UK Minister Condemns Taliban’s Restrictions On Women As ‘Barbaric’
New Age Islam News Bureau
27 February 2025
· UK minister condemns Taliban’s restrictions on women as ‘barbaric’
· Ruckus after 4 students asked to remove hijab during UP board exam
· Karnataka: Minority Federation threatens government over hijab ban at examination centres
· England captain expresses sympathy for Afghan women ahead of match against Afghanistan
· OMO Partners With Saudi Henna Artists to Educate Women on Female Stain Removal
· Banu Mushtaq's ‘Heart Lamp’ Spotlights Lives of Muslim Women: International Booker Prize Judges
· Woman dies after International Islamic University Bus collides with motorcycle in Islamabad
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/uk-minister-taliban-women-barbaric/d/134740
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UK minister condemns Taliban’s restrictions on women as ‘barbaric’
By Bais Hayat
27 Feb, 2025,
LONDON — Britain’s Minister for International Development, Anneliese Dodds, condemned the Taliban’s treatment of Afghan women and girls as “barbaric” and called for the immediate reversal of their restrictive decrees.
Speaking in Parliament, Dodds emphasized that the UK will continue working with international partners to maintain collective pressure on the Taliban.
“We condemn the Taliban’s uphauling treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan,” she said. “The Taliban must revers their barbaric decrees, and we will keep working hard with our international partners to sustain collective pressure.”
Dodds said the Taliban’s policies have systematically eroded nearly every aspect of women’s lives in Afghanistan, making political pressure on the regime essential.
“We must apply significant political pressure,” she said. “I am pleased to announce that the UK politically supports the initiative to refer Afghanistan to the International Court of Justice for violating the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.”
Several British lawmakers also condemned the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls, describing it as “cruel” and “disgusting.”
Rebecca Smith, a member of Parliament, expressed concern over the Taliban’s ban on medical education for women and its impact on international aid programs.
“The Taliban’s oppression and cruelty should concern all of us, and we all undoubtedly condemn the ban on medical education for women,” she said. “The UK has provided significant aid to Afghanistan to support women’s and maternal health. But now that the Taliban is undermining not just women’s rights but also their health, what will happen to these aid programs and their funding?”
Wendy Morton, another MP, echoed these concerns.
“The Taliban’s treatment of women and girls is appalling, and pressure must be applied against it,” she said.
The Taliban have repeatedly claimed they are upholding women’s rights “in accordance with Sharia law.” However, since returning to power in 2021, they have imposed severe restrictions, including bans on education, employment, and public life. Afghan women’s rights activists say they are being systematically erased from society under Taliban rule.
Source:amu.tv
https://amu.tv/159797/
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Ruckus after 4 students asked to remove their hijab during UP board exam
Feb 26, 2025,
Bijnor/Bareilly: Controversy arose after four students of Moradabad's Chaudhary Kanya Inter College, appearing for UP Class 10 board's Hindi paper, were asked to remove their hijabs for identification.
The incident took place at YP Singh Inter College in Islam Nagar on Tuesday, the designated exam centre. The situation became tense when the students refused to comply, declaring they would rather not write the exam than remove their hijabs, leading to commotion at the gate.
"We will not remove our hijabs, not today, not in the future, even if it means missing the exam," the students said.
Eventually, a female teacher verified their ID cards, after which they were allowed to take the exam.
District school inspector Devendra Kumar Pandey said, "The staff was unable to verify the students' identities as they were wearing hijab. Later, a female teacher matched their faces with the photos on their ID cards, after which they were permitted to enter and write the exam."
Following the incident, UP board regional secretary Neeraj Kumar Pandey issued a directive saying, "Students will not be allowed to enter the exam centre without verification. They must remove their hijabs during the verification process. Additional female staff at all centres have been assigned the task to carry out verification. Every student's face will be matched with the photo on the admit card before entry. Proper identification is mandatory."
Notably, across the division, 3.12 lakh high school students and 2.79 lakh intermediate students registered for the board exams. On Tuesday, 21,486 high school students and 14,400 intermediate students were absent.
Bijnor/Bareilly: Controversy arose after four students of Moradabad's Chaudhary Kanya Inter College, appearing for UP Class 10 board's Hindi paper, were asked to remove their hijabs for identification.
The incident took place at YP Singh Inter College in Islam Nagar on Tuesday, the designated exam centre. The situation became tense when the students refused to comply, declaring they would rather not write the exam than remove their hijabs, leading to commotion at the gate.
"We will not remove our hijabs, not today, not in the future, even if it means missing the exam," the students said.
Eventually, a female teacher verified their ID cards, after which they were allowed to take the exam.
District school inspector Devendra Kumar Pandey said, "The staff was unable to verify the students' identities as they were wearing hijab. Later, a female teacher matched their faces with the photos on their ID cards, after which they were permitted to enter and write the exam."
Following the incident, UP board regional secretary Neeraj Kumar Pandey issued a directive saying, "Students will not be allowed to enter the exam centre without verification. They must remove their hijabs during the verification process. Additional female staff at all centres have been assigned the task to carry out verification. Every student's face will be matched with the photo on the admit card before entry. Proper identification is mandatory."
Notably, across the division, 3.12 lakh high school students and 2.79 lakh intermediate students registered for the board exams. On Tuesday, 21,486 high school students and 14,400 intermediate students were absent.
Source:indiatimes.com
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/ruckus-after-4-students-asked-to-remove-hijab-during-up-board-exam/articleshow/118585120.cms
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Karnataka: Minority Federation threatens government over hijab ban at examination centres
February 27, 2025
The Karnataka State Minority Educational Institutions Management Federation has issued a strong warning to the state government, threatening legal action if Muslim girls are prevented from entering examination centers while wearing the hijab.
Federation president Advocate CR Mohammed Imtiaz made the statement during a press conference, highlighting that the Karnataka High Court had already quashed the state government’s circular that banned the hijab in exam centers.
Imtiaz pointed out that the court’s decision was clear, and the government’s recent stance, as expressed by Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa, was legally incorrect.
The minister’s statement about continuing the ban was in defiance of the court’s ruling, he argued. Imtiaz emphasized that, given the ongoing legal proceedings, the state government cannot make decisions on this matter, as the court’s ruling is final.
He also clarified that the permission granted by the court remains in place, meaning Muslim girls should not be barred from wearing the hijab in exam centers.
The federation also reiterated that the ban does not apply to minority educational institutions. It referred to the Karnataka High Court’s judgment on February 22, 2022, which had nullified the circular issued on February 5, 2022. The court’s ruling made it clear that minority institutions are protected under Article 30(1) of the Constitution, granting them the right to manage their own affairs without government interference.
This protection extends to the freedom of Muslim female students to wear the hijab while attending exams.
Imtiaz further called on the education minister to issue a directive to examination authorities and central officials, ensuring that Muslim female students from minority institutions are allowed to take their exams while wearing the hijab.
He warned that failure to comply with the court’s decision would result in the federation filing a contempt petition against the authorities involved.
The federation also raised concerns about the possibility of future circulars that could prevent Muslim female students from wearing the hijab during the upcoming SSLC and PUC exams for the academic year 2025-26. To address this issue, the federation has sent a reminder to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and other senior officials, along with a copy of the high court order. — With Agencies Inputs
Source:muslimmirror.com
https://muslimmirror.com/karnataka-minority-federation-threatens-government-over-hijab-ban-at-examination-centres/
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England captain expresses sympathy for Afghan women ahead of match against Afghanistan
By Siyar Sirat
27 Feb, 2025,
England cricket captain Jos Buttler said Tuesday that he and his teammates sympathize with the plight of Afghan women and girls, expressing hope that sport can serve as a source of unity and inspiration.
“We feel for the women and girls of Afghanistan,” Buttler said. “Sport has the power to unite and give hope, and we hope this game can play a small role in that.”
England is set to face Afghanistan on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in a must-win group match to keep their tournament hopes alive. Some British lawmakers had previously called for a boycott of the match due to Afghanistan’s human rights record under the Taliban.
Calls for boycott rejected
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have severely restricted women’s rights, barring them from education and most jobs, limiting their movement, and enforcing strict dress codes.
Despite these concerns, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that the match would proceed following discussions with the UK government, the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the players. The ECB emphasized that cricket alone could not address Afghanistan’s broader political and human rights issues.
Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, said his team remained focused on the sport.
“We are sportsmen. Our responsibility is what happens on the field,” he said.
Afghan women’s cricket in exile
Afghanistan had 25 contracted women cricketers in 2020, but most of them have since resettled in Australia following the Taliban’s takeover.
The Taliban insist they respect women’s rights “in accordance with Islamic law and local customs” and have rejected external interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
Source:amu.tv
https://amu.tv/159790/
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OMO Partners With Saudi Henna Artists to Educate Women on Female Stain Removal
26 Feb, 2025,
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from Omo reveals that whilst 63% of women in Saudi Arabia believe the attitude towards menstruation has positively changed across generations, it remains a taboo topic for 72% of women who believe that period care and stains still cannot be openly discussed.
This absence of conversation can lead to a lack of knowledge and misinformation around how to effectively manage period stains. According to the research 70% of women have thrown away clothes or bed sheets due to period stains that could not be removed.
Understanding the need for a safe and comfortable space for women to be confident enough to have open discussions and share experiences, OMO has launched an innovative education campaign to bring period care to the heart of Saudi Arabia's female traditions: henna and beauty salons. These spaces are more than just places for self-care; they serve as sacred havens where women share personal stories, seek advice, and discuss life's most intimate topics.
By partnering with henna artists to weave essential period care tips into their beautifully intricate designs, Omo aims to educate and empower women to be open about their periods. The washing instructions and stain-removal techniques are skillfully embedded directly into traditional henna artwork to transform women's hands into a creative canvas for communication, turning tradition into a powerful vehicle for education and empowerment.
Sarah Qazi, Arabia Home Care Business Lead, Unilever commented: "Every great idea is not just relatable but solves a problem. And this idea was no different. The challenge was to reach the millions of women who experience periods every single day and address the lack of conversation and knowledge around period care. We knew we needed a medium that felt organic, familiar, and deeply personal. That's when we looked at henna, not just as an art form, but as a storytelling tradition that has existed for generations."
OMO's strong formulation enriched with enzymes targets tough stains like blood and removes them effectively. The three henna designs follow the three-step process for effectively removing period stains: soften with cold water, wash with OMO, rinse in cold water.
As part of its commitment to breaking period taboos, OMO pledges to educate Saudi women by providing custom-made henna design kits for artists across the country. The kits are also downloadable at https://www.unileverdigital.com/arabia/omo-art-of-stains/index.html.
Source:prnewswire.com
https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/omo-partners-with-saudi-henna-artists-to-educate-women-on-female-stain-removal-302386011.html
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Banu Mushtaq's ‘Heart Lamp’ Spotlights Lives of Muslim Women: International Booker Prize Judges
The Wire Staff
27 Feb, 2025,
New Delhi: The stories in Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp spotlight the lives of Muslim girls and women from southern India – often peripheral in our society – and “slice through the fault lines of caste, class and religion”, the International Booker Prize panel said while longlisting the book.
Comprising 12 short stories originally written in Kannada between 1990 and 2023 and translated by Deepa Bhasthi, Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp was longlisted for the International Booker Prize on Tuesday (February 25).
It is among two short story collections and 11 novels longlisted for the prize, which is given annually to one book that has been translated into English.
Six of these 13 books will be shortlisted in April and the winner announced in May.
Heart Lamp, said the prize’s judges, “portrays the lives of those often on the periphery of society: girls and women in Muslim communities in southern India”.
Mushtaq’s stories “speak truth to power” and cut through caste, class and religious fault lines, “exposing the rot within: corruption, oppression, injustice, violence”, the judges said.
“Yet, at its heart,” they went on, the book “returns us to the true, great pleasures of reading: solid storytelling, unforgettable characters, vivid dialogue, tensions simmering under the surface and a surprise at each turn”.
Penguin India, Heart Lamp‘s publisher, quoted Mushtaq as saying that her book’s longlisting is a “tremendous honour for literature in the Kannada language”.
Translator Bhasthi said: “This recognition is not just personal but a significant moment for Kannada literature.
“That the everyday experiences of south Indian women building lives under patriarchal pressures have resonated with the distinguished jury, and hopefully, will soon reach a global readership, is both humbling and affirming. It is a testament to the universality of Banu Mushtaq’s stories and to the power of translation.”
Mushtaq has won the Karnataka Sahithya Academy and Daana Chintamani Attimabbe awards, and Bhasthi was a recipient of the PEN Translates award last year.
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said that Heart Lamp‘s longlisting was an honour for Kannada and Kannadiga culture and that “this recognition will pave the way for global appreciation of Kannada storytelling”.
Source:thewire.in
https://thewire.in/books/banu-mushtaq-heart-lamp-international-booker-prize-longlist
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Woman dies after International Islamic University Bus collides with motorcycle in Islamabad
February 26, 2025
ISLAMABAD: A woman was killed in a collision between a government university bus and a motorcycle in Faizabad on Wednesday. The accident, which took place under the jurisdiction of I-9 police station, also injured one person.
According to officials, the bus belonged to the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI). Eyewitnesses said that the attack was severe, due to which the woman died on the spot, while the injured person was shifted to a hospital for medical treatment.
The driver fled the scene after the incident. Law enforcement officials, including traffic police and local police, have launched an investigation and are in touch with the university administration.
Officials assured that efforts are on to arrest the driver and take legal action.
In another incident, police in Islamabad’s Phulgran area arrested a man on charges of attacking his wife with a sharp object. Officials said that the suspect had fled after injuring his wife on February 23 but was tracked down and taken into custody.
Source:dailyausaf.com
https://dailyausaf.com/en/pakistan/islamabad/woman-dies-after-international-islamic-university-bus-collides-with-motorcycle-in-islamabad/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/uk-minister-taliban-women-barbaric/d/134740