Indian Actress Ameesha Patel on the Kerala Story: Films Should Promote Unity, Peace and Harmony
New Age
Islam News Bureau
19
May 20123
• Indian Actress Ameesha Patel on The Kerala Story:
Films Should Promote Unity, Peace and Harmony
• Arab Stars Celebrate Women at Red Sea Film Festival
and Vanity Fair’s Cannes Gala
• UN Officials Urge Iraq to Push on with Reforms and
Preserve Women’s Rights
• Noor Hidayu Juhan, a Malaysian Mother Longs To Meet
Son She Gave Up For Adoption 14 Years Ago
• Chairman Says US House Committee 'Will Do All It Can'
for Afghan Women
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/indian-actress-ameesha-kerala/d/129811
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Indian Actress Ameesha Patel on The Kerala Story: Films Should Promote Unity, Peace and Harmony
Ameesha
Patel, Indian actress
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May
18, 2023
Controversial
film The Kerala Story has been making a lot of noise in the industry with its
content and intent. Directed by Sudipto Sen, the movie which stars Adah Sharma,
YogitaBihani, SonaiBalani and Siddhi Idnani, tells the story of young women who
had escaped religious conversion in Kerala. Amid this, Ameesha Patel talked
about her upcoming film Gadar 2 and shared her two cents on religious
conversion.
During
a recent media interaction, Ameesha, who is currently gearing up for the
release of her upcoming film Gadar 2 with Sunny Deol, said that films should
unite different sections of the society and they should promote unity, peace
and harmony.
She
then went on to say that her film Gadar shows no hatred but spreads only love.
She said that the film shows all religions, castes, and creeds. She then cited
an example from the film saying that in Gadar, a Muslim woman marries a Hindu
man and she still didn't forget her religion. Not just that, but even Sunny
Deol's character Tara Singh accepted Islam for his love.
Meanwhile,
Gadar 2, directed by Anil Sharma, is the continuation of the first part but the
story takes a 20-year leap. The conflict of Gadar 2 is reportedly said to
unfold around the 1971 India-Pakistan War.
The
Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel-starrer created an insurmountable stir in
Bollywood when it released in 2001 and clashed against Aamir Khan's Oscar
nominated Lagaan. In the sequel, Sunny and Ameesha will be reprising their
roles of Tara Singh and Sakeena along with Utkarsh Sharma, who plays their son
in the film.
Source:
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/gadar-2-actress-ameesha-patel-says-sunny-deols-character-tara-singh-accepted-islam-for-his-love-films-should-promote-unity-peace-and-harmony/articleshow/100336018.cms
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Arab
Stars Celebrate Women at Red Sea Film Festival and Vanity Fair’s Cannes Gala
(L-R)
Razane Jammal, Fatima Al-Banawi, Sara Ali Khan, Mohammed Al-Turki, Simone
Marchetti, Tara Emad, Mila Al-Zahrani and Jade Osiberu attend the Red Sea
International Film Festival’s ‘Women’s Stories Gala’ in partnership with Vanity
Fair Europe . (Getty Images)
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May
19, 2023
CANNES:
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival and Vanity Fair on Thursday
hosted a “women’s stories gala after party” during the Cannes Film Festival to
celebrate female talent in the region.
The
star-studded event was attended by Leonardo DiCaprio, Katie Holmes, Maiwenn,
The Weeknd, Gaspar Noe, Storm Reid, Tobey Maguire, Gurinder Chadha, Fan
Bingbing, Freida Pinto, Simone Marchetti, Eva Herzigova, Naomi Campbell and
more.
The
event, held at the famed Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes, honored six
stars from the region: Saudi actresses Mila Al-Zahrani and Fatima Al-Banawi,
Lebanese actress RazaneJammal, Indian star Sarah Ali Khan, Egyptian-Montenegrin
actress and model Tara Emad and Nigerian filmmaker Jade Osiberu.
In
an interview with Arab News, Emad said: “I am very proud of myself, of each and
every women here that is an honoree. I am proud of our industry, of Egypt (and)
of the Arab world. I am glad to be able to represent Egypt and the Arab word in
general.
“I
am happy to be able to see the representation that I always sought to see as a
young girl,” she said. “I hope that the six of us can be that representation to
all the girls and all the women in the Arab region that seek to see themselves
in the spotlight in any career that they choose.”
Khan
believes it was a “privilege” to be part of the event. “I think if I had to
identify myself in three words it would probably be: Indian, woman (and) actor.
And I am here to celebrate all three today,” she said.
To
Al-Banawi, moments like these are no longer a surprise.
“I
reached to a point where I am really not surprised because Saudi Arabia is
trying to prove that we are creating stories that are inspiring, magical and
that push for change and development,” she said. “I am very happy that we are
here in Cannes Film Festival, celebrating each other and celebrating with each other.
“I
feel like the narrative we represented in the light that was always on us was a
very specific one and I don’t think women were part of it. I think it was
written by others,” she said. “Today, I am celebrating women that are writing,
that are creating and challenging and honoring themselves and other fellow
women.
“I
think it takes so much courage to tell one story, let alone if there was so
many stories that were shaping you in a specific discourse or a specific
channel or a specific light. It takes more courage to unleash, to unfold new
possibilities and new opportunities. I always remind myself to be OK with
taking up space, with speaking my opinion, with addressing what I feel could be
wrong or should be changed,” Al-Banawi said.
Jammal
said that she never differentiated between a man and a woman.
“Maybe
because I lived in a little bubble because I was raised by a man that empowered
me and told me that there was no difference between me and my brother. So maybe
I never grew up feeling that being a woman is a challenge. If anything, I felt
like it was a superpower,” she said.
But
when she joined the workforce, she realized that women faced challenges.
“I
am learning now as I am more exposed to a wider audience, and depending on their
reactions I can learn about them more,” she said. “As a woman, I am really
happy to be representing a person who chased her dreams, who is self-made, who
is independent, and I am just trying to do my best and I am just really happy
that the best is just working for me right now.”
Portugese
model Sara Sampaio, who also attended, said that being part of the women’s
stories gala was “so special.”
“Women
are amazing, and for the longest time we didn’t have stories told by our point
of views. It’s very important,” she said.
Mohammed
Al-Turki, CEO of the Red Sea Film Festival, told Arab News: “We are very happy
to be celebrating women. We are very proud that we can share stories from our
region. Today, we are highlighting six females from our region: two from Saudi
— Mila Zahran and Fatima Al-Banawi — from Egypt Tara Emad, from Lebanon
RazaneJammal, from Nigeria Jade and from India Sara Ali Khan.
“It
is quite an interesting mix and for us to be able to showcase these talents to
the world, to be in a room tonight with the likes of Katie Holmes and more, is
a big incredible moment for us,” he said.
“I
think the dream has come true. I never thought a Saudi co-production would open
Cannes with a female director of Algerian descent,” he said. “So it is an
indicator that we are going. And if this is just three years of Red Sea, I
think we should just fasten our seatbelt and go for a ride because we are going
to see incredible things moving forward.”
This
year, Cannes Film Festival opened with the screening of Johnny Depp’s “Jeanne
du Barry,” which was backed by the Red Sea International Film Festival.
Source:
arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2306381/lifestyle
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UN
officials urge Iraq to push on with reforms and preserve women’s rights
May
19, 2023
NEW
YORK CITY: UN officials on Thursday urged the Iraqi government to push ahead
with political and economic reforms, and to continue talks with Kuwait about
reparations for the disappearance of Kuwaitis during the Iraqi invasion in
1990.
They
also discussed the human rights situation in the country, in particular as it
relates to the rights of Iraqi women, and called on other nations in the region
to refrain from violating Iraq’s territory and sovereignty.
Speaking
during a meeting of the Security Council to discuss Iraq, Jeanine Antoinette
Plasschaert, the special representative of the secretary-general for Iraq and
head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, spoke about the findings of her UN
report on the implementation of Resolution 2631. Adopted by the council in
2022, it states the need to “prioritize the provision of advice, support and
assistance to the government and people of Iraq on advancing inclusive,
political dialogue and national and community-level reconciliation, considering
civil society input, with the full, equal and meaningful participation of
women.”
Plasschaert
said Iraqi authorities have made some progress with reforms but still face
serious political and economic challenges. Noting that the country has in the
past 20 years gone through wars and other destabilizing events and forces, she
said the factors contributing to its instability remain essentially the same.
It
continues to be the case, she added, that some of the challenges are related to
corruption, the influence of non-state actors, factional politics, inequality,
unemployment, and an overreliance on oil.
The
fact that a new government was formed in the parliament last October is a
“positive” step, Plasschaert said, adding that “Iraq had turned a corner” amid
hopes that all factions remain committed to reform and working together.
Pascale
Baeriswyl, the Swiss ambassador to the UN, whose country holds the rotating
presidency of the Security Council this month, urged the Iraqi government to
introduce reforms to help fight corruption, improve basic services, protect
human rights and combat climate change.
Khanim
Latif, founder and director of Asuda, a women’s rights organization in Iraqi
Kurdistan, told council members that gender-based violence is widespread in
Iraq, and that those who work to protect and preserve women’s rights are often
targeted.
“In
recent months we have witnessed a campaign against women’s rights defenders in
the Kurdistan region of Iraq, simply for using the term ‘gender,’” she said.
The
prevalence of violence against women, committed by family members or others in
the community, must be addressed on a national level, she added, with the
assistance of the international community, including pressure on Iraqi
authorities when required.
There
are few Iraqi women in government or other decision-making positions, Latif
said, and so the ability to take action to secure women’s rights and combat
violations against them remains “highly restricted”
She
called on the Security Council and the wider international community to
encourage the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq to make it part of its mission to
monitor the situation of women in the country and more actively support their
rights.
Iraq’s
representative at the meeting said that his government is working to address
all of the issues speakers had raised.
“The
government of Iraq perseveres within the framework of national partnership to
achieve its ambitious governmental reform program,” he said.
He
said the program includes a wide range of measures designed to strengthen the
Iraqi state and society. They include “the diversification of the economy,
building more robust democratic and security institutions, combating unchecked
weapons, strengthening accountability, and consolidating the stability of
Iraq,” he added.
He
also pledged that Iraq is committed to “promoting human rights and empowerment
of women.”
A
number of speakers encouraged authorities in Iraq and Kuwait to continue their
discussions about the issue of Kuwaiti citizens who disappeared after the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and possible reparations.
France’s
representative at the meeting condemned violations of Iraq’s sovereignty by
some other countries in the region and called for an end to such interference.
Baeriswyl,
the Swiss ambassador, concluded the meeting by saying: “I would like to
reiterate our commitment to Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to
thank Iraq for bringing greater stability to the region by facilitating
dialogue.
Source:
arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2306216/middle-east
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Noor
HidayuJuhan, a Malaysian Mother Longs To Meet Son She Gave Up For Adoption 14
Years Ago
May
19, 2023
PETALING
JAYA: A mother is appealing for information on the whereabouts of her firstborn
whom she had placed for adoption some 14 years ago.
"Each
day I pray that I will be reunited with my eldest son since we parted ways.
"I
am appealing to anyone to help me reunite with my eldest child," said
housewife Noor HidayuJuhan, 35.
Noor
Hidayu said she was forced to give up her eldest son, named Muhammad
DanialHazmi, who was born on August 22, 2009, for adoption to a foster family
when he was just 12 days old as she was struggling with life at the time.
She
said even though she was forced to give him up, she never stopped loving him.
"The
handover of my son to the foster family was handled by a third party who was
only known as HajahSaripah from Cheras and since then, there had been no news
about him or the family.
"At
that time, I did write down my contact number on a piece of paper that was kept
in a plastic bag together with his clothes. And I have never changed my phone
number," said Noor Hidayu when met at her home at the LembahSubang
People's Housing Projects (PPR) here yesterday.
She
said she had no information of the individual who acted as the go-between.
"If
HajahSaripah is still around, please help me," she pleaded.
Noor
Hidayu said she just wanted to meet his son who is now a teenager, and would
not force him to return to her.
"I
miss him dearly and I really want to see him. I want him to know that I love
him very much and that he has four younger siblings including a sister.
"I
also understand and accept the fact that the foster family has raised him,
cared for him for 14 years and I am not taking him away from them.
Members
of the public who have any information can get in touch with Noor Hidayu at
+6016-4484940.
Source:
nst.com.my
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/05/911094/woman-longs-meet-son-she-gave-adoption-14-years-ago
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Chairman
Says US House Committee 'Will Do All It Can' for Afghan Women
19-05-23
Speaking
at the "Roundtable on Crisis Facing Afghan Women and Girls," McCaul
said that Since the Islamic Emirate came to power in Afghanistan, the current
Afghan government has issued more than 30 edicts aimed at severely limiting
women’s freedoms.
“This
committee will do everything in its power to help Afghan women and girls. And
to hold the Taliban accountable for its human rights abuses,” McCaul noted.
However,
the Islamic Emirate said that the issue of women’s rights is the country’s
internal issue, and that the current government is trying to find a solution to
it in accordance with Islamic principles.
"The
issues they raised are related to the people of Afghanistan and are the
internal issue of the Afghan people and the country of Afghanistan. This has
nothing to do with them and is an interference in other’s affairs,” said
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman.
According
to some political analysts, the continued restriction on women's rights will
exacerbate tensions between Kabul and the international community.
"They
should bring meaningful reforms regarding women's work and education so that
the issue of Afghanistan's recognition will be resolved, and will lead to the
stability and unity of the nation,” said Najibullah Jami, a political analyst.
"The
concerns of regional and beyond-region countries regarding women’s rights to
work and education are political. The position of women's education and their
right to work is clear in Sharia law,” said Mohammad Zalmay Afghanyar, a
political analyst.
At
the moment, women are not allowed to enroll in universities, nor are they
allowed to work for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Girls above sixth
grade are also prohibited from attending school.
Source:
tolonews.com
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-183415
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/indian-actress-ameesha-kerala/d/129811