Pakistan: Girls school blown up
New Age Islam News Bureau
20 Jan 2013
• Women welcome new Shoura appointees
• Morocco’s only female minister says wearing hijab made her a media target
• Co-education the problem, educate girls separately: Jamaat chief
• The Voice of Libyan Women’s premises vandalized
• ‘Women perspectives are integral:’ new Saudi female MP Thuraya Obaid
• Saudi activist defends pro-women stance
• Lady, may I see your driving license please?
• Opposing Saudi women in council mirrors some people’s ignorance
• Govt, opposition efforts can end problem: Bangladesh
• Police arrest underage females from orphanage, detain in Maafushi prison
• Renowned Pakistani singer Mehnaz Begum passes away
• ICC Women’s WC: Uncapped Diana Baig determined to make her mark for Pakistan
• Pakistan: ‘Women judges can help reshape patriarchal society’
• Faith provides the strength to fight prejudice
• UW students envision designs for a school for girls in Afghanistan
• Speaker Urges African Women to Advance
• Women’s bloc founded in Congress
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
Photo: Women welcome new Shoura appointees
------------------
Pakistan: Girls school blown up
20 January 2013
PESHAWAR: A girls primary school was blown up by unidentified men in Badabair, a suburban area of the provincial capital, police said on Saturday. According to the details, miscreants planted explosives near the main gate of the school which is situated in Mashoo Khel Village and detonated it with a remote control. Two rooms of the school were damaged completely, while the blast also affected some other sections of the school’s building. No loss of life was reported, whereas police have launched a probe into the incident.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013\01\20\story_20-1-2013_pg7_5
------------------
Women welcome new Shoura appointees
20 January 2013
Saudi women have welcomed the appointment of women to the Shoura Council.
Most see it as a chance for women to contribute their expertise to Saudi society and want to serve on the advisory body.
Naila Attar, an economic adviser and member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), was happy about some appointments. She would be honored to serve on the Council, but felt she could make a considerable contribution to society in her current position.
Attar said she was waiting to see what would happen with the first group of women and try to learn from their experiences.
Basma Omair, executive director of the Khadija Bint Khuwaylid Center for Businesswomen at the JCCI, praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for taking this big step.
Omair hoped women would in future have more representation on the Council, up from the current 20 percent, and that they could also be appointed to the Council of Ministers.
Muna Abu Sulayman, media personality and TV presenter, told Arab News: "When Saudi women are chosen for high positions, it proves that they are highly educated and have distinct talents. Considering what women face in Saudi Arabia, it takes a lot of hard work and determination to reach the highest positions."
She described the new appointees as skilled people from academia but would like to see some women engineers and others selected from the private sector.
Maha Akeel, managing editor of OIC Journal, published by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said she would like to serve on the Shoura Council. She added that everyone would want such a position. She praised the decision of King Abdullah.
http://www.arabnews.com/women-welcome-new-shoura-appointees
------------------
Morocco’s only female minister says wearing hijab made her a media target
19 January 2013
Morocco’s only female minister claimed that the media has targeted her because she dons the Islamic headscarf, commonly known as the hijab.
Minister of Solidarity, Women, Family and Social Development, Bassima Hakkaoui, said since taking office in January 3, 2012, the media attempted to mar her credibility by reporting false news and information about her.
Hakkaoui’s husband having a second wife is among the erroneous information she rebuffed.
“The media has attacked me ever since my appointment [as minister] by reporting statements I did not say,” she told the French-language Moroccan weekly magazine, Tel Quel, in an interview.
“This is because I am a hijab-wearing woman in parliament…I think this has agitated some people who tried to tar my credibility.”
The 52-year-old minister said she respects journalists despite some who do not verify their reports before publishing.
“I find myself to bring more attention more than other ministers as I am the only woman minister.”
The only-female minister urged for changes to safeguard women rights in Morocco. She vowed that there will be changes to article 475 in the country’s penal code that allows a rapist to marry his victim to escape prosecution.
Last year, a Moroccan court allowed a rapist to marry his 16-year-old rape victim, Amina Filali, to “preserve” the honor of the girl’s family. Filali’s case, who later committed suicide, created outrage in the country with many activists called for changes and reforms in the penal court.
“A rapist belongs to jail and not elsewhere,” she said.
Hakkaoui hails from the Justice and Development Party, which became the ruling party since 29 November 2011. The party advocates Islamic democracy.
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/01/19/261297.html
------------------
Co-education the problem, educate girls separately: Jamaat chief
January 20, 2013
Hyderabad: It is good to educate girls, but they should be educated separately, suggests Jamaat-e-Islami Hind chief Moulana Jalaluddin Umri, asserting that the "problem starts with co-education." He also favours death for rapists.
According to him, law alone cannot curb rapes. It was important for the government to change the social environment too.
"Obscenity is common in society," Umri told IANS in an interview. "The problem starts with co-education. We are saying educate the girls as much as you want, but give the education separately."
He said Islam had created an environment that does not tolerate sexual assaults.
"Today our society is tolerating and even accepting live-in relationships. This is opening the doors to evil. Why will (such a man) marry?"
Jamaat was formed in 1941 as an Islamic reformist movement. After partition, the organisation in India became Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and is engaged in spreading the message of Islam among the people irrespective of their religion and caste. With over 8,000 members and hundreds of thousands of workers, it has a good following among the Muslim community, especially in states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal.
Umri wanted the government to recognise only marriages performed according to religious rites.
"Hindus, Muslims and Christians marry according to their customs. Only such marriages should be legally recognised," he said.
"Others are living together for years and then going to court to get that registered. Such relations are not good for society."
Death sentence for rapists and a ban on co-education and live-in relations were among the 11 suggestions submitted by the Jamaat last week to the JS Verma Committee on ensuring women's safety. He favoured capital punishment for rapists as it instills fear and acts as a deterrent.
"Islam says that such punishment should be meted out publicly so that people witness it and know that this will be the fate if they commit this crime," Umri told IANS.
Umri said that after the Dec 16 gang-rape of a young woman who died 13 days later in Singapore, many favoured emulating Islamic law to deal with rapists.
On the Welfare Party of India, he said it was not the political arm of Jamaat. He said they were supporting the party as it wanted to bring moral values to national politics.
"We have not yet decided to directly take part in politics and there is no possibility of this happening in coming days," he said.
Ameer-e-Jamaat, as he is called, said members of Jamaat can join the Welfare Party with Jamaat's permission. Such members will also have to take Jamaat's permission for contesting elections.
"We will see if (a person's) entry into assembly or parliament will be good or not.
"Some people thought there should be such a party and Jamaat was the first to support it. We never said we are forming the party."
http://zeenews.india.com/news/andhra-pradesh/co-education-the-problem-education-girls-separately-jamaat-chief_824001.html
------------------
The Voice of Libyan Women’s premises vandalized
19 January 2013
The Voice of Libyan Women’s (VLW) Zawia Women’s Centre premises were the subject of vandalism on the night of 15 January.
VLW do not know who the perpetrators were or whether the event was intentional. They are seeking the assistance of the local council as well as local military officials to ensure that the issue is resolved.
VLW’s Women’s Centre in Zawia is a learning space specifically for women and girls of the community and provides free lessons in cooking, Quran, languages, and assisting women in their own “at home” businesses.
Full report at:
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/01/19/the-voice-of-libyan-womens-premises-vandalized/
------------------
‘Women perspectives are integral:’ new Saudi female MP Thuraya Obaid
19 January 2013
Being one of the newly appointed women in the Saudi Shura council, Thuraya Obaid believes that any achievements to Saudi women rights cannot be accomplished without the support of their male counterparts in the council.
“We will not be able to succeed in endorsing recommendations that would ensure the rights of women and facilitate their lives, without the support of our brothers in the (Shura) Council,” Obaid told the Saudi Gazette.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/01/19/261334.html
------------------
Saudi activist defends pro-women stance
By Habib Toum
January 20, 2013
Manama: A Saudi activist has rejected claims that she had insulted the companions of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) by supporting moves to empower women politically.
Suheila Zain Al Abideen Al Hammad had come under attack from Saleh Al Fawzan, a conservative religious scholar, after she said that the Prophet’s companions took into consideration the views of women and that they were keen on the participation of women in public life.
Full report at:
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/saudi-activist-defends-pro-women-stance-1.1134736
------------------
Lady, may I see your driving license please?
19 January 2013
Last week, I wrote about a historic moment for Saudi Arabia and Saudi women. Thirty Saudi women were assigned to the Shoura Council (Majlis Al Shoura). Now, Saudi women will be directly involved in the social, economic and political decisions of the Kingdom. And they will be tasked like their male counterparts to study and analyze some issues which will have a direct impact on the people of Saudi Arabia.
Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/lady-may-i-see-your-driving-license-please
------------------
Opposing Saudi women in council mirrors some people’s ignorance
By BADRIA AL-BISHR
20 January 2013
Although all the precautions included in the decision to appoint 30 women at the Shoura council were clear about the full segregation between the council’s men and women, in entrances, exits, offices and other facilities, and despite the fact that the Shoura council is just a consultative committee that shares unbinding suggestions to the government, and is not obliged to follow a public policy that will not be interpreted as having any authority over Muslims, which some see as illegal for women to exercise this type of authority…Despite all of this, we found people who oppose this decision. A group of 40 men gathered during a demonstration, recorded a video of themselves and posted it on Youtube, and had a spokesman to represent them. It is good that they did so to avoid any misinterpreting to what they had gathered for; trying to pretend another heroic reason behind their action.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2013/01/20/261423.html
------------------
Govt, opposition efforts can end problem: Bangladesh
Prothom Alo roundtable told
20 January 2013
Legal loopholes and a patriarchal mindset are the reasons behind the rise, at an alarming rate, of incidents of violence against women and of perpetrators getting away with it, said speakers at a roundtable yesterday.
A thorough research and combined initiatives of both the government and opposition parties can bring such violence to an end, they said. The roundtable, “Immediately prevent violence against women”, was organised by the daily Prothom Alo at its office in the capital.
Full report at:
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=265853
------------------
Police arrest underage females from orphanage, detain in Maafushi prison
By Ahmed Nazeer | January 17th, 2013
The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has called for the immediate release of two underage females living in the Villingili orphanage, who were arrested and sent to Maafushi prison.
Local media alleged that the two girls, aged 15 and 16, were arrested on December 28, 2012, after escaping the orphanage in the middle of the night to fraternise with some boys.
Full report at:
http://minivannews.com/society/police-arrest-underage-females-from-orphanage-detain-in-maafushi-prison-51311
------------------
Renowned Pakistani singer Mehnaz Begum passes away
20 January 2013
Well-known playback singer Mehnaz Begum passed away after a protracted illness on Saturday, at the age of 55.
Mehnaz had been suffering from multiple diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes and lungs infection. The legendary singer died in Bahrain when she was on her way to the US for treatment.
Born in 1958, Mehnaz was living in the US for a few months. She had sung a variety of genres but specialised in ghazal, Thumri, Dadra, Khayal, Drupad and reciting Salam, Noha and Marsiya. Mehnaz Begum sung over 2,500 songs for radio, TV and film.
Full report at:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013\01\20\story_20-1-2013_pg9_12
------------------
ICC Women’s WC: Uncapped Diana Baig determined to make her mark for Pakistan
Shazia Hasan
20 January 2013
MURIDKE: Eighteen-year-old fast bowler Diana Baig hails from Gilgit and is the only uncapped player in the Pakistan cricket ICC Women’s World Cup squad.
The lanky first-year student made a place for herself in the team through her hard work.
“I play for the Islamabad region under-19 side and was picked for the team by the selectors during the matches organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] last month when I took five wickets in one game,” she said.
Full report at:
http://dawn.com/2013/01/19/icc-womens-world-cup-uncapped-diana-baig-determined-to-make-her-mark-for-pakistan/
------------------
Pakistan: ‘Women judges can help reshape patriarchal society’
January 20, 2013
LAHORE: Women judges can help build a society that is fairer to their gender by showing through their work that they can perform as well if not better than men, said Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik in a speech at the concluding ceremony for a training course for female civil judges here on Saturday.
“We live in a male-dominated society with attitudes and customs suited to men. But now the situation is changing. It is your responsibility to pave the way for women by proving through your work that you can deliver better than men. Consider yourself a judge and not a woman when deciding cases,” Justice Malik said in his address at the Punjab Judicial Academy.
Full report at:
http://tribune.com.pk/story/496313/training-course-women-judges-can-help-reshape-patriarchal-society/
------------------
Faith provides the strength to fight prejudice
January 18, 2013
Ilham AlMahamid: Member of the Islamic Center of the Capital District in Colonie, research scientist at state Department of Health's Wadsworth Center in Albany and an assistant professor at the University at Albany School of Public Health.
Background: Born and raised in Damascus, Syria, where she received her bachelor's in chemistry. She has a Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry from University of Paris-Sud, was a post doctoral fellow and staff scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California and has been a research scientist at the Wadsworth laboratory since 2005. She lives in Slingerlands with her daughter Hajar, 17, and son Omar, 15, who attend Guilderland High School.
Full report at:
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Faith-provides-the-strength-to-fight-prejudice-4206772.php#ixzz2IVxaMkZS
------------------
UW students envision designs for a school for girls in Afghanistan
By Peter Kelley
Posted under: Learning, UW and the Community
19 January 2013
The classroom challenge: Design a school for girls in Afghanistan that is pleasant and safe, using available materials and accounting for unstable local conditions.
The result: The images you see below, created by students of Elizabeth Golden, assistant professor of architecture — almost dreamlike, reflecting both practicality and hope.
The impetus for the designs came from Janet Wright Ketcham, a 1953 University of Washington alumna and art collector who takes seriously the cause of girls’ education in war-torn Afghanistan and builds schools there through the nonprofit agency Ayni Education International.
Full report at:
http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/01/17/uw-students-envision-designs-for-a-school-for-girls-in-afghanistan-with-slide-show/
------------------
Speaker Urges African Women to Advance
20 January 2013
Khartoum – The speaker of the National Assembly, Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir, said it is now time for African women to take the initiative to occupy their rightful place and carry out their mission through Parliament.
Addressing the opening session of the conference of Muslim female MPs in Khartoum yesterday, Al-Tahir urged strong cooperation and coordination to resist attempts by the West to impose its culture and hegemony.
Full report at:
http://news.sudanvisiondaily.com/details.html?rsnpid=218480
------------------
Women’s bloc founded in Congress
By Nihal Zaroug.
14 January 2013
A cross-party women’s bloc has been set up in the General National Congress (GNC) to promote women’s rights. The move was announced on Sunday by Congresswoman Hana Al-Orfi from Misrata. Twenty-eight other congresswomen have joined her in the bloc which also aims to ensure a fair representation of women on the constitutional drafting committee.
Orfi said that the bloc was a result of the eagerness of the congresswomen to play a positive role in the building of new Libya, similar to the role women took on throughout the 17 February revolution.
Full report at:
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/01/14/womens-bloc-founded-in-congress/
------------------