“I Am Not That Weak Willow That Trembles in Every Wind / I Am an Afghan Woman,” Afghan Woman Sings
New Age Islam News Bureau
10 Sep 2024
· “I Am Not That Weak Willow That Trembles in Every Wind / I Am an Afghan Woman,” Afghan Woman Sings
· Female Iranian Activist, Sara Deldar, Dies from Gunshot Wounds Sustained In 2022 Protests
· Auckland Al-Madinah School and Zayed College for Girls to Reopen Today, Investigation into Video Threat Continues
· Meet Combat Antisemitism Movement 'S Four Muslim Women Standing Up Against Extremism and Promoting Peace
· The Taliban's Repression Of Women In Afghanistan Is Outrageous, The UN Rights Chief Says
· Muslim Donor’s Blood Refused For Sick Hindu Woman At A Govt Hospital In MP’s Panna
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/afghan-woman-sings-taliban/d/133166
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“I Am Not That Weak Willow That Trembles in Every Wind / I Am an Afghan Woman,” Afghan Woman Sings
Women In Afghanistan Are Singing To Protest The Taliban Banning Them From Speaking Aloud In Public
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Sept. 09, 2024,
Amid all the repression of women in Afghanistan, something joyful can be heard. It is the voice of women singing.
Since returning to power three years ago, Taliban leaders have banned girls from attending school beyond the age of 12 and required women to be covered from head to toe in public. Last month, they imposed laws ordering women and girls not to speak in public nor be heard singing or reading aloud within their homes.
Yet the decrees have only led to more Afghan women breaking out in song on social media. Many appear without a head covering. A commonly used slogan – “My voice is not forbidden” – echoes one used during recent protests in Iran: “Women, life, freedom.”
Another woman stands before a mirror, fixing her hair. “I am not that weak willow that trembles in every wind / I am an Afghan woman,” she sings. “I will break free of this cage, to escape from this solitude and sing with abandon.”
These voices, Afghan journalist Hamina Adam told the France Culture radio channel, are “like the sign of life.”
The cheerful assurance of the women is nothing new. An all-female broadcasting service called Radio Begum has continued to connect women in much of Afghanistan semi-clandestinely. Its programs enable women to talk to each other on topics of health, family, and “religious issues from a female perspective.” A sister TV channel launched in March helps girls continue their education from home through the 12th grade.
These connections via broadcasts along with the social media posts affirm equality, compassion, and individual dignity – values largely missing in Taliban decrees. One possible effect is that over 70% of Afghan fathers whose eldest child is female said human rights must be a national priority, according to a survey by the University of Massachusetts conducted after the Taliban took over.
As Afghan women have turned to electronic media to avoid repression, this is echoed in lyrics from one popular song on social media: “Their boots might be on my neck. Or their fists to my face. But with our deep light inside, I will fight through this night.”
Source: csmonitor.com
https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2024/0909/Afghan-women-sing-freedom
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Female Iranian Activist, Sara Deldar, Dies from Gunshot Wounds Sustained In 2022 Protests
Sara Deldar, former political prisoner
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SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
Sara Deldar, a former political prisoner, has died due to multiple infections caused by pellet wounds sustained during the 2022 nationwide protests after being shot by Iranian security forces.
After her arrest, Deldar was sentenced to more than one year in Rasht’s Lakan Prison, among thousands arrested in a mass roundup of opponents to the government. She was released on parole after serving more than six months, but her health was already deteriorating.
In her final Instagram post in July, Deldar described her severe ill health after her release citing infections, anemia, and the enlargement of her spleen, kidneys, and ovaries. The ailments were likely exacerbated by the bad treatment and conditions of her imprisonment where prisoners are often denied access to adequate healthcare.
Deldar also revealed that other prisoners released from Lakan Prison were suffering from similar illnesses.
Sara Deldar’s death is not an isolated incident. For over four decades, Iran’s prisons have become a graveyard for political prisoners and those who dare to defy the regime.
Among the many others suffering a similar fate is MosayebYeganeh, who was returned to Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison from a hospital before his treatment was complete, and ultimately died due to his lack of medical care. Another Kurdish prisoner, Hasan Omarpour, was so desperate that he self-immolated at the same prison.
Many others have committed suicide either in detention or shortly after their release, often as a result of the brutal physical and psychological abuse they endure behind bars. In the last few months alone, several political prisoners have taken their own lives, unable to cope with the trauma inflicted by the state’s torturers.
Suspicious deaths have been reported in prisons across the country, including Lakan Prison, where Deldar was held, the Central Prison of Tabriz in East Azarbaijan Province, and Ilam Prison in Ilam Province.
The 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests, sparked by the killing of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police, led to the deaths of over 500 protesters in the hands of Iran's security forces. Many more protesters died suspiciously in detention or shortly after their release, adding to an already mounting death toll.
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202409090167
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Auckland Al-Madinah School and Zayed College for Girls to Reopen Today, Investigation into Video Threat Continues
By Rachel Maher
10 Sep, 2024
The two Auckland Islamic colleges targeted by video threats showing men with guns will reopen today with a bolstered police presence.
After receiving an offshore video threat, Al-Madinah School and Zayed College for Girls on Westney Rd, Māngere, were forced to close yesterday.
The video reportedly showed a man showing guns in a car and shooting. The videos were not filmed at the school.
Zayed College for Girls shared on social media that they believe the video “originated from the dark web” and preliminary investigations suggest it was sent from overseas.
“Tracing the original source may take several weeks but it is considered a serious, ongoing investigation.”
The post said police patrols would be increased on Westney Rd during the opening and closing times of both schools. The school gates would also be locked throughout the day.
“However, due to resource limitations, they will not be able to station officers directly at the school.
“Our community constable, Priscilla, and I will be at the front of the school to provide reassurance and ensure that the environment is welcoming for our students.”
Al-Madinah senior staff member Amjad Ali told RNZ a video was sent to the school’s principal at 11pm on Sunday night.
He said the video featured a man showing guns in a car and randomly shooting, he said.
It wasn’t filmed at the school, but police recommended going into lockdown.
NZ Fiji Times reported that students had received threatening emails.
The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) said they had been closely monitoring the situation.
They were concerned for the welfare of the students amidst the alleged dismantling of “key national security framework components”.
FIANZ said talk about the reintroduction of military-style semi-automatic firearms implemented after the March 15 terror attack has “emboldened would-be terrorists to discuss shooting Muslim children at schools in New Zealand”.
“This should serve as a wake-up call for the Rt Hon Prime Minister that his Associate Minister for Justice is jeopardising the safety of all New Zealanders, disregarding national security.”
Al-Madinah School offers students courses in Islamic subjects as well as complete coverage of the New Zealand curriculum.
Zayed College for Girls is a state-integrated special character Islamic secondary school for girls Year 7 – 13.
Source: nzherald.co.nz
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/crime/al-madinah-school-and-zayed-college-for-girls-to-reopen-today-investigation-into-video-threat-continues/TBDPVQ62OJC2FDEBLN4FZCG3MM/
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Meet Combat Antisemitism Movement 'S Four Muslim Women Standing Up Against Extremism and Promoting Peace
10 September 2024
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) has started the "Voices for Humanity" campaign, sharing the stories of four Muslim American women who are standing up against extremism and promoting tolerance, the organization announced on Monday.
The campaign features the stories of Anila Ali, FarhanaKhorshed, Soraya M. Deen, and ZebunnesaZebaZubair, who moved to the US for a more open and welcoming society. Their shared video stories also serve as a call for action, the organization stated.
In response to growing antisemitism and anti-Israel feelings since October 7, the campaign aims to push back against harmful ideas and promote peace through interfaith understanding. By highlighting human rights and freedom values while challenging extreme ideas, the campaign strives to showcase pro-Western values and counter anti-American ideologies.
CAM CEO Sacha Roytman said the campaign shows how individual voices can fight hate and promote respect for others, emphasizing, “The 'Voices for Humanity' campaign is a testament to the power of individual voices in combating hatred and promoting understanding.”
"These courageous women demonstrate that we can stand together against extremism while upholding values of human rights, freedom, and mutual respect,” she further stressed.
The four women
Anila Ali, originally from Pakistan, is a retired public school teacher in California, and a Muslim philanthropist, author, and women's rights advocate. She co-founded the Irvine Pakistani Parents Foundation and CalPak Educational Services. In 2015, she presented at the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, highlighting her dedication to promoting peace and understanding.
FarhanaKhorshed is an interpreter, community leader, and advocate for social and women's rights, particularly focused on the Southeast Asian community in New England. As the executive director of Nebaf Inc. (New England Bangladeshi American Foundation), she is committed to addressing challenges faced by local families, aiding immigrant integration, and supporting victims of domestic violence.
Soraya M. Deen is an award-winning Muslim feminist activist, community organizer, motivational speaker, corporate trainer, and lawyer. She founded Muslim Women Speakers to empower women for public leadership, religious freedom, and gender equality. Deen provides resources for women to advocate for justice and dignity. She also serves as Co-Chair of the IRF Women's Working Group, further highlighting her commitment to interfaith understanding and women's empowerment.
ZebunnesaZebaZubair, a graduate of the Claire Trevor School of Art at the University of California, Irvine, was born and raised in Bangladesh. While living in the US, she continues to support her hometown of Gazipur by working to improve education, the environment, and social services.
People can watch video stories of these women and share their messages of support at vfh.combatantisemitism.org.
Source: jpost.com
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-819426
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The Taliban's repression of women in Afghanistan is outrageous, the UN rights chief says
September 9, 2024,
ISLAMABAD -- The Taliban’s repressive control over women and girls in Afghanistan is unparalleled and will jeopardize the country’s future, the U.N. rights chief warned Monday.
Volker Türk said new morality laws that ban women’s voices and bare faces in public, along with sweeping bans on education and most jobs, were outrageous and amounted to systematic gender persecution.
“I shudder to think what is next for the women and girls of Afghanistan,” Türk told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Taliban were not immediately available for comment.
The Taliban — who took over Afghanistan in 2021 during the final weeks of U.S. and NATO withdrawal — have excluded women from most areas of public life and stopped girls from going to school beyond sixth grade, despite initial promises of a more moderate rule.
They are also restricting women’s access to work, travel and health care if they are unmarried or don’t have a male guardian, and punishing those who don’t comply with the Taliban’s interpretation of hijab, or Islamic headscarf.
The Taliban last month issued the ban on women’s voices in public under new laws approved by the supreme leader in efforts to combat vice and promote virtue.
“I want to make clear my abhorrence of these latest measures, which include forbidding even eye contact between women and men who are not related and imposing mandatory covering for women from head to toe, including their faces,” Türk said.
Taliban policies are propelling Afghanistan further down a path of isolation, pain and hardship, he added.
Last year, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the country needs $4.62 billion in aid for nearly 24 million people in need. The Taliban takeover drove millions into poverty and hunger after foreign aid stopped almost overnight.
Sanctions, a halt on bank transfers and frozen billions in Afghanistan’s currency reserves restricted access to global institutions and the outside money that supported the country’s aid-dependent economy before the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces.
The situation for children was especially devastating, with 12.4 million children in desperate need, Türk said, but a massive shortfall in funding was “sharply undercutting” the response by the U.N. and its partners.
Another speaker at the council session was Richard Bennett, the U.N. special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan. Bennett has frequently criticized the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls. Last month, he confirmed he was no longer allowed to visit the country.
In his first address since being barred from Afghanistan, Bennett said the morality laws reinforced the Taliban’s institutionalized system of sex and gender discrimination, segregation and oppression and affected almost the entire population.
“Unaddressed, the repercussions will shape future generations,” he said.
Bennett said he had talked to Afghans in several provinces who had described a visible increase in the presence of morality inspectors as well as tightening restrictions, in particular on people’s freedom of movement.
“We have also received information that barbers are instructed not to shave men’s beards shorter than the specified length, while the ban on broadcasting of images of human beings is impacting the media,” he said.
Afghan media have reported that the Vice and Virtue Ministry has stopped female journalists from working in Daikundi province and administered a religious test to government employees, warning they risk dismissal if they do not participate.
There have also been reports that the state-controlled broadcaster RTA has stopped airing in Kandahar province, the Taliban’s power center in the south and the base of its leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, because morality laws prohibit the depiction of living beings.
The Taliban have not responded to requests for comment on the reports.
Source: abcnews.go.com
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/talibans-repression-women-afghanistan-outrageous-rights-chief-113520344
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Muslim donor’s blood refused for sick Hindu woman at a govt hospital in MP’s Panna
September 9, 2024
In a disturbing case, a doctor refused to permit a Muslim man to donate blood for a Hindu woman in critical need at a government hospital in Panna city, Madhya Pradesh.
According to local media reports, a man, PawanSonkar reached the district hospital for his mother’s treatment. The doctors instructed him to arrange for blood urgently, prompting Sonkar to bring his Muslim friend to the hospital as a donor.
The incident was captured in a video that surfaced on social media platforms on Sunday, September 8. The few seconds of footage shows a conversation between Sonkar and the doctor who is heard refusing to accept the Muslim man as a donor objecting that “Muslim blood cannot be given to a Hindu patient” and expressing concern that they would “be in trouble if we do it.”
As per reports, a man named PawanSonkar, who is the resident of Ajaygarh, brought his sick mother to the hospital. The doctor diagnosed insufficient blood during the check up and asked him to arrange blood donor. Sonkar came up with his Muslim friend as blood donor. However, he was sent back saying that blood of a Muslim man can’t be transfused to a Hindu.
A 47-minute video of the conversation between Sonkar and the medic has also been shot by someone. Clarion India acquired the video showing a man refusing to transfuse the blood citing the religious identity of the donor and the sick.
The conversation goes:
Sonkar: Who said that his blood cannot be transfused to her?
Medic: Yes, Yes, I have said this, she is a Hindu, He is a Muslim
Sonkar: What’s problem with this?
Medic: There is a problem. Donor comes here and our job can be under threat
Sonkar: Please give it in written that blood of a Muslim man can’t be transfused to a Hindu.
Medic: It’s not matter of Hindu and Muslim, it is matter of donor
Sonkar: If the donor is ready to donate the blood, what’s the issue?
Speaking to Hindi website Satyahindi.com, local reporter Arvind Singh Yadav, who has reported the incident, said that a complaint was filed in the matter but no action was taken in this regard. He called the matter serious and shameful.
The authorities at the lab of the hospital have not issued any reaction to the incident.
Reacting to the video, people on social media expressed their dismay over the communal mindset of the medic and demanded his suspension.
“From streets to schools to hospitals, the venom has spread far and wide. This bigoted doctor should be suspended,” said journalist AsthaSvyasachi. ( With Agencies Inputs )
Source: muslimmirror.com
https://muslimmirror.com/muslim-donors-blood-refused-for-sick-hindu-woman-at-a-govt-hospital-in-mps-panna/
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/afghan-woman-sings-taliban/d/133166