Baloch Female Students Boycott Examinations over 'Frisking' By Male Invigilators
New Age Islam News Bureau
15
Jun 2015
Students of Balochistan University during a press conference at Quetta Press Club. PHOTO: ONLINE
• Gymnastics Outfit Haram: Malaysian Mufti
• UK: Four Teenage Girls Arrested For Racist Abuse of Muslim Couple on Tram
• The Online Grooming Of 'Jihadi Brides'
• Shaikha Fatima Named Islamic Personality Of The Year
• Private Sector Jobs Chance for Displaced Yemeni Women
• Speaking Up for Girls' Rights on the Day of the African Child
• Documentary Titled 'The Tainted Veil' Ready For Screening
• South Africa: Day of the African Child to Put Spotlight on Child Marriages
• First Afghan Woman Nominated For Membership of High Council of SC Afghanistan
• Innovative Islamic Technology: New Veil for Muslim Ladies
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/baloch-female-students-boycott-examinations/d/103503
---------
Baloch female students boycott examinations over 'frisking' by male invigilators
15 June, 2015
QUETTA: Female candidates sitting for MEd papers announced to continue their boycott of the examinations to protest against ‘manhandling’ and ‘frisking’ by male invigilators.
“If the university administration does not take action against the invigilator and the controller examination we will continue to boycott the exams,” a student said, while addressing the media at Quetta Press Club.
The students alleged that an invigilator frisked’ them in the presence of a controller examination. The students added that when they protested, the men threatened to fail all of them in their examination.
Read: Campus clamour: Clashes at varsities re-ignite debate on reviving student unions
Further, stating that they support the university administration’s efforts to curb cheating during examinations, the students affirmed they would not allow frisking by male invigilators.
Protest against non-commencement of new session classes
Separately, the hunger strike camp of the students of Bolan Medical College continued to protest outside the Quetta Press Club for a second day on Sunday against the non-commencement of the new session classes.
“The classes had to start in March but still haven’t,” the students said, while speaking to journalists.
“Entry test for the classes for the new year was conducted on December 28, 2014 and via voce was conducted in January,” they added, blaming the college principal for inefficiency.
The students said they have recorded their protest several times but to no effect. Further, terming the delay a conspiracy against the future of the students in Balochistan, they demanded the government to take notice of the delay.
Members of various organisations also visited the hunger strike camp of the students.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/903852/baloch-female-students-boycott-examinations-over-frisking-by-male-invigilators/
----------
Gymnastics Outfit Haram: Malaysian Mufti
15 June, 2015
CAIRO – The mufti of Malaysia's northern state of Perak has issued a fatwa banning gymnastics for Muslim women, saying it leads to exposing their aurat (parts of the body that should be covered), according to the teachings of Islam.
"Gymnastics is not for Muslim women. It is clear that exposing one's aurat and the shape of one's body is haram (forbidden in Islam),” Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria told Astro Awani on Sunday, June 14.
"If Muslim women want to participate in gymnastics, they have to find outfits which cover the aurat and this, in turn, might not be suitable for the sport," he added.
Zakaria said that the ruling regarding covering of a Muslim's aurat and the fatwa are not exclusive to the sport of gymnastics.
"Muslim men have to wear shorts that cover their knees when playing football," he said.
The fatwa followed a controversy that sparked around national gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi for wearing the traditional gymnastics gear that did not hide her aurat as required by Islam.
A photo of Abdul Hadi uploaded to Twitter and Facebook triggered monumental criticism of the 21-year-old Muslim athlete for not "covering up."
At the Singapore SEA Games artistic gymnastics event, Farah won the gold medal for her floor exercise routine.
Others defended the Muslim athlete, questioning whether she should wear a robe and a headscarf while competing in the games.
Islamic Laws
The defense angered Harussani who said Muslims should not question Islamic laws which have been clearly stated in the Qur’an.
The mufti said one should also not be too influenced by the type of outfits introduced by the West.
“They are not so smart for arguing on issues which have already been clearly stated in Islamic laws,” Harussani said, referring to citizens who had defended the athlete’s outfit.
"Don't play with Islamic laws, our religion never said [that] we can expose our aurat," he asserted.
Farah has since hit back at critics of her attire, tweeting, "empty cans make the most noise."
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin also defended Farah, saying that critics should focus on the gymnast's achievements instead.
Dubbed the "melting pot" of Asia for its potpourri of cultures, Malaysia has long been held up as a model of peaceful co-existence between its citizens and their respective religious affiliations.
Muslim Malays form about 60 percent of Malaysia's population of 26-million, while Christians make up around 9.1 percent.
Buddhists constitute 19.2 percent, Hindu 6.3 percent, with the balance comprised of various other traditional Chinese religions.
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/asia-pacific/487465-gymnastics-outfit-haram-malaysian-mufti.html
----------
UK: Four teenage girls arrested for racist abuse of Muslim couple on tram
15 June, 2015
Four teenage girls have been arrested after they were videoed hurling racist abuse at a couple travelling on a tram with their baby.
The alleged incident took place on the Metrolink service between Rochdale and Oldham on Friday (12 June).
A group of six girls are said to have got on the tram at the Shaw and Crompton station and began directing comments at the woman, who was wearing a nikab, a traditional head covering worn by Muslim women.
The woman's husband attempted to intervene, however the girls were unrelenting and became more and more verbally abusive.
"One of the girls started off by saying 'Aren't you feeling hot in that?' to which my wife replied 'that shouldn't concern you'. The girls then carried on making other remarks and using condescending swear words. I informed them that my wife's mother had just passed away, to which they showed no remorse or empathy and carried on swearing and using abusive language.
"I then got up and told them to stop and again informed them politely that my wife's mother has just passed away. They carried on with the abusive language. They even threatened to 'punch my wife on her face".
He warned the girls that they were being recorded by CCTV and that there were many witnesses aboard the tram.
"They took no heed. At this point I felt this needed to be recorded as evidence. Our baby had awoken and was screaming in fear. Who can be so heartless? Fortunately, there were some off-duty police officers at the other end of the tram, who rushed over to assist after hearing the commotion. They threw the girls off the tram at the next stop."
The husband expressed his concerns about the incident and what might have transpired if his wife had been travelling alone with their baby.
"Nobody deserves to be treated in this manner, regardless of race or religion. We were simply minding our own business and there was no need for this vile, disgusting behaviour."
Police investigating the racial abuse of a man and woman on a tram have made a number of arrests, it has been reported.
A statement by Greater Manchester Police said: "At around 3.30pm on Friday 12th June 2015, the two victims and their young child were travelling on the Metrolink between Shaw and Manchester when they were racially abused by a group of teenage girls.
"Following enquiries by officers, four girls aged between 16 and 18 have been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. Further enquiries are on going in an effort to identify and arrest the other offenders."
Video footage of the altercation has been viewed more than a million times.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/uk-four-teenage-girls-arrested-racist-abuse-muslim-couple-tram-1506088
----------
The online grooming of 'jihadi brides'
15 June, 2015
Within 24 hours of meeting a fighter from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) last year, Malaysian Umm Baraa married him - willingly.
The 27-year-old doctor recounted her impulsive move in a recent post on her Tumblr blog, in words that seem to come straight out of a cheesy romance novel.
"He looked at me, our eyes catch each others'. I had palpitation that is faster than the speed of light," she wrote.
"He smiled. And he asked a question that I shall never forget for the rest of my life. 'Can we get married today? After Asr (afternoon prayer)?'
"Deep inside my heart shouted, noooo. But I have no idea why I answered 'Yes'."
While her response may intrigue, her role in ISIS heralds a new battlefront in the war against the extremists.
Increasingly, women are making their presence felt in ISIS' propaganda campaign, especially in recruiting females for the fight.
But this phenomenon of women engaging in the activities of terror groups has a long history.
More recent instances were the women suicide bombers of rebel groups like Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and terror organisations like Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the forerunner of ISIS.
The ISIS case, however, is unlike any other as the young women and teenage girls it attracts travel from countries across the globe to be part of the terror state.
And the number doing so is "unprecedented", said Ms Nur Irfani Saripi, associate research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).
Last month, a report by the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) said about 550 women from Western countries have travelled to join ISIS.
The burgeoning number would be higher if it were to include women recruits from other regions such as South-east Asia, but such figures are unavailable.
Although published figures show more than 500 Indonesians, about 200 Malaysians and at least two Singaporeans have joined ISIS, there is no breakdown according to gender.
The Singapore Government, however, has said that one of the two Singaporeans is a woman married to a Malaysian, and that they left for Syria with their two teenage children. The woman was unidentified.
Several factors draw these women to ISIS, the ISD report said.
The push factors include social and cultural isolation, a misconception that the international Muslim community is being violently persecuted as well as anger over the perceived lack of international response to this persecution.
But more important are the pull factors: the radicalised ideology of building a so-called caliphate, the promise of belonging and sisterhood, as well as the romanticising of life in Syria.
Experts believe governments have failed to combat these fast- spreading influences in their anti- terrorism fight.
Women like Umm Baraa, who was known as Shams before she married her Moroccan husband Abu Baraa, are important contributors to the terrorist group's success.
Commonly called "jihadi brides", they are more than just stay-at-home wives and mothers, said the ISD report.
With the strict laws of gender segregation imposed by ISIS, these women take on important jobs as doctors and educators.
Many, like Umm Baraa, work as propagandists and recruiters. They describe and share pictures of their life in Iraq or Syria over social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. They also give tips on how to travel there, said Ms Irfani.
"Often, these female propagandists and recruiters lace their discourse with misinterpreted religious narratives, hashtags and younger slang, making them relatable to youth," she added.
Young women who are most vulnerable to such romanticised propaganda tend to have a superficial understanding of Islam as they do not come from religious families.
"Those from a religious background know very well that ISIS does not conduct itself according to the tenets of Islam," said Dr Rohan Gunaratna, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at RSIS.
"Those most vulnerable and susceptible to ISIS' radicalisation and recruitment come from a secular background...because they are unable to distinguish between the version of Islam preached by ISIS and the true spirit of Islam," he added.
But despite the pretty images the propagandists portray online, many women have found life in ISIS miserable, rigid and full of anxieties.
Dr Gunaratna said about half of the women who have gone to Syria want to return home.
"The women go there with a very romantic picture in mind. But once they start living in Syria, they realise how different the reality is and want to go back," he added.
Last October, two Austrian girls - aged 15 and 17 - contacted their families and expressed their desire to return home after being disillusioned with life in Syria. They became pregnant after being forced to marry ISIS fighters.
Briton Tareena Shakil, 25, ran away to Syria with her baby son last October. Regret crept in and she fled to Turkey in January. She was arrested in February when she returned with her baby to London.
But few are as fortunate as Sha-kil. "Leaving ISIS' clutches is not easy," said Ms Irfani. "Many more women may want to leave but can't find a way to escape."
Life for Umm Baraa is less than blissful too. Last October and November, she posted on her blog that two ISIS wives lost their husbands within weeks of each other.
With each death, her own weariness grows as she waits for news about her husband.
"Should I tell him that I died a little everytime I heard the news of a shaheed (martyrdom)? Or should I pretend to be strong?" she wrote.
In April, she disclosed on her blog that he had been injured, with fractured bones and nerve impairment, but is alive.
Despite her candid posts, Umm Baraa's blog still draws supportive comments and queries from young women keen to join ISIS, including from Malaysia.
Her blog is among several sites monitored by analysts for insights into ISIS and those radicalised by it.
There is an army of online forces linked to ISIS: 47,000 Twitter accounts, 9,800 websites and more than 10,000 Facebook accounts.
Many have been shut down by the social media companies but new ones pop up, with different names.
On the other hand, anti-terrorism websites and social media accounts set up by official sources such as governments and religious organisations only number in the hundreds.
"Government anti-terrorism messages online are five years behind terrorist propaganda," said Dr Gunaratna. "Terrorist groups like ISIS are miles ahead in using social media for spreading propaganda."
As for Singapore, he said, a lot has been done in the physical space but much more can be done online.
Community groups have to work with the Government to put out more counter-terrorism messages online and on social media, promote moderation and get young Muslim leaders to play a more active role in countering the extremism, he said.
The recent arrests of two self-radicalised Singaporean youths, including one who wanted to kill the President and Prime Minister if he could not leave to join ISIS , is a strong reminder of the terrorism threat.
Dr Gunaratna said there may be more arrests in Singapore as ISIS gains ground in spreading its extremist propaganda worldwide.
And among the ones arrested could be a woman, said Ms Irfani. "But in Singapore, we would do our best so that we do not have any female detainee."
http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/online-grooming-jihadi-brides
----------
Shaikha Fatima named Islamic Personality of the Year
15 June, 2015
Dubai – The Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) on Sunday announced that Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, has been named Islamic Personality of the Year.
Shaikha Fatima is the first woman to win the annual prestigious award which has been given to 18 different personalities and institutions from around the world in appreciation to their outstanding role in the service of Islam and the Holy Quran since 1997.
Ibrahim Mohammed Bu Melha, head of the award organising committee, said Shaikha Fatima had dedicated herself for the service of her society.
Shaikha Fatima sought, since the foundation of the Federation State, to support all its social and ideological classes and arrays, he added. “That sublimity covers the entire country in different fields,” he said, noting that honouring Shaikha Fatima is actually an honour for all Emirati women.
Bu Melha said modesty, tolerance and openness to others discern the personality of Shaikha Fatima beside her determination and infinite passion about charitable work inside and outside the UAE.
“She dedicates her time for women, whether they are mothers, workers, students or housewives and children. It proves that she has not been merely witnessing the country’s establishment and development, but she is an active partner in building it as well.”
He said members of the DIHQA organising committee unanimously agreed on the choice of Shaikha Fatima as the Islamic Personality of the Year; a decision approved by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Bu Melha added that the selection, to have a positive impact on the UAE people, has so many reasons. “She is the mother of all Emiratis, the wife of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whom she always supported in his responsibilities, let alone her relentless effort and charitable activities locally and abroad, and over 500 merits, awards and appreciation certificates she obtained.”
Dr Saeed Hareb, Deputy Chairman of the DIHQA organising committee, said the honouring reflects the leading role of Shaikha Fatima and boosts the position of women locally, and in the Islamic and Arab countries.
“The selection also shows how Islam honours and respects women and appreciates their role in the service of the Holy Quran that she stands on equal footing with men.”
Sami Gargash, head of the PR unit, said the Award has had the honour of choosing Shaikha Fatima as the Islamic Personality of the Year. “Naming a woman for the award for the first time is because of her achievements locally and abroad.”
Ahmed Al Zahid, head of media unit, said Shaikha Fatima deserve the honouring because of her tireless effort for the service of the nationals and citizens in the country.
Her charitable projects, spanning the construction of mosques, schools, hospitals, houses for the elderly and orphanages speak volumes, he added. -ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/nationgeneral/2015/June/nationgeneral_June132.xml§ion=nationgeneral
----------
Private sector jobs chance for displaced Yemeni women
15 June, 2015
JEDDAH: Yemeni women who have corrected their residence status in the Kingdom will be allowed to work in the private sector, except in professions that are reserved for Saudi women, the Labour Ministry has announced.
Tayseer Al-Mufrej, director of Media Center at the Ministry of Labor, said a Yemeni woman who wishes to work in Saudi Arabia will have to first get her residential status corrected at the Yemeni embassy.
She will have to then get approval from Saudi or foreign individuals or companies to sponsor her and get a visitor card from the Passport Department, he said.
“The Passport Departments in the Kingdom will issue temporary visit cards, with “allowed to work” written on them to Yemeni women. The employers can then hire them through the Ajeer system by entering the names and numbers of their travel documents,” Al-Mufrej told Arab News.
The Directorate General of Passports, meanwhile, said that 128,601 Yemeni expatriates have got their residence status corrected so far.
Mohammad Ahmad Abdullah, deputy director-general of Al-Wadeea port, earlier told a local publication that a comprehensive plan has been devised to deal with the large number of refugees and support the customs department in verifying the identity of those entering the Kingdom.
Efforts are being stepped up to ease congestion at Al-Wadeea land port, which connects Yemen with Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah said that the customs department aims to boost the crisis management skills of its employees.
This necessitates on-job training for them, he said.
The customs also holds regular workshops on how to deal with crises and natural disasters in view of the growing number of Yemeni refugees.
Customs operations are being bolstered by sniffer dogs, in addition to latest equipment such as X-ray machines.
Priority is given to relief materials leaving for Yemen to ease the sufferings of the refugees in that country, he said.
http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/761701
----------
Speaking Up for Girls' Rights on the Day of the African Child
15 June, 2015
Twenty-five years ago, advocates successfully galvanized African leaders behind the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The treaty was borne out of a need to promote a rights agenda that was relevant to Africa. The Charter revisited most ideals articulated in the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), though went a step further and boldly committed to protecting children from harmful cultural and social practices. Article 21 explicitly refers to protecting Africa's children against child marriages, betrothal and urging countries to push the minimum age of marriage to 18 years.
Today, as Africa simultaneously commemorates the Day of the African Child and the 25th anniversary of the Charter, we have a rare opportunity to reflect on both progress and challenges in responding to child marriages in Africa.
We have seen, firsthand, transformations rooted in the Charter. It has laid down the foundation for numerous child rights achievements. We have witnessed a continent that is honest with itself and one that is ready to have critical conversations on social norms, on cultural practices and their impact on children's rights. We see a continent that has made huge strides in protecting its children.
Specifically, the African Union's recent campaign on child marriage has been essential for refocusing regional attention on the issue. Africa's voice on child marriages has been escalated, and there is a mounting global movement of more than 400 civil society organizations working against early marriage, while a recent resolution on ending child marriage adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council shows growing global momentum around the topic.
Yet, despite the success of the African Charter in providing a regional rubric and a platform for dialogue on child marriages, the practice remains rampant. Africa has the second highest rate of child marriage in the world after South Asia. Reports show that 39 percent of girls in sub-Saharan Africa are married before their 18th birthdays. That's more than one in three girls. Globally, every year, 15 million girls are married before they turn 18, and it is estimated that between 2011 and 2020 more than 140 million girls will become child brides.
These staggering figures are evidence that the challenge remains enormous. And each number wears the face of a child.
Child marriage is a complex and multifaceted challenge, often urged on by economic, social and cultural factors. Combating it requires accelerating successful practices and innovative approaches.
We would suggest five attainable actions:
First, a crucial entry point to responding to child marriage is being alive to the cultural nuances that drive it. For instance, we know that in most communities child marriages are a culmination of well-orchestrated social actions, backed by established marriage customs. These customs are intrinsic and cherished by communities, often presided by family patriarchs, respectable community matrons, traditional and religious leaders who are driven by noble intentions. Communities often view child marriage as prevention to HIV, a way to safeguard young boys and girls in a fast-evolving modern world. Hence, any engagement should consider these perspectives.
As such, more support needs to be given to community leaders across the continent who are proactively coming up with alternative ways of ushering boys and girls into adulthood than early marriage. In these communities, far from the dictates of international, regional and even national laws -- where customary practices dictate maturity and readiness to marry -- such community-driven solutions would be more sustainable.
Second, closely linked to community-based efforts will be addressing the structural causes of child marriage. This includes challenging gender stereotypes, promoting gender equality and equal opportunities for girls and boys. Actions across all layers should be steeped in effective social mobilization and meaningful and sustainable partnerships between government, research institutions, civic organizations, development partners and communities.
Third, at national level, it is vital that proven efforts are strengthened. This means supporting governments in budgeting and implementation of policies, laws and strategies that prevent and counter child marriages. Robust child protection systems that track, account and safeguard children from early marriage should be strengthened. Across the continent, governments should continue investing in proven efforts such as enhancing girls' access to education and skills development.
Fourth, decisive leadership and increased political will at community, national and regional levels are paramount. The messaging on girls and boys has to change. Girls and boys should be seen as of equal value across society. It is vitally important that leaders see the link between empowered girls and stronger societies. This also means leaders should move beyond rhetoric to actual social and economic investment on curtailing child marriages. Leaders will have to engage with the powerful constituencies, such as religious and traditional leaders, in seeking change.
And finally, a continued honest and frank peer review system at the African Union level will be paramount. This will foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices on child marriages by member states through experience sharing and reinforcement of successful and best practices, and importantly, introduce collective accountability among regional leaders.
To successfully effect positive change, collective responsibility and action are essential. The nexus between governments, communities and civil society is imperative. We posit that lasting change requires leaders, development partners and communities to build consensus and agree that child marriage is detrimental to the child, family and nation. Indeed, from the matrona in a remote village to the policy maker at the African Union, a new honesty and fervency is urgently needed to address a practice that is harmful and stifling to this continent's children... and to the continent itself.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/graca-machel/speaking-out-for-girls-ri_b_7575092.html?ir=India&adsSiteOverride=in
----------
Documentary titled 'The Tainted Veil' ready for screening
15 June, 2015
Abu Dhabi - A documentary highlighting the historical context of women from various religions and societies around the world covering their hair over the centuries is getting ready for a private screening on June 15 at the Everyman Cinema, Hampstead, London.
The documentary titled The Tainted Veil, co-directed by US filmmaker Ovidio Salazar, Emirati director Nahla Al Fahad and Syrian director Mazen Al Khayrat, is seen as an attempt to soften the ongoing controversies surrounding the Muslim veil.
Anasy Media, a UAE-based production company, has completed the post-production of the documentary, its first international short film.
The documentary features interviews with a varied selection of Muslims from Europe and the Mena region who discuss their reasons for choosing to wear, or not to wear the veil, as well as commentary from leading Muslim and non-Muslim specialists on Islamic culture and history.
Executive producer of the documentary, Shaikha Al Yazia bint Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, said : “Head covering is a recurring topic in most places. It is a social issue that needed to be looked at a wide perspective and there is a lack of debate regarding the ways and reasons behind the veil. The Tainted Veil presents discussions surrounding the hijab for those searching for a better understanding.”
Nahla Al Fahad, one of the UAE’s most recognised female directors, said that The Tainted Veil is her first attempt in the international level.
Al Fahad said: “I think we all need to calm down a little about this small piece of cloth, there are so many misconceptions and stereotypes attached to the veil. So it is important to give access to real people and their opinions on wearing the veil.”
Al Khayrat said: “The unknown is what raises our interest and obscurity is behind agitation and troubles, it becomes a fear of what is different. The Tainted Veil is a discussion of knowledge of a certain topic, without adopting the cause itself, roaming through the interconnected ideas in history, religion and people to reveal a truth and the facts.”
Salazar is a veteran documentary filmmaker from California, known for his work on documentaries including Journey to Makkah starring Sir Ben Kingsley as narrator and Al Ghazali, The Alchemist of Happiness.
Anasy Media is organising the private screening of the documentary to VIPs members of the press and industry in London.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?section=nationgeneral&xfile=data/nationgeneral/2015/June/nationgeneral_June123.xml
----------
South Africa: Day of the African Child to Put Spotlight On Child Marriages
15 June, 2015
Pretoria — As the country prepares to mark the Day of the African Child, the African Union has estimated that 58 million young women in developing countries have been married off before their 18th birthday.
At the present trend, by 2020, 143 million girls would be married before age 18, an alarming average of 14.2 million girls every single year.
In South Africa, child marriages are often effected through the practice of 'ukuthwala' - the wrongful and usually forcible, carrying off or removal of girl children from their homes for the purpose of being married to older men against their will.
This is prevalent largely in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.
The South African government, represented by the Department of Social Development together with the African Union's Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, will on 15 June 2015 host an event to commemorate the Day of the African Child.
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini will address the event, scheduled to take place in Soweto, Johannesburg.
The 2015 Day of the African Child will be observed under the theme "25 Years after the Adoption of the African Children's Charter: Accelerating our Collective Efforts to End Child Marriage in Africa".
During the event, which is expected to be attended by children from across the African continent, the problem of child marriages will come under the spotlight.
The event will also bring together those affected by and working to end child marriage to discuss initiatives that are effective in eliminating child marriage.
The event will be preceded by a march by children and other participants from the Mandela House on Vilakazi Street, Soweto to the Hector Pieterson Memorial Museum.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201506121361.html
----------
First Afghan Woman Nominated For Membership of High Council of SC Afghanistan
15 June, 2015
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has for the first time nominated a woman lawyer to become a member of the High Council of the Supreme Court of Afghanistan.
Anisa Rasooly is the first female judge who has been nominated to become a member of the High Council of the Supreme Court.
President Ghani had promised to appoint a female judge in the Supreme Court of Afghanistan during presidential campaign for the second round of election last year.
Ghani said he has spoken with the religious scholars and the appointment of a female judge in Supreme Court does not have any legal or religious issue.
He said the women have been deprived of their rights all these years and insisted to give them their rights.
Ghani said, “Our pledge is that we will have a woman Chief Justice in our government.”
He also added, “Women have a v important role to play in our society & govt. They will have full participation in our govt and protection in society.”
http://www.khaama.com/first-afghan-woman-nominated-for-membership-of-high-council-of-supreme-court-1198
----------
Innovative Islamic Technology: New veil for Muslim ladies
15 June, 2015
2-year-old entrepreneur Ahmad Ghanem has etched his name in the sands of time, with his latest Hi-Tech hijab.
In Islam, the hijab is as an obligatory dress code for every devoted Muslim woman.
This latest invention by Ghanem is a self-cooling, water proof and wrinkle free hijab. According to him, “It’s up to us to make their lives a little more comfortable.”
Industry experts refer to it as the first-ever line of climate-adaptive hijabs.
The young entrepreneur said the idea for the hijab was inspired by sports gear companies like Nike and Under Armour. Adding that it is cooler than the standard hijab.
Ghanem also said 'I want to continue to innovate, revolutionize, and change the way people see the hijab. These women are the strongest and [steadfast], and they deserve everything. The hate and verbal abuse many of them receive is wrong and unfair.'
'I hope my brand can inspire them to go out and become what they want to be,' he concluded.
http://pulse.ng/tech/innovative-islamic-technology-new-veil-for-muslim-ladies-id3864100.html
----------
URL: