The Supreme Court Issued Notices On The Release Of 11 Lifers In The Bilkis Bano Gang-Rape-And-Murder Case, Terming The Offence “Horrendous” And Possibly Discriminatory
New Age Islam News Bureau
28 March 2023
• Women Flouting Hijab Mandate To Face $60,000 Fine In
Iran
• Oman Cables Honours 20 Omani Women Graduates Of The
SHE STEMS Initiative
• India’s Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Seeking Uniform
Minimum Age Of Marriage For Men And Women
• Women's Employment Rate In Türkiye Hits Record In
2022
• 175,000 Women Face Risks To Pregnancies Due To Lack
Of Medical Care In Turkey’s Quake Zone: Report
• Punjab woman trapped by ‘trafficker’ in Oman all set
to return to India
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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The Supreme Court Issued Notices On The Release Of 11
Lifers In The Bilkis Bano Gang-Rape-And-Murder Case, Terming The Offence
“Horrendous” And Possibly Discriminatory
R. Balaji
| New Delhi
28.03.23
The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the
central and Gujarat governments on the release of 11 lifers in the Bilkis Bano
gange-rape-and-murder case, terming the offence “horrendous” and wondering
whether the same “standards” had been applied to the hundreds of other jailed
murderers.
“This was a heinous offence. It was horrendous. And
for murder cases convicts are languishing in jails without remission. So, is
this a case where the standards have been adopted uniformly in other cases
also?” Justice K.M. Joseph said during the hearing.
The Gujarat government had with the Centre’s consent
remitted the life sentences of 11 men convicted of gang-raping a pregnant
Bilkis and murdering seven members of her family during the 2002 riots. It
released them on August 15 last year.
On Monday, the bench of Justices Joseph and B.V.
Nagarathna issued the notices not only on a petition filed by Bilkis but also
on a batch of PILs moved by activists. It rejected the plea from advocate Rishi
Malhotra, appearing for one of the convicts, that the activists had no locus
standi. While seeking responses from the Centre and the state government on the
rationale and policy adopted for the convicts’ release, the court posted the
matter for hearing from 2pm on April 18. It asked the two governments to be
ready with the files relating to the remissions.
The bench also asked whether the victim (Bilkis) had
been heard before the apex court, on May 13 last year, directed the Gujarat
government to consider remission for one of the convicts. Malhotra clarified
that the May 13 order was passed on an application from one individual convict,
and therefore there was no requirement to hear the victim. He said Gujarat and
the Centre were party to the case (central agency CBI had probed the case) and
were heard. Advocate Shobha Gupta, appearing for Bilkis, said the jurisdiction
(for possible remission) was actually vested with the Maharashtra government
(since the trial was held in Maharashtra) but Gujarat wrongly exercised the
power to grant remission.
Senior advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for one of
the PIL petitioners, said remission should not have been granted as the
convicts’ crimes involved multiple murders and gang rape. Besides, they had not
paid the fine of Rs 34,000 as sentenced, she said, arguing they should have
spent at least 34 years in jail on this count alone.
Grover alleged that some of the convicts had during
parole been involved in molestation. She said the remissions had been granted
against the remission policies of both the Centre and the state government,
which prohibited premature release for heinous offences like gang rape and
murder. Malhotra, however, argued that the convicts had been released on the
basis of a 1992 remission policy. Gujarat’s stand is that it released the
convicts on the basis of the May 13 order passed by the apex court bench of
Justices Ajay Rastogi and Vikram Nath, directing it to consider the plea for
release moved by one of the convicts, Radheshyam Bhagwandas Shah.
Radheshyam had petitioned the apex court after Gujarat
High Court ruled that the Maharashtra government alone had the power to
consider the convicts’ release. Justice Joseph wondered whether the Gujarat
government could have applied its remission policy if the power was conferred
on it solely by the apex court’s May 13 judgment. He cited the Supreme Court
judgment in the “A.R. Antulay case” to say that even the top court cannot
clothe any institution with power and jurisdiction. Senior advocate Abhishek
Manu Singhvi, appearing for another PIL petitioner, said even the trial judge
who had handed out the convictions had opposed the convicts’ release. “No weight
was given to him (by the Gujarat government),” Singhvi said.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, also appearing for some
of the PIL petitioners, said the apex court ought to lay down broad guidelines
relating to the grant or refusal of remission. “This is not an ordinary case.
The matter was transferred from Gujarat to Maharashtra by this court because
there was no confidence in the Gujarat government. But now the same state has
decided their remission. What is this?” Sibal asked. Malhotra said that Gujarat
had an advisory board, with members ranging from social workers to experts,
which had noted the convicts’ good behaviour. He said the convicts had spent
15-and-a-half years in jail and that the requirement for remission was 14
years. “This is more of an emotional plea than a regular plea,” Malhotra said,
prompting Justice Joseph to remark: “We are only on legal and law and nothing
to do with emotions.”
CPI leader Subhashini Ali, two others and Trinamul MP
Mahua Moitra had filed public interest petitions seeking cancellation of the
remissions, but some of the convicts objected saying they were not the victim.
Subsequently, Bilks moved two petitions. One was a review petition challenging
the apex court’s May 13 order. It was dismissed in December. On Monday, the apex
court issued the notices on Bilkis’s other petition, a writ petition
challenging the Gujarat government’s grant of the remissions, and the PILs.
Source:TelegraphIndia
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Women Flouting Hijab Mandate To Face $60,000 Fine In
Iran
Ayndrila Banerjee
March 28, 2023
Nationwide discontent erupted throughout Iran in
mid-September following the death in captivity of Masha Amini, a 22-year-old
Kurdish-Iranian woman who was arrested by the morality police while enforcing
the Islamic republic's mandatory dress code. AP
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Tehran: Women in Iran will have to pay a fine of
$60,000 for flouting the country’s hijab mandate after a new law to enforce
strict dress codes is passed by the parliament.
Lawmaker Hojjatol-Eslam Hossein Jalali said that other
punishments for not wearing a hijab will include revocation of passports and a
ban on internet access for women.
The penalties will apply to women who are caught
flouting the mandatory hijab rule in public spaces like restaurants, government
offices, schools and universities.
As Iran continues to be rocked by protests triggered
by the death of 22-year-old MahsaAmini who was arrested for allegedly not
wearing her headscarf properly, a number of women have given up their hijabs to
defy the rules set by the Islamic Republic.
‘Lack of hijab is the new COVID’
An Iranian cleric has irked rights activists by
likening defiance against hijab with COVID.
Member of the Assembly of Experts, Mohsen Araki, said
that the Islamic Republic “will not allow improper hijab to spread in the
Islamic society” and that it is a “new COVID” trying to ruin the society.
“The goal of the enemies is to destroy the
independence of Iranian women because a woman without hijab will not be
independent and free and will be a person who is bound by others’ lust,” he
added.
‘Enforce hijab to avoid women coming out naked’
Last month, An Iranian cleric has asked authorities to
ensure every woman wears the hijab before they come out “naked” during summer.
Mohammad Nabi Mousavifard added that the government
should not back down in enforcing the hijab mandate.
“We have to pay for the preservation of religious
values, even if we need to go to court several times,” he said according to a
report by Iran International.
“People and social service providers should stop
giving services to people without hijab; People should give women with improper
hijab warnings and not be indifferent, otherwise they will come to the street
naked in the summer,” the cleric added.
Imam says less rain result of women without hijab
An Iranian imam blamed women who don’t wear hijab for
the lack of rainfall in the country which has in turn triggered a water crisis.
Mohammed-Mehdi Hosseini Hamedani, a close aide of
Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, said that by breaking the mandatory rule of
wearing a hijab, women in the Islamic Republic have “caused a lack of
precipitation across the country.”
The imam further emphasised that all those who don’t
wear a headscarf must be confronted by the state.
“It is not possible to imagine that we are living in
an Islamic country when we enter some institutions, shopping malls, pharmacies,
etc.!” he said while suggesting that authorities should warn shops and malls to
deter the entrance of those women who defy the mandatory hijab rules.
Source:Firstpost
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Oman Cables Honours 20 Omani Women Graduates Of The
SHE STEMS Initiative
27/March/2023
Muscat: Oman Cables Industry (OCI), the leading Omani
company in the cables and systems industry - which is part of Prysmian Group –
has celebrated the first student graduation of the SHE STEMS initiative at
Al-Fahm Stage, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).
The graduation was held in the presence of Dr.Rahma
Ibrahim Al-Mahrooqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of
the Sultanate of Oman and the CEO of Oman Cables, CinziaFarise’. The SHE STEMS
(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programme was launched in
September 2022 with an initial intake of 20 Omani women. The programme welcomed
female Omani nationals aged 18-28 who were registered as job seekers with the
Ministry of Labour and have a General Education Diploma.
The candidates engaged in an extensive six-month
practical “Operating Maintenance” course, validated by MoHERI and supervised by
a number of highly proficient, qualified instructors. The project is part of
Oman Cables’ ambition to upscale local talent to link Oman to a sustainable
future.
Dr.Rahma Ibrahim Al-Mahrooqi, Minister of Higher
Education, Research and Innovation of the Sultanate of Oman, said: “SHE STEMS
aligns with Oman’s ambitious Vision 2040 by expanding opportunities for Omani
women and promoting a diverse, innovative and equitable economy. The programme
develops hands-on skills and training to prepare Omani women for the nation’s
manufacturing and STEM sectors, opening new horizons for them in the labor
market.”
OCI’s Chief Executive Officer, CinziaFarisè: “The SHE
STEMS programme represents a significant milestone in our commitment to
supporting the local community. It gives us great pleasure and pride to witness
the first group of Omani women completing the programme, which was developed in
partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and
the Ministry of Labour, as part of a global initiative that was firstly
launched in Oman.”
“Deliver results to our shareholders is our job and
give back to our community is our mission. When the two ambitions are
satisfied, it means that our efforts have not been in vain”, she added.
Upon successful completion, each participant received
a SHE STEMS certificate recognized by MoHERI and MoL. But the big news of the
day is that while receiving their diploma, at the same time two SHE STEMS
students were offered full-time employment at OCI.
After a first successful intake, screening for the
second batch of candidates has started already and Oman Cables expects a large
number of candidates for a 2nd 6-month full-time training – part in class and
part on the field - in different technical disciplines, with the involvement of
a recognised Technical Institute. Also, for the 2nd course Oman Cables is
sponsoring the course tuition fees and students are receiving a monthly
allowance by the Company. As the global economy rapidly evolves with automation
and technological advances, the way students learn, connect, and interact in
daily life is also changing. Skills developed through STEM provide students
with the foundation to succeed in a STEM-integrated world.
Source:TimesOfOman
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India’s Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Seeking Uniform
Minimum Age Of Marriage For Men And Women
March 28, 2023
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to
entertain a plea seeking a uniform minimum age of 21 years for marriage for
both men and women.
A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and
Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala said that the matter falls under the
domain of the legislature and it will amount to directing Parliament to make a
law to fix the age, hence it will not deal with the issue.
The petition, filed by one Shahida Quraishi, sought to
enhance the legal age of marriage for women to 21 at par with men.
During the hearing, the bench observed it had
dismissed a similar plea in February.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the
Centre, objecting to the plea said that deciding the plea will be akin to legislating
as this is in the domain of the legislature.
The apex court while dismissing that plea said that it
had dismissed a similar plea and thus it will not entertain this petition also.
"The challenge in these proceedings is to the
personal laws on the marriage age of men and women. We have decided a similar
case on February 20, 2023... and thus plea stands dismissed," added the
court.
Source:GulfNews
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Women's Employment Rate In Türkiye Hits Record In 2022
Erhan CihanUnal
27.03.2023
Women employment rate in Türkiye reached an all-time
high of 30.4% last year.
The figure increased from 28% in 2021, according to
data compiled by Anadolu. This was a recovery from the six-year low of 26.2% in
2020, amid the severe economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Also, about 9.9 million women were jobless in the
country in 2022, up from 9 million in 2021.
The unemployment rate was 8.9% for men and 13.4% for
women last year.
Source: Anadolu Agency
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/economy/womens-employment-rate-in-turkiye-hits-record-in-2022/2856736
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175,000 Women Face Risks To Pregnancies Due To Lack Of
Medical Care In Turkey’s Quake Zone: Report
March 27, 2023
There are more than 175,000 pregnant women in Turkey’s
earthquake zone, and these women face serious problems in accessing maternal
healthcare services, according to a report by the Women’s Platform for Equality
(EŞİK), an umbrella organization of over 340 women’s and LGBTQ organizations.
Two powerful earthquakes that struck near the city of
Gaziantep on Feb. 6 have claimed the lives of more than 50,000 people in
Turkey, according to the latest official figures. A 7.8-magnitude quake was
followed by a number of aftershocks, including a 7.5-magnitude temblor that
jolted the region in the middle of search and rescue efforts the same day.
According to the report there are 13.4 million Turks
and 1.7 million Syrians in the 11 southeastern provinces hit by the quakes,
including 175,278 women who are known to be pregnant.
The risks facing women regarding sexual health and
reproductive rights in such extraordinary circumstances as earthquakes were
listed in the report as difficulty in accessing maternal healthcare services,
genital infections and other diseases that will occur as a result of unhygienic
conditions, inability to follow up with a doctor during pregnancy, lack of access
contraceptives, traumatic miscarriage, premature birth and menstrual
irregularity.
EŞİK estimates that nearly 3,000 pregnant women will
have medical problems during pregnancy within the next month, with the figure
expected to reach 8,764 in the next three months. The platform also predicts
11,685 newborns will experience medical problems in the same period.
ÖzgülKaptan from EŞİK said that with the help of the
Turkish Medical Association (TTB)’s Women Doctors and Women’s Health Branch,
they aimed to reveal in the report that the unhygienic post-earthquake
conditions in southeastern Turkey have caused women to experience miscarriages
and early periods and that they face other health risks.
“Since [relief efforts] weren’t managed [properly]
after the earthquakes, we know that there are those who will perceive this as
an unnecessary detail. That’s why we wanted to document it,” Kaptan added.
Following the earthquakes, President Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) government were accused of
poor performance in coordinating search and rescue efforts, mainly failing to
mobilize enough people and a lack of coordination among the teams, which
resulted in civilians in some regions trying to pull their loved ones from
under the rubble themselves.
Dr.AdaletÇıbık, a member of the TTB’s central council,
also said many births in the quake zone took place in cars and other unsanitary
environments due to the lack of hygienic conditions.
“Shelter and nutrition problems haven’t yet been
solved. … Due to the lack of access to clean underwear and water, such [health]
problems as vaginitis and urinary tract infections have increased,” Çıbık
added.
She also underlined that a disruption in vaccination
services, especially for tetanus, remained a serious problem in the earthquake
zone.
Source: Turkish Minute
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Punjab woman trapped by ‘trafficker’ in Oman all set
to return to India
by Anju Agnihotri
March 28, 2023
A woman from Punjab who has been allegedly stuck in
Oman since December 2022 after she moved to the Gulf nation for a better-paying
job but eventually found herself trapped by a travel agent-cum-‘trafficker’, is
all set to return to India in the wee hours of Tuesday. An Air India flight
ticket was booked in Swaranjit Kaur’s name for Monday night from Muscat.
Her flight departure was at 10.25 pm (Monday) from
Muscat, while her scheduled arrival time at Delhi airport was 3.15 am
(Tuesday).
On Monday, The Indian Express highlighted the story of
the woman languishing in Oman and not able to return to her family in India
despite having been sent an air ticket by Rajya Sabha member and
environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal from his own pocket, thanks to the
“unprofessional attitude of Indian Embassy staff” there.
Seechewal told The Indian Express that he got the
information regarding her return to Delhi from the undersecretary, office of
the External Affairs Minister, on Monday.
“This matter was taken up by our Embassy in Muscat.
The Embassy has informed that Smt. Swaranjit Kaur would be travelling to India
(Muscat-Delhi) tonight (27.3.2023) on Air India flight No. AI 974, is scheduled
to depart Muscat at 10.25 pm. The expected arrival at Delhi is 03.15 am
(28.3.2023),” stated the mail sent to Seechewal by the Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA) on Monday.
Seechewal said that he will go to the airport to
receive her.
The RS member had taken up the matter after the
woman’s husband Kuldeep Singh approached the representatives of Seechewal who
arranged for her ticket after having a proper telephonic conversation with the
Indian Embassy staff in Muscat. Seechewal had sent a non-refundable ticket –
which was booked for March 16, 2023, from Muscat to Delhi – to Swaranjit Kaur,
but the unprofessional attitude of some staff members at the Indian Embassy in
Oman led to the Punjab-based woman missing her flight. Then Seechewal brought
the matter to the notice of the MEA and sought its intervention to evacuate
Swaranjit Kaur from the Gulf country. Seechewal wrote to the MEA, mentioning
every detail of the entire episode along with proofs.
Kuldeep Singh had told that his wife went to Oman for work
on December 27, 2022, by Go First flight (Mumbai to Muscat). On her arrival
there, an agent named Arman had received her who, instead of giving her the
promised household work, tried to sell/traffick her on various occasions.
There are many other women detained by the agent for
sexual exploitation as per the allegations of Kuldeep Singh. All the proofs
were attached in the letter of Seechewal, who said that Advocate Gurbhej Singh
has been helping them take up such cases.
Seechewal said that they wanted to solve the matter on
their own but when the staff of the Indian Embassy behaved unprofessionally,
then they had to write to the MEA to locate the woman and to help in her
evacuation.
Source: Indian Express
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