Islam, Women and Feminism ( 21 Sept 2014, NewAgeIslam.Com)
Teacher Rips out Girls’ Images from Textbooks
Columbia School of Journalism professor Betsy
West during her presentation to Saudi journalists at the US Consulate on
Thursday
Pakistani
Squash Star Maria Toorpakay Raises Voice for Equality
Most
Qataris Welcome Mandatory Pre-Marriage Counselling
Bahrain
Support to Women’s Empowerment
Backlash
over Britain First ‘Ban the Burqa’ Poster
Women
can change the world, says US journalist Betsy West
Riyadh
opens first female office for maid recruitment
Sharp
Rise in Divorce Rates In Bahrain
New
Afghan Leader to Name Woman to Supreme Court
France
Charges 5 People Suspected Of Recruiting Women, Girls to Fight For IS
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Teacher
Rips out Girls’ Images from Textbooks
22 Sep,
2014
A video
clip showing a schoolteacher ordering his pupils to rip out images of little
girls from their school textbooks has gone viral among Saudis on social media
sites.
The
video shows the teacher making inflammatory remarks against the Education
Ministry and ripping out textbook pages before demanding that his pupils do the
same and throw the images in front of him to reinforce his sentiment.
A source
at the Education Ministry said investigations into the incident are under way.
The
source stressed that the ministry has the authority to fire any teacher or
civil service employee found guilty of violating state policy or supporting
extremist thought propagated by banned organizations.
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/633741
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Pakistani
Squash Star Maria Toorpakay Raises Voice for Equality
22 Sep,
2014
INCHEON:
As a child Maria Toorpakay Wazir had to dress as a boy to be able to play sport
in Pakistan and now as the country's number one women's squash player she says
there is still too much resistance.
Toorpakay,
competing at the Asian Games in South Korea, vowed not to stop helping girls in
Pakistan overcome discrimination and cultural obstacles even though she has
received threats for her work.
“I feel
that this is my responsibility,” said Toorpakay after she was beaten by Hong
Kong's Annie Au in the women's singles late Sunday. “I have to raise my voice
for the other girls. “Toorpakay's family comes from Waziristan,
As a
child in the deeply conservative tribal area, Toorpakay trained and competed as
a boy. Girls were forbidden in sport. Competing without a veil and in shorts
was perceived as un-Islamic and the Toorpakays were threatened.
Toorpakay
at first competed in weightlifting, frequently beating the boys at tournaments.
But her father made her switch to squash, where her gender was discovered.
After
being required to produce a birth certificate to play squash at the age of 16,
the truth about Toorpakay came out and she was bullied by other players.
Toorpakay
said Pakistan is changing -- but very slowly.
“Always
there are people who do support this logic but there are people who still
resist this logic,” she said. But the country's number one women's squash
player believes the tide cannot now be turned back. Toorpakay said her rise in
international squash should be an example to other young women.
“I have
to give them the same opportunity so that they become champions too,” she said.
Toorpakay
turned professional in 2006 and came third in the World Junior Women's
Championship in 2009.
“This is
a beautiful sport, and today I feel that God has given me a chance to come up
to such position,” she said.
She
vowed to help women to emerge from the shadows through sport, saying it had
helped her overcome her tough life in one of the world's most dangerous
regions.
“Squash
is my lord and I've worked so hard to get to this position,” she said.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1133589/squash-star-maria-toorpakay-raises-voice-for-equality
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Most
Qataris Welcome Mandatory Pre-Marriage Counselling
September
22, 2014
DOHA:
Most in the Qatari community are happy about a recent proposal by the
government to make pre-marriage counselling mandatory to help check rising
divorce cases.
They say
making pre-marriage counselling compulsory is a welcome idea, while there are
others who say the idea is good but should not be made compulsory.
There
are still others and they are in a minority who say official interference in
marriages is not advisable.
Those
opposed to the proposal argue that the personal law should be removed and
replaced with the Islamic law.
Many
Qataris have commented on the issue on local social networking sites and most
said they are in support of the idea of pre-marriage counselling to help check
soaring divorce rates.
A
commentator, Mohammad Abdullah Al Emadi, who said he was a researcher in
sociology, said pre-marital medical test and social awareness have been made
mandatory in several countries, including Malaysia and have achieved remarkable
success in reducing divorce rate.
He urged
the authorities concerned to implement the proposal as soon as possible and
asked people to support it.
Earlier,
elderly women in families taught girls about the responsibilities of marriage
and older men gave such lessons to boys.
But now,
such initiatives do not exist anymore, so the proposal is a welcome move, said
Al Emadi.
Pre-marriage
counselling would include courses on how to behave with spouses, issues of raising
children, dealing with the families of husbands and wives and some necessary
information about sex.
Extensive
awareness drive should be launched in collaboration with media and mosques to
make youth accept such proposals, said Amal Abdul Malik from Childhood Cultural
Centre.
The idea
is excellent but it should be implemented properly by making attractive
programmes for youth so they are ready to join the courses, she said.
Qualified
trainers should be hired so they can interact with the youths. Critics
commenting on the networking sites say personal law and Islamic laws should not
be mixed up.
“Doing
so is destroying families. People’s privacy is being breached,” said a
commentator opposing the proposal. Another critic said the role of parents is
of utmost important as they can help save a marriage which is on the verge of
collapse. “The proposal is not a good idea. Don’t interfere in marriages,” said
the commentator.
http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/qatar/301033/most-qataris-welcome-mandatory-pre-marriage-counselling
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Bahrain
Support to Women’s Empowerment
22 Sep,
2014
Manama:
King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa has reiterated Bahrain’s support to the
empowerment of women.
“Bahrain
is constantly striving to involve women alongside men in the nation-building
process based on the belief that women are a key element in the development of
the country,” King Hamad said. “Bahrain is also eager to open wider areas for
Bahraini women to serve their country in the political, economic and social
areas. Bahraini women are efficient and competent and they have an important
role in the development and prosperity of their homeland and in bringing up
their children and offering them sound guidance,” the King said as he received
the board members of the newly formed Bahrain Businesswomen Society.
King
Hamad said that the participation of women’s societies in international
conferences boosts their commitments to the community and helps them to elevate
their status.
Bahrain,
often cited as a pioneer in the region in championing women’s rights, has been
pressing for a greater political, economic and social empowerment of women
across all areas.
Last
week, the three female cabinet ministers were among the top 16 on the Forbes
list of the most powerful Arab women holding public positions.
Sameera
Ebrahim Bin Rajab, the state minister for information affairs, Fatima Al
Beloushi, the Minister of Social Development, and Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al
Khalifa, the Minister of Culture, were highlighted for their influence and
power.
The
ranking was the latest indication of the success of the national drive to
empower women in the kingdom.
Bahiya
Al Jishi, the Second Deputy Chairperson of the Shura Council, the appointed
chamber of the bicameral parliament, was also on the special list.
Several
groups
Alongside
the Supreme Council for Women, the official body actively promoting women’s
rights and seeking to elevate their status, several groups have been working to
help ensure better deals for women in society.
The
rising profile of Arab women was internationally acknowledged when Shaikha Haya
Bint Rashid Al Khalifa was elected president of the 61st United Nations General
Assembly in June 2006.
Bahrain
has several women who hold high positions as ministers, ambassadors, diplomats,
and judges.
“When we
mention Bahrain, we are talking about a country that has, thanks to the reforms
launched by His Majesty King Hamad, been witnessing high levels of women’s
empowerment,” Maysa Al Thawadi, the acting director of Media Follow-up at the Information
Affairs Authority (IAA), said at a GCC Forum last year.
Maysa
added: “Bahraini women have been essential partners in drawing up and
implementing plans and programmes for a comprehensive development of the
country. They have had a pivotal role in the nation-building process, thanks to
their full political and economic rights enshrined in the constitution and in
laws that promote and defend equality and equal opportunities in line with
international standards and criteria. We value highly the efforts of the
Supreme Council for Women to elevate the status of Bahraini women and to
empower them politically, economically and socially.”
Bahraini
women have had wonderful success stories that could inspire and guide
generations, she added. “We have three women ministers, one undersecretary, 12
assistant undersecretaries, 17 judges, three ambassadors, and scores of
teachers, bankers, journalists and doctors. Women make up more than 35 per cent
of the country’s employment force and more than 47 per cent of the public
sector. Bahrain has 24 women’s societies. Constitutionally, women have the
right to run and vote in parliamentary and municipal elections and their latest
achievement in the area is the 15 women who are members of parliament, in both
chambers, representing 19 per cent of the total members.”
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/bahrain-support-to-women-s-empowerment-1.1388288
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Backlash
over Britain First ‘Ban the Burqa’ Poster
22
September 2014
An image
of Afghanistan’s first female police officer is being used to promote an
anti-Burqa campaign by the Britain First party, causing uproar against the
far-right nationalist political movement.
The
photographer who took the picture, Canadian Lana Slezic, said she was informed
of her photo being used by Britain First without her permission from various
media outlets.
Slezic
had snapped Lieutenant Colonel Malalai Kakar in action, holding a gun. Kakar
was shot dead by the Taliban in 2008. She was known as a high profile
policewoman who fought for women’s rights and against extremism and terrorism,
the Independent reports.
In the
Britain First image, Kakar is used to imply a different message. It was edited
with a caption that reads: “Terror attack level: severe – an attack is highly
likely. For security reasons it’s now time to ban the burqa.”
The
image was shared by Australian Palmer United senator Jacqui Lambie on her
Facebook wall.
“Here’s
a woman whose life was taken by terrorists, extremists in the most horrific
way,” Slezic told the Australian Associated Press. “She died in front of her
son, shot to death outside her home on her way to work.
“Everything
she stood for, everything she fought for, for herself, her family, her
daughters and future of her country, everything has been desecrated by how
Jacqui Lambie and Britain First have used this photograph."
Following
Slezic’s outrage, Lambie, said criticism of her use of the image is a “gross
overreaction” and Kakar would have supported her view, knowing how easy it is
to “conceal weapons or bombs” in a burqa.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/features/2014/09/22/Backlash-over-Britain-First-s-ban-the-burqa-poster.html
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Women
can change the world, says US journalist Betsy West
22 Sep,
2014
Women
are a very important part of the community regardless of their race or
nationality, said Betsy West, professor at the School of Journalism in
Columbia.
West was
speaking to Saudi journalists on the sidelines of her presentation at the US
Consulate in Jeddah on Thursday.
Her
presentation-cum-workshop was entitled “Women in the Media” where she explained
how American women, by their participation in the media, had changed it.
“Women, Saudi or American, can change the world through their hard work and
intelligence,” West said.
She is
the executive producer of the innovative, multiplatform project, Makers: Women
who Make America. Prior to joining the School of Journalism as a faculty
member, West had more than 25 years of experience in television news and
documentary film production.
Makers was
launched on Feb. 28 via the website makers.com with edited stories, excerpts
from about 100 interviews conducted with women of achievement, including
Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Sandra Day O’Connor, Sheryl Sandberg, Barbara
Walters, Gloria Steinem, Alice Waters, Ellen DeGeneres, Judy Blume, Condoleezza
Rice and many other ground breakers from all walks of life. “The goal is to
show how women in American society have been important to the country’s
economy, development and progress,” she said.
West shared
the success stories of many American women from media and journalism who
participated in the women’s movement. She said that whether in America or Saudi
Arabia, women are part of the national development and economy and without
their contribution, progress is hampered. Her aim is to spread awareness about
the contribution of women in American history, their struggle in media, sports
and other activities.
She said
that success is not achieved in a day; there is hard work behind every success.
She also advised Saudi and Arab women that in order to carve out their place in
society they should use their pain and anger in a positive way; women should
help each other as they can make a difference.
West
joined the women’s movement as a journalist, working for many publications in
the days when American women were taking legal actions to change the law and
thinking of society in a media mainly dominated by men. She explained that her
motivation behind Makers was to let the world, and especially America, know about
the influence of the women of America.
West
said she was very surprised and impressed with the number of successful Saudi
women she encountered during her trip to the Kingdom. Makers rolls out over the
next year, as more stories about women’s transformative role in society are
added to makers.com every month.
Makers
debuted in early 2013, with a broadcast of a three-part documentary series on
PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) that drew from the 100 interviews to tell the
story of the modern women’s movement over the last half century. West and her
team at Storyville Films oversaw and conducted most of the interviews. She is
currently working on another documentary as executive producer, with producer
Barak Goodman.
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/633726
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Riyadh
opens first female office for maid recruitment
22 Sep,
2014
The
Labor Ministry opened a women’s section in its east Riyadh office on Sunday for
recruiting domestic help.
Abdullah
Al-Olayan, director-general of the ministry’s branch office in the Riyadh
region, said it would help businesswomen and other qualified women recruit
maids and drivers.
“The
women’s section was opened to ensure privacy for businesswomen and other
females who have fulfilled recruitment conditions,” Al-Olayan said, adding that
the ministry has plans to open more women-only offices.
The
section will issue visas for maids and other domestic workers.
In a
related development, the ministry denied press reports that it was increasing
visa charges for the recruitment of domestic help from SR2,000 to SR2,300 when
they introduce electronic visa services on Oct. 25.
“There
will not be any change in recruitment fees, which will remain pegged at
SR2,000,” said Tayseer Al-Mufrej, media director at the ministry.
“We have
not taken a final decision on imposing additional fees for recruitment. Such
fees are charged for additional services provided by recruitment offices and
companies to get visas, which is optional.”
People
will be able to get visas without additional charges if they visit the office
for recruiting domestic help.
“There
is no rule that domestic help visas should be issued only through recruitment
offices,” he said.
http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/633776
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Sharp
Rise in Divorce Rates in Bahrain
September
22, 2014
DIVORCE
rates in Bahrain were higher last year than at anytime in the past five years,
according to the latest figures.
The
Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry statistics, revealed by lawyer
Huda Al Shaer, show that for every five marriages recorded in Bahrain last
year, at least one divorce was also being filed.
This
gives a divorce rate, which is expressed as a percentage representing the
number of divorces each year as compared to the number of marriages, of 23 per
cent for Bahrain in 2013.
By
comparison in 2012, 6,311 marriages and 335 divorces took place - giving a
divorce rate of just 5pc.
Speaking
at a recent lecture on child custody at the Hamad Town Community Centre,
organised by the Northern Governorate, Ms Al Shaer described the figures as
troubling.
"Bahrain
has high divorce rates despite couples undergoing counselling to try and
resolve their issues before separation," she said.
"Last
year, for every 100 marriages, there were 23 divorces - with the divorcees mainly
in their early 20s or late 30s."
Representative
of Women's Support Centre at the Supreme Council for Women Amal Bado called for
a centre to be formed to help resolve marital disputes and bring down Bahrain's
divorce rate.
"Women
who don't try to resolve disputes can then be appointed a lawyer to follow up
their divorce cases in court," she said.
"Our
centre already offers full, impartial advice and legal consultancy for civil
and criminal cases that include abuse, theft and unfair dismissal from work -
besides family-related matters."
Meanwhile
Ms Al Shaer, who specialises in marital disputes, went on to explain that
differences in the Jaffari and Sunni schools of thought impacted on who had the
right to custody over children in the event of a divorce.
"In
the Sunni faith, the mother has the right to custody, then her mother, then the
father's mother and then the father," she said.
"But
for the Jaffari, in normal cases the mother takes care of those below the age
of seven and the responsibility then goes to the father, with a judge reserving
the right to determine who is most suitable."
The GDN
reported last March (2013) that Bahrain's divorce rate for 2012 was 5pc,
according to a statement Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister
Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa made to MPs.
The
minister also revealed that in 2011, 5,784 marriages and 533 divorces took
place, giving a divorce rate of 10pc, while in 2010 there were 4,755 marriages
and 608 divorces (13pc) and in 2009 4,815 marriages and 717 divorces (15pc).
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=386321
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New
Afghan Leader to Name Woman To Supreme Court
22 Sep,
2014
Afghanistan's
new president-elect says he wants Afghan women represented at the highest
levels of government, which includes the Supreme Court.
After
being announced by the country's election commission on Sunday as the
president, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai planned to hold his first news conference on
Monday. His opponent for president, Abdullah Abdullah, will fill the newly
created role of chief executive in a national unity government.
Ghani
Ahmadzai said in a statement that he is committed to ensuring that women are
well represented in the government as well as the education and economic sectors.
Ghani
Ahmadzai also said Afghans should remember that poverty, lack of education,
income equality and insecurity are the country's enemies, and not their fellow
citizens. “This victory isn't just about winning an election. It's a victory
for democracy, for our constitution and for our future,” Ghani said: “Together,
we have turned the page and written a new chapter in our long and proud
history, the first peaceful democratic transition between one elected president
and another.”
The
announcement by the election commission that Ghani Ahmadzai had won the
six-month election process came a few hours after he and Abdullah signed a
power-sharing deal following weeks of negotiations.
The deal
allowed the international community which included the US and Nato; to breathe
a sigh of relief, as the settlement greatly decreases the chances of ethnic
vote violence.
Ghani
Ahmadzai has also pledged to sign a security agreement that would allow 10,000
US military trainers and advisers to remain in the country next year after the
US and Nato combat troops withdraw.
To the
annoyance of many Afghans, the election commission did not officially release
vote totals of the June runoff, ballots that underwent a long audit for fraud
when it announced Ghani Ahmadzai as the winner.
Leaked
results showed Ghani Ahmadzai took an estimate of 55 per cent and Abdullah
received 45 per cent of the vote.
One of
Abdullah's final demands in discussions with Ghani Ahmadzai was that the
election commission must not release the vote count because of the fraud he
alleges took place.
The
four-page power sharing contract says the relationship between president and
chief executive; a position akin to prime minister must be defined by
“partnership, collegiality, collaboration, and, most importantly, responsibility
to the people of Afghanistan.”
The deal
specifies that the president leads the Cabinet but the chief executive manages
the Cabinet's implementation of government policies.
The
chief executive will also chair regular meetings of a council of ministers,
essentially the same Cabinet group; but designed to manage implementation.
The
13-year war against the Taliban has largely been turned over to Afghan security
forces, a development that has seen casualties among Afghan soldiers are on a
rise significantly this year.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1133586/new-afghan-leader-to-name-woman-to-supreme-court
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France
charges 5 people suspected of recruiting women, girls to fight for IS
The
Associated Press
22 Sep,
2014
PARIS –
French authorities have filed preliminary charges against five people,
including a sister and brother, suspected of belonging to a ring specialized in
recruiting young female fighters for the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
A
judicial official said Sunday the five were arrested Tuesday and Wednesday in
Vaux-en-Velin in central France and were being held in custody.
The
arrests came weeks after a series of detentions of adolescent girls around
France, including a 16-year-old caught at the airport in Nice as she prepared
to leave for Turkey and ultimately Syria, and three teens who were planning to
travel abroad together and corresponded on social networks.
France
is trying to make it harder both to recruit would-be jihadis, including a plan
to let the government seize their passports.
http://globalnews.ca/news/1574923/france-charges-5-people-suspected-of-recruiting-women-girls-to-fight-for-islamic-state/
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