Actor-Politician Nusrat Jahan Receives Death Threats on Social Media after Posing As Goddess Durga
New
Age Islam News Bureau
1
October 2020
• Mayar Sherif Makes Egyptian Tennis History
•
Sudanese Women Keep Pushing for Democracy
•
Harassers Face ‘Naming and Shaming’ After Saudi Shoura Council Ruling
•
Working on the Ground to Meet Basic Needs of Beirut’s Women And Girls
•
Sudan: West Darfur Women's Forum for Peace
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/actor-politician-nusrat-jahan-receives/d/123007
--------
Actor-Politician Nusrat Jahan Receives Death Threats on Social Media after Posing As Goddess Durga
SEPTEMBER
29, 2020
Nusrat
Jahan received death threats on social media after she posted pictures and
video of herself dressed as Goddess Durga
----
Actor-politician
Nusrat Jahan Ruhi yet again found herself receiving threats on social media.
This time for posing as the Hindu Goddess Durga. Jahan is reportedly receiving
death threats for dressing up as the Goddess. She is currently visiting London
for work.
Jahan
took to her Instagram on the occasion of Mahalaya (September 17, 2020) and
posted the image of herself dressed as Goddess Durga. She also posted videos
from the photoshoot, following which, she started receiving a lot of hate texts
and abuse online. Many users have sent her abusive threats in the post where
she is seen posing as Durga. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, Jahan is a Muslim
born and is married to Nikhil Jain, a Hindu man.
Hours
after posting the picture on Instagram, she was also reminded of the need for
“modesty”. An Instagram user told her to follow “Islamic values”. Another user
demanded her to change her surname.
This
is not the first time that MP Jahan has received threats online. Last year, the
photographs of the actress, attending Durga Puja with her husband had gone
viral and she was targeted. “She has been offering puja to Hindu Gods despite
the fact that Islam orders its followers to pray only to ‘Allah’. What she has
done is ‘haram’” a cleric had said on camera.
Jahan
spoke about online abuse targeted at women and said, “Just because it is
virtual, doesn’t mean it is not real. There has been a widespread increase in
the spread of negativity. Online abuse towards women is on the rise,” TOI
reported. She further added,”Women will be judged on just about anything –
cooking, wearing certain kinds of clothes, opinions, and for any generic
activity. People giving rape and death threats online are ones with a sick
mentality. All they have is a fake name or ID as cover and a lot of time to
carry out such activities. I am concerned about this growing negativity in the
online space but I do not pay much heed to such things. In real-life, I have
dealt with stalkers and crazy fans so I know how to deal with all such people.
My mantra is to ignore the negativity.”
https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/mp-nusrat-jahan-durga-receives-death-threats-after-posing-as-goddess/
--------
Mayar
Sherif Makes Egyptian Tennis History
September
28, 2020
Mayar
Sherif hopes she has inspired young Egyptian female tennis players after her
performances at Roland Garros
----
CAIRO:
Egyptian tennis player Mayar Sherif has made history by becoming the first
Egyptian to qualify for the main draw in the French Open.
Egyptians
took to social media to celebrate the player known as “Egypt’s Golden Star,”
who became the first Egyptian woman to win a Grand Slam match.
The
National Council for Women in Egypt also praised Sherif’s qualification. The
body said it was an unprecedented achievement for Egyptian sport.
Sherif
was also the first Egyptian tennis player to qualify for the 2021 Olympic
Games, after she beat Colombian Maria Osorio 6-4, 6-0 in the French Open, also
known as Roland-Garros Series.
She
also beat American tennis player Caty McNally 6-2, 6-4.
In
statements to the Egyptian media, Sherif expressed her happiness with the
achievement, adding that she was proud of the historical achievements made by
Egyptian tennis.
Sherif
said she is preparing for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics by taking part in major
tournaments.
The
24-year-old player won eight singles and six doubles titles in the
International Tennis Federation World Women’s Tour.
She
also won a gold medal at the 2019 African Games in Morocco, after defeating
South African player Storm Simmons 2-0 in the final match. Ahead of the French
Open 2020, Sherif also played in the Prague Open.
She
studied at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and graduated in 2018
with a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine.
The
Roland-Garros Facebook page celebrated her success with a picture captioned:
“Making history. Mayar Sherif becomes the first woman representing Egypt to win
a Grand Slam match!”
Egyptian
football star Mohamed Salah also praised Sherif, tweeting: “You make history.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1740946/sport
--------
Sudanese
Women Keep Pushing for Democracy
By
Naba Mohiedeen
September
30, 2020
KHARTOUM
- Sudanese women helped organize the protests that resulted in the ouster of
former President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 after three decades of iron-fisted
rule.
After
his removal and the creation of a new transitional government, women are
playing a prominent role in Sudan's politics.
A
woman has been appointed a chief justice — the first, not only in Sudan but in
the entire Arab world.
An
unprecedented four women were appointed to cabinet positions in the new
government, including the country's first female minister of foreign affairs,
Asma Mohamed Abdalla.
But
women are still marching to amend the laws and restore the rights taken from
them under the strict Islamic code enforced by Bashir's government.
The
Sudanese Professionals Association, or SPA, was one of the key groups behind
the demonstrations that led to Bashir's ouster. Samahir Elmubarak, who heads
the SPA's pharmacist's association, remains active in politics.
Elmubarak
says she has never felt that they have reached a level where they should
stop. She says the motivation that
powered people to overthrow the Bashir regime is the same motivation that is
pushing people to continue to reach the revolution's goals of freedom, peace
and justice.
The
June 3, 2019, crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Khartoum left more than
120 people dead, including the eldest son of Amira Kabous.
Her
son's death did not deter Kabous from being involved in the democratic
movement, and she is now the deputy chief of an organization of people who lost
relatives in the uprising.
Sitting
beside a portrait of her late son in her house in Khartoum, Kabous is
insistent.
She
says what they are doing is the continuance of the martyr's role, and their
sacrifices, but they have not reached their goals yet. They will continue, she
adds, until they achieve all of the revolution's goals that their children
sacrificed for, and until they see Sudan the way their children dreamed about,
and they all are dreaming about.
Kabous
and Elmubarak were recently awarded the 2020 Freedom House Award for their role
in advancing democratic change in Sudan. The award was given under the theme
"the power of protest."
https://www.voanews.com/africa/sudanese-women-keep-pushing-democracy
--------
Harassers
Face ‘Naming and Shaming’ After Saudi Shoura Council Ruling
October
01, 2020
JEDDAH:
Violations of Saudi Arabia’s anti-sexual harassment laws could be punished by
“naming and shaming” following a decision by the Kingdom’s Shoura Council to
approve a defamation penalty.
The
council voted in favor of the penalty during its session on Wednesday after
previously rejecting the move in March this year.
Council
member Latifah Al-Shaalan said the proposal to include the penalty was sent by
the Saudi Cabinet.
Saudi
lawyer Njood Al-Qassim said she agrees with the move, adding that it will help
eliminate harassment in workplaces and public places as well as in schools.
“The
penalty will be imposed according to a court ruling under the supervision of
judges, and according to the gravity of the crime and its impact on society,”
Al-Qassim told Arab News.
“This
will be a deterrent against every harasser and molester,” she said.
Al-Qassim
said that legal experts are required to explain the system and its penalties to
the public.
“The
Public Prosecution has clarified those that may be subject to punishment for
harassment crimes, including the perpetrator, instigator and accessory to the
crime, the one who agreed with the harasser, malicious report provider, and the
person who filed a malicious prosecution lawsuit,” she added.
“The
Public Prosecution also confirmed that attempted harassment requires half the
penalty prescribed for the crime,” said Al-Qassim.
In
May 2018, the Shoura Council and Cabinet approved a measure criminalizing
sexual harassment under which offenders will be fined up to SR100,000 ($26,660)
and jailed for a maximum of two years, depending on the severity of the crime.
In
the most severe cases, where the victims are children or disabled, for example,
violators will face prison terms of up to five years and/or a maximum penalty
of SR300,000.
Incidents
that have been reported more than once will be subject to the maximum
punishment.
The
law seeks to combat harassment crimes, particularly those targeting children
under 18 and people with special needs.
Witnesses
are also encouraged to report violations and their identities will remain
confidential.
The
law defines sexual harassment as words or actions that hint at sexuality toward
one person from another, or that harms the body, honor or modesty of a person
in any way. It takes into account harassment in public areas, workplaces,
schools, care centers, orphanages, homes and on social media.
“The
legislation aims at combating the crime of harassment, preventing it, applying
punishment against perpetrators and protecting the victims in order to
safeguard the individual’s privacy, dignity and personal freedom which are
guaranteed by Islamic law and regulations,” a statement from the Shoura Council
said.
Council
member Eqbal Darandari, who supports the law, said on Twitter that the
defamation penalty has proven its effectiveness in crimes in which a criminal
exploits a person’s trust.
“The
defamation of one person is a sufficient deterrent to the rest,” she said.
Social
media activist Hanan Abdullah told Arab News the decision “is a great deterrent
for every harasser since some fear for their personal and family’s reputation,
and won’t be deterred except through fear of defamation.”
The
move will protect women from “uneducated people who believe that whoever leaves
her house deserves to be attacked and harassed,” she said.
“Anyone
who is unhappy with this decision should look at their behavior.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1742611/saudi-arabia
--------
Working
on the Ground to Meet Basic Needs of Beirut’s Women And Girls
September
13, 2020
BEIRUT
— A month after the Beirut Port explosion, life remains uncertain for thousands
of women and girls. Among the displaced are an estimated 84,000 women and girls
of reproductive age.
UNFPA,
the agency specializing in reproductive and maternal health worldwide, is
working with 12 partners on the ground to distribute dignity kits, which
contain sanitary pads, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and towels.
These
items are helping women and girls maintain their personal hygiene even amid the
destruction and displacement. This is essential, community members have
emphasized.
“Just
like I would want my girls to be fed, I would also want them to have these
basic hygienic needs,” said Hayat Merhi, a woman with three adolescent
daughters whose family was affected by the blast.
Pandemic,
economic turmoil
The
blast and its aftermath comes on top of the COVID-19 pandemic and an economic
crisis, years in the making. Job losses have curtailed family spending, even as
disease prevention is becoming more urgent than ever.
Too
often, the needs of women and girls are the first to go unmet.
“There
was a time when my daughters were using a piece of cloth instead of pads,"
said Lina Mroueh, who also has three adolescent daughters.
UNFPA
partners have been canvassing blast-impacted areas as they distribute the
dignity kits, speaking with women and girls about their circumstances. The work
is challenging, but rewarding, they say.
“Bringing
light into their broken homes and telling women and girls that their dignity,
safety and personal needs matter to the world in these difficult times is the
least we can do,” described Rima Al Hussayni, director of Al Mithaq Association.
Life-saving
information
The
distribution of dignity kits is also an opportunity to address yet another
crisis: gender-based violence, according to UNFPA.
Gender-based
violence is known to increase in humanitarian settings and in times of economic
stress. Amid the pandemic, many countries are reporting increased violence
against women and rising demands for support services.
“It
is very important to remember that dignity kits are helpful to women and girls,
not only for the menstrual hygiene products, soaps and other items, but also as
a way to reach women and girls with key messages about sexual and reproductive
health and rights, gender-based violence, the prevention of sexual
exploitation, and abuse services and information,” said Felicia Jones, UNFPA’s
humanitarian coordinator.
The
dignity kits contain referral information to connect survivors with help. The
people distributing the kits are also trained to provide this information.
In
some cases, they explain even more.
“We
trained our staff to demonstrate how to use and maintain the items in the kit”,
said Gabby Fraidy of the Lebanese Council to Resist Violence Against Women. “We
had 11-year-old girls who came to us, and our role was to share information
about menstruation and explain to them that it is a natural and a biological
process that occurs, and that it’s a part of growing up.”
Additional
vulnerabilities
Akkarouna
and Al Makassed associations are also distributing dignity kits to women and
girls with disabilities, who often face additional vulnerabilities and
challenges accessing sexual and reproductive health services and commodities.
It
is estimated that around 12,000 disabled persons have been affected by the
blast. — UN News
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/597905
--------
Sudan:
West Darfur Women's Forum for Peace
23
SEPTEMBER 2020
El
Geneina — The West Darfur Women's Forum, that convened in the state capital El
Geneina yesterday to involve women in the peace process, attracted broad
participation of women in the state.
The
forum also aims to achieve social peace and a democratic transformation. The
participants seek to restructure women's organisations, and to set up an office
in the area.
The
West Darfur women will also select members for a delegation that will
participate in the Darfur Women's Forum scheduled to be held in El Fasher,
North Darfur, next month.
West
Darfur Governor Mohamed El Doma acknowledged during the opening ceremony that
his state government had made a mistake when no women were appointed to
leadership positions. He pledged that women would be given more positions in
the future, especially in the Legislative Council.
He
called on the women to play a major role in fighting tribalism and achieving
peace. "At this moment, community dialogue is the foundation we need to be
able to normalise public life in our state that suffered so much from war, and
to create political stability and security," he said.
Radio
Dabanga's editorial independence means that we can continue to provide factual
updates about political developments to Sudanese and international actors,
educate people about how to avoid outbreaks of infectious diseases, and provide
a window to the world for those in all corners of Sudan. Support Radio Dabanga
for as little as €2.50, the equivalent of a cup of coffee.
https://allafrica.com/stories/202009230923.html
--------
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/actor-politician-nusrat-jahan-receives/d/123007
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism