- Iran's Brutal "War on Women:" The New Campaign to Violently Enforce Hijab
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/irans-brutal-war-women-new-campaign-violently-enforce-hijab
Location: Iran
In Iran, amidst escalating regional tensions and ongoing internal protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022, authorities have launched an aggressive new campaign to enforce the mandatory hijab law, dubbed the Nour Plan. This initiative, introduced on April 13, 2024, seeks to rejuvenate enforcement efforts that had waned following widespread outrage over Amini’s death under police custody for "improper hijab." Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has intensified rhetoric against the dissent, labeling the resistance to hijab laws "an imposed challenge" that the regime must confront with harsher measures. This has translated into an alarming increase in violent incidents by morality police, documented vividly across social media platforms where videos of the harsh treatment of women have gone viral. The crackdown has also extended to universities, notably Tehran's Amir Kabir University, where over 200 students went on strike in late April to protest security agents targeting female students’ attire. Meanwhile, reports have surfaced of women facing communication blackouts, with their mobile services cut off shortly after criticizing the hijab laws online. This escalation in enforcement has prompted Iranian netizens and activists to use the hashtag "war against women," signaling a dire situation as the government stiffens its stance on a fundamental aspect of personal freedom.
- Jewish Woman Kidnapped and Raped in Horrific "Revenge for Palestine" Attack
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/jewish-woman-kidnapped-raped-horrific-revenge-palestine-attack
Location: France
In a horrifying incident in France, a 32-year-old man from Gennevilliers was arrested for allegedly kidnapping, raping, and making death threats against a French Jewish woman as an act of "revenge for Palestine." This disturbing act of violence occurred after the two met through a dating app. The suspect's brutal intentions were shockingly clear in his message to the victim's mother: "Good luck. You will never find your daughter again; you will never see her again. I will prostitute your daughter." The case has ignited a fervent dialogue across France, with various political figures and organizations condemning the act as antisemitic and highlighting the dangerous intersection of anti-Zionism and antisemitism. A trial is scheduled for June 21st, as the community and the nation grapple with the implications of this vile act.
- Iranian Rapper Sentenced to Death for "Waging War Against God"
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/iranian-rapper-sentenced-death-waging-war-against-god
Location: Iran
Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, a prominent voice in the 2022 protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death, has been sentenced to death by an Isfahan Revolutionary Court on charges of "spreading corruption on earth" and "Moharebeh" or "waging war against God." This severe sentence reflects the highest crimes under the Islamic Republic's interpretation of Sharia law. Salehi, known for his protest songs and active participation in demonstrations, had previously faced imprisonment and alleged torture, details of which he shared in a public video, intensifying his legal troubles. His lawyer, Mostafa Nili, expressed concern about the verdict, stating, "Today, the verdict regarding Toomaj Salehi was sent. Unfortunately, the first branch of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court has issued a death sentence against him." Salehi's case has drawn international condemnation and highlights ongoing tensions between the Iranian government and its critics.
- Iraq Criminalizes Homosexuality with 15 Years in Prison
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/iraq-verge-legalizing-kill-gays-law
Location: Iraq
In a devastating blow to LGBT rights, Iraq's parliament has passed a law making same-sex relations punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The amendments to the 1988 anti-prostitution law, approved by 170 of 329 lawmakers, also enable courts to sentence transgender people to three years in jail, codifying discrimination that had previously been carried out through vague morality laws. While an earlier draft had proposed the death penalty for homosexuality, the new provisions still represent a "horrific development and an attack on human rights," according to Human Rights Watch's Sarah Sanbar. The law sets a minimum 7-year sentences for "promoting" same-sex relations and 1-3-year terms for men who "intentionally" act like women. "Iraq has effectively codified in law the discrimination and violence members of the LGBT community have been subjected to with absolute impunity for years," lamented Amnesty's Razaw Salihy. The draconian crackdown, which postponed the vote until after the prime minister's U.S. visit to avoid impacting investment, stokes fears that "kidnappings, rapes, torture and murders" of LGBT Iraqis will further escalate with impunity.
- Islamic Charity's Chilling "Black Magic Exorcism" Services Spark Outrage
Location: United Kingdom
The UK's Charity Commission is currently investigating several newly registered religious charities that have incited public outrage by promoting fears of "Black Magic," "witchcraft," and offering exorcism services. Notably, the East Birmingham Central Masjid, along with two Christian charities, Cambridge Papers Limited and the Mountain Of Fire And Miracles Ministries Belfast, have been implicated in these alarming activities. The Islamic charity notably announced a Ruqyah Service and Awareness Program to "protect our Muslim brothers and sisters from the snares of sorcerers and magicians," citing concerns over the widespread menace of black magic. Amidst these controversies, Alejandro Sanchez from the National Secular Society criticized the promotion of such ideologies, stating, "Charities are meant to benefit the public. But promoting the idea that some people can be 'witches' or possessed by evil spirits can lead to extreme harm to children and vulnerable adults." These cases have sparked a broader discussion about the role of religious charities and the potential for abuse under the guise of advancing religion.
