Priyanka Gandhi Carries 'Palestine' Bag To Parliament In Solidarity With Palestinians
New Age Islam News Bureau
16 December 2024
· Priyanka Gandhi Carries 'Palestine' Bag To Parliament In Solidarity With Palestinians
· Iranian Referee, Mahsa Ghorbani, Reveals ThreatsOf Acid Attacks, Harassment
· Muslim Rights Concern Hails Hijab For Muslim Students In NAVY Schools
· Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Halts Implementation Of Hijab Law
· Hindu Husband Abandons Muslim Woman in VantimamidiForest After Marriage
· Woman, 46, Killed In London Shooting Named And Pictured For First Time
· Women In Afghanistan’s Rural Areas Face Shortage Of Female Doctors
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Priyanka Gandhi Carries 'Palestine' Bag To Parliament In Solidarity With Palestinians
16 Dec 2024,
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during ongoing Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.PTI
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NEW DELHI: In a show of support for the people of Palestine, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday carried a bag to Parliament that had "Palestine" emblazoned on it.
The Congress general secretary has been raising her voice against Israel's actions in Gaza and expressing solidarity with Palestinians.
Gandhi was seen carrying a handbag emblazoned with the word "Palestine" and Palestinian emblems, including a watermelon -- seen as a symbol of Palestinian solidarity.
Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer, Charge d'affaires of the Palestine Embassy in New Delhi, had last week called on Gandhi to congratulate the Congress leader on her recent election victory from Kerala's Wayanad.
In June, Gandhi slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over what she had said were the Israel government's "genocidal actions" in Gaza, as she accused him and his government of "barbarism".
The Congress general secretary's remarks had come after Netanyahu defended Israel's ongoing war in Gaza in a speech to the US Congress.
Gandhi had said it was no longer enough to speak up for the civilians, mothers, fathers, doctors, nurses, aid workers, journalists, teachers, writers, poets, senior citizens and the thousands of innocent children who were being wiped out day after day by the "horrific genocide" taking place in Gaza.
"It is the moral responsibility of every right-thinking individual, including all those Israeli citizens who do not believe in hatred and violence, and every government in the world to condemn the Israeli government's genocidal actions and force them to stop," she had said in a post on X.
Their actions are unacceptable in a world that professes civility and morality, Gandhi had said.
The image, however, also prompted a sharp response from BJP leader Sambit Patra.
Patra criticised the Gandhi family, stating, "The Gandhi family has always been carrying the bag of appeasement. The appeasement bag is the reason behind their rout in elections." He also took to X (formerly Twitter), posting a collage comparing Modi and Priyanka Gandhi. The collage featured Modi with the caption "main aapkahun" and Priyanka with "wohunkehai."
Source: newindianexpress.com
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Dec/16/in-solidarity-with-palestinians-priyanka-carries-bag-emblazoned-with-palestine-to-parliament-2
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Iranian Referee, Mahsa Ghorbani, Reveals ThreatsOf Acid Attacks, Harassment
DECEMBER 16, 2024
Mahsa Ghorbani, an Iranian international football referee, describes enduring intense interrogations, threats of acid attacks, staged car accidents, and psychological torture.
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She struggles to hold back tears as she recounts her experiences, yet she continues speaking.
Mahsa Ghorbani, an Iranian international football referee, describes enduring intense interrogations, threats of acid attacks, staged car accidents, and psychological torture.
She also reveals that officials falsely claimed she was too ill to officiate, even sending a letter to FIFA to corroborate this claim.
Ghorbani was scheduled to serve as an assistant video referee (VAR) for the Tehran Derby on March 13. However, just two days before the match, officials informed the Football Federation that she would no longer be officiating.
"We were aware that Mahsa wouldn't be officiating this game," a source within the Football Federation told IranWire. "We hoped everything would resolve without complications."
The source also mentioned a tense meeting at the Ministry of Sports two days before the derby. Ghorbani now tells IranWire that Iranian women often face these struggles alone.
Her dream, often shared with fellow referees, is, "One day, I’ll officiate at the world’s biggest event, under Iran’s flag, without the mandatory hijab, to bring the voice of my people to the world."
According to reports, due to the security pressures you faced in recent months after your name appeared on the list of VAR referees for the Esteghlal vs. Persepolis match, you decided to leave the country. We also remember that although you were listed as one of Iran's female international referees, your name was repeatedly removed from the Federation's list to prevent FIFA from selecting you for men's games. However, after the March 2024 incident and your inclusion as a referee for the Tehran derby, you were completely removed from the list. Can you tell us more about this?
Yes, after it was officially announced that I was one of the VAR referees for the Tehran derby, and FIFA approved me within 48 hours, calls started coming in—first from the Football Federation's security and then from the Ministry of Sports' security.
Soon, people I didn't know began contacting me without explaining who they were or where they came from. When I asked the officials at the Federation about them, they told me that high-level security agencies had taken over my case.
Initially, they politely told me to withdraw from the match. Then they asked me to write a letter saying I wasn’t mentally or emotionally fit to officiate. After that, they asked me to sit in front of a camera and say I was ill and unable to officiate.
Accepting this was very difficult for me, and in the end, I didn’t agree to any of their demands. It reached a point where they began questioning my clothing at international games, asking me to confirm that I had been undressed abroad. Throughout these events, they spoke to me in vulgar language and threatened me. In the end, I didn't give in under all that pressure.
While the Football Federation was removing your name from the list of referees for the Tehran derby, we at IranWire reported, based on security sources, that plainclothes security forces had come after you. The Federation had unofficially denied what you said at the time. But you mentioned that they used vulgar language during interrogations or conversations. Could you elaborate on that?
Security agencies became involved in my case when the Football Federation's security and the Ministry of Sports' security realized they couldn’t influence my decision.
At that point, plainclothes agents and security forces started approaching me. Their words had a significant psychological impact on me. They told me I had to confess that I had been naked when traveling abroad.
They insisted I admit that, when attending international competitions, I wanted to show my body. When I rejected these claims, they would slam the table, get angry, and raise their voices.
I'd apologize, but they would say things like, "Shut up," "We've destroyed bigger people than you," and "The easiest way is to diminish people and then erase them"… They clearly threatened to kill me.
They said, "We will kill you too." They added, "Before you, others came here, went through that door, suddenly got into a car accident, and died. No one ever knew what happened."
They repeatedly threatened me with acid attacks, saying, "You are just a woman. You are nothing. Who do you think you are?" But I tried to keep moving forward with the boundaries I set for myself, trying at least to stop myself from breaking in front of them.
You mentioned that the agents asked you to write and sign a statement saying you were ill and couldn’t officiate. Was this true?
At the time of the derby, I was in perfect health. Just a month before, I had officiated a women's Premier League match with no issues. There was nothing wrong with my health. They either wanted me to confess to something based on past events or their own assumptions.
They even told me, "We can prepare your medical papers for you." The issue wasn’t about media or public opinion in Iran—they just wanted a document to give to FIFA to avoid political interference in sports.
The security agents repeatedly told me they could prepare whatever documents were necessary, and all I had to do was confirm them. But because of my personal beliefs, I refused to give in.
Eventually, I learned from my friends abroad that a letter had been sent to FIFA, stating that I, Mahsa Ghorbani, was unable to officiate the Tehran derby due to a severe illness.
I neither wrote nor signed that letter.
As far as I understand, FIFA approved you to officiate the match. However, there’s an interview where the president of the Iranian Football Federation claimed that your selection as one of the referees for the Tehran derby was a personal achievement for him. This interview took place before the security agencies got involved in your case. Can you clarify what happened?
The truth is that the Football Federation's Refereeing Committee selected me for this match, and FIFA confirmed the decision. However, the officials of the Football Federation, including Mehdi Taj, knew that I was the only one with the necessary credentials for VAR.
But then, security agencies got involved. I remember Mr. Taj telling me directly, “Higher authorities beyond our power and Iranian football have entered your case.” That statement was how the security agencies achieved what they wanted.
In the end, the Football Federation sent the fake illness letter to FIFA. Can you explain how that happened?
The Asian Football Confederation and FIFA only recognize the Iranian Football Federation as the legitimate body for communication regarding Iranian football. Any correspondence with FIFA must go through the Football Federation. This is exactly what happened in my case.
Even after your name was removed from the list of referees for the Tehran derby, security pressures on you persisted. We heard in recent months, both from within the Football Federation and the Ministry of Sports and Youth, that you were still under surveillance by the IRGC Intelligence Organization. What was that like?
When these security organizations realized that I was absolutely unwilling to submit to what they called a "forced confession," their tone changed. I apologize for repeating the words I heard, but once they were sure I wouldn’t cooperate, they said, "Just get lost, leave the room and go home, sit in a corner, and don't give interviews."
They directly told me that my phone and my family's phones were being tapped and that I had no right to talk to anyone about anything. Even after the derby was over, my interrogations continued—about everything, even how I had officiated years ago, including why I wore a different dress style.
You mentioned the issue of your dress. In February 2018, IranWire reported on your officiating in an Asian men's match. Your photos from that match are still available on the site. You wore a completely buttoned-up collar, covered hair, and a long-sleeve shirt, but with football referees' sports shorts. Was the security forces' problem with you just your uncovered knee?
I wanted to comply with the dress code set by the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA for both male and female referees. Female referees must officiate wearing the mandatory hijab and black attire. After participating in matches in the FIFA-approved uniform, I came under immense pressure.
In another report published by IranWire in September 2018, we reported that the Football Federation deliberately prevented you from being sent to international competitions. The main reason was losing your chance to officiate in Qatar's 2022 Men's World Cup. You had the same opportunity as other female referees, but the Islamic Republic Federation took that chance away. Can you tell us more about that?
I am proud to say I was on the initial list FIFA provided in 2020, alongside AlirezaFaghani, as the only Iranian referee eligible for international competitions.
During seminars, we were told that if we met the expectations of the FIFA referees committee in upcoming matches, we’d have a chance to officiate at the Men's World Cup in Qatar, which happened for six other female referees—but not for me.
I faced a problem because the Iranian Federation didn’t meet FIFA’s initial expectations. When FIFA saw that the Iranian Federation didn’t even take the first step, they realized investing in us wouldn’t lead to any results.
In March, IranWire sources within the Federation said the Football Federation advised against sending your name for international competitions to avoid it being removed from FIFA’s general list for all international events. Did you feel or hear anything like that in Iran?
Yes, the root of this issue started when I told my friends and colleagues that I promised I would officiate one day at a major football event without the mandatory hijab, just like other female referees. It was always my dream to make this decision at the best time and place, at one of the biggest football events.
I feel some of these talks reached the security organizations, and the federation repeatedly ignored my invitations to international events. I later learned from friends abroad that my name was on FIFA’s list of selected referees, but I was never informed.
I was invited to the final round of the Olympic games. The federation’s security department contacted me and told me I shouldn’t wear that clothing. Then they said, "You're invited to this competition, now you need to write down what we want."
They insisted I commit to not wearing non-black clothing or showing any part of my body. They even told me I had to send them pictures and videos of myself at all times to make sure I adhered to the Islamic dress code before, during, and after practice and games.
So, did you have to take pictures and videos of yourself and send them?
Yes, exactly. Or I would ask my friends to film moments while I was warming up and send them to me so I could send them to the authorities.
When did you realize that you had to leave Iran?
Since I was selected as an international referee in 2017, I wanted to progress to the point where I could be a role model for young girls and gain a place in the hearts of the people of Iran.
I wanted to break down barriers, but the problem was always my attire. I had to face threats every time. They pressured my family, and by the time I found myself on the verge of officiating at the 2022 World Cup, the Football Federation, under pressure from other organizations, removed me.
That’s when I realized there was no way left to make my dreams a reality. After the World Cup, the derby incident happened. A match that everyone was talking about in blue and red turned into a security file for me. They turned officiating a football match into murder threats, staged car accident threats, and acid attack threats.
That’s when I thought about what exactly they were afraid of. They told me, "Today, you'll go to the VAR room; tomorrow, you’ll officiate on the sidelines, and the day after, you’ll be in the center of the field."
They said, "Who do you think you are, trying to do these things?" I wanted to achieve the goals I had been working toward all these years.
I always wanted to stay and succeed under the name of Iran, but I reached a point where I was being threatened with death. I realized there was no space left to take even one step forward.
Is there anything else you want to add?
We've discussed everything, but there’s one thing I want to say: the system is both corrupt and lying. For years, I wanted to speak to the people of my country through media and tell them that those of you who saw my success from afar, they [authorities] won’t give you any space to progress [in Iran.]
They don’t want women to succeed.
Over these years, I’ve seen how much this system fears the power of women. It might sound harsh, but these same people behave very differently in private compared to their public personas.
I would say to those who lectured me publicly yesterday about Sharia laws and promoting Islamic ethics: why are you now saying things in private chats that are completely inappropriate?
As a final word, I’ll say this: we, Iranian women and girls, are alone. I ask the men of Iran to stand beside us and support us so that together, we can build Iran.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/sports/137181-iranian-referee-reveals-threats-harassment-and-womens-struggle-for-freedom/
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Muslim Rights Concern Hails Hijab For Muslim Students In NAVY Schools
Dec 15, 2024
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has applauded the Nigerian Navy for accepting the request of the Muslim Parents Forum to allow female Muslim students in navy schools to wear hijab.
MURIC ‘s Founder and Executive Director ,Professor Ishaq Akintola, in a statement said the Islamic Humanrights organisation is proud of the professionalism exhibited by the Nigerian Army in general and the Nigerian Navy.
The statement reads, “The Muslim Parents Forum has scored another goal in its efforts to ensure that female Muslim students throughout Nigeria enjoy the dividends of religious freedom in the Nigerian democratic setting. In the latest development, the Nigerian Navy has manifested no opposition to a request from the forum to allow female Muslim students to wear hijab.
“A memo reportedly emanating from the office of the Minister of State for Defence has equally directed that female Muslim students in navy secondary schools throughout the country be allowed to enjoy this Allah-given fundamental human right.
“The memo was dated 7th November, 2024. It was signed by Raji, I. O., Director of Navy Affairs on behalf of the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Bello Mutawalle.
“We applaud this giant step in Nigeria’s strive for true democratic practices. For, indeed, our democracy remains inconclusive so long as it allows one culture to oppress the other. Neither is civil rule completely civil until military authorities bow to government directives.
“Religious crisis will also become a thing of the past if no religious group suffers persecution. Coming from the Muslim Parents Forum, the request to allow Muslim children to identify themselves as Muslims is in tandem with the provisions of Section 38(i)&(ii) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which stipulates freedom of religion.
“Of particular interest is Section 38(ii) which lays emphasis on the interest and input of parents in places of education and the kind of instructions passed on to students. The Section says no person attending any place of education shall be required to receive religious instruction or to take part in or attend any religious ceremony or practice contrary to that of his or her parents.
“MURIC is indeed proud of the professionalism exhibited by the Nigerian Army in general and the Nigerian Navy in particular in their confrontations with criminal elements, their gallantry on the battlefield as well as their cooperation with civilian authorities in matters such as compliance with use of hijab by female Muslim students in military institutions.”
Source: independent.ng
https://independent.ng/muric-hails-hijab-for-muslim-students-in-navy-schools/
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Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Halts Implementation Of Hijab Law
15 December 2024
Tehran, Dec 15 (EFE).- Iran’s Supreme National Security Council called on the parliament to stop the process implementing the controversial hijab law, which imposes severe penalties on women who do not wear the Islamic veil, following strong backlash.
The Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council has requested in a letter to parliament to stop notification of the Hijab and Chastity and its implementation, the parliament’s presiding board member AlirezaSalimi announced late Saturday, according to the state-owned IRNA agency.
Salimi said that the letter, sent the same day to the legislature, stated that the government would send a new amendment to clarify the ambiguities of the draft law on chastity and hijab.
The speaker of parliament, Mohammad BaqerQalibaf, said last week that on Dec. 13 he would send the law to President Masoud Pezeshkian for his assent and subsequent implementation.
However, the reformist leader, who chairs the Supreme National Security Council, then expressed his reservations about the new rule and considered that it would provoke unnecessary conflicts in the divided society of the Islamic Republic and alienate a part of the population.
The law seeks to end the noncompliance of the use of the hijab, which represented a gesture of civil disobedience adopted by many Iranians after the death of Mahsa Amini.
Amini died in police custody after being arrested by the Morality Police for improperly wearing the Islamic veil in September in 2022, and her death sparked widespread protests across the nation.
The controversial law includes punishments for women who violate the strict dress code in the country, with prison sentences of up to five years in case of repeat offenses and fines of up to $2,000, much higher than the average wages in the country.
Failure to pay fines would lead to restrictions on public services, such as obtaining a driver’s license or passports and confiscation of cars, among other measures.
Many human rights activists and international organizations have criticized the law.
UN experts have described the law as a form of gender apartheid, with authorities appearing to govern through systematic discrimination intending to subjugate women and girls.
Amnesty International (AI) also denounced that the “draconian” law intensifies repression and persecution against women for daring to defend their rights.
Although Iranian authorities have been trying for two years to reimpose the wearing of the veil with punishments such as the confiscation of vehicles and the return to the streets of the Morality Police, many women remain reluctant to wear the hijab. EFE ash/sc
Source: efe.com
https://efe.com/en/latest-news/2024-12-15/irhijab-law/
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Hindu Husband Abandons Muslim Woman in VantimamidiForest After Marriage
15 December 2024
Hyderabad: In a shocking case of emotional manipulation and abandonment, a young woman from Bangalore, Rabia, has alleged that her Boyfriend, Vikram Manwar, abandoned her in a remote forest area in Siddipet district, Telangana. Rabia, who met Vikram on Instagram, has claimed that she was coerced into a relationship and marriage under duress, leading to her eventual abandonment.
According to Rabia, her relationship with Vikram began when they met on Instagram. Initially, Rabia rejected Vikram’s advances when he asked her to be his girlfriend. However, Rabia claims that Vikram repeatedly visited her paying guest accommodation, crying and pressuring her to accept his proposal. After Days of persistent insistence, she reluctantly agreed to be in a relationship with him.
Once in the relationship, Rabia says Vikram pushed for a live-in arrangement. Though initially hesitant, she eventually agreed after continued pressure from him. The couple lived together for eight months before Vikram told Rabia he wanted to marry her and move to Hyderabad.
After Getting Married in a Temple in Bengaluru, they arrived in Hyderabad, and Rabia’s life took a devastating turn. Vikram’s family allegedly rejected her, saying they would marry him to a wealthier girl. Despite his family’s objections, Vikram refused to abandon Rabia. However, Vikram’s family reportedly forced the couple to separate, with Vikram staying at his mother’s house and Rabia sent to live with his sister.
The tension continued to mount as Vikram’s family allegedly pressured him to leave Rabia. In one instance, Rabia claims Vikram asked her if she wanted to leave him. Rabia, emotionally drained and still wanting to be with him, replied that she didn’t want anything except to stay together.
Then Vikram told Rabia to end her life by consuming poison. Feeling betrayed and overwhelmed, Rabia attempted suicide by taking sleeping pills.
Vikram reportedly abandoned Rabia in the Vantimamidi forest area of Mulugumandal, in Siddipet district. Rabia was left alone in the forest, but she managed to regain consciousness and contacted residents, who helped her get in touch with authorities. She was rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Rabia has now demanded justice for what she describes as manipulation and abandonment in the name of love. She has accused Vikram of deceiving her and causing emotional distress. Local police have launched an investigation into the matter, and efforts are underway to locate Vikram, who is currently on the run.
Source: munsifdaily.com
https://munsifdaily.com/hyderabad-hindu-husband-abandons-muslim-woman-in-forest-after-marriage-video/#google_vignette
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Woman, 46, killed in London shooting named and pictured for first time
16 DEC 2024
A woman who was shot dead in north-west London over the weekend has been pictured for the first time. Emergency services were called out to Gifford Road in Harlesden, Brent, on Saturday night (December 14).
A 46-year-old woman was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. She has been named this morning (Monday) as Michelle Sadio.
Police said two men were also injured in the shooting, including one man who was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Seven gunshots were heard ringing out amid screams of terror from a group who had been attending a church ceremony across the road, the Mirror reports.
No arrests have been made so far and inquiries are ongoing. Road closures remain in place around the scene of the shooting as officers continue to gather evidence.
Superintendent Tony Josephs, from the North West Command Unit at Metropolitan Police, said: "This is a truly shocking incident that has left a woman dead and two others injured, and I understand the concern this will cause the local community and those across London. I want to reassure people that a team of experienced detectives are already working at pace to piece together the events of last night and identify whoever was responsible for this heinous act of violence.
"If you were in or around Gifford Close at the time of the shooting, or have any information about who was responsible, please get in contact with us. A family has been left devastated and we need to work together to provide them with answers."
Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or send a direct message on X @MetCC, quoting CAD7137/14Dec. Information can also be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/woman-46-killed-london-shooting-30593974
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Women in Afghanistan’s rural areas face shortage of female doctors
By Yasin Shayan
16 DEC 2024
Women in Afghanistan’s rural regions are raising urgent concerns about the lack of healthcare facilities and female doctors, an issue they say is exacerbating maternal mortality and leaving many without access to essential care.
In remote villages far from health centers, the absence of specialized doctors and proper medical facilities has created a dire situation. Women in these areas are disproportionately affected, with many facing life-threatening complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Taj Bibi, a mother of two from the Obey district in Herat Province, described the devastating impact of this healthcare crisis. “Believe me, we are living as if it’s still the old times. If we fall ill, there’s no doctor. I lost two babies in my womb because there was no female doctor or midwife,” she said.
She recounted the challenges her community faces: destroyed roads, a lack of transportation, and frequent flooding that makes it nearly impossible to reach urban health centers. “Women don’t have access to clinics; we are left helpless,” she said.
International organizations, including the World Health Organization, have long highlighted Afghanistan’s acute shortage of female doctors, particularly in rural areas. The situation has worsened following the Taliban’s recent ban on women attending medical institutions, further limiting the pipeline of female healthcare workers.
Homa, a resident of Badghis Province, said pregnant women in her community have not received proper care in years. “From now on, if we fall sick at night, we don’t even know if we’ll get any help,” she said, underscoring the growing fear among Afghan women about their health and safety.
The Taliban’s restrictions on women’s education have had far-reaching consequences. Last December, the group banned girls from attending universities, cutting off their access to medical training. According to Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, this policy marks a devastating setback for Afghanistan’s healthcare system.
“This was the last remaining sector where Afghan women could pursue higher education following the ban on girls’ higher education in December 2022,” Fletcher said during a recent U.N. Security Council meeting.
He warned that the ban would prevent more than 36,000 midwives and 2,800 nurses from joining the workforce in the coming years, compounding Afghanistan’s health crisis. Maternal, neonatal, and preventable mortality rates are expected to rise sharply.
“More than one-third of Afghan women already give birth without professional medical support,” Fletcher said, noting that a woman in Afghanistan dies every two hours from preventable maternal complications.
Afghanistan now has the highest maternal mortality rate in Asia. United Nations data shows that 638 mothers die for every 100,000 live births. This statistic underscores the severe challenges facing Afghan women, particularly those in rural areas, as they navigate a crumbling healthcare system with dwindling resources and few options for care.
Source: amu.tv
https://amu.tv/143990/
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