Fifteen Countries Set To Participate In Women-Only Rally ‘Jameel’ in Saudi Arabia
New
Age Islam News Bureau
14
March 2022
• Saudi
Women Participate In Sharjah Heritage Days
• Girls
with Hijab: Hijab Row that Started from Udupi, Karnataka enters to Aligarh, UP
• No
Looking Back For Dr. Syeda Saiyadain Hameed, Only Woman Qazi with 17 ‘Nikahs’
In Her Kitty
• Amazon
Launches Hiring Program for Female Delivery Associates in Saudi Arabia
• Woman
in US Stabs Man During Date in Revenge for Qassem Soleimani Killing: Police
• Israeli
Settler Fires at Palestinian School Girls, Terrorizing Them
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/jameel-saudi-arabia-women-rally/d/126569
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Fifteen
Countries Set To Participate In Women-Only Rally ‘Jameel’ in Saudi Arabia
Saudi
rally driver Dania Akeel. (Rally Jameel)
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March
14, 2022
JEDDAH:
Thirty-four teams from 15 countries will take part in Saudi Arabia’s Rally
Jameel on March 17-19, with the competitors, who range from complete beginners
to seasoned rally veterans, flying in from all corners of the globe for the new
women-only navigational event.
The
majority of teams entered are from Saudi Arabia, with 22 teams waving the flag
for the Kingdom, and both Riyadh and Jeddah are well represented.
Dania
Akeel, who was the first Saudi to participate in the Dakar Rally in 2022, said:
“Rally Jameel inspires a sense of adventure and discovery. This rally will
support the increasing number of women on the road to become comfortable behind
the wheel and experience driving in a completely different way to driving on
the road.”
The
Gulf Cooperation Council will also be well represented, with teams from both
the UAE and Oman taking part in the rally. For most of them, this will be the
first time they will have driven in Saudi Arabia, after King Salman passed a
decree recognizing women’s rights to drive on Sept. 26, 2017. Women were
permitted to drive on public roads by the following summer.
Sanaa
Al-Shekaili, who was the first Omani racer from the GCC to participate in the
2020 Middle East Rally Championship, finishing in third place, said: “Rally
Jameel is my chance to renew the love I’ve had of challenges since my
childhood, especially in the field of motor racing, where I have the ability to
challenge myself and the other competitors in this distinguished GCC women-only
event.
“This
is very exciting to participate in,” added Al-Shekaili, who also established
the first women’s car club in Oman. “As well as empowering Omani women in the
world of car racing and rallying, it is also showcasing Omani women in this
field on the international stage.”
Some
competitors will be flying into Saudi Arabia from much further afield, with
three teams taking part from the US. Europe will also be well represented with
a team from Sweden and a team from Spain. Closer to home, there will also be
one team from nearby Egypt taking to the roads between Hail and Riyadh.
US-based
competitor Sedona Blinson, who has previously participated in Rally Jameel’s
inspiration, the Rebelle Rally, said: “Taking part in Rally Jameel, for me, is
an incredible way to support women who are new to the scene of off-roading and
motorsports. My goal is to inspire more women to try their hand in motorsports
and embrace new adventures. I am most looking forward to competing with an
array of international teams and navigating the beautiful deserts of Saudi
Arabia.”
The
navigational rally, which is not designed as a speed test, will start in the
north-central city of Hail, taking in the sites of Al-Qassim city and then
heading to the capital Riyadh via hidden checkpoints and challenges.
Source:
Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2042021/sport
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Saudi
Women Participate In Sharjah Heritage Days
Saudi
women participate in Sharjah Heritage Days. (SPA)
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March
13, 2022
SHARJAH:
Saudi craftswomen and female art teams are participating in the 19th edition of
the Sharjah Heritage Days.
Organized
by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage under the slogan “Heritage and the
Future,” the event will run until March 28 in the Heritage Square at the heart
of Sharjah.
Sharjah
Heritage Days, in which 33 countries are participating from across the world,
aims to link the past with the present and to seek inspiration in heritage for
future achievements.
Al-Sorayai
Art Group from Al-Ahsa is participating in the event, with the Saudi team
presenting traditional Saudi art, in addition to plastic arts.
Fatima
Al-Ghamdi, a trainer and craftswoman, said that she came to participate in
Sharjah Heritage Days upon an invitation from the Sharjah Heritage Institute to
introduce visitors to Saudi heritage, representing the diverse regions of the
Kingdom through clothing and embroidery.
Aida
Al-Harthy is participating through one of the Kingdom’s oldest traditional
crafts, the art of Sadu weaving, which represents humans’ adaptation to their
environment by transforming raw material into usable goods, such as rugs and
blankets.
The
craft, Al-Harthy explained, depends on materials and tools including camel or
goat hair and spindles and wooden pegs.
Khalid
bin Fahd Al-Hamim, the supervisor of the Saudi team participating in Sharjah
Heritage Days, said that the participation of “the daughters of the homeland”
in the festival is a demonstration of their strong presence in representing the
Kingdom in regional and international forums.
“Saudi
women are proving to be pioneers in all activities and fields,” he added.
Source:
Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2041796/saudi-arabia
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Girls
with Hijab: Hijab Row that Started from Udupi, Karnataka enters to Aligarh, UP
Mar
13, 2022
AGRA:
A prominent college in Aligarh issued a notice on Saturday "banning"
entry of students in the campus without “prescribed uniforms” and refused entry
to Muslim girls who had their hijab on. The Shree Varshney College directed
them not to cover their faces while attending class. Several students returned
home after they were denied entry.
A
BA first year student said that the staff refused to let her in. “Now, I am
returning home,” she told TOI.
Another
student, studying in BSc final year, said that the college authorities had
first asked her to remove the burqa which she was wearing while entering the
campus and later they wanted her to remove the hijab, too. “I was respectfully
entering the college. I fail to understand why they have a problem with our
hijab,” she said. “I am not prepared to go anywhere without a hijab and the
college is not allowing us to enter the campus anymore.”
Administrative
officer of the college, Beena Upadhyaya, said that this notice is a
"reminder" to students that there is a “dress code” in the college
and the same has to be adhered to.
When
contacted, college proctor Anil Varshney said, "The dress code is clearly
mentioned in the prospectus. We only want students to follow rules and
regulations of the college.”
Asked
why the order had come so suddenly, a senior official in the college, who
refused to be identified, said, "We are following directions. The students
have just been told that dress codes will be implemented with more seriousness
now."
A
student, who is now in the third year, said, "Yes, that's what we were
told. The strange thing is that I have always come to college wearing a hijab.
No one had a problem with it during my first year and then the second."
The
college is affiliated to Dr BR Ambedkar University, Agra, and is considered to
be one of the "eminent “colleges of the varsity. It was established in
1947. According to authorities, there are 7,000 students and, of these, 60% are
women, including 250 Muslim students.
The
"hijab row" had started in a college in Udupi, Karnataka, recently
when some students wearing the scarf were not allowed to enter the campus.
Later, the state government contended that wearing hijab was "not an
essential religious practice" and asked students not to wear it inside
schools and colleges. The matter is in court now.
Source:
Times Of India
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No
Looking Back For Dr. Syeda Saiyadain Hameed, Only Woman Qazi with 17 ‘Nikahs’
In Her Kitty
Mar
13, 2022
HYDERABAD:
Dr. Syeda Saiyadain Hameed, former chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu
University (MANUU), Hyderabad, has redefined the Muslim marriage system by
donning the role of a Qazi, the first and perhaps the only woman Qazi in India.
With
16 marriages as a woman qazi in her kitty, Dr Syeda Saiyadain took a step
forward on Friday when she solemnised the Nikah of the great grandson of former
President Dr Zakir Hussain. Several religious scholars in the city have
supported her saying that there is no bar on women taking up the task of a
Qazi.
“I
have been inspired by Islam and the Holy Quran to take up the role of a qazi.
Islam accords a high status to women. The Holy Quran makes it clear that there
is no compulsion in religion,” Dr Syeda Saiyadain told TOI. She first broke the
patriarchy in 2008 when she performed a ‘Nikah’ as a qazi in Lucknow. Since
then there’s no looking back for this former member of planning commission of
India.
Dr
Syeda, who served as the chancellor of Manuu for two terms, performed the
‘nikah’ of Gibran Rehan Rahman, great grandson of Dr Zakir Hussain, with Ursila
Ali on March 11 in Delhi. Incidentally, the bride had insisted that the wedding
be solemnised by a woman Qazi and the groom and his family had agreed to the
proposal. After the wedding, she said a woman qazi performing marriage is
embodying the spirit of justice and equality enshrined within the practice of
Islam.
Reacting
to a woman qazi performing the ‘Nikahs’, Prof Salma Ahmed Farooqui, senior
historian and professor at HK Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, Maulana Azad
National Urdu University, said indeed, it was a breakaway from patriarchy and
redefining tradition. “Who better than Syeda Saiyadain Hameed could have done
this? She was the chancellor of Manuu for six years, a double term,” she added.
Mufti
Anwar Ahmad of Jamia Nizamia told TOI that there is no bar on a woman playing
the role of a qazi. “Since the role of a qazi is external, a woman can act as a
qazi for solemnising ‘nikah’,” he said, adding that men Qazis should be
preferred.
Concurs
Mufti Mastan Ali, who had introduced the concept of women muftis in Hyderabad.
“What is essential is two consenting adults – a man and a woman – and two
witnesses. A woman qazi is permissible as per Shariah,” he said.
Source:
Times Of India
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Amazon
launches hiring program for female delivery associates in Saudi Arabia
March
12, 2022
RIYADH:
Amazon on Saturday launched a program to create job opportunities for Saudi
women in ecommerce logistics and delivery industries, said a press release.
The
company first launched the program in 2021 in Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, and Dammam,
creating significant interest among women to work in the logistics industry.
This
year the program will scale with opportunities for female delivery associates
in Jazan, Qassim, Makkah, Madinah, and Hofuf.
Through
this initiative, Amazon has reinforced its commitment to enabling Saudi women
to build successful careers in ecommerce logistics and delivery industries,
expanding its global efforts to Saudi Arabia, the press release added.
Prashant
Saran, director of operations for Amazon Middle East and North Africa, said:
“This is another step in creating a more inclusive and equitable environment
for women, in support of the Saudi national transformation journey. We are
proud to partner with local businesses across the country to level the playing
field by offering opportunities for talented women in Saudi Arabia in this
future-facing sector. We believe that diversity unlocks different perspectives,
enabling us to innovate to serve the evolving needs of our diverse customers.”
Working
with its delivery service partners, Amazon will upskill and train Saudi women
with the skills, technology and experience needed to be successful in suitable
logistics and delivery roles. Their routes will include deliveries to
universities, hospitals, compounds and schools, and to help balance their
individual needs, working hours for these shifts will be created with added
flexibility.
Commenting
on the program, Eman Sayer Al-Enezi, the first Saudi woman delivery associate,
said: “Since joining Amazon, I have been extremely impressed with the company’s
efforts to support its female delivery associates. Right from day one, I felt
at ease thanks to the measures taken to ensure my safety and comfort on the
job.”
Mohammed
Swaidan, Last Mile Operations head at Amazon Saudi Arabia, said: “It has been
extremely rewarding to see this program come to life and create new
opportunities for Saudi women. At Amazon, we are committed to utilizing our
resources and technologies to support the success of women in Saudi Arabia.”
Since
the launch of Amazon.sa in 2020, Amazon has invested in the country, expanded
its fulfillment and delivery network and created diverse opportunities for
people. The company has created one of the most advanced fulfillment and
delivery networks, thereby creating 1,500 local jobs to date.
Source:
Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2041086/business-economy
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Woman
in US stabs man during date in revenge for Qassem Soleimani killing: Police
13
March ,2022
A
woman stabbed her date whom she had met online in retaliation for the 2020
death of an Iranian military leader killed in an American drone strike, police
said.
Nika
Nikoubin, 21, has been charged with attempted murder, battery with a deadly
weapon and burglary, KLAS-TV reported.
Nikoubin
and the man met online on a dating website, Henderson police wrote in an arrest
report. The pair then agreed to meet at Sunset Station hotel on March 5,
renting a room together.
While
in the room, Nikoubin put a blindfold on the man, police said. She then turned
off the lights, and several minutes later, the man “felt a pain on the side of
his neck,” KLAS reported.
Nikoubin
reportedly stabbed the man in the neck “for revenge against US troops for the
killing of Qassem Soleimani in 2020,” police wrote in a report.
US
forces killed Soleimani, a top general in Iran’s military, in a drone strike in
January 2020.
Soleimani
headed the expeditionary Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.
responsible for the Islamic Republic’s foreign operations. He gained prominence
for advising Shia paramilitary forces fighting ISIS in Iraq, before it was
defeated in 2017.
After
the stabbing, the man pushed Nikoubin off of him and ran out of the room to
call 911, police said.
Nikoubin
also ran out of the room, telling a hotel employee that she had just stabbed a
man, police said.
When
talking to police, Nikoubin told an investigator “she wanted revenge,” police
said. She said she had listened to a song called “Grave Digger,” which “gave
her the motivation… to carry out her revenge.”
The
man’s current condition was not available, the Las Vegas Review Journal
reported.
Nikoubin
is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing March 24, the
newspaper said, It's not clear if she has a lawyer yet.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Israeli
settler fires at Palestinian school girls, terrorizing them
13
March 2022
An
Israeli settler armed with live ammunition has attacked Palestinian school
girls in the occupied West Bank.
The
official Palestinian news agency Wafa, citing medical sources, reported the
shooting spree took place on Sunday morning in Tuqu, a Palestinian town
southeast of Bethlehem.
Bassam
Jabr, an official of the Bethlehem Education Directorate, confirmed that an
Israeli settler who was armed with a rifle got off a bus loaded with settlers
and opened gunfire towards the school children. The official said the shooting
attack sparked a state of panic and fear among the school children.
In
the aftermath of the attack, hundreds of students were evacuated to a safe
shelter before being sent home, the report said.
Every
year, Palestinian children fall victim to acts of violence by Israeli forces
and settlers across the occupied territories.
In
2021, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian
Territory Lynn Hastings said the Tel Aviv regime has a responsibility for
protecting Palestinian children and teachers from attacks conducted by settlers
on their way to and from school.
Israeli
settlers have escalated attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank in recent
months. Palestinian property is often targeted in arson attacks by the
settlers. They also paint graffiti on the Palestinian belongings or the walls
of their houses. Israeli authorities rarely, if ever, prosecute the assailants,
and the vast majority of the files are closed due to deliberate police failure
to investigate properly.
For
years, Israel has given military protection to settlers in their assaults on
the Palestinian property. In some cases, Israeli troops have actively
participated in the attacks.
The
United Nations has already warned of a surge in Israeli settler violence
against Palestinians, mostly in the areas of al-Khalil, al-Quds, Nablus and
Ramallah.
Source:
Press TV
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/13/678488/Israeli-settler-West-Bank
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/jameel-saudi-arabia-women-rally/d/126569