Sana Khan dismisses claims husband Mufti Anas Sayed 'brainwashed' her to quit Bollywood, embrace religion: 'I wanted peace'
New Age Islam News Bureau
17 January 2025
· Sana Khan dismisses claims husband Mufti Anas Sayed ‘brainwashed’ her to quit Bollywood, embrace religion: ‘I wanted peace’
· Clip of Woman Removing Hijab With Anti-Khamenei T-Shirt Is From Paris, Not Iran
· UAPA conviction for separatist Asiya Andrabi, two others in Kashmir secession case
· Bushehr Woman Killed in Protests, Family Recounts Threats After Burial
· ‘Writing begins in memory, in pain, in hope’: Banu Mushtaq opens Jaipur Literature Festival
· Actress Nadia Kesuma’s disappearance reported to Saudi police, says Malaysian ambassador
· EU targeted for funding €1.6 million study on Muslim women’s hair
· LETTER: Muslim women’s group brings meals and joy to those in need
· ‘Quick-release’ police hijab goes into production for frontline officers
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Sana Khan dismisses claims husband Mufti Anas Sayed ‘brainwashed’ her to quit Bollywood, embrace religion: ‘I wanted peace’
January 16, 2026
Sana Khan quit the film industry in 2020.
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Former actress Sana Khan, known for films such as Jai Ho and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, as well as the web series Special OPS, first rose to prominence after her appearance on Bigg Boss 6. At the peak of her career, Sana stunned fans and the film industry alike when, in 2020 during the pandemic, she announced her decision to quit Bollywood. At the time, she had said that she wanted to ‘serve humanity and follow the orders of my Creator.’ Soon after, she married Muslim cleric Mufti Anas Sayed. In a recent conversation with actress Rashami Desai, Sana opened up about her decision to leave the entertainment industry and her marriage, calling the entire process deeply personal and discreet.
Speaking about her wedding, Sana revealed that it was kept completely under wraps, with only her parents aware of the details. “When our marriage was finalized, it was a top secret, nobody knew except for my mom and dad. Nobody even knew the groom’s name. When I was applying mehndi, the mehndi artist asked me what the groom’s name was. I told her to leave it blank, we’ll write it next time.”
Reflecting on the life changes she underwent during that phase, Sana explained that her decision to distance herself from showbiz was driven by her own inner transformation. “The situation was such that major changes were happening in my life. I was literally transforming into a different person. And this was not something caused by my husband, it was something I wanted for myself. He was the one who guided me in that direction.”
Addressing online trolls who claimed that her husband had “brainwashed” her, Sana firmly dismissed such allegations. “Nobody can brainwash you; it’s never like that. I wanted peace. A person may get money, fame, name, and respect, but eventually, they keep searching for inner peace.” Elaborating further, she said, “They say that when your surroundings aren’t right, your decisions also tend to be wrong. As time passed, I learned a few things, and that’s why I value my relationship with him so much. I keep telling my husband that I could have never found anyone better than him. It was indeed a tough decision, but I went for it.”
Sana also recalled how even her extended family was unaware of her marriage. When her cousins saw her husband for the first time, they were taken by surprise. “When my cousins saw him in the mosque, they called my cousin sister and said, ‘This is Maulana Anas!’” In the same conversation, Sana shared that most of the wedding expenses were borne by her husband. “Except for the mehndi, which I paid for myself, all the expenses, the nikah, accommodation and food for my family, and the reception, everything was taken care of by my husband.”
Recently, actress Zareen Khan also spoke about Sana, stating that she had always been deeply religious, even during her time in films and television, despite her glamorous public image. Speaking to Hindi Rush, Zareen said, “Faith is a very intimate relationship between you and God. You don’t have to publicise it. Sana was always religious, but she made a complete switch when she got married to Maulana sahab. It’s her life, and I’m happy for her.”
Source: indianexpress.com
https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sana-khan-dismisses-claims-maulana-anas-brainwashed-quit-bollywood-embrace-religion-10477587/
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Clip of Woman Removing Hijab With Anti-Khamenei T-Shirt Is From Paris, Not Iran
16 Jan 2026
Amid protests in Iran, a video of a woman removing her hijab, opening her hair and revealing an explicit anti–Ayatollah Ali Khamenei t-shirt is being shared as an incident from Iran.
Who shared it?: This video was shared by news channel TV9 journalist Nabila Jamal on her official X page.
Is the claim true?: No, the claim is misleading as this video features a French activist named Camille Eros. It was shot in Paris, France and not Iran.
What we found: At first, we divided the video into multiple screenshots and ran a Google reverse image search on some of them.
The posts noted that the video featured an activist named Camille Eros, who staged a public protest in Paris by removing her hijab in a "symbolic act" against the Iranian regime.
Team WebQoof, then, ran a relevant keyword search and came across the activist's profile on Instagram.
We found the same video on her profile from 11 January. She noted, "Support Iran against Islamic tyranny." (sic.)
As per the activist's Instagram bio, she is a part of an organisation named Collective Eros.
The organisation's website noted that it aims to oppose “woke” and the queer ideological excesses and provide a platform for homosexuals who feel unrepresented by current LGBT activism.
The website also listed Camille in their spokesperson list, as well.
Additionally, Jamal, who initially shared this viral clip, apologised and shared clarification that the video was from a solidarity event in France, not Iran.
She noted, "With the internet shut down in Iran, it's extremely difficult to verify where visuals are coming from and what information is getting out." (sic.)
Conclusion: The video was shot in France and features a French activist and not an Iranian woman.
Source: thequint.com
https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/iran-protests-woman-removing-hijab-abusing-khameinei-viral-fact-check
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UAPA conviction for separatist Asiya Andrabi, two others in Kashmir secession case
17.01.26
A Delhi court has convicted Kashmiri separatist leader Asiya Andrabi and two others of hatching a conspiracy for the secession of Kashmir from India.
Additional sessions judge Chander Jit Singh convicted Andrabi and her associates Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen on Wednesday under multiple offences, including conspiracy to commit crime against the State and being members of a terrorist organisation. The convictions were under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
However, the court acquitted the trio of the specific charge of waging a war against the Indian government under Section 121 of the IPC, citing a lack of evidence. The court found that the prosecution did not bring on record any material or examine any witness related to any actual incident involving the use of force or arms by the accused or any other person at their instance.
“The material on record
is limited regarding the speeches/videos/interviews/ posts on social media,” the court said.
The Delhi court did not proceed with the sedition charge as the Supreme Court had ordered a stay on all proceedings with respect to the charges framed under Section 124A of the IPC across the country as it re-examined the colonial-era law.
The court will hear the arguments on the quantum of the sentence on Saturday.
In the 286-page order, the court said the accused had claimed that “Kashmir is to be a part of Pakistan on the basis of religion”, citing the Partition narrative.
“Interestingly, the accused are claiming that they have a right to self-determination on the basis of a resolution of the UN. However, at the same time, they are claiming that Kashmir is already a part of Pakistan and India has an illegal occupation of Kashmir,” the court said.
“Therefore, it is clear that the accused do not bear an allegiance to the Constitution of India and they do not believe in the Constitution of India and are also not ready to uphold it and the sovereignty of India as they are seeking secession of an integral part of India,” it added.
The court found them guilty of offences under UAPA Sections 20 (punishment for being a member of a terrorist gang or terrorist organisation), 38 (offence relating to membership of a terrorist organisation) and 39 (supporting a terrorist organisation).
The court also convicted the three under IPC Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 121A (conspiracy to commit offences against the State).
The National Investigation Agency has accused the three women, who were members of the outlawed Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DEM), of repeatedly advocating secession from India and inciting people to achieve it.
The accused denied the charges, claimed innocence and said the witnesses examined by the prosecution were deposing falsely at the NIA’s behest and that the trio had been falsely implicated in
the case owing to a political vendetta.
They said they had only been advocating an issue that had been raised since 1948 and that the voice of the people of Kashmir should be heard.
Source: telegraphindia.com
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/uapa-conviction-for-separatist-asiya-andrabi-two-others-in-kashmir-secession-case-prnt/cid/2143020
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Bushehr Woman Killed in Protests, Family Recounts Threats After Burial
JANUARY 16, 2026
SHIMA SHAHRABI
Zohreh Fazeli, 38, was shot dead on Friday, January 9, after security forces opened fire on protesters in the city of Bushehr.
Neda Mohsenizadeh, Zohreh’s aunt who lives in the United States, learned of her niece’s death on Tuesday night after coming across her photo and name on an Instagram page listing victims of the protests while following updates from Iran. “I sent a message and asked, ‘Who are you? What is this post you’ve shared?’ They said it was about the killing of a young woman in the provinces. I said, ‘This is my niece’s name and photo.’”
Because of the internet and communication blackout, direct phone calls to Iran were impossible, and Neda had not yet heard anything from her family.
Desperate for information, she sent messages to anyone she could. “I messaged several friends and acquaintances in Germany, Dubai, and France, asking them that if their families called, to please tell my family to contact me immediately.”
At 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Neda’s phone finally rang, and her sister confirmed that her daughter had been killed. “My niece had gone to the end of the street to watch the demonstrations, but they came and opened fire on the crowd. My sister said that within a few minutes, 60 people were killed.”
Neda was told that Zohreh had been hit by two bullets in her side. Her sister, who was with her at the time, pulled her into a car and rushed her to the hospital. Zohreh was still alive when they arrived but died shortly afterward.
Zohreh Fazeli held a PhD in Business Administration (MBA) and, according to her aunt, was fluent in five languages. At this point, Neda falls silent, as if speaking of Zohreh’s achievements now that she is gone feels meaningless. She ends her response, like many others, with a few short sentences choked with grief and anguish. “She’s gone, my dear. Our girl is gone, and she’s never coming back.”
Neda says the family spent four days running from office to office to retrieve Zohreh’s body from the hospital. “They used every connection they had and went everywhere until, after four days, they were able to take the body. They buried her on Wednesday.”
She does not know whether the family was forced to pay a fee to receive the body or under what conditions the funeral was held. “My sister told me, ‘They have been suffocating us for five days. They only threaten us.’ At first, she wouldn’t even say this much out of fear, but then she called me from a different line and told me the story. Even then, I could hear my mother in the background saying, ‘Don’t say anything over the phone!’”
Neda still does not fully know what her family has endured or the nature of the threats. “I don’t know how they’ve pressured them. Threats for what? You’ve already killed the child; what more can you threaten a family with?”
Neda Mohsenizadeh was not alone. Many families learned about the deaths of their loved ones through brief, panicked phone calls after one-way communication from Iran was partially restored.
Samira Shahsavari, the aunt of Sina Eshkbousi, a 17-year-old killed by live ammunition in eastern Tehran, learned of her nephew’s death in a two-minute call. “My mother called and said, ‘We are ruined.’” The shock and the family’s anxiety prevented her from gathering any details during that first call.
Similarly, a relative of Ali Janani, a 20-year-old man killed during protests in Islamshahr, told IranWire, “One of my loved ones called and said, ‘We have gifted Ali to Iran.’ I didn’t understand what they meant. I kept asking, ‘What do you mean?’” After recounting this, the relative broke into loud sobs.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/features/147715-bushehr-woman-killed-in-protests-family-recounts-threats-after-burial/
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‘Writing begins in memory, in pain, in hope’: Banu Mushtaq opens Jaipur Literature Festival
Adithi Reena Ajith
17 Jan 2026
JAIPUR: Writing does not begin on the page. It begins in the body — in life experience, in memory, in pain, in hope. I wrote because something within me refused to accept that these lives were meant to remain invisible,” said International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq during her keynote address, which marked the opening of the 19th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival on January 15.
Mushtaq noted that her writing is shaped by an attempt to understand the world around her — much like many others who have lived in spaces marked by inequality, violence, and silence. Literature, she argued, resists power differently.
In a conversation with Moutushi Mukherjee, presented by The New Indian Express, Mushtaq spoke about Heartlamp, life after the Booker, and what lies ahead. The veteran Kannada writer, advocate, and activist recently won the International Booker Prize for Heartlamp, a collection of short stories translated from Kannada by writer Deepa Bhasthi.
Mushtaq shared an anecdote known to those following her journey—losing her entire baggage while in transit to London for the award ceremony. When she posted about it on Facebook, thousands responded — not with sympathy, but with a single message. “All of them said, forget about the luggage, madam, but please bring the Booker,” she recalled.
Despite the accolades, Mushtaq admitted that the past year has left her little space to write. Constant travel — between airports, road journeys, and public conversations — has made sustained creative work difficult. “At the most, I write one or two poems while waiting in an airport lounge.” Projects begun before the Booker, including her autobiography, remain paused midway. Completing it is now her first priority, followed by her seventh Kannada short story collection and a second English collection, both currently in progress.
The conversation also turned to what Heartlamp’s win means for writers working in India’s vernacular languages. “Younger writers have awakened,” she said, before adding, “or rather, more than the writers, their parents have awakened. They want to shape the younger generation as writers.”
Source: newindianexpress.com
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Jan/17/writing-begins-in-memory-in-pain-in-hope-banu-mushtaq-opens-jaipur-literature-festival
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Actress Nadia Kesuma’s disappearance reported to Saudi police, says Malaysian ambassador
17 Jan 2026
PUTRAJAYA, Jan 17 — Actress Nadia Kesuma’s disappearance at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Thursday has been reported to the Saudi police, said Malaysian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Datuk Syed Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman.
“We are awaiting the outcome of the investigation by the Saudi police,” he told Bernama today.
Earlier, KLIA Police chief ACP M. Ravi said the disappearance had been classified as a missing persons case and the police report, lodged by a family member at the KLIA Police headquarters here yesterday, had been referred to the Consulate General of Malaysia in Jeddah
The actress, whose real name is Nadia Kasumawati Abdul Karim, was reported missing after she could not be traced while transiting at the airport during her flight from Kuala Lumpur to London on Thursday. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/17/actress-nadia-kesumas-disappearance-reported-to-saudi-police-says-malaysian-ambassador/205782
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EU targeted for funding €1.6 million study on Muslim women’s hair
16 January 2026
The European Union has come under fire from Italian MEP Silvia Sardone over its funding of academic research projects, which she deems “wasteful”.
A particular study rejected by Sardone, MEP for the right-wing Lega party, is a €1.6 million piece of work examining hair, identity, beauty and personal identity among Muslim women, with a focus on emotional landscapes and evolving femininity “beyond the veil”.
According to the Ghent University, the study, titled HAIR, “offers a compelling new perspective on the everyday politics of beauty, religion, and identity by placing the under-researched topic of Muslim women’s head hair – rather than the headscarf – at the center of analysis”.
It focuses on Egypt, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates and explores “how women feel and express themselves about their bodies as they navigate changing socio-religious expectations”.
HAIR claims to have a “unique” “interdisciplinary and innovative blended methodology”.
“The project brings together Islamic studies, social anthropology, and the anthropology of emotions to explore the plurality of beauty practices in relation to understandings of religiosity and identity. It combines fieldwork, digital ethnography, and literary analysis to comparatively examine how women experience, share and talk about their intimate selves – both online and offline,” the university claimed.
“By foregrounding gendered body politics and the emotional and cultural dimensions of beauty, HAIR challenges dominant narratives and offers new ways of understanding rapidly changing societies.
“It opens up fresh perspectives on the entanglements of the body, beauty, and belief in diverse Muslim contexts. The project will produce scholarly publications and an online exhibition that rethink how concepts of gendered beauty and religious lifeworlds are constructed and re-imagined in globalised contexts,” it concludes.
Sardone, a vice-secretary of the Lega party and member of the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament, was not impressed and highlighted the grant in a post on X yesterday.
She described the project as an example of Brussels “throwing away” taxpayers’ money on what she called ideologically-driven initiatives, arguing that it reflects a gap between EU priorities and the concerns of ordinary citizens.
In her statement, Sardone linked the funding to a broader pattern of EU support for Islam-related research.
She noted that she had previously flagged grants totalling €17 million for studies on topics such as the European Quran, Sharia law, Muslim youth in Europe and related themes.
She also referenced additional allocations, including more than €3 million for projects with titles such as Sustainable Alliances Against Anti-Muslim Hatred, A Model Towards a Non-Discriminatory Culture, and Reporting and Documenting Anti-Muslim Racism.
“For a long time, I’ve been denouncing these wastes … It’s time to say stop to this ideological pro-Islam madness funded with taxpayers’ money,” Sardone commented.
“In practice, public money given to associations and universities to tell us what we can or cannot say about Islamism and immigration, transforming any legitimate criticism into ‘hatred’ and accusing freedom of expression.
“Among other things, nothing is being done about the anti-Christian hatred that is growing all over the world,” she added.
The specific €1.6 million project appears to fall under the European Research Council (ERC) or similar EU competitive funding schemes for social sciences, humanities, or cultural studies. Such grants are awarded through allegedly independent, peer-reviewed processes based on criteria of scientific excellence, innovation, and potential societal impact, rather than political directives.
The controversy has been amplified in conservative Italian media, which framed the expenditure as part of a recurring pattern of Brussels funding what some view as niche or ideologically-slanted academic work.
Brussels Signal reached out to Franke to explain why the study into the hair of Muslim women was relevant and deserving of EU subsidies but she had not replied by the time of writing, after initially having said she would react one day prior.
Source: brusselssignal.eu
https://brusselssignal.eu/2026/01/eu-targeted-for-funding-e1-6-million-study-on-muslim-womens-hair/
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LETTER: Muslim women’s group brings meals and joy to those in need
16 January 2026
BradfordToday welcomes letters to the editor at chris@bradfordtoday.ca or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication).
According to the teachings of Islam, poor and impoverished are to be taken care by the society. Accordingly, Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association of Bradford took the initiative and delivered food at two locations. Members of the community participated in the fundraising for this noble cause.
On Jan. 9, three members visited LOFT Community Services Bradford House and delivered 12 pizzas and a cake for the lunch of residents.
That same day, members visited Blue Door Shelters and delivered 40 pizzas, five cakes and 120 juices for 120 residents. Also, 20 gift hampers were presented to the staff for their dedicated service to the shelter home residents.
All recipients were delighted and grateful.
In the third week of December 2025, two ladies of the community donated blood in St. John's Presbyterian Church in Bradford.
These initiatives are part of our ongoing efforts to serve the community and demonstrate true spirit of Islam.
We will try our best to provide more support in the future.
Source: bradfordtoday.ca
https://www.bradfordtoday.ca/letters-to-the-editor/letter-muslim-womens-group-brings-meals-and-joy-to-those-in-need-11749056
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‘Quick-release’ police hijab goes into production for frontline officers
Jan 16, 2026
The innovative design features a magnetic quick-release system that allows the lower section to detach instantly if pulled during a confrontation, preventing the risk of strangulation while maintaining modesty and professional appearance.
The Blue Light Hijab®, created by Leicestershire Police in partnership with designers at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has been getting interest not only from other police forces but emergency services organisations, paramedics, the NHS and private sector for general workwear.
The chief constable of Leicestershire Police, David Sandall, said the Blue Light Hijab® set a new standard for uniform innovation.
Mr Sandall, who visited DMU to meet the design team, said: “It is going to make a real difference not only to our officers but there are so many workspaces where this could be applied.
“It is an incredible achievement, and the design is deceptively simple – it’s not until you speak to the team involved that you realise how many wearer trials, combat trials and design iterations it has gone through.
“Creating a uniform that works for everyone makes us a better, more representative and more inclusive force. This hijab is the result of years of collaboration, testing and expert design, and we’re incredibly proud that it has now gone into production. The work with DMU has been exceptional and will make a real difference to Muslim women who want to serve their communities.”
Hijabs wrap around the head and neck of the wearer but leave the face clear. Working closely with serving Muslim officers, the design team went through multiple rounds of wear trials, safety testing, materials analysis and user feedback before finalising the approved design.
The Blue Light Hijab® is the brainchild of Detective Sergeant Yassin Desai who first came up with the idea 20 years ago. Over the years he has been trying to find a manufacturer and looked at designs from forces around the world which were not suitable before teaming up with DMU’s Dr Angela Davies and technician Kay Radford in 2022.
He approached the team for help because there was no approved consistent design for female officers that ticked all the boxes for fit, comfort, modesty for religious purposes and safety.
DS Desai, who is the founder of Leicestershire Police Association of Muslim Police (AMP) and sits on the national organisation, said: “It’s actually taken years to develop properly. We completed the combat trials at Enderby with female officers wearing it and it held up. The bottom part was able to detach and the officer was able to keep her dignity.
“No one else has been able to make these, only DMU. For the first time ever, DMU has set up manufacturing in the UK for this. It’s amazing to think after three years of research and development, we have got the design of this right, and we’re taking it forward together. It’s a great product, it’s safe and protects Muslim women’s dignity.”
New Student Officers, PCs Hafsah Abba-Gana and Seher Nas, have both recently joined Leicestershire Police and welcome the introduction of the newly designed hijab. PC Abba-Gana said: “It is reassuring to know that my faith and my role can work hand in hand, especially as someone who is new to the force.”
Inspector Marina Waka said: “It is reassuring to know that this new hijab, which will be issued as part of an officer’s personal protective equipment, is comfortable and safe as well as looking smart and professional.”
“I hope it will inspire other Muslim women to consider becoming a police officer knowing they can wear a hijab that protects them while fulfilling their religious requirements as well.”
With the new hijab now in production, forces across the country have begun placing orders, and there has already been interest from international emergency services exploring similar solutions.
Dr Angela Davies, Associate Professor in Textiles, said: “Leicestershire Police approached us because they had identified that the absence of an approved and suitable uniform hijab left the police and the officers with uncertainty around appropriateness and uniformity of standards.
“What we have created is a design that offers more choice to female hijab wearers in the police force. We have worked with some of our police apprentices to get their input on the design and wearability.”
The project originated through QUIDs – Quick Innovation Developers – DMU’s rapid-innovation programme connecting university researchers with organisations seeking specialist technical solutions.
Afsana Choudhury is a first-year law student who aspires to join the force and was able to try the hijab. “It fits well,” she said. “It’s very comfortable and when the magnets pull away you are still left with the main piece.”
Source: policeprofessional.com
https://policeprofessional.com/news/quick-release-police-hijab-goes-into-production-for-frontline-officers/
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