Pakistani Court Acquits Muslim Woman, Aniqa Atiq, in Blasphemy Case
New Age Islam News Bureau
31 October 2025
· Pakistani Court Acquits Muslim Woman, Aniqa Atiq, in Blasphemy Case
· Iranian Activist Sharifeh Mohammadi’s Death Sentence Commuted To 30 Years In Prison
· Islamophobia In The West Midlands: Muslim Woman ‘Racially Abused And Spat At’
· Methodology Of Calling To Allah: Training Workshop At National Women's Committee in Yemen
· Empowering Rural Women Key To Climate Resilience
· Women Displaced From Al-Fashir In Sudan Describe Harrowing Experiences
· Arrests, Raids, And Hate Speech: Persecution Of Iran’s Baha'is In October
· Wife Of Iranian Political Prisoner Arrested In Mahabad
· ‘Normalising’ Taliban Rule Would Betray Afghan Women, Warns UN Expert
· Pepperstone Hosts New Masterclass To Empower Women In The UAE To Master Trading And Investing
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/pakistani-court-muslim-woman-blasphemy-case/d/137466
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Pakistani Court Acquits Muslim Woman, Aniqa Atiq, in Blasphemy Case
Oct 30, 2025
Photo-Punjab Kesri
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Lahore, Oct 30 (PTI) A ground-breaking decision has emerged from a Pakistani court, which overturned the death sentence of Muslim woman Aniqa Atiq in a controversial blasphemy case. Serious procedural flaws within the prosecution's framework contributed significantly to the court’s decision, as confirmed by an official on Thursday. The Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench delivered the acquittal on Wednesday following a detailed appeal hearing. Aniqa Atiq, previously condemned to death by a special court of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Rawalpindi in January 2022, faced allegations of sending blasphemous messages to complainant Hasanat Farooq. This arrest by the FIA occurred in 2020, triggered by Farooq's accusations. The decisive ruling was delivered by a two-member bench consisting of Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Justice Chaudhry Waheed. The judges highlighted the prosecution’s inability to substantiate the accusations against Aniqa. This case marks a historical precedent, as Aniqa is the first Muslim woman and third woman overall to face such a sentence in a blasphemy case. Notably, the two other women—Aasia Bibi and Shagufta Bibi—were of Christian faith. Aasia Bibi's case garnered international attention, culminating in her 2018 acquittal and subsequent relocation to Europe. During the appeal, Aniqa’s lawyer, Saiful Malook, argued the charges lacked foundation since the Cyber Crime Wing of FIA conducted no forensic verification. The blasphemy case, registered ten days post-incident in April 2020, never involved the seizure of Aniqa’s phone. The court criticized this negligence and the FIA’s broader mishandling of blasphemy cases, emphasizing the agency’s failure to adhere to established legal protocols. Justice Khan inquired about any forensic scrutiny of Aniqa's mobile device. The prosecution revealed that the phone implicated was actually owned by another woman and never underwent forensic examination. Furthermore, this woman was not named as a co-accused. The judge remarked, “When no evidence exists against the accused, how was a death sentence justified?” Additionally, he questioned Farooq, “How could a man maintain contact for one and a half years with a woman (Aniqa) with whom he had no religious connection?” The court concluded by upholding Aniqa’s appeal and annulling her death penalty. Recent data from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan indicates a significant uptick in blasphemy cases, particularly since 2022. The increase is attributed to the misuse of blasphemy laws for personal vendettas and property disputes, often involving manipulated online accusations. In a four-year span, cases skyrocketed from 9 in 2021 to a staggering 475 in 2024, indicating a trend where individuals face entrapment through fabricated online content for extortion or coercion.
Source: editorji.com
https://www.editorji.com/world-news/court-acquits-woman-in-pakistan-blasphemy-case-1761823923141
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Iranian Activist Sharifeh Mohammadi’s Death Sentence Commuted To 30 Years In Prison
October 30, 2025
On July 4, 2024, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to death on charges of ‘baghi’ - rebellion against the state
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Iran’s judiciary chief has commuted the death sentence of imprisoned labour activist Sharifeh Mohammadi to 30 years in prison.
Mohammadi’s lawyer, Amir Raesian, said the head of the Islamic Republic’s judiciary reduced the sentence by one degree, though he vowed to continue pursuing a full acquittal of the “rebellion” charges against her.
“Fortunately, the danger of tragedy has been averted for now, but we are still seeking a retrial or the application of Article 477 so that her conviction will be overturned and she will be acquitted of the charge of rebellion,” Raesian said.
Mohammadi, a workers’ rights advocate, was arrested by security forces in the northern city of Rasht on December 5, 2023.
On July 4, 2024, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to death on charges of ‘baghi’ - rebellion against the state.
Judge Ahmad Darvish Goftar based the conviction on evidence that included anti–death penalty pamphlets, materials supporting detained women’s rights activists found on Mohammadi’s computer, and her membership in a Telegram channel.
Iran’s Supreme Court initially overturned the death sentence, but the same Revolutionary Court branch reinstated it upon review earlier this year.
The judiciary chief’s commutation marks the second reversal in the case.
According to court documents, authorities accused Mohammadi of attempting to “overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran” through alleged membership in opposition groups.
Legal experts have identified multiple contradictions in the verdict. Mohammad Oliaifard, a lawyer who reviewed the case, criticized the ruling for relying solely on intelligence reports without supporting documents.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/145940-sharifeh-mohammadis-death-sentence-commuted-to-30-years-in-prison/
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Islamophobia In The West Midlands: Muslim Woman ‘Racially Abused And Spat At’
By Ayesha Malik
October 30, 2025
A Muslim mother was racially abused and spat at while shopping with her ten-month-old baby in a deplorable anti-Muslim attack in Walsall.
The woman was walking towards a shop at a retail park near Bescot Crescent when she was approached by a man. She says he made a noise, spat at her, his saliva landing on her coat, and then shouted a racial slur.
The mother says she was left frozen in fear, calling the abuse “completely unprovoked” and “terrifying.”
Speaking about the incident, which happened on Monday, October 27, she said:
“I went to Bescot Retail Park with my 10-month-old baby this morning.
As it’s usually busy during the holidays, I felt it was safe for me and my daughter to go alone, as we often do.
As I came out of one shop and headed to another, I saw a tall white man walking towards us. I thought nothing of it.
When he got closer, I noticed he was staring straight at us. Then he made a noise, spat at me, it hit my coat.
I was in shock. It was completely unprovoked, and I had my baby with me in the pushchair. At first, I thought it must’ve been an accident. Then he called me a dirty ****. I froze. He just kept walking, like nothing had happened.”
“It was Islamophobic and racist. I was scared he might turn back, so I went straight to my car.
I don’t feel safe anymore. I was born and raised in Walsall, and my parents are British too, so hearing that kind of abuse here is heart-breaking.
Sadly, Islamophobia is getting worse across the West Midlands. As a Muslim woman, I no longer feel safe in my own community.”
West Midlands Police confirmed they are investigating.
A spokesperson said:
“We have received a report of a woman being racially abused in Walsall and are carrying out further enquiries to establish the full circumstances of what happened.”
Source: s2jnews.com
https://s2jnews.com/muslim-woman-racially-abused-and-spat-at-as-she-shopped-with-young-baby-in-walsal/
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Methodology Of Calling To Allah: Training Workshop At National Women's Committee in Yemen
30 Oct 2025
The National Women's Committee organized a training workshop in the capital city on the methodology of calling to God.
Over two days, the workshop aimed to train 13 participants on "The Methodology of Calling to God," the scientific and modern methodological foundations of calling to God, and how to apply them practically and effectively.
It also aimed to equip participants with effective communication skills and the ability to formulate a message of calling to God in a convincing and clear manner, with a focus on practical aspects.
Source: saba.ye
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3579783.htm
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Arrests, Raids, and Hate Speech: Persecution of Iran’s Baha'is in October
October 30, 2025
The Iranian authorities have launched a new wave of arrests, raids, and smear campaigns against members of the Baha'i community, marking one of the most extensive crackdowns of recent months.
The repression - carried out across at least six provinces - has been accompanied by hate speech in schools, harsh prison rulings, and renewed appeals for justice from within Iran and abroad.
In Shiraz, two Baha'i citizens - Fardin Bengaleh and Afshin Haghighat - were arrested on 14 October by security agents and transferred to undisclosed locations.
Their families have received no information regarding the reasons for their detention or their whereabouts.
In both cases, agents searched their homes and confiscated personal belongings, including digital devices and religious books.
Two days earlier, on the evening of 12 October, Sonia Todiee, a Baha'i resident of Babol in Mazandaran Province, was also arrested and taken to an unknown location following a raid on her home.
In Urmia, West Azerbaijan Province, security agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the home of Jinous Mohammadnejad, searched the premises, and seized several personal items including books and electronic devices.
These individual arrests came amid broader, coordinated operations. On 20 October, security and intelligence agents carried out sweeping actions targeting Baha'is in at least six provinces – Sistan and Baluchestan, Semnan, Mazandaran, Fars, Isfahan, and Tehran – raiding more than twenty homes and workplaces.
Agents reportedly confiscated property, sealed businesses, and detained several individuals, transferring them to unknown locations.
Baha'i homes and businesses have faced similar raids in recent months. In August, security forces conducted coordinated searches of multiple Baha'i residences and shops in the Valiasr district of western Isfahan, confiscating property documents and other belongings in what witnesses described as a deliberate act of intimidation.
In addition to these physical attacks, hate speech and incitement continue to permeate Iran’s education system.
Reports from 14 October revealed that a religious instructor (Talabeh) employed in a state school made insulting remarks about the Baha'i Faith in class, repeating false claims about Baha'i marriage practices in the presence of Baha'i students.
On two occasions, Baha'i pupils challenged the misinformation and clarified the truth of their beliefs to their classmates – an act of courage amid an environment of official hostility.
The month also saw powerful letters and appeals from both prisoners of conscience and families of the imprisoned.
In Tehran, the long-imprisoned Baha'i leader Fariba Kamalabadi was briefly told she would be released before authorities reversed the decision.
In response, fellow political prisoner Nasim Simiari began a hunger strike, declaring: “Until my dear Fariba is unconditionally freed, I will be on hunger strike.”
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi also published an open letter from prison, writing: “I want to tell the story of a woman who has spent more than fourteen years in the prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran, guilty of nothing except being a member of the Baha'i Faith.”
Meanwhile, Mohammad Ali Rowhanian, husband of Roya Sabet – a Baha'i woman sentenced in Shiraz to 25 years in prison – issued a heartfelt public appeal for justice.
“We are deeply saddened and outraged by these inhumane and unjust rulings,” he wrote. “We appeal to all human rights organizations in Iran and around the world to help end the oppression inflicted upon the Baha'is of Iran.”
Outside Iran, solidarity continues to build. Baha'i students across Europe – including in Luxembourg, Vienna, the United Kingdom, and Spain – have renewed calls for the #RightToEducation, condemning the exclusion of Baha'is from Iran’s universities and reminding the world that education is a human right, not a privilege.
The arrests, raids, and hate speech of October underscore the continuing, coordinated nature of Iran’s campaign against the Baha'is – an effort to isolate and silence a community that has endured decades of persecution.
These updates cover October 2025 and are drawn from bulletins provided by the Baha'i International Community.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/bahais-of-iran/145950-arrests-raids-and-hate-speech-persecution-of-irans-bahais-in-october/
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Pepperstone hosts new masterclass to empower women in the UAE to master trading and investing
October 30, 2025
Dubai, UAE: Pepperstone, a leading global online broker, announced it will host an exclusive masterclass designed specifically to empower women in the UAE to take control of their financial futures through responsible investing and trading. The event took a place at BOHOX to demystify financial markets and encourage women to incorporate trading as a flexible and strategic component of their overall wealth building strategy.
The masterclass will bring together experienced female leaders in Pepperstone who are committed to simplifying complex trading concepts and championing financial literacy. The event will focus on practical, actionable strategies for both seasoned professionals and those beginning to explore the markets.
Featured Speakers include:
Simona Wilkinson, Head of Strategic Operations at Pepperstone
Sama Abu-Jurji, Sales Manager – Pepperstone Middle East
Farah Farhat, Marketing Manager – Pepperstone Middle East
“We recognize that women in the UAE are rapidly becoming a driving force in personal finance. This masterclass is designed to cut through the complexity, showing how trading is a vital and flexible tool, said Simona Wilkinson, Head of Strategic Operations at Pepperstone. “Financial empowerment starts with education. This masterclass provides a clear roadmap and the confidence for women to engage in building wealth, supported by transparency and robust risk management tools.”
The session will illustrate how investing focused on long-term portfolio growth and trading focused on short-term market opportunities can complement each other within a balanced wealth plan.
Key Themes and Insights for Attendees:
The Rising Female Investor: Exploring the significant trend of women in the UAE increasingly engaging with investing and trading.
Financial Flexibility: Positioning trading as a flexible wealth-building avenue that can be adapted to busy professional and personal lifestyles.
Responsible Wealth-Building: Highlighting the critical role of education, transparency, and risk management as pillars of responsible trading.
With this new masterclass Pepperstone reinforces its ongoing commitment to fostering financial education and inclusion in the MENA region, and to ensuring all investors, regardless of experience level, have access to the technological and didactic resources they need to succeed.
About Pepperstone:
Founded in 2010, Pepperstone has grown to become an award-winning global online forex and CFD broker, known for providing exceptional customer service and withdrawals to tens of thousands of clients worldwide. Pepperstone has subsidiaries around the world and is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySec), the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB), the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), and the Capital Markets Authority of Kenya (CMA). The Pepperstone group of companies has clients in over 160 countries.
Source: zawya.com
https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/pepperstone-hosts-new-masterclass-to-empower-women-in-the-uae-to-master-trading-and-investing-kne41nh8
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/pakistani-court-muslim-woman-blasphemy-case/d/137466