Home Blog Page 2095

40 years since Iran executed 10 Baha’i women for refusing to denounce their religion, their spirit continues to haunt the Islamic Republic and inspire the community

Pragya Bakshi Sharma
-
0
40 years since Iran executed 10 Baha’i women for refusing to denounce their religion, their spirit continues to haunt the Islamic Republic and inspire the community

18 June marks the 40th year of the execution of 10 Baha’i women in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 40 years ago on 18 June 1983, when the seeds of ‘Raliv, Galiv, Chaliv’ (convert, die or leave) were being sown on the Kashmiri soil by jihadis, 10 Baha’i women in Iran were executed for refusing to renounce their faith. Their only option was “Islam or execution.”

This day bears the spirit of Iran’s 10 Baha’i women who were executed for their faith by the Shia-majority country. Officially they were charged with various crimes including espionage, but it is well known that it was just a facade, and their real crime was refusal to convert to Islam.

The women were arrested in October and November 1982. They were tortured, denied the right to a lawyer, and were offered the opportunity to save their lives by converting to Islam. They were asked to sign statements declaring that they are not Baha’i, but they refused to do so. As a result, they were taken to Chowgan Square in Shiraz from the prison and were hanged one by one, which means those who were executed later were forced to witness the hanging of others.

Just two days before, several men were executed at the same spot, and some were relatives of the women.

These deaths continue to horrify Baha’i people but also inspire them in their continued fight against discrimination even today by the Islamic regime in Iran.

The fateful night of 18 June 1983

As nightfall began to sneak in, Mona Mahmudnizhad, along with her 9 peers, was dragged from the Adilabad prison in Shiraz. They were driven out to a polo field, where Mona’s father was executed merely days ago. What transpired after that sends shivers down one’s spine.

The driver of the minibus in which the prisoners were taken recounts the horror that transpired before his eyes.

The 10 women were hanged one after the other. The Revolutionary Guards perpetrated the murders in descending order of their age.

The eldest, 57, was Ezzat-Janami Eshraghi who was hanged first. The youngest was 17-year-old Mona Mahmudnizhad who had to witness nine executions before her turn came. At last, this brave young girl became a woman that night as she embraced the gallows and forever etched her name in the hearts of even her jihadi murderers. She smiled at her execution and sparked a revolution in Iran that continues to this day.

Roya Eshraghi, 23, was executed along with her mother, Ezzat-Janami Eshraghi, 57. Her father was executed two days ago on 16 June 1983. (Source: Iran Wire).

The ten Baha’i women executed in Shiraz on June 18, 1983, were:

  1. Mona Mahmudnezhad, 17;
  2. Roya Eshraghi, 23, was executed along with her mother;
  3. Simin Saberi, 24;
  4. Shahin (Shirin) Dalvand, 25;
  5. Akhtar Sabet, 25;
  6. Mahshid Niroumand, 28;
  7. Zarrin Moghimi-Abyaneh, 29;
  8. Tahereh Arjomandi Siyavashi, 30. Her husband, Jamshid Siavashi, was executed two days earlier;
  9. Nosrat Ghufrani Yaldaie, 46. Her son, Bahram Yaldaie, was executed two days earlier;
  10. Ezzat-Janami Eshraghi, 57, along with her daughter Roya, 23. Her husband, Enayatullah Eshraghi was executed two days earlier.
Mashid Niroumand, 28 (Source: Baha’i International Community).

Killed for their Baha’i faith

The 10 women were arrested in 1982 on the charges of “spying for Israel,” “insulting Islam,” and “teaching Baha’i children’s classes”.

Nosrat Ghufrani Yaldaie, 46. Her son was executed on 16 June 1983, merely two days before her hanging. (Sources: Baha’i Chronicles).

“Baha’i nistam” (I am not a Baha’i). These were the words they had to say in order to escape death. They were given four opportunities to say these two words.

Simin Saberi, 24 (Source: Baha’i International Community).

Little did the radical Iranian regime know that their faith was more dear to them than life itself; that life was a right, not an option to be lured into and that death was worthy when embraced out of faith than fear.

Shahin (Shirin) Dalvand, 25. (Source: Baha’i International Community).

They refused to utter the ugly lie that they were lured into speaking.

Akhtar Sabet, hanged at 25. (Source: Baha’i International Community).

Mona Mahmudnizhad & Her Essay

Months before her execution, Mona Mahmudnizhad wrote a revolutionary essay that got the Iranian regime’s knickers in a twist. The topic of the essay assigned by her religious studies teacher was “The fruit of Islam is freedom of conscience and liberty.”

Mona, 17, was the youngest among the 10 women and witnessed 9 executions one after the other only to “kiss the gallows during her turn.”

Knowing very well that she is expected to sing false praises for Islam, Mona stuck to the truth and wrote the following golden words:

“Freedom is the most brilliant word, but there have always been powerful and unjust men who have resorted to “oppression and tyranny. Why in my country are those who are members of my religion abducted from their homes at night and taken to mosques in their nightgowns, and subjected to whipping? As we have recently witnessed in our own city, Shiraz, their homes are looted and set on fire. Hundreds of people leave their homes in fear. Why? Because of the gift of liberty that Islam has brought? Why am I not free to express my ideas in this society? Why do I not have freedom of speech so that I can write in the newspapers, and express my ideas on the radio and television? Why don’t you let me be free…to say who I am and what I want? Yes, liberty is a Divine gift, and this gift is for us (Baha’is) also, but you don’t let us have it…Why don’t you push aside that thick veil from your eyes?”

Mona Mahmudnizhad with her father Yad’u’llah Mahmudnizhad, who was executed on 12 March 1983, almost a month before Mona’s hanging. Her father was hanged in the same polo ground where death awaited her next.

On the evening of 23 October 1982, there was a loud thud at Mona’s doorstep. Ruhollah Khomeini’s Revolutionary Guards barged into her residence, ransacked her family home, grabbed her and her father, and took them away.

Mona’s mother pleaded, “She’s just a child.” The jihadis produced Mona’s essay and said, “The person who wrote this isn’t a child.”

They were right. How could a woman of all but 17, fighting a deadly battle for truth with just her pen against an army led by a rancid mullah, be a child?

She was a voice they feared deeply.

Mona, as is clear from her essay, was undaunting and uncompromising in the pursuit of her faith.

According to U.S. govt records, during the trial of the 10 women, Judge Qazai questioned Mona, “You are just a child. How could you possibly know the real meaning of the world religion?”

To this, a bold Mona replied saying, “What more proof do you need than that I was dragged out of school and put in jail and now, for many months, have endured all these interrogations for the sake of my religion? What else but my faith could give me the strength and power to stand here in front of you and answer your questions?”

Death followed eight long months of torture

After her arrest, Mona was incarcerated in a filthy, stenchful prison cell and was subjected to torture. This survivor’s account narrates the ordeal faced by the prisoners including Mona.

Ruhi Jahanpour, another Baha’i woman, who shared the prison with Mona, said, “They blindfolded me and tied me to a kind of bed, and then they put my feet there…after a few lashes they would pause for a little bit because they knew our feet were getting numb and they wanted us to feel the pain. They would continuously say things like, ‘If you deny your faith, I’ll let you go.'”

Baha’i persecution by Islamists

The persecution and abuse of the Baha’i people continue in the Arab world to this day. After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, systematic persecution of religious minorities and women began to rise. Crackdown on Baha’i institutions, community activities, holy places, cemeteries, and properties became rampant. Executions, economic deprivation, mysterious disappearances of Baha’i people, detentions, and interrogations became an everyday routine constituting grave human rights violations.

More than 200 Baha’is have been executed or murdered. This is only the reported number, unreported cases could be much higher. Thousands have been arrested, detained, and interrogated, and tens of thousands more have been deprived of jobs, pensions, and opportunities for higher education.

August 1980: 9 Baha’i officials abducted

Nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly – a democratically elected national council that forms part of the Baha’i administrative structure in all countries – together with two individuals serving on other Baha’i institutions, were abducted by a group of armed men from their meeting in a private home and taken to an unknown location. They disappeared without a trace, presumably the victims of extrajudicial killings. The Iranian authorities have never admitted to this crime.

29 August 1983: Baha’i administrative activities banned

The then-Iranian Attorney General announced a legal ban on all Baha’i administrative and community activities in Iran, making membership in Baha’i administrative institutions a criminal offense.

11 December 2022: Baha’i women sentenced to second imprisonment

Regarded as the symbols of resilience in Iran, two Baha’i women, Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, were sentenced to a second term of 10-year imprisonment after already having served 10 years.

They were arrested on 31 July 2022 for a second time in a series of fresh crackdown on Baha’is.

25 May 2023: Houthi gunmen abduct 17 Baha’is

Heavily-armed Houthi terrorists in Yemen stormed a peaceful Baha’i annual general meeting at a private residence in Sanaa. The Iran-backed Houthi terrorists abducted 17 Baha’i members including 5 women.

The video of the abduction was captured on Zoom.

On 2 June 2023, Mufti Shamseddin Sharafeddin, while delivering the Friday prayers, accused the abducted Baha’is of being traitors and said that if they did not repent, they will be killed.

Who are the Baha’is?

The Baha’i faith originated in Iran. Baha’is are the followers of the messenger Baha’U’llah born in Tehran in 1817, who founded the religion. Baha’U’llah attained spiritual realization upon pursuing the Babi Movement. Teachings of Baha’U’llah aka Mirza Husayn-‘Ali’ form the basis of the Baha’i belief.

The premise of the Baha’i faith finds similarities with Hinduism. Baha’is believe in pursuing the truth, oneness, harmony of science and religion among others, and being free from materialism. Albeit, even the messengers were not spared from the wrath of the tyrants. In 1850, the Bab was charged by Shi’i religious officials with heresy and was gunned to death.

Crackdown on his followers continued including on Baha’U’llah who was confined to an underground prison in Tehran. He was exiled to Baghdad in 1853 where he founded the Baha’i religion.

Baha’is are considered impure in Islam

While the Islamic nation recognises several other minority religions like Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism, Iran does not recognise Baha’i faith. The country also accuses Baha’i people of being agents of Israel.

Hatred for Baha’is in Islam stems primarily from the fact that the former consider themselves a religion separate from Islam. Their (Baha’is) belief in Baha’U’llah negates the Islamist belief in the existence of Prophet Muhammad.

The teachings of the Baha’is religion are considered as posing a direct challenge to the doctrines of Islam. While Baha’is are proponents of maintaining a rational balance between science and religion, Islam still largely believes that the earth is flat, to say the least, because their messenger Prophet Muhammad said so.

Former Supreme leader of Iran Ruhollah Khomeini. (Source: Tablet Magazine)

When the 10 Baha’i women were in jail, survivor Ruhi Jahanpour explained that the prison guards were told that torturing the women would hasten the return of the Hidden Twelfth Imam awaited by the Shia Muslims.

“We have to get rid of all of you to prepare the way for him to come. The only reason that he hasn’t come yet is because of you dirty people,” the guards said.

Prison wardens, in order to avoid any physical contact with the “unclean,” and “impure” Baha’i prisoners, while guiding them to the interrogation room would give them one end of a folded newspaper and hold the other end.

Baha’is also believe that men and women are equal and deserve to be treated as such. This too directly challenges the many Islamic practices and sermons against women.

Iranian women’s resistance continues

The persecution of the Baha’is, especially women, serves as a reminder to the present-day Iranian woman to continue the fight for their rights. Women, including those from minority communities, in Iran, are still fighting for equal opportunities, for their right to not wear the hijab, the right to equal opportunity in education and employment, and so on.

Hijab is one such key issue that Iranian women are pushing against. Hijab, a headscarf, is mandatory clothing in Islam meant to cover women’s hair.

This month alone, the Iranian police have made over 300 arrests in a bid to enforce the confining dress code. Nearly a million warnings have been issued over text too. Arrests, detentions, and public beatings of women resisting this diktat are common news even today.

Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad is a key voice running campaigns against the dogmatic Islamic Republic.

Campaigns like “White Wednesdays,” “My Camera Is My Weapon,” and “My Stealthy Freedom” have made the fascist Iranian regime foam at the mouth.

Tributes pour in for the 10 Baha’i Bravehearts

The Baha’i International Community today is marking the 40th anniversary dedicated to the 10 brave Baha’i women with the campaign #OurStoryIsOne.

Comedian Omid Djalili @omid9 made a video mirroring the last days of Mona Mahmudnizhad in the present-day context.

In Stockholm, homage was paid to Mona and 9 other women on 14 June.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and the then-President Ram Nath Kovind marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of the messenger Baha’U’llah.

In his letter to the Baha’i community of India, PM Modi wrote, “Baha’i Faith gives the world a vision of universal brotherhood.”

“The arduous path to gender equality in Iran has been walked by countless women over the decades. That road has been marked by the sacrifices of those who chose to stand for their principles even over their lives,” said Simin Fahandej, the Bahai International Community (BIC) representative to the United Nations in Geneva.

Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries calls for a bandh on June 22 against abrupt price hike in electricity charges

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries calls for a bandh on June 22 against abrupt price hike in electricity charges

On Saturday, June 17, the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) called for a “bandh” on June 22 in the wake of the abrupt electricity price hike by electricity supply companies (ESCOMs). 

The KCC&I stated in its statement that it tried for eight days to communicate the impact of the high electricity rates, but all efforts were in vain.  

“We request all the trade and industry to close their establishment on June 22. This is in protest of abnormal price hike in the electricity charges by ESCOMs. For last 8 days we have made attempts to convey the seriousness of the impact of the hike in electricity charges. However, no solution is forthcoming from the Officials or Government representatives.”

The KCC&I further urged all members to join the strike in order to bring the issue to the CM Siddaramaiah-led government’s notice.

“To draw the attention of the government, we are calling for this Bandh. We wish to find a solution and get a reduction in the electricity charges. We hope that the Government will respond to our request,” the letter further stated.

Moreover, KCCI added in its letter that the District Chambers of Gadag, Bijapur, Ranebennur, Raichur, Talikoti, Vijaynagar, Mysore, Davangere, Koppal, Bagalkoti, Dharwad, Sirsi, Karwar, Bidar, Shivamoga, Kolar, Mandya, Chickmangalore, Yadgir, Chitradurga, KalyanKarnataka, Haveri, Hassan, Bellary and other Industry Associations have also agreed to join the agitation.

KCC&I statement calling for a bandh in the state of Karnataka on June 22 (Image via ANI)

Reacting to the KCC&I’s call for a Karnataka bandh on June 22, BJP leader Basanagouda R Patil tweeted, “In couple of years there will be exodus of industries from Karnataka to neighbouring states if government doesn’t consider the demands of the Industries.”

Earlier, OpIndia reported that the energy costs and power tariffs in Karnataka have been increased by Rs 2.89 per unit in June despite Siddaramaiah’s state government’s free electricity pledge. Now the citizens will have to pay an additional Rs 2.89 per unit if their power usage exceeds the 200 units slab while paying the power bill.

The ‘fixed costs’ in the electricity bills produced by Escoms for June experienced a significant hike, ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 75 depending on the usage load. According to a Senior Bescom official, the invoices were created by the price decision issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) notwithstanding widespread criticism of the Escoms.

A tariff increase of 70 paise was mandated by the KERC on May 13 with retroactive effect beginning on April 1, 2023. Similarly, the KERC updated the tariff a few days ago by including changes for gasoline and electricity purchase costs. “As KERC ordered us to collect the pending dues for April too along with that of May, the bill issued in June appears to be inflated. They will become normal from next month onwards,” a senior engineer with Bescom was quoted as saying. 

On June 5, B.V. Gopal Reddy president Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI) said that the hike of Rs 2.89 per unit in power bill has come as a dampener as it will increase the prices of their products & services and reduce their profit margin.

“Our feedback from our members reveals that some of the most vulnerable sections like micro and small-scale industries and small traders are finding it difficult to even survive due to high input costs. If recurring costs like power go up, they may even be forced to contemplate shutting shop. Those operating in the neighbourhood of other states may even explore possibilities of shifting to other states where such costs are lesser. We therefore fervently appeal to the government to first talk to representatives of Industry & Trade, take stock of their situation, and only then consider such issues of tariff revision,” Reddy stated.

The FKCCI further stated that any more load on the industry would be a “tipping point” for them to take drastic steps such as shutting down, shifting operations to other states, or reducing labour intake, consequently fueling unemployment.

No mini-skirts, no bermudas, no torn jeans : Iconic Jain temple in Shimla bans revealing clothes, asks devotees to dress decently

OpIndia Staff
-
0
No mini-skirts, no bermudas, no torn jeans : Iconic Jain temple in Shimla bans revealing clothes, asks devotees to dress decently

The iconic Jain temple in Shima, Himachal Pradesh, has prohibited devotees, both men and women, from wearing revealing clothes, including shorts, mini skirts etc while visiting. A board with the order of the Digambar Jain Sabha is now placed in front of the holy place. According to the temple administration, this action was taken to preserve the tradition and culture of the place.

The regulation is reportedly ordered by the temple situated in the Middle Bazar of Shimla. There is an appeal for attention with Jai Jinendra at the top of the board. “All men and women are requested to come to the temple in decent clothes. Those wearing short clothes, half pants, Bermuda, mini skirt, night suit, torn jeans, frock, and three-quarter jeans among other outfits, please cooperate by visiting from outside only.” Shri Digambar Jain Sabha Shimla is listed as the signatory below.

Sanjay Jain, the temple priest, discussed the guideline with the media. People, he asserted, are losing touch with their cultural heritage. He stated that women not covering their heads is an example of this. He charged that numerous men have entered the temple without permission, and such behaviour, in his opinion, hurt the religious sentiments of the believers. He has also provided guidance to the followers on how to perform the darshan with devotion in mind.

Sanjay Jain pointed out that problem of entering the temple in inappropriate attire is not only restricted to Shimla but it is a problem in the entire country. He further continued that prayer for world peace and prosperity is held within the temple and hence decorum should be observed. He insisted on modest clothes in every sacred Sanatani place. Notably, last month Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut shared pictures of females wearing shorts to temples and advised them to dress properly.

A proper dress code is in place for several of the temples in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Last week, the same was introduced at the Ashok Nagar Temple in Madhya Pradesh.

Delhi: Two sisters shot dead in RK Puram by assailants who came to kill their brother over a loan dispute, 3 arrested

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Delhi: Two sisters shot dead in RK Puram by assailants who came to kill their brother over a loan dispute, 3 arrested

Two sisters identified as 30-year-old Pinky 30 and 29-year-old Jyoti were fatally shot by an unidentified group of assailants in southwest Delhi’s R K Puram. The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday following a dispute about a loan that was given by their brother to some individuals. They died at the Safdarjung Hospital where they were taken for the treatment.

According to the family, the attack followed a heated argument between their brother and some people who had taken some money on loan from him. The brother Lalit had asked them to return the money, which resulted in an argument. Later, the borrowers arrived at the house in the night to kill Lalit, but his sisters came in the way and the assailants shot them instead.

“My elder brother, Lalit gave a loan to someone and yesterday he went to take it back where he had a heated argument with some people. He came back and we were sleeping when some people started knocking on our door at around 2.10 am,” said Lala, another one of their brothers.

He added. “All my relatives, including my sisters, stayed in the same locality and I called them up for help. After some time, all the attackers left. However, later, they returned, carrying weapons. They came to eliminate my brother, but my sisters came to rescue him and they shot them.”

Another eyewitness said that there were 7-8 people and they threw stones at the door and then broke the steel door before returning with guns.

Afterwards, an alleged video of the occurrence that showed a group of four to five persons cursing and shooting at the women went viral on social media.

According to Manoj C, deputy commissioner of police for the southwest, around 4:40 am, the RK Puram police station received a call from someone informing that their sisters had been shot at Dr Ambedkar Basti. He stated that both the primary suspect and his accomplice had been taken into custody.

He revealed, “We received a PCR call around 4:40 am at RK Puram police station from a man stating that some people shot at his sisters at Ambedkar Basti. Prima facie, the murders seem to be over the money settlement issue. The man said that some people have shot his sisters.” The police noted that they are registering a murder case and exploring other Indian Penal Code sections which are applicable to this case. Lalit, the brother of the victims, was the purported target of the attack.

Three persons have been arrested in connection with the case, identified as Arjun, Michael and Dev.

In the meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal didn’t miss to use this tragic incident to play politics. He alleged that instead of maintaining law and order, the central govt is conspiring to capture the entire Delhi govt.

“Today, if Delhi’s law and order was under AAP government instead of LG, then Delhi would have been safest,” he claimed.

No one at the company knew this code existed: Elon Musk acknowledges that Twitter shadowban is real, vows to increase transparency

OpIndia Staff
-
0
No one at the company knew this code existed: Elon Musk acknowledges that Twitter shadowban is real, vows to increase transparency

On Saturday (June 17), billionaire businessman Elon Musk conceded that ‘Twitter shadowban’ is real and that the Twitter team did not know that such a thing was embedded in the Source code.

He made the revelations while reacting to a popular Twitter handle (@TitterDaily), which informed that the engineers at the micro-blogging site have recently found ‘shadowbans’ buried deep in Twitter code.

It said, “Just last week they found a measure that stopped accounts assigned a low ‘Reputation score’ from trending. This shadowban even applied to Elon’s account and prevented his tweets from trending.”

“The Reputation score applied to accounts was simply based on how many times an account was reported. This wasn’t relative to follower count – so anyone with a large following would be hit,” the Twitter handle emphasised.

While reacting to the tweet, Elon Musk acknowledged, “True. So many skeletons in the closet. No one at the company knew this code existed.” On Friday (June 16), the billionaire businessman vowed to increase transparency on social media.

He assured to introduce a feature, which would show users whether the Twitter code had shadowbanned them and the reason for the same. “If your account is in any way affected by the Twitter system, then you can see it clearly,” Musk remarked.

Earlier this month, he spoke to the popular satirical website ‘The Babylon Bee’ and said, “Last week, we discovered a hidden layer of censorship, written in 2012…Censorship is maybe the wrong word…It would basically suppress…It had like a list of words…”

Elon Musk calls ‘fact checkers’ liars and biased

On June 13, a news report emerged which claimed that in the USA, nearly 100% of the fact-checkers’ contribution went to the Democrats and that they had a liberal bias.

“The study reviewed political donations over the past four election cycles. $22,580 of the $22,683 in political donations went to Democrats. Only three, obviously very small donations went to any Republicans!”, the report claimed.

Responding to this news, Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, tweeted that all fact-checkers were biased. “The so-called fact-checkers are huge liars and incredibly biased”, he emphasised.

UK: Indian-origin man Aravind Sasikumar stabbed to death by his flatmate Salman Salim in Southampton Way, arrested

OpIndia Staff
-
0
UK: Indian-origin man Aravind Sasikumar stabbed to death by his flatmate Salman Salim in Southampton Way, arrested

On Friday, June 16, a 38-year-old Indian man Aravind Sasikumar was stabbed with a knife in Southhampton Way, Camberwell, in the United Kingdom. According to the police, the deceased victim hailing from Kerala was allegedly killed by his flatmate Salman Salim.

The Metropolitan Police said that Aravind Sasikumar was found with knife wounds after cops were called to a private residence on Southampton Way in Camberwell. The police added that the deceased victim’s family has been informed and is being supported by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.

Accused Salman Salim and the deceased victim were flatmates and shared community facilities with other Keralites residing there.

According to the police, Sasikumar died on the spot on Friday at around 1.31 a.m. On Saturday, June 17, accused Salman Salim, 25, was produced before Croydon Magistrates’ Court.

“This is a tragic incident, and my thoughts are with the man’s family as they come to terms with this awful news,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, local policing commander in Southwark and Lambeth. “We will do everything possible to hold those guilty accountable,” Addoh added.

“We sent numerous resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, medics in two fast response cars, an advanced paramedic, and an incident response officer,” a London Ambulance Service spokesperson said.

The spokesperson further stated, “We also dispatched a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance, which included a paramedic and a doctor in a car. “Sadly, despite our crews’ best efforts, a man was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Harriet Harman, MP for Camberwell and Peckham, called the crime a “horrific murder” and offered her “deepest sympathy.”

“Horrific murder in Southampton Way/Coleman Rd. Deepest sympathy to bereaved family. Contact police if you have any info that can help bring whoever did this to justice. Call police on 101 quoting ref 494/16JUN or contact Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111,” Harman tweeted on Friday.

An Irish-Indian student, Grace Kumar, from Nottingham, and an Indian woman from Hyderabad, Tejaswini Reddy, from Wembley, were killed in stabbing incidents earlier this week. 

Yamuna Nagar: Maulvi drugs and rapes married woman, extorts Rs 3 lakh

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Yamuna Nagar: Maulvi drugs and rapes married woman, extorts Rs 3 lakh

A 41-year-old woman from the Farkpur Police Station area has filed a complaint against a Maulvi named Dilshad, alleging he drugged and raped her. She further said in her complaint that Maulvi allegedly extorted Rs 3 lakh from her using an obscene video that he recorded during the sexual assault. A case based on her complaint has been filed at Woman Police Station under the Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana against three people under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

In her complaint, the woman said that her husband was an alcoholic. She wanted him to stop. Meanwhile, a carpenter named Sajeb from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, visited her house for some work. He told her about Dilshad Maulvi, who could help her. She took Maulvi’s number from Sajed and talked to him. In January 2018, Maulvi visited her when her husband was out for the job. Maulvi offered her spiked water to drink and then sexually assaulted her.

The woman further said the accused made an obscene video of her and blackmailed her. So far, he has taken Rs 3 lakh from her and asked for Rs 2 lakh more. When she refused to pay, he sent the video to her friend and friend’s husband. Later, she found out that it was a gang that blackmailed people. Sajeb, Maulvi, and another man named Mohit were involved in the gang.

An investigation into the matter is underway. OpIndia tried to talk to the concerned police station but could not connect.

US: Woman sues hospital, doctors who removed her breasts at 13 after influencers made her believe she is a transgender

OpIndia Staff
-
0
US: Woman sues hospital, doctors who removed her breasts at 13 after influencers made her believe she is a transgender

An 18-year-old woman named Kayla Lovdahl in the United States is taking legal action against ‘Kaiser Foundation Hospitals’ and four doctors involved in a ‘transition procedure’, which resulted in the removal of her breasts at the age of 13.

She has filed a lawsuit in California State Court, asserting that the medical professionals prioritised financial gain over her well-being. The victim accused the doctors of pushing her into believing she was transgender and facilitating the ‘transition procedure’ for profit.

According to court documents filed on Wednesday (June 14), Lovdahl informed that she was influenced by online influencers at the age of 11. This led her to entertain the mistaken belief that she was transgender.

Her parents, unsure of how to handle the situation, sought assistance from medical professionals who swiftly affirmed their daughter’s transgender identity.

Lovdahl further added that she was prescribed hormone blockers and testosterone without undergoing a proper psychological evaluation by the age of 12. She also underwent a single 75-minute transition evaluation.

The victim recalled the doctors telling her family, “It is better to have a live son than a dead daughter.'” According to her, the procedures she underwent were driven by ideology and profit, amounting to medical abuse.

Doctors paid no heed to mental health issues before the transition procedure: Kayla Lovdahl

At the age of 17, Lovdahl de-transitioned back to a woman and now holds the doctors responsible for their negligence, asserting that she was never truly a transgender.

The victim pointed out that any reasonable physician could have determined that she would not maintain a permanent transgender identity.

The lawsuit emphasised that the doctors should have recognized her mental health issues and paid attention to medical studies indicating that transitioning might not significantly improve the mental well-being of young girls.

Victim accuses hospital of medical negligence, seeks unspecified damages

“There is no other area of medicine where doctors will surgically remove a perfectly healthy body part and intentionally induce a diseased state of the pituitary gland to misfunction based simply on the young adolescent patient’s wishes,” it added.

Moreover, Lovdahl accused the hospital and doctors of failing to provide her with proper informed consent, which would have involved comprehensive therapy—an essential step that she claims was overlooked.

Lawyers representing the victim have described the procedures as “an insane form of child abuse.” Attorney Charles Limandri stated, “We believe cases like this are the best way to stop them, especially in liberal states like California, where reckless ideologues are pushing this radical agenda.”

Reportedly, Kayla Lovdahl is seeking unspecified damages for the physical and emotional wounds she has suffered for undergoing a ‘gender transition procedure’ at 13.

NGO in Mumbai lodges complaint against Adipurush makers for hurting religious sentiments of Hindus

OpIndia Staff
-
0
NGO in Mumbai lodges complaint against Adipurush makers for hurting religious sentiments of Hindus

Film director Om Raut’s Adipurush starring Prabhas and Kriti Sanon has stirred controversy ever since its theatrical release on June 16. The cinematic retelling of the Hindu epic Ramayana has been criticised for inappropriate character design, storyline, dialogues etc. Now the film has invited further trouble as the president of NGO Sangharsh on Saturday (June 17, 2023) lodged a written complaint against the makers of the film Adipurush at Andheri Police Station in Mumbai. The complainant Maske has demanded that a case be registered against the producer-director of the film for hurting Hindu religious sentiments.

In his letter submitted to the police, Maske pointed out the various “misrepresentations” of the characters of Ramayana. “Hindus have been insulted as Lord Hanuman is seen talking in cheap language. When Mata Sita left for Vanvas, she was wearing Gerua (saffron) attire while in the movie she is seen wearing a white saree. White saree is worn by Hindu widow women,” the complaint stated. 

It further claimed that the film Adipurush depicted Lord Rama as a fighter, however, he is Maryada Purushottam. The complaint goes on to claim that Ravana’s Lanka was depicted as being constructed of stones, while in truth, Lanka was built of gold. And when Ravana attempts to abduct Mata Sita, he is represented perched on a bat, despite the fact that Ravana had a Garuda.

Letter submitted to Andheri Police by Sangharsh NGO president Prithviraj Maske (Image via Twitter)

“So you are requested to take legal action against the producer and director of Adipurush,” the letter stated.

It is notable that on Friday, Vishnu Gupta, National President of the Hindu Sena filed a PIL against the movie, asserting that it has mocked the Hindu epic Ramayana, Hindu God and Goddesses, and the Hindu culture. The plea seeks directions to remove the objectionable scenes related to the Hindu gods Ram, Ravana, Sita, and Hanuman. It alleged that the depiction of these deities in the film is inaccurate and inappropriate and contrary to depictions of religious characters as found in Ramayana.

The movie ‘Adipurush’ witnessed an unprecedented opening day at the box office, setting new records for earnings. However, alongside its commercial success, the film has also faced an escalating controversy. Critics have labelled the film’s dialogues as “tapori” or street-smart, with even the portrayal of characters like Ravana and Indrajit being criticised as lacking depth. This departure from expectations has surprised audiences, given that renowned writer Manoj Muntashir penned the script for director Om Raut’s ‘Adipurush’. Nonetheless, Manoj has defended his approach, asserting that he intentionally crafted relatable dialogues to connect with the audience.

‘Erroneous interpretation of information collected under RTI’ – RBI dismisses claims of missing notes

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Erroneous interpretation of information collected under RTI’ – RBI dismisses claims of missing notes

On July 17, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) refuted the claims of missing banknotes based on information collected under the Right To Information Act (RTI), 2005. The RBI said the reports were based on erroneous interpretations of the information collected under the RTI Act, 2005 from the printing presses.

Furthermore, RBI added that there is a robust system in place for the reconciliation of banknotes printed at the presses and supplied to RBI that includes protocols to monitor the production, storage, and distribution of banknotes.

Full statement of RBI

The RBI said, “The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has come across reports circulating in certain sections of the media alleging missing banknotes printed by banknote printing presses. The RBI emphasises that these reports are not correct.

These reports are based on erroneous interpretations of information collected under the Right to Information Act 2005 from the printing presses. It may be noted that all banknotes supplied from printing presses to RBI are properly accounted for. It is further informed that there are robust systems in place for the reconciliation of banknotes printed at the presses and supplied to RBI, which include protocols to monitor the production, storage, and distribution of banknotes.

Therefore, public members are requested to rely on the information published by RBI from time to time in such matters.”

Misleading media reports claimed Rs 500 notes worth 88 cr missing

On June 16, media houses, published reports based on RTI reply sent to activist Manoranjan Roy suggesting the printing presses or mints issued 8,810.65 million pieces of newly designed Rs 500 notes, but RBI only received 7,260 million pieces that tune to Rs 88,032.5 crores.

The reports claimed that 1,760.65 million pieces of Rs 500 notes “mysteriously” disappeared, and no one knew the whereabouts of these notes. The so-called missing notes included 210 million pieces of Rs 500 notes printed in the Nashik mint between April 2015 and March 2016.

The information was collected from three government mints: the Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran (P) Limited, Bengaluru, Currency Note Press, Nashik, and Bank Note Press at Dewas. These presses print the notes and send them to RBI for distribution. As per the information collected, 375.450 million pieces of newly designed Rs 500 notes were printed by Nashik Press between April 2015 and December 2016, but RBI collected 345 million pieces.

The report further claimed that RTI’s reply suggested newly designed Rs 500 notes were supplied to RBI, but its annual report does not mention receiving any such notes. The reports further claimed The Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran (P) Limited, Bengaluru, supplied 5,195.65 million pieces, and the Bank Note Press, Dewas, supplied 1,953.000 million pieces in 2016-17, but RBI received only 7,260 million pieces.

In a statement to the Free Press Journal, Roy said, “The apex bank is indifferent to the harm caused to the Indian economy with such a huge mismatch in high denomination Indian currency notes printed in the mints and the total received in the RBI vaults. The missing 1,760.65 million pieces are no joke. It raises security concerns about our Indian economy and its stability.” He said to have written to the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau and the Enforcement Directorate to investigate the matter.

Quoting senior RBI officials, FPJ said they had defended the mismatch as huge logistics in the printing and supply of currency notes are involved. However, the report asserted it was “strange” that it took so long for the notes to reach the vaults.

Roy’s previous claims of mismatch

This is not the first time Manoranjan Roy has claimed a mismatch in data of printed notes and what RBI has received. Matters regarding the mismatch were reported from the UPA era. As per reports from 2018, Roy received RTI data for 2000-2011 and claimed over 23,000 crores were “missing” due to the mismatch. At that time, NDTV tried to connect the dismissal of Roy’s petition by the Bombay High Court to demonetisation. The report noted, “Within 75 days of the petition getting disposed of (August 23, 2016), Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation of the ₹ 500 and ₹ 1,000 denominations, on November 8, 2016,” quoting Roy’s advocate.

1...2,0942,0952,096...7,644Page 2,095 of 7,644