Rising Islamophobia As Berlin Muslim Women Face Growing Abuse
New Age Islam News Bureau
12 June 2026
· rising islamophobia as berlin muslim women face growing abuse
· UP woman accuses father-in-law of rape at gunpoint, husband gives triple talaq over phone
· EU Condemns Crackdown on Protesters and Women in Herat
· Three Women Injured After Vehicle Plows Into Group in Kabul
· Three women vying to become UN's first female secretary-general
· Iranian woman among migrants deported from the US to the Central African Republic
· Sweden Democrats Push for Nationwide Hijab Ban
· Katara presents documentary on Italian educational pioneer Maria Montessori
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Rising Islamophobia As Berlin Muslim Women Face Growing Abuse
June 11, 2026
Report Warns of Rising Islamophobia in Berlin as Muslim Women Face Growing Abuse
A new report by Germany’s CLAIM network says anti-Muslim incidents in Berlin rose sharply in 2025, with hijab-wearing women among the most frequent targets. The findings come amid broader European concern over discrimination, hate speech and attacks against Muslim communities.
More details in the following report:
A new report by the Alliance Against Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate, known as CLAIM, has warned of a significant rise in anti-Muslim incidents in Berlin during 2025.
According to the report, monitoring bodies documented 975 anti-Muslim incidents in the German capital last year, compared with 644 in 2024. The cases included verbal abuse, threats, social discrimination, property damage and physical assaults.
Women were the most affected group, accounting for 58 percent of recorded cases. The report said many incidents targeted visibly Muslim women, particularly those wearing the hijab, including cases of spitting, insults, harassment and attempts to remove or damage headscarves.
CLAIM warned that Islamophobia is increasingly appearing in everyday settings, including public transport, streets, workplaces, schools, medical facilities and housing searches. It also stressed that many victims do not file official complaints, meaning the real number of incidents is likely higher than documented figures.
The Berlin findings reflect a wider European pattern. EU rights data has shown high levels of discrimination against Muslims across several member states, especially among young Muslims and women wearing religious clothing. In the United Kingdom, official data for England and Wales showed a rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes, while France has also reported increases in anti-Muslim incidents during periods of heightened political and social tension.
The report called for stronger documentation of hate crimes, better victim support, tougher action against discrimination in schools and institutions, and broader public efforts to confront anti-Muslim racism and promote coexistence.
Source: shiawaves.com
https://shiawaves.com/english/human-rights/143031-report-warns-of-rising-islamophobia-in-berlin-as-muslim-women-face-growing-abuse/
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UP woman accuses father-in-law of rape at gunpoint, husband gives triple talaq over phone
Jun 11, 2026
BAHRAICH: A woman has accused her father-in-law of repeatedly raping her at gunpoint while her husband allegedly threatened her into silence and later pronounced triple talaq over the phone, prompting police in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district to register a case against five members of her in-laws' family, officials said on Thursday.
In her complaint, the woman, a resident of Lucknow, said she married a man from the Muslim Bagh area of Rupaideha town in 2023 as per Muslim customs. She alleged that while the initial years of marriage were peaceful, her father-in-law later began harassing her and sexually assaulting her when her husband was away for work.
The accused threatened her with a country-made pistol and raped her on multiple occasions. She further claimed that when she informed her husband about the assaults, he threatened her and warned her against speaking about the matter.
The woman said that the latest incident took place on January 24 this year. When she raised an alarm, her mother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law reached the spot and assaulted her instead of helping her.
She later returned to her parental home, following which her husband pronounced talaq three times over the phone and ended the relationship.
Based on the complaint, police have booked the husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act.
Rupaideha SHO Ramesh Kumar Rawat said the husband, during questioning, told that the woman was involved in a relationship with another person and that the couple had been facing marital disputes over the issue.
"The matter is under investigation. Further action will be taken based on the facts that emerge during the probe," Rawat said, adding that no arrests have been made so far.
Source: indiatimes.com
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/uttar-pradesh-woman-accuses-father-in-law-of-rape-at-gunpoint-husband-gives-triple-talaq-over-phone/articleshowprint/131664262.cms
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EU Condemns Crackdown on Protesters and Women in Herat
By Fidel Rahmati
June 11, 2026
The European Union has condemned the crackdown on protesters and the arbitrary detention of women in western Afghanistan, calling for respect for fundamental human rights, including freedom of assembly and peaceful protest.
Anouar El Anouni, spokesperson for the European Union’s foreign affairs service, said on Thursday that the bloc strongly opposes the use of excessive force against demonstrators in Herat and the detention of women over alleged violations of Taliban dress regulations.
“We condemn the excessive use of force in Herat and the arbitrary arrests of women for alleged breaches of dress directives,” he said in a statement on X. He stressed that the Taliban must uphold international human rights obligations, including the right to peaceful protest, and reaffirmed that the European Union stands with Afghan women.
The remarks came after residents of the Jebrail area of Herat held demonstrations earlier this week to protest the detention of women and girls accused of not complying with the Taliban’s interpretation of dress requirements. Witnesses and rights groups reported that Taliban forces dispersed the gathering using force, including gunfire and beatings.
According to local reports, at least one person was killed and several others were injured during the crackdown. The incident has drawn growing international criticism amid concerns over the treatment of women and restrictions on civil liberties in Afghanistan.
The condemnation follows a recent report by United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, which expressed concern over the detention of dozens of women in Herat and the use of excessive force against protesters. UNAMA warned that such arrests can expose women to further risks, including social isolation and violence after their release.
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, including bans on secondary and higher education, limits on employment and broad restrictions on public life. The policies have been widely criticized by the United Nations, the European Union and human rights organizations.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/eu-condemns-crackdown-on-protesters-and-women-in-herat/
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Three Women Injured After Vehicle Plows Into Group in Kabul
By Fidel Rahmati
June 11, 2026
Three women were injured after a vehicle struck a group of young women in western Kabul, local authorities confirmed on Thursday, several days after video footage of the incident circulated on social media.
Khalid Zadran, spokesperson for Kabul police, said the victims were transferred to hospital and are in stable condition. He added that the suspected driver has been identified and efforts are underway to arrest him.
According to reports, a white Toyota Land Cruiser hit a group of young women walking along a roadside in the sixth police district of Kabul on Sunday. Sources said the vehicle had tinted windows and no license plates.
Authorities have not released details about the identity of the victims or the motive behind the incident. Questions have also been raised about why no arrest had been made four days after the attack, despite officials saying the suspect has been identified.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over the safety and rights of women in Afghanistan, where restrictions on education, employment and public participation have intensified in recent years. Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that women face increasing risks and limited access to legal protection.
The case has also drawn attention as international scrutiny of women’s rights in Afghanistan continues to grow. The United Nations and foreign governments have repeatedly called for stronger protections for women and accountability for abuses.
The incident occurred days after protests in the Jebrail area of Herat, where residents demonstrated against the detention of women over alleged dress-code violations. The protest was dispersed by security forces, resulting in casualties and injuries, drawing condemnation from the European Union and the United Nations.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/three-women-injured-after-vehicle-plows-into-group-in-kabul/
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Three women vying to become UN's first female secretary-general
Jun 12, 2026
Three of the five candidates to become the next United Nations secretary-general, all women from Latin America, having taken part in a debate in Geneva.
They set out their plans to reform the world body which is facing a lack of funding, multiple conflicts, and dwindling faith in multilateralism.
Chile’s Michelle Bachelet, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, and Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa are all hoping to succeed Antonio Guterres, who steps down at the end of the year.
The event was arranged by independent organisations in the city which is home to the UN’s European headquarters.
Bachelet, a former president of Chile’s former and ex UN human rights chief, addressed rumours of a possible United States veto because of her support for abortion rights.
“If somebody vetoes me because I believe in democracy, because I believe in multilateralism, because I believe in women's rights, and because I believe in human rights, I mean, I would be honoured,” she said.
All three touted their diplomatic credentials as they hope to become the first female head of the global body.
While many countries are calling for a female leader, Latin America is claiming the position based on a tradition of geographical rotation -- which is not always strictly followed.
Maria Fernanda Espinosa, who was Ecuador’s foreign minister from 2017 to 2018 said she has worked “through the UN, sometimes in spite of the UN, for 30 years”.
“I was ambassador here in Geneva. I was ambassador in New York. I was president of the General Assembly. I was foreign minister twice. I was minister of defence,” she said.
“So believe me, I understand the UN. But I'm not captured by the UN. I respect very much the staff of the UN. But I can make the transformations the organisation needs.”
Each of the three women acknowledged the need to reduce UN bureaucracy, a criticism frequently levelled at the institution.
Grynspan, a former vice-president of Costa Rica and head of the UN trade and development agency UNCTAD, said she was running "because I think I am the best person for the job".
"I am not a voluntarist. I am a strategist. And I think that the financial crisis is linked to the political crisis that we are going through. So you need to tackle both of them,” she said.
The economist said she knows numbers and budgets and that she “can take the UN out of the financial crisis".
The two other declared candidates - Argentina's Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency; and the former president of Senegal, Macky Sall - did not attend the debate.
The UN General Assembly can only elect the secretary-general after a recommendation from the Security Council, where the five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - wield veto power.
Security Council deliberations are expected to begin in late July, before a General Assembly vote in the following months.
Source: africanews.com
https://www.africanews.com/2026/06/11/three-women-vying-to-become-uns-first-female-secretary-general/
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Iranian woman among migrants deported from the US to the Central African Republic
June 12, 2026
BANGUI: An Iranian woman is among around two dozens migrants set to arrive Friday in the Central African Republic on a deportation flight from the United States, lawyers said, in the latest example of the Trump administration’s widely criticized deals with African and Latin American nations to take third-country deportees,
The Central African Republic, a deeply impoverished country plagued by conflict, is one of at least nine other African nations that has agreed to take third-country nationals deported by the US
Under a series of often-secret agreements that are part of a broad US crackdown on immigration, the Trump administration has deported thousands of people to nearly two dozen countries that are not their own, advocates say.
The Trump administration uses deportations to third countries as a legal loophole to indirectly force asylum seekers back to their home countries, immigration lawyers said.
It was unclear exactly how many migrants were on the deportation flight that left Louisiana late Thursday on the way to the Central African Republic’s capital Bangui.
Among those set to be deported Thursday were people from Iran, Jordan, Armenia, Turkiye, Georgia and Afghanistan, according to Ali Rahnama, the head of the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund, who has been in touch with some of the migrants.
Three Iranian women in the US were originally scheduled to be sent to Central African Republic, according to Sahar Jalili Pawelski, one of their immigration lawyers, who said two of them received emergency court orders temporarily stopping their deportation while judges reviewed whether the government was acting legally.
All three had been granted court protection against deportation to Iran after judges ruled they faced credible fears of persecution on the basis of politics or religion, Jalili Pawelski and Rahnama both said.
An elderly Syrian man also was set to be deported to the Central African Republic but received an emergency temporary order halting his deportation, his lawyer Margaret Stock said.
The US Department of Homeland Security on Thursday would not comment on the case, saying it would not confirm future removal operations for security reasons. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Central African Republic has been plagued by years of conflict between pro-government forces and armed groups and is one of the poorest countries in the world. Despite vast reserves of gold, one in three people live on less than $2 a day.
It also is one of the countries where Wagner, a Russian mercenary group, was first active in Africa. The group has been responsible for President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s security and fighting rebel groups.
The country is one Russia’s closest allies in Africa despite recent tensions between Touadéra and Russia after Moscow demanded Wagner be replaced with the Africa Corps operated by the Russian government.
Rahnama of the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund expressed concerns about an Iranian asylum seeker being sent to the Central African Republic, noting Russia’s influence in the country and Moscow’s close security ties with Iran.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2646896/world
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Sweden Democrats Push for Nationwide Hijab Ban
June 12, 2026
The Sweden Democrats (SD) have announced plans to push for a nationwide ban on Islamic veils in public places, marking a significant expansion of the party’s previous position, which focused primarily on prohibiting full-face coverings such as the niqab and burqa.
According to the party’s spokesperson on equality and honour-related issues, Sara Gille, the aim is to introduce a comprehensive ban on what she describes as “Islamist garments.”
“Our ambition is to introduce a total ban on these Islamist garments in Sweden. If you come within Swedish borders, you have to take them off if you are going to live and reside here,” Gille told Sveriges Radio.
The proposal would extend beyond full-face veils to include the hijab, which is worn by many Muslim women in Sweden. If implemented, it would affect a substantially larger group than previous proposals aimed solely at face-covering garments.
Gille argued that veils are often linked to honour-related oppression and the subordination of women. According to her, many girls and women wear such garments not out of personal choice but because of pressure from family members or their wider social environment.
When asked about women who choose to wear a veil voluntarily, the Sweden Democrat MP maintained her position.
“If you want to do it, there are other countries to go to where they actually allow it,” she told state radio.
The proposal represents a significant escalation of the party’s long-running campaign against what it regards as the growing influence of political Islam in Sweden.
Earlier this year, Sweden Democrat MEP Charlie Weimers submitted a motion to the European Parliament calling for a moratorium on the construction of new mosques across the European Union. The initiative, backed by lawmakers from 17 member states, argued that authorities should act against institutions where extremism and violent Islamism are alleged to flourish.
Weimers has previously claimed that some mosques and Islamic centres across Europe have been linked to radicalisation, recruitment, and extremist activity, and has called for action at the local, national, and EU levels.
The latest veil proposal suggests the Sweden Democrats are increasingly willing to move beyond restrictions on Islamist institutions and symbols to challenge the public display of Islamic dress more broadly.
Source: europeanconservative.com
https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/sweden-democrats-push-for-nationwide-hijab-ban/
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Katara presents documentary on Italian educational pioneer Maria Montessori
June 12, 2026
Doha, Qatar: The Cultural Village Foundation -Katara, in cooperation with the Embassy of Italy in Qatar, hosted a screening of the Maria Montessori documentary at the Drama Theatre yesterday evening in honour of one of the most influential Italian women of the 20th
century and one of the most important educational thinkers in modern history. The film is directed by Emanuela Audisio and is part of a six-part film series dedicated to highlighting the role and representation of women in contemporary and historical societies, and is presented as a joint cultural initiative between Italy, France and Germany at Katara. The documentary paints a picture of Maria Montessori, the physician, educator, and pioneer who, through her revolutionary educational approach, brought about a profound transformation in the education sector. The film not only reviews her extraordinary journey, but also highlights the continuing importance of her approach by exploring its principles and giving a voice to her former students and those who are still working in Montessori schools around the world. This presentation is an invitation to reflect on a figure who transcends the boundaries of education, embodying a powerful model of intellectual independence and female leadership at a time when women faced significant social and professional barriers. The screening of the film comes as part of the efforts of the Katara, which aims to present cinematic and documentary works that enrich tural scene and open new horizons for the public to learn about personalities and experiences that have left prominent marks in the fields of thought, education and culture.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/12/06/2026/katara-presents-documentary-on-italian-educational-pioneer-maria-montessori
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