'Married' Without Papers, Dumped Without Scruples: Marriage Bureaus In Hyderabad Arranging Illegal Marriages
New Age Islam News Bureau
16 June 2025
· 'Married' Without Papers, Dumped Without Scruples: Marriage Bureaus In Hyderabad Arranging Illegal Marriages
· Songs of Sawdust and Strength Among Hunza Women in Pakistan’s Karakoram Mountains
· South Sudan: Women Learn to Rebuild Lives After Sexual Violence
· Taliban Def Ministry Spokesperson Khwarizmi to Female Journalists: “I’m Modern, Marry Me!”
· International Day of Women in Mining: Vedanta celebrates India's largest team of Women in Mining
· Women's Organization inHajjah Holds Events Commemorating Al-Wilayah Day & Solidarity Stands with Gaza
· Syrian Homeland Party Members: Women Protected Revolution's Gains with Their Struggle
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/married-arranging-illegal-bureaus-hyderabad/d/135885
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'Married' Without Papers, Dumped Without Scruples: Marriage Bureaus In Hyderabad Arranging Illegal Marriages
Jun 16, 2025
Khutbah shaadi: 'Married' without papers, dumped without scruples
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HYDERABAD: She was 28 when Imran* came home asking for her hand in marriage. And more than Rabia*, it was her daily wager parents who rejoiced in that moment. Their daughter was the eldest of five siblings, way past the "ideal" marriage age and often discreetly ridiculed among relatives for her "ordinary" physical attributes.
So, when the small-time trader from Hyderabad's Hussaini Alam demanded an "off-the-record" wedding, nobody objected. Imran assured a Mehr (gift given by husband to the wife at the time of a Muslim wedding) of Rs 50,000, gathered two witnesses and it was done. There was neither a Qazi nor a nikahnama (a formal marriage contract as per Islamic tradition).
Three months later, Rabia was unceremoniously abandoned. She is back at her parents' modest home - hiding from the man she thought would take care of her for life. And though beaten and bruised, she has no locus standi to drag Imran to the cops or court. "Without a nikahnama, there is no official proof of marriage. How can I take any action against him? My parents are too poor. They married me off, knowing this was illegal, only because they thought they'd have one less mouth to feed. Now, if he doesn't give me any money for sustenance what will I or my family do?" a distraught Rabia said.
This ugly face of contract marriages without documents - a menace alive and thriving in the battered alleys of Hyderabad's Old City for years now - has pushed scores of poor Muslim women into a state of absolute helplessness. Locally referred to as 'Khutbah kishaadi' (Khutbah is one of the religious sermons recited during an official nikah), these illegal weddings have become frequent in recent times, say social activists.
The storyline in most cases is much the same: the woman is past her "prime", taken in by the husband for a few months and then abruptly dumped - often for another woman. But none of the victims has legal documents to prove their nikah.
Social workers explain how this "trend" of dummy marriages started picking up after the decriminalisation of adultery in 2018. "This, coupled with the ban on triple talaq that came in 2017, led to several men, unwilling to get tangled in legalities, abandoning their women without a formal divorce," said JameelaNishat, founder of Shaheen Women's Resource and Welfare Association.
Samiya* found her husband had more than one Khutbah kishaadis. "He was with me for eight months. Then suddenly, one day, he dropped me off at my mother's house and asked me not to come back again. After days of cajoling him to return, he said he has a girlfriend and wants to be with her," said Samiya. The 30-something is now pleading with the man to either reunite or offer her monetary help to stay afloat.
TOI's investigation revealed that there are marriage bureaus operating in Hyderabad, clandestinely arranging such illegal marriages - for a fat commission. "Yes, we will get it done...It will be for three months... There'll be no nikahnama or Qazi... We will take all precautions to ensure there is no problem (read: police scrutiny)," said the woman from the other side of the telephone when TOI called one such bureau in Langar Houz, posing as a prospective client.
* All names have been changed to protect identities
Source: indiatimes.com
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/khutbah-shaadi-married-without-papers-dumped-without-scruples/articleshow/121871723.cms
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Songs of sawdust and strength among Hunza women in Pakistan’s Karakoram Mountains
16 Jun 2025
A woman carpenter works at a carpentry workshop in Karimabad, in the Hunza district of Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region May 20, 2025. — AFP pic
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KARIMABAD, June 16 — In a sawdust-filled workshop nestled in the Karakoram Mountains, a team of women carpenters chisel away at cabinets — and forge an unlikely career for themselves in Pakistan.
Women make up just a fraction of Pakistan’s formal workforce. But in a collection of villages sprinkled along the old Silk Road between China and Afghanistan, a group of women-led businesses is defying expectations.
We have 22 employees and have trained around 100 women,” said Bibi Amina, who launched her carpentry workshop in 2008 at the age of 30.
Hunza Valley’s population of around 50,000, spread across mountains abounding with apricot, cherry, walnut and mulberry orchards, follow the Ismaili branch of Shiite Islam.
Ismailis are led by the Aga Khan, a hereditary position held by a family with Pakistani roots now living in Europe.
The family opened a girls’ school in Hunza in 1946, kickstarting an educational investment that pushed the valley’s literacy rate to 97 per cent for both men and women. That rate far outstrips the country average of around 68 per cent for men and 52.8 per cent for women.
As a result, attitudes have shifted, and women like Amina are taking expanded roles.
“People thought women were there to wash dishes and do laundry,” Amina said of the generation before her.
Trained by the Aga Khan Foundation to help renovate the ancient Altit Fort, Amina later used her skills to start her own business. Her carpenters are currently at work on a commission from a luxury hotel.
Pioneers
Only 23 per cent of the women in Pakistan were officially part of the labour force as of 2024, according to data from the World Bank.
In rural areas, women rarely take on formal employment but often toil in the fields to support the family’s farming income.
In a Gallup poll published last year, a third of women respondents said their father or husband forbade them from taking a job, while 43.5 per cent said they had given up work to devote themselves to domestic tasks.
Cafe owner Lal Shehzadi spearheaded women’s restaurant entrepreneurship in Hunza.
She opened her cafe at the top of a winding high street to supplement her husband’s small army pension.
Sixteen years later, her simple set-up overlooking the valley has become a popular night-time tourist attraction. She serves visitors traditional cuisine, including yak meat, apricot oil and rich mountain cheese.
“At the start, I used to work alone,” she said. “Now, 11 people work here and most of them are women. And my children are also working here.”
Following in Shehzadi’s footsteps, Safina quit her job to start her own restaurant around a decade ago.
“No one wanted to help me,” she said. Eventually, she convinced family members to sell two cows and a few goats for the money she needed to launch her business.
Now, she earns the equivalent of around US$170 (RM720) a month, more than 15 times her previous income.
Farming to football
The socio-economic progress of women in Hunza compared to other rural areas of Pakistan has been driven by three factors, according to Sultan Madan, the head of the Karakoram Area Development Organisation and a local historian.
“The main reason is the very high literacy rate,” he told AFP, largely crediting the Aga Khan Foundation for funding training programmes for women.
“Secondly, agriculture was the backbone of the economy in the region, but in Hunza the landholding was meagre and that was why women had to work in other sectors.”
Women’s increased economic participation has spilled into other areas of life, like sports fields.
“Every village in the valley has a women’s soccer team: Gojal, Gulmit, Passu, Khyber, Shimsal,” said Nadia Shams, 17.
On a synthetic pitch, she trains with her teammates in jogging pants or shorts, forbidden elsewhere by Pakistan’s dress code.
Here, one name is on everyone’s lips: Malika-e-Noor, the former vice-captain of the national team who scored the winning penalty against the Maldives in the 2010 South Asian Women’s Football Championship.
FahimaQayyum was six years old when she witnessed the killer kick.
Today, after several international matches, she is recruiting the next generation.
“As a girl, I stress to others the importance of playing, as sport is very good for health,” she told AFP.
“If they play well, they can also get scholarships.” — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2025/06/16/songs-of-sawdust-and-strength-among-hunza-women-in-pakistans-karakoram-mountains/180439
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South Sudan: women learn to rebuild lives after sexual violence
15 Jun 2025
Thirty-nine-year-old AbukBuol was among those who suffered from South Sudan’s brutal conflict, enduring horrific sexual violence, and displacement.
But as one of the 60 participants at a workshop focused on how to ensure the socio-economic empowerment of survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), she is on the way to building resilience and helping others.
Today, Abuk is reunited back home with her family in Bor, located 183 kilometers from South Sudan’s capital, one of many towns devastated by the civil wars that have ravaged the world’s newest nation. The mother of six is working to secure justice for the horrors that she and so many others endured and to rebuild her own life.
Economic independence has certainly proven to be a lifeline for Abuk, as she has embarked on various ventures including retail trade and soap-making, tailored to local market needs and her own interests. Abuk and many others are being assisted through a project to build socio-economic resilience for CRSV survivors in Jonglei, Unity, Western Equatoria and Juba, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and the International Trade Centre (ITC), under the leadership of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare.
It delivers survivor-centered services, including medical care, psychosocial support, legal aid, and livelihood assistance, through referrals to specialized Family Protection Centers / One Stop Centers. It also supports survivors in speaking out and supporting others.
The objective of the workshop was to learn about the challenges in accessing services and reintegrating into society, share best practices and strengthen coordination and partnerships.
Most of all, it was to amplify the voices of the survivors in leading the prevention and response to sexual violence. The workshop aims to improve future projects and secure new commitments from national and international stakeholders to sustain support for CRSV survivors, as well as to encourage policy reform in South Sudan.
Source: africanews.com
https://www.africanews.com/2025/06/15/south-sudan-women-learn-to-rebuild-lives-after-sexual-violence/
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Taliban Def Ministry Spokesperson Khwarizmi to Female Journalists: “I’m Modern, Marry Me!”
16 Jun 2025
Sources report that Enayatullah Khwarizmi, the spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense, has proposed marriage to several female journalists. On Monday, June 16, 2025, these sources informed the Hasht-e Subh Daily that Khwarizmi used his personal phone number to contact female journalists, claiming he is “modern” and does not behave like other Taliban members.
These interactions have significantly impacted female journalists, with many choosing to avoid covering news related to the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense to evade such behavior. The sources highlight that Khwarizmi has repeatedly proposed marriage to these journalists, who have refrained from publicly disclosing the issue due to fear of repercussions.
Furthermore, managers of several domestic media outlets are aware of Khwarizmi’s actions but have not raised the matter with senior Taliban officials, citing fear of retaliation. The sources emphasize the pervasive atmosphere of intimidation that prevents both journalists and media managers from addressing the issue openly.
This situation unfolds against the backdrop of the Taliban’s broader policies, which have excluded women and girls from all social spheres and imposed stringent restrictions on them in recent years. Reports have also previously surfaced about multiple marriages among Taliban officials, with some marrying twice within a single year.
Source: 8am.media
https://8am.media/eng/taliban-defense-ministry-spokesperson-to-female-journalists-im-modern-marry-me/
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International Day of Women in Mining: Vedanta celebrates India's largest team of Women in Mining
16 Jun 2025
Vedanta is home to India’s first and largest team of women in underground mining NEW DELHI, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On International Day of Women in Mining, Vedanta Limited (NSE: VEDL) celebrated India’s largest team of women in underground mining. Vedanta and Hindustan Zinc were the first in India to induct women in underground mining in 2019. Over 550 women work in core mining operations across the company’s various businesses. With over 22% gender diversity, Vedanta’s workforce includes more than 3,000 women employees, marking a substantial representation of women in this sector compared to its domestic peers.
This sector has historically faced glaring under-representation of women. However, Vedanta has achieved many firsts, such as the country’s first underground women miners and all-women underground mine rescue teams at Hindustan Zinc. Also, Hindustan Zinc has the distinction of having three all-women underground mine rescue teams, the highest in India. In addition to mining, the company has a high representation of women in core metal production operations as well. For instance, the company has an all-women aluminium production line (potline) and an all-women locomotive operations unit.
This has been possible due to Vedanta’s commitment to providing rich job content powered by a tech-first approach through Industry 4.0, robotics and automation that have standardized work processes and eliminated manual intervention associated with this sector. The company provides differentiated career enhancement opportunities in this high-growth sector with the global boom in critical minerals and energy transition metals.
Vedanta is actively bridging the skill gap within this sector by offering exciting career options irrespective of gender. Along with that, Vedanta operates digital mines, featuring surface-based underground mining (tele-remote) operations, drone-based surveillance, real-time analytics, and automation, which have led to a significant rise in the number of women professionals choosing careers at Vedanta in mining.
Speaking on the occasion, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director – Vedanta Ltd & Chairperson – Hindustan Zinc Ltd, said, “At Vedanta, we are deeply committed to creating an inclusive workplace that ensures equal opportunity for all. Women-led development is now central to sustainable growth in India. Metals & mining is going to be intrinsic to a low-carbon future, and we need to bridge the skill gap in this sector. Through progressive policies we hope to leverage and empower this talent pool of women. We are building a future where diversity fuels innovation, inclusion accelerates progress, thereby making a lasting impact.” In the early 20th century, women working in metals and mining were a common sight. However, the Indian Mining Act of 1923 restricted their entry into underground mines, and a complete ban was imposed in 1937 under British rule. It was only in 2019, after a petition by a group of seven mining engineering students, that the Indian government finally lifted the ban and Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc swiftly emerged as the first company ever to deploy women mine engineers in underground mines.
Sharing her thoughts, YogeshwariRane, India’s first woman to clear underground and opencast mining first-class examination, currently working at Vedanta’s Iron Ore mine in Goa, said, “Coming from the mining rich area of Goa, I was always fascinated with this field. And with Vedanta’s pool of opportunities, I’ve had a chance to work in both the underground and opencast mines. From the Zawar Mines in Rajasthan, Sandhya Rasakatla, India’s first underground woman mine manager, added, “I was always fascinated with the world of metals and mining. It is a proud feeling to be here because, as a woman, I was the first in the mining industry to get this exposure. Vedanta’s unbiased pool of opportunities has aided learning and my professional development.” Vedanta offers a comprehensive suite of supportive workplace policies, including a spouse hiring policy, a year-long sabbatical for childcare, and ‘No-Questions Asked’ leave policy prioritizing mental and physical health. Beyond policies, employees live in world-class townships offering all modern amenities in proximity to the plants. These include schools, hospitals, daycare centres, creches, places of worship, sports and recreational facilities like swimming pools, golf courses, and movie theatres, which foster vibrant social life.
About Vedanta Group Vedanta Group is a global leader in critical minerals, transition metals, energy, and technology, with operations spanning India, South Africa, Namibia, Liberia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. As the world’s largest integrated producer of zinc, the fourth-largest global producer of silver, and a top producer of aluminium, Vedanta plays a pivotal role in the global supply of essential materials for the energy transition. The company is also India’s only private oil and gas producer and one of the largest private power producers, foraying in electronics and display glass manufacturing. Visit www.vedantalimited.com.
Source: thewire.in
https://thewire.in/ptiprnews/international-day-of-women-in-mining-vedanta-celebrates-indias-largest-team-of-women-in-mining
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Women's Organization in Hajjah holds events commemorating Al-Wilayah Day & solidarity stands with Gaza
15 Jun 2025
The Women's Organization in Hajjah province organized celebratory events marking the Day of Imam Ali’s (AS) Wilayah (Guardianship) and solidarity stands in support of Gaza.
During the events and stands held in the districts of Shihah, Mustaba, Kashr, Al-Shahal, Aflah Al-Yemen, Aflah Al-Sham, and Kuhlan Ash-Sharaf, participants chanted slogans of loyalty to Allah, His Messenger (PBUH), and Imam Ali (AS), while disavowing the enemies of Islam.
Speeches by participants emphasized that Wilayah is an extension of the Muhammadan message—a mobilizing, educational, and faith-driven milestone to emulate Imam Ali (AS), draw lessons from his life, virtues, and his role in defending Islam. They linked Yemen’s suffering from aggression to its unwavering allegiance to Ahl al-Bayt (AS) and support for the oppressed.
The speeches stressed the importance of adhering to divine directives and sincere loyalty to the Prophet (PBUH) and Imam Ali (AS), noting that the Muslim Ummah’s current humiliation stems from following the enemies of Islam—Jews and Christians—and abandoning the Muhammadan path.
Participants reaffirmed absolute commitment to the Palestinian cause as the central issue of the Islamic Ummah, which cannot be compromised. They condemned the Zionist enemy’s brutal crimes against civilians in Gaza, emphasizing that these atrocities will not fade with time.
A statement issued during the events declared that the principle of Wilayah is the cornerstone preserving the Ummah’s dignity, independence, and unity. Abandoning it, the statement warned, leads to subjugation and violation by enemies.
It highlighted the urgent need to understand Wilayah through the Quran and the Prophet’s (PBUH) guidance, especially in an era of rampant corruption and deception. The statement clarified that the Declaration of Ghadeer is not merely a historical event but a divine proclamation vital to the Ummah’s revival and adherence to Islam.
The statement strongly condemned the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which martyred several leaders, scholars, and Mujahideen, exposing the American-backed Zionist hatred toward free voices and noble stances in the Ummah.
It affirmed that the Palestinian cause remains inseparable from the Ummah’s struggles and vowed unwavering support, including continued humanitarian duty toward Palestinian women and children. The statement called on Arab and Muslim nations to fulfill their responsibilities against the genocide in Gaza, foremost by sustaining economic boycotts.
Lastly, the statement renewed allegiance to the revolution leader ,SayyedAbdulmalikBadreddin Al-Houthi, declaring readiness to sacrifice everything for Al-Aqsa Mosque’s liberation, regardless of consequences.
Source: saba.ye
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3499995.htm
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Syrian Homeland Party members: women protected revolution's gains with their struggle
16 June, 2025
Syrian Homeland Party members addressed to ANHA's agency on the women's role and the safeguarding of gains.
Ameera al-Issa said, "Because of the struggle, there will no longer be the mentality that enslaved women for thousands of years. Because of the resistance and struggle of the autonomous administration project, the mentality of ISIS/Daesh was eliminated. The autonomous administration was a deciding factor, and women were able to engage in the work through their years of struggle against the patriarchal mentality. Women's struggle and the consolidation of the autonomous administration project did not take place in a vacuum."
Ameera al-Issa indicated that Arab women today enjoy the rewards of their struggle because they have been broadly involved in various aspects of life, for they preserved their achievements through struggling.
She pointed out that the autonomous model has been a source of inspiration to all women worldwide, and that Arab women have confronted all challenges with perseverance and determination to gain freedom and equality and have surpassed them.
Batoul Muhammad also made it clear that the 14-year journey of the autonomous administration has guaranteed the rights of all women, and women, in turn, must defend and safeguard the achievements of the revolution. She said, "If women are now occupying leadership positions, this did not fall from the sky, but is the fruit of decades of struggle against injustice and oppression. Arab women have risen up against traditions that demeaned their status, and today they hold decision-making positions in all fields, thanks to the autonomous administration project."
Kamila Raja noted that Arab women have sacrificed a lot to break the shackles of slavery, and that Leader Abdullah Ocalan's philosophy of democratic nation has made women aware of their rights.
Kamila Raja stated that women who sacrificed their lives for freedom are a source of inspiration for her, and she made it evident that she will be in their footsteps until equality and democracy are achieved. She concluded her speech by stating, "Autonomous administration has become the hope of most women, so women will intensify their struggle and defend their gains."
Source: hawarnews.com
https://hawarnews.com/en/syrian-homeland-party-members-women-protected-revolutions-gains-with-their-struggle
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