Saudi Arabia opens military recruitment to women
21 February 2021
All
applicants must have a clean record and be medically fit for service.
(Supplied)
----------
•
Saudi Arabia opens military recruitment to women
•
For this Palestinian family, living next to Al-Aqsa Mosque comes with a heavy
price
•
East Africa: The status of women remains unequal at all levels of society
•
Turkish Women’s Cup: Super Falcons battle Uzbekistan for top spot
•
Smuggled diary tells how abducted women survived Boko Haram camp
•
Woman who twice broke into Stoke-on-Trent mosque causing £14k damage is jailed
•
Princess Eugenie and husband share name of new baby son
•
Four women dupe Indian man with fake message; rob him of Rs 55 lakh in Dubai
•
Women’s World Heart Day 2021
•
Top-ranked UConn Women Win In 1st Visit To Xavier 83-32
•
Fontanive and Hasler share spoils at final Women's Monobob World Series
•
Women disguised themselves as old ladies in bid to cheat Covid vaccine waitlist
•
INTERVIEW: Female Saudi driver feels right at home at Diriyah E-Prix
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL; https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/saudi-arabia-opens-military-recruitment/d/124359
------
Saudi
Arabia opens military recruitment to women
DEEMA
AL-KHUDAIR
February
21, 2021
JEDDAH:
Women can now join Saudi Arabia's armed forces, following a ruling by the Saudi
Ministry of Defense that opened the way for both genders to sign up through a
unified admission portal starting Sunday.
Military
ranks from soldier to sergeant will be available in the Saudi Arabian Army,
Royal Saudi Air Defense, Royal Saudi Navy, Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force,
and Armed Forces Medical Services.
All
applicants must pass admission procedures according to specified conditions,
have a clean record and be medically fit for service. But some additional
criteria have been added for female applicants.
Saudi
female applicants must be between the age of 21 and 40 years old, have a height
of 155 cm or taller, and cannot be a government employee. Female submissions
must also hold an independent national identity card and have at least a high
school education. Applicants married to non-Saudi citizens will not be
accepted.
The
age range for first-time male applicants is between 17 and 40 while their
minimum height is 160 cm. There were mixed reactions to the ministry’s new
unified recruitment standards.
Operating
systems specialist, Halah Al-Ynabawi, said Arab countries allowing women in the
military has been a controversial topic over the past 30 years.
“But
today, with the vision of King Salman, he has played a big role with the
inclusion of women in all fields — governmental and now military,” she told
Arab News.
“In
my personal opinion, it is very important for women to be in the military, where
they can have an active role in our conservative society.” Rahma Al-Khayri, an
information technology specialist, shared a different point of view.
“Throughout
history, we have not heard of a woman who came to the field and fought,” she
said. “We always hear about women healing people, or perhaps monitoring
supplies in the administration and in the control units. The man is the one who
fights in the field.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1812906/saudi-arabia
-------
For
this Palestinian family, living next to Al-Aqsa Mosque comes with a heavy price
By
Aseel Jundi
20
February 2021
Mohammed
Bashiti drives his car through al-Wad Street in the Old City of Jerusalem with
extreme caution. At the sign of Bab al-Majlis, he turns left towards his house
and parks the car.
Together
with his wife and daughter, Bashiti walks in the direction of the Israeli
police post stationed right at the entrance of Al-Aqsa Gate, and enters their
house, standing just a metre away from Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Their
three other children - Hisham, Hatim and Abdul-Rahman - have spent most of
their time in Israeli prisons,
interrogationcentres, or under detention and house arrest.
To
understand the reasons behind the continuous Israeli harassment of the family,
one needs only to enter the house, with its windows and front yard overlooking
Al-Aqsa.
Since
the 1980s, the Bashiti family has been receiving tempting offers from Israelis
to leave their home, prospective buyers who covet its extraordinary view.
But
as the family held on to the property, refusing to sell, Israeli authorities
have sought to pressure them by putting them through one crisis after another,
to the point where they say all their days are spent putting out fires.
Seventeen-year-old
Hatim, meanwhile, has been the luckiest among his brothers as he was able to
rejoin school this year and prepare for his General Certificate Exam.
However,
recurrent harassment, including arrests, still poses a threat to his education
and might quell his mother's dream of seeing her sons wearing their graduation
uniforms.
The
third son, Abdul-Rahman, a 16-year-old boy who has suffered from diabetes since
he was four years old, has recently been forcibly removed from his house in
Jerusalem under unclear charges and is currently under compulsory house arrest
in Shuafat town, north of Jerusalem.
The
Israeli secret service has demanded that his parents stay with him around the
clock. If they have to go to the old city, his grandmother stays with him until
they return.
He
said the primary cause behind this whole ordeal is the strategic location of
the house with its view of the mosque, in addition to the family's refusal to
consider the temptations being offered to them to vacate the property.
In
2004, he sued the Israeli Ministry of Religious Affairs, demanding they return
the properties they have confiscated, one of which was turned into a synagogue.
Mohammed
said restoration work on the synagogue has been stopped by a court order
because with regard to this particular property, as shown in the Israeli Property
Registry, it is actually registered under the name of the Bashiti family.
However,
due to the high expenses of the case and the immense pressures facing the
family in the absence of any official Palestinian support, the Bashitis had no
choice but to refrain from pursuing the case any further.
In
the aftermath of the court case, Israeli occupation authorities increased their
pressure on Mohammed and started raiding his Jerusalem home more frequently.
"The
Israeli occupation authorities seek to break them because they perform their
prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque regularly and maintain a good social rapport with the
population of the Old City, something that the occupation does not like."
The
Bashiti boys had stood up in support of protesters who held sit-ins at the
Al-Nather gate, providing them with blankets, food and water. They would also
police and clean the area before the following day's sit-in.
Mohammed
works as a helper to an elderly man, but a few months ago he also assumed
Hisham's position as a security guard in order to provide him with a salary
while he is in prison. The father's debts are increasing day by day.
With
each new arrest or separation, he has to pay fines, bail money and legal fees,
in addition to a myriad other expenses that have overburdened him.
Mohammed
is preoccupied with how he is going to cope with the financial obligations he
has to cover and is constantly looking for new guarantors every time he seeks
funding.
For
years now, he has been spending most of his time in courts and interrogation
centres, under detention and in banks to seek loans to help him face the costs
of his sons' arrests.
"I
have a cupboard loaded with documents related to the arrests of my three sons,
showcasing court deliberations, arrest orders, house inspections, fines and
fees," he said.
"But
if anything, this only adds to my determination and resolve to firmly hold on
to this house adjoining one of the holiest spots in the world."
She
listened carefully to what he was saying as she played with one of her toys
before they had to go back to Shuafat in order to comply with their compulsory
residence with Abdul-Rahman.
Since
her early childhood, Baylasan has witnessed the Israeli harassment against her
family, including her father's imprisonment and the constant arrests of her
brothers, which never seem to end.
"It
was only recently that I began accepting the call for prayer by the muezzin of
Al-Aqsa Mosque because for years I correlated his voice with the timing of the
army attacking our house and arresting one of my brothers," Baylasan told
MEE.
"Every
time I buy new clothes to put on for a family picnic or an outing somewhere it
does not take place. I now buy new clothes to wear when I go to visit my
brother Hisham in prison since prison has become the only destination I go
to."
Baylasan
spoke of her own experience with Israeli military and secret service forces,
who one day raided the house while she was alone and searched the place as she
repeatedly told them that she was by herself and there was no one available for
arrest.
"The
pounding on the door was extremely frightening, and I had to open it. I tried
to control myself at the beginning, but when my mother came in I lost control
and started hysterically crying," she said.
"I
wish I could live a peaceful life just like normal children anywhere in the
world, because attacking and searching our house and arresting my brothers
frightens me and disturbs my education journey."
Abdul-Rahmam
was arrested at dawn on 4 January while he, his brother Hatim and two of their
friends were eating on the roof of the house.
She
then rushed outside to find the four youths on the ground and shackled, with
Abdul-Rahman calling on her to provide him with water and his diabetes kit.
'It
was only recently that I began accepting the call for prayer by the muezzin of
Al-Aqsa Mosque because for years I correlated his voice with the timing of the
army attacking our house'
His
parents came to know later from the physician in charge that he had arrived
from the interrogation centre in west Jerusalem in a very critical situation
that could have led to a loss of his vision, a coma, or even death.
Their
son stayed in solitary confinement for 20 days before he was released and put
under house arrest, where he could be subpoenaed for interrogation at any time.
Although
Binar is extremely worried about the deteriorating condition of Abdul-Rahman,
she is more worried about her eldest, Hisham, who has been in detention at the
Majedo prison for the past four months.
Hisham
was arrested in Isawiya by the Mustaribeen, an elite Israeli undercover unit
who pose as Palestinians. He was severely beaten and consequently hospitalised
for three days before being moved to an interrogation cell, where he stayed for
45 days.
When
she visited him for the first time, Hisham told his mother: "I saw nothing
during the arrest. I only heard the car doors of the Mustaribeen open and the
cocking of weapons that were ready to fire.
Binar
said all that she hopes for is to lead a stable life with all her family
members under one roof, and for Israeli authorities to stop coming after her
children at the sign of the slightest unrest, even when they happen to be away
from the Old City during such times.
Muhammad
Mahmoud, the lawyer who represents the Bashiti boys, also believes that the
reason behind the targeting of this family is the strategic location of their
house.
The
Israeli authorities are trying to push the father to the point of despair with
the aim of forcing him to negotiate leaving his home, he said.
"A
hearing session for Abdul-Rahman was attended by a representative from the
secret service in Jerusalem, the legal adviser of the Shabak [Israel's internal
security service] and the representative in charge of room number four of the
interrogation centre," Mahmoud said.
"To
me this was a stark and ridiculous situation: all these high-ranking officials
have come to face a child in order to request extending his detention."
During
his career, the lawyer has noticed that Israeli interrogators avoid sending
young detainees to solitary confinement except in what they consider extreme
cases, such as alleged stabbing attempts.
For
Mahmoud, this fact makes the detention of Abdul-Rahman in solitary confinement
for such a long time a real dilemma and a violation of both Israeli and
international law.
A
number of Palestinian organisations, including the Palestinian Prisoners Club,
the Commission of Detainees' Affairs, the Prisoner Support And Human Rights
Association, and the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, issued a joint report
stating that, during 2020, occupation authorities arrested 4,634 Palestinians,
among whom 543 were underage and 128 women.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-jerusalem-aqsa-mosque-bashiti-family
-------
East
Africa: The status of women remains unequal at all levels of society
By
Kester Kenn Klomegah
February
20, 2021
For
over two decades, the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) has
been fighting for gender equality, empowerment of women and improvement of
women’s rights in Kenya and broadly in East Africa. Established in 1999, CREAW
has used bold, innovative and holistic interventions for the realization of
women’s rights. Most of its programs have focused on challenging practices that
undermine equity, equality and constitutionalism, promoting women’s
participation in decision making and deepening the ideology and philosophy of
women’s empowerment.
In
this interview, Mercy Jelimo, an Executive Program Officer at the Nairobi-based
Center for Rights, Education and Awareness (CREAW) discusses the current
situation about gender issues, landmarked achievements, existing challenges and
the way forward. Here are the interview excerpts:
In
your estimation and from your research, how is the situation with gender
inequality, specifically in Kenya, and generally in East Africa?
MJ:
This survey was commissioned by our partners Women Deliver and Focus 2030 with
over 17,000 respondents covering 17 countries on six continents. The survey
findings indicated that over 60% of respondents believed that Gender Equality
had progressed. However, on average 57% of respondents also felt that the fight
for gender equality is not over particularly because we see key aspects of
gender inequality persist including:
unequal distribution of unpaid care, domestic work and parental
responsibilities between men and women (the COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted
the burden women bear as caregivers) different employment opportunities with
religion and culture continuing to entrench discrimination against women.
Whereas
in East Africa, the survey only covered Kenya, the results are shared across.
In particular, the Kenyan respondents indicated that there has been notable
progress in regards to Gender equality particularly when it comes to the legal
and policy frameworks to guard against discrimination on whichever basis be it
sex, religion, class or race.
Over
the last quarter century, the country has promulgated a new Constitution and a
raft of subsidiary legislations and policies that are critical to Gender
equality. Some of these laws include but not limited to: the Sexual Offences
Act 2006, the Children’s Act 2001, the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation
Act 2011, the Marriage Act 2014, the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act
2015, the Victim Protection Act 2014, the Witness Protection Act 2008, the
National Policy for Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence 2014, the
National Guidelines on the Management of Sexual Violence 2015, the Multi-sector
Standard Operating Procedures for Prevention and Response to Gender Based
Violence, and the National Policy on the Eradication of Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM) 2019.
Kenya
has also ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child
(CRC), the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the
Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), the African Charter on the
Rights and Welfare of the Child, among other instruments. However, even with
this robust legal framework, accountability and the implementation of these
laws have lagged behind.
The
status of women and girls as compared to men and boys still remains unequal at
all levels of society both public and private. This imbalance manifests itself
as normalized negative social norms and ‘cultural’ practices with brutal
violations against women and girls continuing to be perpetrated, women being
excluded from leadership and decision making
positions, limited in their political participation and women and girls
being denied access to economic opportunities.
Undeniably,
women and girls continue to be victims of sexual and gender-based violence
(SGBV) including rape, domestic violence, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and
child marriage. In fact, as of March 2020, according to statistics from Kenya’s
Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC), 45% of women and girls between the ages
of 15 and 49 have experienced either physical or sexual violence with women
with girls accounting for 90% of gender-based violence (SGBV) cases reported.
Harmful practices such as FGM and child marriage are still prevalent, with the
Kenya Demographic Health Survey (2014) reporting a national FGM prevalence rate
of 21% for women and girls aged 15-49 years of age. The prevalence rate differs
from one practicing community to the other, with communities such Somali (96%)
Samburu (86%) and The Maasai (78%) having significantly higher prevalence.
Sadly,
this is the story across all the other countries in East Africa where we have
progressive legal and Policy framework but with zero accountability mechanisms.
It is worth noting that in 2018, the East Africa Community Council of Ministers
approved the EAC Gender policy which is key to ensuring that gender equality
and empowerment of women are not only integrated into every aspect of its work
but provides an outline of key priority areas for partner states. The EAC has
also instituted other gender mainstreaming efforts including the EAC Social
Development framework (2013), the EAC child policy (2016) the EAC Youth policy
(2013), a Gender Mainstreaming Strategy for EAC Organs and Institutions, (2013)
amongst others.
By
the way, what are your research findings that you presented in report on Jan
28? Are there any similarities and differences about gender studies in other
East Africa countries?
MJ:
The key findings from Kenya can generally be used to paint a picture of the
situation in the EAC region. Apparent Gender disparities in the region remain
in a number of areas such as in political representation, access to education
and training, access to quality and affordable healthcare, high unemployment
rates of women, rampant sexual and gender-based violence, harmful cultural
practices, inadequate financing for gender needs and programs.
Firstly,
when asked about the status of Gender Equality, the majority of respondents
identified Gender Equality as an important issue (96%) and that government
should do more (invest) to promote gender equality.
Secondly,
the role of religion and culture; how boys and girls are socialized and unequal
representation were identified as obstacles to gender equality. This finding
indicates the work that still remains to be done for Gender equality actors in
Kenya and other partner states in the EAC. The most important step to achieving
gender equality is dismantling systems and structures that promote and protect
inequalities. whereas the country has made tremendous progress in having relevant
legal and policy frameworks, there is still lack of implementation of these
laws – this finding answers the why question– because institutions, people and
structures are still very patriarchal. Furthermore, the lack of representation
of women (also cited by Kenyan respondents as an obstacle) might explain the
failures in implementation of the laws and policies.
Thirdly,
the respondents identified corruption as the most important issue facing the
country. This finding is also supported by the 2019 Global Corruption Barometer
– Africa survey that showed that more than half of citizens in the continent
think graft is getting worse and that governments were doing very little to
curb the vice. The impact that corruption
has on service delivery cannot be overemphasized especially on public goods
such as healthcare, education, water and sanitation. More specifically, is the
resulting lack of public financing to programs and interventions that address
gender needs & promote gender equality.
A
recent Corruption Perception Index (CPI) Report by Transparency International
indicated that all the countries in East Africa with the exception of Rwanda
scored below the global average rate of 43 out of 100. More importantly is that
the report noted that countries that perform well on the CPI have strong
enforcement of campaign finance regulations as this correlates with the dismal
performance of women in politics who often than not do not have the requisite
political funding to mount effective political campaigns and outcompete their
male counterparts.
What
would you say about discrimination or representation of women in politics in
the region? Do you feel that women are not strongly encouraged in this
political sphere?
MJ:
There has been significant progress when it comes to women’s political
representation and participation with a majority of the countries in the EAC
region adopting constitutional quotas and other remedies to promote
representation. All the countries in the East Africa Community have achieved
the 30% critical mass with the exception of Kenya (21%) and South Sudan (28%).
More women occupy ministerial portfolios that were perceived to be the preserve
of men such as defense, foreign affairs, manufacturing, trade, public service
and so forth. Not to miss that the leading country globally – Rwanda is from
the region (63%).
However,
most institutions including parliaments are still male dominated and women in
the region still face a number of challenges including violence against women
in politics, religious and cultural beliefs and norms that limit women role,
lack of support from political parties, lack of campaign financing and
unregulated campaign financing environment with the progressive legal and
policy frameworks yet to be fully implemented. These challenges continue to
limit the representation and participation of women in public and political sphere. The region is yet to have a
woman as a president just to illustrate the glass ceilings that remain.
Tell
us about how women are perceived (public opinion) in the society there? How is
the state or government committed to change this situation, most probably by
enacting policies?
MJ:
“Don’t tell me what you value. Show me your budget and I ‘ll tell you what you
value” This quote by President Joe Biden aptly captures the state of affairs in
the region in relation to gender equality. The countries in the region have
continued to enact and reform legal and policy frameworks but have largely
remain unimplemented. The primary reasons being lack of financial and accountability
mechanisms to ensure that these programs and policies are actualized. For us to
reach to the conclusion that governments are committed to promoting gender
equality and women empowerment, we need to see a shift from lip service to
prioritization and adequate resourcing of programs that advance gender
equality.
What
platforms are there for improving gender equality, for ending gender-based
violence and for discussing forms of discrimination there? Do you suggest
governments have to act now to accelerate issues and progress on gender
equality in East Africa?
MJ:
As Deliver for Good Campaign partners in Kenya together with other gender
equality advocates, the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa Agenda 2063
provide important blueprints to developing our society economically, socially
and politically. The Deliver for Good campaign is an evidence-based advocacy
campaigns that call for better policies, programming and financial investments
in girls and women. Most importantly, the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) is an
important mobilization moment to ask governments and private sector to
accelerate progress not just in East Africa but globally. Specifically, we will
be using this moment to call on governments, not only make bigger and bolder
commitments but also, to ensure that they match these commitments with
financing and accountability mechanisms.
As
the Deliver for Good campaign partners in Kenya, we have a particular interest
on one of the GEF Action Coalitions – Gender Based Violence – to leverage on
the Kenyan government leadership and the political will to end traditional
practices that are harmful to women and girls such as Female Genital Mutilation
and Child Marriage. Particularly and in line with the survey findings, we will
be calling for: increased accountability for physical and sexual crimes against
women; increased investment on prevention and protection programs while calling
for inclusive efforts and programs that leave no woman behind in Kenya and East
Africa.
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2021/02/20/east-africa-the-status-of-women-remains-unequal-at-all-levels-of-society/
---------
Turkish
Women’s Cup: Super Falcons battle Uzbekistan for top spot
ByTundeEludini
February
20, 2021
Nigeria’s
national women’s football team-the Super Falcons will seek another victory when
they take on Uzbekistan’s women’s national team on Saturday.
This
is after battling to a 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow Ladies team on Thursday in
their opener at the ongoing Turkish Women’s Tournament in the city of Antalya.
ChinwenduIhezuo
netted the only goal of the match at the Emir Sports Complex as the African
champions earned their first win in their first game but with Uzbekistan
crushing Equatorial Guinea 5-0, the Uzbeks led the group in the round-robin
series.
Thursday’s
outing was the first for the Super Falcons since being eliminated in the race
for a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics 16 months ago and many expect a more
coordinated performance from the Nigerian Ladies.
However,
going into Saturday’s tie against a potentially more formidable team, Ordega
has appealed to all to tone down on their expectations as the Super Falcons are
in a transitional state.
“We
will continue to do our best. Putting on the green and white is everyone’s
dream. Whenever we put it on, we should always strive to give our all.
“Even
if we lose, which will never be our intention, although I don’t pray we lose…,
they should rather support us than criticise us. It will go a long way to help
us get better,” she said.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/football/444117-turkish-womens-cup-super-falcons-battle-uzbekistan-for-top-spot.html
---------
Smuggled
diary tells how abducted women survived Boko Haram camp
Jason
Burke
20
Feb 2021
The
resistance began three months after the young women were taken from their
school dormitory by Islamist militants and hidden in the depths of a forest. It
would end in direct confrontation and disobedience, and an unlikely victory
which saved their lives.
The
story of the extraordinary courage of the women held for up to three years by
the Islamist extremists in north-eastern Nigeria has never been told, despite
the massive global attention focused on their abduction in April 2014.
The
hashtag #BringBackOurGirls was tweeted by Michelle Obama, Kim Kardashian, the
pope and others, in one of the most prominent examples of online activism ever.
It brought the engagement of some of the most powerful states in the world, the
dispatch of hundreds of troops and billions of dollars of military hardware to
west Africa.
But
now a book, due to be published early next month, will reveal the reality of
life for the more than 200 women from the school in Chibok, who were kept as
hostages in one of the most infamous mass abductions of recent decades.
“We
wanted to tell the story of how these women survived, but also the story of why
it took so long to free them in spite of, or perhaps because of, the social
media campaign,” said Joe Parkinson, a co-author of Bring Back Our Girls, which
is based on hundreds of interviews with the students, family members, former
militants, officials, spies and others involved in their ordeal.
Among
the students was Naomi Adamu. Her defiance began when the extremists told the
students to swap their school uniforms for a black, flowing, all-covering
garment. The 24-year-old kept her chequered blue dress, and then, risking a
beating or worse, she began a diary.
The
small act of rebellion gave her strength. When her Boko Haram minders told her
she would be killed if she did not convert, marry a fighter and bear his
children, she refused and was beaten with the butt of a rifle. Her captors did
not follow through on their lethal threat, nor were she or the others who
refused “marriage” subjected to sexual abuse. But they were condemned to
backbreaking labour as “slaves”.
By
mid-2015, with Boko Haram now on the retreat, Adamu and her closest friends
were starting to lose their fear of the extremists. Inspired by her example,
the other hostages began to fight back too, risking lashings with sticks and
wire.
“I
became the leader of our girls because I was the eldest among them and I was
the most stubborn. Boko Haram wanted me to convert as an example because they
knew the other girls listened to me – they beat me and bullied me and
threatened to kill me, but I told them even if the heaven and earth come
together I will not marry,” Adamu told the authors.
Soon,
some of the hostages were openly insubordinate, refusing orders and being
beaten repeatedly. They began quietly singing hymns when their guards were
distracted. Then the singing got louder.
A
small group of the most defiant students was separated. Adamu, their leader, was
dubbed “the chief infidel” by furious Boko Haram leaders.
“When
they realised we don’t wear hijab like the other girls they beat us and said
they would cut off our heads. They made us wear hijab and pray but we decided
together to fake the ceremony. We mouthed Christian prayers and told each other
the story of Job,” said Adamu.
Once
again the students were told they would be killed if they did not submit and
convert. Again the small group of rebels refused.
When
Boko Haram tried to starve others into obedience, Adamu helped organise a
clandestine supply of rice to fuel resistance. The tactic worked, and more and
more students began to renounce the faith they said they had adopted only out
of fear.
“Twitter
generated outrage … but not the actual means to free anybody,” said Parkinson.
Nigeria’s feuding spy agencies called off a series of early deals, which
probably would have freed all of the girls. The president himself suspected
that the abduction was a hoax, set up by political rivals. Key informants close
to Boko Haram were arrested by Nigeria’s military. A British spy plane sent to
search for the women broke down en route to the country. Mutual distrust and
poor relations with the Nigerians hindered the work of the 38 strong
“interdisciplinary assistance team” deployed by the US. A botched air strike on
Boko Haram’s headquarters left 10 of the girls dead and 30 or more injured,
some maimed for life.
But
Adamu remained determined to resist. “Partly I was strong because I was angry.
I was angry we had been kidnapped before graduation,” she said. “And I was
angry when 30 girls converted to Islam and got married … I felt some didn’t
fight hard enough. It divided the group and weakened our resolve. People
accepted they wouldn’t go home,” Adamu said.
Time
was running out. The students were close to starvation, their rations were cut
again and again. There was hope, however. Boko Haram was weaker than it had
been since its resurgence in 2009, and increasingly fractured, with factions
divided over what to do with their globally famous hostages.
A
small team of Nigerian volunteers led by a diplomat from a little-known
department of Switzerland’s foreign ministry, the human security division, had
been working on a deal to free the students. In October 2016, a first batch of
21 students was released in return for a handful of senior Boko Haram
militants. Then, seven months later, another 82. But at least 40 have died in
the forest. Dozens are still there.
Adamu,
defiant to the end, strapped her secret diaries to her body to carry them to
freedom as she walked out through the bush. Driving away, she and the others
chanted a Chibok song: “Today is a happy day.”
Parkinson,
a reporter in Africa with the Wall Street Journal, said the story of the
students raised an important question about dealing with extremists.
“The
small team that ultimately answered the global demand to rescue the Chibok
girls worked in secret for one of the world’s most discrete governments and
smallest states. Its success relied not on loudly expressing moral judgment but
on suspending it. They tried to reason with Boko Haram instead of denouncing
it,” he said.
Adamu
remains in northern Nigeria with ambitions to have her own family and set up
some kind of business. But she is still not safe. Since the abduction of the
Chibok students, Boko Haram has kidnapped more than 10,000 boys as child
fighters as well as a similar number of girls and women, who have been used to
make ransom demands to their families or forced into marriage.
“Our
chief problem is that Chibok is now in danger again … If nothing changes it
will only be a short time until one of us is kidnapped again,” she said.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/20/smuggled-diary-tells-how-abducted-women-survived-boko-haram-camp
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Woman
who twice broke into Stoke-on-Trent mosque causing £14k damage is jailed
ByStoke-on-Trent
Live
20
FEB 2021
A
23-year-old woman who twice broke into a mosque and caused thousands of pounds'
worth of damage has been jailed.
KajaTrudzik
entered The Al-Noor Community Centre in Tunstall - a three-storey Victorian
building converted into an Islamic educational centre and mosque - with Rose
Singer and a man at night.
But
Trudzik returned with another man, 27-year-old Kieran Knox, a week later. The
two of them forced their way inside and caused £14,250 damage after writing
words including, 'Make them stop', and, 'Boris', on the walls in red paint.
They also threw white paint over an external brick wall.
But
the pair were recognised by a committee member who knew they worked at the
town's Costa Coffee. And Singer handed herself in after CCTV images of the
intruders were published in The Sentinel and Stoke-on-Trent Live.
Now
Trudzik has been jailed for 10 months, Singer was handed an 18-month community
order and Knox was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 18
months. The fourth defendant will be sentenced at a later date.
Prosecutor
Jamie Scott said Trudzik, Singer and a man entered the Al-Noor Community Centre
in Oldcourt Street at 9pm on June 24, 2019.
"Pots
of red and white paint were found in one of the rooms. A pot of white paint was
thrown from the third floor window and it splattered over the front of the
building.
"On
the third floor they smeared words in red paint including, 'Make them stop',
'He who enters will not leave alive', and 'Boris'."
A
committee member recognisedTrudzik from the CCTV as someone who had served him
at Costa Coffee, Tunstall. He went to the shop and recognisedTrudzik and Knox,
who also worked there. The police were called. Singer contacted police and
explained she was one of the intruders on June 24.
Trudzik,
of Merrick Street, Northwood, pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary with
intent to cause damage and possession of cannabis.
Knox,
of Springfield Drive, Kidsgrove, admitted burglary with intent to cause damage.
And Singer, of Stone Road, Tittensor, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to
cause damage and theft.
Oliver
Lycett, mitigating for Knox, said his client was under the influence of alcohol
but has now abstained from drink for more than a year.
He
added: "It was not racially or religiously motivated. He accepts his
behaviour was immature. It was naive, reckless and impulsive.
Arif
Hussain, representing Singer, a student at Aberystwyth University, said she
accepts she caused some damage and took some items. He said: "She was not
identified by anyone. She presented herself because she felt guilty."
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As
part of his suspended sentence, Knox must complete a rehabilitation activity
requirement for 10 days and a four-month electronically-monitored curfew, from
10pm to 6am. He was ordered to pay £2,500 compensation.
"These
offences are so serious only immediate custody is appropriate, but it will not
trigger your automatic deportation. That will be a matter for the appropriate
authorities to consider."
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/woman-who-broke-stoke-trent-5016286
-------
Princess
Eugenie and husband share name of new baby son
ASSOCIATED
PRESS
21-02-2021
The
baby — a ninth great-grandchild for Queen Elizabeth II — was born February 9 at
London’s Portland Hospital.
Eugenie,
30, is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, and a
granddaughter of the queen. The baby, who weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce, is her
first child and is 11th in line to the British throne.
Eugenie
said on Instagram that the baby is named after his
great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Prince Albert, husband of Queen
Victoria, who had Augustus as a middle name.
One
of his middle names pays tribute to Eugenie’s grandfather, Prince Philip. The
queen’s 99-year-old husband is currently in a London hospital where he was
admitted on Tuesday after feeling ill. Hawke is a Brooksbank family name.
The
baby is not expected to get a royal title and will be known as Master August
Brooksbank.
Eugenie
married 35-year-old Brooksbank, a businessman, in October 2018 at St. George’s
Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Eugenie
posted a picture on Instagram of the couple holding their son, who is swaddled
in a blue blanket with a matching cap.
The
queen and Prince Philip have two more great-grandchildren on the way. Both
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Princess Anne’s daughter Zoe Tindall are due to
give birth this year.
The
child of Meghan and her husband Prince Harry will become eighth in line to the
throne after elder brother Archie, and will push baby August down to 12th in
the line of succession.
Harry
and Meghan gave up official royal duties last year and moved to California.
Yesterday the palace announced that the split will be final, with the couple
giving up military and charitable patronages they held on behalf of the queen.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/princess-eugenie-and-husband-share-name-new-baby-son
--------
Four
women dupe Indian man with fake message; rob him of Rs 55 lakh in Dubai
By:
PTI
February
21, 2021
A
33-year-old Indian man in Dubai has been robbed of Rs 55,30,806 by a gang of
four women after being lured into a fake massage parlour through a dating app,
according to a media report.
The
case was heard at the Dubai Court of First Instance, the Gulf News reported.
According
to court records, the victim, who was not identified, saw an offer for a
massage session for 200 Dirhams (Rs 3,950) with pictures of beautiful girls promoting
it.
He
contacted the number provided on the app and went to an apartment in the Al
Refaa area of Dubai in November 2020.
“I
saw four African women inside the apartment…They asked me to open my bank’s
application [on my mobile phone] and transfer money. They threatened me with a
knife at my throat and slapped me on the face,” the report quoted the victim as
saying.
One
of the women then took his credit card and withdrew 30,000 Dirhams (Rs
5,92,586) from an ATM. He was kept confined in the apartment for one day as the
women transferred 250,000 Dirhams (Rs 49,38,219) from the victim’s bank account
to other accounts, the report said.
“They
allowed me to leave the apartment only after they took away my iPhone too. I
alerted the bank and reported the incident to the police,” added the victim.
According
to Dubai Police, three Nigerian women were arrested from Sharjah after
intensive investigations, while a fourth woman is still at large.
“One
of them admitted to luring the victim through the Tinder application, offering
massage services and using pictures of beautiful women. They kept the victim
locked up inside the apartment and wired the money from his account to
different accounts outside the country,” said a policeman.
The
three Nigerian defendants have been charged with robbery, issuing threats,
keeping the victim forcefully confined inside an apartment and prostitution.
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/four-women-dupe-indian-man-with-fake-message-rob-him-of-rs-55-lakh-in-dubai-7197994/
--------
Women’s
World Heart Day 2021
February
20, 2021
The
Department of Cardiology, Cauvery Heart and Multispeciality Hospital, will be
celebrating Women’s World Heart Day 2021 at its premises today (Feb. 20) from 4
pm to 5 pm.
DCP
(Traffic & Crime) M.S. Geetha Prasanna will be the chief guest. Salma
Subhan Khan of MK Agrotech Private Limited (Manufactures of Sunpure Cooking
Oil) will be the guest of honour. Hospital Chairman Dr. G.R. Chandrashekar and
Managing Director Dr. Sarala Chandrashekar will be the special invitees.
https://starofmysore.com/womens-world-heart-day-2021/
-------
Top-ranked
UConn Women Win In 1st Visit To Xavier 83-32
By
Associated Press
21st
February, 202
Christyn
Williams scored 22 points and No. 1 Connecticut breezed in its first visit to Xavier,
83-32 on Saturday for its eighth straight win.
High-scoring
Paige Bueckers and Olivia Nelson-Odoba each added 11 points for the Huskies
(18-1, 15-0 Big East).
UConn
led 42-13 at halftime and Bueckers didn’t score after the break. She had seven
assists.
Aaliyah
Edwards had 16 points for the Huskies, whose only loss was to then-No. 19
Arkansas 90-87 on Jan. 28.
The
win was Connecticut’s second over Xavier (4-7, 1-6) this season. Connecticut,
which returned to the top ranking earlier this week, cruised past the
Musketeers 106-59 on Dec. 19.
As
coach Geno Auriemma watched with his arms folded across his chest most of the
time, the Huskies never trailed. The game was tied at 2 for little over a
minute in the first quarter before UConn ran off 12 straight points.
Connecticut’s
active man-to-man defense forced Xavier into a season-high 18 turnovers, and
the Huskies enjoyed huge advantages of 29-2 in points off turnovers and 28-9 in
fast-break points.
Xavier:
Senior forward A’riana Gray was attended by trainers and led off the floor
after suffering a head injury in a collision with a teammate with 7:26 left in
the third quarter. She returned with 1:04 left in the quarter.
https://www.republicworld.com/sports-news/basketball-news/top-ranked-uconn-women-win-in-1st-visit-to-xavier-83-32.html
-------
Fontanive
and Hasler share spoils at final Women's Monobob World Series
By
Liam Morgan
20
February 2021
Switzerland's
Martina Fontanive and Melanie Hasler shared victory in the final Women's
Monobob World Series event of the season in Königssee.
Fontanive
and Hasler completed their two runs in an identical combined time of 1min
48.37sec.
Fasler
clocked 53.89sec to lead after the first run, with Fontanive 0.27 adrift.
Fontanive
roared back in the second run to win by 0.25 and end the World Series season on
a high.
Mica
McNeill of Britain wad fourth, while fifth went to Russian Nadezhda Sergeeva,
who served an eight-month ban after she was one of two Russian athletes from
the country to test positive while representing the neutral team at Pyeongchang
2018.
A
total of 14 races were held as part of the 2020-2021 World Series.
Women's
monobob is due to make its Olympic debut at Beijing 2022, and made its first
World Championships appearance at last weekend's World Championships in
Altenberg.
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1104520/womens-monobob-world-series-concludes
-------
Women
disguised themselves as old ladies in bid to cheat Covid vaccine waitlist
Graeme
Massie
21-02-2021
Two
women were caught disguised as elderly women to try and get Covid Vaccine
shots, Florida health officials say.
The
fake “grannies”, who were both in their 30s and 40s, appeared at the Orange
County Convention Center wearing hats, gloves and glasses.
Only
members of the general public those aged 65 and up are currently eligible for
their jabs in Florida.
Officials
say the women had already managed to get their first vaccine and were trying to
get their second shots.
“So
we realised a couple of young ladies came dressed up as grannies to get
vaccinated for the second time,” said Dr Raul Pino, director of the Florida
Department of Health in Orange County.
The
women were caught out after their dates of birth did not match those they had
used to register for vaccinations.
Orange
County Sheriff’s Office has identified the women as Olga Monroy-Ramirez, 44, and Martha Vivian
Monroy, 34.
They
were issued trespass warnings and no other law enforcement action was taken
again them.
“And
we don’t have any information about whether they were wearing disguises or how
they were dressed,” the sheriff’s department added in a statement.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/covid-vaccine-florida-old-ladies-b1805148.html
--------
INTERVIEW:
Female Saudi driver feels right at home at Diriyah E-Prix
ARAB
NEWS
February
21, 2021
RIYADH:
Ahead of the 2021 Diriyah E-Prix double-header on Friday, Arab News caught up
with Reema Al-Juffali, one of Saudi Arabia’s rising stars in motorsports.
Al-Juffali, 29, talked about Formula E, sustainability and her dream race.
Q:
You made history in Diriyah by becoming the first female racer to drive
competitively in the Kingdom during the Jaguar I-Pace. What did that moment
mean to you?
That
was a day of many firsts for me and one I will cherish for the rest of my life.
It was my first time racing in an electric car and my first time racing in an
international event on home soil, so it was truly a historic moment for me and
my country. I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to race in front of home
fans and it was the highlight of my career so far. Hopefully, there will be
many more opportunities like this in the future.
Q:
The Diriyah Circuit has become one of the more iconic circuits in Formula E.
What do you think makes it so special?
The
circuit has been hailed by many drivers as a very unique and challenging track
to drive. I think part of this is because we have the world’s most modern
motorsport taking place on a site that honors the Kingdom’s past. It is a very
special combination. Racing in the heart of Diriyah gives you a very strong
feeling of connection to our Kingdom’s history. For me, having never raced on a
street circuit before, I had to adjust to being closer to the walls while
driving an electric car but it is something I love and will never forget.
Q:
Now in its third year, we have seen Saudis become more engaged with the Diriyah
E-Prix. Can you tell us about the excitement you are sensing ahead of this
year’s race?
The
passion for motorsport in the Kingdom runs deep. Bringing events like Formula E
to Saudi is very exciting for racing fans who are not familiar with street
racing. I am also very proud of the first Formula E night race to take place at
the circuit on home soil, which will be an incredible moment for the country and
the sport. It is fantastic to see the organizers making the most of the global
spotlight that motorsport brings. It will showcase some of the beauty of our
land and our capacity to put on brilliant, world-class events.
Q:
Formula E stretches beyond just sports, it also aims to promote a sustainable
and clean future, which is in line with the Saudi government’s initiatives. How
important is it for a sport to promote the sustainability message in the
Kingdom and beyond?
Our
country is on a journey toward sustainability. Formula E’s message for
promoting a clean future complements the aspirations of Saudi Arabia’s Vision
2030. As a driver, I feel a responsibility to spread awareness regarding the
need for a more sustainable approach to everyday life. I am honored to be a
part of this journey towards a more environmentally conscious future.
Q:
You are currently competing in Formula 4. What are your aspirations for the
future?
One
of my ultimate goals in life is to race Le Mans with some of the best drivers
in the world. But more than anything I just want to excel in my field,
regardless of the category or the event. I want to feel proud of my
performance. The sky is the limit.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1812921/sport
--------
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/saudi-arabia-opens-military-recruitment/d/124359
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