Abrar Omeish Says She Was Pepper-Sprayed and Forced To Take Off Her Hijab - CAIR Files Lawsuit
New
Age Islam News Bureau
14
January 2021
•
The New Face Of Egypt's Parliament: Led By 83-Year-Old Female Lawmaker
•
Mira Sethi and Ayesha Omar Talk What It Is To Be A Bold Woman In Pakistan
•
Bosnian Minister Says More Women Needed In Government
•
Afghan Taliban Chief Restricts Officials to One Marriage
•
Turkish Cult Leader, Seen With Scantily Clad Women, Jailed For 1,000 Years On
Sexual Abuse Charges
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/abrar-omeish-says-pepper-sprayed/d/124074
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Abrar
Omeish Says She Was Pepper-Sprayed and Forced To Take Off Her Hijab - CAIR
Files Lawsuit
January
13th 2021
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
announced it held an online press conference to declare the filing of a federal
lawsuit in Alexandria for Abrar Omeish
(Fairfax
County Public Schools){/p}
------
By
Samantha Mitchell
WASHINGTON
(WJLA) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced it held an
online press conference to declare the filing of a federal lawsuit in
Alexandria for Abrar Omeish, who says she was pepper-sprayed and forced to take
off her hijab after being pulled over by a Fairfax County police officer in
2019.
CAIR
asserts that the lawsuit on behalf of Omeish, who is a Virginia elected
official, is meant to challenge police brutality, and to assist Omeish in
launching the 'Fight for Five' colation for local and state reforms.
According
to a press release sent out by CAIR, Omeish was pulled over by the Fairfax
County officer after she turned right at a red light. She was then forced to
remove her hijab, according to CAIR, and photographed in violation of federal
law.
Gadeir
Abbas, an attorney with the council, clarified that the incident happened in
March 2019.
Abbas
says the filing is supported by other community groups, leaders and activists
to go "against the police brutality" in the case where he says Omeish
was "illegally" forced to remove her hijab.
"Whether
it's about what we're seeing now at the Capitol, and the conversations about
race and policing in this country, what we saw this summer, what's been going
on for many years, this was a situation that I never expected being in,"
Omeish said during the online press conference. "It's certainly not
pleasant to have to imagine the prospect of a lawsuit, of what that's going to
entail, on putting my privacy on public display."
She
adds that she ended up with a concussion that night and she tried to explain
the importance of her hijab, but she said it "didn't matter in that
particular instance."
Omeish
explains she's been wearing the hijab since the second grade, but says the
"bigger picture is what's happening next."
She
says she's been working for the past year to push for reform based on what
happened, adding she says she hasn't seen much change in the aftermath, which
is why she says she's calling for the lawsuit.
"The
disproportionate impact that law enforcement has had on our community is
untenable, it's unacceptable - and we're demanding something different, and I
feel like this is my obligation to the community," Omeish explained.
According
to Lena Masir, the CAIR Litigation Director, the lawsuit goes against the
"egregious and senseless violation of [Omeish's] constitutional
rights."
Masir
adds that Omeish was pulled over for a minor traffic violation while she was on
the way to a campaign rally for the Fairfax County School Board and says that
the officer shouted at her, "forced her" out of her car and
pepper-sprayed her. Masir clarified that the department investigated and said
the officer used "excessive use of force" and Omeish "never
presented any threat of danger."
"[Officers]
forced Ms. Omeish to remove her hijab in plain view of male officers and
detainees being held at that facility just to take her booking photo,"
Masir asserted. "Her photograph without her hijab was then uploaded to a
statewide database that's available to all law enforcement in Virginia and the
public, anyone who requests it, causing her to suffer from irreparable
harm."
Masir
also elaborated that out of any department of state and country-wide
correctional facilities, "none of them require the removal of the
hijab" or religious head coverings for identification purposes.
She
adds that the hijab is "worn by many Muslim women around the world to
safeguard their modesty," expressing the importance of it to Muslim women.
CAIR
adds that Fairfax County Chief of Police's internal investigation found that
the use of force in the case was "improper and in violation of
departmental regulations."
"It's
time Fairfax County joined other law enforcement agencies in respecting and
protecting the rights of Muslim women and people of other faiths," Masir
reiterated, adding that there are current 55,000 Muslims residing in Fairfax
County.
She
added that the council has been seeing a "rising trend" in cases of
Muslim women being forced to remove their hijab, and there are currently
pending lawsuits in Michigan, Florida and in California "challenging
similar policies."
"We
file this lawsuit on behalf of Ms. Omeish to both vindicate her rights, but
also to impose a policy change that requires Fairfax County to respect the
rights of Muslim women that wear the hijab," Masir explained.
In
the press release, CAIR describes its organization as "America’s largest
Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance
understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower
American Muslims."
https://wjla.com/news/local/lawsuit-to-be-filed-muslim-woman-says-fairfax-police-forced-remove-hijab
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The
New Face Of Egypt's Parliament: Led By 83-Year-Old Female Lawmaker
By
Menna A. Farouk
JANUARY
14, 2021
A screenshot showing Farida El Choubachy presiding over Parliament's opening session. Reuters
-----
CAIRO
(Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When 83-year-old Farida El Choubachy ran for
parliament in Egypt last year, she did not expect to win, let alone become the
first woman in 42 years to preside over its opening session.
Her
speech to parliament on Tuesday made history in Egypt for a second reason -
more than a quarter of its 596 members were women, after a record number of
female lawmakers were elected in last year’s parliamentary polls.
“It
was a historical moment. I never expected it, but it shows how the role of
women in political and parliamentary life is being transformed,” El Choubachy,
a well-known journalist and political writer, told the Thomson Reuters
Foundation.
“Now
women are being well represented everywhere - in the parliament, in the cabinet
- and that signals a turnaround in the political leadership’s perspective on
women.”
A
2017 Thomson Reuters Foundation poll found Cairo to be the most dangerous
megacity for women, and 99% of women in Egypt interviewed by the United Nations
in 2013 reported sexual harassment.
Women
are becoming bolder in the socially conservative, Muslim-majority nation, with
hundreds of abuse victims taking to social media to denounce sexual assaults
and debate gender inequality in last year’s burgeoning #MeToo movement.
In
a country where women have long felt disadvantaged, the election of 148 women
to parliament in October and November suggests deep-rooted patriarchal
attitudes are shifting.
Their
number increased to 162 last week when President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appointed
14 more female lawmakers, among them Doria Sharaf al-Din, a renowned TV
anchorwoman who in 2013 became Egypt’s first female information minister.
The
previous legislature only had 89 women.
“We
hope that having this record number of female parliamentarians will make more
gains for women, especially amid recent momentum in society,” said Randa Fakhr
El Deen, head of the NGOs Union on Harmful Practices Against Women and
Children.
There
are a large number of women’s rights bills that are waiting parliamentary
debate, she said.
HUMBLE
ORIGINS
When
El Choubachy - as parliament’s eldest member - was invited to chair its first
meeting on Tuesday, she spoke about her humble origins.
“I
am not of an aristocratic family. I am a daughter of a worker and I have been
working since I was nine years old,” she said, describing how she started
teaching French to support her family after her father lost a lot of money in
business.
“And
I have always wanted to make money by myself,” she added, before announcing her
candidacy as one of parliament’s deputy speakers, who manage parliamentary
business.
El
Choubachy has worked for decades as a newspaper columnist and hosted a current
affairs show called Wanted for Comments on the government-owned Nile News
Channel.
Born
Christian, she later converted to Islam and has been strongly critical of the
Muslim Brotherhood, which won Egypt’s first free presidential elections after
the 2011 uprising that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak.
The
Muslim Brotherhood was toppled by then-army chief al-Sisi in 2013 following
widespread protests and was outlawed soon after.
“In
this era, there is no room for anyone saying that women are less or cannot
enter political life or that their voices should not be heard,” El Choubachy
said, referring to comments by radical scholars during the Muslim Brotherhood’s
rule.
But
women who want to enter politics still face formidable challenges, said
Entessar El-Saeed, director of the Cairo Foundation for Development and Law, an
NGO.
“Social
stereotypes and perceptions of women politicians or parliamentarians still
prevent many women from running for elections,” she said.
“It
is the courage of these women who enter the political life that is really
making the change.”
As
a lawmaker, El Choubachy said she will seek to improve human rights for all
Egyptians.
“I
will work for the citizens, whether men or women, and I hope that they both get
their legitimate rights,” she said.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-parliament-women/the-new-face-of-egypts-parliament-led-by-83-year-old-female-lawmaker-idUSKBN29I2XK
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Mira
Sethi and Ayesha Omar Talk What It Is To Be A Bold Woman In Pakistan
14
Jan 2021
Longtime
acquaintances and former schoolmates Ayesha Omar and Mira Sethi got together
for an interview for the latter's show Hello! Mira Sethi, where the formidable
industry duo, draped in sarees, discussed the negative connotations with the
word 'bold' and what it means in a desi society.
"For
me, the word bold means self-sufficient," said host Sethi, as she asked
the Karachi Se Lahore actor what she believes is the reason behind its
problematic connotations.
"From
what I see [...] observing the mindset growing up in Pakistan, women are
expected to be subdued. They shouldn't be too outspoken, confident or feel
self-assured. What we see in our content and even in our dramas — bold means
you're brave, you're speaking your mind and that goes against that mindset. If
a woman is bold, she is considered rebellious, going against the values, and is
a bad example.
"So
it's a stereotype and I would definitely want to be bold rather than
scared," she added, revealing that after her father's death, she was
raised by her mom.
"My
mother had to be extremely hands on and self-sufficient, because she had to
juggle finances, housework, career and children altogether," Omar said,
adding that she is her biggest inspiration to date.
"Even
till now, we've never had domestic help in my mother's house in Lahore. She
thinks it's also a great way to stay in shape," she laughed, adding that
she does everything herself too.
"My
reflex action first thing in the morning is to make my own bed etc. It's been
there in me since childhood, so even if I have domestic staff, I still do
everything myself," she said.
Omar
also said she was also a vivid supporter of women's rights having seen her own
mother's situation growing up.
"When
my father passed away, my mother was too traumatised to stand up for what
shares were his from the business, and that's why we lost everything. She had
no idea what to do, she couldn't fight with two small children, and that is why
we had to move and start a new life."
"She
was so young [...] she didn't fight for her rights. I think that stuck in my
head," Omar said, saying that contributed to her being so vocal about
women's rights today.
Salute
to single mothers and more power to bold women, we say.
https://images.dawn.com/news/1186391/mira-sethi-and-ayesha-omar-talk-what-it-is-to-be-a-bold-woman-in-pakistan
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Bosnian
Minister Says More Women Needed In Government
Zlatan
Kapic, Vesna Besic, Talha Ozturk
14.01.2021
BELGRADE,
Serbia
Bosnia
and Herzegovina's first headscarf-wearing minister said Wednesday that women
should be more involved in government.
"There
are four women in the current cantonal government, and this is a record. There
should be more women in the administrations. We, as a society, are still on the
way in encouraging more women to participate in decision-making and
policy-making processes,” said Sarajevo Canton Education Minister Naida Hota
Muminovic.
Muminovic
added that women should also be confident in themselves and not stay in the
background.
"If
women stand on the sidelines or become the voice of the minority, I worry that
women's participation in politics will not be felt," said Muminovic, who
was in education throughout her life.
"Education
is the most important phenomenon for both the student and society. I believe
that the problems in education stem from the lack of quality leadership,"
she added.
Speaking
about the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic on education, Muminovic
said the pandemic may lose its effect in countries where vaccination studies
started, but Bosnia and Herzegovina is not in that stage yet.
"As
online lessons encourage information, teachers also developed new methods in
this process. Other heroes of the pandemic were teachers and students,"
she said.
She
underlined that while nothing can replace face-to-face lectures, online
education is the only step to be taken in order not to interrupt education
during the pandemic.
Muminovic
is an English teacher and principal of the First Bosnian High School, one of
the best schools in the country.
She
was born in 1981 in the capital Sarajevo where she went to primary school but
had to migrate to Austria due to the Bosnian War.
Returning
to Sarajevo in 1996 after the war, Muminovic graduated from the First Bosnian
High School with honors.
Muminovic
studied English Language and Literature and Law simultaneously at the
University of Sarajevo and worked as an English teacher after graduating from
university.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/bosnian-minister-says-more-women-needed-in-government/2109311
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Afghan
Taliban Chief Restricts Officials to One Marriage
By
Tahir Khan
January
13, 2021
ISLAMABAD
- In an unprecedented move, the head of the Afghan Taliban has restricted
officials in the insurgent group from marrying more than once. Three Taliban
officials who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity said the move is aimed at
easing financial burdens on the group, as officials have frequently sought
money from the militant organization for multiple marriages.
“We
instruct officials of the Islamic Emirate, in accordance with Islamic Sharia
(Islamic jurisprudence), to avoid second, third, and fourth marriage if there
is no need,” said a written message dated January 9, from Taliban chief Mawlawi
Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Two
Taliban officials shared the Pashto-language statement with VOA and said the
instructions have been distributed widely by the leadership among their ranks.
Heads of various units of Taliban were instructed to share it with their
subordinates.
One
of the three VOA sources said the directive was in response to “many
complaints.” Some Taliban officials have approached their superiors for help in
paying dowry or ‘bride price.’
“Up-to
two million Afghanis (nearly $26,000) are paid for dowry in some parts of
Afghanistan and the Taliban officials would seek this money for their second
marriage,” the source said.
‘Bride
price’ is a term used for money paid by the groom to the bride’s family, a
custom in some Pashtun tribes in parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The
source also said many Taliban with multiple wives keep them in separate houses
and require additional money for their upkeep.
One
of the other two Taliban officials said the top leadership was worried about
bad publicity after Afghan media reported on weddings of some Taliban leaders,
calling them "extravagant affairs.”
The
Taliban supremo’s message indicated serious concerns for the reputation of its
officials.
“Families
of several officials of the Islamic Emirate do not have a lot of money. Therefore, more marriages could affect their
prestige, trustworthiness, and personality,” the message said.
The
“Islamic Emirate” is a name the Taliban uses for themselves.
The
written message went on to express worries over possible loss of credibility,
or even an incentive for corruption, if money becomes central to a Taliban
leader’s existence.
“Protect
yourself against accusation and disgrace,” it said, adding that “transparency”
and “gaining trust” were essential for a jihadi role.
The
signed statement tried to affirm the message that abstaining from multiple
marriages would protect Taliban from “accusations of bribery, misappropriation,
or embezzlement in the ‘Bait ul Maal’ (public treasury)” and save them from
seeking illicit sources of wealth.
Through
this message, one of the Taliban sources said his supreme leader had conveyed
to the public and his followers that “Taliban officials will not be allowed to
use the movement’s money for personal gains.”
Taliban
spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid did not directly comment when asked about the message,
saying he was “gathering information on the subject.” However, he did not deny the message’s
existence.
The
move is considered extraordinary for a group that follows an extreme version of
Islamic jurisprudence. Islam allows men to have up to four wives at once.
However, the practice of keeping multiple wives is frowned upon in some Muslim
communities that hold more progressive or liberal views on marriage.
The
Taliban chief assured his followers in his message that the instructions are
based on Islamic injunctions and have the support of religious scholars.
However,
he said the restrictions are relaxed for two kinds of officials: those who
spend their own money and resources, or those who have a “legitimate need.”
Legitimate
needs are described as not being able to produce a child from a first marriage,
not being able to produce a male child, or those who need to marry the widow of
a brother.
In
addition, those who wish to marry any widow, without spending too much, are
also shown leniency.
Taliban
officials who spend their own resources still need permission from the
leadership and would have to show that their financial status could satisfy
people into believing that “they are spending their own money,” say the
sources.
The
message from the Taliban chief says the leadership is trying to make marriages
simpler for all.
“Young
men and women and all the destitute should be able to perform simple marriages
like the ones performed by companions of Prophet Muhammad,” he said.
https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/afghan-taliban-chief-restricts-officials-one-marriage
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Turkish
cult leader, seen with scantily clad women, jailed for 1,000 years on sexual
abuse charges
January
13, 2021
ATurkish
Muslim televangelist who surrounded himself with scantily-clad women on TV was
jailed for more than 1,000 years on Monday for sex crimes, local media
reported.
Adnan
Oktar preached conservative views while women he called his "kittens"
-- many of whom appeared to have had plastic surgery -- danced around him in
the TV studio.
The
64-year-old was detained in June 2018 as part of a crackdown on his group by
the financial crimes unit of the Istanbul police.
He
was sentenced to 1,075 years for crimes including sexual assault, sexual abuse
of minors, fraud and attempted political and military espionage, the private
NTV broadcaster reported.
Some
236 suspects have been on trial in the case, 78 of whom are under arrest,
according to the official Anadolu news agency.
The
hearings have featured lurid details and harrowing sex crime allegations.
Oktar
told the presiding judge in December that he had close to 1,000 girlfriends.
"There
is an overflowing of love in my heart for women. Love is a human quality. It is
a quality of a Muslim," he said in another hearing in October.
He
added on another occasion: "I am extraordinarily potent."
Oktar
first came to public attention in the 1990s when he was the leader of a sect
that was caught up in multiple sex scandals.
His
online A9 television channel began broadcasting in 2011, drawing denunciations
from Turkey's religious leaders.
One
of the women at his trial, identified only as CC, told the court that Oktar had
repeatedly sexually abused her and other women.
Some
of the women he had raped were forced to take contraceptive pills, CC told the
court.
Asked
about 69,000 contraception pills found in his home by the police, Oktar said
they were used to treat skin disorders and menstrual irregularities.
He
also dismissed any link to a group led by US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah
Gulen, whom Turkish authorities accuse of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016.
Oktar
is a creationist who rejects the Darwinian theory of evolution and has written
a 770-page book called "The Atlas of Creation" under the pen name,
Harun Yahya.
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/turkish-cult-leader-seen-with-scantily-clad-women-jailed-for-1-000-over-sexual-abuse-charges-1758493-2021-01-13
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