness and still pursue your dreams".
"I'm getting messages from girls as young as 12 telling me that I'm the reason they're taking gymnastics again and that they feel that they can now be involved in sport."
And it's not just young girls who've been inspired by Aneila.
"Since being on Gladiators, I've received messages from women in their 40s who say if there was a visible Muslim woman wearing a headscarf when they were younger, their whole journey with fitness would have been different," she says.
And she hopes her journey on Gladiators will encourage her own children to feel comfortable being themselves too.
"My daughter was getting older and I wanted to be a visible Muslim role model for her," she says.
"I have used my children to be my inspiration. It's because of them I wanted to wear a headscarf."
Aneila says the reaction she's had since first appearing on Gladiators helped her realise "we can push the barriers out, break any stereotypes".
"The hijab is not a limitation."
Source: bbc.com
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c757535ygpno
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Wycombe MP Emma Reynolds Attends Four Iftar Gatherings During Ramadan
April 04, 2025
By Elizabeth Scott
Wycombe MP attends four Iftar gatherings during Ramadan (Image: Emma Reynolds MP)
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Wycombe MP Emma Reynolds attended four Iftar gatherings during Ramadan.
The community meals, shared after sunset, took place on March 14 at the Eden Centre, March 15 at the Jubilee Road Mosque, March 16 at the Hive, and March 20 at Desi Karahi.
Ms Reynolds said: "It has been a privilege to attend community Iftars all over Wycombe.
"I was honoured to join our Muslim community in breaking their fast during the blessed month of Ramadan.
"I would like to thank all the organisers for their hospitality and kindness."
Ramadan is the sacred month of fasting for Muslims, and Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset to break the fast.
The MP's participation in these events highlights her support for the local Muslim community.
Source: bucksfreepress.co.uk
https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/25038202.emma-reynolds-attends-iftar-gatherings-ramadan/
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Iranian Author, SanamMahloudji, Shortlisted for Women’s Prize for Fiction
APRIL 3, 2025
SanamMahloudji has been named a finalist for the 2025 British Women’s Prize for Fiction for her novel The Persians.
The Iranian-born author’s work portrays a family saga from the 1940s to the 2000s through the eyes of five Iranian women who were prominent figures in Iran before immigrating to America.
Mahloudji, born in Tehran and now living in London, left Iran during the 1979 revolution.
She is among four debut novelists on this year’s shortlist.
Afghan-German writer Aria Aber was also named a finalist for the prize.
Established in 1995, the British Women’s Prize for Fiction honors the best female author publishing in English in Britain.
The winner will be announced later this year.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/140036-iranian-author-shortlisted-for-womens-prize-for-fiction/
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Athletes frustrated as France mulls Muslim headscarf ban in sport
04/04/2025
The single mother made her four children proud when she became the French national champion in her amateur category last year, after discovering the sport aged 40.
But now the Muslim convert fears she will no longer be able to compete as the French government is pushing for a new law to ban the headscarf in domestic sports competitions.
"It feels like they're trying to limit our freedoms each time a little more," said Eberena, a passionate athlete who trains five days a week.
"It's frustrating because all we want is to do sport."
Under France's secular system, civil servants, teachers, pupils and athletes representing France abroad cannot wear obvious religious symbols, such as a Christian cross, a Jewish kippah, a Sikh turban or a Muslim headscarf, also known as a hijab.
Until now, individual national sports federations could decide whether to allow the hijab in domestic competitions.
But the new legislation aims to forbid the head covering in all professional and amateur competitions countrywide.
Backers say that would unify confusing regulation, boost secularism and fight extremism.
Critics argue it would be just the latest rule discriminating against visibly Muslim women.
'Symbol of submission'
The bill passed in the Senate in February and is soon to go to a vote in the lower house of the French parliament.
Some proponents want to stop what they call "Islamist encroachment" in a country that has been rocked by deadly jihadist attacks in recent years.
But critics point to a 2022 interior ministry report finding that data "failed to show a structural or even significant phenomenon of radicalisation" in sport.
French Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner, a star of the 2024 Paris Games, last month said France was "wasting its time" with such debates and should think about "equality instead of attacking a single and same religion".
Right-wing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau responded that he "radically disagreed", describing the headscarf as "a symbol of submission".
Eberena, who converted aged 19, said her head attire -- allowed by the weightlifting federation -- had never been an issue among fellow weightlifters.
She said the sport has even allowed her to make friends from completely different backgrounds.
"Sport brings us together: it forces us to get to know each other, to move beyond our prejudices," she said.
'Really sad'
France's football and basketball federations are among those that have banned religious symbols, including the headscarf.
The country's highest administrative court in 2023 upheld the rule in football, arguing the federation was allowed to impose a "neutrality requirement".
United Nations experts last year called the rules in both sports "disproportionate and discriminatory".
It is difficult to estimate how many women might be prevented from competing if such legislation passes.
But AFP spoke to several women whose lives had already been affected by similar rules.
SamiaBouljedri, a French 21-year-old of Algerian origin, said she had been playing football for her club in the village of Moutiers for four years when she decided to cover her hair at the end of high school.
She continued playing with her team, but after her club was fined several weekends in a row for allowing her on the field, they asked her to take off her hijab or quit.
"That they ended my happiness, just like that, over a scarf made me really sad," she said.
France's brand of secularism stems from a 1905 law protecting "freedom of conscience", separating church and state, and ensuring the state's neutrality.
The country's constitution states that France is a secular republic.
Rim-Sarah Alouane, a researcher at University Toulouse Capitole, said the 1905 law, intended "to protect the state against potential abuses from religion", had been "weaponised" against Muslims in recent years.
French secularism "has been transformed into a tool in its modern interpretation to control the visibility of religion within public space, especially, and mostly, targeting Muslims," she said.
'Defend secularism'
Sports Minister Marie Barsacq last month warned against "conflating" the wearing of a headscarf with radicalisation in sport.
But Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said that if the government did not "defend secularism", it would empower the far right.
In the Oise region north of Paris, Audrey Devaux, 24, said she stopped competing in basketball games after she converted to Islam a few years ago.
Instead, she continued training with her former teammates and began coaching one of the club's adult teams, she said.
But when she goes to weekend games, she is not allowed onto the courtside bench with a headscarf -- so she is forced to yell out instructions from the bleachers.
"At school I learnt that secularism was living together, accepting everyone and letting everybody practice their religion," Devaux said.
"It seems to me they're slightly changing the definition."
Source: france24.com
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250404-athletes-frustrated-as-france-mulls-muslim-headscarf-ban-in-sport
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Saudi Arabia’s ‘fundamental transformation’ drives women’s economic empowerment
04 April ,2025
Saudi Arabia is experiencing an unprecedented rise in female workforce participation, incentivized by groundbreakinglabor reforms, training programs, and targeted policies meant to reshape the economic landscape for women.
The Kingdom has witnessed one of the most significant increases in women’s participation in the paid labor force within the region, Dr. Hanadi al-Hokair, the Female Enablement General Director at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, told Al Arabiya English in an interview.
The interview comes after Al-Hokair highlighted the Kingdom’s success in boosting female workforce participation at a keynote address at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), a major UN forum on gender equality held in New York last month.
During her speech she spoke on Saudi Arabia’s historic progress under Vision 2030, highlighting the Kingdom’s success in boosting female workforce participation, advancing labor reforms, and aligning with global commitments like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The shift isn’t just about numbers - it reflects a fundamental transformation in how women contribute to the Kingdom’s economy,” she said in her interview with Al Arabiya English.
Key drivers of change
According to al-Hokair, women’s empowerment is a central pillar of Saudi Vision 2030 – the Kingdom’s strategic plan to diversify the economy and build a more inclusive society.
Recognizing that a thriving economy requires full participation from all its citizens, the Saudi government launched key initiatives and reforms to increase women's workforce participation, entrepreneurship, and leadership opportunities.
In 2017, Saudi women’s workforce participation stood at 17 percent.
Under Vision 2030, the government set a target to raise this to 30 percent by 2030 – a goal that was surpassed early, with participation reaching 36.2 percent in 2024.
The latest Labor Market Bulletin from the General Authority of Statistics also reports that female unemployment has dropped to a historic low of 11.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024.
“A combination of training, infrastructure support, and labor market reforms, including a range of new policies, has driven this rapid progress,” she said.
Targeted initiatives and structural reforms have been key drivers behind Saudi Arabia’s rapid transformation, according to al-Hokair.
“One such initiative, Parallel Training has helped more than 122,000 women gain employment and has provided over 800 training programs, working closely with over 46,000 private sector companies,” she said.
At the same time, legal reforms guaranteeing equal pay for equal work and workplace protections have made the job market more inclusive.
Equal pay regulations help close wage gaps, while equal retirement benefits ensure financial stability, al-Hokair told Al Arabiya English, adding that the extension of maternity leave to 12 weeks with full pay makes it easier for women to balance work with other commitments.
“These changes not only benefit women, but also improve overall job satisfaction and employee retention, making workplaces more supportive and inclusive,” al-Hokair said.
Long-term career prospects
Policies promoting equal opportunities and anti-discrimination laws ensure women retain long-term career prospects, the Female Enablement General Director said.
“These measures create an environment where women not only enter the workforce, but also grow into leadership positions,” al-Hokair said, adding that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development is enabling women to not only enter the workforce, but also rise to leadership positions.
Women are thriving across industries and stepping into leadership roles, with 43.08 percent now in mid and senior-level management, she said.
Saudi Arabia has launched several leadership programs to train thousands of Saudi women for executive roles, equipping them with the necessary skills to excel, according to al-Hokair.
The private sector has played a crucial role in hiring and retaining female talent, complementing government efforts to expand opportunities for women, according to al-Hokair.
Regulatory reforms have also strengthened equal opportunity policies, ensuring women have fair access to career advancement.
“These combined efforts have significantly increased female representation in leadership and decision-making roles,” al-Hokair said.
Remaining challenges
Around the world, women face challenges balancing family life with the pressures of the workplace, which can impact retention and career progression, al-Hokair explained.
“The government is addressing this by promoting female role models and success stories. Work-life balance remains a challenge, but initiatives like extended maternity leave and childcare support are helping women stay in the workforce,” she said.
While female representation in high-growth areas such as STEM and executive roles is increasing, they are working to design initiatives to encourage women to venture into these industries, al-Hokair said.
Moreover, promoting flexible and remote working as well as freelance opportunities can enable women who are unable to work full-time to be part of the workforce while maintaining a strong work-family balance, she noted.
“By tackling these issues, Saudi Arabia is ensuring sustained progress in women’s workforce participation and leadership,” al-Hokair said.
As Saudi Arabia continues to implement Vision 2030, these policies and initiatives are not only transforming the workforce, but also positioning the Kingdom as a leader in women’s economic empowerment in the region, according to her.
Source: alarabiya.net
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/saudi-arabia/2025/04/04/-saudi-arabia-s-fundamental-transformation-drives-women-s-economic-empowerment
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Mentally Challenged Elderly Muslim Woman Detained for Offering Prayer Near The District Magistrate Office In UP
April 3, 2025
An elderly Muslim woman was booked and briefly detained for offering Namaz near the District Magistrate office in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district on Monday.
71-year old Munni was seen offering prayer in a video that went viral. Soon after, the police acted swiftly and arrested her. However, she was later released after the police found that she was mentally unstable.
Munni’s relatives confirmed that she has been undergoing treatment for the past four years. She comes from Sufiganj area in the city.
An official stated in a press statement, “On March 31, news of a woman offering Namaz near the District Magistrate’s office was published on social media. We took the news seriously and on the instruction of the District Magistrate the sub magistrate registered a case against the woman and further legal action is being taken.”
The official also confirmed that the home guards that were on duty at the DM’s office were suspended for daily election. Questioning the woman revealed to us that she was mentally unstable. we have been ordered to suspend on-duty home guards for negligence of duty.”
The video shows Munni offering prayer quietly.
Hamirpur Superintendent of police Diksha Sharma stated that the woman was charged with trespassing and it was later found that she was mentally unstable and health was released.
Police’s action came under fire for registering an FIR against the woman. Several users took to their X to express their disappointment and criticism. journalist Vijetha Singh posted you got to have a petty mind set to file an FIR for this UP Police. Do you have anything better to do? All pending cases have been solved?”
Asif Khan who is an activist said, “The same UP Police that showers rose petals on kawariyas is registering an FIR against a Muslim women for praying Namaz. While others noted that prayer that lasts less than 10-minute doesn’t do any damage nor does it create any disturbance to the passersby.
Source: muslimmirror.com
https://muslimmirror.com/mentally-challenged-muslim-woman-detained-for-offering-prayer-in-up/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/kyrgyzstan-launches-niqab-ban-public-places/d/135060