Hijab (veil) has been a topic of much debate in France for a long time. Those who oppose it say that it is emblematic of women's oppression and has no place in the liberal French society. Those who favour choice argue that what a woman chooses to wear out of her free will is not anybody else's business. The debate has taken a centrestage yet again and both sides are locking horns once again. Two incidents rekindled the war of words that has been going on for decades.

Last week, a member of French President Emmanuel Macron walked out of National Assembly after she noticed that one of the students present for the hearing was donning a veil

“As a Member of Parliament and a feminist, committed to Republican values, to laicite and women’s rights, I cannot accept someone who enters a National Assembly hearing wearing a hijab, which for me remains a mark of submission,” read the translation of Anne-Christine Lang's tweet in French. She posted the tweet shortly after leaving the hearing mid-session.

Maryam Pougetoux, the 21-year-old student was attending the hearing as a representative of a student's union that and was part of a discussion on shielding young people from Covid-19.

Lang, the leader from Macron's party received support as well as criticism from across the political spectrum.

Another incident prepared the ground for comeback of debate over hijab in French society. A French journalist attempted to connect a food video made by a woman in hijab with terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

The journalist, from a right-leaning newspaper Le Figaro magazine received flak for turning a simple food blog into a political debate.

In France, wearing a hijab is banned in schools and for public servants at their workplace.

Other than hijab, burkini is something that has had people arguing with each other in France. In 2016, when French police made a woman remove a burkini she was wearing on a beach in Nice, the incident was met with incredulity, outrage on one side and insistence on adherence to law on the other. Nice, at that time, had banned the burkini.

Hijab (veil) has been a topic of much debate in France for a long time. Those who oppose it say that it is emblematic of women's oppression and has no place in the liberal French society.

Hijab (veil) has been a topic of much debate in France for a long time. Those who oppose it say that it is emblematic of women's oppression and has no place in the liberal French society. Those who favour choice argue that what a woman chooses to wear out of her free will is not anybody else's business. The debate has taken a centrestage yet again and both sides are locking horns once again. Two incidents rekindled the war of words that has been going on for decades. Last week, a member of French President Emmanuel Macron walked out of National Assembly after she noticed that one of the students present for the hearing was donning a veil “As a Member of Parliament and a feminist, committed to Republican values, to laicite and women’s rights, I cannot accept someone who enters a National Assembly hearing wearing a hijab, which for me remains a mark of submission,” read the translation of Anne-Christine Lang's tweet in French. She posted the tweet shortly after leaving the hearing mid-session. Maryam Pougetoux, the 21-year-old student was attending the hearing as a representative of a student's union that and was part of a discussion on shielding young people from Covid-19. Lang, the leader from Macron's party received support as well as criticism from across the political spectrum. Another incident prepared the ground for comeback of debate over hijab in French society. A French journalist attempted to connect a food video made by a woman in hijab with terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The journalist, from a right-leaning newspaper Le Figaro magazine received flak for turning a simple food blog into a political debate. In France, wearing a hijab is banned in schools and for public servants at their workplace. Other than hijab, burkini is something that has had people arguing with each other in France. In 2016, when French police made a woman remove a burkini she was wearing on a beach in Nice, the incident was met with incredulity, outrage on one side and insistence on adherence to law on the other. Nice, at that time, had banned the burkini.

In France, fierce debate over hijab begins again

A female Muslim lawmaker from Israel's Arab minority is set to become the first in parliament to wear a hijab, or headscarf after Arab parties won their largest ever showing in this week's election.

Israel: Iman Yassin Khatib is set to become the first in parliament to wear a hijab

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/liverpool-set-for-nike-deal-after-winning-new-balance-case-258176">Nike</a> announced its new Victory Swim Collection on Wednesday which will include a Full-Coverage Swimsuit and will&nbsp;provide a game-changing option for female athletes seeking full coverage and a full range of motion in the water.&nbsp;

The Nike Victory Swim Line is slated to&nbsp;be available globally at select retailers and online from February 1, 2020,&nbsp;onwards. It will&nbsp;include swim separate options of hijab, tunic top and leggings for modest swimwear along with the full coverage swimsuit.&nbsp;

"The design of the Nike Victory Swim Collection serves a variety of needs from modesty preferences to sun protection and represents Nike's commitment to inclusive design, providing more women with game-changing innovation to enjoy sport," the company said.

Nike was inspired by athletes passionate response to the company’s ''Pro Hijab''&nbsp;in 2017 which addressed issues that female athletes faced trying to find a hijab that worked well for a particular sport in a time hijabs were not fully understood.&nbsp;

Nike designers were introduced to the striking gap in apparel for water sports with athletes commenting that swimwear presented a barrier, rather than a conduit, to enjoying the water.&nbsp;

While variations of “Burkinis” can be found in several Islamic countries and online, the attire is not appropriate for swimming as it weighs the swimmer down, a problem that Nike seems to have solved by making its new line from fabric that is lightweight, breathable and quick-drying with UPF 40+ sun protection.&nbsp;

The company said that it was inspired by Emirati figure skater Zahra Lari, the first in her sport to don the hijab in competition.&nbsp;

Nike’s Creative Director, VP, Martha Moore said that the company was excited to inspire more women to see themselves in sport through the means of creative thinking and inclusive design.&nbsp;

“The more we listened, the more possibility we saw to serve female athletes in new dimensions…As we continue broadening our vision for innovation, we’re excited to inspire more women to see themselves in sport by thinking creatively and designing inclusively. To us, Nike Victory Swim Collection shows the power of innovation to invite all women to discover the joy of sport,” said Moore in a statement.&nbsp;

Nike announced its new Victory Swim Collection on Wednesday which will include a Full-Coverage Swimsuit and will provide a game-changing option for female athletes seeking full coverage and a full range of motion in the water.

Nike announced its new Victory Swim Collection on Wednesday which will include a Full-Coverage Swimsuit and will provide a game-changing option for female athletes seeking full coverage and a full range of motion in the water. The Nike Victory Swim Line is slated to be available globally at select retailers and online from February 1, 2020, onwards. It will include swim separate options of hijab, tunic top and leggings for modest swimwear along with the full coverage swimsuit. "The design of the Nike Victory Swim Collection serves a variety of needs from modesty preferences to sun protection and represents Nike's commitment to inclusive design, providing more women with game-changing innovation to enjoy sport," the company said. Nike was inspired by athletes passionate response to the company’s ''Pro Hijab'' in 2017 which addressed issues that female athletes faced trying to find a hijab that worked well for a particular sport in a time hijabs were not fully understood. Nike designers were introduced to the striking gap in apparel for water sports with athletes commenting that swimwear presented a barrier, rather than a conduit, to enjoying the water. While variations of “Burkinis” can be found in several Islamic countries and online, the attire is not appropriate for swimming as it weighs the swimmer down, a problem that Nike seems to have solved by making its new line from fabric that is lightweight, breathable and quick-drying with UPF 40+ sun protection. The company said that it was inspired by Emirati figure skater Zahra Lari, the first in her sport to don the hijab in competition. Nike’s Creative Director, VP, Martha Moore said that the company was excited to inspire more women to see themselves in sport through the means of creative thinking and inclusive design. “The more we listened, the more possibility we saw to serve female athletes in new dimensions…As we continue broadening our vision for innovation, we’re excited to inspire more women to see themselves in sport by thinking creatively and designing inclusively. To us, Nike Victory Swim Collection shows the power of innovation to invite all women to discover the joy of sport,” said Moore in a statement.

Nike announces new swimwear collection to include ‘Swim Hijab’  

In a horrifying incident, a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blue-girl-football-fan-admitted-mistake-and-expressed-regret-iran-249651">woman in Iran lost her life</a> simply because she wanted to go to the stadium and root for her favourite football team.

29-year-old Sahar Khodayari took her life when she learnt that she could face imprisonment for entering a football stadium. For the unversed, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranian-women-could-face-10-year-prison-term-for-posting-pictures-videos-online-sans-headscarves-239781">Iranian women</a> have been barred from entering a stadium since 1981.

Khodayari dressed as a man to enter the stadium and root for her favourite football team Esteghlal FC.

She was arrested and on September 2 she learnt that she could face a six-month jail term for her 'crime'. Khodayari took her life by self-immolation.

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Her death has outraged the global community. Reactions have poured in from all over various social media platforms.

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I have a platform and I have never been afraid of raising my voice when in need.This is a tragedy and it can’t continue anymore. <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAcom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIFAcom</a> it’s time to act and not be silent.WE need to help the women of Iran fight against gender apartheid.This is about human rights!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaharKhodayari?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaharKhodayari</a> <a href="https://t.co/UE4r071Niv">https://t.co/UE4r071Niv</a>
— Kosovare Asllani (@KosovareAsllani) <a href="https://twitter.com/KosovareAsllani/status/1171383260036964354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Iran's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueGirl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueGirl</a>, who set herself on fire after she was arrested for trying to enter a football stadium, has died. Iran is the only country in the world that bans &amp; punishes women for seeking to enter stadiums. We call for this discriminatory ban to end. <a href="https://t.co/CNrmRIIjKk">https://t.co/CNrmRIIjKk</a>
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) <a href="https://twitter.com/amnesty/status/1171441175384866816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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I have cheered on this nation, and enjoyed the quality of game they bring. However, your laws and discrimination towards women are utterly ridiculous. Boycott their stadiums, and force them to grow up 🇮🇷 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bluegirl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bluegirl</a>
— Caleb Whiteman (@calebswhite) <a href="https://twitter.com/calebswhite/status/1171440233071566848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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A young woman, known as the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueGirl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueGirl</a>, set herself on fire after getting a jail sentence for trying to enter the football stadium. Iranian women call on <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAcom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIFAcom</a> to demand that the Islamic Republic end the ban on female attendance in stadiums.<a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIFAWorldCup</a>
— Fereshteh Molavi (@fereshtehmol) <a href="https://twitter.com/fereshtehmol/status/1171380816502501377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The club Esteghlal FC expressed its inability to even support a loyal fan. Football players from across the world are now demanding FIFA take an action with global bodies like the United Nations demanding action against Tehran.

This is not the first time when Tehran has come under the scanner for its attitude towards its women. In July this year, it was reported that Iranian women could face a jail term up to a decade for posting their pictures online without their headscarves or hijab.

Earlier this year, Iran hired 2,000 morality police to punish women who refused to wear the compulsory hijab in public.

Reformists lawmakers point out that morality police has been a failure.

In a horrifying incident, a woman in Iran lost her life simply because she wanted to go to the stadium and root for her favourite football team. 29-year-old Sahar Khodayari took her life when she learnt that she could face imprisonment for entering a football stadium.

In a horrifying incident, a woman in Iran lost her life simply because she wanted to go to the stadium and root for her favourite football team. 29-year-old Sahar Khodayari took her life when she learnt that she could face imprisonment for entering a football stadium. For the unversed, Iranian women have been barred from entering a stadium since 1981. Khodayari dressed as a man to enter the stadium and root for her favourite football team Esteghlal FC. She was arrested and on September 2 she learnt that she could face a six-month jail term for her 'crime'. Khodayari took her life by self-immolation. × Her death has outraged the global community. Reactions have poured in from all over various social media platforms. I have a platform and I have never been afraid of raising my voice when in need.This is a tragedy and it can’t continue anymore. @FIFAcom it’s time to act and not be silent.WE need to help the women of Iran fight against gender apartheid.This is about human rights!#SaharKhodayari https://t.co/UE4r071Niv — Kosovare Asllani (@KosovareAsllani) September 10, 2019 × Iran's #BlueGirl, who set herself on fire after she was arrested for trying to enter a football stadium, has died. Iran is the only country in the world that bans & punishes women for seeking to enter stadiums. We call for this discriminatory ban to end. https://t.co/CNrmRIIjKk — Amnesty International (@amnesty) September 10, 2019 × I have cheered on this nation, and enjoyed the quality of game they bring. However, your laws and discrimination towards women are utterly ridiculous. Boycott their stadiums, and force them to grow up 🇮🇷 #bluegirl — Caleb Whiteman (@calebswhite) September 10, 2019 × A young woman, known as the #BlueGirl, set herself on fire after getting a jail sentence for trying to enter the football stadium. Iranian women call on @FIFAcom to demand that the Islamic Republic end the ban on female attendance in stadiums.@FIFAWorldCup — Fereshteh Molavi (@fereshtehmol) September 10, 2019 × The club Esteghlal FC expressed its inability to even support a loyal fan. Football players from across the world are now demanding FIFA take an action with global bodies like the United Nations demanding action against Tehran. This is not the first time when Tehran has come under the scanner for its attitude towards its women. In July this year, it was reported that Iranian women could face a jail term up to a decade for posting their pictures online without their headscarves or hijab. Earlier this year, Iran hired 2,000 morality police to punish women who refused to wear the compulsory hijab in public. Reformists lawmakers point out that morality police has been a failure.

Iran: Woman loses life for wanting to watch football match

20-year-old activist jailed for not wearing hijab for 24 years in Iran. Watch this video to know more.

WION Fineprint: Activist jailed for not wearing hijab

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - August 7th, 2019

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WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - August 4th, 2019

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - August 3rd, 2019

Three women in Iran have been sentenced to 55 years in jail for disrespecting compulsory hijab. Watch this video to know more.

Iran: 3 women get 55 years in jail for defying compulsory hijab

Iranian women could now face a jail term up to a decade for posting their pictures online <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-sanctions-hit-iran-women-debate-wearing-hijab-in-public-236170">without their headscarves or hijab</a>.&nbsp;

According to media reports, scores of Iranian women have joined an online movement wherein they post their videos and photos sans headscarves on social media and send them a US-based activist who found a campaign to oppose the hijab.&nbsp;

Iranian officials announced the same this week especially making note of Masih Alinejad, a US-based activist, who owns a social media platform since 2014 and has been inviting Iranian women to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-women-take-off-their-hijab-to-fight-veil-law-31304">oppose the wearing of the hijab</a>.

More and more women in Iran are coming out and expressing their desires against the dress code.

While many have restrained their desires due to the fear of the ruling Shiite Muslim clergy and their security agencies, some women have found an alternative to hijab in loosely draped colourful scarves.&nbsp;

Last month Iran hired 2,000 morality police to punish women who refuse to wear the compulsory hijab in public.&nbsp;

Reformists lawmakers point out that morality police has been a failure.

The beginning of last year saw Iran gripped with a similar wave of protest. Iranian women took to the streets, removing their headscarves in public in a move to protest the veil law.&nbsp;

The protests followed Vida Mohaved's release who was detained by Iranian authorities in December, 2017&nbsp;for removing her hijab while taking part in an anti-government protest.

Iranian women could now face a jail term up to a decade for posting their pictures online without their headscarves or hijab. According to media reports, scores of Iranian women have joined an online movement wherein they post their videos and photos sans headscarves on social media and send them a US-based activist who found a campaign to oppose the hijab.

Iranian women could now face a jail term up to a decade for posting their pictures online without their headscarves or hijab. According to media reports, scores of Iranian women have joined an online movement wherein they post their videos and photos sans headscarves on social media and send them a US-based activist who found a campaign to oppose the hijab. Iranian officials announced the same this week especially making note of Masih Alinejad, a US-based activist, who owns a social media platform since 2014 and has been inviting Iranian women to oppose the wearing of the hijab. More and more women in Iran are coming out and expressing their desires against the dress code. While many have restrained their desires due to the fear of the ruling Shiite Muslim clergy and their security agencies, some women have found an alternative to hijab in loosely draped colourful scarves. Last month Iran hired 2,000 morality police to punish women who refuse to wear the compulsory hijab in public. Reformists lawmakers point out that morality police has been a failure. The beginning of last year saw Iran gripped with a similar wave of protest. Iranian women took to the streets, removing their headscarves in public in a move to protest the veil law. The protests followed Vida Mohaved's release who was detained by Iranian authorities in December, 2017 for removing her hijab while taking part in an anti-government protest.

Iranian women could face 10-year prison term for posting pictures, videos online sans headscarves

A hijab-wearing, diminutive Malaysian wrestler known as "Phoenix" cuts an unusual figure in the ring, a female Muslim fighter taking on hulking opponents in a male-dominated world.

Dressed in flame-patterned trousers, a black and orange hijab and top, Nor Diana uses sophisticated moves to throw and pin down her larger rivals in front of hundreds of cheering spectators.&nbsp;

Standing just 155 centimetres (five foot, one inch) tall and weighing 43 kilograms (six stone, 10 pounds), her speed and agility make her a match for almost any opponent.

And far from being criticised by conservatives for throwing herself into <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/wrestler-babita-phogat-to-get-married-to-vivek-suhag-shares-photo-224858&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiavcyJpbvjAhWO4nMBHeMXACwQFjAAegQIBBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0O5yVvqmqn7F1LTH1YTGjh">wrestling</a>, the 19-year-old has become a hit on social media and spurred the interest of other headscarf-wearing women.

"Even though I am Muslim, and I wear the hijab, nothing can stop me from doing what I love," she said in the ring after winning a recent fight.

She takes part in local outfit Malaysia Pro Wrestling (MyPW), which has similarities with hugely popular World Wrestling Entertainment from the United States.&nbsp;

Like WWE, the Malaysian version is as much theatre as sport, as participants compete against one another with matches ending in a pre-determined outcome.&nbsp;

Nor Diana, a pseudonym as she prefers not to reveal her true identity, seems an unlikely <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/bajrang-punia-first-indian-wrestler-to-fight-at-new-yorks-iconic-madison-square-213876&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiavcyJpbvjAhWO4nMBHeMXACwQFjACegQIARAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1EJpP0vLpradme08_eWgXn">wrestler </a>- outside the ring, she is shy and soft-spoken, and her day job is working in a hospital.

But when she puts on her wrestling gear, she transforms into the fearsome Phoenix.

"As Phoenix, I'm a totally different person. She may be small, but she can do things that people can't imagine," Nor Diana told AFP at a wrestling gym in Puchong, outside Kuala Lumpur.&nbsp;

"When she's in the ring, she's fast and always wants to win," she explained.

Growing popularity 
 
Nor Diana first started training as a wrestler in late 2015, following her teenage dream of becoming a fighter and made her debut a few months later.

More than 60 per cent of Malaysia's 32 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims and, while the form of Islam followed is generally moderate and tolerant, society can still be conservative.

Many Muslim women in the country wear the traditional headscarf and loose-fitting clothing in line with Islamic requirements for females to dress modestly.

"In the beginning, it was always hard for me, because a lot of people said I can't wrestle because I'm a Muslim and I wear the hijab," she said.&nbsp;

But she has soldiered on, with her family’s full support, and enjoyed her greatest success so far in early July, defeating four men to be crowned Malaysian wrestling champion.

Initially, she competed wearing a mask, to reduce the chances people would recognise her. But after losing a match last year she removed it and has been competing without one ever since.

She remembered being fearful about the reaction - but her popularity has only increased since, with thousands now following her on social media, helping to boost wrestling's profile in Malaysia.

While it is growing in popularity, wrestling remains relatively small in the Southeast Asian country. There are about 30 fighters and matches take place every two to three months in front of a few hundred supporters.

Nor Diana is one of just two women wrestlers.&nbsp;

"As soon as she became popular, we received a lot of messages from fellow hijabis who inquired about joining wrestling as well," &nbsp;Ayez Shaukat Fonseka, her coach and fellow fighter, told AFP.

"She kind of broke the barrier and just proved to them that if she can do it, they can do it too,"&nbsp;Fonseka said.

A hijab-wearing, diminutive Malaysian wrestler known as "Phoenix" cuts an unusual figure in the ring, a female Muslim fighter taking on hulking opponents in a male-dominated world.

A hijab-wearing, diminutive Malaysian wrestler known as "Phoenix" cuts an unusual figure in the ring, a female Muslim fighter taking on hulking opponents in a male-dominated world. Dressed in flame-patterned trousers, a black and orange hijab and top, Nor Diana uses sophisticated moves to throw and pin down her larger rivals in front of hundreds of cheering spectators. Standing just 155 centimetres (five foot, one inch) tall and weighing 43 kilograms (six stone, 10 pounds), her speed and agility make her a match for almost any opponent. And far from being criticised by conservatives for throwing herself into wrestling, the 19-year-old has become a hit on social media and spurred the interest of other headscarf-wearing women. "Even though I am Muslim, and I wear the hijab, nothing can stop me from doing what I love," she said in the ring after winning a recent fight. She takes part in local outfit Malaysia Pro Wrestling (MyPW), which has similarities with hugely popular World Wrestling Entertainment from the United States. Like WWE, the Malaysian version is as much theatre as sport, as participants compete against one another with matches ending in a pre-determined outcome. Nor Diana, a pseudonym as she prefers not to reveal her true identity, seems an unlikely wrestler - outside the ring, she is shy and soft-spoken, and her day job is working in a hospital. But when she puts on her wrestling gear, she transforms into the fearsome Phoenix. "As Phoenix, I'm a totally different person. She may be small, but she can do things that people can't imagine," Nor Diana told AFP at a wrestling gym in Puchong, outside Kuala Lumpur. "When she's in the ring, she's fast and always wants to win," she explained. Growing popularity Nor Diana first started training as a wrestler in late 2015, following her teenage dream of becoming a fighter and made her debut a few months later. More than 60 per cent of Malaysia's 32 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims and, while the form of Islam followed is generally moderate and tolerant, society can still be conservative. Many Muslim women in the country wear the traditional headscarf and loose-fitting clothing in line with Islamic requirements for females to dress modestly. "In the beginning, it was always hard for me, because a lot of people said I can't wrestle because I'm a Muslim and I wear the hijab," she said. But she has soldiered on, with her family’s full support, and enjoyed her greatest success so far in early July, defeating four men to be crowned Malaysian wrestling champion. Initially, she competed wearing a mask, to reduce the chances people would recognise her. But after losing a match last year she removed it and has been competing without one ever since. She remembered being fearful about the reaction - but her popularity has only increased since, with thousands now following her on social media, helping to boost wrestling's profile in Malaysia. While it is growing in popularity, wrestling remains relatively small in the Southeast Asian country. There are about 30 fighters and matches take place every two to three months in front of a few hundred supporters. Nor Diana is one of just two women wrestlers. "As soon as she became popular, we received a lot of messages from fellow hijabis who inquired about joining wrestling as well," Ayez Shaukat Fonseka, her coach and fellow fighter, told AFP. "She kind of broke the barrier and just proved to them that if she can do it, they can do it too," Fonseka said.

Malaysia's hijab-wearing wrestler Nor 'Phoenix' Diana breaking barriers

Hijab Debate Intensifies In Iran. Amidst the worsening of conflict between U.S. & Iran, Tehran has a new problem to deal with. Right now, the country is polarised on the debate over whether women should wear a hijab. So why Iranian women are pushing back against the dress code? And why now? Take a look at this report

Gravitas: Iran's dilemma: Should women wear a Hijab or not?

The hijab debate has further polarized Iranians at a time when the country is buckling under unprecedented U.S. sanctions imposed since the Donald Trump administration pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers last year.Watch full video to know more.

Iranian women forced to wear hijab

At a time when<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/irans-leader-is-losing-his-grasp-on-power-235191"> Iran</a> is reeling under the consequences of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rouhani-iran-ready-to-talk-to-us-if-sanctions-lifted-236006">US sanctions</a>, the country is facing a debate over whether women should wear hijab or not.

More and more women are coming out expressing their desires against the dress code.

News agency&nbsp;AP cited&nbsp;a&nbsp;20-year-old high school graduate Paniz Masoumi as saying, "I would not remove my hijab because I am not looking for trouble. They have impounded my car for two weeks now under the excuse of being slackly veiled. I am sure that I had not removed my headscarf. They have labelled me as poorly veiled to impound my car and charge me money."

Another&nbsp;18-year-old high school graduate Nikki Ghassempour said, "If the society accepts the freedom of choice when it comes to hijab and change how they view those who are not veiled, I would remove my hijab too. Otherwise, I won't."

While many have restrained their desires due to the fear of the ruling Shiite Muslim clergy and their security agencies, some women have found an alternative to hijab in loosely draped colorful scarves.&nbsp;The scarf show as much hair as they cover.

Even in Tehran's grand bazaar, most female shoppers are seen carrying casual hijabs.&nbsp;

Still, a sizeable minority of women have covered head-to-toe in black robes and tightly pulled headscarves - the chador.

Last month Iran hired 2,000 morality police to punish women who refuse to wear the compulsory hijab in public.&nbsp;

Reformists lawmakers point out that morality police has been a failure.

Reformist lawmaker Parvaneh Salahshouri said, "The morality police were not successful in institutionalising the hijab for women. The question I have always asked the policymakers in this regard has been whether their policies have worked or not. What we see is that the morality police have been a failure".

Last month, a video showing morality police grabbing an unveiled teenage girl and violently pushing her into the back of a police car, prompted widespread criticism.

According to Iran's Islamic Penal Code, women, who appear in public places and roads without wearing an Islamic hijab, will be sentenced to ten days to two months’ imprisonment or a fine of 50 thousand to five hundred rials.

Some Islamic hardliners in Iran have called for harsh punishment, even lashes, arguing that allowing women to show their hair leads to moral decay and the disintegration of families.

Amid all the chaos, Tehran is barely being able to cope with US President Donald Trump's maximum pressure campaign.&nbsp;US sanctions have hit the Iranian economy hard. While the oil-rich nation's crude exports have been down, inflation and unemployment have risen drastically.&nbsp;Frustration over the sanctions is running high among Iranians, who have seen the value of Iran's currency plummet by about 60 per cent over the past year.

But inside Iran, the debate is still over whether women should leave their houses without a hijab

At a time when Iran is reeling under the consequences of US sanctions, the country is facing a debate over whether women should wear hijab or not. More and more women are coming out expressing their desires against the dress code.

At a time when Iran is reeling under the consequences of US sanctions, the country is facing a debate over whether women should wear hijab or not. More and more women are coming out expressing their desires against the dress code. News agency AP cited a 20-year-old high school graduate Paniz Masoumi as saying, "I would not remove my hijab because I am not looking for trouble. They have impounded my car for two weeks now under the excuse of being slackly veiled. I am sure that I had not removed my headscarf. They have labelled me as poorly veiled to impound my car and charge me money." Another 18-year-old high school graduate Nikki Ghassempour said, "If the society accepts the freedom of choice when it comes to hijab and change how they view those who are not veiled, I would remove my hijab too. Otherwise, I won't." While many have restrained their desires due to the fear of the ruling Shiite Muslim clergy and their security agencies, some women have found an alternative to hijab in loosely draped colorful scarves. The scarf show as much hair as they cover. Even in Tehran's grand bazaar, most female shoppers are seen carrying casual hijabs. Still, a sizeable minority of women have covered head-to-toe in black robes and tightly pulled headscarves - the chador. Last month Iran hired 2,000 morality police to punish women who refuse to wear the compulsory hijab in public. Reformists lawmakers point out that morality police has been a failure. Reformist lawmaker Parvaneh Salahshouri said, "The morality police were not successful in institutionalising the hijab for women. The question I have always asked the policymakers in this regard has been whether their policies have worked or not. What we see is that the morality police have been a failure". Last month, a video showing morality police grabbing an unveiled teenage girl and violently pushing her into the back of a police car, prompted widespread criticism. According to Iran's Islamic Penal Code, women, who appear in public places and roads without wearing an Islamic hijab, will be sentenced to ten days to two months’ imprisonment or a fine of 50 thousand to five hundred rials. Some Islamic hardliners in Iran have called for harsh punishment, even lashes, arguing that allowing women to show their hair leads to moral decay and the disintegration of families. Amid all the chaos, Tehran is barely being able to cope with US President Donald Trump's maximum pressure campaign. US sanctions have hit the Iranian economy hard. While the oil-rich nation's crude exports have been down, inflation and unemployment have risen drastically. Frustration over the sanctions is running high among Iranians, who have seen the value of Iran's currency plummet by about 60 per cent over the past year. But inside Iran, the debate is still over whether women should leave their houses without a hijab

In sanctions-hit Iran, women debate wearing hijab in public

The simple act of walking has become a display of defiance for some young Iranian women who move in Tehran's streets without a compulsory headscarf, or hijab. With every step, they risk harassment or even arrest by Iran's morality police, whose job it is to enforce the strict dress code imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Hijab debate grows in intensity in Iran

In an unprecedented turn of events, a French sporting goods company took down one of its products, a hijab for women joggers, from its shelves after it came under fire from users on social media.&nbsp;

The product sparked outrage in France as politicians across the country said that it was a violation of French principles on secularism.&nbsp;

The hijab, a hood designed to cover the hair was originally made by the French company for its Morocco audience on the request of some customers there. It was called Decathlon's ‘hijab de running’.&nbsp;

As public debate picked momentum, the sports company issued a statement on Tuesday that it had suspended the sale of the item in France over concerns about the safety of its staff, which it said had been insulted and threatened on social media.

In response to this, French Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet said on Wednesday that sports stores are free to sell the running hijab and that there are no legal objections. She was heard saying: “The debate on this issue became hysterical and I regret that.”

For those who are unaware, civil servants in France cannot wear hair-covering veils during working hours and face-covering veils are banned for everybody in the public space. Items of clothing seen as asserting a religious identity often spark controversy, even if legal.

In an unprecedented turn of events, a French sporting goods company took down one of its products, a hijab for women joggers, from its shelves after it came under fire from users on social media.

In an unprecedented turn of events, a French sporting goods company took down one of its products, a hijab for women joggers, from its shelves after it came under fire from users on social media. The product sparked outrage in France as politicians across the country said that it was a violation of French principles on secularism. The hijab, a hood designed to cover the hair was originally made by the French company for its Morocco audience on the request of some customers there. It was called Decathlon's ‘hijab de running’. As public debate picked momentum, the sports company issued a statement on Tuesday that it had suspended the sale of the item in France over concerns about the safety of its staff, which it said had been insulted and threatened on social media. In response to this, French Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet said on Wednesday that sports stores are free to sell the running hijab and that there are no legal objections. She was heard saying: “The debate on this issue became hysterical and I regret that.” For those who are unaware, civil servants in France cannot wear hair-covering veils during working hours and face-covering veils are banned for everybody in the public space. Items of clothing seen as asserting a religious identity often spark controversy, even if legal.

French sports retailer pulls hijab for women joggers over furore

By Raman Ghavami

In a recent summary of human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa research and advocacy director, Philip Luther, referred to 2018 as a “year of shame.” The unenviable title is the result of the arrest of more than 7,000 anti-regime dissidents and activists, including over 5,000 of those who have participated in the anti-government protests that took place between December 2017 and January 2018. 
 
The demonstrations were the biggest and most widespread since those that ushered in the Islamic Revolution of 1979, with Amnesty describing them as “anti-authoritarian and anti-corruption protests.”

In Luther’s words, “the scale of the arrests, imprisonment and flogging sentences reveal the extreme lengths the authorities have gone to in order to suppress peaceful protesters.” According to the human rights group, most of the mass arrests are taking place in the regions where ethnic minorities such as Azeris, Kurds, Arabs and Baluchis live. As Ahwazi activist Yasser Assadi has told this author, “since the attack on the military parade in September 2018, Iranian security forces have arrested more than 700 Ahwazi Arab activists.” Assadi also believes that “Iran used the attack to start a wide-scale crackdown on activists in Khuzestan province.”

The mass arrests are ongoing and, according to the Human Rights Organisation of Kurdistan in Iran and the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN), more than 100 environmental and civil rights activists have been detained, summoned or arrested in Kurdish areas since the beginning of 2019. According to Kaveh Kermanshahi, the speaker for KHRN and a consultant at Berlin-based LesMigraS, “the new wave of arresting activists in Kurdish cities is alarming and 2019 may be the worst year for activists in Iran.” Kermanshahi thinks that the silence of the Western media on this issue emboldens the Iranian government. “Tehran starts to arrest activists, and as the media in the West do not react, security forces then widen their mass arrest operations across the region,” he says.

One of the most disturbing aspects of these mass arrests has been the routine torture of detainees and the ensuing forced confessions. Torture in Iranian prisons has always been rampant, aimed at extracting false confessions to be broadcast on state television. The Iranian government favours this method for two main reasons. First, to legitimize its claims that activists are all agents of foreign countries. Second, to break the will of those who oppose the policies of the government.

Since December 2017, the authorities intensified their efforts, specifically targeting journalists, social media and women’s rights activists, Ahwazi Arabs, Kurds and their families. A human rights activist based in Tehran who wishes to remain anonymous says that “Iran uses this method to establish a regime of fear where people would hesitate to participate in any anti-regime protest. However, whilst this method may scare people in central parts of the country for the time being, for ethnic minority groups this is not the case as this pushes more of them to join opposition groups in order to take revenge and protect themselves.”

“The Iranian regime’s violations of human rights in Ahwaz are so widespread that many Ahwazis have resigned themselves to joking that there are no rights left to be violated. Prisons are flooded with dissidents and the increasing amount of protests against the government have resulted in extreme measures against Ahwazi Arabs,” says Rahim Hamid, an Iranian journalist.

Amnesty International’s findings, as well as reports by other human rights organisations, prove that the situation in Iran has deteriorated under President Hassan Rouhani, who is widely considered to be a moderate. Despite this, his foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has repeatedly claimed that Iran does not have political prisoners — although he only does so when speaking in the West. However, the documented reports demonstrate the opposite, and data from the likes of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is in sharp contrast with Zarif’s assertions. Iran habitually makes the CPJ’s top 10 most censored countries list and was the in eighths place for the number of journalists imprisoned in 2018 (down from first place a decade ago.).

This may not be the last year of shame for Iran because, inevitably, as more protests occur, the more arrests and torture of dissidents by security forces are bound to happen. These human rights violations have always been justified by sentences given to opponents of the regime. For instance, the Islamic Revolutionary Courts of Iran have sentenced 61,000 activists and political figures to death since the 1979 Islamic Revolution — all the sentences have been carried out. 
 
Moreover, more than 300 Iranians have been assassinated abroad by the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Shameful statistics like this is what has led the majority of Iranians and observers who have been following Iran closely to believe that the regime in Tehran cannot be reformed and that the only option to end this misery is regime change coming from within, with the support of the international community.

(Raman Ghavami is a Middle East analyst based in London and the Middle East)

(This article was originally published on The Fair Observer. Read the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/iran-human-rights-protests-censorship-middle-east-news-09451/">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

 
&nbsp;

By Raman Ghavami In a recent summary of human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa research and advocacy director, Philip Luther, referred to 2018 as a “year of shame.

By Raman Ghavami In a recent summary of human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa research and advocacy director, Philip Luther, referred to 2018 as a “year of shame.” The unenviable title is the result of the arrest of more than 7,000 anti-regime dissidents and activists, including over 5,000 of those who have participated in the anti-government protests that took place between December 2017 and January 2018. The demonstrations were the biggest and most widespread since those that ushered in the Islamic Revolution of 1979, with Amnesty describing them as “anti-authoritarian and anti-corruption protests.” In Luther’s words, “the scale of the arrests, imprisonment and flogging sentences reveal the extreme lengths the authorities have gone to in order to suppress peaceful protesters.” According to the human rights group, most of the mass arrests are taking place in the regions where ethnic minorities such as Azeris, Kurds, Arabs and Baluchis live. As Ahwazi activist Yasser Assadi has told this author, “since the attack on the military parade in September 2018, Iranian security forces have arrested more than 700 Ahwazi Arab activists.” Assadi also believes that “Iran used the attack to start a wide-scale crackdown on activists in Khuzestan province.” The mass arrests are ongoing and, according to the Human Rights Organisation of Kurdistan in Iran and the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN), more than 100 environmental and civil rights activists have been detained, summoned or arrested in Kurdish areas since the beginning of 2019. According to Kaveh Kermanshahi, the speaker for KHRN and a consultant at Berlin-based LesMigraS, “the new wave of arresting activists in Kurdish cities is alarming and 2019 may be the worst year for activists in Iran.” Kermanshahi thinks that the silence of the Western media on this issue emboldens the Iranian government. “Tehran starts to arrest activists, and as the media in the West do not react, security forces then widen their mass arrest operations across the region,” he says. One of the most disturbing aspects of these mass arrests has been the routine torture of detainees and the ensuing forced confessions. Torture in Iranian prisons has always been rampant, aimed at extracting false confessions to be broadcast on state television. The Iranian government favours this method for two main reasons. First, to legitimize its claims that activists are all agents of foreign countries. Second, to break the will of those who oppose the policies of the government. Since December 2017, the authorities intensified their efforts, specifically targeting journalists, social media and women’s rights activists, Ahwazi Arabs, Kurds and their families. A human rights activist based in Tehran who wishes to remain anonymous says that “Iran uses this method to establish a regime of fear where people would hesitate to participate in any anti-regime protest. However, whilst this method may scare people in central parts of the country for the time being, for ethnic minority groups this is not the case as this pushes more of them to join opposition groups in order to take revenge and protect themselves.” “The Iranian regime’s violations of human rights in Ahwaz are so widespread that many Ahwazis have resigned themselves to joking that there are no rights left to be violated. Prisons are flooded with dissidents and the increasing amount of protests against the government have resulted in extreme measures against Ahwazi Arabs,” says Rahim Hamid, an Iranian journalist. Amnesty International’s findings, as well as reports by other human rights organisations, prove that the situation in Iran has deteriorated under President Hassan Rouhani, who is widely considered to be a moderate. Despite this, his foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has repeatedly claimed that Iran does not have political prisoners — although he only does so when speaking in the West. However, the documented reports demonstrate the opposite, and data from the likes of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is in sharp contrast with Zarif’s assertions. Iran habitually makes the CPJ’s top 10 most censored countries list and was the in eighths place for the number of journalists imprisoned in 2018 (down from first place a decade ago.). This may not be the last year of shame for Iran because, inevitably, as more protests occur, the more arrests and torture of dissidents by security forces are bound to happen. These human rights violations have always been justified by sentences given to opponents of the regime. For instance, the Islamic Revolutionary Courts of Iran have sentenced 61,000 activists and political figures to death since the 1979 Islamic Revolution — all the sentences have been carried out. Moreover, more than 300 Iranians have been assassinated abroad by the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Shameful statistics like this is what has led the majority of Iranians and observers who have been following Iran closely to believe that the regime in Tehran cannot be reformed and that the only option to end this misery is regime change coming from within, with the support of the international community. (Raman Ghavami is a Middle East analyst based in London and the Middle East) (This article was originally published on The Fair Observer. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Amnesty International calls 2018 the 'year of shame' for Iran - and rightly so

A woman worker of a software firm in Pakistan was told to either stop wearing hijab at workplace or resign, in perhaps the first incident of its kind in the Muslim-majority country.

The incident caused an uproar on social media, leading to the resignation of Chief Executive Officer Jawwad Kadir of the Creative Choas company.

She was told that she could keep her job only if she took off her hijab by her line manager who said that wearing hijab would spoil the company's image as an "all-embracing" workplace.

The woman said that she was offered alternative jobs in two Islamic banks if she left.

Kadir initially tried to downplay the incident by issuing an apology.

"Yesterday, a senior member of our staff asked a colleague to resign on unprofessional and unethical grounds. She was told that her obligations may come in the way of her performance," Kadir said.

"Not only is this action disgraceful but shows extremely poor moral judgement by her hiring manager. I take full responsibility for this failure and am deeply ashamed that a colleague was put through distress and trauma," he said.

Kadir said the victim has been asked to withdraw her resignation and resume her job.

A Facebook post detailing the trauma faced by the hijab-wearing woman caused a hue and cry with majority of people terming it as discrimination against the woman.

The software firm in a Facebook post later said Kadir had been asked to step down "for workplace discrimination".

In an email sent to the board members and associates, titled "My apology is not enough", Kadir said he was resigning as the CEO of the software house.

"I have crossed a line which I deeply regret," he wrote in the email, a copy of which was available on social media.&nbsp;

A woman worker of a software firm in Pakistan was told to either stop wearing hijab at workplace or resign, in perhaps the first incident of its kind in the Muslim-majority country.

A woman worker of a software firm in Pakistan was told to either stop wearing hijab at workplace or resign, in perhaps the first incident of its kind in the Muslim-majority country. The incident caused an uproar on social media, leading to the resignation of Chief Executive Officer Jawwad Kadir of the Creative Choas company. She was told that she could keep her job only if she took off her hijab by her line manager who said that wearing hijab would spoil the company's image as an "all-embracing" workplace. The woman said that she was offered alternative jobs in two Islamic banks if she left. Kadir initially tried to downplay the incident by issuing an apology. "Yesterday, a senior member of our staff asked a colleague to resign on unprofessional and unethical grounds. She was told that her obligations may come in the way of her performance," Kadir said. "Not only is this action disgraceful but shows extremely poor moral judgement by her hiring manager. I take full responsibility for this failure and am deeply ashamed that a colleague was put through distress and trauma," he said. Kadir said the victim has been asked to withdraw her resignation and resume her job. A Facebook post detailing the trauma faced by the hijab-wearing woman caused a hue and cry with majority of people terming it as discrimination against the woman. The software firm in a Facebook post later said Kadir had been asked to step down "for workplace discrimination". In an email sent to the board members and associates, titled "My apology is not enough", Kadir said he was resigning as the CEO of the software house. "I have crossed a line which I deeply regret," he wrote in the email, a copy of which was available on social media.

Woman asked to shun hijab at workplace or resign in Pakistan

In a shocking incident, a teenage Muslim girl was called a "terrorist" by a man who ripped off her hijab with a knife.&nbsp

The incident occurred last week in US state of Virginia. The local police described the attack as an incident of a hate crime. Reports suggest that the 13-year-old girl was targeted "because of her religious attire".

The girl was attacked while walking in the Woodbridge area on April 6 wherein she was confronted by a stranger who swore at her and seized her arm. According to police, the girl removed her headscarf while the culprit tried covering her mouth as she tried to scream.&nbsp

The attacker fled when a motorist came by and saw him harassing the woman, the police said. The girl was reported to have suffered minor injuries.&nbsp

The police continue to investigate the matter.

(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp

The incident occurred last week in US state of Virginia

In a shocking incident, a teenage Muslim girl was called a "terrorist" by a man who ripped off her hijab with a knife. The incident occurred last week in US state of Virginia. The local police described the attack as an incident of a hate crime. Reports suggest that the 13-year-old girl was targeted "because of her religious attire". The girl was attacked while walking in the Woodbridge area on April 6 wherein she was confronted by a stranger who swore at her and seized her arm. According to police, the girl removed her headscarf while the culprit tried covering her mouth as she tried to scream. The attacker fled when a motorist came by and saw him harassing the woman, the police said. The girl was reported to have suffered minor injuries. The police continue to investigate the matter. (With inputs from PTI)

US: Attacker rips off Muslim girl's hijab, calls her 'terrorist'

Two arrested Muslim women have sued New York City after the city&#39;s police department asked them to remove hijab for their mugshots.

The lawsuit filed by the two women arrested in separate cases in 2017 with the help of an advocacy group of an NGO based in Queens seeks to change the practice&nbsp;of requiring a Muslim woman to remove her hijab in public.

One of the women Jamila Clark has also claimed that the police officer threatened her with prosecution if she refused to remove her Hijab.

The law office has accepted the lawsuit and escalated it for the review process.

Another women name Arwa Aziz also claimed facing&nbsp;similar incident in during which she said she felt&nbsp;humiliated as she was asked to remove her hijab in front of so many men.

The lawsuits seek prohibition of such policy and also damage for those who are affected by this policy.

Media has reported a spokesperson of the city&#39;s law department informing that the case is under review process but they are confident about the verdict not going in favour of the women as the policy is based on constitutional rights of equality.

He further informed that those who do not want to uncover their head in front of others have an option of availing the private facility to go in a separate room for the photograph.

One of the women Jamila Clark has also claimed that the police officer threatened her to prosecute if she refuses to remove her Hijab

Two arrested Muslim women have sued New York City after the city's police department asked them to remove hijab for their mugshots. The lawsuit filed by the two women arrested in separate cases in 2017 with the help of an advocacy group of an NGO based in Queens seeks to change the practice of requiring a Muslim woman to remove her hijab in public. One of the women Jamila Clark has also claimed that the police officer threatened her with prosecution if she refused to remove her Hijab. The law office has accepted the lawsuit and escalated it for the review process. Another women name Arwa Aziz also claimed facing similar incident in during which she said she felt humiliated as she was asked to remove her hijab in front of so many men. The lawsuits seek prohibition of such policy and also damage for those who are affected by this policy. Media has reported a spokesperson of the city's law department informing that the case is under review process but they are confident about the verdict not going in favour of the women as the policy is based on constitutional rights of equality. He further informed that those who do not want to uncover their head in front of others have an option of availing the private facility to go in a separate room for the photograph.

Two arrested women sue New York city after asked to remove hijab for mugshots

Iran&#39;s vice president for women&#39;s affairs insisted today the government opposed using &quot;force&quot; to ensure women wear the hijab after a spate of protests stirred debate over the mandatory headscarf.

Massoumeh Ebtekar told a press conference in Tehran that every country has a dress code: &quot;There is no city in the world where you can walk naked in the streets and you won&#39;t be approached by a particular regulatory body.&quot; She said Iran&#39;s hijab laws -- which require women to wear a headscarf and long coat, as well as banning shorts for men -- were a &quot;social regulation&quot;.

&quot;Our position is that it&#39;s a regulation but the use of force -- we don&#39;t go along with that type of enforcement,&quot; she said.

&quot;That is contrary to the basic principles and philosophy that the government of (President Hassan) Rouhani follows.&quot; Her comments follow a string of protests, mostly in Tehran, in which more than a dozen woman have stood in main thoroughfares without their headscarves.

The women risk prison sentences of up to two months for not wearing the headscarf, but up to 10 years if they are found to be encouraging others.

Tehran police chief Hossein Rahimi took a rather tougher line than Ebtekar earlier this week, telling the conservative Fars news agency that Islamic laws were &quot;obligatory for all citizens&quot;.

&quot;These people will be firmly dealt with by the police,&quot; he said. 
He was responding to widespread criticism on social media after a video showed an officer shoving one of the women protesters off a plinth.

&quot;We have reminded our officers to comply with legal requirements when dealing with all people,&quot; said Rahimi.

In practice, clothing rules have been steadily eroding for years, with many women wearing loose and colourful headscarves and letting them drop entirely, particularly in wealthier areas.

Since Rouhani came to power in 2013, the presence of the morality police who enforced clothing rules has been greatly reduced.

Ebtekar said the government needs &quot;this dialogue&quot; with the younger generation, which no longer shares the same values as those who grew up during the 1979 revolution.

But she defended Iran&#39;s record on female empowerment, saying the Islamic republic had brought &quot;true advancement&quot; for women in higher education, politics and sports.

Iranian society is generally freer for women than many conservative Islamic countries, but activists complain they are still under-represented in government, particularly after Rouhani again failed to appoint a single female minister last summer.

Women also have less weight than men in Iran&#39;s Islamic legal system, including less right to inheritance and a ban on leaving the country without male permission.

Massoumeh Ebtekar told a press conference in Tehran that every country has a dress code

Iran's vice president for women's affairs insisted today the government opposed using "force" to ensure women wear the hijab after a spate of protests stirred debate over the mandatory headscarf. Massoumeh Ebtekar told a press conference in Tehran that every country has a dress code: "There is no city in the world where you can walk naked in the streets and you won't be approached by a particular regulatory body." She said Iran's hijab laws -- which require women to wear a headscarf and long coat, as well as banning shorts for men -- were a "social regulation". "Our position is that it's a regulation but the use of force -- we don't go along with that type of enforcement," she said. "That is contrary to the basic principles and philosophy that the government of (President Hassan) Rouhani follows." Her comments follow a string of protests, mostly in Tehran, in which more than a dozen woman have stood in main thoroughfares without their headscarves. The women risk prison sentences of up to two months for not wearing the headscarf, but up to 10 years if they are found to be encouraging others. Tehran police chief Hossein Rahimi took a rather tougher line than Ebtekar earlier this week, telling the conservative Fars news agency that Islamic laws were "obligatory for all citizens". "These people will be firmly dealt with by the police," he said. He was responding to widespread criticism on social media after a video showed an officer shoving one of the women protesters off a plinth. "We have reminded our officers to comply with legal requirements when dealing with all people," said Rahimi. In practice, clothing rules have been steadily eroding for years, with many women wearing loose and colourful headscarves and letting them drop entirely, particularly in wealthier areas. Since Rouhani came to power in 2013, the presence of the morality police who enforced clothing rules has been greatly reduced. Ebtekar said the government needs "this dialogue" with the younger generation, which no longer shares the same values as those who grew up during the 1979 revolution. But she defended Iran's record on female empowerment, saying the Islamic republic had brought "true advancement" for women in higher education, politics and sports. Iranian society is generally freer for women than many conservative Islamic countries, but activists complain they are still under-represented in government, particularly after Rouhani again failed to appoint a single female minister last summer. Women also have less weight than men in Iran's Islamic legal system, including less right to inheritance and a ban on leaving the country without male permission.

Iran vice president says government against using force over hijab

One of the UK&rsquo;s leading state-funded schools which had hit the headlines as one of the first to impose a ban on the hijab for girls under eight has been forced to reverse its decision after widespread criticism.

St Stephen&rsquo;s School in Newham, east London, had been planning to extend the ban to girls under 11 later this year but has chosen to withdraw the plans.

&ldquo;The school&rsquo;s uniform policy is based on the health, safety and welfare of our children. The school has taken the decision to make changes to this policy with immediate effect and this follows on from conversations with our school community,&rdquo; the school said in a statement.

&ldquo;We will work with our school community to continue to review this policy going forward in the best interests of our children,&rdquo; it adds.

Arif Qawi, the chair of governors of the school who had recently called on the UK government to take a firm stand on young children wearing the hijab and fasting during Ramadan, resigned from his post on Friday.

According to The Sunday Times, the resignation followed offensive messages posted on social media against him and the school&rsquo;s Indian-origin principal Neena Lall.

&ldquo;Now the head-teacher needs to go. Kick her out and force her to wear hijab. Let her see what forcing means,&rdquo; one of the messages against Lall reads.

Under the UK&rsquo;s Department for Education guidelines, uniform policy is a matter for individual head-teachers and their governing bodies.

The school, with a majority of pupils from Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds, had urged the UK government to issue clear guidelines on the issue of hijab-wearing and religious fasting relating to very young pupils to prevent a backlash from parents.

&ldquo;The department should step up and take it out of our hands and tell every school this is how it (fasting) should be... the same for the hijab, it should not be our decision. It is unfair to teachers and very unfair to governors. We are unpaid. Why should we get the backlash,&rdquo; Qawi had said.

Amina Lone, co-founder of the UK&rsquo;s Social Action and Research Foundation who has campaigned for young girls not to have to wear the hijab, warned that after his resignation other schools in the country would find themselves under pressure if the Department for Education did not issue clear guidelines.

&ldquo;These issues are not going away,&rdquo; she said.

The Department for Education said it is a matter for individual schools to decide how to &ldquo;accommodate children observing Ramadan, and to set uniform policies&rdquo;.

&ldquo;But we would expect them to consider the needs of their pupils, and to listen to the views of local parents,&rdquo; a spokesperson said.

In November 2017, St Stephen&rsquo;s School had topped a prestigious primary schools league table published by The Sunday Times annually. It was listed as the best school in England in the Schools Guide 2018 for a strong teaching record.

St Stephen’s School in east London has a majority of pupils from Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds, and had urged the UK govt to issue clear guidelines on hijab-wearing and religious fasting for pupils

One of the UK’s leading state-funded schools which had hit the headlines as one of the first to impose a ban on the hijab for girls under eight has been forced to reverse its decision after widespread criticism. St Stephen’s School in Newham, east London, had been planning to extend the ban to girls under 11 later this year but has chosen to withdraw the plans. “The school’s uniform policy is based on the health, safety and welfare of our children. The school has taken the decision to make changes to this policy with immediate effect and this follows on from conversations with our school community,” the school said in a statement. “We will work with our school community to continue to review this policy going forward in the best interests of our children,” it adds. Arif Qawi, the chair of governors of the school who had recently called on the UK government to take a firm stand on young children wearing the hijab and fasting during Ramadan, resigned from his post on Friday. According to The Sunday Times, the resignation followed offensive messages posted on social media against him and the school’s Indian-origin principal Neena Lall. “Now the head-teacher needs to go. Kick her out and force her to wear hijab. Let her see what forcing means,” one of the messages against Lall reads. Under the UK’s Department for Education guidelines, uniform policy is a matter for individual head-teachers and their governing bodies. The school, with a majority of pupils from Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds, had urged the UK government to issue clear guidelines on the issue of hijab-wearing and religious fasting relating to very young pupils to prevent a backlash from parents. “The department should step up and take it out of our hands and tell every school this is how it (fasting) should be... the same for the hijab, it should not be our decision. It is unfair to teachers and very unfair to governors. We are unpaid. Why should we get the backlash,” Qawi had said. Amina Lone, co-founder of the UK’s Social Action and Research Foundation who has campaigned for young girls not to have to wear the hijab, warned that after his resignation other schools in the country would find themselves under pressure if the Department for Education did not issue clear guidelines. “These issues are not going away,” she said. The Department for Education said it is a matter for individual schools to decide how to “accommodate children observing Ramadan, and to set uniform policies”. “But we would expect them to consider the needs of their pupils, and to listen to the views of local parents,” a spokesperson said. In November 2017, St Stephen’s School had topped a prestigious primary schools league table published by The Sunday Times annually. It was listed as the best school in England in the Schools Guide 2018 for a strong teaching record.

UK school reverses ban on hijab after criticism

An Indian-origin school principal, who was forced to withdraw a ban on wearing of hijab by young girls after vitriolic abuse on social media, today received crucial support of a UK minister who said bullying or intimidation of school staff was completely unacceptable.

Schools that try to ban hijabs or fasting will receive government support if they face a backlash, the minister has pledged.

Lord Theodore Agnew, Minister for schools systems, faith and counter-extremism in education, also said that schools in the country were completely within their right to make decisions on how to run their institutions in the best interests of their pupils.

Neena Lall, an Indian-origin principal of the St Stephen&#39;s Primary School in east London,&nbsp;had publicly apologised to parents at the school after facing backlash and criticism on social media and&nbsp;calling the decision a &ldquo;huge error in judgment&rdquo;.

Lall blamed the media for inflammatory reporting of the hijab ban last month, which staff members said was to help the youngest girls move freely in PE lessons and outdoor learning.

The school&rsquo;s decision provoked controversy after it was reported as an effort to aid integration. The school swiftly backtracked a week later, overturning the ban on criticism from parents and local councilors over a lack of consultation.

Later, she withdrew the decision.&nbsp;

A governor at the school, Arif Qawi, resigned amid the stiff opposition and had urged the UK government to spell out school uniform policies more clearly. The minister also threw his support behind schools in the country that want to impose a ban on wearing of hijab or religious fasting by very young pupils.

&quot;They are completely within their right to make decisions on how to run their schools in the best interests of their pupils&nbsp;in line with the law and in discussion with parents, of course, and we back their right to do so,&quot; Agnew wrote in &#39;The Times&#39; in reference to Lall.

&quot;St Stephen&#39;s Primary School in east London has been at the centre of media attention after its ban on young pupils wearing the hijab and?fasting during Ramadan. I have seen the vitriolic abuse on social media after this decision and read of the intimidation of staff, resulting in the resignation of the chairman of governors...I wanted to send out a clear message: bullying or intimidation of school staff is completely unacceptable,&quot; he wrote.

The minister responsible for counter-extremism in the Department for Education said the government would not allow a &quot;culture of fear and intimidation to pass through the school gates&quot; and that any opposition to decisions by a school&#39;s governing body should manifest itself in the form of sensible, informed discussion and not hateful online reaction.&quot;

&quot;School leaders must have the right to set?school?uniform policies in a way that they see fit, in order to promote cohesion,&quot; Amanda Spielman, the head of Ofsted, had said. 
Under the UK&#39;s Department for Education guidelines, uniform policy is a matter for individual head-teachers and their governing bodies. But Agnew offered the government&#39;s support to individual schools that may find themselves in a bind.

&quot;We want to do all we can to help schools on sensitive issues, such as those thrown up by this case, and we will be working closely with school leaders and sector organisations on how we can support them,&quot; the minister said.

He also warned schools in the country against &quot;promoting religious ideologies that undermine British values&quot; and said the government was prepared to take action against any form of discrimination in the classroom.

&nbsp;

(With PTI inputs)

Lord Theodore Agnew, Minister for schools systems, faith and counter-extremism in education, also said that schools in the country were completely within their right to make decisions on how to run their institutions in the best interests of their pupils

An Indian-origin school principal, who was forced to withdraw a ban on wearing of hijab by young girls after vitriolic abuse on social media, today received crucial support of a UK minister who said bullying or intimidation of school staff was completely unacceptable. Schools that try to ban hijabs or fasting will receive government support if they face a backlash, the minister has pledged. Lord Theodore Agnew, Minister for schools systems, faith and counter-extremism in education, also said that schools in the country were completely within their right to make decisions on how to run their institutions in the best interests of their pupils. Neena Lall, an Indian-origin principal of the St Stephen's Primary School in east London, had publicly apologised to parents at the school after facing backlash and criticism on social media and calling the decision a “huge error in judgment”. Lall blamed the media for inflammatory reporting of the hijab ban last month, which staff members said was to help the youngest girls move freely in PE lessons and outdoor learning. The school’s decision provoked controversy after it was reported as an effort to aid integration. The school swiftly backtracked a week later, overturning the ban on criticism from parents and local councilors over a lack of consultation. Later, she withdrew the decision. A governor at the school, Arif Qawi, resigned amid the stiff opposition and had urged the UK government to spell out school uniform policies more clearly. The minister also threw his support behind schools in the country that want to impose a ban on wearing of hijab or religious fasting by very young pupils. "They are completely within their right to make decisions on how to run their schools in the best interests of their pupils in line with the law and in discussion with parents, of course, and we back their right to do so," Agnew wrote in 'The Times' in reference to Lall. "St Stephen's Primary School in east London has been at the centre of media attention after its ban on young pupils wearing the hijab and?fasting during Ramadan. I have seen the vitriolic abuse on social media after this decision and read of the intimidation of staff, resulting in the resignation of the chairman of governors...I wanted to send out a clear message: bullying or intimidation of school staff is completely unacceptable," he wrote. The minister responsible for counter-extremism in the Department for Education said the government would not allow a "culture of fear and intimidation to pass through the school gates" and that any opposition to decisions by a school's governing body should manifest itself in the form of sensible, informed discussion and not hateful online reaction." "School leaders must have the right to set?school?uniform policies in a way that they see fit, in order to promote cohesion," Amanda Spielman, the head of Ofsted, had said. Under the UK's Department for Education guidelines, uniform policy is a matter for individual head-teachers and their governing bodies. But Agnew offered the government's support to individual schools that may find themselves in a bind. "We want to do all we can to help schools on sensitive issues, such as those thrown up by this case, and we will be working closely with school leaders and sector organisations on how we can support them," the minister said. He also warned schools in the country against "promoting religious ideologies that undermine British values" and said the government was prepared to take action against any form of discrimination in the classroom. (With PTI inputs)

UK minister backs Indian-origin school principal to ban hijab in schools

Police in Tehran arrested 29 women on Thursday after they came out in public without their headscarves as a protest against the dress code in force against Islamic revolution of 1979 escalate.&nbsp;

Women have been protesting for a while and have been climbing onto telecom boxes, standing on pavements and monuments, removing their headscarf and waving it outside.&nbsp;

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More &amp; more brave <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IranianWomen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IranianWomen</a> &amp; even men &amp; old people protest against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForcedHijab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForcedHijab</a>, risking imprisonment &amp; torturing in Iran&rsquo;s jails. They deserve worldwide solidarity! Let&rsquo;s not close the eyes for this discrimination! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Feminism?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Feminism</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensMarch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WomensMarch</a> ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%AF%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%AE%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A8?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#دختران_خیابان_انقلاب</a> <a href="https://t.co/3AOOgUT0wu">pic.twitter.com/3AOOgUT0wu</a>
&mdash; Darya Safai (@SafaiDarya) <a href="https://twitter.com/SafaiDarya/status/959081757906784257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The women who were arrested were accused of public order offences and were referred to the state prosecutor&#39;s office.&nbsp;

Thursday&#39;s arrests comes after at least six women were reportedly taken into custody in Tehran this week.

The protests have been happening for a long time but they have intensified since December last year after Iranian women&nbsp;as well as older women, men and even several clerics, have joined the movement and called for the law to be scrapped.&nbsp;

Chief prosecutor Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said that the escalating protests were trivial and childish which may be influenced by foreigners.&nbsp;

But even religiously conservative Iranians have voiced support for the protests, with many saying that religious rules should be a personal choice.

Women have increasingly flouted the Islamic republic&rsquo;s clothing rules in recent years and often let their headscarves fall around their necks.

Morality police once rigidly enforced the rules, but are a much less common sight since President Hassan Rouhani came to power in 2013, promising greater civil liberties.

The protests appear to mirror that of a woman who stood in Tehran&rsquo;s busy Enghelab (Revolution) Street in December without a headscarf and waving a white scarf on a stick.

Women and girls older than age 9 have been required to wear a headscarf and long, wide coats to conceal their hair and body since Iran&#39;s Islamic Revolution of 1979. Activists face jail sentences of several weeks for removing their headscarves.

Chief prosecutor Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said that the escalating protests were trivial and childish which may be influenced by foreigners

Police in Tehran arrested 29 women on Thursday after they came out in public without their headscarves as a protest against the dress code in force against Islamic revolution of 1979 escalate. Women have been protesting for a while and have been climbing onto telecom boxes, standing on pavements and monuments, removing their headscarf and waving it outside. More & more brave #IranianWomen & even men & old people protest against #ForcedHijab, risking imprisonment & torturing in Iran’s jails. They deserve worldwide solidarity! Let’s not close the eyes for this discrimination! #Feminism #WomensMarch ? #دختران_خیابان_انقلاب pic.twitter.com/3AOOgUT0wu — Darya Safai (@SafaiDarya) February 1, 2018 × The women who were arrested were accused of public order offences and were referred to the state prosecutor's office. Thursday's arrests comes after at least six women were reportedly taken into custody in Tehran this week. The protests have been happening for a long time but they have intensified since December last year after Iranian women as well as older women, men and even several clerics, have joined the movement and called for the law to be scrapped. Chief prosecutor Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said that the escalating protests were trivial and childish which may be influenced by foreigners. But even religiously conservative Iranians have voiced support for the protests, with many saying that religious rules should be a personal choice. Women have increasingly flouted the Islamic republic’s clothing rules in recent years and often let their headscarves fall around their necks. Morality police once rigidly enforced the rules, but are a much less common sight since President Hassan Rouhani came to power in 2013, promising greater civil liberties. The protests appear to mirror that of a woman who stood in Tehran’s busy Enghelab (Revolution) Street in December without a headscarf and waving a white scarf on a stick. Women and girls older than age 9 have been required to wear a headscarf and long, wide coats to conceal their hair and body since Iran's Islamic Revolution of 1979. Activists face jail sentences of several weeks for removing their headscarves.

WATCH: Police arrests 29 women in Iran following hijab protest

Iran seems to be gripped with another wave of protests, this time around it is the women here fighting against the veil law.&nbsp;

Iranian women are seen taking to the street and removing their headscarves public in a move to protest the law.&nbsp;

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A 2nd woman arrested in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a> for protesting forced <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hijab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hijab</a> by taking off her headscarf. 
Name: Narges Hosseini <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%86%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B3_%D8%AD%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#نرگس_حسینی</a> 
Women are removing their hijab, posting it with the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%AF%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%AE%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A8?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#دختران_خیابان_انقلاب</a> meaning <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GirlsOfRevolutionSt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GirlsOfRevolutionSt</a> where <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VidaMovahed?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VidaMovahed</a> first took off her hijab. <a href="https://t.co/lLbeI5TZMo">pic.twitter.com/lLbeI5TZMo</a>
&mdash; Armin Navabi (@ArminNavabi) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArminNavabi/status/958114610938232834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Social media also witnessed posts featuring pictures and videos of Iranian women removing their headscarves and displaying them tied to the end of a stick.&nbsp;

The protest is against the law that requires Iranian women to cover themselves and put on a veil in public.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E9WaxVfDZnY" width="560"></iframe>

Protests followed Vida Mohaved&nbsp;release on Sunday.

Mohaved was detained by Iranian authorities in December for removing her hijab while taking part in an anti-government protest.&nbsp;

Social media witnessed posts featuring pictures and videos of Iranian women removing their headscarves

Iran seems to be gripped with another wave of protests, this time around it is the women here fighting against the veil law. Iranian women are seen taking to the street and removing their headscarves public in a move to protest the law. A 2nd woman arrested in #Iran for protesting forced #hijab by taking off her headscarf. Name: Narges Hosseini #نرگس_حسینی Women are removing their hijab, posting it with the hashtag #دختران_خیابان_انقلاب meaning #GirlsOfRevolutionSt where #VidaMovahed first took off her hijab. pic.twitter.com/lLbeI5TZMo — Armin Navabi (@ArminNavabi) January 29, 2018 × Social media also witnessed posts featuring pictures and videos of Iranian women removing their headscarves and displaying them tied to the end of a stick. The protest is against the law that requires Iranian women to cover themselves and put on a veil in public. Protests followed Vida Mohaved release on Sunday. Mohaved was detained by Iranian authorities in December for removing her hijab while taking part in an anti-government protest.

Iran: Women take off their hijab to fight veil law

Social media took to trolling again when a video featuring hijab-clad girls dancing in public at Malappuram, Kerala went viral on Monday. The video features three girls, who are believed to be students at a local dental college, dancing to the popular number, &#39;Jimikki Kammal&#39;. Reportedly, their act was a part of AIDS Day celebrations observed in the area, conducted by the district health department. The video has raked much controversy in a span of less than 24 hours with many trolling the girls for disrespecting Islam by their act.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Three girls dance in a flash mob in Kerala&#39;s Malappuram (4.12.17) <a href="https://t.co/niyNtIGXn5">pic.twitter.com/niyNtIGXn5</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937566343041228800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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So far, the video has hundreds of shares and uncountable reactions. The same was posted on Facebook as well and was deleted later on.&nbsp;

While the &#39;dancing act&#39; has been condemned by many of social media, calling it as an inappropriate and &quot;shameless&quot; act, many others reason how dancing, or making a performance has very little to do with religion or one&#39;s devotion to the same -- here&#39;s taking a look at the conundrum that continues to simmer on Twitter.&nbsp;

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They were not dancing for cheap popularity. The dance was a part of the AIDS awareness campaign of the Malappuram District Health Administration. I don&#39;t why you found it cheap when it was for a good cause.
&mdash; keshav kumar (@keshavk08371405) <a href="https://twitter.com/keshavk08371405/status/937574777329475584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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People should become religious when it comes to girls. Religion is same for all. 
One should do some introspection before abusing these girls.
&mdash; Shakeel_Hamid (@ShakeelSpeaks) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShakeelSpeaks/status/937568260349988864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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More and more girls should come forward and celebrate the openness which India as a country bestows as a right to its citizens. India.Kerala should become the best example for liberated, yet decent women working for the best interests of the society promoting openness.
&mdash; Renju (@renjusd) <a href="https://twitter.com/renjusd/status/937710947073847296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The three girls, believed to be students of a Malappuram dental college, danced to the popular number 'Jimikki Kammal'

Social media took to trolling again when a video featuring hijab-clad girls dancing in public at Malappuram, Kerala went viral on Monday. The video features three girls, who are believed to be students at a local dental college, dancing to the popular number, 'Jimikki Kammal'. Reportedly, their act was a part of AIDS Day celebrations observed in the area, conducted by the district health department. The video has raked much controversy in a span of less than 24 hours with many trolling the girls for disrespecting Islam by their act. #WATCH: Three girls dance in a flash mob in Kerala's Malappuram (4.12.17) pic.twitter.com/niyNtIGXn5 — ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017 × So far, the video has hundreds of shares and uncountable reactions. The same was posted on Facebook as well and was deleted later on. While the 'dancing act' has been condemned by many of social media, calling it as an inappropriate and "shameless" act, many others reason how dancing, or making a performance has very little to do with religion or one's devotion to the same -- here's taking a look at the conundrum that continues to simmer on Twitter. They were not dancing for cheap popularity. The dance was a part of the AIDS awareness campaign of the Malappuram District Health Administration. I don't why you found it cheap when it was for a good cause. — keshav kumar (@keshavk08371405) December 4, 2017 × People should become religious when it comes to girls. Religion is same for all. One should do some introspection before abusing these girls. — Shakeel_Hamid (@ShakeelSpeaks) December 4, 2017 × More and more girls should come forward and celebrate the openness which India as a country bestows as a right to its citizens. India.Kerala should become the best example for liberated, yet decent women working for the best interests of the society promoting openness. — Renju (@renjusd) December 4, 2017 ×

Kerala: 3 hijab-clad girls dance to popular number, Twitter reacts

A 19-year-old Muslim student was refused service at McDonald&#39;s in North London after a guard asked her to remove her hijab.&nbsp;

Her friend filmed the incident and uploaded the video to Twitter.

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Here is the video of the incident, occurring at McDonald&#39;s on Seven Sister&#39;s Road in Holloway, London. <a href="https://t.co/07acmBYdjB">pic.twitter.com/07acmBYdjB</a>
&mdash; Sabrina (@south_sab) <a href="https://twitter.com/south_sab/status/936543344964009986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The student, who wishes to be anonymous, said she was stopped in the McDonald&#39;s outlet on Seven Sister&#39;s road in Holloway and asked to get her hijab off multiple times and after she refused the guard said: &quot;It&rsquo;s just a matter of taking it off.&quot;&nbsp;

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just a matter of taking it off. I wear this for religious reasons and I&rsquo;m not ashamed of it, and I will stand in line and I will get the food I want because this isn&rsquo;t OK,&rdquo; she replied.&nbsp;

After another customer tried to intervene to solve the matter, the guard said: &quot;It&rsquo;s none of your business.&quot;&nbsp;

A staff member told her friend to stop filming, to which she responded&nbsp;that it is her legal right to film whatever was happening at the moment.

The video ends with a woman saying: &quot;I have been living in the UK for 19 years now and this is the first time I&#39;m faced with this kind of discrimination and I am shocked. I am actually shocked.&quot;&nbsp;

The restaurant later issued an apology and informed that they have suspended the security guard.&nbsp;

In a statement, McDonald&#39;s said it has no policy which restricts or prevents anyone wearing a hijab, or any other religious attire, from entering our restaurants.

&quot;We welcome customers of all faiths and sincerely apologise for this situation. We are taking this matter very seriously and are addressing the situation with the individuals involved; the security guard, from a third party company, has been suspended,&quot; it said.

A guard asked her to take off her hijab if she wanted to order food

A 19-year-old Muslim student was refused service at McDonald's in North London after a guard asked her to remove her hijab. Her friend filmed the incident and uploaded the video to Twitter. Here is the video of the incident, occurring at McDonald's on Seven Sister's Road in Holloway, London. pic.twitter.com/07acmBYdjB — Sabrina (@south_sab) December 1, 2017 × The student, who wishes to be anonymous, said she was stopped in the McDonald's outlet on Seven Sister's road in Holloway and asked to get her hijab off multiple times and after she refused the guard said: "It’s just a matter of taking it off." “It’s not just a matter of taking it off. I wear this for religious reasons and I’m not ashamed of it, and I will stand in line and I will get the food I want because this isn’t OK,” she replied. After another customer tried to intervene to solve the matter, the guard said: "It’s none of your business." A staff member told her friend to stop filming, to which she responded that it is her legal right to film whatever was happening at the moment. The video ends with a woman saying: "I have been living in the UK for 19 years now and this is the first time I'm faced with this kind of discrimination and I am shocked. I am actually shocked." The restaurant later issued an apology and informed that they have suspended the security guard. In a statement, McDonald's said it has no policy which restricts or prevents anyone wearing a hijab, or any other religious attire, from entering our restaurants. "We welcome customers of all faiths and sincerely apologise for this situation. We are taking this matter very seriously and are addressing the situation with the individuals involved; the security guard, from a third party company, has been suspended," it said.

London: Muslim girl wearing hijab stopped from ordering at McDonald's

A woman in the UK was allegedly pushed to the ground and her hijab ripped off amid a spike in hate crime incidents following the two terror attacks by Islamists that claimed 30 lives. 
 
The assault took place in Fengate, Peterborough, after the woman had just got out of her car and crossed the road with her three-year-old daughter when she was pushed from behind and knocked to the ground. 
 
She had her hijab pulled off and thrown towards her. No words were exchanged in the assault, but police have confirmed they are treating it as a racially or religiously aggravated hate crime, Peterborough Telegraph reported. 
 
The male offender was described as white, tall, of medium build and wearing a black hooded top with the head pulled up. 
A police spokesman was quoted as saying that the victim was shaken by the attack but otherwise uninjured. 
 
The assault comes amid a spike in hate crime incidents in the UK following a suicide bombing at a concert in Manchester that claimed 22 lives and an attack in London by three terrorists, who drove a van into pedestrians and then went on a stabbing spree, killing eight persons before being shot dead. 
 
Anti-Muslim crimes in the British capital increased fivefold since the London attack, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said last week, warning that police would take a &quot;zero-tolerance approach&quot;. 
 
Following last month&#39;s concert bombing as well, the number of hate crime incidents reported to police in Manchester had doubled. 
 
The kind of incidents reported included a bomb threat received by a Muslim school, racist graffiti and a niqab-clad woman being told she should not be wearing the Islamic outfit. 
 
Also, a Muslim woman was spat on while a teenaged Muslim girl taunted by a passer-by who said, &quot;when are you going to stop bombing people.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

The assault took place in Fengate, Peterborough, after the woman had just got out of her car and crossed the road with her three-year-old daughter

A woman in the UK was allegedly pushed to the ground and her hijab ripped off amid a spike in hate crime incidents following the two terror attacks by Islamists that claimed 30 lives. The assault took place in Fengate, Peterborough, after the woman had just got out of her car and crossed the road with her three-year-old daughter when she was pushed from behind and knocked to the ground. She had her hijab pulled off and thrown towards her. No words were exchanged in the assault, but police have confirmed they are treating it as a racially or religiously aggravated hate crime, Peterborough Telegraph reported. The male offender was described as white, tall, of medium build and wearing a black hooded top with the head pulled up. A police spokesman was quoted as saying that the victim was shaken by the attack but otherwise uninjured. The assault comes amid a spike in hate crime incidents in the UK following a suicide bombing at a concert in Manchester that claimed 22 lives and an attack in London by three terrorists, who drove a van into pedestrians and then went on a stabbing spree, killing eight persons before being shot dead. Anti-Muslim crimes in the British capital increased fivefold since the London attack, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said last week, warning that police would take a "zero-tolerance approach". Following last month's concert bombing as well, the number of hate crime incidents reported to police in Manchester had doubled. The kind of incidents reported included a bomb threat received by a Muslim school, racist graffiti and a niqab-clad woman being told she should not be wearing the Islamic outfit. Also, a Muslim woman was spat on while a teenaged Muslim girl taunted by a passer-by who said, "when are you going to stop bombing people. (PTI)

UK: Woman assaulted, hijab ripped off amid spike in Muslim hate crimes

Nike will launch a hijab for female Muslim athletes early next year, becoming the first major sports apparel maker to offer a traditional Islamic head scarf designed specifically for competition, the company said on Wednesday.

The head covering, marketed under the &quot;Pro Hijab&quot; brand, is designed to allow athletes to observe the traditional Islamic practice of covering the head without compromising performance.

Made from a lightweight, flexible material, the hijab is expected to hit stores shelves in early 2018, Nike said in a statement.

In recent years, the hijab has become the most visible symbol of Islamic culture in the United States and Europe. Many Muslim women cover their heads in public with the hijab as a sign of modesty, but some critics see it as a sign of female oppression.

With sensitivities over immigration and the perceived threat of Muslim extremism running high, the head scarf has led to attacks against Muslim women. At the same time, the hijab has evolved in a symbol of diversity that Nike has embraced.

The Women&#39;s March on Washington, held the day after President Donald&nbsp;Trump&#39;s inauguration, used the face of a woman wearing a hijab in an American flag pattern as its promotional image.

Muslim athletes visiting Nike&#39;s headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, just outside of Portland, have complained about the difficulties of wearing a hijab while competing, according to the company.

The company consulted with Muslim women athletes from around the world, including Middle Eastern runners and cyclists, in the designing the hijab.

Other companies have also set their sights on hijab sales to Muslim athletes.

Last year, Danish sportswear company Hummel unveiled a soccer jersey with an attached hijab for the Afghanistan national women&#39;s soccer team.

Non-professional women Muslim athletes have used athletic hijabs made by smaller companies.

But Nike&#39;s annual net sales in the billions, and its reach in popular culture, can do more to bring Muslim athletes into the fold, said Amna Al Haddad, a Nike sponsored weightlifter from the United Arab Emirates who consulted on &quot;Pro Hijab.&quot;

&quot;(It will) encourage a whole new generation to pursue sports without feeling there is a limitation because of modesty or dress-code,&quot; Haddad said.

(Reuters)

Made from a lightweight, flexible material, the hijab is expected to hit stores shelves in early 2018, Nike said in a statement.

Nike will launch a hijab for female Muslim athletes early next year, becoming the first major sports apparel maker to offer a traditional Islamic head scarf designed specifically for competition, the company said on Wednesday. The head covering, marketed under the "Pro Hijab" brand, is designed to allow athletes to observe the traditional Islamic practice of covering the head without compromising performance. Made from a lightweight, flexible material, the hijab is expected to hit stores shelves in early 2018, Nike said in a statement. In recent years, the hijab has become the most visible symbol of Islamic culture in the United States and Europe. Many Muslim women cover their heads in public with the hijab as a sign of modesty, but some critics see it as a sign of female oppression. With sensitivities over immigration and the perceived threat of Muslim extremism running high, the head scarf has led to attacks against Muslim women. At the same time, the hijab has evolved in a symbol of diversity that Nike has embraced. The Women's March on Washington, held the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration, used the face of a woman wearing a hijab in an American flag pattern as its promotional image. Muslim athletes visiting Nike's headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, just outside of Portland, have complained about the difficulties of wearing a hijab while competing, according to the company. The company consulted with Muslim women athletes from around the world, including Middle Eastern runners and cyclists, in the designing the hijab. Other companies have also set their sights on hijab sales to Muslim athletes. Last year, Danish sportswear company Hummel unveiled a soccer jersey with an attached hijab for the Afghanistan national women's soccer team. Non-professional women Muslim athletes have used athletic hijabs made by smaller companies. But Nike's annual net sales in the billions, and its reach in popular culture, can do more to bring Muslim athletes into the fold, said Amna Al Haddad, a Nike sponsored weightlifter from the United Arab Emirates who consulted on "Pro Hijab." "(It will) encourage a whole new generation to pursue sports without feeling there is a limitation because of modesty or dress-code," Haddad said. (Reuters)

Nike to launch hijab for female Muslim athletes

A hijab-wearing woman quit her job merely eight days into the Donald Trump administration, due to the Muslim ban imposed by the 70-year-old American president.

Rumana Ahmed, a Bangladeshi immigrant whose family moved to the US in 1978, penned a long piece in The Atlantic to talk about the tenuous eight days she worked for the Trump administration.

Ahmed, in her 30s, had joined the White House in 2011 and later moved to the National Security Council under the Barack Obama administration.

She wrote glowingly about the previous administration, writing that she always felt &quot;welcomed and included&quot;, but the incoming administration&#39;s continuous vilification of the Muslims and the eventual travel ban on Muslims from seven countries firmed her mind to leave her West Wing job.

The George Washington University graduate said she initially felt like sticking on to her job under the new era to provide a &quot;nuanced&quot; understanding of Islam but after the controversial Muslim ban, she knew &quot;she could no longer stay and work for an administration that saw me and people like me not as fellow citizens, but as a threat&quot;.

She also chronicled about her penultimate day at the White House: &quot;The evening before I left, bidding farewell to some of my colleagues, many of whom have also since left, I notified Trump&rsquo;s senior NSC communications adviser, Michael Anton, of my departure, since we shared an office. His initial surprise, asking whether I was leaving government entirely, was followed by silence&ndash;&ndash;almost in caution, not asking why. I told him anyway.

&quot;I told him I had to leave because it was an insult walking into this country&rsquo;s most historic building every day under an administration that is working against and vilifying everything I stand for as an American and as a Muslim. I told him that the administration was attacking the basic tenets of democracy. I told him that I hoped that they and those in Congress were prepared to take responsibility for all the consequences that would attend their decisions.

&quot;He looked at me and said nothing.&quot;

Ahmed&rsquo;s personal account comes amid a spike in incidents of intimidation and assault targeting hijab-wearing women across the US following Trump&rsquo;s electoral triumph.

(WION)

Rumana Ahmed, a Bangladeshi immigrant, said she lasted only eight days under the Trump administration

A hijab-wearing woman quit her job merely eight days into the Donald Trump administration, due to the Muslim ban imposed by the 70-year-old American president. Rumana Ahmed, a Bangladeshi immigrant whose family moved to the US in 1978, penned a long piece in The Atlantic to talk about the tenuous eight days she worked for the Trump administration. Ahmed, in her 30s, had joined the White House in 2011 and later moved to the National Security Council under the Barack Obama administration. She wrote glowingly about the previous administration, writing that she always felt "welcomed and included", but the incoming administration's continuous vilification of the Muslims and the eventual travel ban on Muslims from seven countries firmed her mind to leave her West Wing job. The George Washington University graduate said she initially felt like sticking on to her job under the new era to provide a "nuanced" understanding of Islam but after the controversial Muslim ban, she knew "she could no longer stay and work for an administration that saw me and people like me not as fellow citizens, but as a threat". She also chronicled about her penultimate day at the White House: "The evening before I left, bidding farewell to some of my colleagues, many of whom have also since left, I notified Trump’s senior NSC communications adviser, Michael Anton, of my departure, since we shared an office. His initial surprise, asking whether I was leaving government entirely, was followed by silence––almost in caution, not asking why. I told him anyway. "I told him I had to leave because it was an insult walking into this country’s most historic building every day under an administration that is working against and vilifying everything I stand for as an American and as a Muslim. I told him that the administration was attacking the basic tenets of democracy. I told him that I hoped that they and those in Congress were prepared to take responsibility for all the consequences that would attend their decisions. "He looked at me and said nothing." Ahmed’s personal account comes amid a spike in incidents of intimidation and assault targeting hijab-wearing women across the US following Trump’s electoral triumph. (WION)

Hijab-wearing woman quits White House job after Trump's Muslim ban

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