‘Can Tackle Misbehaviour’: Muslim Teen Gold Winner, Akku Sarah, At Karate Asia Cup
New Age Islam News Bureau
08 October 2025
· ‘Can Tackle Misbehaviour’: Muslim Teen Gold Winner, Akku Sarah, At Karate Asia Cup
· Muslim Schoolgirls Threatened With Scissors After Leaving Mosque in Liverpool
· Scottish Woman, Julieta Lorena Martinez, Converts To Islam After Watching TV Series Kurulus: Osman
· Deaths Of Inmates Reignite Calls For Closure Of Iran's 'Uninhabitable' Women's Prison
· Women Speak Out Against Hijab Bans: "When Sport Denies The Hijab, It Denies Women Themselves"
· Women Activists, Like Norfarahin Romli, Show Resilience Amid Cruelty Of Zionist Regime
· Qatar National Library Explores Women's Enduring Role In Shaping Arab History, Identity
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-gold-winner-karate-asia-cup/d/137156
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‘Can Tackle Misbehaviour’: Muslim Teen Gold Winner, Akku Sarah, At Karate Asia Cup
Oct 8, 2025
Mumbai: At the brightly lit first-floor hall of Nagpada Neighbourhood House NGO, Akku Sarah Shabbir (15) stands out among a group of uniformed girls practising Karate. Her quick move of the limbs and perfect punches distinguish her from her co-practitioners. She is also a mini-celebrity in the Karate club, her Maharashtra College (she is in class 11 in the commerce stream) and in Mumbai Central where she lives after winning gold medals at DSO (District Sports Organisation) and an Asia Cup organised by Asian Shito-Ryu Sports Karate-Do Association at Andheri Sports Complex recently.
"My family, friends and neighbours are happy I have got gold medals in back-to-back completions," said Sarah who defeated her Sri Lankan opponent at Asia Cup competition. Participating countries included India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Malaysia.
Except while playing, like most other girls her age and older in the neighbourhood, Sarah is in hijab when outdoors. "We are religious but I did not stop Sarah when she said she wanted to join a Karate club," said her perfumer father Shabbir Akku.
Congress MLA Amin Patel who felicitated Sarah, said, "Muslims are often blamed for not encouraging their daughters to go out and make a career in games and sports. Sarah's success punctures this stereotype. We will do whatever we can to encourage such budding sporting talents." Many community leaders see it as a positive sign. "This young girl from Mumbai Central has made us all proud with her achievement in Karate. Her dedication and spirit are truly inspiring. The world is changing fast—our girls see everything happening around them and are becoming more aware, strong, and determined. It's wonderful to see this new confidence, especially among Muslim girls, who are proving that with opportunity and encouragement, they can shine in every sphere," said Asif Farooqui, city Congress general secretary and court member at Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia University. Coach Salahuddin Khan said Sarah epitomises a transformation sweeping through Muslim pockets. "I train students at 25 schools and the majority of my students are Muslim girls. I see a positive change in the attitude of parents. They are increasingly aware of the benefits of Karate and why girls need to learn it," said Khan who praised Shama Taraporewala, former principal of one of Anjuman I Islam schools.
Sarah said Karate helps one become confident. "Earlier I was a bit timid and shy to converse with strangers. Now I am confident of tackling anyone who tries to misbehave with me."
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/can-tackle-misbehaviour-teen-gold-winner-at-karate-asia-cup/articleshow/124370472.cms
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Muslim Schoolgirls Threatened With Scissors After Leaving Mosque in Liverpool
Megan Banner
07 Oct 2025
Abdullah Quilliam Mosque & National Heritage Centre(Image: Liverpool Echo)
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Three schoolgirls were reportedly threatened after leaving a mosque on Saturday. The three girls, understood to be aged 14, 12 and 11, who are Muslims, reportedly left a class at Abdullah Qualiam Mosque in Liverpool on Saturday (October 4) and were threatened with a pair of scissors on their way home.
Merseyside Police were called to Boaler Street in Kensington on Saturday (October 4) at around 1.50pm following reports a group of females had been threatened by a woman with a pair of scissors in the area. Earlier that day it was also reported that a woman lunged towards another woman while holding a pair of scissors.
The victim was not struck and "made off to safety on foot," after throwing her bag at the attacker, who took an item from it. A 44-year-old woman, from Liverpool, was arrested on suspicion of robbery following the incident. She has now been bailed and detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act, police confirmed.
Imam Mumin Khan told the ECHO how the girls had been "near their home" when the attacker reportedly approached them. He said: "They had attended a girl's Islamic school class at the mosque and as they were going home they came across the attacker.
"We understand she was attacking anyone who came in her way and the girls were there unfortunately. It happened near Newham Primary School. The girls got frightened and ran back to the mosque to seek safety. The woman was arrested." The ECHO understands the girls were with a guardian at the time of the incident.
Following the Islamic school class, a mum, who attended a workshop at Abdullah Qualiam Mosque at around 2.30pm on Saturday, told the ECHO how her teacher was "shaking" in shock after revealing what happened, earlier that day.
The 34-year-old, who did not want to be named, said: "When I got to my class, it was a women's journaling workshop, my teacher was shaking. She apologised and said 'I'm really sorry, I need a moment to compose myself.'
"She told us she had been teaching young girls all morning and when they had gone home, three girls ran back into the mosque screaming, saying a woman had chased them with scissors all the way back here."
The woman claims the girls, believed to be aged 14, 12 and 11, attend the weekly class, which teaches young people about Muslim faith, every week and walk home "perfectly safely" afterwards.
She said the incident had left her "worried." The mum-of-one told the ECHO: "I have a toddler and I'd booked this workshop as my first activity for me to do on my own since becoming a mum.
"My husband took our son out for the day and I told him I would walk or get the bus home to Old Swan from the mosque after the workshop, I wanted my own independence, I thought it would be nice.
"When I got there and heard what had just happened I couldn't help but feel worried and when the class finished I just didn't know what to do or how I was going to get home safely.
"I started frantically phoning around people to find away home, I felt so uncomfortable and worried. I didn't even want to phone for an Uber because I was scared about who would turn up."
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Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/muslim-schoolgirls-threatened-scissors-after-32622500
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Scottish Woman, Julieta Lorena Martinez, Converts To Islam After Watching TV Series Kurulus: Osman
07.10.2025
ISTANBUL
A Scottish woman has converted to Islam after being inspired by the hit Turkish historical drama “Establishment: Osman,” produced by Bozdag Film.
Bozdag Film said in a statement that Julieta Lorena Martinez developed a deep interest in Turkish culture while watching the series.
Her growing interest prompted her to conduct additional research, which ultimately influenced her decision to convert to Islam.
“I started watching Turkish television during (COVID-19) lockdown because I was so moved by the story, the history, and the Islamic information that I’d never known before,” Martinez said in an interview with Anadolu. “This moved me to read the Quran, and two years later, after watching Osman, I took my shahada and became a Muslim.”
Martinez later traveled to Istanbul, where she visited the Bozdag Film studios, toured the show’s filming locations, and saw the Kayi Tribe camp featured in the popular series.
She described the visit as an “emotional pilgrimage,” adding, “I’ve been renewed. I love this.”
The series has become a global phenomenon, drawing millions of viewers worldwide for its depiction of the Ottoman Empire’s founding and its portrayal of cultural heritage.
Source: aa.com.tr
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/scottish-woman-converts-to-islam-after-watching-turkish-tv-series-establishment-osman/3710102
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Deaths Of Inmates Reignite Calls For Closure Of Iran's 'Uninhabitable' Women's Prison
October 08, 2025
The notorious Qarchak Prison, located in a desert outside Tehran, has long served as a grim symbol of repression in Iran.
Now, the deaths of several inmates have reignited calls for the authorities to close the facility, which is believed to be one of the world’s largest women’s prisons.
Authorities have defended the conditions at the facility and even talked up its amenities. But former inmates say the prison suffers from severe overcrowding, poor sanitation, and an acute lack of adequate medical care.
Human rights groups have attributed medical neglect as the main reason for the deaths of at least two female inmates in the past month.
In response, some 150 former inmates issued a joint statement on September 29 condemning the “systematic” deaths of prisoners in Qarchak and demanding the prison’s closure.
Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who served time in Qarchak, told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda that the prison is “uninhabitable.”
Having long advocated for its closure, Sotoudeh initially sought ways to reform the facility but eventually concluded that it should be shut down.
Photojournalist and rights activist Alieh Motalebzadeh, who has interviewed former inmates, said many complained about scorpions and snakes in the facility.
Motalebzadeh, speaking to Radio Farda, accused judicial officials, prison authorities, and medical staff of showing “no respect toward women prisoners.” She said the authorities believe women at the facility deserved to be mistreated.
When Israel bombed Evin Prison in Tehran during the 12-day war with Iran in June, dozens of women prisoners there were transferred to Qarchak.
But many of these prisoners remain in Qarchak, despite Evin reopening, rights groups say.
Sotoudeh said that keeping the prisoners in Qarchak was “payback” against women, who played a key role in the unprecedented antiestablishment protests that rocked the country in 2022.
The renewed calls to shut down Qarchak Prison came after a string of deaths at the facility, which is believed to house several thousand inmates and has been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union.
Iranian activist Somayeh Rashidi, labeled as a political prisoner by multiple groups, died in Qarchak on September 25.
The 42-year-old’s death came 10 days after she suffered seizures, leading cellmates and rights organizations to accuse authorities of failing to provide necessary care for the woman.
One of Rashidi's cellmates told Radio Farda she "had epilepsy, had constant seizures, and suffered from severe headaches, and every time she went to the prison doctor, she was told she was malnourished and was sent back to the ward."
Jamileh Azizi, who was also incarcerated on financial charges, died after being refused timely treatment despite signs of cardiac distress.
Source: rferl.org
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-qarachak-prison-women-oppression/33552239.html
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Women speak out against hijab bans: "When sport denies the hijab, it denies women themselves"
07.10.2025
Forcing women out of clothes is just as dangerous as forcing women into clothes.
This was among the main takeaways in Monday’s parallel session titled 'Who can wear what? The Hijab ban and questions of inclusion in sports', where several veiled participants questioned the concept of “neutrality” and the double standards they face as Muslim women and athletes.
Khayran Noor, a founding director of Sports Legal and advocate for advancing legal standards in the sports industry across Africa, described the hijab as “more than a piece of fabric.” It is a form of religious expression, a cultural identity, and an ethnic marker. Banning female athletes from wearing the hijab in competition, as is the case in France, only serves to disempower women by denying them the right to choose how to present themselves.
“When sport denies a place for [the hijab], it denies a space for women themselves,” Noor concluded.
Noor’s remarks were followed by her colleague, Sandra Aanya, who described the implications of the hijab ban, including forced emigration and career displacement, withdrawal of Muslim women from sports, and a loss of a growing and personate demographic.
“Does the player wearing a hijab really pose a threat to others?” Aanya asked rhetorically during the session.
Among the policy reforms that Aanya suggested were inclusive policy development, gender-responsive uniform designs, diversification of leadership, and education and cultural competency training.
France’s hijab ban excludes many Muslim women from sports
Frank Conde Tandberg, a policy advisor for Amnesty International Norway, spoke about France’s hijab ban and how his organisation is challenging that decision.
Tandberg explained how young Muslim women are being forced to choose between their religion and their identity on one hand, and their dreams of becoming an athlete and the joy of participating in sports on the other - a humiliating experience that leads to exclusion and a range of physical and mental health issues.
Tangberg also delved into France’s aggressive implementation of the hijab ban, noting how French authorities retaliated against athletes and activists who protested the ban. Ultimately, he noted, such bans hold no “legitimate purpose.”
“The battle is still on, and the hijab ban needs to go.”
Hélène Bâ, an athlete and human rights advocate leading global campaigns against discrimination in French sports, followed up on Tandberg’s comments by dismantling the “myth” of neutrality and how it was weaponised to exclude French Muslim women from wearing the hijab.
“This is the most hypocritical thought ever,” Bâ said. “Sports and sports competition are based on differentiation by age, gender, weight, height, money, race, and religion.”
Bâ explained how France’s hijab ban has effectively excluded her and many others from participating in their favourite sports.
“I am not able to watch a basketball game, support my friends, or attend a game,” she said.
Bâ further dismantled claims of neutrality in sports by highlighting the Islamophobic undercurrents that run through French society and politics. In one such example, French Minister of Interior, Bruno Retailleau, declared at a meeting held “against Islamism” in Paris, “Long live sports and down with the veil.”
Holding sports accountable
Nikki Dryden, a human rights lawyer and former competitive swimmer who represented Canada at two consecutive Summer Olympics, shifted beyond the hijab ban to determine how to hold sports accountable for racial abuse and the need to move “beyond slogans.”
Dryden explained that slogans such as “Say No to Racism” are useful in raising awareness but stop short of real change. They focus on appearances, not solutions and are easily dismissed or weaponised due to their ambiguity and lack of focus.
Dryden also tackled the concept of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and how it was a limited approach that lacked a binding human rights framework. This is how issues like the hijab ban still occur. Instead, sports must adopt enforceable frameworks aligned with international law. Athletes and marginalised voices must shape this system, not just be the subjects of them.
As a white Canadian woman, Dryden admitted that there were far fewer barriers preventing her from participating in sports than her fellow Muslim women panelists. She argued that those in positions of privilege like herself need to be better allies, willing to listen, step aside, and follow the lead of those affected by the system.
“Use your privilege responsibly,” she said.
Source: playthegame.org
https://www.playthegame.org/news/women-speak-out-against-hijab-bans-when-sport-denies-the-hijab-it-denies-women-themselves/
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Women Activists, Like Norfarahin Romli, Show Resilience Amid Cruelty Of Zionist Regime
Faiz Ruzman
2025-10-08
SEPANG: The return of 23 Malaysians detained in Israel during the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission was marked last night at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) not only by tears of relief, but also by reminders of the resilience shown by women activists in detention.
Social activist and influencer Norfarahin Romli, better known as Farah Lee, drew attention when she appeared with a white T-shirt wrapped around her head, replacing the Tudung that had been confiscated during her detention.
“This is our symbol of Sumud. The steadfastness of the women in the GSF delegation.
“We were humiliated in front of non-mahram men without our Tudung. We used these white T-shirts to preserve our dignity as women.”
Farah described the experience in Israel’s Ketziot Prison in the Negev desert as a small glimpse of the wider hardships in Gaza.
“That may be less than one per cent of the suffering and human rights violations happening there,” she said, adding that the denial of clean water, medicines and other basic rights was part of their ordeal.
She urged Malaysians to hear more from the delegation at the Himpunan Sumud Nusantara in Axiata Arena tonight.
“May the voice that welcomed us home be the same voice that frees Palestine,” she said.
The KLIA arrival hall was filled with families and supporters, many waving Palestinian flags and carrying flowers.
Emotions ran high as the volunteers emerged after more than a month away.
Actor Nadzmi Adhwa carried his child and a bouquet of flowers as he greeted his wife, actress Ardell Aryana, who was among the returnees.
“I cannot share much for now. I hope all of you can attend the gathering at Axiata Arena tomorrow to stand in solidarity for Palestine,” Ardell said briefly.
Nearby, singer Zizi Kirana was reunited with her husband, actor Yusuf Bahrin, as the crowd chanted “Allahu Akbar” and “Free, Free Palestine.”
For the women activists, last night’s homecoming was not only about returning safely but about showing that dignity and resistance could not be stripped away, even under detention.
Source: thesun.my
https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/women-activists-show-resilience-amid-cruelty-of-zionist-regime-OB15050178
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Qatar National Library Explores Women's Enduring Role In Shaping Arab History, Identity
OCTOBER 07, 2025
The Qatar National Library (QNL) organised a panel discussion on Tuesday that brought together scholars to explore the often overlooked yet vital role women have played in shaping cultural and social ties amid some of the Islamic world’s most significant upheavals.
Held under the theme of Women in Al Andalus and Palestine: From Marginalisation to Influence, the panel featured Dr Fadwa al-Haziti, professor of higher education at Hassan II University in Casablanca and an expert in cross-cultural and post-colonial studies, and Dr Basma Dajani, professor of Arabic language and literature at the University of Jordan, renowned for her research on women patrons in Arab-Islamic civilisation.
The panel explored how women cultivated values of steadfastness and sacrifice, emerging as pillars of resistance and guardians of collective memory despite enduring displacement, marginalisation, and loss.
"The seminar focuses on Arab and Muslim women throughout history with particular emphasis on the experiences of Andalusian and Palestinian women,” said Dr al-Haziti.
“Our nation has faced challenges throughout its history similar to those we face today, such as the post-Andalusian period,” she continued. “This discussion aims to highlight the reality of Palestinian women, affirm their right to preserve their memory and identity, and shed light on their suffering under occupation, including violence, siege, famine, and genocide."
"Invoking Andalusia in the context of Palestine is not about making comparisons, but about reflection and broadening perspectives,” Dr al-Haziti stressed. “From this perspective, we explore the shared experiences of Andalusian and Palestinian women, with a focus on their influence and marginalisation.”
"The primary goal of this gathering is to reinforce awareness of the Palestinian cause, not only in terms of supporting the Palestinian people, but also recognizing that Palestine’s struggle is central to the Arab and Islamic world," she added.
"At a time when moral values are eroding, Gaza, with its women and children, serves as a moral compass, reminding us that belief in truth, commitment to homeland, and preservation of dignity are at the core of our humanity,” said Dr Dajani. “When dignity is stripped away, life itself loses its justification.”
"Thus, revisiting pivotal moments in our Arab-Islamic history is not a retreat into the past, but a call for resilience, collective action, and cultural responsibility to confront the ongoing genocide in occupied Palestine and to ensure that humanity and dignity remain at the forefront of global consciousness," she added.
"At the QNL, we are committed to preserving and disseminating our cultural heritage,” said QNL engagement specialist Ikhlas Ahmed. “This panel sheds essential light on the profound contributions of women in bridging cultures and preserving identity across the Arab world. Their central role in the social fabric of our region underscores the vital impact women have on society."
Source: gulf-times.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.gulf-times.com/article/712336/qatar/qnl-explores-womens-enduring-role-in-shaping-arab-history-identity
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-gold-winner-karate-asia-cup/d/137156