Latest Stories from Haneen
Why Indians are demanding reforms to sexual abuse laws
India’s sexual abuse laws have long been criticised. Concerns regarding gender neutrality, marital rape, and the death penalty have occupied centre stage now. Conditioned to the norms of a patriarchal society, will survivors ever get justice? Trigger Warning: this article contains mention of rape and child abuse. Did you know that only women can be recognised as survivors of sexual abuse in India, and only men can be recognised as...
Understanding the history of India’s transgender community
India’s LGBTQIA+ community has been protesting for trans rights for years. Conditioned to the bottom of the socio-economic hierarchy, will the transgender community ever attain equality? Did you know that as per Hindu mythology, transgender people are actually considered to be an incarnation of God? If you’re surprised, it’s probably because in many countries they’re not treated equally as human beings, let alone any kind of spiritual deity. Such is the...
Here’s everything you need to know about Kashmir’s Gen Z protestors
Numerous human right violations, internet shutdowns, and tyrannical legislations - Kashmir has seen it all. After years of protesting authoritarianism, will Kashmir Gen Zers ever be heard? Trigger Warning: This article contains mention of violence, physical torture, and suicide. Have you ever heard of the Kashmir Valley? For those unaware, it’s a disputed territory sandwiched between India and Pakistan. Both countries - alongside China - claim it as their own. Lately, Kashmir’s Gen...
Understanding the developing climate refugee crisis
The World Bank estimates that by 2050 more than 140 million people will be displaced as a result of climate change. What will the global community do to save these people? In 2018 alone, 17.2 million new displacements associated with natural disasters in 148 countries and territories were recorded. Droughts, tropical cyclones, flooding, coastal erosion, desertification and sea-level rise are some of the many forms of climate change that we witness...
Why Japanese Gen Zers are avoiding falling in love
More Japanese people are single than ever before, with new pop-up services and clubs opening to fill the void. Is Japan heading toward a loveless future? In Japan, about 60% of unmarried women and 70% of unmarried men between the age of 18-34 years are single. The reason for this is a changing attitude toward relationships among Japan’s young population. It is custom in South Asian marriages for women to...
You decide – is India’s sedition law draconian or reasonable?
India’s sedition law is a complicated legal restriction on public discussion of the government. Is it a fair system, or is free speech and valid criticism being suppressed? Sedition is the act of inciting or provoking people to revolt against the government or the state. India’s sedition law is Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and it states: ‘Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or...
Opinion – India’s cow vigilantes are preying on minorities
(Trigger warning: The following article contains details about physical assault) On 24th May, a video showing a group of men attacking a Muslim meat trader went viral. These attackers called themselves ‘gau rakshaks’ (cow protectors) and suspected that the trader was involved in the butchering of cows. The police have filed a case against the mob for physical assault, have arrested four suspects, and are on the look-out for the rest...
