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Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
‘This isn't living': Afghan girls beaten in Taliban hijab crackdown
Nafiseh's only mistake was showing her wrist. The 17-year-old was shopping for clothes with her friends in Kabul when Taliban officers grabbed her, pulling her hair as they threw her into the back of a waiting van. The men with long beards and American rifles slung across their shoulders beat her all the way to the police station west of Afghanistan's capital, her uncle said. By the time they reached the police station, Nafiseh's complete black hijab – the covering that should have protected her according to the Taliban's laws – was stained with her own blood. 'She did nothing wrong,' her uncle said, his voice carrying the weight of a generation's helplessness. 'She was wearing a complete black hijab from the Arabs. They arrested her anyway.' When Nafiseh's father arrived at the police station, the Taliban officers turned their rage toward him, their fists finding a new target in his desperate flesh. 'As soon as he arrived, they started beating and insulting him,' the uncle explained. 'They told him why first he let his daughter go out without a man, then why her wrist was visible.' To secure Nafiseh's release, her father was forced to sign a pledge – a document promising to restrict her movements even further than before. Dozens of women and girls, aged 16 to 27, were arrested across at least six neighbourhoods this week alone, with the Taliban claiming they were not wearing the hijab properly. But witnesses told The Telegraph that girls were being arrested even when they did follow the strict dress code – like Nafiseh. The systematic round-up of women in Kabul represents an escalation in the Taliban's crackdown, with the victims' families threatened into silence. It's also a far cry from the image Taliban officials are trying to present to the West when encouraging tourists to visit the nation. In the labyrinthine alleys of Kabul, terror now wears the uniform of virtue police – an equivalent of the notorious morality police across the border in Iran. Witnesses describe scenes of armed jihadists chasing girls through narrow streets, with their victims running terrified and crying, seeking refuge in doorways that offer no protection. 'It was Saturday, and a group of women were walking,' one witness told The Telegraph. 'Of course, their male guardians were not always around to accompany them, but they needed to go and buy groceries. 'Then I saw girls running through the alleys, terrified and in tears, with Taliban fighters chasing after them. 'I asked what was happening, and people said the Taliban were arresting any girl they found on the street. 'The girls were scrambling in all directions. I watched as the Taliban beat them and forced them into a van. It was heartbreaking. 'One of my relatives was even wearing a mask, but they arrested her too. Because Afghanistan is such a traditional society, my uncle's family refuses to talk about her detention. She was held for two days. Now she's deeply depressed.' Some of the girls were also arrested simply for being outside after dark. In western Kabul, authorities have begun issuing public warnings via loudspeakers, instructing residents to comply with hijab regulations. At checkpoints near busy commercial areas, officials from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have been seen monitoring women's clothing and detaining those they deem non-compliant. The Orwellian body has employed women to monitor Instagram pages and report instances where other women dare show their faces online. 'They are needed to handle other women,' an official from the ministry said. Girls wearing hijabs with decorations, bright colours – banned by the Taliban – or with strands of their hair showing are frequently targeted Vehicles with tinted windows have been stationed near alleyways and shops and restaurants, ready to bundle women and girls away to be questioned. Many are taken to the Intelligence Directorate, where they can be held for up to three months – regardless of whether any formal charges are brought. One woman, beaten and detained for hours, returned home to a family too scared to speak of her arrest. 'She doesn't speak and stays in bed all the time. We're really worried about her,' her brother said. 'We're afraid she might harm herself – there's so much pressure on women here.' He added: 'They arrested her just for wearing a small plastic flower on her headscarf. The Taliban called us in. She wanted to become a doctor, then they closed universities and when she hung out with her friend, they arrested her. 'They humiliated me and my father, filmed us, and forced us to say on camera that we wouldn't let my sister go out alone again.' In Afghanistan's traditional society, a woman's violation becomes the family's 'dishonour', creating a conspiracy of quiet that serves the Taliban's purposes. 'We are like caged birds' A former university student described life for women in Afghanistan as being 'like a caged bird, just waiting for men to decide when to feed us'. She said one of her friends took her own life a few months ago but her family refused to call it suicide as they saw it as a humiliation. 'This isn't living – we're just breathing inside our homes, with no access to anything. 'The Taliban want us all dead. Their problem is with our gender. The entire government is focused on controlling women – so men don't go to hell by looking at us.' Women have been ordered not to speak loudly inside their homes, lest their voices escape and 'tempt' men outside. Zahra Haqparast, a dentist and women's rights activist who was imprisoned by the Taliban in 2022 and now speaks from exile in Germany, said: 'No woman goes out in Afghanistan without a hijab. 'The Taliban's problem is women themselves. As a woman, you do not need to commit a crime. In the Taliban's view, you're a criminal by being a woman.' The temperature in Kabul can reach 45C in summer. But the Taliban requires women to wear long black coverings in this heat, turning the simple act of existing outdoors into physical torture.
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Uncle arrested for negligence over toddler's death in dog attack
Sungai Buloh police said the parents had left the child under the care of the uncle, aged 19, while they were at work. PETALING JAYA : Police have arrested the uncle of a 19-month-old boy who was found dead after a dog attack near his home at Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Buloh earlier this week. Sungai Buloh police chief Hafiz Nor said the 19-year-old suspect was detained at 11.50am yesterday for suspected negligence under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001. 'A post-mortem by a doctor at the forensic department of Sungai Buloh Hospital confirmed the cause of death was 'neck injury due to canine mauling', indicating a violent attack and bites by dogs,' he said in a statement today. Police began investigating the case following a report lodged by a medical officer from Sungai Buloh Hospital. An initial investigation found the toddler had been left in the care of his uncle while his parents were at work. When they returned, they found the gate open and the child missing. The boy's body was discovered about 20m from the house, surrounded by several dogs.
Malay Mail
22-07-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Why Kajang diners keep returning to Chong Kee for its dry chicken curry ‘mee' and old-school ABC
KAJANG, July 22 — Spend enough time in Kajang and chances are someone will mention Chong Kee, an unassuming eatery where regular patrons always order the ABC and Dry Chicken Curry Mee. The nondescript shop is easy to miss. Located behind the Kajang market, its façade is modest and seating limited to just a few plastic tables. Similarly, the atmosphere is unpretentious and fuss-free: the uncle handles the cooking of noodles, while the auntie manages the flow of orders. There is little flash or signage. Inside, things have changed little over the years — evidenced by the well-worn ice-shaving machine still in use today. The nondescript shop is located behind the Kajang market. — Picture by CK Lim By most modern standards, Chong Kee is rough around the edges. Air conditioning is absent, and the ceiling fans do little to counter the tropical heat. Therein lies Chong Kee's charm, honestly. You might balk at how parking nearby is in short supply, and newcomers often struggle to find it. Still, many regulars consider these inconveniences easily overlooked. They come for the food — and they are not alone. A must-order at Chong Kee is their Dry Chicken Curry Mee. — Picture by CK Lim A must-order at Chong Kee is their aforementioned Dry Chicken Curry Mee, of course. The noodles are served in a warm, concentrated curry — neither overly greasy nor too diluted. Fish balls, slices of fish cake, fried tofu skin, and small cuts of chicken top the dish. Remember to tell the uncle what noodles you prefer: yellow mee, rice vermicelli or hor fun. The appeal of the Dry Chicken Curry Mee lies not in complexity, but in consistency. This is a dish that tastes the same no matter how many times you have had it. These days, that is a rare quality indeed. Remember to tell the uncle what noodles you prefer. — Picture by CK Lim The ABC (or air batu campur in Malay) offers a contrasting experience. On hot afternoons, customers often arrive solely for this shaved ice dessert. The ice is ground to a fine, fluffy texture, then layered with syrup, sweetcorn, peanuts and occasionally sour plum for those who like that hit of acid. Some diners with more sophisticated palates might wish for richer flavours — more santan (coconut milk) or gula Melaka syrup, perhaps — but I'd argue the light touch is precisely what makes it memorable. Shaving ice. — Picture by CK Lim This isn't a filled-to-the-brim sort of ABC; this is the sort of ABC our grandparents might have tasted in their youth. Watching the auntie prepare each bowl — from carefully shaving the large block of ice to adding various syrups — remains part of the experience. The whole scene feels like a loop in time: finely ground flakes of ice tumbling into bowls beneath the ice-ageing shaving machine, the faded walls holding the weight of thirty-odd years of business without chasing after accolades. Adding various syrups. — Picture by CK Lim When she brings a bowl of Chong Kee's signature ABC to your table, you can't help but admire it in all its minimalist splendour. For longtime customers, the routine is familiar by now: first, the requisite Dry Chicken Curry Mee, followed by a bowl of ABC. The menu is short, and expectations are well defined. There is little experimentation here. The shop continues to serve the same handful of dishes it always has. Chong Kee's signature ABC in all its minimalist splendour. — Picture by CK Lim In an age of fast-changing food trends, Chong Kee's enduring appeal lies in its refusal to change. The shop is not curated for the digital age, nor has it sought to expand or modernise. Indeed I couldn't find much online about it prior to visiting; this was entirely based on a local friend's recommendation. Instead, it remains a constant presence in Kajang — an old-fashioned eatery quietly carrying on, where the food continues to taste the way people remember it. Kedai ABC & Air Batu Chong Kee A19 & A20, Medan Selera, Jalan Bukit, Kajang, Selangor. Open daily 8am-3pm * This is an independent review where the writer paid for the meal. * Follow us on Instagram @eatdrinkmm for more food gems.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Number 10 Noodle House: Old-school bak chor mee & fishball noodles from $2.50 at this 20-year-old stall
These days (2025, to be exact), spotting a S$2.50 bowl of noodles at a hawker centre or kopitiam is is almost as likely as me winning the Toto jackpot. But stroll past Number 10 Noodle House at Circuit Road Market & Food Centre, and you might do a double take. Its signboard looks like it hitched a ride here from the 1990s, back when food was affordable and wallets were happier. However, don't be misled. Besides the S$2.50 option, there are S$3 and S$4 versions on the menu, which are still budget-friendly by today's standards. Do take note of the 'fine line' that's drawn across the Lor Mee — it's no longer available. The stall is a 3-person show: an elderly uncle handling orders and final touches, an aunty doing the cooking, and a middle-aged gentleman in charge of the mise en place. Operations are already up and running by 6am, and they are done for the day by noon. Friendly as they were, the trio were camera-shy when asked for a photo. They shared with me that the stall has been running for around 20 years. As for the $2.50 option? It's their way of looking out for the senior folks around the neighbourhood, many of whom have smaller appetites and lighter pockets. What I tried at Number 10 Noodle House I started with the S$2.50 Mushroom Minced Meat Noodle with lao shu fen as my choice of carbs. Resting on top were clusters of minced pork, a golden-brown fried wanton, 2 meatballs, and some mushrooms. Sure, the portion might hit the spot for an elderly diner — but for others, it might feel more like a warm-up act than the main show. The braised mushrooms were earthy and delightfully seasoned without being overly savoury, injecting a punch of flavour to every spoonful of noodles. Speaking of noodles, the spicy seasoning possessed that unmistakable old-school charm — the kind that's become a rare find in Singapore these days. I had my suspicions it contained ketchup (not exactly my favourite), but it was done so well, it actually won me over. Fei Zai Pork Rib Prawn Noodles: Tasty bowls of pork rib prawn noodles sell out by 11am My late grandma would purchase wanton skins and deep-fry her homemade dumplings for dinner — something I dearly miss. The version here was an exact replica, filled with flavourful minced meat and chives. It stirred up a wave of memories with every crunchy bite. Next, we moved on to the $2.50 Fishball Minced Meat Noodle. The humble bowl had my choice of mee pok, fishcake slices, a couple of meatballs, a solo fishball, and bak chor bits. The noodles still had some bite to it, and I was glad that the off-putting alkaline taste wasn't so bad here. The broth wasn't exactly rave-worthy, and once again, those subtle hints of the mee pok's alkaline twang made an appearance. The ingredients were fairly decent, with the fishball still possessing a slightly bouncy texture that I adore. The meatball was the showstopper of the bowl — soft and packed full of flavour! Final thoughts Though I highly suspect that most netizens will criticise that the S$2.50 portion isn't enough to fill a grown adult (or student) — and honestly, fair enough. But at least stalls like Number 10 Noodle House are still keeping prices below the market rate. That matters, especially in an estate like Circuit Road, where the elderly population is noticeably high. So go ahead, pay the humble and friendly trio a visit, and soak in the nostalgia as you slurp up some old-fashioned goodness. Expected damage: S$2.50 – S$4 per pax He He Fish: This kopitiam stall serves steamed farm-to-table red tilapia & seabass sets from $6.50 The post Number 10 Noodle House: Old-school bak chor mee & fishball noodles from $2.50 at this 20-year-old stall appeared first on
BreakingNews.ie
14-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Woman (50s) found guilty of facilitating rape of her daughter
A woman has been convicted of facilitating the rape of her daughter by her brother – the child's uncle - over 20 years ago. The woman was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault of her daughter while her brother was convicted of one count of raping the girl. Advertisement The child was aged between three-and-a-half and 15 at the time of the alleged abuse, the trial heard. Jurors were unable to reach a verdict in relation to a third accused, a man who had been accused of the oral rape of the girl. They had deliberated for 10 hours and 15 minutes. The three defendants had denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to a total of 21 charges. They cannot be named for legal reasons. On Monday, jurors told Ms Justice Eileen Creedon that they had verdicts on some charges, but were unable to reach a verdict on other counts. Advertisement The woman, who is in her 50s, was on trial accused of 13 counts of sexual assault of her daughter on dates between 2000 and 2014. She was found guilty of one count of rape, in that she facilitated the rape of the complainant by her uncle between 2003 and 2004. She was also convicted of two counts of sexual assault at a family-owned holiday home. The jury acquitted her of two counts of sexual assault and was unable to reach a verdict on two further counts. The jury was previously directed by Ms Justice Eileeen Creedon to return not guilty verdicts on a further seven counts of sexual assault for legal reasons. Advertisement The complainant's uncle, who is in his 40s, had pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one count of oral rape on dates between 2003 and 2012, all at the family home. He was convicted of one count of raping the girl on a date between 2003 and 2004. Jurors were unable to reach a verdict on a further count of rape and on the oral rape charge. The judge previously directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts in relation to three further counts of rape for legal reasons. Advertisement The third accused, a man aged in his 50s, had pleaded not guilty to one count of oral rape between 2008 and 2009 at the same address. The jury heard he was a friend of the accused woman's then partner. The jury were unable to reach a verdict on this count. There was no reaction in court when the verdicts were read out. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon thanked jurors for the time and attention they had given the case and excused them from jury service for seven years. Advertisement She remanded the woman and man into custody and set a sentence date next October. The third accused was remanded on continuing bail to the same date for the prosecution to seek instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Complainant's evidence The complainant told the jury she lived with her mother, uncle and three other adult relatives when she was a child. All of the adults had issues with alcohol. Her evidence was that she was three and a half when she alleged that her mother first sexually assaulted her in their bedroom, telling her it was a secret. She said her mother sexually assaulted her on other occasions, including during a holiday at a family-owned holiday home, when she was around four. She couldn't recall how often the alleged abuse occurred, but said it stopped when she was 12, except for a final incident when she was 15. The softly spoken complainant described being aged about five and a half when she was raped for the first time by her uncle. She had been watching TV in his bedroom and her mother left the room, returning with him. Her mother remained in the room, and afterwards, took her to their bedroom. She outlined other occasions during which she said her uncle raped her, including an oral rape when she was around eight. The complainant said she saw her mother and uncle engage in sex with each other while she was present in a room, when she was around six. She said she normalised what was happening and it didn't occur to her to tell anyone about it. She said a friend of her mother's then-partner orally raped her when she was 13, telling her during it that 'your mother knows'. She made a statement to gardaí about a separate matter in 2015, but said she didn't make any allegations of a sexual nature then because she was afraid of the gardaí and had 'blocked' out what had happened. During cross-examination, she said she could not remember surrounding details about the alleged incidents involving the three defendants. She said she thought her mother remained in the room while her uncle raped her for the first time, but later accepted it was possible she left. When asked about her evidence that she saw her mother and uncle engage in sex, she agreed she would not have understood what she was seeing at that time. She also accepted she previously said she was four, when this occurred. In relation to the alleged final sexual assault by her mother when she was 15, she said she didn't believe it was possible it was another person. When told that her uncle's position is that none of the allegations occurred and it was something she imagined, the complainant replied that she didn't imagine it and it had happened. When it was put to her that her evidence that she was 13 when the second man allegedly orally raped her, but she had told gardaí she was 11, the complainant agreed this was a 'big mistake', adding 'he still raped me'. The complainant said she didn't tell anyone about the alleged oral rape by the second man. The complainant confirmed she moved in with female family friends at 17 and later moved into a family-owned holiday home, living there for several years. This holiday home was left to one of these women by an adult relative in trust for the complainant. She said she lived with these family friends again during the second Covid-19 lockdown. When counselling records were put to her, she accepted telling a counsellor she was afraid of these two women during sessions in 2021 and 2022. She said things had turned 'toxic' during the second lockdown, but she didn't know why. She rejected a defence suggestion that these female family friends influenced her to go to gardaí with allegations about her mother. Asked about a counselling note which states the two female family friends 'imposed false memories' on her, she insisted that this referred to her relationship with these two women. She further accepted a 2016 counselling note which stated her memories were returning and she was unsure if they were real or not. She rejected the suggestion that this could still be the case. Defence case When interviewed by gardaí, the three defendants denied the allegations made against them. The complainant's mother and uncle both told gardaí there was no alcohol dependency in the house. The complainant's mother denied sexually assaulting her daughter, facilitating or being present when her brother allegedly raped her daughter for the first time. 'That's very vicious. I don't understand that at all,' she said, in response to the allegation that the complainant saw her and her brother engage in sex with each other. Asked by gardaí if her daughter was a liar, the woman said she 'never thought she was', noting they hadn't spoken in a long time. She replied 'yes' when asked if she thought her daughter was a liar now. The complainant's uncle said the allegations he raped the complainant were 'mindboggling'. He denied raping the girl in his bedroom while her mother was present and ever engaging in sex with his sister, the complainant's mother. When he was asked if the complainant was a liar, he said 'I would have said no, until this. I thought she was always telling the truth, but not after this'. When interviewed, the second man said, 'I never touched that lady'. He said he 'never went near that girl', swearing it on his parents' graves. The friends' evidence Two female family friends gave evidence that the complainant lived with them twice. These women said the adults in the complainant's home when she was a child all had issues with alcohol, describing it as chaotic. The first woman gave direct evidence that 'alcohol had a place in their house that a cup of tea would have in someone else's'. Both women confirmed that a family-owned holiday house was left in trust to one sister for the benefit of the complainant following the death of an adult relative. They both agreed that there had been arguments while the complainant stayed with them during the second Covid-19 lockdown. Both denied that they pushed the complainant to make sexual allegations against her mother. Closing speeches In her closing speech to the jury, Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, prosecuting, submitted that the complainant was telling the truth, without 'embellishment'. She told jurors they must decide if the fact that the complainant cannot give other details about the alleged incidents 'detracts from the core of what she told you', suggesting jurors heard 'unadulterated, unembellished, consistent evidence' from the complainant. Desmond Dockery SC, for the complainant's mother, suggested that the allegations made against his client could not be 'road-tested' as the complainant cannot remember details. He told jurors that if they find the complainant's uncle guilty of rape, it does not follow that his client aided and abetted this. He said they must be convinced his client was in the room and knew what was going to happen. Mr Dockery told jurors that not guilty verdicts do not mean his client is innocent or the complainant 'not worthy of belief'. 'All they would mean is that this is one of those cases that is not capable of being proven to a standard beyond reasonable doubt,' he said. In his closing speech for the complainant's uncle, Michael Lynn SC submitted the key question was not whether complainant was telling lies, but whether the evidence was sufficient to convince jurors beyond a reasonable doubt of his client's guilt. Ireland Thunderstorm warning issued for 14 counties Read More Referring to the complainant's counselling notes and a letter she wrote in 2019, he asked the jury to consider the issue of recovered memories. Damien Colgan SC, defending the second man, described it as a 'glaring mistake' that the complainant gave evidence she was 13 when the incident occurred, before accepting she told gardaí it happened when she was 11. Mr Colgan suggested the complainant had told 'mistruths', or what she referred to as 'mistakes'. 'If they are mistakes, they are serious, big mistakes,' counsel said. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at or visit Rape Crisis Help.
