Lahore ATC Deletes Terrorism Charges In Ichhra Woman Case For Wearing A Shirt With Arabic Print
New Age Islam News Bureau
13 Sep 2024
· Lahore ATC Deletes Terrorism Charges In Ichhra Woman Case For Wearing A Shirt With Arabic Print
· ‘Shoot Accused Or Shoot Me’: Mhow Rape Victim In Shock
· ‘We Will Win’, Says Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Laureate From Her Cell In Evin Prison
· University of New Haven Receives Transformational Donation to Support Female Students from Afghanistan
· Beyond Condemnation: Forging a Path to Justice for Afghanistan’s Women
· Afghan Women Banned From Speaking In Public; Find Their Voice In Christ
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/lahore-atc-arabic-print-terrorism-ichhra/d/133191
--------
Lahore ATC Deletes Terrorism Charges In Ichhra Woman Case For Wearing A Shirt With Arabic Print
A 17-year-old girl was saved by a woman police officer in Pakistan's cultural capital Lahore from an angry mob that accused her of blasphemy after mistaking the Arabic calligraphy printed on her dress for verses from the Quran,
------
September 13, 2024
LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Thursday approved deletion of terrorism charges in a case of harassment to a woman in Ichhra Bazaar for wearing a shirt with Arabic print.
Judge Arshad Javed passed the order on the applications of suspects and instructed his office to transfer the case to a sessions court.
The police investigation found suspects AltamishSaqlain, Nadeem, Muhammad Ali alias Chand Butt, Malik Khurram Shehzad and Adil Sarwar guilty while cleric Maulana Aleemuddin Shakir, Khalid Mahmood and Allama Saqib Ali had been declared innocent.
The lawyers for the suspects argued that the terrorism charges could not be applied in the case based on the contents of the FIR.
Ichhra police registered the FIR a week after the incident wherein dozens of religiously charged people had accused a woman of blasphemy in Ichhra Bazaar as she was wearing a shirt having Arabic calligraphy print.
The mob threatened to kill the woman. However, a police team, led by ASP Sheharbano Naqvi, had rescued the woman and shifted her to a police station.
Source: dawn.com
https://www.dawn.com/news/1858623/lahore-atc-deletes-terrorism-charges-in-ichhra-woman-case
--------
‘Shoot Accused Or Shoot Me’: Mhow Rape Victim In Shock
As of now, the FIR has been filed based on the complaint of one of the Army officers.
------
September 13, 2024
by Anand Mohan J
The men who allegedly assaulted two young Army officers and raped one of their two women friends near Mhow in Madhya Pradesh in the early hours of Wednesday would roam the area on motorcycles looking for people they could rob, officers investigating the case have told The Indian Express. The men had also threatened to kill the victims if they did not pay them Rs 10 lakh, investigators said.
Police said they are facing a conundrum as the woman who was allegedly raped has refused to record her statement.
The FIR has been filed based on a complaint by one of the Army officers, who stated, “They misbehaved with the woman, and I suspect something wrong was done to her.”
“She only keeps telling us one thing – shoot the accused or shoot me. We understand she is in shock. We are trying our best to arrest the men who did this,” said a senior officer who tried multiple times to convince the woman to record her statement.
Indore Rural Superintendent of Police HitikaVasal told The Indian Express, “She is not comfortable registering her statement. We will wait until she recovers. We have arrested three persons – Anil, Pawan and Ritesh. Ritesh was acquitted in a murder case in 2019. The remaining three accused will be arrested soon.”
According to the FIR, the two young Army officers and their two friends went to the Army’s firing range near Jam Gate at 11 pm. They exited their vehicle and were sitting at an isolated spot when “seven to eight unknown individuals attacked us with sticks and rods, around 2.30 am”.
“When we asked them what they wanted, one of them said, ‘We need 10 lakh rupees, or we will kill you.’ One person had a pistol, and all the assailants had their faces uncovered – they appeared to be between 20 and 35 years old,” the FIR stated.
Police records of the three arrested men indicate that they have been involved in several cases in the past.
Anil was booked in 2016 at Manpur police station for allegedly robbing a collection executive working with a finance company. The complainant had alleged that “four unknown persons came to us on two numberless motorcycles and told me… to hand over my bag and all the belongings, else they would kill me”.
On August 18, 2021, a police team that had gone to attend to a dispute call between two families faced stone pelting from 50-60 people. Anil was among those arrested in the case. On July 1, 2024, he was booked along with eight others for allegedly uprooting 285 poles and barbed wires, which were part of a fence of a reserved forest area.
On September 28, 2021, Pawan was booked in an excise case after the police confiscated banned liquor from him.
State prosecutor Mahendra Singh Munjalde told The Indian Express, “Both Anil and Pawan have been sent to five-day police custody. The victim’s purse had been looted, and we wanted their custody to trace it.” Ritesh, the third person arrested, will be produced in court Friday.
Meanwhile, the ruling BJP government came under Opposition fire over the law and order situation in the state.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said, “Law and order in BJP-ruled states is almost non-existent – and, the negative attitude of the BJP government towards the day-by-day increasing crimes against women is extremely worrying.”
“This audacity of the criminals is a result of the total failure of the administration and the unsafe environment prevailing in the country. Due to this, there is restriction on the freedom and aspirations of the daughters of India,” he said.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav defended the police and said, “On the basis of our strict action, some accused have been arrested and some more will be arrested soon. The government is very strict regarding such matters, the law will take its own course.”
Source: indianexpress.com
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/shoot-accused-or-shoot-me-rape-victim-in-shock-day-after-attack-on-2-army-officers-women-friends-in-mhow-9564908/
--------
‘We Will Win’, Says Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Laureate From Her Cell In Evin Prison
September 12, 2024
Nine months after Narges Mohammadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in absentia, Iranian authorities remain relentless in retaliating against Mohammadi for her activism. She has been sentenced to further prison time for “propaganda activities,” brutally attacked by guards, and continues to be denied vital medical treatment and contact with her family. And yet, in words smuggled from her cell in Evin Prison, Mohammadi remains steadfast.
“The power of women’s defiance in Iran is inspiring; we will not give up on justice and freedom. We will not surrender love, femininity, and motherhood to the hands of monstrous religious despotism,” the Nobel Laureate wrote. “We will live. We will kiss the sun and fill the world with vitality and hope. We will win.”
Mohammadi’s 17-year-old son, Ali Rahmani, read these powerful words at the opening of last week’s Nobel Peace Conference 2024: Woman Life Freedom, held in Oslo, Norway.
The conference brought together Nobel laureates, women’s rights experts, and human rights defenders committed to securing Mohammadi’s release and advancing human rights in Iran, including PEN America’s Director of Writers at Risk, Karin Deutsch Karlekar, and LieslGerntholtz, managing director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Center at PEN America. (Mohammadi was the 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award honoree.)
Participants explored strategies to combat the global rollback of women’s rights, including gender apartheid in Afghanistan and Iran. And they celebrated the official launch of the Free Narges Coalition, spearheaded by PEN America, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) (who awarded her the 2022 RSF Prize for Courage), and Front Line Defenders, in collaboration with the Narges Mohammadi Foundation, alongside 27 other civil society organizations as founding members.
Karlekar noted, “Narge’s case has been a priority for the PEN global network for over a decade. We’ve had PEN centers from around the world, including Norway, Sweden, Australia, and Canada, as well as the PEN International Secretariat working on this case. PEN believes in the power of solidarity, and as we have experienced working on other cases, we’re often stronger working together.”
The Free Narges Coalition “demands Mohammadi’s immediate and unconditional release as an emblematic figure representing the many other persecuted and silenced voices in Iran.” The campaign will leverage its partners’ and supporters’ expertise, resources, and networks, all unified under the #FreeNarges hashtag, to coordinate and amplify efforts to free Mohammadi and all those jailed in Iran for their expression and activism.
While in Oslo, the Steering Committee met with members of the Norwegian Parliament and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advocate for Mohammadi’s release and discuss the dire human rights situation in Iran, where the crackdown on activists and dissident voices continues.
Throughout her three decades of politically motivated imprisonment, Mohammadi has endured solitary confinement and the denial of medical care and family contact. Iranian authorities appear indifferent to the heightened international recognition following her Nobel Prize. Last month, she and several other women at Evin were brutally attacked by guards for protesting executions. Mohammadi was repeatedly punched in the chest, collapsing in pain, while medical care, as is typical in Evin, was delayed. Having undergone heart surgery just a year ago, she continues to be denied vital medical treatment because of her refusal to wear the hijab outside the prison, raising serious concerns about her well-being.
Addressing conference attendees, Ali’s twin sister, Kiana, said, “Our mother has spent more than ten years of her life in prison, including 135 days in solitary confinement. Despite all her suffering and deteriorating health, she still faces nearly 11 more years behind bars. This is truly brutal.” Kiana and Ali have not seen their mother since fleeing Iran in 2015, and due to prison restrictions, have been unable to speak to her for almost two years.
Source: pen.org
https://pen.org/the-power-of-womens-defiance-in-iran-we-will-win/
--------
University of New Haven Receives Transformational Donation to Support Female Students from Afghanistan
SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
The University of New Haven announced today the establishment of the Afghan Women’s Scholars program.
This program, made possible by a generous seven-figure gift from Henrik Nielsen, will provide scholarship and financial assistance to 10 undergraduate and four graduate Afghan women enrolled in any of the University’s five academic colleges/schools. The program support will span the four-year tenure for undergraduate students and the two-year tenure for graduate students.
“Friends of mine approached me about the prospect of creating this pipeline program, and I was delighted to support it,” said Nielsen. “The impact this will have on the lives of these remarkable women is inspiring, and I look forward to seeing their stories unfold.”
“This wonderful initiative arose through several individuals who have worked in and around the devastating crisis in Afghanistan, and their enduring commitment to provide opportunities for brighter futures,” said University of New Haven President Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D. “We are so grateful for the support and so excited about this program.
“The University of New Haven’s focus on local students from all over the world, whose goals and perspectives are global, made this a natural partnership,” President Frederiksen continued. “We are doubling down on impact and opportunity for students here in Connecticut and across the globe.”
The University recently welcomed the second largest first-year class in its more than 100-year history and for the ninth consecutive year was featured in The Princeton Review’s list of the top colleges and universities in the country. The University is excited to grow its global community by creating the Afghan Women’s Scholars program.
The University of New Haven has a longstanding legacy of offering international programming and currently educates students from more than 70 countries.
“The far- and wide-ranging contributions of the University of New Haven have consistently reflected a deep understanding of and devotion to a better, brighter future,” said President Frederiksen. “This transcendent theme of providing opportunities remains a key part of the can-do spirit of the University as well as a vital priority of the institution going forward.”
Source: newhaven.edu
https://www.newhaven.edu/news/releases/2024/donation-to-support-female-students-from-afghanistan.php
--------
Beyond Condemnation: Forging a Path to Justice for Afghanistan’s Women
SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
In June, Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, called for an “all tools” approach to challenge and dismantle the Taliban’s institutionalized system of gender oppression and hold those responsible accountable in his report to the Human Rights Council.
Despite international efforts and pressure on the Taliban to reverse their oppressive rules, on August 26th, they issued a new morality law banning women’s voices and faces in public, further escalating the regime’s ongoing campaign against the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Richard Bennett emphasized in his report to the Human Rights Council that “The latest Taliban morality law marks a new phase in the ongoing regression in the respect for human rights.” He noted that human rights have been violated for over a span of four decades in Afghanistan, and urged Member States to identify survivor-centered and gender-responsive pathways to justice while strengthening existing mechanisms to address the gravity of the situation.
Echoing this call for action, Human Rights Watch stated in a recent report, “The United Nations Human Rights Council should urgently create an independent body to pursue accountability for all those responsible for serious abuses – past and present – in Afghanistan.”
Since the Taliban’s return to power, women’s rights have significantly regressed. They face severe restrictions on freedom of movement, access to education and professional opportunities, and participation in public life. The phenomena of domestic violence and forced marriage have surged. Women have suffered from restricted access to healthcare, which has brought about rising maternal mortality rates. And against the backdrop of the disintegration of legal protections, institutions women once leaned on for support have been dismantled.
Afghanistan is a signatory to several international human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). These treaties obligate Afghanistan to protect women’s rights, ensure their safety and equality, take measures to eliminate gender-based discrimination, provide equal access to education, healthcare, and employment, and protect women and girls from violence and exploitation.
The current situation in Afghanistan represents a clear violation of these international legal standards.
Achieving accountability in Afghanistan, however, faces numerous obstacles. The current political situation, coupled with a lack of access to justice, presents significant challenges. The dismantling of human rights support institutions has left a void in the protection of women’s rights. Moreover, the Taliban’s control over the judiciary and law enforcement agencies further complicates efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
In this context, international organizations play a crucial role in ensuring accountability. The UN Human Rights Council, through mechanisms like the Special Rapporteur, can investigate abuses and recommend actions. Additionally, the International Criminal Court (ICC) holds the potential to prosecute those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. These international bodies can provide the necessary oversight and pressure to address the ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan.
While the situation for women in Afghanistan remains dire, there is hope for change through accountability and support. The international community must continue to exert pressure on the Taliban to respect human rights and allow independent investigations. Strengthening local human rights organizations is crucial to provide on-the-ground support and advocacy. Legal reforms must be pursued, even in the face of resistance, to establish a framework for protecting women’s rights. Providing direct support to victims, through both humanitarian aid and long-term empowerment programs, is essential for healing and rebuilding lives.
These measures, while challenging to implement, are crucial for achieving justice and empowerment for Afghan women. The path forward requires unwavering commitment from the international community, persistent advocacy, and a multi-faceted approach that addresses both immediate needs and long-term systemic changes. Only through sustained effort and a refusal to turn a blind eye to these atrocities can we hope to see a future where Afghan women and girls can live with dignity, freedom, and equal rights.
Source: jurist.org
https://www.jurist.org/commentary/2024/09/beyond-condemnation-forging-a-path-to-justice-for-afghanistans-women/
--------
Afghan Women Banned From Speaking In Public; Find Their Voice In Christ
By Lyndsey Koh
September 13, 2024
Afghanistan (MNN) — Afghanistan’s Taliban regime is taking its oppression of women one step further. Now, women across the country are forbidden from baring their faces or even speaking in public.
The ruling came down in a set of new laws approved by the supreme leader at the end of August.
“When the Taliban says to women, ‘You have no voice. When you leave your home, you can’t even speak. We don’t want to see your face,’ and then you open the Bible, and you find out that an Iranian queen who had Jewish blood (Esther) stood up and spoke for all her people – that’s a pretty dramatic thing. God rescued people through that.”
IMM has been working on a television project called Women of the Bible, and several stories are complete in multiple languages.
“We had a lot of people who are working in the Middle East and North Africa who said, ‘Can you do some more for women? We need more products for women. We’d love dramas,'” says Godwin. “We discussed how about women from the Bible? Because that’s something we had done a lot of projects on.”
Click here to watch IMM’s Women from the Bible.
Please pray for Afghan women to find their voices and worth in the love of Christ Jesus. Ask God to open doors for these women to meet Christians and be exposed to Gospel resources like IMM videos.
Godwin adds, “We can all be…praying for the ministries that are inside these countries, for the ministries that are working secretly underground in the countries around them as people are able to get in and out.
“We can pray for the Christians that are under persecution in these places because we are their voice. They don’t have a voice. And we can pray for government changes because these regimes are extremely oppressive and these are not what these people want.”
Source: mnnonline.org
https://www.mnnonline.org/news/afghan-women-banned-from-speaking-in-public-find-their-voice-in-christ/
--------
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/lahore-atc-arabic-print-terrorism-ichhra/d/133191