Fadwa Hammoud, Michigan Attorney Is First Muslim Arab American Woman to Stand before U. S. Supreme Court
New
Age Islam News Bureau
09
October 2021
•
US Olympic Fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Accuses Teacher of Forcibly Removing
Student's Hijab in New Jersey
•
Delhi High Court Issues Notice to Centre on Plea against Order on Talaq al-Sunnah
•
Indian Woman Files Case against Spouse for Giving Triple Talaq over Phone
•
Women’s Golf Playing an Important Role in National Integration of Pakistan
•
Hindu Women Come Out To Join Protests against Namaz at Public Places in
Gurugram
•
European Countries Repatriate, Detain Female Daesh Members
•
Plight Of Afghan Women Haunts Pakistani Nun
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/fadwa-hammoud-michigan-arab-/d/125545
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Fadwa
Hammoud, Michigan Attorney Is First Muslim Arab American Woman to Stand before
U. S. Supreme Court
October
8, 2021
Michigan's
solicitor general, Fadwa Hammoud
-----
By
Joseph Hammond
Fadwa
Hammoud made history this week when she became the first Muslim Arab American
woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
“When
we talk about the Supreme Court bar, it’s a mirror looking down at the entire
legal profession,” Hammoud said in an interview last week, “We collectively
lose when our Supreme Court bar is not as diverse as our nation.”
Hammoud’s
appearance was to argue in the case of Brown v. Davenport. The case concerns
the 2007 conviction of Ervine Davenport for murder in Michigan. Davenport was shackled
for the duration of his trial but, no reason for him being shackled was listed
in the court records. His lawyers say his shackling prejudiced the jury against
him.
Hammoud’s
career has been one of historic firsts. She became the first Arab American
Muslim solicitor general in 2019, when Attorney General Dana Nessel appointed
Michigan’s 12th solicitor general. She moved to Michigan from Lebanon at age
11, eventually graduating from Fordson High School in Dearborn. The school is
also noteworthy for being a public school with a majority-Muslim population. A
2011 NPR report noted that 90% of the school’s population was Muslim. Robert
Saleh, who became the NFL’s first Muslim head coach earlier this year, is also
an alumnus of the school. Hammoud graduated from the University of Michigan,
Dearborn, and later graduated from the Wayne State University Law School. After
holding a United States District Court clerkship, she held a number of roles as
a prosecuting attorney in Michigan’s Wayne County.
Hammoud’s
appearance at the Supreme Court is one of several important firsts for Muslims
in the American legal system in recent months. In June, Zahid Quraishi became
the first presidentially appointed Muslim American judge to a federal court.
The New Jersey-born former military veteran also holds the distinction of being
the first person of Asian American heritage to sit on the federal bench in New
Jersey.
Harvard
Law Review elected its first Muslim president, Hassaan Shahawy. In the
position, the Los Angeles-born Egyptian American follows the prestigious
footsteps of multiple Supreme Court judges and one former president of the
United States, Barack Obama.
Source:
Religion News Service
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US
Olympic Fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Accuses Teacher of Forcibly Removing
Student's Hijab in New Jersey
Michael
Hernandez
Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first Muslim-American woman
to wear a veil while competing for the US Olympic team
-----
08.10.2021
WASHINGTON
Ibtihaj
Muhammad, the first Muslim-American woman to wear a veil while competing for
the US Olympic team, has alleged a teacher "forcibly" removed a
student's hijab in the city of Maplewood in New Jersey.
Muhammad
said the incident occurred on Wednesday at Seth Boyden Elementary when teacher
Tamar Herman allegedly attempted to remove the head covering, and was met with
resistance from the female student who sought "to hold onto her hijab, but
the teacher pulled the hijab off, exposing her hair to the class."
"Herman
told the student that her hair was beautiful and she did not have to wear hijab
to school anymore. Imagine being a child and stripped of your clothing in front
of your classmates," she said. "Imagine the humiliation and trauma
this experience has caused her. This is abuse. Schools should be a haven for
all of our kids to feel safe, welcome and protected— no matter their
faith."
Muhammad's
post has accrued over 36,000 likes on Instagram.
The
South Orange-Maplewood School District said it is investigating the allegation,
adding it "takes matters of discrimination extremely seriously." But
it maintained that "Social Media is not a reliable forum for due process
and the staff member(s) involved are entitled to due process before any action
is taken."
"We
must abide by our legal obligations to keep personnel and student matters
confidential," it said. "Any decision or outcome related to this will
be reserved for after the completion of the investigation."
Still,
the New Jersey branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Muslim advocacy group said the educator should be fired immediately without an
investigation being completed.
"Racist
teachers like this cannot be trusted around our children," Executive
Director Selaedin Maksut said on Twitter.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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Delhi
High Court Issues Notice to Centre on Plea against Order on Talaq al-Sunnah
October
9, 2021
THE
DELHI High Court on Friday issued a notice to the Centre on a review petition
against an order passed by the court last month by which it dismissed a plea
seeking to declare Talaq al-Sunnah, a type of divorce in Islamic jurisprudence,
as unconstitutional and discriminatory.
On
September 23, while hearing the petition of a Muslim woman who fears her
husband will divorce her by Talaq al-Sunnah, the division bench of Justice
Vipin Sanghi and Justice Jasmeet Singh said the plea was misconceived in the
light of the enactment of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage)
Act, 2019, which declares pronouncement of Talaq as illegal.
The
petition seeks a clarification whether Talaq al-Sunnah falls within the
definition of talaq under Section 2(c) of the 2019 law which states that talaq
“means Talaq-e-biddat or any other similar form of talaq having the effect of
instantaneous and irrevocable divorce pronounced by a Muslim husband”. Talaq
al-sunnah, also involving pronouncement of divorce by the husband, has a
waiting period.
The
petition challenges the “assumed absolute discretion” of the Muslim husband to
give divorce to his wife “at any time without any reason and without advance
notice to wife”.
The
court listed the matter for hearing on January 12.
Source:
Indian Express
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Indian
Woman Files Case against Spouse for Giving Triple Talaq over Phone
Oct
9, 2021
BENGALURU:
A 28-year-old homemaker from Sultanpalya near Hebbal has filed a complaint
against her husband for pronouncing triple Talaq over the phone.
The
accused is Ali, a businessman. Police have booked him under Muslim Women
(Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019. “We have issued notices to the
parties in the case, requesting them to appear before police,” an investigation
officer said, adding: “The complaint was first registered with RT Nagar police.
Due to jurisdictional issues, the case has been transferred to us.”
In
her complaint, the woman said: “We were married in November 2020 and my husband
sent me back to my parents’ house for not bringing dowry. A few days ago, he
called my mobile and repeated Talaq three times.”
Source:
Times of India
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Women’s
Golf Playing an Important Role in National Integration of Pakistan
OCTOBER
9, 2021
LAHORE:
The inaugural Balochistan Women’s Golf Championship was held from September
25-26 in Quetta with 50 golfers from all over Pakistan taking part in it. It
was truly a unique event with Dr Asma Afzal Shami, Chairperson of Pakistan Golf
Federation (PGF) Women’s Wing, putting in her great efforts for promotion of
women’s golf in the country. It is pertinent to mention that women’s golf in
Pakistan had remained low key affair till 2016 when General Zaheer-Ul-Islam,
the then PGF President, acceded to Dr Shami’s passionate request to sanction
the holding of an exclusive annual Women’s Golf Championship at the national
level to be rotated between Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. This proved to be a
game changer from which there has been no looking back. Since then, Dr Shami,
along with the other two women members of the PGF’s executive committee — Ms
Zeenat Ayesha and Mrs Humaira Khalid — have been able to prevail upon Punjab,
Sindh, Khyber Pakhtinkhaw and Federal Golf Associations to sanction similar
Women’s Golf Championships in their respective domains.
However,
as Balochistan had so far remained outside this circuit, it had for long been
Dr Shami’s ardent desire to take women’s golf to Quetta. It took three years
for this dream to be realized. When she first floated this idea she expected
just a few women to join her. But to her pleasant surprise, the numbers just
kept increasing by the day. In keeping with the best norms of successful
leadership, Dr Shami formed a core team of very competent and equally zealous
women golfers for carrying out the meticulous planning and flawless execution
required for the success of this rather unique event. Working under the overall
supervision of Mamoona Azam, Rahina Ehtisham (Lahore), Zeenat Ayesha
(Islamabad) and Fawzia Naqvi (Karachi), this core team successfully overcame
the multifarious challenges involved in synchronising the movement of 50 women
golfers flying in from Islamabad, Lahore Karachi, as well as in arranging their
reception, transportation, board and lodging, and final departure from Quetta.
Mrs Mahzareen Gul, a resident of Quetta, was designated as the ‘Official
Hostess’ and went out of her way to facilitate the working of this team.
Pakistan WAPDA Chairman made a generous donation of Rs.500,000/- towards
subsiding the accommodation costs of the participants.
While
Mrs Mahzareen Gul, as the tournament director, assisted by Seharbano Hamdani
and Munazza Shaheen, conducted the actual golf championship strictly according
to R&A Rules, Bela Azam, Shabana Waheed, Iffat Zahra and Shehnaz Moeen
ensured the flawless conduct of the prize distribution ceremony. The
championship itself was very hotly contested. As there was a tie between Rimsha
Ejaz, handicap 2, (151) and Hamna Amjad, handicap 1.7, (151), Rimsha Ejaz was
declared as the overall winner of the vhampionship on back count. The real high
point of this trip was the induction of 14 young sportswomen of Balochistan
into the fraternity of women’s golf. Their interest in golf indicated their
zeal and motivated the visiting women golfers to facilitate them even further.
Source:
Daily Times
https://dailytimes.com.pk/827156/womens-golf-playing-an-important-role-in-national-integration/
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Hindu
women come out to join protests against Namaz at public places in Gurugram
9
October, 2021
In
the wake of the ongoing protests against the offering of Namaz at public places
in the Gurugram, the Hindu women of the Gurugram sector 47 came out today to
join the protest. The women sang Hindu devotional songs ‘Kirtans’ and ‘Aratis’
as a sign of protest against the public Namaz. This was also accompanied by
Namaz offering by the Muslims who had gathered there.
Gurugram
News reported a video from the scene showing a large crowd at sector 47.
According to reports, the Hindu women of the area joined the protests against
the public offering of Namaz taking place in the area. In the video, it could
be seen both men and women were present at the scene chanting slogans.
Reportedly, the Hindu women sang devotional songs such as ‘Bhajans’ and
‘Kirtans’ to protest against the public offering of Namaz by the Muslims. Also,
the report said that the Namaz offering was being carried out under full police
security.
Last
month, there was a huge protest against the public offering of Namaz going on
in the area. The local residents protested against the Muslim men crowding
around their place and accused them of breaking law and order. Later, an RTI
query was filed after Gurugram Police had claimed that Muslims were allowed to
offer Namaz at public places as per a mutual discussion between Hindus and
Muslims.
Advocate
Abhishek Sharma of Gurugram district Court then filed an RTI and sought details
of such namaz spots and the representatives of communities who were part of the
‘mutual agreements’. Sharma has also sought information on action taken against
the encroachers in a letter to the Public Information Officer. However,
Gurugram Police has deleted the tweet where it had claimed that Namaz at public
places were allowed after mutual agreements of both Hindus and Muslims.
Source:
Opindia
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European
countries repatriate, detain female Daesh members
October
08, 2021
LONDON:
Germany and Denmark have flown female suspected Daesh members and their
children from Syria.
Many
of the adult women were arrested on arrival, but the countries pledged to do
all they can for the “blameless” children.
Germany
repatriated 23 children and their eight mothers from Roj camp on Wednesday
evening, while Denmark brought back 14 children and three women.
Germany’s
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the children bore no responsibility for their
situation and “it is right that we do everything to make possible for them a
life in safety and a good environment.”
But,
he added, “the mothers will have to answer to criminal justice for their
actions.”
He
thanked Kurdish authorities in Syria, Denmark, and “our American partners, who
provided logistical support.”
US
allies the Syrian Democratic Forces, a majority Kurdish group with a
significant Arab contingent, have been overseeing the detention of thousands of
former Daesh members and their families.
But
they have been vocal in their desire for states to bring home their citizens in
the camps, saying they cannot hold them in perpetuity.
Conditions
in the camps are extremely dangerous and unsanitary, but the SDF — which is
still involved directly in the Syrian war — does not have the resources to
improve the lives of its detainees.
Germany
and Denmark will charge some of the women returning from Syria with
terrorism-related crimes, including membership of a foreign terrorist
organization and promoting terrorism.
Countries
such as the UK have taken a different approach, choosing not to repatriate any
adults and instead stripping them of their citizenship.
A
British woman currently in Syria, Nicole Jack, pleaded with authorities earlier
this week to allow her to return home.
Her
mother also begged the government to allow Jack and her three daughters home,
saying her grandchildren did not deserve to be condemned to a life in refugee
camps and that her daughter should “face the consequences” of her actions in
British courts.
Another
high-profile British case has been that of 22-year-old Shamima Begum, who made
headlines for contesting the removal of her citizenship.
Last
month, she begged the British public to forgive her for joining Daesh when she
was 15, saying in an interview there was “no evidence” that she had a role in
preparing acts of terrorism.
Health
Secretary Sajid Javid was home secretary when the decision was made to remove
her citizenship.
He
defended the move, saying it was “morally right” because it was done in order
to “protect the British people.”
It
is estimated that there are at least 16 British women and 35-60 British
children detained in Syrian camps.
Source:
Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1943866/world
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Plight
of Afghan women haunts Pakistani nun
Kamran
Chaudhry
October
09, 2021
A
Pakistan-born Catholic nun who worked in Afghanistan until the Taliban takeover
says the plight and lack of freedom of women in the country still trouble her.
Women
are considered inconsequential in Afghanistan, said Sister Shahnaz Bhatti from
the Sisters of Charity of St. Jeanne-Antide Thouret, who fled the troubled
Central Asian country following the Taliban victory on Aug. 15.
Young
women are forced against their will to marry men selected by the patriarch of
the family, said Sister Bhatti, who served in Afghanistan as part of the
pontifical mission set up by Pope John Paul II in May 2002.
“The
most trying thing was not being able to move about freely because, as women, we
always had to be accompanied by a man,” Sister Bhatti said in an interview with
papal charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) on Sept. 22.
The
congregation, founded by St. Jeanne-Antide Thouret in 1797 in France, ran a
school for children with intellectual disabilities and Down’s syndrome in the
capital Kabul. Sister Bhatti served in the school along with Sister Teresia of
the Sisters of Maria Bambina (Sisters of Holy Child Mary) and Sister Irene of
the Missionary Sisters of Consolata.
“It
was my job to complete all the necessary paperwork at the banks or other
government agencies, but I always had to be accompanied by a local man,” she
added.
Women
religious had to dress like the local women and were constantly being
monitored, Sister Bhatti said, recalling her experience in Afghanistan, where
US-led forces were engaged in a 20-year war and humanitarian assistance.
Afghans
consider all foreigners to be Christians, she added.
With
fewer than 1,000 Christians in Afghanistan, the mission provided humanitarian
assistance in Kabul and in southern parts of the country with the help of
Missionaries of Charity sisters and an inter-congregational organization.
The
US-backed alliance pulled out of Afghanistan after US President Joe Biden
decided to end Washington's longest war.
Italy
was a key member of the military operation which aimed at training Afghans
after the departure of foreign soldiers. The pontifical mission was housed in
the Italian embassy.
Since
the takeover, the Taliban have been imposing a massive rollback of women’s
rights in Afghanistan including segregating universities by gender and a new
dress code for girls, media reports say.
Abdul
Baqi Haqqani, Taliban’s higher education minister, has said that women will not
be allowed to study alongside men. Except for those in the public healthcare
services, the Taliban have asked all women to stay away from work until
security improves in the nation.
Sister
Bhatti said families of children whom they taught “keep calling us to ask for
help,” adding that they are currently exposed to a “grave danger.”
Observing
religious rituals was challenging in Afghanistan and Sunday was just like
another weekday, she recalled.
Her
colleagues left one by one and she lived alone for more than a year. Following
the Taliban victory, the nun helped members of other congregations and 14
children with disabilities to board an Italy-bound flight.
On
her day of departure from Kabul, the nun said she found “mayhem” all around at
Hamid Karzai International Airport and it took two hours for them to reach the
airport amid shooting.
Sister
Bhatti thanked Italy's Foreign Ministry, the International Red Cross and
Barnabite priest Father Giovanni Scalese from the papal mission in Afghanistan
for helping her escape the troubled nation.
Source:
UCA News
https://www.ucanews.com/news/plight-of-afghan-women-haunts-pakistani-nun/94470#
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