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West Asia

Rape and Femicide Ignite Heated Debate in Israeli Media

by خانم هاشمی

Special Knesset Session Exposes Serious Failures in Emergency Care for Sexual Assault Survivors

A report published by the Israeli daily Maariv has brought renewed attention to deep structural problems in how sexual assault cases are handled in Israel, particularly within hospital emergency departments. The report focused on a special session at the Knesset, where lawmakers, survivors, and government officials clashed over responsibility, accountability, and the rising number of women killed amid domestic and sexual violence.

The session, convened by the Knesset Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women and Gender Equality, quickly turned confrontational. Lawmakers sharply criticised emergency medical services for their treatment of rape survivors and accused the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, of bearing responsibility for the deaths of dozens of women during his tenure.

Victims Sent Home Without Forensic Examinations

According to Maariv, several survivors testified that they were turned away from hospital emergency rooms without receiving proper forensic examinations — a critical step in preserving evidence in sexual assault cases. Adi Ezuz, a Knesset member from the Yesh Atid party who chaired the session, said she had received numerous complaints from victims who were denied care unless they first filed a police report.

Ezuz explained that she personally visited emergency departments and witnessed firsthand how access barriers and bureaucratic requirements often prevent survivors from receiving timely treatment. She warned that in cases involving incest, sexual assault of minors, or attacks on women, the absence of medical forensic evidence frequently leads to cases being closed and perpetrators avoiding prosecution.

A Survivor’s Testimony: “I Was Told I Needed to Go to the Police First”

One of the most powerful moments of the session came when Adi Mizrahi, a survivor of sexual assault, shared her experience. She said she was assaulted in 2022 by someone close to her, and months later was attacked again after drinking a glass of water at another person’s home, after which she lost consciousness.

Mizrahi told lawmakers that due to stories she had heard about dismissive treatment in emergency rooms, she delayed seeking medical help. When she eventually went to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, she waited for hours, only to be told that without first filing a police complaint, she could not receive the tests she requested — including a hair test to determine whether drugs had been used to facilitate the assault.

Clash With Itamar Ben-Gvir

During the debate, Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended his record, claiming that his ministry has allocated significant resources and provided training to address violence against women. He also stated that during his earlier career as a lawyer, he had worked to advance women’s rights.

His remarks were met with outrage from committee members. Several lawmakers shouted that 46 women had been killed during his period in office and accused him directly of responsibility for their deaths. Ben-Gvir rejected the accusation, pointing to the introduction of electronic monitoring bracelets as evidence of government action.

Accusations of Political Provocation

Merav Cohen, chair of the committee and a fellow Yesh Atid lawmaker, criticised Ben-Gvir for attending the session without prior coordination and for failing to present concrete data or solutions. Another Knesset member accused the minister of using the meeting to provoke controversy rather than demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting women.

en.jahanbanou.ir

From: Tasnimnews

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opinion

Women’s “Freedom” or a Silent Killing in Homes?

by خانم هاشمی

Western claims about women’s freedom are constantly repeated — even as official statistics from the United States itself show that pregnant women are increasingly becoming victims of domestic violence and firearm-related homicide. This stark reality — highlighted in recent remarks by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei once again exposes the true nature of the Western system behind its polished slogans.

✍|by Ms. Seyedeh Hakimeh Naziri

Iranian Women Listening, While Western Women Bleed

On the evening of December 3, 2025, while Iranian daughters gathered in a Hosseinieh to renew their hearts and eyes with the fatherly words of the Supreme Leader, somewhere in the West a pregnant woman might have been fighting for her unborn child’s life — barely conscious, whispering, “What was my crime?”

This contrast is not symbolic. It reflects a reality confirmed by Western institutions themselves. While Western governments loudly claim concern for the rights of Iranian women, many women in their own societies face violence without protection — often within their own homes, and often in silence.

“Freedom” for Iranian Women — Silence for American Women

Western narratives aggressively claim to defend the rights of Iranian women. Politicians and media outlets tear at their collars in outrage over women’s issues in Iran, while American women themselves are caught in a wave of domestic violence that often ends in death.

Research by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Boston Children’s Hospital confirms that in the United States, homicide — largely driven by intimate partner violence and firearms — is a leading cause of death among women who are pregnant or have recently given birth, surpassing deaths from pregnancy-related medical causes such as hemorrhage, hypertension, or infection.

The Supreme Leader’s Words to Iranian Women

Speaking with a paternal tone, the Supreme Leader emphasized women’s dignity in Islam before exposing one of the most serious failures of Western civilization. He stated:

“Another major and essential right for women inside the home is the absence of violence. Today, Western culture is saturated with instances of violence by men against women — it is full of it. Women being killed by their husbands, women being beaten by their husbands — these realities exist in the West. This is among the most serious deviations of that civilization.”

These words were not rhetorical. They align precisely with the conclusions of Western public-health research.

Killing Two Heartbeats with One Trigger

In an editorial published on October 19, 2022, in The BMJ, researchers Rebecca Lawn and Karestan Koenen reported that homicide is more common among pregnant women in the United States than deaths caused by hypertensive disorders, hemorrhage, or sepsis.

They noted that the United States has a significantly higher prevalence of intimate partner violence compared with other high-income countries, and that such violence is often lethal — most commonly involving firearms. Their analysis of data from 2008 to 2019 showed that 68 percent of pregnancy-associated homicides involved guns.

Gun Violence: One Step Away from Death

Lawn and Koenen described firearm violence as “a public health emergency for pregnant women.” They emphasized, however, that these killings are preventable and that early identification of women at risk could allow for effective intervention.

Further analysis published in peer-reviewed medical journals shows that:

  • In 2020, homicide accounted for 5.23 deaths per 100,000 live births in the United States.
  • Firearms were involved in approximately 80 percent of these cases.
  • Pregnant and postpartum women faced a 35 percent higher risk of homicide compared to non-pregnant women of similar age.

A Message Under the Father’s Shadow

Under the fatherly guidance of the Supreme Leader, and with renewed emphasis on the dignity of women in Islam, another layer of Western crimes has been revealed before the eyes of Iranian women.

With facts now laid bare — not by ideology, but by Western institutions themselves — the path forward appears clearer than ever.

en.jahanbanou.ir

From: Fars

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Society

Structural Violence Against Muslim Women Worldwide

by خانم هاشمی

As the world observes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, for Muslim women across the globe this date marks a multilayered struggle — a struggle where gender intersects with religion, and personal harms collide with systemic discrimination. These women not only face common forms of gender-based violence, but also bear the weight of deeper layers of Islamophobia in Western societies and war-related atrocities in West Asia.

Dual Crises: From Street Harassment to Siege Under Rubble

In the global crisis of violence against women, Muslim women often carry a double burden. On one hand, they endure gendered violence rooted in patriarchal norms. On the other, cultural and religious prejudices subject them to heightened Islamophobia and structural discrimination — from social exclusion to legal limitations. In war-torn regions such as Palestine, the horrors of occupation, siege, displacement, and economic deprivation compound their vulnerability, exposing them to some of the most severe and layered forms of violence. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women should thus serve as a moment not just for symbolic support, but for truly listening to those whose identities — gender, faith, and ethnicity — intersect under systemic oppression.

Recent data from European contexts confirm this double jeopardy: according to a 2025 report, one in two Muslims in the EU now report experiencing racism or discrimination in their daily lives, up from 39% eight years ago.

Hidden Numbers: The Reality Behind the Silence

Global statistics have long shown violence against women to be a persistent issue — for instance, hundreds of millions of women worldwide suffer physical or sexual abuse during their lives. When Muslim women are considered specifically, the story often deepens. In Europe, for example, the majority of victims of anti-Muslim hate crimes are women, especially those who wear visible markers of their faith.

In countries like Austria, over 1,000 Islamophobic incidents were reported in a single year — and women, especially those wearing a hijab, constituted the majority of victims.

Moreover, systemic barriers in employment and education further marginalize Muslim women. In many European countries, women who visibly practice their faith find their opportunities severely limited because of discrimination and prejudice.

Media’s Two-Edged Sword: From Sympathy to Suspicion

Media representations often trap Muslim women in a harmful binary: either as passive victims needing rescue or as cultural threats to be contained. This dual image fuels social exclusion and verbal abuse, leaving many feeling perpetually insecure. The consequences are tangible: exclusion from public spaces, fear of daily life, internalized anxiety, and a constant sense of being “othered.”

This kind of symbolic violence — rooted in portrayal and perception — often goes undocumented but is no less destructive. It shapes how Muslim women experience public life, freedom, and dignity.

Geographic Differences: How Muslim Women’s Suffering Varies Across the Globe

  • Europe: Muslim women, especially those wearing hijab, are among the primary targets of anti-Muslim violence and discrimination. Laws and social norms, particularly regarding religious dress, often exclude them from education, employment, and public participation.
  • North America: In the US and Canada, every major security incident leads to spikes in anti-Muslim sentiment, disproportionately affecting visibly Muslim women. Many prefer to hide their religious identity or remain silent to avoid harassment or discrimination.
  • Asia: In certain countries, Muslim women face gender inequalities compounded by state-level religious or ethnic discrimination — including restrictions on travel, marriage, and access to public services.
  • West Asia / North Africa: Here, women contend with multiple and overlapping challenges: domestic violence, structural gender discrimination, and the brutality of war, occupation, and economic deprivation.

In regions experiencing armed conflict — such as occupied Palestinian territories — the violence is not sporadic or individual, but institutional and ongoing. Women there often carry the disproportionate weight of war — physical danger, poverty, displacement — while bearing the social burden of sustaining family structure, cultural life, and community resilience.

The Intersectionality of Oppression: Why Muslim Women Are at Crossroads

Research from international and academic institutions reveals a painful reality: the oppression faced by Muslim women is rarely single-dimensional. It is not solely about gender, nor only about religion — but a locus where multiple kinds of discrimination intersect: ethnic, religious, cultural, political.

In Western societies, Muslim women are often forced into a continuous struggle to prove their worth and rights. Legal restrictions, job discrimination, surveillance, and misrepresentation in media push them to the margins. Instead of being seen as individuals with agency, they are often treated as a collective “other,” a threat, or a problem.

In conflict zones or occupied lands, the intersection becomes grimmer: state violence, militarization, economic deprivation, and forced displacement compound already existing gender and religious injustices — forcing women to carry burdens that are physical, emotional, social, and existential, at once.

What Needs to Change: A Paradigm Shift for Justice

Understanding the suffering of these women demands that we recognise their agency — not just their victimhood. It is essential to see them as active agents who strive, resist, endure, and rebuild. Many Muslim women in the past decade have mobilized, raised voices, fought for reforms in domestic violence laws, child custody rights, and political representation. Their resilience shows that change — though slow — is possible.

To move toward justice, experts emphasize:

  • Structural reforms — Enforcing anti-discrimination legislation, ensuring equal access to education, employment, and public life regardless of religion or dress. Governments and institutions must establish independent mechanisms for investigating hate crimes — both individual and systemic.
  • Changing discourse — Media and policymakers must reject harmful stereotypes, avoid portraying Muslim women as either victims or threats, and instead give space for their voices to tell their own stories. Participation of Muslim women in public discourse is critical to reclaim their narrative.
  • Global solidarity — The international community must stop treating Muslim women’s suffering as a side issue. Their rights and dignity should be central to any conversation about gender justice, human rights, and global peace.

In the end, true global peace and lasting security will only be achieved when the international community treats women’s suffering not as a side issue, but as a foundation for justice and progress. And as long as Muslim women continue to endure multiple layers of discrimination, any promise of gender equality will remain unfinished.

en.jahanbanou.ir

From: shabestan

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Society

A Critical Look at the UN’s Digital Violence Campaign

by خانم هاشمی

The UN’s 16-Day Campaign focusing on digital violence against women has faced growing criticism from those who consider it one-sided, incomplete, and inattentive to cultural foundations and to the role both genders play in the creation of online violence.

The United Nations’ Approach to Digital Violence

From 25 November to 10 December, the world once again witnesses the UN’s 16 Days of Activism to “End Violence Against Women.” This year, the campaign is held under the slogan: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls.“

But an important question that is rarely raised is this: Is digital violence truly the one-directional, women-centered issue the UN describes it to be? Or, by flipping the narrative, is only part of reality being acknowledged while the rest is ignored?

There is no doubt that this global campaign highlights the importance of digital safety. Yet the remedy it proposes is often incomplete, politicized, and shaped by a predominantly Western feminist discourse—one that not only stands apart from Iran’s cultural and religious context but, by ignoring women’s role in the breakdown of boundaries, actually paves the way for further digital violence.

Digital Violence or Ignoring Its Origins?

The United Nations speaks of a “human-rights emergency,” yet it never addresses the main source of this harm:

The collapse of boundaries, the encouragement of sexual display, and the normalization of provocative behavior in the digital sphere.

In Islam, in the Abrahamic traditions, and even in the simplest social customs across the world, modesty and boundaries are considered shields that protect societal well-being.

These boundaries are not limitations; they are forms of protection.

But international campaigns, instead of acknowledging these foundations, rebrand sexual provocation, self-display, digital nudity, and erotic performance as forms of “choice” and “freedom”—and then complain about the rise of digital violence.

Can one build a house with windows left uncovered and then expect passersby not to look inside?

Modesty Is Not “My Choice”; It Is a Social Choice

In the Persian-language online space today, we see women who appear modestly dressed yet purposely provocative—women who contribute significantly to creating conditions for digital violence.

This uncomfortable truth has no place in UN campaigns. Why?

Because acknowledging it would unravel a large part of the global feminist narrative.

Digital immodesty, the economy of “attention,” and exhibitionism have become tools for gaining followers, advertising, and income.

But who are the real victims of this trend?

The very same women whom the campaign claims to defend.

Caught in a ruthless competition to be seen, women may unintentionally turn themselves into the target of unhealthy gazes, online harassers, and opportunists. Yet the global campaign, without referencing this central dynamic, places all blame solely on men and social structures.

Male Victims: A Reality the Campaign Ignores

In this year’s campaign, only women and girls are labeled as “victims.”
Yet today’s society clearly witnesses another form of harm:

Digital violence against men.

From sexual accusations, emotional threats, identity manipulation, and emotional-sexual blackmail, to reputation destruction—these are all part of the silent realities of the online world.

But since such experiences have no place in the global discourse, they simply remain unseen.

The notion that victims of digital space are always women is a media myth—not a social reality.

When the Bedroom Weakens, the Streets and Cyberspace Become Polluted

Studies from family courts show: whenever marital relationships weaken, the desire for self-display and compensating for emotional-sexual deficiencies in public and digital spaces increases.

This simple but crucial truth is never addressed in UN campaigns—because in Western discourse, the family as a moral foundation has been largely removed.

A campaign that ignores family and modesty cannot offer a meaningful blueprint for digital safety.

Domestic Policymakers: Set Fear Aside

Numerous official and unofficial reports show that digital and real-world immodesty, when not met with firm responses, erodes social security.

Yet many officials, out of fear of media backlash or pressure from certain groups, refrain from enforcing boundary-establishing laws.

The result?

Cyberspace has become an ecosystem for “digital wolves”—a place where women and men, children and teenagers, are all exposed to provocation and harm.

As long as sexual exhibitionism online remains free, low-cost, and even rewarded,

no law and no campaign can guarantee digital safety.

The Iranian Muslim Woman Must Abandon Hesitation

The Iranian Muslim woman is the true victim of these contradictions:
On one side, she is portrayed as merely a “victim,” and on the other, she is encouraged toward exhibitionism, immodesty, and crossing the boundaries of hijab and modesty.

But the truth is clear: a woman’s security begins with a return to boundaries—not with Western feminist prescriptions.

The Iranian woman must understand: freedom without boundaries is a tool for making her vulnerable, not empowered.

Digital violence is a serious issue.

But the UN’s proposed framework is incomplete, biased, and built upon a discourse incompatible with Iranian-Islamic culture.

For genuine confrontation with this violence, we must:

  • Restore boundaries
  • Strengthen the family
  • Halt sexual exhibitionism
  • Enforce boundary-creating laws firmly
  • And view both women and men as potential victims of digital violence

Violence against women must end;
violence against men must end as well.

And the starting point for both is one principle:

A return to boundaries.

en.jahanbanou.ir

From: Fars

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Europe

Serial Abuse by UK Police Officer Exposed: Latest Victim Was 12

by خانم هاشمی

Reports from the UK reveal that a high-ranking police officer — described in the media as a “monster in uniform” — committed decades of sexual abuse. His most recent conviction involves abusing a 12‑year‑old child over a prolonged period, raising serious questions over the police force’s culture and how he remained unchecked for so long.

A Dark Record Behind the Badge

The man at the centre of this scandal is David Carrick, a former Metropolitan Police officer. Over 17 years, he carried out at least 71 sexual offences, including 48 counts of rape. In 2023, he was originally sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 32 years to serve.

Carrick joined the Met in 2001 and later served as an armed officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection unit. His position gave him a veneer of respectability, which masked his predatory behaviour.

The 12‑Year‑Old Victim: New Convictions

In a shocking twist, Carrick has now been convicted again, this time for offences against a 12-year-old girl from when he was a teenager. During his latest trial at the Old Bailey, he was found guilty of:

  • Five counts of indecent assault relating to the girl.
  • Two counts of rape, and one count of sexual assault involving a former partner, along with controlling or coercive behaviour between 2014 and 2019.

Remarkably, this abuse of the child, which reportedly lasted around 18 months, only came to light later — she told her mother years after the incidents.

Systemic Failures and Questions of Trust

Prosecutors and law enforcement have strongly criticized systemic failures that allowed Carrick to remain in active service for so long:

  • Evidence shows that Carrick’s offending escalated over decades and that he had displayed abusive behaviour from a young age.
  • While there were early red flags — including a letter of confession signed “Dave” in 1990, found later in his medical records — internal investigations and complaints were not followed up decisively.
  • Detective Superintendent Iain Moor of Hertfordshire Constabulary reflected that if police had acted on his confession in 1990, “the future could have been very different.”

Following the new verdict, Mrs Justice McGowan handed Carrick a 37th life sentence, with a 30‑year minimum, to run alongside his existing term.

Rebuilding Public Confidence

The case of David Carrick has deeply shaken public trust in the Metropolitan Police. After his first sentencing, the Met publicly apologised to the victims, acknowledging grave institutional failures. An independent public inquiry, led by Lady Elish Angiolini, has been launched to examine how someone with such a pattern of abuse could remain in the force.

Detective Moor has emphasised that rebuilding confidence is essential – both so that future victims feel able to report abuse, and to restore trust in the systems meant to protect people.

en.jahanbanou.ir

From: Guardian

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Europe

Sweden’s Silent Crisis: Women Driven Out of Politics

by خانم هاشمی

In the heart of Scandinavia’s famed democratic landscape, a disturbing pattern is emerging. Increasing threats and harassment are pushing female politicians out of the public sphere — and raising alarm bells about the health of Swedish democracy.

A Resignation That Speaks Volumes

Just days after the first televised debate ahead of Sweden’s upcoming election, Anna‑Karin Hatt — newly elected leader of the long-established liberal Centre Party — announced her immediate resignation. Citing “unbearable” levels of threats and harassment, she revealed she no longer felt safe: she could not trust her own home, kept watch in public places, and ultimately felt forced to withdraw. According to reports, Hatt cited physical threats in addition to online abuse.

Her tenure lasted barely five months — and her departure shines a harsh light on what should arguably be one of the safest democracies in the world.

A Troubling Echo from the Past

Hatt’s departure has eerie similarities to the earlier resignation of Annie Lööf, who led the same party until 2022 and stepped down after sustained abuse and extremist-targeting. At the annual political forum known as Almedalen Week on the island of Gotland, a politically active psychiatrist, Ing‑Marie Wieselgren, was fatally stabbed in July 2022 near a venue where Lööf was due to speak. The court found that the murderer had planned to target Lööf.
These events illustrate a shift in Swedish public life: threats, violence or the real risk thereof, have become part of the calculus for women entering politics.

The Wider Implications for Democracy

If political activity means braving harassment, threats or worse, many women — especially those from immigrant backgrounds or minority groups — may well decide the cost is too high. In a society where equality and openness are core values, that this is becoming normalized is deeply worrying. The resignation of yet another centrist woman in politics suggests the problem is not incidental, but systemic.

Moreover, the response from Sweden’s political leadership has been dismissive. The country’s prime minister reportedly said Hatt should have simply “hardened her skin” rather than quit, an attitude that many interpret as denying the severity of the threat.

Why This Matters Now

  • Women are disproportionately targeted by online hate campaigns, sexist attacks and threats of violence in political life.
  • When such threats are ignored or trivialised by authorities, the chilling effect grows: fewer women will step forward, fewer voices will be heard.
  • A democracy cannot thrive if large segments of its society feel unsafe or unwelcome in the political process.

Conclusion

Sweden is often held up as a model of democratic stability, gender equality and civic safety. But the recent events surrounding Anna-Karin Hatt and her predecessor Annie Lööf suggest fragility beneath the surface. If we let the threats become part of the backdrop, then democratic participation — especially from women and minorities — risks shrinking. And that, in turn, places at risk the very democratic values Sweden claims to hold dear.

en.jahanbanou.ir

From: Guardian

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Europe

France Redefines Rape: Silence No Longer Equals Consent

by خانم هاشمی

After years of public debate and a series of shocking trials, France has passed a historic reform to its sexual assault laws — officially recognizing that sex without explicit, mutual consent is rape. The move marks a decisive cultural and legal shift in a country that long prided itself on defending human rights, yet struggled to define sexual violence in its own courts.

A Case That Shook France

The debate began with a disturbing case that horrified the nation. Dominique Pelicot, a man from southern France, admitted to drugging his wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and allowing dozens of men to assault her while she was unconscious.
During the trial, Pelicot told the court, “I am a rapist, like everyone else in this room.” All 51 men charged in connection with the case were found guilty in December 2024.

The case triggered a national reckoning over one painful question: does the absence of resistance equal consent? Public anger and women’s rights protests pressured lawmakers to reform outdated definitions of sexual assault.

A Landmark Reform in 2025

On October 29 2025, the French Senate approved a bill redefining rape as any sexual act committed without clear, informed, and mutual consent.
Under the new legislation, silence or lack of resistance can no longer be interpreted as consent, and consent must be free, informed, specific, and revocable.

Once signed by President Emmanuel Macron, the reform will bring France in line with European countries such as Sweden, Spain, Belgium, and Germany, which already use consent-based definitions of rape.

Human Rights Watch welcomed the bill as “a long-overdue step toward justice,” noting that “rape is defined by lack of consent, not necessarily by force.”

Allegations Within the Police Force

Just a day after the Senate’s vote, France was shaken again. The Paris prosecutor’s office announced that two police officers had been arrested for allegedly raping a 26-year-old woman in custody at the Bobigny court detention center.
Both officers — aged 23 and 35 — had joined the force only months earlier. The incident renewed concerns about sexual violence even within the justice system itself.

Public Transport: Unsafe for Women

According to the National Observatory on Violence Against Women, seven in ten women in the Île-de-France region (Paris and its suburbs) have faced sexual harassment or assault on public transport.

In 2024 alone, police recorded 3,374 sexual violence cases across public transport — up six percent from 2023.
More than 75 percent of the victims were under 30, and nearly half of all cases occurred in Paris. Still, only about 7 percent of victims filed formal complaints, citing fear of dismissal or distrust of police investigations.

A Hidden Epidemic

Data from Eurostat and France’s Interior Ministry show that the country has one of the highest rape rates in Europe, with around 67 rapes reported every day in 2018 — roughly three every hour.

In 2022, approximately 270,000 women suffered physical sexual violence (rape or attempted rape), while over 1.1 million endured non-physical sexual harassment.
In 2023, more than 114,000 official complaints were filed — a 7 percent rise compared with 2022.

Many victims report assaults only years later; half of the complaints registered in 2023 were filed more than six months after the event, and 17 percent more than five years later.

Teenage Victims and Domestic Violence

Of all registered cases, roughly 65,000 victims were minors, most of them girls, though boys aged 9 to 19 also face increasing risk.
Meanwhile, domestic violence remains a major cause of death for women: on average, one woman is killed every three days by her partner or ex-partner, with at least 122 femicides recorded in 2024.

New Sexual Education Plan Sparks Debate

Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, French schools will introduce a new curriculum on “sexual life and human relationships,” designed to promote respect and challenge gender stereotypes.

Supporters argue that early education can reduce sexual violence and teach healthy relationships.
Critics — including Ludovine de La Rochère, head of the Family Associations Federation — warn that the program could weaken parental authority and cultural traditions.

A Cultural Turning Point

France’s adoption of a consent-based rape law marks a historic turning point.
By placing consent at the center of sexual ethics and justice, the country acknowledges what survivors and advocates have long demanded: that the absence of a clear “yes” means “no.”

Whether this reform will bring real change for women’s safety depends on its enforcement — and on whether French society is ready to confront its own culture of silence.

en.jahanbanou.ir

From: Reuters

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North America

Sexual Assault on Mexico’s President Sparks National Outrage

by خانم هاشمی

Mexico’s first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, was sexually assaulted in public while greeting citizens in Mexico City. The incident — captured on video and shared widely — has reignited urgent debate over the pervasive threat of gender-based violence in the country.

The Incident

On 4 November 2025, President Sheinbaum was walking through the historic centre of Mexico City, greeting members of the public between engagements, when a man approached her from behind. He wrapped an arm around her, touched her chest and attempted to kiss her. The president pushed his hand away and remained composed until her staff intervened and security arrived.

The assailant, reportedly intoxicated, was later arrested and a formal complaint was filed by Sheinbaum.

Why It Resonates Beyond the President

Sheinbaum’s reaction was not only personal. She posed the question: “If this happens to the president, what about all young women in our country?”

The attack touches on a broader reality: in a country already grappling with alarmingly high numbers of femicides and widespread harassment of women in public spaces, the assault of a national leader underscores the depth of the problem.

Response & Political Implications

Following the incident, Sheinbaum announced a push to review laws on sexual harassment across Mexico, calling for harassment to be defined as a criminal offence nationwide.

She also condemned the publication of images of the assault by a major newspaper, calling it “re-victimisation” and calling on the media to assume greater responsibility.

What This Means for Women in Mexico

  • The attack symbolises how no woman — not even the head of state — is immune from harassment.
  • It amplifies calls to strengthen protections, ensure better security and enforce accountability for gender-based violence.
  • It raises questions about protective measures for public officials and the general environment for women in public spaces.

Looking Ahead

Beyond the immediate legal case, the challenge now is systemic: revising laws, changing social norms, improving enforcement and delivering meaningful protection for women across society. The president’s experience may serve as a catalyst. But many argue the true measure will be sustained action, not just symbolic gestures.

en.jahanbanou.ir

From: Reuters

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Europe

Over Half of German Women Feel Unsafe in Public Spaces

by خانم هاشمی

More than half of women in Germany say they feel unsafe in public places — especially in nightclubs, train stations and other transit hubs. The results of a recent national survey underscore the urgency of concrete safety measures, as activists and public figures call on the government to act.

Survey Results Reveal Deep Disquiet

A poll conducted by the opinion-research institute Civey on behalf of the media group Funke Mediengruppe asked 5,000 adults aged 18 and older how safe they felt in different public locations between October 23 and 27, 2025.
Among the female respondents, 55 % said they did not feel safe in any of the surveyed public settings — such as streets, public transport or parks.
The least safe environments were nightclubs and train stations: only 14 % of women said they felt safe in those places.
When all respondents (including men) were asked the same question, 49 % said they did not feel safe in any of the listed places.

This data points to a striking undercurrent of insecurity — even in a country often regarded as comparatively safe.

Response From Women’s Groups and Political Figures

In parallel with the survey results, around 60 women from the fields of arts, science, politics and civil society addressed an open letter to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, urging serious action on women’s safety.
Signatories included prominent figures such as Ricarda Lang, Luisa Neubauer and Mithu Sanyal. The letter emphasises that the discussion around women’s safety must not serve as a pretext for racist narratives.

Their demands include: improved prosecution of sexual and domestic violence, formally recognising femicide as a distinct crime, greater funding for shelters and safe houses, better lighting and surveillance of public spaces, updated protections against digital and racial violence, and measures to bolster women’s financial independence and combat poverty in older women.

The Political and Social Context

The debate is unfolding amid heightened public scrutiny of migration, urban safety and political rhetoric. Chancellor Merz has come under fire for remarks linking public-space safety to migration patterns — notably his comment on “cityscape” problems and his invitation to “ask your daughters” what he might mean. Critics argue such language risks fuelling xenophobic and polarising narratives.

At the same time, the survey’s findings lend urgency to the argument that women’s sense of safety is eroding even in broadly affluent societies. The letter by prominent women makes clear that they want tangible improvements, not mere sound-bites.

What’s Next?

The combination of survey data and civic mobilisation points toward several likely developments:

  • Policymakers may come under increased pressure to legislate or fund measures on urban safety, gender-based violence and infrastructure (e.g., lighting, surveillance, safe transport).
  • Public debate will likely remain focused on how migration, public order and women’s safety intersect — and how to avoid framing one in service of the other.
  • Monitoring of the issue will continue: further surveys could explore regional differences, time-of-day effects, or specific urban environments (train stations, nightlife districts, etc.).

en.jahanbanou.ir

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PoliticsWest Asia

Greta Thunberg Shares “Habibi, Boycott Dubai”

by خانم هاشمی

Swedish climate and human-rights activist Greta Thunberg has amplified the slogan “Habibi, Boycott Dubai (and the UAE)”, as global outrage mounts over the alleged war crimes of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — a conflict exacting a devastating toll on women and girls.

Boycott Campaign and Its Catalyst

The hashtag #HabibiBoycottDubai, surged online following the RSF’s takeover of El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, on 26 October 2025. The campaign, spearheaded by grassroots activists and human-rights advocates, accuses the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of providing the RSF with military and financial support — enabling systematic violence that includes sexual assault, extrajudicial killings, and forced displacement.

The campaign connects tourism, business, and investment ties with Dubai to complicity in Sudan’s ongoing atrocities, calling for international accountability and economic pressure.

Atrocities in Sudan: Women and Girls on the Frontline

Since April 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, triggering one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. In Darfur, particularly El Fasher, verified footage and witness reports show RSF fighters executing civilians, obstructing aid, and forcing mass displacement.

Human rights organizations report an alarming surge in sexual and gender-based violence, often used as a deliberate weapon of war. Non-Arab communities such as the Masalit have been targeted with rape, abduction, and forced servitude, according to the Human Rights Research Centre (HRRC).

Women and girls remain disproportionately affected — facing barriers to healthcare, food, and water, while being exposed to forced labor and sexual slavery in conflict zones.

UAE’s Alleged Role and Global Response

Though the UAE denies any involvement, multiple investigations indicate arms transfers and logistical support from the UAE to the RSF, often routed through third countries such as Chad. The UK-based Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) reported that UAE-manufactured vehicles fitted with French systems were recovered in RSF-controlled areas — a potential violation of UN arms embargoes.

In May 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled it lacked jurisdiction to hear Sudan’s case against the UAE under the Genocide Convention, a decision widely criticized by rights groups.

Calls to boycott the UAE and Dubai have since intensified, arguing that economic and reputational pressure may be among the few remaining tools to push for justice in Sudan.

A Call for Solidarity

For many women-led advocacy networks, the campaign represents more than a geopolitical dispute — it’s a call for solidarity across borders. Sudanese women’s organizations, joined by global allies, are urging the international community to center women’s experiences of conflict and to hold enablers of gender-based violence accountable.

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