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Islam, Women and Feminism ( 27 Nov 2025, NewAgeIslam.Com)

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Muslim Women Demand Justice, Not Sympathy, Seek Ban On Polygamy: Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan

New Age Islam News Bureau

27 November 2025

·         Muslim Women Demand Justice, Not Sympathy, Seek Ban On Polygamy: Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan

·         Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene Lashes Out At MAGA: ‘Do I Have To Stay Until I’m Assassinated Like Charlie Kirk?’

·         'Not A Prop': Elder Muslim Advocate Condemns Hanson's Burqa Stunt

·         100,000 Women Employed In Saudi Industrial Sector: Saudi Arabia Minister

·         Damascus University Pushes To Boost Women’s Leadership In Syria

·         Delegation Of Women From NE, Syria Participated In A Women's Conference In Lebanon

·         Sharjah Renews Call To Protect Women On Global Anti-Violence Day

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/bharatiya-muslim-mahila-andolan-justice/d/137796

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Muslim Women Demand Justice, Not Sympathy, Seek Ban On Polygamy: Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan

 27-11-2025

Muslim women at the press conference

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"We want justice, not sympathy!" With this firm resolve, the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) on Tuesday raised its voice in Mumbai against polygamy, the practice of a man marrying more than one woman.

At a press conference held at the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, a report titled “Lived Reality of 2500 Indian Muslim Women in Polygamous Marriages” was released. The findings, along with the testimonies of victims, are deeply distressing.

According to the report, 85 percent of Muslim women want polygamy to be legally abolished, and 87 percent demand that Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which criminalises bigamy for other men, should be applied equally to Muslim men.

Tears rolled down the faces of several women present at the conference. Tasleem, narrating her painful story, choked up. She said, “When I was pregnant for the third time, my husband gave me ‘triple talaq’ illegally and threw me out. Later he called me back. One year passed peacefully, then the violence started again. I was harassed and labelled ‘mad’. Ultimately, I had to leave.”

Husna, who works in households to make ends meet, spoke with deep anguish: “My husband abandoned me and our three children using fake divorce papers. There must be a law that makes a second marriage impossible without strict conditions. Unless both husband and first wife agree, and the first wife’s monthly expenses are ensured, no man should be allowed a second marriage. Forcing a woman to live with her husband’s second wife is injustice.”

Social activist Khatoon Shaikh opened the conference by saying, “Reforms in Muslim family law have been long overdue. Indian Muslim women deserve legal protection just like women of any other community. BMMA has filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court to end polygamy.”

BMMA activist Nargis expressed anger at the findings. “Men with shallow understanding of religion torment multiple women. Unfortunately, the police also appear helpless. When women approach them, they say that religion permits it, so what can they do? This is why legal reform is essential.”

Zakia Soman, author of the report and BMMA co-founder, emphasized gender justice: “We need this law because men and women are equal. Polygamy might have been a necessity during wartime when death rates were high, but today it has no place. Even among Hindus, polygamy exists, but Hindu women have legal protection, which Muslim women do not. The Quran also sets strict conditions for a second marriage, which are not followed.”

Jawed Anand of Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) said, “We have always opposed polygamy. It is a social disease, and only law can cure it.”

Firoz Mithiborwala of IMSD called the study historic: “The most important aspect is that this demand is not from any external group, but from women of the community themselves. It exposes the huge gap between the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and ordinary Muslim women.”

Dr Shamsuddin Tamboli, president of the Muslim Satyashodhak Mandal, said, “This report holds a mirror to society. Our organisation has been fighting this battle for five decades. We fully support the demands of Muslim women.”

Shocking Findings of the Report

30 percent of men told their wives, “Islam allows four marriages, so I married again.”

88 percent of men did not even consult their first wife before marrying again.

36 percent of first wives and 22 percent of second wives reported severe mental stress and depression due to polygamy.

59 percent of affected women and 60 percent of husbands had only school-level education, indicating a link between lack of education and this practice.

Source: awazthevoice.in

https://www.awazthevoice.in/stories-news/muslim-women-demand-justice-not-sympathy-seek-ban-on-polygamy-44229.html

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Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene Lashes Out At MAGA: ‘Do I Have To Stay Until I’m Assassinated Like Charlie Kirk?’

Nov 26, 2025

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is feeling cornered amid all the hate from her own conservative base as she fights her way out, even though she is quitting Congress in a few weeks.

Greene has hit back at calls for her to serve out her full term in office. She vented out at right-wing commentator Mike Cernovich on X.

Cernovich posted on X, “You need to serve out your full term.”

Greene replied that if she continued despite all the insults she has faced, she would end up like the slain MAGA activist Charlie Kirk.

MTG responded: “Oh I haven’t suffered enough for you while you post all day behind a screen? Do I have to stay until I’m assassinated like our friend Charlie Kirk. Will that be good enough for you then? S**t posting on the internet all day isn’t fighting. Get off YOUR a** and run for Congress. I fought harder than anyone in the real arena, not social media. Put down your little pebbles and put your money where your mouth is.”

Her comments come as the congresswoman has faced a series of personal threats in recent months. Police reports and her own statements describe repeated swatting incidents, hoax pizza deliveries and even a bomb-squad response after an email claimed a pipe bomb had been placed at her home. Greene says the constant harassment has taken a toll on her family. Even her daughter pleaded for mercy on social media.

The MAGA fallout

MTG was once one of Donald Trump’s most loyal and outspoken allies. She has announced she will resign from Congress on 5 January 2026. Greene gave several reasons for stepping down, saying she has self-respect and wants to preserve it.

Her decision comes days after a public clash with Trump over over several national issues.

In a four-page statement, Greene said the Trump administration has sidelined conservative priorities, including border security and betrayed “America First” policies. Her exit stirred a row among the MAGA base, with questions about whether disputes over H-1B visas, Epstein files, or her feud with Trump led to her resignation.

Greene has pushed hard for more transparency on the Epstein files. Her clashes over policy, including opposition to H-1B visas and foreign aid, left her increasingly isolated within her own party. She even slammed Trump for saying the United States “has no talent.” MTG claimed that the president had strayed from his “America First” stance.

MTG was one of the main reasons Trump is serving a second term in the first place, but now, even after that, she has been called “Marjorie TRAITOR Greene” by the POTUS.

Source: indiatimes.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/do-i-have-to-stay-until-im-assassinated-like-charlie-kirk-marjorie-taylor-greene-lashes-out-at-maga-for-pushing-her-to-serve-full-term/articleshow/125592837.cms

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'Not a prop': elder Muslim advocate condemns Hanson's burqa stunt

November 27 2025

A leading advocate for Muslim women has condemned One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, saying the right-wing leader's burqa stunt is enabling discrimination and harassment of minorities.

"As an elder Muslim woman, and on behalf of Muslim Women Australia, Senator Hanson's repeated attempts to ridicule our attire do not reflect the Australia we live in, nor the values Australian women uphold," Hajeh Maha Krayem Abdo said, chief executive of Muslim Women Australia.

Hanson, leader of One Nation, was banned from parliament during its final sitting week after walking into the Senate chamber wearing a burqa.

The incident occurred after Hanson failed to move a bill which would have banned the religious garment being worn in public places.

She has since been censured for the incident by the upper house, which banned her for a further seven sitting days following her refusal to apologise.

"I stand my ground and what I believe in, I will continue to do so," she told a press conference following her suspension.

Hanson also wore a burqa into the Senate in 2017, drawing a strong rebuke from then-Attorney-General George Brandis, who called the stunt "appalling".

The decision to use the religious garment for a political stunt was neither new nor clever, and casued harm, Ms Krayem Abdo said.

"It is a repetition of the same pattern we have seen for decades: a pattern of targeting women whose lives, faith, and identities she does not understand," she said.

"To reduce our identities to props or political theatre is not only disrespectful, but feeds the very attitudes that enable discrimination, harassment, and gendered violence."

She said Muslim women choose to wear hijabs or burqas for personal, spiritual and cultural reasons, and make informed choices.

"While Senator Hanson chooses to attack women's choices, Muslim women across Australia continue to contribute to the social, economic, cultural, and civic life of this country with strength, compassion, and integrity.

"Our priorities are not political theatrics, they are the wellbeing of families, the safety of our children, and the future of an inclusive Australia."

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Source: thesenior.com.au

https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/9121426/hansons-burqa-stunt-slammed-by-muslim-womens-advocate/

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100,000 Women Employed In Saudi Industrial Sector: Saudi Arabia Minister

November 26, 2025

RIYADH — Assistant Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Planning and Development Dr. Abdullah Al-Ahmari said that more than 100,000 women are currently working in the Saudi industrial sector within more than 12,000 licensed factories.

He made the remarks while attending the main dialogue session titled: “Empowering women and transforming industry: Leading for a sustainable future,” on the third day of the 21st General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The session focused on empowering women and enhancing their presence in industrial transformation paths, as the Kingdom presented its comprehensive strategy to increase women's participation and expand their leadership roles in the industrial sector.

In his speech, Al-Ahmari emphasized that Saudi Arabia is making clear strides in building a more inclusive industrial environment that empowers women across various industrial disciplines, particularly in the technology and advanced sectors.

He noted that the current phase focuses on rehabilitating industrial facilities and expanding their capacities to accommodate additional female talent, in cooperation with local and international partners committed to developing women’s skills and enhancing their participation.

The “Women’s Empowerment Day” events commenced with a number of sessions addressing comprehensive industrial policies, the role of women in future industries, and removing obstacles hindering their increased participation in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Other sessions focused on enhancing women’s participation in industrial value chains and showcasing the Saudi experience as a regional model that can be built upon internationally.

The conference also featured concurrent sessions addressing global challenges facing women in industry, the Gulf experience in enhancing their industrial presence, and discussions on the role of creative sectors and supply chains in consolidating gender equality.

One session focused on career guidance and networking as tools to promote women's advancement in industrial leadership roles, while a closing session emphasized the need to move from pledges to clear action mechanisms that include performance indicators and implementable programs.

The third day concluded with the "Orange Hour" event, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women during which representatives from 170 countries reaffirmed their commitment to promoting women's safety and expanding their empowerment across various economic and social sectors.

The summit's outcomes highlight a growing conviction that the future of global industry will not be possible without the effective integration of women in leadership, production, and innovation, and that international partnerships can transform the slogan "Women at the Heart of Global Industrial Transformation" into a tangible reality.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/656903/SAUDI-ARABIA/Al-Ahmari-100000-women-employed-in-Saudi-industrial-sector

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Damascus University pushes to boost women’s leadership in Syria

27/11/2025

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance the presence of Syrian women in leadership positions, the Academic Women’s Empowerment Unit at Damascus University organized a lecture aimed at preparing young women for leadership roles as the country looks toward long-term recovery.

Titled “From University Seats to Leadership Seats: How Can a Student Make an Impact in the New Syria,” the event focused on supporting female students and empowering them to shift from being passive recipients of opportunities to becoming active, initiative-taking members of society.

Building Confidence and Leadership Skills

The lecture was delivered by Dr. Daawa al-Ahdeb from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. She outlined strategies for turning ideas into practical initiatives and discussed the qualities young women need to navigate leadership roles in a rapidly changing environment.

Al-Ahdeb said empowering female students is essential to speeding Syria’s social recovery, describing universities as one of the few remaining platforms able to foster new female talent and encourage innovation.

University Officials See Women as Key to Social Rebuilding

Dr. Ahed Abu Younes, the university’s vice president for scientific affairs, said the institution is working to strengthen the role of women across its academic community. Developing women’s skills and confidence, she said, is critical for rebuilding a society that has experienced years of conflict and disruption.

Turning Opportunities Into Practical Experience

Ghalia Al-Habbal Al-Mujallad, head of the Women’s Empowerment Unit, said the program focuses on helping students turn educational opportunities into real leadership experience, whether they are trainees, staff, or faculty. She noted that the challenges facing Syrian women today make capacity-building programs “more necessary than ever.”

Students Call for More Training and Support

Female students attending the event said training programs have been crucial for helping them plan their careers and build the confidence needed to enter leadership roles. They noted that increased support for women in education and the workforce could open doors to broader professional opportunities.

The Women’s Empowerment Unit is part of FREE, an EU-funded project aimed at strengthening the role of academic women across Mediterranean universities. The initiative supports workshops and training designed to promote equal opportunity, leadership development, and sustainability in higher education.

Source: sana.sy

https://sana.sy/en/education/2280172/

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delegation of women from NE, Syria participated in a women's conference in Lebanon

26 November, 2025

A delegation of women from North and East Syria joined the Newroz Cultural Association in Lebanon at the conference "Women's Solidarity – A Force to Eliminate Violence and Discrimination Against Women and Girls," organized by the Women's Platform in Lebanon, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The conference included four parallel sessions addressing systems of violence in Lebanon:

The first session discussed domestic and social violence, focusing on mechanisms for protection, psychological support, and legal assistance.

The second session addressed gender-based violence in crises, linking it to the repercussions of the Beirut Port Explosion on women.

The third session focused on political violence, presenting feminist experiences from the perspectives of negotiation and confrontation.

The fourth session addressed violence against organizations and associations, highlighting attempts to restrict them and strategies for resilience and civil networking.

In the workshop on political violence, Fawza Yousef, a member of the Presidential Council of the Democratic Union Party, spoke about the experience of Kurdish women within the negotiating delegation with the Syrian transitional government. She argued that political violence does not always take an overt form, but rather begins with psychological pressure, moral threats, isolation, and attempts to break the will of women participating in decision-making.

She emphasized that women's presence at the negotiating table is not a mere symbolic detail, but a fundamental element linking societal security and rights. She added that the challenges women face in politics reflect a mindset that seeks to exclude them from the public sphere. However, she stressed that the Kurdish experience has proven that women's insistence on participation transforms negotiations into an arena of political struggle, not a place of submission.

In the workshop on violence against associations and organizations, Nawroz Othman, head of the Women's Committee of the Newroz Cultural Association, delivered a presentation emphasizing that violence targeting organizations is no less dangerous than violence targeting individuals. It begins with smear campaigns, hostile rhetoric, and obstruction of fieldwork, culminating in attempts to restrict funding, activities, and advocacy.

She explained that women's civil society organizations in Lebanon face practices aimed at silencing their voices because they generate real political and social influence. She concluded that protecting women's organizations is protecting women's role in bringing about change.

She concluded by stating that the Nawroz Association believes that building alliances is the strongest response to any form of organized violence, and that the resilience of associations is the first step towards dismantling the system of discrimination.

The conference is one of the most prominent activities of the platform, which comprises 48 feminist organizations and activists. It operates independently with a reformist vision that combines advocacy, recovery, and reconstruction from a gender perspective. UN Women Lebanon provides coordination, technical support, and logistical assistance to ensure the platform's sustainability and impact. The conference is part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

The event was held at Metropolis Cinema, which was transformed for a full day into a space for feminist dialogue and exchange of experiences between the local Lebanese experience and regional and international experiences, emphasizing that confronting violence against women requires a joint political, social, and organizational effort.

Source: hawarnews.com

https://hawarnews.com/en/delegation-of-women-from-ne-syria-participated-in-a-womens-conference-in-lebanon

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Sharjah renews call to protect women on global anti-violence day

November 27, 2025

Sharjah: Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Director of Sharjah’s Women’s Protection Centre, Mariam Ismail, stressed that protecting women is a national responsibility that must be shared by all members of society.

“Protecting women is a national duty, and the responsibility lies with all of us,” she said during an event held at the House of Wisdom under the theme “Empowering Women Begins with Protecting Them.”

Ismail reaffirmed the emirate’s commitment to supporting survivors of abuse through a wide network of social, psychological, legal and economic services. “Violence against women is not fate, nor something we can remain silent about. It requires a clear and united stance to change it,” she said.

Empowerment through protection

Ismail highlighted the centre’s mission to combat all forms of abuse and to empower women who have experienced violence, helping them rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society.

“Women make up half of society and are the foundation on which generations are raised. If a woman is abused and left without support, future generations will struggle to face life’s challenges,” she said.

The event featured participation from City University Ajman, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services and a wide audience of specialists and social workers.

Comprehensive services

During the event, Ismail outlined the services provided by the Women’s Protection Centre, which assists women facing verbal, physical, economic and sexual abuse, in addition to offering witness protection.

The centre provides shelter, legal advice, psychological and social counselling, and rehabilitation programmes aimed at restoring independence and dignity. She explained that the centre’s approach is built on the vision of moving women “from protection to empowerment” and contributing to a society free of violence and discrimination.

Awareness lecture

Dr. Nebal Khayal from City University Ajman delivered a lecture titled “Violence Against Women: Causes, Forms and Strategic Solutions.”

She explained the historical roots of the UN’s decision to designate November 25 as a Global Day of Awareness—recalling the 1960 assassination of the Mirabal sisters in the Dominican Republic, who became symbols of resistance to injustice.

1 in 3 women globally faces violence, UN campaign warns

One in three women worldwide experiences physical or sexual violence, often at the hands of their partner, according to UN statistics highlighted by Dr. Nibal. Only 52% of women globally can freely make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, while women make up 71% of human trafficking victims.

In the Arab world, 37% of women experience some form of violence, and 14% of girls marry before turning 18. Worldwide, 700 million girls are married.

Forms of abuse

Violence against women takes many forms, including physical harm, psychological abuse, sexual assault, economic deprivation, and emerging cyber threats such as online blackmail and defamation.

Dr. Khayal She stressed that violence does not occur in isolation but is shaped by cultural, economic, legal and psychological factors. Its impacts, she added, extend from individuals to entire communities, affecting social stability, public health and economic development.

The colour orange, used during the UN’s global campaign “End Violence Against Women,” symbolizes a bright future free from violence. The annual campaign runs from November 25 to December 10 which marks  International Human Rights Day.

Joint action required

Addressing violence against women requires coordinated legal, educational, social and religious efforts, the speaker noted.

Key recommendations included:

Stronger legislation and clear criminal penalties

Expanding shelters and specialised support services

Integrating respect and equality into school curricula

National awareness campaigns targeting men and youth

Supporting women’s economic independence

Promoting balanced religious messages that reject violence

UAE’s strong legal framework

The lecture also highlighted the UAE’s comprehensive laws to protect women, including the Federal Law on Domestic Violence Protection, along with helplines, shelters, and community counselling services.

These measures aim to provide integrated psychological, social, and legal support, and to ensure unified institutional efforts to protect women, children and the elderly.

Penalties for offenders range from fines to imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the offence.

Respecting women is respecting life

In her concluding remarks, Dr. Khayal emphasized that eliminating violence against women requires political will and community-wide cooperation.

“Building a society free from violence begins with the family, school, and media. Protecting women means protecting families — and the nation. When we respect women, we respect life itself,” she said.

Source: gulfnews.com

https://gulfnews.com/uae/sharjah-renews-call-to-protect-women-on-global-anti-violence-day-1.500361355

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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/bharatiya-muslim-mahila-andolan-justice/d/137796

 

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