Documentary ‘Nasrin’ Gives New Voice To Detained Iranian Lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh
New
Age Islam News Bureau
13
October 2020
• Expat Female Lawyer Jasmin Fichte Gets 10-Year UAE Golden Visa
•
Saudi Female Footballers Excited About The Upcoming League
•
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Joined Malala Yousafzai for a Discussion to
Celebrate International Day of the Girl
•
The Muslim Women's Coalition Builds Bridges of Understanding
•
Arab News Poll Reveals Widespread Positive Attitudes among Saudis toward Women
Driving
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/documentary-nasrin-gives-new-voice/d/123127
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Documentary ‘Nasrin’ Gives New Voice To Detained Iranian Lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh
12/10/2020
A
2013 file picture shows Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh smiling at her home in
Tehran, after being being temporarily freed following three years in prison.
(AFP)
----
PARIS--Iranian
lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh reflected in March 2018 on a career that has seen her
take on the most sensitive of causes in Iran, including saving juveniles from
the death penalty, defending outlawed religious minorities and standing up for
women’s rights.
“Even
though this movement did not achieve the desired results, it is an experience
and an asset for our future steps. Because of this I should tell myself ‘Yes! I
should have the right to be happy!'” she said with a smile...
Three
months later, in June 2018, Sotoudeh was jailed to serve a five-year sentence
on spying charges, after a secret trial she was not even able to attend.
The
following year, she received a new 12-year sentence for “encouraging corruption
and debauchery”.
The
2012 winner of the European Parliament’s Sakharov prize and the 2020 Right
Livelihood Award laureate remains behind bars in Tehran’s Evin prison, and her
case is generating increasing international concern.
Deprived
of tools to communicate, Sotoudeh, 57, put her life on the line in a
one-and-a-half-month hunger strike from August to September, calling for the
release of political prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But
the release of a documentary film has given Sotoudeh a new voice for her
determination to campaign for justice in Iran.
The
film, “Nasrin,” shows Sotoudeh going about her daily work in Iran before her
latest arrest, defending cases including those of women arrested for removing
their compulsory headscarf.
“If
we are successful in these efforts to gain our freedom through our choice of
clothing then it will be a permanent freedom,” she tells the camera in the
film.
“We
need to speak out. We need to demand. We need to insist. We need to stand our
ground.”
‘Risk
a lot’
The
credits in the film, made by documentary maker Jeff Kaufman and narrated by
“The Crown” actress Olivia Colman, say the filming on the ground in Iran was
carried out by “anonymous” with their names withheld for security reasons.
“We
found a couple of people we could work with and trusted. They were just
amazing. They did risk a lot,” Kaufman told AFP. “They felt that getting the
story out was important.”
The
film, which had its premiere this month at the GlobeDocs Film Festival, shows
Sotoudeh plunged into the intensity of her daily routine, negotiating Tehran’s
crammed traffic at the wheel of her car as she travels from her office to
courthouses.
She
gently guides one tearful young woman through the prospect that the judiciary
is likely to impose a prison sentence for her bold protest in symbolically
removing her headscarf. But the smile and kindness never falter.
“You
must have one of these pastries,” she tells her.
Another
client is the celebrated Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi — who featured Sotoudeh
in a cameo in his prize-winning film “Taxi Tehran,” made inside a car due to a
ban from filmmaking — as he seeks to have a travel ban overturned.
The
film also shows the toll on Sotoudeh’s family life, with her young daughter and
son only able to communicate through phone calls and occasional prison visits
behind a thick glass pane.
“This
call is made by an inmate of Evin prison,” says an automatic voice that
constantly interrupts one phone call with the family.
‘Freedom
bleeds’
Sotoudeh
was previously jailed from 2010 to 2013, during which time she staged several
hunger strikes.
“One
of the problems is that you can never take what they (the authorities) say
seriously,” her husband Reza Khandan says in the film, “It is never clear if
they are telling the truth.”
Taghi
Rahmani, the husband of rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi, who spent half a
decade in jail, adds that “Evin is where freedom bleeds and human rights are
violated and raped.”
In
a rare flash of hope, Mohammadi was unexpectedly freed last week.
Kaufman
said Sotoudeh has never had a chance to see the film.
“But
Reza and the children have, and they have been incredibly supportive,” he said,
adding that he was optimistic the film would raise awareness of her case.
“The
regime has a way of putting pressure on families to keep them silent,” he said.
“Nasrin and Reza believe that silence is an enemy of progress.”
https://thearabweekly.com/documentary-gives-new-voice-detained-iranian-lawyer
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Expat
Female Lawyer Jasmin Fichte Gets 10-Year UAE Golden Visa
Waheed
Abbas
October
13, 2020
Jasmin
Fichte, founder and managing partner of Fichte & Co, was granted a 10-year
golden visa by Dubai authorities on Sunday, becoming the first female lawyer in
the UAE to receive the visa.
----
She
has been living and working in the UAE for over 20 years.
Jasmin
Fichte, founder and managing partner of Fichte & Co, was granted a 10-year
golden visa by Dubai authorities on Sunday, becoming the first female lawyer in
the UAE to receive the visa.
Fichte
is a German national and has been a UAE resident for more than 20 years.
The
UAE government had chosen 6,800 investors and professionals based in the UAE,
who hold around Dh100 billion in assets and hail from 70 countries, to receive
the golden visa.
Among
professionals, the UAE also granted permanent residency to 2,500 scientists,
researchers and doctors who come from various backgrounds including gas and
energy, nanotechnology, aviation, engineering and robotics.
Dubai
has granted 10-year visa to around 212 doctors for their work to protect the
residents against the coronavirus pandemic.
Top
businessmen in the UAE such as LuLu Group chairman Yusuff Ali, Danube Group
chairman Rizwan Sajan, Aster DM Healthcare chairman Dr. Azad Moopen and Pure
Gold Jewellers chairman Firoz Merchant are also among the golden visa recipients.
"I
have been working and living in the UAE for over 20 years. With me it has been
the same story as with many other expats that you plan to work in the UAE for a
couple of years, but then decide to stay on as it is the best place to be. I
think my major commitment to this country was in 2004 when I decided to
establish my own law firm. Opening an office in Dubai was also a decision to
stay for good," said Fichte.
She
said: "Dubai is a place where you as a person and your business can
flourish. As a working woman, I cannot stress enough the opportunities provided
for women and it fills me with pride to see the ever-growing number of
successful female entrepreneurs. Having put all my trust and hard work into my
business in Dubai, I am grateful that the city is recognising my efforts and
granted me a 10-year visa."
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai/expat-female-lawyer-jasmin-fichte-gets-10-year-uae-golden-visa-
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Saudi
Female Footballers Excited About the Upcoming League
October
13, 2020
Hala
Mansouri says she has been playing football since childhood. (Supplied)
-----
JEDDAH:
As women across the Kingdom pursue their athletic dreams, including football,
the No.1 sport in the country, anticipation for the Saudi Women’s Football
League (WFL) is building.
The
Saudi Sports Federation first announced the launch of the WFL in February, but
it was postponed with the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The
wait has been long, but Saudi footballers have been training throughout the
lockdown period.
Coach
Bireen Sadagah told Arab News: “Jeddah Eagles (one of teams selected to play in
the WFL) have been practicing very hard in preparation for the league on and
off the field, in terms of enhancing our fitness and strengthening our football
mentally.”
She
added: “The lockdown did not stop us from wanting to improve ourselves. We
continued training in our homes as best as we could with the space and
equipment available. Workouts and football drills were sent to us. Then as soon
as it was acceptable, regular training was resumed three times a week, as well
as individual work for recovery and strengthening.”
Hala
Mansouri, a 22-year-old Saudi senior advertising student, has been playing
football since she was 6, while living in West Virginia in the US, where she
joined the World Alliance of the YMCA and fell in love with the game.
Returning
to the Kingdom years later, she played on and off but always knew she had a
knack for it, and joined Jeddah Eagles as a goalkeeper as soon as the lockdown
was lifted.
“I
used to play soccer and basketball when I was living in the US, depending on
the season, but I just loved playing soccer more when I moved back to Jeddah,”
she told Arab News.
Explaining
what makes being a goalkeeper different, she said it was not as hard as playing
other positions, but the difference was that goalkeepers see the whole field,
must keep a close eye on the ball, and concentrate while keeping their cool.
“We
can speak to our teammates so they can know where to go but the difference is
we have different training; they run more than us goalies. I use my whole body
to block a ball and strikers are more terrified if they missed or not. As a
goalie, my only worry is if the ball passed the goal line,” Mansouri added.
Although
goalkeepers are sometimes the under-loved players, she said, training was still
rigorous, long and essential. “Goalies are the last line of defense in
football.”
The
young athlete said that football provided her with a liberating feeling away
from everyday distractions. “While in a game, I don’t think of anything;
everything is muted and it’s just a break for a while. It’s the best feeling.
“I’m
honestly very proud that women found a lot of support in pursuing their dreams
in sports and our families can be proud of us for doing so,” she said. “It’s a
good feeling, even though we’re a bit later than other countries, but at least
we got to where we are now for women and I couldn’t be more proud.”
So
far, only Saudi citizens will be allowed to play, but that has not dampened
enthusiasm from other female footballers in the Kingdom.
Yemeni-Saudi
24-year-old marketer, Shahad Saif, who plays for Jeddah’s Miraas FC as
left-back, said she had played the game with her family in Jeddah since she was
10.
“I
have been playing football since I was a kid with my family and brothers. I
didn’t get the opportunity to play with an all-women’s group. So when I grew
up, I used to rent a field and play football with random girls who love the
sport and play without coaches and no specific requirements to play or prepare
anything,” she told Arab News.
Football
has always been an important part of her life, and it influenced all her habits
and decisions. “Finding a community for this was very important, the only thing
we could do back then was go to the gym.”
Miraas
was established in Jeddah a year ago, and the left-back was one of the
founders. “We provided everything that’s needed for girls to play soccer.”
Sharing
the same sentiment, Amal Gimie, 26, an Eritrean midfielder for Jeddah’s Kings
United, has been playing soccer since she was eight years old. Although she
will not be participating either, that will not stop her from pursuing her
passion and bettering her skills.
“There
was a match every weekend, the boys made us play as goalkeepers in the
beginning, and in 2002, when I first saw the Women’s World Cup, it sparked my
passion to learn more about this sport,” Gimie, who is also a management
information systems graduate, told Arab News. She joined her first female
football team “Challenge” in Riyadh in 2014.
“It
was the first time I joined something organized. I was happy to be playing but
at the same time, I felt like it was an unreachable goal (to become a
professional athlete or join an official league) I felt like I was growing
older without achieving anything,” she added.
The
midfielder said the rules of football have influenced her character.
“I’m someone who needs passion to live. I
can’t live without having a goal. Since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be a
soccer player,” she said. “There has always been a drive to pursue and achieve
something. Soccer has changed my personality in determination, and to learn and
this was a dream that I wasn’t sure it would ever come true but I had the
determination to continue. And socially, I learned a lot about teamwork and how
to maintain relationships with people.” Kings United coach Elham Al-Amri told
Arab News that women, both athletes and coaches and anyone interested in the
game, had finally been given the opportunity to show their love for the game.
“What’s
even more exciting is the participation of Kings United players to represent
the Saudi League,” she said. “We at Kings United offered our players the right
set of techniques and teachings to increase their chances of participating in
the league.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1748016/sport
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Prince
Harry and Meghan Markle Joined Malala Yousafzai for a Discussion to Celebrate
International Day of the Girl
13
Oct 2020
The
Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle joined Malala
Yousafzai for a discussion to celebrate International Day of the Girl, an
annual campaign launched by UNICEF to amplify women's voices and stand up for
their rights.
Introducing
the theme of the talk, the Nobel Prize laureate started the discussion with the
role education played in both the growth and learning in the royal duo's life
as well as their views on its access all around the world.
"When
young girls have access to education, everyone wins and everyone succeeds. It
just opens doors for societal success at the highest level," opened Meghan
as she thanked Yousufzai.
“What
I had realised very early on was that when women have a seat at the table,
conversations in terms of policy change, conversations in terms of legislation
and the dynamics of the community are all shifted,” she added, revealing why
she was an advocate working with the Association of Commonwealth Universities
herself.
Discussing
how the pandemic has affected young women's access to the necessity, Prince
Harry too, acknowledged its importance, and how he understands it better now
than he did as a child.
"When
you have an education, it provides money, it provides an income which makes you
less susceptible to disaster," he said, identifying its crucial role in
tackling climate change and opening doors to future opportunities.
Malala
too revealed the urgency of the matter since 20 million girls were on the verge
of dropping out of school due to the coronavirus and the limitations it brings
to studying from home.
"They
might be pushed towards child marriages or to become financial supporters of
the family," she said, talking about the need for investment in their
futures.
"We
must ensure they are protected, they do not drop out, and they should be able
to return safely to school."
The
activist also mentioned how all the ways in which people can extend their help
would be available on her website Malala Fund, should they be interested in
working for the nobel cause.
Signing
off, the Duke and Duchess mentioned how the pandemic helped them spend time at
home with their little one Archie.
"We
were both there for Archie's first steps, his first run, his first fall,
everything," celebrated Prince Harry.
"And
it's just fantastic that in so many ways we are fortunate to be able to have
this time to watch him grow, and in the absence of Covid, we would be traveling
and working more externally. We’d miss a lot of those moments," Meghan
revealed.
A
fierce advocate for female education, Malala Yousufzai was a victim of a
assassination when she was shot in retaliation for her activism at the age of
15.
https://images.dawn.com/news/1185887/inside-malala-yousufzais-meeting-with-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle
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The
Muslim Women's Coalition Builds Bridges of Understanding
OCT.
12, 2020
The
Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition (MMWC) sits on the South Side of Milwaukee,
run by a group of influential Muslim women who have worked to educate people
about Muslim culture for the past 25 years. The idea for the organization
started to take shape when the group would meet regularly to discuss the
prejudice and disparaging comments they were experiencing at work. Upset about
the remarks made about their hijabs and customs, the women decided that
teaching others about their culture was the solution.
“The
vast majority of people are not racist by nature, but their racism is
manifested as a result of fear of the unknown,” says president and founding
member Janan Najeeb. “If we can work to help them understand and to help them
address those fears by creating opportunities to engage with them, then I think
we will do a tremendous job of dismantling a lot of these hatreds that are out
there.”
Najeeb
and the group began hosting discussions and recommending readings about the
Muslim religion to non-Muslim groups. But they soon realized how few accurate
books were available in the Milwaukee area. They couldn’t blame people for
knowing so little about their culture when most of the books they could find
about Muslim culture were inaccurate and written by non-Muslims.
So,
the group of women began collecting books with the right messages that they
could lend out. Then, in 2009, when the group became an official 501c3
organization, they acquired their current space on the South Side and built a
library. The library is now filled with thousands of books “that accurately
represent who we are,” says Najeeb. The shelves are also filled with children’s
books that have characters and stories that Muslim children can identify with.
These books are not often found in our public libraries and schools. As Najeeb
explains, it’s important for kids to see names of characters they recognize and
holidays they know. “There’s a sense that they matter, that their story matters
and that they are recognized. That is important when you are a minority.”
Reach
Out and Connect
The
MMWC makes a point to reach and connect with people through multiple mediums,
and the library is only one part of their extensive programming. They host book
clubs, give lectures, offer job training for women, and they even started the
Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival. This year, most of their events are online
because of the pandemic, but that hasn’t slowed them down.
Friends
of the Shepherd
Help
support Milwaukee's locally owned free weekly newspaper.
The
organization still plans to host the film festival this year in collaboration
with the Milwaukee Film Festival by giving people the chance to watch the film
American Muslim online. The film follows a number of Muslim individuals that
were affected by the executive order that Trump signed in 2017 banning
predominately Muslim countries from entering the United States.
The
film and the other events that MMWC create all come back to their core mission
of building bridges of understanding between the Muslim community and the greater
Milwaukee community. As Najeeb explains, “If you create opportunities to really
get to know people, to have a discussion, it’s really difficult to hate them.”
The division in our country can start to wane if we take the time to understand
the cultures we know little about and get to know people outside of our
circles.
https://shepherdexpress.com/news/hero-of-the-week/the-muslim-women-s-coalition-builds-bridges-of-understanding/
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Arab
News Poll Reveals Widespread Positive Attitudes among Saudis toward Women
Driving
October
12, 2020
Newsweek
reports that a joint Arab News and YouGov poll reveals overwhelmingly positive
attitudes among Saudis toward women driving, with approval slightly higher
among women than among men.
Polling
data of 500 people found that 82 percent of women agree that they should be
allowed to drive, and roughly 70 percent of men share that view. It also found
that 80 percent of women intended to drive by applying for a licence.
Economic
and business incentives, the poll found, were key in driving approval for women
driving, while the minority that rejected the idea did so based on perceptions
of negative impacts on safety and because it was perceived to be “against local
cultural traditions.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1747981
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/documentary-nasrin-gives-new-voice/d/123127
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