Afghan Women Take To Motorbikes To Raise Awareness About Domestic Violence
New
Age Islam News Bureau
10
December 2020
• Gunmen Shoot, Kill Female TV Anchor Malala Maiwand In Eastern Afghanistan
•
Pakistan’s Famed Sports Journalist Zainab Abbas Talks about Challenges She Faced
as a Woman
•
More Afghan Women Arrive In Kazakhstan As Part Of EU-Funded Educational Project
•
Somalia-Born, US Citizen Husband Gave Triple Talaq Over Phone: Hyderabad Woman
•
Saudi Arabia Announces New Penalties Against Abusing Women
•
Women Account For 60% Of Social Security Beneficiaries Across Saudi Arabia
•
Jail For Arab National For Blackmailing Young Woman On Social Media
•
Hindu, Christian Women 'Marketed' By Pak As 'Concubines', 'Forced Brides' In
China: US
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/afghan-women-take-motorbikes-raise/d/123718
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Afghan
Women Take To Motorbikes To Raise Awareness About Domestic Violence
Wahida
Paikan
Dec
10, 2020
Almost 4,000 cases of domestic violence have been
recorded in the past 10 months, but many more are thought to go unreported
------
Afghan
women are coming to the end of 16-day awareness campaign to raise awareness
about domestic violence. The campaign, which began on 25 November ands ends on
10 December, features several events including a women’s motorbike riding
display.
Ten
young Afghan women from the remote province of Daykundi, central Afghanistan,
took part in the display, which included men in the audience. It was an event
designed to bring would bring people’s attention to the issue of women’s rights
and was supported by Oxfam International.
It
is rare for a woman in Afghanistan’s remote villages to ride a motorbike. In
contrast, in the country’s mountainous areas where there are no proper roads,
it is considered normal to use bikes. Despite this, for many Afghanis the
thought of a woman riding a motorbike is strange.
Marzieh
Hamdard, director of the Women’s Affairs Office in the Daykundi province, told
Independent Persian: “This event was organised to show that riding a motorbike
is a normal activity, and that women have the right to go about their day to
day lives in an open, safe and better environment”.
The
motorcyclists from Daykundi also called on other families to let their
daughters learn how to ride bikes so that their lives could be made easier.
Around
60 years ago, the United Nations declared 25 November, the International Day
for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Every year, on this occasion,
campaigns are organised with the purpose of creating a better world for women.
Traditionally, campaigns are organised for 16 days from 25 November until 10
December which is Human Rights Day. These coordinated campaigns focus on
tackling issues such as domestic violence.
The
Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) announced last week
that in the past 10 months, 3,888 cases of domestic violence have been recorded
in the country. Taking into account the large number of cases that go
unreported, the statistics are on the rise.
According
to officials from the AIHRC, crimes are becoming increasingly violent with 35
percent of recorded cases involving physical abuse such as murder, assault,
mutilation, injury, or forced labour.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghan-women-take-to-motorbikes-to-raise-awareness-about-domestic-violence-b1768809.html
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Gunmen
Shoot, Kill Female TV Anchor Malala Maiwand In Eastern Afghanistan
10
December 2020
Gunmen shot and killed a female TV anchor in
eastern Afghanistan early Thursday,
------
Gunmen
shot and killed a female TV anchor in eastern Afghanistan early Thursday,
officials said.
The
attackers opened fire on Malala Maiwand's car soon after she left her house in
the eastern Nangarhar province, said Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the
governor.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
No
one has claimed responsibility, but an ISIS- affiliate is headquartered in
eastern Afghanistan and has claimed most of the recent attacks on civilians in
Afghanistan. The Taliban also operates in the area.
In
addition to working as a TV and radio presenter, Maiwand was also an activist
who advocated for the rights of Afghan women and children.
Two
Afghan journalists were killed in separate bombings in Afghanistan last month.
The international press freedom group Reporters Without Borders has called
Afghanistan one of the world’s deadliest countries for journalists.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2020/12/10/Gunmet-shoot-kill-female-TV-anchor-Malala-Maiwand-in-eastern-Afghanistan-
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Pakistan’s
famed sports journalist Zainab Abbas talks about challenges she faced as a
woman
Dec
08 2020
LAHORE:
Pakistani TV host and sports presenter Zainab Abbas recently talked about her
journey into the world of sports and how she faced several challenges as a
woman to make her mark in the industry.
Titled
"The missing sportsmanship in sports," Zainab's talk was a part of
Fearless, a virtual event that features a line-up of live speakers as well as
prerecorded talks given by TEDWomen 2020.
Talking
about why she chose to be associated with sports, she said that growing up, it
had always been her passion to play sports, predominately cricket.
"The
idea of sportsmanship stems from the fact that sport is generally an equaliser
irrespective of gender, race, or skin colour. It focuses on your talent,
skills, strength, and above all, merit," she said.
Despite
her passion for the field, however, she had to face various hurdles throughout
her journey before becoming a successful sports presenter.
First,
it was difficult to convince her parents about her choice of career and manage
their disappointment when she had to skip an exam to watch live cricket
matches.
She
then talked about how she moved away from the world of sports after her
graduation and joined a corporate organisation in London where she was
subjected to racism and prejudice.
And
even when she got the opportunity to be auditioned for a World Cup cricket
programme in Pakistan, her interviewers doubted her knowledge of the sport
solely on the basis of her gender.
She
said that even after she became a sports journalist, some of her colleagues
hurled allegations at her for stealing their content and entering the field on
the basis of nepotism.
To
her disappointment, some of the cricket legends she looked up to refused to let
her interview them because she was a woman.
"I
was heartbroken because as a child, these were the people I looked up to,"
she said. "But I realised that I need to keep my focus as it was the only
thing that kept me going even in times of adversity."
However,
the same cricketers later acknowledged her work and willingly let her interview
them as she had cemented herself in the field.
"I
think the world was not prepared or used to see a woman taking lead in a field
which was guarded by men for so many years," she said. "Nonetheless,
I learned never to let critics bother me or let people get under my skin."
Acknowledging
the achievements of women in sports, she said that their progress is a
manifestation of true sporting spirit and sportsmanship.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/322969-zainab-abbas
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More
Afghan women arrive in Kazakhstan as part of EU-funded educational project
By
Kulpash Konyrova
DECEMBER
9, 2020
A
second group of ten Afghan women, recipients of the scholarships funded by the
European Union, arrived in Kazakhstan to pursue education, the press-service of
regional point of OSCE said on December 9.
The
students will begin their academic journey with online English language classes
at Almaty Management University (AlmaU) Language School. After its successful
completion, they will enroll at one of the top universities in Kazakhstan –
Kazakh-British Technical University, to study mining.
“The
project runs under a €2 million grant provided by the EU to support Afghan
women in their strive for higher education. In total, 50 Afghan women will
obtain higher, technical, and vocational education at various universities
across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan by 2025,” the OSCE said. “Empowering women via
education creates vast personal as well as economic impact, such as it
generates opportunities to realise one’s potential and ability to contribute to
their communities upon returning to Afghanistan,” it added.
“Women
are central to economic growth and sustainable development and their economic
empowerment is crucial to the progress of any country. According to the new EU
Strategy for Central Asia, it is in the joint interest of the EU and of Central
Asian states to intensify cooperation to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan.
In other words, without a peaceful Afghanistan, there will be no prosperous
Central Asia. Connecting Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan by an
‘educational bridge’ strengthen the social and economic linkages among them,
thus contributing to address security challenges, and helping ensure a more
peaceful and prosperous future for the region, the press service said, quoting
EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan Sven-Olov Carlsson.
The
first group of 30 Afghan women arrived in Almaty in October 2019. They have
successfully completed language training and enrolled into Bachelor, Master and
Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programmes to study
agriculture, finance and mining at Satbayev University, Kazakh-British
Technical University and Kazakh National Agrarian University. Due to COVID-19
restrictions, the students are currently taking academic courses online.
Afghan
women face disproportionate barriers to enter education and employment compared
to their male counterparts. According to the 2019 UNDP Human Development
Report, only 13 percent of all adult Afghan women have completed a secondary
education, while 37 percent adult men have. Poverty, security issues, gender
stereotypes and social norms are among the main causes for the limited access to
education among Afghan women.
United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan is an implementing partner
of the initiative. Yakup Beris, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan,
said, “UNDP in Kazakhstan is very proud
to be part of this important joint initiative. We strongly believe that the
development of any society is impossible without the full and active
participation of women. Empowering women through removing existing barriers and
inequalities is vital for them to stand on equal footing with men and to be
able to contribute to their communities and economies”.
This
summer the project was officially launched in Uzbekistan. Ten Afghan women
became scholarship recipients to study Agriculture at The Educational Center
for Training Afghan Citizens in Termez (ECTAT). Thus, all 50 women have been
already selected and are currently at various stages of education in Kazakhstan
and Uzbekistan.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/more-afghan-women-arrive-in-kazakhstan-as-part-of-eu-funded-educational-project/
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Somalia-Born,
US Citizen Husband Gave Triple Talaq Over Phone: Hyderabad Woman
Dec
10, 2020
Hyderabad:
A 24-year-old woman from the city has alleged that her Somalia-born, US citizen
husband gave her ‘triple Talaq’ over the phone. She has urged the Union
ministry of external affairs to ensure justice for her.
The
woman, Saba Fatima, from Chandrayangutta, said she had got married to Ahmed in
January 2015 while he was in Hyderabad. The Nikah (marriage) was performed as
per Islamic laws and registered with the Telangana Waqf Board.
She
said that after the marriage, they used to stay at a rented house in Tolichowki
and Malakpet.
She
said that the now 40-year-old Ahmed had left the country and used to visit her
every six months. He last visited her in February 2020, she said. He later went
to meet his mother and then travelled to the US where he stayed in Boston.
Saba
Fatima said that he was in touch with her from Boston, and used to send money
for her daily needs. However, on October 6, she said he called up her father
and “pronounced talaq without any reason”.
“Since
then, he has not been in touch with me and has blocked my number. I have tried
to reach out to my mother-in-law, who lives in Dubai, and my sister-in-law who
lives in London. They first assured me of justice, and later they also blocked
my number,” she said.
Saba
Fatima has urged Union external affairs minister to ask the ministry of
external affairs to get through to her husband.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/husband-gave-triple-talaq-from-us-over-phone-city-woman/articleshow/79651102.cms
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Saudi
Arabia announces new penalties against abusing women
November
25, 2020
Khitam
Al Amir
Dubai:
A fine of up to 50,000 riyals and one-year imprisonment for those who
physically and psychologically abuse women in Saudi Arabia, the Public
Prosecution warned. 'Anyone found guilty of abusing women physically or
emotionally will face a fine of up to 50,000 riyals and a jail sentence to up
one year,' the Public Prosecution said in a statement posted on its twitter
account.
According
to local media, these penalties will make anyone thinks twice before daring to
abuse his wife, sister or any female relatives. The move comes as part of
ongoing Saudi efforts to eliminate violence against women, and as part of the
Kingdom’s reforms that give women more rights and freedoms.
Saudi
women are gaining more rights and freedoms since Prince Mohammed Bin Salman
took office as Crown Prince in 2017. In line with the Saudi Vision 2030 led by
Mohammed Bin Salman, women were granted permissions to work, drive and travel
and fully engage in all aspects of life, most notably the relaxing of the
guardianship law that allows women to travel without male guardian’s consent.
Saudi
Human Rights watchdog calls for stringent measures
Dr.
Awwad Al Awwad, president of the Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC),
underlined the need for enhanced cooperation from all competent bodies as well
as more stringent measures to eliminate all forms of violence against women.
Al
Awwad made the statement to mark on the International Day for the Elimination
of Violence against Women, which is celebrated worldwide each year on November
25, he said that protecting women’s rights and empowering them is a culmination
of the political will and reform measures being pursued by the Saudi
leadership.
He
urged to report all violations against women to the commission and other
concerned authorities. “HRC looks forward to reporting all cases of violence
committed against women,” he said. He stressed the need to take more measures
to enhance the protection of women’s rights, and raise public awareness about
their issues and rights.
“This
is essential to create an environment in which women can exercise their rights
guaranteed by the Shariah and the law as well as to realize the aspiration of
the wise leadership in accordance with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” he said. He
noted that the Saudi Vision 2030 relies on women as an important and active
partner in the process of nation-building and development.
Al
Awwad underscored the need for more compliance with law enforcement in the
protection of women’s rights, in line with the progress made in national
legislation, regulations and relevant international agreements to which the
Kingdom has joined, foremost of which is the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
According
to this, the parties to the convention have to ensure effective protection of
women’s rights through the competent courts and other public institutions in
the country. Al Awwad emphasized that the Kingdom under the leadership of King
Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, and Crown Prince Muhammed Bin Salman, puts the
protection and empowerment of women as one of the Kingdom’s priorities.
“The
Kingdom’s Vision 2030 stipulates that women are an important component of our
strength, and we will continue to develop their talents and invest their
energies and empower them to obtain appropriate opportunities so as to build
their future and contribute to the development of our society and our economy.
As
a result of this move, women received a major chunk of reforms, especially
those related to the areas of human rights,” he said, noting that these
included the issuance of many orders, decisions, and regulations that aim to
protect, preserve and promote their rights.
https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-announces-new-penalties-against-abusing-women-1.1606319255245
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Women
account for 60% of social security beneficiaries across Saudi Arabia
December
07, 2020
Samir
Salama
Abu
Dhabi: The total number of beneficiaries of social security across Saudi Arabia
was 1,128, 877 last year, with women accounting to 682,445 beneficiaries or
60.5 per cent, while men reached 446,432, or 39.5 per cent, official statistics
showed.
Reports
of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development revealed that social
security payments were offered to eight categories, the top of which was
non-breadwinner women, where 419,975 benefited, or 37.2 of the total number of
beneficiaries.
Those
unable to work came second with 279,651 beneficiaries, or 24.8 per cent, of
whom 236,911 were men and 42,740 women, then the elderly group, which reached
186,844. Of whom 183,803 were men and 3,041 women.
The
non-dependent family group came fourth with 173,159 beneficiaries, of whom
159,953 were women and 13,206 men, while the fifth category was single people
with 41,349 beneficiaries, then the orphaned group with 24,084 beneficiaries,
of whom 12,780 were women, 11,304 were men.
Beneficiaries
of unknown parents were followed with 3,814, of whom 2,606 were women and 1,208
were men.
The
category of prisoners’ families came last with one family in the Qassim region.
Married
and single
The
ministry’s reports indicated that the highest percentage of beneficiaries were
married with 368,600 cases, or 32.7 per cent, of whom 309,998 were men and
58,602 were women.
The
single beneficiaries came second with 272,680, or 24.1%, of whom 136,427 were
women and 136,253 were men.
Widows
and widowers followed with 253,657 beneficiaries, of whom 253559 men, and 98
women.
The
divorced came in the last place with women beneficiaries accounting for 233,940
by 20.7 of the total number, of whom 233,857 were women and 83 were men.
Mecca
region had the largest number of beneficiaries with 249,255, followed by Riyadh
with 175,559 beneficiaries, then the eastern region with 132,425 beneficiaries.
https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/women-account-for-60-of-social-security-beneficiaries-across-saudi-arabia-1.75713637
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Jail
for Arab national for blackmailing young woman on social media
December
9, 2020
MAKKAH
— The Makkah Criminal Court sentenced an Arab national to one and a half years
of imprisonment after his conviction in cybercrimes committed against a young
woman.
The
court, which held a virtual session, ordered to confiscate all his mobile
devices, which were used in the crimes that included impersonating a young
woman, creating fake accounts, publishing her photos, and blackmailing her with
threats to make her photos public.
Okaz/Saudi
Gazette has learned that the woman in her 30s lodged a lawsuit with the
concerned security authorities complaining that an unknown person impersonated
her and published her photos after creating fake accounts on Facebook,
Instagram, and Twitter. The security authorities tracked down the fake accounts
and arrested the accused. They confiscated his mobile devices containing
pictures, voice messages, and accounts impersonating the woman.
The
security officials also detected other fake voice messages and social media
accounts using the names of other citizens. The case was then handed over to
the Public Prosecution, which in turn monitored the misconducts of the accused
with young working women through holding romantic conversations.
The
Public Prosecution has recorded dozens of text and voice messages incriminating
the accused in defamation and extortion crimes and the creation of fake
accounts. Subsequently, it ordered his imprisonment, granting him statutory
rights to seek the assistance of a lawyer.
During
the interrogation, the accused confessed that he knew the young woman
complainant through social media and that he established a relationship with
her electronically for a month and obtained her photos, and then disassociated
with her. However, he denied creating accounts in her name or publishing her
photos. After holding a series of sessions in which the court listened to
testimonies of all the parties involved and examined the evidence before coming
to the conclusion that the accused was guilty of the crimes attributed to him.
Speaking
to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, lawyer Masarah Hani Fetyani said that the cybercrime law
aims to protect the public interest, morality, public etiquette, the national
economy, as well as protecting personal and public rights. She said that some
cybercrimes overlap with other crimes such as extortion, defamation, insult,
and slander, and the courts examine them on the basis of various provisions of
the criminal procedure law.
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/601236/SAUDI-ARABIA/Jail-for-Arab-national-for-blackmailing-young-woman-on-social-media
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Hindu,
Christian Women 'Marketed' By Pak As 'Concubines', 'Forced Brides' In China: US
Dec
09, 2020
Pakistan
is marketing Hindu and Christian women as "concubines" and
"forced brides" to China, according to the top US diplomat for
religious freedom, Samuel Brownback.
One
of the sources of "forced brides" for Chinese men are "religious
minorities, Christian and Hindu women, being marketed as concubines and as
forced as brides into China", Brownback told reporters on Tuesday.
That
was happening "because there's not effective support and there's
discrimination against religious minorities that make them more
vulnerable," he said.
He
mentioned this as one of the reasons for designating Pakistan as a country of
particular concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act.
Because
of the one-child policy imposed by China for decades, there is an acute
shortage of women given the cultural preference for boys leading to Chinese men
importing women from other countries as brides, mistresses and labourers.
The
US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had recommended
placing India also on the CPC, citing among other issues the Citizenship
Amendment Act (CAA), but Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected the suggestion
when he announced the designations on Monday.
Brownback,
however, said that Washington was watching the Indian situation closely and
"these issues have been raised in private discussions at the government,
high government level, and they will continue to get raised".
The
CAA expedites citizenship for Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and Sikhs fleeing
religious persecution in neighbouring Islamic or Muslim majority countries but
do not prevent Muslims from getting citizenship after following the usual
procedures.
The
US has a legal provision similar to the CAA which is known as the Specter
Amendment that is tucked into budget bill giving asylum to some non-Muslim
minorities from Iran, while pointedly excluding Muslim.
Asked
by a Pakistani reporter if there was a double standard in Pompeo giving
Pakistan the CPC designation and not India, Brownback said that while in
Pakistan, a lot of the actions against minorities are taken by the government,
that was not the case in India.
"Pakistan
has half of the world's people that are locked up for apostasy or
blasphemy," he said.
He
said that in India, some of the actions like the CAA are taken by the
government but there are others like "much of its communal violence"
and then when they take place, "we try to determine whether or not there
has been an effective police enforcement, judicial action after communal
violence takes place".
"That
doesn't mean that we don't have problems with the statute (CAA)," he said.
"The violence is a problem. We will continue to raise those issues."
"Those are some of the basis as to why Pakistan continues to be on the CPC
list and India is not," he said.
"These
are issues that people spend a great deal of time reviewing and we review
extensively the situation in Pakistan in both countries," added Brownback,
whose formal title is Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom.
Answering
an American reporter's question why Pompeo did not follow the USCIRF
recommendation to designate India as a CPC, Brownback said, "I can't go
into the decision-making process that the Secretary went through." But, he
said Pompeo is "well aware of a lot of the communal violence that is
happening in India as well as aware of the statutes that have been enacted and
some of the issues associated with the (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi
government and, as I said, he has raised at the highest level, but just decided
at this point not to place them on a CPC or a special watch list".
Brownback
said that there were also "several recommendations made by the commission
that the Secretary did not follow, and this was one of them".
Pompeo
did not follow the recommendations to designate Russia and Vietnam as CPCs.
In
addition to Pakistan, Pompeo put China, Myanmar Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, North
Korea, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan on the CPC list.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/hindu-christian-women-marketed-by-pak-as-concubines-forced-brides-in-china-us-181916
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