New Age Islam News Bureau
3 February 2025
· ‘It’s Our Choice and Identity’: Muslim Women Challenge Hijab Stereotypes
· World Hijab Day: Nigerian Women Demand End to Discrimination
· Viral video shows naked woman standing on police car in Iran
· Inside Iran's Epidemic of 'Honour' Killings: One Woman Killed Every Two Days
· Head of Women’s Affairs Office, British Special Envoy tackle sustainable development in Syria
· Saudi Arabia implements new labour rules for workers, women to…, Indian employees will…
· HinaMunawar appointed first female manager for Pakistan men's cricket team
· Tina Rahimi reflects on the Paris Olympics and speaking out against France’s hijab ban
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/world-hijab-day-woman-police-car/d/134512
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World Hijab Day:Viral video shows naked woman standing on police car in Iran
February 03, 2025
A video circulating on social media shows a woman standing naked on a police vehicle in Iran in the latest instance of a woman disrobing in public and dramatically flouting the Islamic Republic's dress strictures.
The exact time and location of the footage are unclear, but social media users say it has been recorded in the religious city of Mashhad within the past two weeks.
The new video is circulating three months after a similar incident at Tehran's Islamic Azad University, where a female Iranian student stripped to her underwear in protest after reportedly being assaulted by security forces.
During the student's arrest, AhooDaryaei was subjected to severe physical assault, including her head striking either a car door or a pillar, which caused heavy bleeding. “Blood stains from the student were reportedly seen on the car’s tires,” the report noted.
Since the emergence of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran, sparked by the death of MahsaAmini in September 2022 while in police custody over hijab violations, hardliners have intensified efforts to enforce strict dress codes for women.
Despite widespread public defiance, government measures to reinforce mandatory hijab laws have escalated, resulting in the closure of businesses and the impoundment of vehicles associated with hijab offenses.
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202502027015
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‘It’s Our Choice and Identity’: Muslim Women Challenge Hijab Stereotypes
02 February, 2025
As the world marked World Hijab Day on February 1, two British Muslim women are pushing for deeper conversations about the hijab, challenging misconceptions, and creating safe spaces for discussion.
Shreen Mahmood, who has faced discrimination for wearing the hijab, believes the discussion cannot wait any longer.
“Someone commented on one of my social media posts, saying I should be suffocated with my hijab. This really shocked me and upset my daughters,” she told the BBC.
Determined to turn adversity into action, Mahmood is launching a new podcast, Hijabi Roundtable, to provide a platform for hijab-wearing women to share their experiences. She says the project is long overdue, as many women continue to face discrimination and stereotypes.
“This is about creating a safe space where women can open up about the challenges they face and educate others about why the hijab is important to them,” she said.
Breaking Barriers Through Conversation
Mahmood isn’t alone in her mission. TV chef Mia Dia, who hosts a cookery show on Islam Channel, has also faced prejudice for wearing the hijab.
“My hijab is more than just a piece of cloth,” she said.
“I remember sharing a cookery clip on Instagram, and someone commented that they couldn’t learn from me because of what I had on my head.”
Determined to challenge such attitudes, Mahmood and Dia took their campaign to the streets of Birmingham, setting up a pop-up stand where passersby could try on a hijab and engage in open discussions.
Challenging Perceptions
The initiative sparked curiosity and reflection among participants.
Barbara, a shopper who had never worn a hijab before, admitted it felt “a bit strange” at first but added, “It’s nice, and it shouldn’t be for one community but for everyone.”
Sue, whose grandson is Muslim, was pleasantly surprised by the experience.
“It’s surprisingly comfortable and keeps my ears warm. What these ladies are doing is excellent—it’s a great way to increase understanding.”
Mahmood and Dia hope their efforts will encourage more people to ask questions and engage in meaningful dialogue.
“The response has been encouraging,” Mahmood said, “but there’s still a long way to go.”
This year’s World Hijab Day was held under the theme #HijabisUnsilenced in a call to empower hijab-wearing women against discrimination and prejudice.
This movement highlights the hijab as a symbol of strength, identity, and resilience, challenging stereotypes and amplifying the voices of Muslim women globally.
Source: aboutislam.net
https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/world/its-our-choice-and-identity-muslim-women-challenge-hijab-stereotypes/
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World Hijab Day: Nigerian Women Demand End To Discrimination
Feb 3, 2025
Nigerian women are demanding their rights as the world marks Hijab Day, with the Coalition of Muslim Organisations joining millions of Muslim women globally to push for the implementation of frameworks that ends discrimination against them.
The annual event, which holds every 1st February, with the theme “Hijabis Unsilenced” kicked off this year with a walk from Allen Roundabout in Lagos to the Alausa Secretariat Mosque, after which a group of women from 18 organisations converged to discuss pressing issues affecting hijab-wearing women in the country.
The keynote speaker at the event, Professor Khadijah Idowu, encouraged hijabis to uphold good values and display the best Islamic morals while dealing with people, urging them to be exemplary characters.
“The hijab is not imposed upon us by men; it’s by choice. It is not a sign of oppression but that of empowerment. It is an embodiment of freedom of choice, modesty, and humility.” She said the hijab places emphasis on values rather than physical appearance and is a statement of resistance to oppression.
The university don said that despite advocacy on hijab, Muslim women still face challenges like harassment, intimidation, with serious consequences affecting their mental health and social relations. Professor Idowu said women have contributed immensely to humanitarian service, sacrifice, and community development.
The event also featured a session for high inspirers, which showcased hijabis who have performed exceptionally well in their careers and professions.
The high inspirers included entrepreneurs, teachers, counsellors, medical doctors, and a journalist who shared their experiences on how they have been able to navigate the hurdles of stereotype and discrimination as they adorn themselves in hijab.
The CEO of Hasbi Royal Hub, HajiahBushrahOlagunju, while speaking at the event, emphasised the need to uphold the values of Islam during business to be successful in business and to also earn Allah’s pleasure.
A banker who works at Lotus Bank, Khadijah Ajibade encouraged Muslim sisters to know the provisions of the law at their various places of work. She cited an instance where she was canvassed into removing her Hijab but she stood her ground.
The event provided a platform for raising awareness about the hijab as a symbol of faith, identity, and empowerment, while addressing the persistent challenges faced by Muslim women in Nigeria.
The coalition, comprising 18 islamic organisations as they all highlighted the persistent challenges faced by Muslim women in Nigeria, including discriminatory practices in schools, workplaces, and public services.
The coalition reiterated its commitment to creating a society that values diversity and upholds the dignity of all women by creating a future where Muslim women can live, work, and thrive without fear or prejudice.
The Executive Director of Hijabs Right Advocacy, HajiahMutiatOrolu-Balogun, encouraged women in hijab to display a high sense of discipline and morality. She said the media should remain consistently fair and unbiased in reporting issues on hijab, urging employers to give them equal opportunities to display their talents.
The representative of Anujabah, Engineer OlorununisolaKafayat, urged hijabis to be exceptional and intentional by working on their inner hijab and creating an enabling environment for the younger ones, saying the society stands to gain a lot from accepting the hijab.
Hajiah Mariam Saba urged Muslim women to always stand up for one another everywhere, rather than being a stumbling block for one another.
Source: gov.ng
https://von.gov.ng/world-hijab-day-nigerian-women-demand-end-to-discrimination/
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Inside Iran's Epidemic Of 'Honor' Killings: One Woman Killed Every Two Days
February 03, 2025
By BehnazJalalipour
Iran was still reeling from news in late January that a 17-year-old girl was fatally stabbed by her father in the country's northwest when news broke that another 17-year-old was shot by her father and brother while holding her infant in her arms.
The two women, KaniAbdollahi and AtefehZaghibi, are the latest victims in a year that has seen rising violence against women committed by their own family members across Iran.
According to an analysis by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, at least 133 women and girls were killed in the last year for "honor" or other reasons by their husbands, fathers, and brothers – meaning that every two days one female becomes a victim of "femicide" in the country.
The review of reported cases in Iran within the last year of the Iranian calendar, which consists of 318 days, shows that only three murders of women were committed by individuals outside the victim's family, with motives such as theft or sexual assault for those cases. Only one case involved a foreign national.
Femicide is described by rights advocates as killing with a gender-related motive and typically corresponds with preventing or punishing girls and women for acts deemed socially unacceptable for their gender in more conservative societies.
Stop Femicide Iran, an NGO based in New York, says that a majority of femicide cases in Iran are excused as "honor" killings or family disputes where a female member is targeted for acts that allegedly go against societal traditions, religious demands, or the family's reputation.
In the case of Abdollahi, she was reportedly killed on January 25 due to her friendship with a young man. Iranian media reported that Zaghibi's January 29 death at the hands of her father and brother came after she had eloped two years ago.
FemicideBy The Numbers
There are no official statistics on domestic murders in Iran, and according to the NGO Iran Human Rights, murders of women are often not reported or are falsely reported as suicides or accidents.
The Iranian newspaper Shargh reported that at least 165 women between 2021 and 2023 were killed by male family members. The one year total of 133 for 2024 found by RFE/RL indicates an increase in cases.
Apart from the issue of family murders, a review by RFE/RL of official Iranian government statistics also shows that more than 74,000 women visited forensic centers for physical examinations due to spousal abuse. Estimates by researchers and rights activists also put the actual number of domestic violence cases in the country far higher, with some estimates saying it could be up to 100 times larger than the official number of reported instances.
A breakdown of the 133 family murder cases in 2024 also shows that 51 of them were categorized as "family disputes," something that rights groups say fits a broader trend in Iran of authorities looking to hide honor killings from official statistics by misreporting them. A similar trend occurs with rapes, which are often categorized as "harassment" in state-run media and police reports.
Iranian law is based on Islamic Shari'a rules and practices. Those rules often give fathers and husbands the power to decide if and how people who kill women in their family should pay for the crime, allowing for lenient sentences if those deciding on the punishment have been involved in or condone the killing.
Article 630 of Iran's Penal Code also states that "whenever a man sees his wife committing adultery with a man and knows that the wife has consented to it, he can kill both of them at the same time, and if the woman is innocent, he can only kill the man." Honor Killings On The Rise?
Lawyer and human rights expert Saeed Dehghan told RFE/RL that this article often leads to judges handing down lenient sentences in honor-killing cases, often choosing not to impose the maximum 10 years.
Added to this, he says, is a lack of legal protections for women in the country. A bill looking to provide safeguards for women has sat on the shelves of Iran's parliament since it was introduced in 2013, and it has not moved forward despite the growing number of cases of violence against women.
In recent years, several recent murders of women claimed as honor killings have galvanized the Iranian public.
One was 14-year-old Romina Ashrafi, who was killed by her father in 2020 after she eloped with a 28-year-old man. Her family opposed the union and Ashrafi's father arranged for the couple's arrest. Despite expressing fears for her safety, she was returned to her family and was killed while she slept by her father using a sickle.
Another prominent recent case was 17-year-old Mona Heydari, who was beheaded by her husband after she had fled the abusive relationship to Turkey and then returned. Footage of the husband parading her head around their city circulated online and was published by some media.
Ashrafi's father and Heydari's husband were arrested and tried, but both men were handed sentences of less than 10 years for the murders.
Source: rferl.org
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-women-honor-killing-gender-violence/33300465.html
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Head of Women’s Affairs Office, British Special Envoy tackle sustainable development in Syria
3 February، 2025
Damascus, SANA- Head of the Women’s Affairs Office in Syria, Aisha al-Dibs, met Sunday with British Special Envoy to Syria, Ann Snow.
Al-Dibs expressed gratitude for the United Kingdom’s support to the Syrian people, and all the humanitarian and political assistance and support it had provided over the years of the Syrian Revolution.
“We are now moving towards a phase of reconstruction and development. We hope that Britain will transition with us from providing humanitarian support to backing sustainable development, which can be achieved by assisting in capacity-building, particularly for Syrian women,” al-Dibs said during the meeting.
Al-Dibs tackled the impactful role of British women, highlighting successful Syrian women in Britain like Pilot Maya Ghazal and Scientist Safaa al-Qamari. She emphasized that further empowerment of women in Syria hinges on the complete lifting of sanctions, as these measures disproportionately harm the Syrian population.
Al-Dibs noted that despite numerous crises and wars in Syria, the Syrian people remain peace-loving and committed to stability. She stressed that the diverse social fabric of Syria is a source of enduring richness and brilliance.
In turn, Snow affirmed that her country will support early recovery programs in Syria and there will be extensive collaboration in areas such as education and women’s empowerment.
Source: sana.sy
https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=345946
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Saudi Arabia implements new labour rules for workers, women to…, Indian employees will…
February 2, 2025
Riyadh: Several major changes have been made to labour laws in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources has stated that these changes are part of a series of reforms in labour laws.
The aim of these reforms is to protect employees’ rights and create a better working environment. The changes in labour laws are part of the labour reforms that began in 2020, which provided more freedom to change jobs and relaxed visa regulations.
The new rules particularly benefit women. Indian workers will also benefit from these changes. According to a report by Gulf News, the changes in Saudi labour laws have brought good news for working women. The maternity leave for women has been increased. Working women will now receive 12 weeks of maternity leave, up from the previous 10 weeks. This change has come into effect this month. This will give women more time to care for their children. The government believes that this will help women balance work and family.
Paid leave will be granted for marriage
The new rules include significant changes regarding leave for marriage or the death of a spouse, notice for resigning, overtime rules, and a ban on discrimination.
In Saudi Arabia, employees will now receive five days of paid leave upon the death of a spouse. Similarly, five days of paid leave will also be granted for marriage. If an employee wishes to resign, they must give 30 days’ notice. If the company terminates the employee, it must provide 60 days’ notice.
All work done during holidays and Eid will be considered overtime, for which employees will be paid extra. This will ensure fair compensation for employees working during festivals. The trial period can now last a maximum of 180 days.
Under the new rules, discrimination based on race, colour, gender, disability, or social status is strictly prohibited.
Indians will benefit too
In the new rules, those who provide work without a license will now be fined. This will help in regulating the labour market. This will prevent the exploitation of employees. These reforms have also given migrant workers the freedom to change jobs. Visa rules have also been relaxed. Now migrant workers can leave the country without the permission of the employer. Indians work in large numbers in Saudi Arabia, so they will directly benefit from the changed rules.
Source: india.com
https://www.india.com/news/world/saudi-arabia-implements-new-labour-rules-for-workers-women-to-indian-employees-will-7586466/
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HinaMunawar appointed first female manager for Pakistan men's cricket team
Feb 03, 2025
HinaMunawar, a police officer with a strong background in security and operations, has been named as the first female team manager for the Pakistan men's cricket team ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Munawar, who has served in the Frontier Constabulary in the high-risk Swat area, has been appointed as the Operations Manager for Pakistan's Tri-Nation series and the Champions Trophy which begins on February 19 in Karachi.
While senior retired bureaucrat Naveed Akram Cheema will continue as team manager, Munawar's appointment has sparked curiosity among cricket fans, experts, and media.
After passing the Civil Superior Services exam, Munawar transitioned into various law enforcement and security roles.
"Perhaps her appointment is aimed at streamlining operations within the team and between players and the board, as she has worked in strategic and leadership roles, helping to streamline various operations,” said a source close to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Munawar, who joined the PCB last year, was also appointed manager of the Pakistan women's under-19 team for the Asia Cup.
“She made history as the first female district officer in the Frontier Constabulary in Swat, breaking gender barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field,” the source added.
It is understood that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi brought Munawar into the board on deputation, as she remains part of the Police Service of Pakistan.
The PCB aims to streamline team management and create a more organised and efficient environment, with her appointment bringing fresh perspectives to the traditionally coaching-focused and male-dominated setup.
Source: tribuneindia.com
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/sports/hina-munawar-appointed-first-female-manager-for-pakistan-mens-cricket-team/
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Tina Rahimi reflects on the Paris Olympics and speaking out against France’s hijab ban
February 3, 2025
ICYMI: Momentum's latest guest Tina Rahimi made huge waves last year - for all the right reasons.
If she’s not on your radar already, Tina is an Australian boxer who participated in the 2022 Commonwealth Games (winning Bronze in the Women’s Featherweight Division), and later competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where she won the hearts of fans around the world.
Tina was also the first woman to represent Australia in a hijab in boxing – and it’s a feat that she doesn’t take lightly. So, how did taking that title feel?
“It’s pretty significant. It’s got so much importance and it’s just not about me at the end of the day,” Tina says. “I feel like I’ve proven to have broken those barriers and to just show Muslim women that they can feel included in an environment and still feel, like to have that inclusion.”
“I’ve just proven that to so many people and, you know, I get all these messages every day that even though I didn’t go to the Olympics and win a medal, a lot of people messaged me and said, ‘Just the fact that you were there and you’ve inspired so many people is what’s really important.'”
Tina reflects that she still really wanted to take home a medal. “I just really wanted to win, but everyone’s like, you know, the fact that you were in your hijab and you’ve shown little girls and women that they can do anything and still feel included, is what’s most important. You know I think I’ve paved another movement and women can actually say, ‘I can do that.”
In a move that dominated headlines, Tina spoke up against France’s ban on female athletes wearing hijabs at the Olympics – a move for which she was praised both in Australia and beyond.
“I just found it really upsetting. For me, it was like, what if I was in that spot? Like, what if I was in boxing and I enjoyed it and I wanted to represent my country and then all of a sudden I was told that I can’t?” Tina tells Momentum.
“So I really felt for them and I really felt like it wasn’t fair. It’s like, what am I standing for at the end of the day? Like I am representing myself at the Olympics and I’m choosing to wear the hijab in a country where you know, it’s free to do whatever you want. I personally choose to follow my faith and to wear that hijab.
“So I found it unfair to, if someone chooses to do that, why are you going to tell them otherwise? It was really unfair, and I feel like if I didn’t speak about it, then that might close doors for a lot, a lot of other women who are looking into getting into sport and who choose to wear the hijab. And then they can’t, then they know they can’t participate because they’ll have to remove it. So I thought it was really important for a very important part of us as a Muslim woman.”
Source: missingperspectives.com
https://missingperspectives.com/posts/tina-rahimi-interview-momentum/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/world-hijab-day-woman-police-car/d/134512