- Brave Gazan Imam Kidnapped for Defying Hamas: The Cost of Resistance
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/brave-gazan-imam-kidnapped-defying-hamas-cost-resistance
Location: Gaza
First reported in The Free Press, the gripping and distressing narrative of Imam Mohammed Mushtaha's abduction, his son, Ala Mohammed Mushtaha, recounts the stark reality of defying Hamas in Gaza. The imam, a respected figure with a doctorate in sharia from Al-Azhar University, was known for his unwavering principles and deep faith. On December 30th, 2023, his home was violently invaded by twenty masked men. This abduction was a direct result of Imam Mushtaha's refusal to comply with Hamas's stringent directives, including the exploitation of his mosque as a hidden weapons arsenal and the propagation of sermons dictated by the group. His family, deeply rooted in Gaza for generations, had endured persecution from Hamas long before October 7th, marked by arrests, beatings, and intimidation for refusing to toe their line. In a poignant and defiant statement, Ala Mohammed Mushtaha shared his father's last words, a testament to his courage and integrity: "It was his last request to us, literally as he was being carried out of the door, that should he die, we should publicize the real reason for his death, and it is this: He wouldn’t preach what Hamas told him to. He refused to tell Gazans that violent resistance, and obedience to Hamas, is the best way out of our current hell."
- Iranian Woman Lashed 74 Times for Rejecting Hijab
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/iranian-woman-lashed-74-times-daring-reject-hijab
Location: Iran
The Iranian regime began 2024 with intensified repression of women, exemplified by executing the sentence of Roya Heshmati to 74 lashes for defying compulsory hijab laws. During her punishment, Heshmati, a staunch critic of these laws, boldly stated, "I have come to receive my lashes; I won't cover up," when officials demanded her compliance. Her description of the punishment room as "a medieval torture chamber" with iron shackles poignantly illustrates the harsh realities faced by Iranian women. Additionally, Zeynab Khonyabpour received a two-year prison term for sharing photos without a hijab on social media. In a related case, Iranian singer Mehdi Yarrahi faced a sentence of two years and eight months in prison and 74 lashes for a song criticizing the hijab laws. Despite posting bail, Yarrahi's song 'Roosarito (Your Head Scarf)', which encourages women to defy the mandatory hijab, highlights the growing resistance against the regime's strict dress code and the crackdown on dissent in Iran.
- Taliban's Dress Code Tyranny: Afghan Women Face Arrest Over Hijab
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/talibans-dress-code-tyranny-afghan-women-face-arrest-over-hijab
Location: Afghanistan
The Taliban's recent enforcement of a strict dress code in Kabul, leading to the arrest of women for wearing "bad hijab," marks a further erosion of women's rights in Afghanistan. This crackdown, confirmed by Abdul Ghafar Farooq, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Vice and Virtue Ministry, adds to existing bans on education, employment, and public access for Afghan women. Farooq described the detained women as "the few limited women who spread bad hijab in Islamic society,” but did not clarify the criteria for "bad hijab." The Taliban's directive mandates that women only show their eyes and preferably wear a burqa, echoing their previous rule pre-2001. The arrests, which involve female police officers and potential judicial proceedings or strict bail conditions, come amidst international scrutiny over the Taliban's treatment of women. The UN Security Council's proposal for a special envoy to address gender and human rights issues in Afghanistan was dismissed by the Taliban, and the U.S. State Department expressed concerns about the Taliban's repressive actions, stating they "made irreparable damage to Afghan society and further move the Taliban away from normalizing with the international community."
- Medieval Brutality in Modern Iran: Authorities Amputate Fingers for Theft
Location: Iran
In a striking example of archaic punishment practices, Iranian authorities have recently sentenced two individuals to finger amputation for theft, as reported by the human rights network HRANA. This act is part of a broader trend of using corporal punishments in Iran, where over 130 people have suffered finger amputations in the past 23 years. Amnesty International’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Diana Eltahawy, condemned these practices, stating, “These amputations are particularly harrowing displays of the Iranian authorities’ contempt for human rights and dignity.” She highlighted that such punishments are often inflicted on impoverished individuals lacking proper legal representation. Eltahawy further emphasized the urgent need for international intervention, warning that “With impunity rife in Iran, more and more people will be subjected to this unspeakably cruel punishment unless the international community takes action.” The Islamic Penal Code in Iran sanctions a variety of brutal punishments, including amputation, which is carried out using a guillotine.
- Sikh Separatist Militants Suspected of Vandalism of California Hindu Temples
Location: United States
Hindu advocates in the United States are urging temples to bolster security following a spate of vandalism incidents in California, suspected to be the work of Sikh separatist militants advocating for Khalistan, a movement seeking a sovereign Sikh homeland in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. Three Hindu temples in the San Francisco Bay Area were vandalized, including one defaced with phrases like “Modi is a terrorist” and “Khalistan Zindabad.” Sunil Khanna, President of the Shiv Durga Temple’s board, captured the community's dismay, saying, “The main thing that hurt all of us was how they misbehaved with the gods.” These attacks underscore the rise in anti-Hindu hate crimes in the U.S., coinciding with sustained pro-Khalistan sentiment among Sikh diaspora in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, despite the movement's decline in India. The Hindu American Foundation is responding by providing temples with resources to prevent vandalism and encouraging the reporting of hate crimes. Ramya Ramakrishnan of the foundation stressed the importance of community awareness and solidarity, stating, “We really want our Hindu community to be aware that this is happening in your backyard. Not to be afraid, but to face this. We need to be united as a community.”
