Iran is again taking tougher action against violations by women of strict Islamic dress codes, with the start on Saturday of a new drive on observance of the regulations in the Gulf state. Controls were tightened nationwide and women disregarding the requirement to wear a headscarf in public remain guilty of a criminal offence, the Iranian news agency Tasnim […]
Continue ReadingAn activist, who was the first Muslim woman to lead a Pride parade in Britain, says her mission in life is “to promote the inclusivity of sexuality and gender”. The PA news agency is interviewing a series of people celebrating Pride Month in June, including Saima Razzaq, 38, from Birmingham. Ms Razzaq is the director […]
Continue ReadingA woman has said a gift from her neighbour to celebrate Eid has restored her “faith in humanity”. Shafaq Hassan, from Streatham, south London, said her neighbour treated her and son Ayaan, 14, to dates and a prayer mat in celebration of Eid, which this year began on Wednesday evening and will end on Thursday […]
Continue ReadingHindus and Muslim men have had a disproportionately high risk of dying with coronavirus throughout the pandemic compared with Christians, figures suggest. After adjusting for age, location, socio-demographic factors and certain pre-existing health conditions, Hindus and Muslim men were still more likely to die with Covid-19, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The ONS […]
Continue ReadingVaccine disinformation is being “forensically targeted” at specific groups, MPs have heard. Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said that information is “very, very cleverly, hyper super-forensically targeted at different communities”. Mr Zahawi told the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee that disinformation about vaccines and fertility were “proving to be sadly quite potent”. The Medicines […]
Continue ReadingA man has denied assaulting children while carrying out circumcisions in the community. Mohammad Siddiqui, 54, of Birmingham, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and denied 40 charges relating to 24 procedures between April 2015 and January 2019. They include child neglect and ill-treatment, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and administering prescription-only anaesthetic when […]
Continue ReadingIncreased home working and fewer opportunities to socialise during the coronavirus pandemic is threatening to make society less tolerant of diversity, a report warns. Reduced access to workplaces, leisure centres and other communal facilities is likely to make it much harder to form friendships that break down prejudices, the Woolf Institute said. Without alternative opportunities […]
Continue ReadingEarlier this month, an estimated 1.5 million people took to the streets of London to join the annual Pride march in support of sexual and gender diversity. A day of celebration of just how far we’ve come – but also protest at how far we’ve yet to go – queer and non-queer organisations and diverse […]
Continue ReadingWe have written before on many occasions about Imam Muhammad Yasir Ayub. His abuse against the small but beleaguered Ahmadi Muslim community in the U.K. has been documented by us, as we have also done so regarding his anti-Shia rants. However, one would assume that he may have changed his mind over the last year, but […]
Continue ReadingIn recent years, there’s been a significant rise in homophobic hate crime in the UK. According to the latest figures in fact, one in four members of the LGBTQI community have been victim to hate crime as a result of their sexual orientation. As with any form of hate crime, the emotional, psychological and physical […]
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