Islamic Veil Ban In French Schools Saw Muslim Girls Get Better Grades
New Age Islam News Bureau
21 April 2022
• Swabi Women University of Pakistan Bans Smartphones
For Students
• UAE Has Achieved 'Remarkable Feats' In Reducing
Gender Gaps, Experts Say
• Telenisa: Most Legal Aid Requests From Low-Income
Women
• How Can Feminists Stand in Real Solidarity with
Afghan Women?
• Spanish Super Cup Brought 'Equality' For Saudi
Women: Football Chief
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
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Islamic Veil Ban In French Schools Saw Muslim Girls
Get Better Grades
Representative image
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21st April 2022
London: A ban on Islamic veils in French schools saw
Muslim girls get better grades, besides increasing the likelihood that they
would marry someone outside their religion, a study from the country has found,
Daily Mail reported.
A law introduced in 2004 fully outlawed veils from
French schools, but they were first asked to ban ‘ostentatious religious signs’
in a 1994 government circular – or advisement.
The ban was met with heavy opposition from religious
leaders, who warned that the law would persecute Muslims and lead to
fundamentalism, with some arguing it went against France’s constitution.
However, a study in France that compared Muslin women
born between 1971 and 1974 (and thus completing school before the 1994
circular) to those born between 1987 and 1990 has found the law may have had
some positive impacts.
The findings demonstrated that the 1971-74 group were
around 13 per cent likely to graduate from high school than their non-Muslim
peers.
For the 1987-90 group of Muslim girls – who would have
attended school with some form of veil ban in place – the gap shrunk to just 7
per cent.
Co-author of the study, professor Eric Maurin, told
The Daily Telegraph: “For students who wore the veil, the ban may have had a
negative effect on those who were most attached to it, as it may have led them
to drop out of school.
“But the ban may also have had a positive effect on
students who were forced to wear the veil and on students suffering from
stigmatisation and discrimination in school because of it.”
The findings of Maurin — who works at the Paris School
of Economics — and his team were presented at France’s 75th annual policy
meeting in early April.
Speaking to the newspaper, he added that the study
demonstrated a “significant increase in educational attainment” amongst the
group of Muslim women “who attended middle school and reached puberty” after
the 1994 ban, Daily Mail reported.
Source: Siasat Daily
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Swabi Women University of Pakistan Bans Smartphones
For Students
Representative image
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April 21, 2022
SWABI: The Women University Swabi (WUS) has banned use
of smartphones and tablets by the students on its premises and said that those
who failed to follow the orders would face action and fine.
“It is notified for information of all the students
that smartphones/touch screen mobiles or tablets will not be allowed on the
premises of Women University Swabi with immediate effect,” said a varsity
circular, copy of which is available with this correspondent.
The students consider smartphones and tablets
essential for their studies to acquire information, but experts are of the
opinion that their excessive use could harm studies.
“It has been observed that students extensively use
social media applications during the university timings, which affects their
education, behaviour and performance,” the circular noted.
It warned that in case of any violation of the
instructions the authority would take strict disciplinary action by
confiscating mobile phones and imposing a fine of Rs5,000.
All the heads of departments have been asked to convey
the instructions to the students. The circular is signed by the provost of the
university.
When contacted, the academic staff of the university
said that the step was taken in the best interest of the students.
Source: Dawn
https://www.dawn.com/news/1685976/swabi-women-university-bans-smartphones-for-students
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UAE has achieved 'remarkable feats' in reducing gender gaps, experts say
by Rohma Sadaqat
21 Apr 2022
The UAE has achieved several extraordinary feats in
diminishing stereotypes and reducing gender gaps over the last 50 years,
experts said at the Middle-East Women’s Board of Directors Summit.
Organised by Khaleej Times, the event is part of a new
initiative titled ‘Empowering Women, Empowering Businesses’, which is built on
the belief that every woman has the ability to lead and create positive change
across economies. The main objective of the initiative is aligned with the
efforts of the Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) as well as the UAE Gender
Balance Council (GBC).
The summit, on Wednesday, drew the participation of
several high level delegates, women directors, top government officials, as
well as diversity professionals from global organisations who are currently
focusing on empowering women in key leadership roles within and outside their
job functions.
Speaking at the event, Shamsa Saleh, CEO of the Dubai
Women Establishment (DWE), said that the UAE has achieved “remarkable feats” in
diminishing gender stereotypes, reforming discriminatory laws, and
significantly reducing gender gaps over the last 50 years.
“We went from being one of the lowest ranking
countries in the world in multiple international reports to now being 18th in
the UNDP gender inequality index and scoring 82.5 in the World Bank index,” she
said. “We are without a doubt the regional benchmark in gender equality, and
this is because we believe in the power of gender balanced economies and
societies. Efforts such as paid parental leave, equal pay for equal work laws,
non-discrimination laws, protection of pregnant women from dismissal, and paid
paternity leave are some of the recent legislative reforms that have brought us
to where we are today.”
She also noted that the importance of women working in
all industries and sectors, and across all levels of leadership, cannot be
understated. “We know that more gender balanced workplaces and economies create
more gender balanced societies and countries.”
Ebru Tuygun, regional CMO at Accenture, added that the
UAE government is doing a great job in leading the way by introducing
enforcement to have at least one woman board director for public companies.
“I think it is a great starting point and this should
be endorsed by both public and private companies,” she said. “If governments
award companies with a higher Women Empowerment Rate (WER) score that we can
introduce, and provide more opportunities for those companies in many spaces,
we will see women empowerment more in action. I see the Women’s Board of
Directors Summit by Khaleej Times as a great platform to discuss women
empowerment, to put talks into action, and I am very excited to see many
inspirational people coming together for this ambition.”
Samah Al Hajeri, director of Cooperatives and Strategic
Reserve at the Ministry of Economy, explained that gender balance, equal
opportunities, and easy access to services are some of the main principles on
which the UAE was founded. “We are proud to say that the UAE has set a strong
example globally in these fields. Today, women across the emirates are part of
a strong ecosystem that allows them to not only excel in any field that they
choose to have a career in, but also supports them as they rise through the
ranks to top leadership positions.”
She stressed that it is important for young female
graduates to observe other women in positions of leadership that will inspire
them and offer guidance as they set out to become the next generation of
innovative leaders. “The UAE has already achieved many successes in its vision
towards establishing inclusive societies, and guided by the wise leadership of
the country, we are sure to see several more as the country sets out to
establish itself as a world model for gender balance.”
The UAE has been leading the region in competitiveness
indicators and relevant global reports over the past years. Most recently, in
the ‘Women, Business and the Law’ 2021 report issued by the World Bank, the
country achieved a full 100 points mark across five areas: freedom of mobility,
work, wages, entrepreneurship, and pension.
Alizeh Fatima Zaidi, head of Human Resources at
Galadari Brothers Group, noted that organisations across the UAE share a great
responsibility in achieving the UAE’s vision and goal of gender equality.
“Already, a lot of progress has been made with the launch of the 2026 UAE
Gender Balance Strategy, as well as the relentless drive by the wise leadership
of the UAE in announcing laws and legislation aimed at protecting and
empowering women economically.”
“The ‘Empowering Women, Empowering Businesses’
initiative will play a key role in sharing best practices in the industry and
highlighting the steps needed to create a more sustainable and future-ready
economy,” she added. “We hope that the initiative will set a precedent in
highlighting the best ways to elevate more women to senior leadership levels.”
Source: Khaleej Times
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Telenisa:
Most legal aid requests from low-income women
20
Apr 2022
BY
SHAHRIN AIZAT NOORSHAHRIZAM
KUALA
LUMPUR, April 20 — Women from lower income groups were the majority of those
who approached Sisters In Islam’s (SIS) helpline service, Telenisa, for legal
advice last year.
The
group’s senior legal adviser Ireeny Muzammel said that out of 426 calls
received from their clients, 57 per cent were homemakers and support staff from
the B40 income group.
“As
the B40 group is of the lower-income tier, it suggested that the majority of
our clients are burdened financially to obtain legal representation. This is
because in Malaysia, legal fees are generally expensive and largely unregulated.
“However,
their financial burden is not restricted to legal representation only as our
clients struggle to pay for additional expenses such as transportation and
additional child care expenses. They also struggle to find the time to attend
meetings with lawyers as they are unable to take leave from their work,” she
said when presenting the Telenisa Statistics and Findings today.
She
said 90 per cent sought legal advice and the remaining were looking for legal
representation (five per cent), counselling (four per cent) and shelter (one
per cent).
“Due
to a long waiting list or the urgency of the case at hand, our clients would
often resort to self-representation in the shariah courts, which is allowed.
“However,
this would usually bring our clients to a disadvantage as they are not
well-versed or they do not have the experience with court procedures and
applicable laws. Although access to justice seems apparent, there are still
barriers to overcome in ensuring a fair and just legal system,” she added.
Earlier
today, the women’s advocate group unveiled the annual Telenisa Statistics and
Findings for the sixth year through its legal clinic that has been operating
since 2003.
Source:
Malay Mail
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How
Can Feminists Stand in Real Solidarity with Afghan Women?
By
Sunita Viswanath
April
21, 2022
Ihave
been engaged in grassroots work for the rights and well-being of Afghan women
for two decades. Given the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban on August 15,
2021, the question I am wrestling with—which every women’s rights activist who
has worked in Afghanistan is wrestling with—is: What do we do now? Do we refuse
to work in Afghanistan because this would require engaging with the Taliban,
whose brutal history we know intimately and whom we fought for over two
decades?
That’s
the approach the US government has taken. After negotiating with and paving the
path for the return of the Taliban, the United States has decided that it can
no longer recognize them—or, by extension, the country they govern. Recently,
Washington has even gone so far as to confiscate the assets of the Afghan
central bank, blocking the Afghan people’s access to $7 billion of their own
money. While this has plunged Afghanistan into a dire economic and humanitarian
crisis, the world’s attention is trained on Ukraine.
Two
weeks ago, I traveled to Kabul as part of an eight-member American Women’s
Delegation for Peace and Education. We delivered humanitarian aid, advocated
the unfreezing of the Central Bank’s funds, and bore witness to the reality of
Afghan women during this time of severe economic hardship. While the situation
is dire, the complexity of life under the Taliban defies simple Western
narratives of oppression.
We
met the leader of a women’s NGO—a woman whom I am not naming for the sake of
her own security and that of the shelter she runs—who chose to remain in
Afghanistan after Kabul fell. Ardently opposed to the Taliban her whole life,
she has had to negotiate with Taliban authorities to secure her safety and that
of the women she serves. She is aware that things can change at any moment, but
for now she says, “I live one day at a time, and today we are safe.” The
Taliban have even brought destitute women to her NGO so that she can take care
of them. “Whatever else they may be, the Taliban are Afghan,” she told us. “On
August 15, they gave us back our dignity and we are no longer an occupied land.
I don’t feel optimistic about the future. In fact, I am scared. But I am glad
that we Afghans will finally have the fight we need to have amongst ourselves.
My Islam gives me all the rights I need. Theirs takes my rights away. Which
Islam will win? We will see.”
This
woman sees the Taliban as her errant sons. She gets angry and scolds them. She
asks if they are hungry. She shames them and demands, “Don’t you care about
your sisters?” And so far, if the measure of efficacy is the fact that she and
the women under her care are safe and alive, her way seems to be working—though
it’s still early.
During
our visit, we met Afghans who are grateful for the relative peace that has come
with the Taliban takeover. They told us they can now travel to other cities
without fear of bombs. We also met many teenage girls who are severely
depressed that the Taliban reneged on their promise to allow all girls and boys
to attend school, and who are despondent about their future. We met poor
families who can’t even afford to send their boys to school, let alone the
girls.
Quite
a few people we met wanted us to help them leave the country, but it wasn’t
because they were afraid of the Taliban: Most people told us they’d felt safer
since August 15. Rather, they objected to the Taliban’s stance on girls’ access
to education and other decrees, such as a requirement that men wear beards and
the ban on music. And many feared the uncertainty and hardship of the economic
crisis.
The
reality in Afghanistan is complicated, just as the Taliban government is
complicated, separated into factions with different agendas, approaches,
backgrounds. Some are educated, while many are just young fighters; some are
hard-line Islamists, while others are youths concerned more about their social
media profiles than politics or religion.
On
our trip we met representatives of several government ministries, all of whom
welcomed us and thanked us for being a compassionate face of America. This may
well have been a public relations script, and we listened with a healthy dose
of skepticism as we insisted on women’s and human rights, particularly girls’
access to school. Still, our interactions suggested that some in the Taliban
government harbor a genuine desire to serve the people of Afghanistan and
engage with the world and are trying to rein in the government’s more
conservative factions—even as the economy collapses and the population is
thrown into excruciating poverty.
We
attended the reopening of the Afghan Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Before an
audience of women entrepreneurs and male and female journalists, the minister
of the interior spoke about the urgent need for Afghan women to participate in
the economic life of the country.
We
also met with the deputy minister of education and discussed with him the
recent Taliban decision to bar girls from secondary school. We argued that all
girls should be able to attend school. He told us that high schools would open
soon. When we asked when, he argued that it was important for the unity of the
nation to bring conservative rural Afghanistan along, rather than having
different rules in different regions. He was alluding to the same internal
dialogue that the NGO leader spoke of: “Which Islam will win? We will see.”
Now
that our delegation is back in the United States, we are urging that members of
the American and Afghan governments engage in dialogue with each other. Since
the Afghan people themselves are left with no choice but to accept that the
Taliban is in charge, I am convinced that we must stand in solidarity with them
as they have their difficult conversations and figure out together who they are,
and which Islam will win. The suffering forced upon the Afghan people by
sanctions will make it harder to keep the hard-liners of the Taliban in check.
And for a grassroots women’s rights activist like me, it is imperative that I
figure out a way to keep up my work no matter who is in power and how dire the
situation is.
Sunita
Viswanath Sunita Viswanath is cofounder and former board chair of Women for
Afghan Women. She is a current advisory board member of UnFreeze Afghanistan.
She is also the executive director of Hindus for Human Rights.
Source:
The Nation
https://www.thenation.com/article/world/women-afghanistan-solidarity/
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Spanish Super Cup brought 'equality' for Saudi women: football chief
20
April, 2022
The
President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales claimed that
women of Saudi Arabia “entered into equality” after the federation agreed to
host the Spanish Super Cup in the kingdom.
“Before
we went, there weren't even bathrooms for women in the soccer fields of Saudi
Arabia. With us they entered into equality,” said Rubiales in a press
conference on Wednesday.
Rubiales
and FC Barcelona star Gerard Pique have been accused of corruption and a
conflict of interest over a deal that controversially gave Saudi Arabia the
right to host the Spanish Super Cup from 2019 to 2029.
Leaked
recordings and documents from 2019, first reported by Spanish newspaper El Confidencial
on Monday, revealed that Pique and Rubiales colluded to host the competition in
the Gulf state.
Both
Pique and Rubiales have denied any wrongdoing.
Rubiales
defended the deal at the press conference, arguing that the deal was
“exemplary” and that he has “nothing to be ashamed of.”
He
also positioned himself and the RFEF as a champion of equality and women's
football, claiming that the Super Cup had allowed women to take part in the
game in Saudi Arabia, telling reporters "You should thank the [RFEF] for
creating a women's league."
Saudi
Arabia’s human rights record had been a major issue when the RFEF struck its
deal with the Kingdom in 2019.
During
this year’s tournament in January, Amnesty International urged participating
teams to wear armbands to protest Riyadh’s suppression of women’s rights in the
kingdom.
Source:
The New Arab
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/spanish-super-cup-brought-equality-saudi-women-rubiales
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