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Islam, Women and Feminism ( 10 Dec 2020, NewAgeIslam.Com)
UN Experts: Iran Must Release Women’s Rights Figure and Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh
New
Age Islam News Bureau
11
December 2020
• After Christchurch, New Zealand's Muslim Women Shouldn't Have To Rebuild On Their Own
•
Ending Violence against Women 'Crucial' For Peaceful Society, Say Religious
Scholars from Different Schools of Faith
•
Undeterred By Pandemic, 500 Indian Muslim Women without 'Mehram' Have Applied
So Far To Travel for Haj-2021
•
US Sanctions Five Houthi Figures Involved In Torturing Women, Children
•
Kuwait's New All-Male Parliament Is A Blow For Women's Rights
•
Hindu, Christian Women 'Marketed' By Pakistan As 'Concubines' In China: Top US Official
•
Police have a small number of women in service, laments Shehla Raza
•
Islamic State Claims Killing Of Female TV Presenter In Afghanistan
•
Iranian Press Review: Former Vice President For Women's Affairs Jailed
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
--------
UN
Experts: Iran Must Release Women’s Rights Figure and Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh
December
09, 2020
LONDON:
UN experts have demanded that Iran release women’s rights figure and lawyer
Nasrin Sotoudeh after she was returned to prison in the country.
The
appeal comes amid growing scrutiny over Tehran’s treatment of political
prisoners and the high-profile release of Australian academic Kylie
Moore-Gilbert last month.
“We
are dismayed that the authorities willingly chose to again place Nasrin
Sotoudeh at heightened risk by ordering her return to prison at this time,
despite her positive coronavirus test and the concerned opinions of medical
professionals,” the group of independent experts appointed by the UN Human
Rights Council said. “By ordering her return to prison, Iranian authorities
have taken an action that may have life-threatening consequences for her and
have further extended her arbitrary imprisonment, in violation of their
obligations under international human rights law.”
On
Dec. 2, Iran’s Prosecutor’s Office ordered Sotoudeh to return to Qarchak prison
the same day, after she had been temporarily released on Nov. 7.
Following
her positive coronavirus test, an initial five-day temporary release granted to
her was extended by two weeks. At the end of November, doctors prescribed a
rest period of an extra two weeks due to her deteriorating health.
“We
repeat our call to the Iranian authorities to release Nasrin Sotoudeh as a
matter of urgency and to allow her to receive the healthcare and rest she
requires,” the experts said. “We deeply regret that despite calls by the UN and
the international community, Iran continues to criminalize Sotoudeh for her
work in defense of human rights.”
The
experts urged Iranian authorities to quash her convictions and ensure her
release while reviewing her criminal case, which several human rights groups
have condemned as “outrageous.”
Sotoudeh
is serving a prison sentence following a conviction on seven charges in March
last year.
Her
charges and subsequent imprisonment were linked to her legal work and defense
of women’s rights activists. Grave concerns have been raised by UN experts who
say that her detention is “arbitrary.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1774841/middle-east
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After
Christchurch, New Zealand's Muslim Women Shouldn't Have To Rebuild On Their Own
Aliya
Danzeisen
11
Dec 2020
Those left to pick up the pieces after last year’s
terrorist attacks in Christchurch were mostly women Photograph: Martin
Hunter/AAP
-----
In
New Zealand, strong women leaders are regularly referred to as wāhine toa. This
is not a term used lightly, but rather a title given to women who show exceptional
leadership and continue to support those around them even in the face of
enormous difficulties. Some might refer to New Zealand’s Prime Minister,
Jacinda Ardern, as a wāhine toa, but it can be also used for women within
general society who display consistent courage and strength.
In
the 15 March 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack, 51 people (47 men and four
women) died in two mosques. As fate would have it, the majority of those who
were lost were male … and the majority of those left to shoulder the impact, to
pick up the pieces and to take charge were female – wives, mothers, daughters,
sisters. Leading a family is a challenge on a regular day, but under such
circumstances, after such a violent, destructive act, it has unsurprisingly
been daunting.
There
can be no doubt that the last 20 months have been challenging for New Zealand,
for our Muslim community and for these women. Trying to rebuild one’s life is
never easy, but to do so while so many others are also suffering has been an
enormous test. Yet, these women are doing exactly that. Like birds whose nests
have been knocked down, they were distressed, but slowly and surely, they set
out to rebuild themselves and those around them. They are each wāhine toa.
Immediately
after the attack, New Zealand set up a royal commission of inquiry to look into
whether that terrorism could have been prevented and to determine what should
be done so that another such event does not occur. Our community, and within it
the women, had hoped the commission would put things right by providing answers
as well about also offering restorative justice options for the families.
Unfortunately, the commission’s report did neither.
On
its release this week, it became immediately apparent that the commission’s
work had been hindered not only by the restrictive terms of reference, but also
by the fact the Muslim community had not been allowed to see, hear or challenge
relevant information. As no public hearings had been held, conflicting
testimony was unresolved and significant matters left unattended.
While
the commissioners found major problems and concerns with the government’s
efforts prior to the attack and made 44 solid recommendations that will require
an overhaul of ministries and several agencies, the report surprisingly did not
conclude the attack was preventable and did not apportion blame.
Of
the nearly 800 pages of findings and recommendations, the commission focused on
rebuilding the systems and did not offer the government substantive ideas on
how to restore our people. In less than three pages of the report, the impacted
were told they would have to approach the government themselves. Basically, our
families were left to fend for themselves.
At
the report’s public release, the heads of the New Zealand police, our Security
Intelligence Service and the prime minister apologised on behalf of the
government and indicated all recommendations would be adopted. But like the
commission, they have thus far avoided discussing what efforts they intend to
take to ensure the impacted are restored as best possible to where they were
prior to the attack.
By
sheer coincidence and Covid-related date changes, the Islamic Women’s Council
of New Zealand, the national umbrella organisation for Muslim women, will meet
this weekend at its 30th annual conference in Christchurch. Muslim women from
around the New Zealand will come together for sisterhood, rejuvenation and
spirituality, but also to discuss the matters that are impacting their lives.
The commission’s report will be an item discussed as will the whereto from
here. We will continue to advocate and to seek solutions to strengthen and
uplift our women.
While
these women, each a wāhine toa, have shown amazing resilience, like flowers
that bloom on charred soil after a fire, they should not have to shoulder this
burden on their own. The council will work to support them. We ask that the New
Zealand government do the same.
Aliya
Danzeisen has led the government engagement for the Islamic Women’s Council of
New Zealand for seven years and has played a key advocacy role in getting
support for the Kiwi Muslim community.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2020/dec/11/new-zealands-christchurch-muslim-women-should-not-have-to-bear-the-burden-of-rebuilding-after-christchurch-on-their-own
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Ending
Violence against Women 'Crucial' For Peaceful Society, Say Religious Scholars
from Different Schools of Faith
08
Dec 2020
Religious
scholars from different schools of faith stressed that it was
"crucial" to end violence of all kinds against women in order to
build a peaceful society and maintain interfaith harmony, a press statement by
EVAW Alliance KP and UN Women said on Tuesday.
The
scholars were attending a dialogue, jointly organised by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
(KP) office of UN Women and the EVAW Alliance KP, to observe the 16 Days of
Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The scholars also signed a
declaration condemning gender-based violence and vowed to spread awareness in
their respective communities to put an end to the practice.
They
also acknowledged that while any individual can be a victim of GBV, in
Pakistan, women, "being the most vulnerable segment of society and
deprived of their basic rights", were more likely to face such violence,
followed by members of the transgender community. The scholars emphasised that
it was the state's responsibility to protect the vulnerable sections of
society.
"There
is a need to strengthen state-run social protection networks and ensure the
provision of required support to vulnerable groups,” the press release quoted
the scholars as saying.
“For
prevention of gender-based violence, the state has primary responsibility to
protect its citizens and religious leaders have a strong potential to influence
the lives and behaviour of those who follow their faith and share their
beliefs,” they further said.
Explaining
the role of religious leaders in efforts against GBV, EVAW/G Alliance co-Chair
Qamar Naseem said that scholars had great influence over people and can help in
"shaping the behaviour of local communities".
“It
is essential to engage religious scholars from different faith groups, as a
practical strategy, to raise awareness on gender-based violence and address the
issue,” Naseem was quoted as saying.
Provincial
head of United Nations Women KP, Zainab Qaisar Khan, said that gender-based
violence was not limited to domestic abuse, sexual violence including rape and
honour crimes and added: “It can happen anywhere, anytime and across all
classes irrespective of education level and income status. It can happen
against boys, men, elderly and transgender but mostly the target are women and
girls.”
https://www.dawn.com/news/1594710/ending-violence-against-women-crucial-for-peaceful-society-say-religious-scholars
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Undeterred
By Pandemic, 500 Indian Muslim Women without 'Mehram' Have Applied So Far To
Travel for Haj-2021
Dec
10, 2020
NEW
DELHI: Even as fear of Covid-19, stringent protocols and higher costs involved
due to necessary safety arrangements, has so far kept away many prospective applicants
from registering for Haj-2021, there are around 500 women without Mahram (male
companion) who figure on the list of 42,000 odd applicants who meet all the
norms.
On
Thursday, which was supposed to be the last day for submission of applications,
Union minister for minority affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that applications
for Haj 2021 (scheduled for June-July) can now be submitted till January 10.
A
tweak in policy two years back enabled for the first time Muslim women above 45
years of age to travel in groups of four or more without mehram for Haj. The
number of Muslim women who travelled to Madina in this category was 1,340 in
2018 and 2,340 in 2019. Over the years the maximum applicants have been from
Kerala and officials from the Haj committee of India said this year too the
maximum number of applications in the ‘without mehram’ category have been from
Kerala so far.
Besides
these 500 new women applicants more than 2,100 women, who had applied in this
category for Haj 2020 but could not go due to the pandemic-imposed travel
restrictions, also have the option to travel next year based on their previous
application.
For
Haj 2020, the Haj committee received nearly 2.15 lakh applications of which
1.40 lakh were approved. However, all approved applicants were reimbursed when
the travel for Haj was put off after Saudi Arabia requested India to consider
not sending pilgrims in view of the safety concerns arising out of the
pandemic.
The
age restrictions for applicants wherein those below 18 and those who are 65
years and above cannot apply due to the pandemic is a factor preventing many
prospective applicants from registering. Also the cost of Haj due to
arrangements to be made related to stay and social distancing in Saudi Arabia
and during travelling has gone up.
Naqvi
said that after thorough discussions and feedback received from Saudi Arabia,
the Embarkation Points-wise estimated cost per Haj pilgrim has been reduced.
The estimated cost per Haj pilgrim after reduction is in the range of Rs 3.30
lakh to Rs 4 lakh. During Haj - 2019 the minimum cost was around Rs 2.30 lakh.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/undeterred-by-pandemic-500-muslim-women-without-mehram-have-applied-so-far-to-travel-for-haj-2021/articleshow/79667034.cms
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US
sanctions five Houthi figures involved in torturing women, children
December
10, 2020
RIYADH:
The US Treasury has imposed sanctions on five Yemeni citizens and Houthi
members in Yemen said to be involved in
torturing women and children.
The
statement said the figures are designated for “seniors human rights abuses.”
The
sanctions were imposed on several officials including Mutlaq Amer Al-Marani,
deputy head of the Houthi security office; Abdul Qader Al-Shami, a leader in
the Houthi militia; Abdul Hakim Al-Khawani,
head of the security apparatus of the Houthi militia.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1775356/middle-east
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Kuwait's
new all-male parliament is a blow for women's rights
Jennifer
Holleis
10.12.2020
Less
than a week after Kuwait's 4.8 million people (including 3.4 million foreign
workers without voting rights) elected new members for the next four-year term
of their national assembly, the shock that none of the female candidates made
it, is setting in. In total, 326 candidates were vying for the 50-member
legislature, 29 were women.
"We
need fundamental changes," says Alanoud Al Sharekh, Director at Ibtkar
Strategic Consultancy and co-founder of "Mudhawi's List," the
country's first and only online platform for female candidates.
It's
been 15 years since the the oil-rich country, a major US-ally, introduced the
right to vote and to run for office for women. However, many tribes and
Islamists are openly advocating against women in politics.
"In
Kuwait people don't yet believe in women's political leadership," Alanoud
Al Sharekh says. She wishes there was a quota in Kuwait. "I’ve been
fighting for this for many years and will continue."
According
to UN Women, the UN's entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women,
Kuwait ranked 176 out of 193 for its percentage of women in parliament in 2020.
Discouraging,
yes; stopping women, no
Michael
Herb, a Middle East analyst and founder of the Kuwait Politics Database,
confirms that Kuwaiti society hasn't shifted from its traditional view of
women. "The votes for women were not trivial this time, but voters didn’t
prioritize voting for women," he says.
Herb
doesn't believe that a quota could be introduced any time soon. "It is
hard to see this coming from the current situation as it would have to be
imposed by the government since the members of parliament are not under
pressure from voters to implement a quota; and it would reduce the number of
seats available to them in the next election." He also stresses that
Kuwaiti society is not becoming less conservative. "On the other hand, I
am convinced that Kuwaiti women will keep running and return to
parliament," he says.
A
recent study by Marwa Shalaby, director of Women's Rights in the Middle East
program at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, also shows that
the lack of a political party system and quota mechanism doesn't help Kuwaiti
women in politics.
Kristin
Smith Diwan, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in
Washington, agrees: "I think Kuwait will need to think about institutional
solutions such as quotas. And most importantly, issues of consequence to women
will get a fair hearing. Kuwait really needs this female perspective in its
policy making."
Changes
are needed as soon as possible
"It
is my mission, I will continue pushing my topics," says Alia Al Khalid.
The 45-year-old managing director from downtown Kuwait City won 1,370 votes in
the second electoral district. Her political agenda is to reform the
educational system, as well as the economic structure of the oil-dependent
country. Al Khalid doesn't beat around the bush: "Some citizens can’t
resonate with what I stand for," she says. "Our cultural mindset has
been for ages that women depend on men." Though Al Khaled is supported by
her immediate family, she also experienced bullying. Yet she is willing to run
again in four years.
Pushing
towards 'Vision 2035'
39-year-old
Bibi Ashour, Kuwait's first district candidate who holds a PhD in policy
development and focuses on education, isn't giving up either. "I am
disappointed, but the circumstances of the campaigning time have been tough as
well," she says. Due to strict COVID-19 restrictions she and the other
candidates were limited to social media for campaigning. "Our system is
very old and not comparable with other highly developed countries," she
says. She highlights her expertise on "Vision 2035," a future-oriented
agenda the country’s late Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah introduced and which
is being continued by his half-brother, the 83-year-old Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed
al-Sabah.
"From
Bibi's plan for 'Vision 35' to the protection of women in our society, who will
pursue these topics in an all-male parliament?" asks analyst Alanoud Al
Sharekh. She says she's gearing up again for the next time she supports women
with their campaigns.
https://www.dw.com/en/kuwaits-new-all-male-parliament-is-a-blow-for-womens-rights/a-55897172
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Hindu,
Christian women 'marketed' by Pakistan as 'concubines' in China: Top US
official
Dec
10, 2020
US
Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Samuel Brownback has
said that Pakistan is marketing Hindu and Christian women as
"concubines" and "forced brides" to China.
“We
just had really a difficult webinar this morning on forced brides into China,
and one of the source places is Pakistan religious minorities, Christians and
Hindu women being marketed as concubines or forced brides into China because
there’s not effective support, and then there’s discrimination against the
religious minorities that make them more vulnerable,” he said.
He
mentioned this as one of the reasons for designating Pakistan as a country of
particular concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act.
Because
of the one-child policy imposed by China for decades, there is an acute
shortage of women given the cultural preference for boys leading to Chinese men
importing women from other countries as brides, mistresses and labourers.
Brownback
was responding to a question as to why Pompeo designated Pakistan as a country
of particular concern and not India. The top American diplomat said that half
of the world’s people that are locked up for apostasy or blasphemy are in
Pakistani jails.
“(In)
Pakistan – a lot of their actions (violations of religious freedom) are done by
the government. In India much of its communal violence. And then when that
takes place, we try to determine whether or not there has been effective police
enforcement, judicial action after communal violence takes place,” he told
reporters during a conference call.
US
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday designated Pakistan and China along
with eight other countries that are of particular concern for engaging in or
tolerating “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.”
The US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had recommended
to the State Department to designate India also as a country of particular concern
(CPC). Notably, the State Department did not accept the recommendation.
India
has rejected the USCIRF’s observations against the country in its annual
report.
In
addition to Pakistan, Pompeo put China, Myanmar Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, North
Korea, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan on the CPC list.
https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/hindu-christian-women-marketed-by-pakistan-as-concubines-in-china-top-us-official-348703
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Police
have a small number of women in service, laments Shehla Raza
December
11, 2020
Sindh
Women Development Minister Syeda Shehla Raza has lamented that only a small
number of women is working with the police force.
At
least 10 per cent of police should comprise of women as per the constitution,
she said Thursday, while addressing a programme to promote the ‘1094 helpline
service’ of the Sindh government to report the cases of gender-based violence.
The
provincial minister said women should be encouraged to join the police force so
they should at least constitute 10 per cent of the police strength.
She
said the ‘1094 helpline service’ of Sindh’s Women Development Department had
been working round-the-clock. The minister said the services of different
cellular network companies would be availed to do a social messaging campaign
to let people know of the helpline facility in Sindh.
She
claimed the laws adopted by the Sindh government to protect women’s rights had
been appreciated at the international level. Raza said the services of
prominent lawyers had been employed to provide better legal counselling service
through the women complaint centres.
She
appreciated the services and efforts of women for the progress and the
development of Pakistan as “the participation of women in the legislatures, the
judiciary and the administration is praiseworthy”.
She
said women were associated with different walks of life, including higher
education, research and politics. The minister said Sindh’s Women Development
Department had initiated several programmes to encourage skilled women so they
could be connected with the buyers of their products in the market.
She
said Sindh’s Women Development Department had been providing legal counselling
and other assistance to help the victims of domestic violence, harassment at
workplace and other women facing other issues related to the rights and the
protection of women.
The
minister said the economic empowerment of women was highly important in
enabling them to play their due part in the process of national development.
To
a question, she said female victims in the cases of unlawful child marriages
were housed at shelter homes with the court permission till they attained
adulthood.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/756660-police-have-a-small-number-of-women-in-service-laments-shehla-raza
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Islamic
State claims killing of female TV presenter in Afghanistan
Dec
10, 2020
JALALABAD,
(KABUL): Islamic State claimed responsibility for the shooting death of a
female TV presenter and women's rights activist in Afghanistan on Thursday, an
attack that underscored an increasing trend of violence against journalists in
the country.
Malalai
Maiwand, a presenter at Enikas Radio and TV in the eastern province of
Nangarhar, was killed along with her driver in the attack on their vehicle in
the regional capital Jalalabad, taking the total number of journalists and
media workers killed this year in Afghanistan to 10.
"She
was on the way to the office when the incident happened," said Attaullah
Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor.
Nangarhar
has been a hotbed of militant activity, most notably involving Islamic State,
which issued its claim of responsibility via its Telegram communications
channel, calling her a "pro-regime" journalist.
Maiwand,
who was 25, was not the first in her family to be targeted. Five years ago, her
mother, also an activist, was killed by unknown gunmen. Enikas has been
targeted before, with its owner, Engineer Zalmay, kidnapped for ransom in 2018.
"With
the killing of Malalai, the working field for female journalists is getting
more smaller and the journalists may not dare to continue their jobs the way
they were doing before," Nai, an Afghan media advocacy group, said in a
statement.
Last
month, Elyas Dayee, a Radio Azadi journalist, was killed in a bomb blast in the
southern province of Helmand, and Yama Siawash, a former TOLOnews presenter,
was killed in a similar blast in Kabul.
The
Afghan government, the German Embassy, European Union delegation and Britain's
ambassador condemned growing attacks on journalists and activists.
Afghan
interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said that in the last decade and a
half, the vast majority of journalists killed had been victims of Islamist
Taliban militants.
International
donors and governments have voiced apprehension about a possible reversal of
progress on women's rights over the last two decades if the Taliban return to
any sort of power with the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country
scheduled next year.
The
Taliban's ultra-hardline rule in 1996-2001 was marked by oppressive laws for women
up until the group was toppled following a U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/islamic-state-claims-killing-of-female-tv-presenter-in-afghanistan/articleshow/79666496.cms
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Iranian
press review: Former vice president for women's affairs jailed
10
December 2020
Journalists
and reformist politicians jailed
Pressure
on civil society and outspoken politicians is increasingly dramatically, with
Iran’s conservative judicial officials handing down prison sentences to
journalists, human rights activists and reformists politicians in President
Hassan Rouhani’s administration.
On
Saturday, Fars news agency reported that Shahindokht Molaverdi, Iran's vice
president for women's affairs in Rouhani's first cabinet (2013–17), was
sentenced to 30 months in prison.
A
branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Court has found her guilty of “leaking
classified information with the aim of disturbing national security” and
“promoting depravity and sexual perversion”.
Molaverdi,
a 55-year-old lawyer and academic, has denied all charges, saying that she
would appeal the verdict.
According
to local media the sentence was handed down to Molaverdi because she has spoken
out against the execution of dissidents and the pressures on the minority
Baha’i community, as well her support for gender equality in education.
Last
week, another high-ranking official in Rouhani’s administration was also
summoned to a branch of civil servants’ court and released on bail after the
court hearing, Tasnim news agency reported.
Isa
Kalantari, Rouhani’s deputy and head of Iran’s Department of Environment, was
summoned to court for comments he made about Iran’s former supreme leader
Aytollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in a 2017 interview.
A
40-second video from this interview has gone viral on Iranian social media, in
which Kalantari says that Khomeini was "an illegitimate child" of the
United States.
Following
the spread of the video, Kalantari has publicly apologised for his comments.
However, conservative politicians and media demanded his trial.
Meanwhile,
Iranian journalists have also come under fire by the country’s judiciary.
On
Tuesday, Ensaf News reported that Kayvan Samimi, veteran journalist and head of
Iran’s freedom of the press association, was summoned to the Evin prison in
Tehran to serve a three-year sentence.
The
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the imprisoning of the
72-year-old journalist, who suffers from heart complications.
CPJ’s
Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour said: “Jailing
an elderly journalist in the middle of a raging pandemic shows how much
contempt the Iranian judiciary has for the press.”
In
another blow to freedom of press, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
(IRGC) intelligence branch arrested Vida Rabbani, Iranian journalist and a
member of the reformist Union of Islamic Iran People Party.
On
4 December, Bahare Hedayat, a prominent Iranian student activist and former
political prisoner, wrote on Twitter that Rabbani has gone on a hunger strike
to protest her "illegal arrest".
Medicine
shortage worsens
Iranians
with kidney and liver transplants, as well as those receiving treatment for
blood cancer, have faced tougher issues in finding their necessary medication
since the imposition of new sanctions on Iran's economy by the US
administration of President Donald Trump.
Since
2018, the United States has imposed over 1,000 sanctions on all sections of
Iran’s economy and banking system, disabling the country from trading with
other nations, as a part of Washington’s maximum pressure campaign against
Tehran.
Iran’s
healthcare system has been smashed by the sanctions as foreign companies and
banks are reluctant to trade with Iran because of them.
The
Ebtekar daily, in an article about the patients who could not find their
medication in Iran, wrote that the import of medicines for cancer and special
diseases was totally stopped, while the Iranian-made versions of the same
medicines were not of corresponding quality.
The
current medicine shortage in Iran has also caused anger at officials, according
to the daily.
“Don’t they [officials] know that we don’t
have medicine?” Farshid, who has undergone a kidney transplant surgery two
years ago, told the paper.
“If
they don’t know that, then what do they know? Is it my crime that I was born in
Iran? I don’t want to die. I’m only 25 years old. I want to live.”
On
Monday, Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of Iran, announced
that Tehran’s attempts to make advance payments for Covid-19 vaccines had
failed because of US sanctions on the county’s banking system.
Students
climb mountains to access virtual learning
The
Shahrvand daily has reported that students living in rural parts of the
southwestern Fars province have been climbing mountains every day in order to
access the internet they need to use the Shad homegrown app for virtual
learning.
In
November, the government shut down schools in Iran after a third wave of the
coronavirus outbreak hit the country.
The
daily reported that to have access to the internet, over 50 students in Chah
Tala village walked for five kilometres to the top of the mountains to reach a
location with a strong and stable internet connection.
For
this daily journey, usually one of the parents or older siblings accompany the
primary school students of Chah Tala. However, on some days students as young
as eight years old have to go alone on their daily search for an internet
connection.
Following
the closing of schools in Iran, a group of philanthropists has donated tablets
to Chah Tala’s school-age children. However, students in this village cannot
yet participate in virtual classes due to internet connection issues.
According
to Shahrvand, no internet coverage is available in 216 villages in the Fars
province and 250 villages in the province have no access to electricity.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iranian-press-review-irans-judiciary-hands-prison-terms-journalists-and-rouhanis-deputies
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