For Muslim women, images of us without our hijabs can be as damaging as nude photos
New Age Islam News Bureau
25 March 2025
· For Muslim women, images of us without our hijabs can be as damaging as nude photos
· UN warns 4 million Afghan girls could lose education by 2030
· Austrian Minister of Integration considers stricter Islam law and hijab ban for girls
· Uttarakhand: Muslim girl’s body discovered from river; family alleges murder
· Muslim community speaks out after hijab-wearing woman was attacked at Ajax library
· Holocaust Survivor Joins Iranian Victims in Frankfurt
· Iranian Teachers’ Union Activist Sentenced to Three Years in Prison
· Kurdish Women’s Rights Activists Held in Isolation After Arrest
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-women-hijabs-damaging-nude-photos/d/134974
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For Muslim women, images of us without our hijabs can be as damaging as nude photos
BY ALIA WAHEED
24 March 2025
Sara* was at her sister’s birthday dinner when suddenly her phone flashed. It was a WhatsApp from her ex-partner showing a selfie of Sara wearing a crop top and leaning seductively into the camera.
A selfie in a crop top doesn’t sound like a big deal, right? But Sara, 24, comes from a traditional Muslim family and has been wearing a hijab since primary school. What seems like a harmless selfie could have devastating consequences if her family found out.
“Underneath, he'd written ‘b*tch your fam and the mosque bros see what a ho you are’ [sic]. I felt physically sick, but because I was with my family, I had to hold it together. My family are loving, but they are also very traditional and with that comes certain expectations. If they found out I had a boyfriend who saw me dressed like that, my life would be over.”
When we think of intimate-based image abuse, we usually think it involves some nudity or something that’s sexual in nature. After all, what’s the harm in a top from ASOS that most of us would wear on a night out?
However, for some Muslim women, particularly those who come from more conservative backgrounds, an image which may seem innocent enough to the rest of us can trigger terrifying consequences.
Muslim women’s organisation Amina MWRC launched their Exploit campaign this month to tackle Intimate Image Abuse after they had a 74% increase in calls to their helpline in just one year from women who were victims of intimate image abuse.
They warned that the weaponising of such images can result in additional harms, including forced marriage and even honour-based violence, and that it is a matter of time before it leads to a victim’s death.
“Family honour is a powerful thing. Families feel they have to rectify the behaviour, whether that’s forced marriage or other elements of honour-based abuse,” explained Yousaf.
“We don’t know the level of violence which could ensue. If the family are traditional and conservative enough that they believe honour lies in women, it could lead to death, whether that’s through a victim taking her own life or honour-based violence,” Yousaf added.
“It is not a question of if, but when.”
The threat of forced marriage or violence was a real and present one for Sara. “My ex demanded £1000, but I didn’t have that kind of money, so he said if I slept with him, he'd delete the pictures.
“If my parents found out, they would have stuck me on the first plane to Bangladesh to get married. My best friend told me if I slept with him, it would make everything 100 times worse, but I had no choice. He secretly filmed us having sex and started blackmailing me, using me like his own personal sex slave. It was a game to him. Eventually, I broke down, and my best friend told her mum.
“Her mum took me to the police to report him for rape, but I was too scared to press charges in case my family found out. The police said the footage of us could be used as evidence of rape which was enough to scare him, but I am still constantly living on a knife edge.”
Often, women won’t come forward to report it because they are scared of their families finding out. When they do decide to come forward, gaps in the law around what is defined as an intimate image means they have little legal protection.
“If you have a woman who wears a hijab (head scarf) or niqab (face veil) in her everyday life, if she’s pictured in revealing clothes, it is a violation for her and can cause major repercussions, but the law doesn’t recognise that,” said Safa Yousaf, from Amina MWRC.
“We had one case where a woman had pictures shared wearing a bikini, and the police officer said, what’s the big deal, you're still wearing a swimming costume, and didn’t get why it’s problematic. It's about decolonising the definition of intimate images as they don’t reflect BME women’s experiences,” said Yousaf.
This was the experience of Hania*, 31. She was getting ready to leave work when she got a call from a number she didn’t recognise. “I loved your photos. I wanna see you. You should definitely do Only Fans,” a rasping voice said.
“I just thought it was some random pervert, so I just blocked the number. But then I got another call from a guy saying he had a fantasy about a Muslim woman swearing at him and was willing to pay. I was like, what the hell. I yelled at him where did you get my number from?”
To her horror, she discovered a Facebook page had been created without her knowledge, featuring numerous pictures of her in bikinis and glamorous outfits from nights out, along with her name and phone number.
“I recognised the photos straight away from holidays and nights out with my ex-husband. While I am not ashamed of the photos in themselves, they were private pictures from private moments and having it out there and portrayed in a sleazy way was awful.”
Hania went to the police. “Because I am older and don’t take any sh*t anyway, I didn’t have the same qualms about reporting it that a lot of women from my background would have.”
When she went to the police, she was told there was nothing they could do as legally, they didn’t meet the legal definition of intimate image abuse.
“To be fair, the police were sympathetic, but I could tell they didn’t really get it. He said because I wasn’t naked or anything, it didn’t count as revenge porn, but because of the way our community is, I may as well have been naked, the way everyone reacted.”
Hania had to tell her employers about it and change her numbers. She also faced a backlash from her family and friends.
“My mum was furious and said I brought shame on the family. The thing is, the community is very judgemental. Nobody judged my ex, but because I am a woman, I was the one who got slut-shamed.”
The Revenge Porn Helpline said they frequently receive calls from desperate Muslim women and that the law needs to encompass a “diverse cultural understanding of intimacy” to protect women and recognises what intimate image abuse looks like to them rather than through a Western lens.
“The legal definition of 'intimate images' does not often align with cultural perspectives. For instance, public displays of affection or culturally inappropriate dress wear could be perceived as private and sexual to them, prompting individuals to seek assistance from the Revenge Porn Helpline. Unfortunately, our hands are tied by existing legislation, restricting our ability to help support these cases.”
“Adapting police training is crucial, not solely focusing on Intimate Image Abuse, but also addressing the broader spectrum of online harms and their disproportionate impact on various communities.”
However, the move to extend the law to encompass the needs of Muslim women has sparked controversy. A proposal by the Women and Equalities Committee to adapt the law to protect Muslim women was met with a backlash from the far-right, who accused MPs of equating images of women without hijab with child abuse images.
Reducing the debate to “nudes versus non-nudes” misses the point, and it is not so much about how much skin is on show but how these images are weaponised against women, according to Hera Hussain, CEO of Chayn, an organisation that supports survivors who experience technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
“It's not about comparing the extent of the trauma of a nude image vs non-nudes because that’s not how we should be thinking about issues of consent, harm and rights,” said Hera.
“Laws need to be based around breaking of consent and the harm experienced by the survivor. If a picture of a woman without a hijab is used against her and causes emotional and/or physical harm, then the law should protect her. The question we should be asking is not ‘How much of her body is on show?’ but ‘Did they have the right to share this image?’”
The experience of Muslim women highlights an anomaly in the current system, which places the onus on the victim rather than the perpetrator. It shouldn’t be about the content of the image, but the impact it has on victims. If the law is changed to reflect this, it will benefit all women, regardless of their background and faith.
Source:glamourmagazine.co.uk
https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/muslim-women-image-based-abuse-hijab
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UN warns 4 million Afghan girls could lose education by 2030
By Fidel Rahmati
March 25, 2025
The UN warns that by 2030, four million Afghan girls may be denied education due to ongoing restrictions and challenges.
Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the United Nations, stated that by 2030, four million girls in Afghanistan will be deprived of education due to ongoing restrictions.
Dujarric expressed his hope during a press conference on Monday, March 24, that these educational restrictions will not continue beyond 2030 and that progress will be made to lift them.
UNICEF recently released a report stating that in the upcoming academic year, 400,000 girls will be excluded from the educational system, further worsening the situation.
The organization highlighted that the number of girls missing secondary education has now risen to 2.2 million, marking a significant increase in the lack of access to education for girls.
UNICEF also issued a warning, stressing that if these restrictions continue, four million girls will be deprived of secondary education by 2030, further deepening the crisis.
Despite international pressure, the Taliban has not yet reopened schools for girls above the sixth grade, maintaining the educational ban for older girls.
The global community must continue to put pressure on the Afghan authorities to remove these educational barriers and protect the rights of girls to learn and thrive.
To address this issue effectively, efforts should focus on providing resources and support to ensure that every girl, regardless of circumstances, has access to a quality education.
Source:khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/un-warns-4-million-afghan-girls-could-lose-education-by-2030/
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Austrian Minister of Integration considers stricter Islam law and hijab ban for girls
March 24, 2025
Austrian Minister of Integration, Claudia Plakolm, announced that she is considering tightening Austria’s Islam Law, emphasizing concerns regarding certain mosques in the country.
In an interview with the Austrian news agency (APA), Plakolm stated that the details of the proposed amendments are still under discussion, noting that the Austrian government aims to ensure more effective integration of Muslim communities in the country.
In a controversial move, Plakolm revealed plans to ban girls from wearing the hijab in schools up to the age of 14, stating, “We will not allow young girls to be oppressed.” She added that the hijab is mainly imposed in countries where radical Islamism is prevalent, affirming that she will continue consulting experts before making a final decision on the ban’s implementation.
Regarding integration programs, Plakolm stressed the necessity of making participation mandatory for refugees and asylum seekers, saying, “We need to clearly define our expectations, and there must be the possibility of imposing sanctions on those who do not comply. Otherwise, this program will have no impact.”
Source:shiawaves.com
https://shiawaves.com/english/news/121249-austrian-minister-of-integration-considers-stricter-islam-law-and-hijab-ban-for-girls/
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Uttarakhand: Muslim girl’s body discovered from river; family alleges murder
March 24, 2025
A 16-year old Muslim girl’s body was found in a river in Bhimawala village of Uttarakhand’s Dehradun two days after she went missing from her home.
According to the family, she was murdered by a stalker from her hometown. However, the police stated that the cause of death is drowning, clarion India reported.
Shama Parveen, a 12th class student went missing in March on March 11 and her body was discovered in the Yamuna river on March 13.
A complaint was filed by Parveen’s father Mohmood Hasan who alleged that a man named Vinod Kumar from his village had abducted his daughter after mixing drugs in the tea cups of all the family members which made them unconscious.
Hasan accused Vinod of threatening him regarding his daughter in 2023 when he informed the police about his objectionable actions. He said, “He was lurching around our home when my daughter went missing. I went and confronted him, he said he didn’t know where my daughter was. Next morning, after we couldn’t find her anywhere, we filed a police complaint.”
Police were also unable to trace the whereabouts of his daughter. Later after police’s suggestion the family searched for Parveen nearby the river. “We found her body in the river. There were injuries on her face that suggest that she was murdered.”
Dismissing the police version of events, Hasan said, “if she had drowned, her lungs would be full of water, however, this wasn’t the case indicating that she was killed before she was dumped into the river.”
Police have claimed death due to drowning despite the family alleging it to be a murder. meanwhile Vinod and another suspect was arrested the family has demanded severe punishment for the accused.
Meanwhile, an organisation called Muslim Seva Sangathan from Uttarakhand has come in support of the victims family demanding and urging the police to act swiftly and deliver justice to the family.
Source:muslimmirror.com
https://muslimmirror.com/uttarakhand-muslim-girls-body-discovered-from-river-family-alleges-murder/
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Muslim community speaks out after hijab-wearing woman was attacked at Ajax library
March 24, 2025
By Denio Lourenco
Members of the Muslim community are calling for more action to combat Islamophobia and hate following a shocking unprovoked attack against a Muslim woman inside a public library in Ajax over the weekend.
According to Durham police, a woman was studying at the library on Harwood Avenue on Saturday when she was approached by another woman she did not recognize.
“The female began yelling profanities at the victim and throwing objects at her head,” police said in a release on Sunday. “The suspect then tried to remove the victim’s hijab, while pouring an unknown liquid on it. The suspect then grabbed a lighter and attempted to light the hijab on fire.”
Security personnel at the library heard the victim’s screams for help and managed to intervene, according to police.
The suspect then fled the library, but was located a few hours later and taken into custody without incident.
Police have identified the suspect as 25-year-old Kaley-Ann Freier of Ajax. She has been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon and three counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
Freier is known to police for a separate incident in October 2024 where she allegedly threatened a man with a machete-style knife.
Authorities say they are working to determine whether the evidence they have meets the threshold for the attack to be considered hate-motivated, and have not ruled out hate crime charges.
On Monday, the National Council of Canadian Muslims(NCCM), along with the mayor of Ajax and members of council, came together to condemn the horrific act that unfolded during Ramadan – the most sacred time of the year for the Muslim community.
The NCCM’s chief operating officer, Omar Khamissa, told reporters he’s upset that these types of attacks are still happening.
“Canada is the leading country among G7 nations when it comes to Islamophobia-related deaths. What happened on Saturday could have easily increased that number,” Khamissa said. “It is an emergency issue, not just for our community, but for all of those who want to live in Canada without hate.”
A member of the NCCM also read a heartbreaking statement on behalf of the victim.
“I never imagined that a visit to my favourite quiet corner of the library would turn into one of the most terrifying moments of my life,” the victim explained. “I feel like I am breaking … the fear that an incident like this could happen to my daughters keeps me awake at night and shakes my confidence in the safety of our community spaces.”
All three major federal party leaders reacted to the news with statements of support for the victim.
“This type of violence is not an isolated incident,” wrote Liberal Leader Mark Carney in a social media post. “Islamophobia is real, it is dangerous, and it must stop.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also weighed in, saying, “This hate-motivated attack is a reminder that divisive rhetoric is a stain on our country and not part of our Canadian values.”
Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre used the moment to slam Liberal bail reform policies.
“Hateful lunatics like these are terrorizing our communities every day,” Poilievre wrote. “Conservatives will bring jail, not bail, to keep them locked up and bring home safety to our streets.”
With a federal election underway, the NCCM is calling on party leaders to come up with a plan to combat Islamophobia in the country and to treat it as a top issue.
“Every party should approach Canadians with a detailed plan on how they will deal with Islamophobia and hate,” Kamissa said. “To combat the deadly reality that we almost saw right here this past Saturday.”
Source:citynews.ca
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/03/24/muslim-community-speaks-out-after-hijab-wearing-woman-was-attacked-at-ajax-library/
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Holocaust Survivor Joins Iranian Victims in Frankfurt
MARCH 24, 2025
Frankfurt mayor Narges Eskandari-Gronenberg hosted the city’s fourth annual Persian New Year (Nowruz) celebration, which included strong condemnations of human rights abuses in Iran and paid tribute to the victims of the crackdown on the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.
The event brought together various organizations, groups, and consulates.
During her address, the Iran-born mayor said that Nowruz represents renewal and hope, transcending religious and ideological boundaries.
“This celebration belongs to 300 million people and is recognized by UNESCO as a celebration of innovation for both humans and nature,” the mayor said.
She condemned the Islamic Republic of Iran for its human rights violations, particularly against women. Among the honored guests were several victims of the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on peaceful protests.
Farideh Salavati, who lost her eyesight after security forces shot more than 40 pellets into her face during a peaceful demonstration, was present alongside Esmail Abdi, a teachers’ union representative who spent nine years in prison for his activism.
“They aim for the head and face to damage the most vital organs,” said Behrouz Assadi, an Iranian-German activist who has lived in Germany since the 1970s. “They do this to instill fear and terror.”
The event had a very special guest: Holocaust survivor Erika Jacoby.
Jacoby has dedicated her life to speaking out against genocide and human rights violations, regularly visiting schools to educate younger generations about the Holocaust.
The mayor drew parallels between different struggles for justice and human dignity.
“Of course, we cannot compare the Holocaust with any other tragedy in history. But it’s very important to bring a Holocaust survivor and Iranian victims together,” Assadi said, “to show that whether as Holocaust survivors or victims of the Islamic Republic, they share a common mission in seeking justice and fighting against forgetting these atrocities.”
“We must keep the spirit of Nowruz alive,” Assadi added. “Nowruz means ‘a new day,’ which is the end of winter and the start of hope for the future. This year’s celebration has taken on a new meaning with the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, showing that people no longer accept dictatorship.”
The Nowruz gathering in Frankfurt paid tribute to those who have sacrificed for freedom in Iran, including those who have been blinded by security forces and the families of executed protesters.
When Iranian victims were introduced, all 700 attendees stood up and applauded them for one minute.
“The mayor specifically thanked those who had to flee Iran and seek refuge here, and acknowledged their sacrifice for the Woman, Life, Freedom movement,” Assadi added.
The mayor also highlighted the contrast between countries where Nowruz is freely celebrated and those like Iran and Afghanistan, where authorities restrict the celebrations due to perceived conflicts with religious interests.
Assadi is based in the city of Mainz and works with victims who’ve been blinded by regime agents during the protests. IranWire has worked on many projects with Assadi in the past, including the stories of two young Iranians, Milad Safari and Erfan Ramizipour, who were blinded in one eye, and Mr. Hassan, who was hit with more than 300 pellets and was blinded in both eyes.
“I try to help those who have lost their most vital organs by bringing them to Germany and providing them with medical assistance and social support. I stand with them in solidarity against forgetting the crimes of the Islamic Republic,” Assadi explained. “This year’s Nowruz has a different color and flavor,” Assadi said. “It’s about hope - for aspirations without an oppressive and criminal government.”
Source:iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/news/139941-holocaust-survivor-joins-iranian-victims-in-frankfurt/
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Iranian Teachers’ Union Activist Sentenced to Three Years in Prison
MARCH 24, 2025
A court in Iran has sentenced Kobra Taherkhani, a school principal and teachers’ union activist from Qazvin, to three years in prison on political charges.
Branch Two of the Qazvin Revolutionary Court convicted Taherkhani of “insulting Khamenei” and “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” based on content she shared on her Instagram account and a report filed by the Qazvin IRGC Intelligence Organization.
In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a three-year travel ban on Taherkhani.
She was arrested at her home in December 2024 by IRGC Intelligence agents and has been in custody since then, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.
Source:iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/139939-iranian-teachers-union-activist-sentenced-to-three-years-in-prison/
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Kurdish Women’s Rights Activists Held in Isolation After Arrest
MARCH 24, 2025
Two Kurdish civil activists arrested in connection with International Women’s Day events have been transferred to quarantine cells at Sanandaj Central Prison and are being denied all forms of contact.
Leila Pashaei, 45, originally from Saqqez and now residing in Sanandaj, and Baran Saeidi, 45, from Sanandaj, were arrested on March 10.
Both women are reportedly being pressured to make forced confessions on camera.
The activists, who were also previously detained for their involvement in the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, have been denied access to legal representation, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.
Since last week, they have also been prohibited from contacting their families while being held in the quarantine unit of the women’s ward at Sanandaj Central Prison.
Pashaei and Saeidi were arrested alongside two other Kurdish women’s rights activists, Soheila Motaei and Soma Mohammadzadeh, in Sanandaj and Dehgolan following their participation in International Women’s Day ceremonies.
Intelligence Department agents detained the women and transferred them to the agency’s detention facility in Sanandaj.
Motaei was released on bail on March 17, and Mohammadzadeh was released on March 19. Both were freed temporarily pending the completion of judicial proceedings.
Source:iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/139938-kurdish-womens-rights-activists-held-in-isolation-after-international-womens-day-arrests/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-women-hijabs-damaging-nude-photos/d/134974