Indonesian Woman Flogged 100 Times For Adultery in Conservative Aceh, Male Partner Gets 15
New Age Islam News Bureau
14 January 2022
• Indonesia To Focus Afghan Aid On Women’s Empowerment
• Female Business Owner Kitting Out Camels At King
Abdulaziz Camel Festival
• Lagos State Missioner Of Ansarul Deen Society Cleric
Charges Women On Impartation Of Virtues
• Israel Says Iran ‘Spy Network’ Recruited Women
Online
• Saudi Arabia’s Largest Women Walking Team With 700
Members Formed In Jubail
• Turkish Family Charged Over Death After Woman's
Exorcism
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/aceh-indonesian-woman-flogged-adultery/d/126159
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Indonesian Woman Flogged 100 Times For Adultery in
Conservative Aceh, Male Partner Gets 15
The woman during the public
flogging in Idi. Photograph: Cek Mad/AFP/Getty Images
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January 13, 2022
ACEH: An Indonesian woman was flogged 100 times
Thursday in conservative Aceh province for adultery while her male partner, who
Denied the accusations, received just 15 lashes.
Ivan Najjar Alavi, the head of general investigation
division at East Aceh prosecutors office, said the court handed down a heftier
sentence for the married woman after she confessed to investigators she had sex
out of her marriage.
Judges found it difficult to convict the man, who was
then the head of East Aceh fishery agency and also married, because he denied
all wrongdoings, Alavi added.
“During the trial, he admitted nothing, denying all
accusations. Thus, (judges)] are not able to prove whether he is guilty,” Alavi
told reporters after a public flogging for Sharia law offenders in East Aceh on
Thursday.
Aceh is the only region in Muslim-majority Indonesia
to impose Islamic law, which allows whipping for charges including gambling,
adultery, drinking alcohol, and gay sex.
As an alternative punishment, instead the judges found
the married man guilty of “showing affection to a female partner who is not his
wife” after the couple were caught by locals at a palm oil plantation in 2018.
He was initially sentenced to 30 lashes but his
successful appeal at the Sharia Supreme Court in Aceh reduced the sentence to
15.
The woman’s flogging was briefly paused because she
couldn’t bear the pain, according to an AFP reporter in the field.
Another man convicted of having sex with a minor was
also whipped 100 times on Thursday.
The man will also serve 75 months in prison for the
crime after the flogging according to prosecutors.
Dozens watched, recorded and put Thursday’s flogging
on social media, a spectacle criticised by rights groups but which regularly
attracted hundreds before the pandemic.
Unlike the rest of the nation, Aceh follows religious
law as part of a 2005 autonomy deal agreed with the central government that
ended a decades-long separatist insurgency.
Human rights groups slam public caning as cruel, and
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo has called for it to end. However, it has
strong support among Aceh’s population.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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Indonesia To Focus Afghan Aid On Women’s Empowerment
People wait in queues to
receive cash at a money distribution organized by the World Food Program (WFP)
in Kabul, Afghanistan. (AP/File)
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January 13, 2022
JAKARTA: The Indonesian government pledged on Thursday
to focus on women’s empowerment and education in Afghanistan, as part of its
aid commitment made during last month’s extraordinary session of the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Afghanistan’s fragile economy has been on the brink of
collapse, with rapid food price increases and widespread hunger, since the
abrupt withdrawal and freezing of foreign aid after the Taliban takeover in
August. The international community has been pressurizing the country;s new
rulers to commit to upholding women’s rights as a condition for restoring aid.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim majority
country, pledged to support capacity-building and educational efforts for
Afghan women during the 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC’s Council of
Foreign Ministers, hosted by Pakistan, on Dec. 19.
Abdul Kadir Jailani, the Indonesian foreign ministry’s
director general for Asian, Pacific and African affairs, said during a press
briefing in Jakarta that Indonesia’s $2.85 million aid package for Afghanistan
will be directed predominantly at this purpose.
“All of those funds will be directed toward capacity
building, especially for women, as well as scholarships,” Jailani told
reporters, as he highlighted the Indonesian government’s commitment to “elevate
women’s role.”
Women’s rights were severely curtailed during the
Taliban’s previous stint in power from 1996 to 2001. The group banned women
from leaving their houses without full face and head coverings and a male
relative accompanying them, and barred girls from receiving an education.
The Taliban say they have changed, but many women and
rights advocates remain skeptical. In the weeks after the group's takeover, the
new government announced a steady stream of policies and regulations that
rolled back the advances in women’s rights over the past two decades.
The 2022 World Report by Human Rights Watch has raised
concerns over opportunities for Afghan women under the new regime, as many
secondary schools for girls remained closed by the end of the year, and women
were prohibited from working in most government jobs and many other areas.
Source: Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2003986/world
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Female business owner kitting out camels at King
Abdulaziz Camel Festival
RAHAF JAMBI
January 14, 2022
RIYADH: Female camel owners last week had the chance,
for the first time ever, to showcase their animals in a camel beauty contest at
the annual King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Saudi Arabia. But they were not the
only women to play a prominent role at the event; others contributed by
providing the impressive accessories that helped the camels catch the eyes of
the judges.
Noura Al-Ghannam, for example, is the owner of
Safayef, a company that specializes in making customized camel capes, covers,
necklaces and other accessories.
“I started my business two years ago, in 2019, but a
year before that we studied the local market and the problems in traditional
products and how they are limited,” she told Arab News.
She came to the conclusion that traditional capes for
camels were very plain and simple and lacked style, so she decided to brighten
them up with the addition of colorful embroidery and by offering a variety of
fabrics. The name of the business, Safayef, refers to the decoration made from
woolen threads that appears on the camel accessories.
“I realized that we need different fabrics for camel
capes that are suitable for winter and summer, and some are only suitable for
formal occasions,” Al-Ghannam said. “We also work on necklaces and medals.”
Sewing has been one of her passions since a very young
age, she added.
“I loved embroidering and adding accessories on
fabrics, and while most designers tend to design traditional clothes, I wanted
to differ from them and decorate camels, as I have an interest in them,” she
said.
One of the challenges she faced in setting up her
business was the bespoke nature of the accessories she provides, which require
precise measurements to ensure they perfectly fit the camel they are made for.
“One of the reasons why we don’t have a retail store
is because these clothes are specially tailored and customized for one camel at
a time,” Al-Ghannam said. “When we get an order we have to take the
measurements of the camel so it can fit the clothes perfectly.
“One of the biggest challenges that we had was taking
the measurements for a camel. However, after a year of working with camels, we
overcame the problem and now it has become easier to do so.”
Al-Ghannam said that she wants to expand her business
to all Gulf countries and aspires to it becoming the leading specialist brand
for camel accessories.
Her clients include camel owners and the organizers of
camel festivals, and she revealed that she also receives many requests for
horse accessories.
“I know many horse owners want accessories for their
horses,” she said. “However, Safayef is a business specializing in camel
accessories only — and in any business, it is very important to focus on what
you do best.”
Al-Ghannam said that when she started her business she
contacted the Kingdom’s Camel Club and explained her business plans. They
welcomed her with open arms, she added, and this year she participated in the
King Abdulaziz Camel Festival for the first time by providing flags, necklaces,
scarves and embroidered covers.
Safayef has also supplied camel capes and team
uniforms to the Eid Caravans initiative, organized by the Ahyaha Humanitarian
Foundation in cooperation with the Saudi Camel Club, Diriyah Gate Development
Authority, and the Imam Mohammad bin Saud Charity Society. The initiative
involved a convoy of 14 camels loaded with gifts that were distributed to more
than 400 homes. In addition, Safayef has participated in other special events,
including for Saudi National Day and Eid.
Source: Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2004131/saudi-arabia
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Lagos State Missioner Of Ansarul Deen Society Cleric
Charges Women On Impartation Of Virtues
By Abigail Ikhaghu
14 January 2022
Women in the country have been charged to live
according to injunctions of God and be models of virtues as a means of upright
upbringing of younger generations of women, and by extension, the society.
Being models of virtues, Lagos State Missioner of
Ansarul Deen Society, Imaam Zakariyah Thanni, said, is a strong and potent
weapon for moral rectitude in a society bedeviled by morally offensive
behaviour and cultural perversions.
The cleric, who spoke on “Role of Virtuous Women in
Moral Rectitude” during the 80th birthday of Alhaja Tamuriat Ayinke Afolabi,
held at Ronnie De Event Centre, Agege, on Wednesday, said God has designed
roles to be played by men and women in the home, community and society, and
neglect of such roles has brought moral decadence.
Part of the role of women, he explained, includes
being a model, mentor and advocate of morally sound behaviour, culture and
virtues and passing such to younger generations for godliness in society, order
and progress.
The cleric added that Islam delivered women and
girl-child from infanticide associated with girl-child in the ancient cultures,
and added that there were devilish women and every woman should desist from
evil.
“Every woman that is virtuous would be prosperous and
fruitful,” he said.
Virtues expected of good and religious women include
fidelity, humility, hard work truthfulness and courtesy/self-respect, among
others.
“Virtuous women take care of the home,” he emphasised.
Mr Fatai Afolabi, a nephew-in-law to the celebrant and Consultant to the
Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria (POFON), said Alhaja Tamuriat Ayinke
Afolabi; the 80-year-old celebrant has been a virtuous, God-fearing and
accommodating woman who brought up family members as her biological children.
He said: “I have known and been associated with you as
soon as you met my uncle, the late Alhaji Jimoh Ayinde Afolabi, in 1965 at
Ebute Meta. I was a small boy of seven years old then.
“I have watched and monitored your trajectory as you
navigated through life from the gait, immaculate, beautiful, talented and
humble young lady that you were then in the 1960s.
“It is amazing that you have not dropped any of these
qualities. Rather, you have added more values and virtues as occasioned by the
demands of adulthood, motherhood, family and other societal demands.”
Source: Guardian Nigeria
https://guardian.ng/features/friday-worship/cleric-charges-women-on-impartation-of-virtues/
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Israel says Iran ‘spy network’ recruited women online
January 12, 2022
JERUSALEM: An Iranian “espionage network” used
Facebook to recruit Israeli women who were manipulated into photographing the
US embassy and other activities, the Shin Bet domestic security agency said
Wednesday.
The women, whom the Shin Bet did not identify, were
recruited by an Iranian agent who called himself “Rambod Namdar” and said he
was a Jew living in Iran, the Israeli agency said in a statement.
“Despite the fact that the women suspected that the
man in question was an Iranian intelligence operative, some of them maintained
contact with him, agreed to perform various tasks he asked of them and received
funds from him,” it said.
After being approached through Facebook, “Rambod”
asked that communication continue using the encrypted messaging app WhatsApp,
the Shin Bet added.
It said there were four prime suspects, and
indictments have been issued.
One of the women, aged 40, was allegedly in contact
with “Rambod” for several years and carried out various missions.
These included covertly photographing the US embassy
in Tel Aviv, and taking pictures inside the interior ministry in her hometown
of Holon.
“Rambod” also asked the woman to guide her son, prior
to his military enlistment, into the Intelligence Directorate with the aim of
obtaining sensitive documents, the Shin Bet alleged.
Another suspect, aged 57, was also tasked with
steering her son toward military intelligence.
She “received an accumulated sum of about $5,000 on
several occasions” over a period of more than four years, the Shin Bet said.
Her other missions allegedly included trying to get
close to a member of Israel’s Knesset, or parliament.
The woman “transferred information about their
relationship to her operator,” said the Shin Bet, which jointly investigated
with Israeli police.
The Shin Bet’s accusations about the spy network come
during negotiations in Vienna between Iran and world powers seeking to revive a
2015 agreement that offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on
its nuclear program.
Israel is not a party to the Vienna talks but is
watching with concern, fearing arch-enemy Iran could develop a nuclear weapon.
Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful.
“The State of Israel is in an ongoing campaign with
Iran. It is clear: We see never-ending efforts and attempts by the Iranian
Revolutionary Guard Corps to recruit Israeli citizens,” Prime Minister Naftali
Bennett said.
“These attempts go beyond security and intelligence.
They are expanding to efforts to influence the citizens of Israel and Israeli
society, sow discord and polarization, undermine political stability in Israel
and damage the public’s trust in the government,” he added.
Bennett urged Israelis to be cautious, saying: “It is
possible that behind the information that you consume or share on social media
are the Iranians.”
In November, Israel indicted a man employed as a
cleaner in the home of Defense Minister Benny Gantz for attempting to spy for
the Black Shadow hacking group, which is purportedly linked to Iran.
Black Shadow hacks are seen as part of a years-long
covert war between Israel and Iran, including physical attacks on ships and
cyber offensives.
Source: Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2003891/middle-east
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Saudi Arabia’s largest women walking team with 700
members formed in Jubail
January 13, 2022
JUBAIL — A Saudi woman, Abeer Al-Dayel, has formed
Saudi Arabia’s largest women's walking team, comprising 700 members, in the
Eastern Province city of Jubail.
According to Al-Arabiya channel, walking reduced the
weight of 70 percent of the team members, and 15 percent of them reported
recovery from certain chronic diseases they previously suffered from.
The founder of the team, Abeer Al-Dayl, said what
motivated her to form the team was her personal belief that Jubail’s city
structure is well-designed for all types of sports activities on the beaches,
neighborhoods and parks.
She additionally pointed out that in the past four
years, the team has conducted more than 100 initiatives in health awareness.
Source: Saudi Gazette
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/615802
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Turkish family charged over death after woman's
exorcism
JAN 13, 2022
The husband and parents of a woman who died under
suspicious circumstances last year in the capital Ankara face charges of murder
and complicity in murder in a bizarre case of exorcism.
The victim, 30-year-old Ö.N.T., died in March 2021
after she was hospitalized when she passed out at a marketplace where
sacrificial animals are slaughtered. Authorities launched an investigation and
the Chief Prosecutor's Office had completed an indictment against six
defendants, including the victim's husband, mother-in-law and parents, as well
as two people who allegedly helped them in the exorcism of "a djinn,"
a spiritual being in Islamic theology that is interpreted as an evil spirit.
Doctors alerted authorities when they discovered bruises
on the back and arms of the victim and security forces detained the defendants.
All were later released under judiciary control. The woman's husband, S.T.,
told prosecutors that his wife was suffering from psychological problems and
his parents and in-laws told him that she might be "harmed by a
djinn." T. said he turned to E.K., a man living in the central province of
Kayseri recommended to him as an exorcist. "He told me he could save my
wife and first, he recited prayers via the phone and this calmed my wife. When
she got sick again, I called him and he told me to sacrifice an animal and
later hit her back lightly 100 times with a rolling pin. He also instructed me
to get her undergo hacamat (cupping therapy), which involves bloodletting and
is viewed as a traditional alternative therapy. I hit her 100 times on her back
and leg while reciting prayers but they were light blows," T. said in his
testimony, adding that his parents and his wife's parents were in the room with
him during the beating. He said he later brought in S.Ö., a suspect in the
case, for cupping. "She slept peacefully after all this but got sick again
in the morning. I called E.K. and he told me to sacrifice an animal. We went to
the marketplace to buy and slaughter the animal. My wife was fasting that day
upon E.K.'s advice. While we were slaughtering the animal, she passed
out," he said.
E.K. denied the allegations and said he was not an
"exorcist" but working as a welder. He said he was known to have
religious knowledge and simply gave advice to S.T. to pray, repent and help the
poor woman to stave off the djinn. He denied he told the husband to beat the
victim with a rolling pin. S.Ö. told prosecutors that she applied cupping on
the victim and had seen that her body was covered in bruises. She told
prosecutors that when she asked the family, family members told her that they
were trying to exorcise the djinn the way an exorcist had instructed them to.
She denied charges of complicity in the murder. Other suspects also denied the
allegations.
A forensic report in the case says the victim died of
internal bleeding due to "soft tissue trauma," confirming the
allegations of beating. Prosecutors asked for prison terms between 12 and 18
years for the defendants. The indictment is accepted by the First High Criminal
Court in Ankara although a hearing date is yet to be set.
Though Islam does not instruct the faithful to use
such practices like hitting djinn-possessed people, exorcists resorting to
un-Islamic superstitions are still fairly common in some parts of Turkey,
exploiting the beliefs of naive people in exchange for payment.
Source: Daily Sabah
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkish-family-charged-over-death-after-womans-exorcism/news
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