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germany

Women at the Forefront of Human Trafficking Victims in Germany

by خانم هاشمی October 25, 2025

Germany has emerged as one of the major destinations for human trafficking in Europe. Experts stress that the number of actual victims is likely far higher than the official figures, with women overwhelmingly comprising those affected.

Surge in Human Trafficking Cases

Human trafficking in Germany is on the rise. According to the 2025 report by Bundesweiter Koordinierungskreis gegen Menschenhandel e.V. (KOK) — a network of specialised counselling centres for victims — a total of 868 cases were documented in 2024, representing an increase of 23 % over the previous year.
Complementing this, the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) (Federal Criminal Police Office) reported 576 concluded investigations for human trafficking in 2024 — the highest number since records began in 2000.
Yet the real scale of the problem remains elusive — many victims never come under the radar of law-enforcement or counselling services.

Women Form the Majority of Victims

Data from KOK show that about 84 % of documented victims in 2024 were women.
Sexual exploitation, including forced prostitution, remains the dominant type of trafficking, followed by labour exploitation.
Many of these women are young: in the 2023 KOK dataset, 34 % of victims were aged between 22 and 29.
Experts emphasise that the gendered nature of this crime — with women overwhelmingly affected — is a persistent and troubling reality.

Origins and Nationalities of Victims

The KOK report highlights that nearly half of the victims supported through counselling centres in 2023 came from West Africa (48 %).
In 2024, the largest group of clients at participating counselling centres were still from West Africa (52 %).
Authorities also note that a significant proportion of victims are foreign nationals who may avoid contact with the authorities due to precarious immigration status or fear of reprisals. This factor complicates the assessment of the true scale of trafficking.

Barriers to Reporting and Detection

One of the major challenges in combating human trafficking is the reluctance of victims to report their situation. Many do not recognise themselves as victims, especially in cases of labour exploitation, and may fear deportation or retaliation.
Furthermore, trafficking is increasingly occurring in private settings such as homes or holiday accommodations, which are harder for investigators to monitor.
As a result, official statistics capture only a part of the picture — with unreported and hidden cases likely far more numerous.

A Call for Comprehensive Action

While Germany is rated Tier 1 by the United States Department of State for its efforts to combat human trafficking, serious concerns remain. The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has called for stronger sanctions against traffickers and better access to assistance and compensation for victims.
There is also a pressing need for sustained funding for specialised counselling services and improved national data-collection frameworks that capture both reported and hidden cases. The KOK report urges continued investment in victim support and prevention mechanisms.

The phenomenon of human trafficking in Germany is not only a grave violation of human rights, but also a complex and evolving challenge. With women bearing the brunt of exploitation, robust action is required — from enhanced identification and support of victims, to effective prosecution of traffickers, and meaningful prevention strategies grounded in gender-sensitive approaches.

en.jahanbanou.ir

From: mizanonline

October 25, 2025 0 comment

Europe

Rahma—A Victim of Betrayal and Double Standards in European Media

by خانم هاشمی July 26, 2025

Rahma, a young Algerian Muslim woman living in Germany, became a victim of betrayal and treachery just as she was finishing her internship and preparing to begin her professional life. The joy of her success was short-lived—her dreams were buried in a bloody and heartbreaking scene at her doorstep, and she was killed without ever knowing her fault.

A Crime Fueled by Racism and Religious Hatred

According to Al Jazeera, the crime was racially motivated and driven by hatred toward Islam, as the victim was veiled and committed to her faith. Although investigations are still ongoing, what stands out—indeed, what is shocking—is the way the media handled the case: with extreme caution—or rather, cold indifference.

Europe Welcomes Migrants but Rejects Their Identity

As Al Jazeera reports, Europe attracts migrants in the name of economic need, yet fights their culture and beliefs. It promotes freedom, yet hesitates when it comes to the freedom to wear the hijab or to build mosques. It praises diversity but fails to create a safe space for it to flourish.

What If the Roles Were Reversed?

If the roles had been reversed—if the killer had been a Muslim Algerian and the victim a German girl—this event would have turned into a media earthquake. Outlets would have rushed to link the crime to Islamic extremism, combing through the killer’s life for signs of religiosity, holding the Muslim community collectively responsible, and calling for loud and unambiguous condemnation.

In contrast, when the killer is non-Muslim, headlines quickly change to: “mentally ill,” “suffering from psychological disorders,” or “under the influence of drugs.”

The Victim Reduced to a Single Line

The victim becomes a single line in the crime section. No big questions about racism are raised, no broad debate about the roots of Islamophobia in Europe begins. Yet the search for an Islam that hates others continues.

A Long List of Racist Crimes in Germany

Germany has witnessed dozens of racist incidents in recent years, including:

– The arson attacks on refugee homes in Mölln and Solingen in the 1990s, which killed entire families.
– The New Year’s Eve attack in Bottrop, where a man driven by clear hatred targeted groups of foreigners.
– The dismantling of neo-Nazi gangs who were planning attacks on migrants and mosques.
– Repeated assaults on veiled women in public spaces.

Yet these incidents received only marginal coverage—lacking the major headlines and widespread condemnation campaigns typically seen when the perpetrator is Muslim.

A Call for Honest Media and Institutional Reform

It is time for the media and institutional discourse in the West—especially toward Muslims—to be revisited with courage and transparency. Either we all believe in the right to human dignity and justice, regardless of belief or background, or we contribute to deepening the divide and sowing the seeds of anger and despair.

A Deepening Contradiction

Europe today faces a severe demographic crisis and a serious shortage of skilled labor. That’s why it is intensifying campaigns to attract talent from outside the continent, especially from the Arab and Islamic world.

But the contradiction is clear: migrants are attracted in the name of the economy, then their culture and beliefs are fought! Freedom is promoted, but there is hesitation over the freedom to wear the hijab or build mosques! Diversity is admired, but no safe space is provided for it to thrive. In doing so, they follow in the footsteps of the Anglo-Saxons who enslaved Muslim Africans while building their states—yet this time by distorting the faith of the enslaved.

The Cost of Continued Discrimination

The continuation of this discrimination—whether in the media, politics, or society—not only threatens migrants but undermines the foundations of justice in European societies. And if injustice spreads and discrimination rules, civilizations decline, even if they achieve prosperity or advancement.

As the resistance poet al-Bahri al-Urfaoui says: “History is a river… that never flows backward.”

Either Justice for All, or a Deeper Divide

It is time for the media and institutional discourse in the West, especially toward Muslims, to be revisited with courage and transparency: either we all believe in the right to human dignity and justice—regardless of belief or background—or we take part in deepening the divide and planting seeds of anger and despair.

Her Name Was Rahma—That Was No Coincidence

Your name, “Rahma” (Mercy), was no accident… You were a victim of hatred, but your voice still echoes:
“Do not kill the human in humanity.”

May God have mercy on you, grant you Paradise, and make your pure blood a light that illuminates the path of justice and awakens sleeping consciences.

en.jahanbanou.ir

July 26, 2025 0 comment

Society West Asia

Song of the Sea for Gaza: A Small Boat, a Big Message

by خانم هاشمی June 9, 2025

In a sea of images, numbers, and political statements, a simple gesture—a small boat—can speak louder than a thousand words. The Madleen, named after Gaza’s first and only female fisherwoman, quietly sails across the Mediterranean carrying a powerful message of solidarity.

Madleen Kulab: A Woman of the Sea

Madleen Kulab (also spelled “Kolab,” or “Culab”) has been Gaza’s only professional female fisher since her teens. Fishing since age 13 alongside her father, she relied on the sea for her family’s survival. Today, she is a mother to four and a symbol of resilience.

Before the recent war, Kulab fished weekly, ran a popular seafood business, and dreamed of designing clothes. But in November 2023, her father was martyred in an air strike. Her boat and fishing gear were destroyed by Israeli forces. Nine months pregnant, she fled Gaza, gave birth under dire conditions, and returned to a devastated home.

A Vessel Named in Her Honor

On 1 June 2025, the sailboat Madleen, named in her honor, departed from Catania, Sicily — carrying humanitarian supplies and a crew of 12 international activists. Kulab said she was “deeply moved,” feeling a sense of responsibility and pride — calling it “the highest form of humanity”.

A Symbolic Crew on a Real Mission

The Madleen is crewed by 12 activists, men and women, young and old, aiming to break the silence and challenge Gaza’s blockade:

Greta Thunberg, Swedish climate activist
Rima Hassan, French-Palestinian MEP
Tiago Ávila, Brazilian climate and social justice activist
Plus human rights advocates from Germany, Brazil, Turkey, the Netherlands, Spain, and more.

Liam Cunningham, the Irish actor known for his role in Game of Thrones, has since joined the campaign.

Israel has officially warned that the vessel will not be allowed to enter Gaza’s waters.

Destination: Gaza — Cargo: Humanity

Though not a large cargo ship, the Madleen carries essential items:

Flour, baby formula, diapers, medicine
Water desalination kits, crutches, prosthetics.

These basics are the stuff we take for granted—but in Gaza, they are matters of dignity and survival.

For the mothers in Gaza who lull their children to sleep with empty hands, for the fathers searching through rubble for insulin, and for the child who knows war more intimately than play.

Why This Matters

No single boat can break a blockade—but it can break the silence. In a world numbed by daily war headlines, the Madleen refocuses our attention on humanity. It shows that even from thousands of kilometres away, people still carry others’ pain in their hearts.

Women at the Helm of Real-Life Solidarity

Many onboard are women who have known war personally—mothers, sisters, survivors. Their presence isn’t for show or rhetoric—it’s a quiet testament to empathy, understanding, and shared grief—and that is what this mission truly represents.

One Final Message from the Heart of the Sea

The Madleen delivers more than food and medicine. It carries a reminder: some still care deeply about others’ suffering—even from afar. And in today’s fractured world, that compassion may be our most urgent need.

en.jahanbanou.ir

June 9, 2025 0 comment

Culture

The First Al-Kafeel Girls’ Conference in Europe

by خانم هاشمی November 6, 2024

Ahmad al-Radi, the representative of The Al-Abbas Holy Shrine in Europe, stated: The Al-Abbas Holy Shrine held the first Al-Kafeel Girls’ Conference with the participation of over 100 girls in the city of Nuremberg, Germany, in cooperation with the Hazrat Zahra Association.

The Al-Abbas Holy Shrine organized the first Al-Kafeel Girls’ Conference under the slogan “Ayatollah Sayyid Sistani; the Conscience of Humanity” in the German city of Nuremberg.

According to a report by Jahanbanou from the Shia News website, Ahmad al-Radi, the representative of the Al-Abbas Holy Shrine in Europe, stated: The Al-Abbas Holy Shrine held the first Al-Kafeel Girls’ Conference with the participation of over 100 girls in the city of Nuremberg, Germany, in cooperation with the Hazrat Zahra Association.

He stated: The program began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran and continued with the playing of the Al-Abbas Shrine anthem, “Lahn al-Aba” and a speech by Sheikh al-Aaidi, the head of the Hazrat Zahra Association. Additionally, Drid al-Awady, the Iraqi Consul General in Frankfurt, delivered a speech discussing the role of the Grand Ayatollah and the holy shrines in intellectual activities, cultural camps, and their positive impact on society.

The First Al-Kafeel Girls' Conference in Europe — *The First Al-Kafeel Girls’ Conference in Europe*

Strengthening Bonds and Beliefs

He explained: The conference also included a speech by the representative of the Al-Abbas Shrine, who discussed the shrine’s role in strengthening people’s beliefs, encouraging a commitment to kinship ties with immigrants in Germany, and its message of reconciliation, patriotism, unity, and cohesion.

Al-Radi stated: During the conference, blessed gifts were distributed among the attendees and organizers of the program, and a photo exhibition was held showcasing the condition of the Al-Abbas Shrine before 2003 and the construction developments undertaken to serve the pilgrims in a manner befitting the sanctity of this place.

He added: The committee responsible for this conference also held a book exhibition, displaying a collection of books and scientific products, and the flag of Hazrat Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon him) was raised.

The official website of the Al-Abbas Holy Shrine is https://alkafeel.net/

en.jahanbanou.it

From: shia news

November 6, 2024 0 comment

Europe Politics

How German media attention idealizes female Ukrainian refugees

by Narges Mohammadi May 30, 2024

According to the latest available data, around 3.7 million Ukrainians are internally displaced, while nearly 6.5 million have registered as refugees globally. With 1.13 million, Germany has taken in the largest cohort.

Swift and decisive measures were taken to bring Ukrainian refugees into Germany in 2022: shortly after the Russian offensive began, Ukrainian arrivals were granted immediate employment rights and social benefits, including medical care.

Unlike other asylum seekers in Germany, Ukrainians have also been permitted to travel back and forth to their country of origin without losing their entitlements.

These expedited policy changes granted Ukrainian refugees privileges that were not extended to others. For example, in 2015, many Syrian refugees who had traveled on foot through the Balkans, Hungary and Austria were pushed back at the German border after Germany decided to reintroduce border controls.

This unequal treatment shows how Ukrainian refugees have been positioned as uniquely deserving arrivals to Europe. Ukraine’s martial law also prohibits most men aged 18-60 from leaving the country, meaning the majority of international refugees are women and children.

Studies have shown that gender plays a significant role in the experiences of displaced people. It can influence policy decisions that directly affect them, and impacts how they are represented, understood and integrated into host countries.

Our research, published in December 2023, set out to interrogate how Ukrainian women are portrayed in German public media, and what this can tell us about how Germany perceives its refugee population.

Gendered depictions of Ukrainian refugees

In our study, we analyzed 79 articles on female Ukrainian refugees from two high circulation German news outlets, Der Spiegel and Die Zeit, published during the first year of the latest Ukrainian conflict. We found that the dominant discourse presents Ukrainian women in Germany as keeping children safe, and as willing, able workers who will contribute to their host’s economy.

Notably, early reports also paid significant attention to Ukrainian women’s aspirations, future plans, and dreams, as well as the practical compromises they make in pursuing them. Some of these attributes are emphasized in profiles that have appeared elsewhere in German media.

The welcome guest: ‘Mary Poppins’ refugees

We identified and explored five key characteristics that appear in the media depictions of displaced Ukrainian women: they are familiar, educated, hard-working, grateful and welcome.

One interview with Lena, a Ukrainian woman, is recounted as follows: “‘We are very grateful,” says Lena. Every few minutes she says thank you for anything or everything.”

Lena is also quoted as saying “we want to be useful for Germany and for ourselves.” The article states that she wants to “learn the language, earn money and pay taxes. She wants to be a part of this society and give something back as soon as she can.”

Ukrainian women are often presented as productive participants in the German labor market, or they express their aspiration to do so in the near future. Another interviewee says “I have completed my B1 German course, now B2 follows… I’ve already been promised a job in a hospital near Frankfurt am Main, but I still need the professional permit and a few other documents. It takes a long time.”

Ukrainian women are also portrayed as willing to assist with maintaining their hosts’ ideals and values of cooperation, diplomacy and education. For instance, one Ukrainian woman is quoted as saying “I myself am more useful to Ukraine when I’m here. I earn money with my work and send some of it home, among other things, I donate to the Ukrainian army.”

It is crucial to note that these interviews and stories are filtered through media outlets for a German audience. One journalist’s reporting on a Ukrainian woman’s desire to study at university is especially telling: “It’s as if the 22-year-old wanted to give a personal response to the violence unleashed by Russia in her homeland: more education, more international understanding, more Europe.”

While such reporting may, admirably, aim to humanize refugees, it can lead to unrealistic expectations. Focusing on their potential for providing economic or cultural benefits can obscure the challenges they face as humans seeking shelter from conflict.

Over the course of our research, we concluded that the ideal female refugee would be something akin to Mary Poppins, from the well known Disney 1964 musical fantasy film of the same name: she arrives unexpectedly, brings little baggage, is well spoken, well mannered, and able to fit into her hosts’ lives, leaving only positive impacts. She is, in her own words, “practically perfect in every way.”

Idealized stereotypes cut both ways

Portrayals such as these are ultimately harmful to all displaced people. By uplifting one group, they cast a shadow on those who do not fit the bill, but they also raise expectations of the contributions refugees can make. Those who are unable to fit into this “practically perfect” category for a variety of reasons—be they economic, professional or cultural—may find themselves excluded or vilified.

Likewise, idealized constructions of Ukrainian women displaced by conflict may also work against them, obscuring the important challenges they face, such as the slow and difficult process of getting Ukrainian qualifications recognized in Germany.

Our study aims to sidestep the “common sense” ideas about displaced people that often dominate public policy and debate. These tend to focus more on what refugees can bring to the table than their intrinsic right to universal protection.

Source: PHYS.ORG

May 30, 2024 0 comment

Europe Society

NEW; Changing the Landscape for Women in Agriculture

by Narges Mohammadi February 25, 2023

GERMANY/ Lifelong education could be a key factor in encouraging more women to get into agriculture. Furthermore to ensure gender equality in farming as well, according to the former German minister for agriculture, Julia Klockner.

The German politician told the first National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture in Portlaoise; during the week that Irish women and German women working in farming; and the agricultural sector share the same challenges

“Women are not visible in the agricultural sector; and we need to bring women together to support them; and encourage them because women have different perspectives.

“Women work on farms; and help to run farms but sometimes are not part of the conversation.

“In Germany, women see themselves as a co-entrepreneur; together with their partner but legally; this is often not the case,” the CDU/CSU economics spokesperson said.

Klockner told the conference that while she was minister for agriculture; her department undertook a study over three years to examine the “living and working” situation of more than 7,000 women.

She said the results showed that only 11% of German farms were managed by women; and that women were often “not present or visible” within the agricultural sectors.

Klockner said in her opinion women “still often bore the brunt of raising children; and had the double burden of career; and family” which meant that during and after pregnancy “sometimes women could only work to a limited extent”.

She also highlighted during the Women in Agriculture Dialogue that women who work in farms; and the agricultural sector also have to “perform a variety of additional tasks”; from caring for children and relatives and all the associated responsibilities of managing a home and family.

More words from the German minister

“Often people do not realize all the work that women are doing; outdated gender stereotypes continue to exist and traditional inheritance practices make it; extremely difficult to run and take over farms.

“There is no simple quick solution to how we can change this problem; weaknesses are inherent throughout the entire system be it in terms of healthcare or aged parents. Women draw the short straw.

“But women often have different approaches to running the businesses; women often diversify ensuring there are multiple sources of income; that can act as a safety net for the farm,” she said

Klockner told the conference; chaired by the former Irish minister for agriculture; Mary Coughlan, that it was vital to “increase the visibility” of women; in agriculture and also to increase the number of women, managing and starting farms in Germany and Ireland.

She believes the key to doing lies in ensuring that women; have access to “life-long learning” and to obtaining “professional qualifications”.

“In Germany, it is often the man that has the education in agriculture while women in Germany; have a non-agricultural qualification; but women need more continued lifelong education,” she said.

“We need professional courses designed specifically for women; and I believe this would have the potential to ensure more doors are open for women; women need more training opportunities,” she stressed.

Education Matters

But the former minister for agriculture also believes that it is not just women; who need access to “lifelong learning” to succeed in agriculture and farming – whether it is in Ireland or Germany.

Klockner also believes there is a need for a more societal approach to educating everyone about where food comes from.

“There are increasing social demands on agriculture; the political framework is always changing; and we see farmers being blamed for climate change; and that agricultural sector is always in the position of having to explain what they are doing.

“This splits society – we need more knowledge to be shared in schools about how food is made; where it comes from and this then will create a greater understanding about the role of agriculture in society; and one of the key themes of the Women in Agriculture Dialogue; that was hosted by the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, was around the issue of greater gender equality in agriculture.

Minister McConalogue told the conference that it was; “time to take the role of women farmers out of the shadows and put them firmly in the spotlight”.

“We are here because we are standing on the shoulders of giants. Great women who built farms, developed agriculture and ensured that the farming sector was sustained and thrived.

“In some cases, these farmers were front and center on the farm; however; unfortunately; there were too many occasions where the work of women on farms was under the radar and unseen”; the minister added.

Minister McConalogue said agriculture was still largely a male-dominated sector but the government wanted to support greater participation of women; in the sector and help to readdress “the under-representation of women, both within farming and across the sector”.

Women in Agriculture

Throughout The Women in Agriculture Dialogue; there were panel discussions and workshops which featured a wide range of speakers including dairy farmers; academics, businesswomen; and politicians from the worlds of farming and agribusiness.

According to Deirdre Ryan; director of quality assurance and Origin Green at Bord Bia; there’s still a big job to be done in terms of inclusion; and gender equality in the agriculture sector with only 13% of women currently farm owners.

Feedback from women who attended the event suggested that among the key hurdles; to creating a more level playing field for women; in agriculture in Ireland is the current “culture” that exists.

During workshops on the day; women identified that “successful role models” in the agri-sector need to be more visible; that there need to be more support structures put in place for women in farming and that “imposter syndrome” needs to be eradicated.

Women also identified key issues around their “legal position” in farming, particularly about herd numbers, succession dilemmas, and “ownership rights”.

Minister McConalogue has pledged that feedback from speakers; and all of the participants will be compiled into a report on the Dialogue; and that this “will inform policy in the coming years”.

Source: www.agriland.ie

February 25, 2023 0 comment

Europe Society

Germany’s baby steps on Women executives shows Equality lagging

by Narges Mohammadi January 8, 2023

The share of women on the management boards of Germany’s biggest companies surpassed the 20% mark for the first time last year; progress that still leaves Europe’s biggest economy lagging in the gender equality charts.

Of the 22 new board members of companies in the benchmark DAX Index appointed in 2022, half were female, according to a survey published by Ernst & Young on Thursday. That took the total share of female representation to 21.2%. Cast the net wider to include the 50 members of the MDAX Index for medium-sized enterprises and the 70 smaller companies that make up the SDAX Index, and the proportion drops to a more sobering 15.5%.

Top German Companies’ Slow Progress on Gender Equality

Share of female management board members at 40 DAX firms

While that marks a significant increase from a meager 4.9% in 2013; progress is slow, Markus Heinen, EY’s head of People Advisory Services for Western Europe said in a statement.

“The trend is still very subdued,” he said. “Progress could and should be faster. Currently, there are seven men for every woman sitting on management boards.”

Almost half of the companies surveyed count no women at all on their management boards. Female chief executive officers are similarly underrepresented — only nine of 160 companies were led by a woman.

One high-profile CEO appointee, Carla Kriwet — who took the helm of dialysis care provider Fresenius Medical Care AG in October 2022 — unexpectedly departed after just two months on the job over differences in strategy.

Source: Bloomberg

January 8, 2023 0 comment