Afghan Women Demand International Cricket Council Takes Stand Against Taliban
New Age Islam News Bureau
18 Jan2025
· Afghan Women Demand International Cricket Council Takes Stand Against Taliban
· Over 1000 Women Ascetics (Mahila Tapasvi) To Receive 'Diksha' (initiation) During Mahakumbh
· HRW Expresses Concern Over Increasing Restrictions on Women in Afghanistan
· UN: Iran Must Immediately Revoke Death Sentence Against Kurdish Woman Activist
· Meet UAE's First All-Women EsportsTeam Who Made Global Debut At World Championship In Riyadh
· Redefining Boundaries: Muslim Women’s Path for Liberation
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/afghan-women-cricket-council-taliban/d/134368
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Afghan Women Demand International Cricket Council Takes Stand Against Taliban
18 January 2025
Firooza Amiri (right) with two of her teammates
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Cricket's governing body is under fire from Afghan women after being banned from playing by the Taliban, while men have continued competing.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been accused of making "unfair decisions" following the deterioration of women's rights under Afghanistan's hardline rulers.
Now political pressure has been growing, including from more than 160 MPs and peers, for the England men's cricket team to boycott their upcoming Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan next month.
A total of 25 female players, who were selected to train in 2020 with the plan that they would eventually represent Afghanistan before the Taliban took over in 2021, are living in exile in Australia.
Firooza Amiri is one of those players now based in Melbourne.
While she escaped with her parents and siblings to a new life, her extended family remain at home and she believes now more than ever a female cricket team representing Afghanistan would give women of the country some hope.
"It is heartbreaking for me. I have all my freedoms, they can't have their basic rights. I have an aunt who dreamed of being a teacher her whole life and she got a contract with a school in 2020 and in 2021 the Taliban took power. After they took over, she got a very deep depression and every time I talk to her she is always crying.
"Girls are growing up without education, they are forced to get married at 14. These things are heartbreaking for me. Women are living in a very horrible situation. Afghanistan went back to a very past time. All the countries are improving and celebrating equality but in Afghanistan there is not something like equality."
When the players fled they had yet to play an international match.
Women's cricket in the country was just beginning, now it has been snuffed out completely, even though the ICC rules state that women's cricket must be supported by member nations.
Amiri doesn't think that a boycott of a match or a complete boycott of the Afghanistan men's team is the way forward, but is in no doubt the ICC has not gone into bat for the Afghan women's team.
"At the end of the day all of the decisions come from the ICC and it's been unfair decisions from the ICC for us. We sent a letter to the ICC, they never respond to us. They make excuses, they always say having a women's Afghanistan team is complicated. It is not complicated, it's as simple as 'we want to have a team' - it's very easy.
"The ICC must stop making unfair decisions and turn their face to the women of Afghanistan. We are here, we just dream to play cricket for our country."
As far as the ICC is concerned the matter isn't closed, but it's hard to see how it can be resolved in the near future.
An ICC spokesperson statement said: "The ICC remains closely engaged with the situation in Afghanistan and continues to collaborate with our members. We are committed to leveraging our influence constructively to support the ACB [Afghanistan Cricket Board] in fostering cricket development and ensuring playing opportunities for both men and women in Afghanistan.
"The ICC has established the Afghanistan Cricket Task Force, chaired by deputy chairman Mr Imran Khwaja, who will lead the ongoing dialogue on this matter."
We asked to speak to Mr Khwaja to get an update and the ICC are looking into that.
The response from Amiri though is openly critical. "The ICC as an international council has never reached out to us. We are national players. They've never been to help. I think in general the ICC only focus on the men's team... it doesn't matter which country. The ICC is always talking about equality but there is no equality that the ICC should celebrate."
But she does not want the Afghanistan men's team, who are ranked 8th in the world for One Day Internationals, to be banned.
"They tried so hard to get where they are today," she said, adding that they also "had the support of the ICC" to achieve that.
The Afghanistan female players would like to play as a refugee team, but even this has been refused for now.
Amiri said: "We just want to represent Afghanistan as long as we are on the ground, on the field. Every time we play we are not just playing for ourselves but millions of girls who are still in Afghanistan.
"We just want to make sure Afghanistan women do not feel forgotten."\
Source: news.sky.com
https://news.sky.com/story/afghan-women-demand-crickets-governing-body-takes-stand-against-taliban-13290742
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Over 1000 Women Ascetics (Mahila Tapasvi) To Receive 'Diksha' (initiation) During Mahakumbh
18 Jan 2025,
Mahakumbh Mela
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LUCKNOW: Besides the rare celestial alignment leading to ‘PushyaNakshatra’ after 144 years, the ongoing Mahakumbh is all set to be historical in many other ways.
Deemed to be the biggest religious congregation of humanity, the event will witness the women power in the spiritual realm at play.
The 13 Akharas (Hindu monastic orders) are gearing up to hoist the flag of Sanatan tradition yet again by inducting a new generation of women ascetics through ‘Diksha’ during the upcoming Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya on January 29.
The Snan would take place under the rare and pious PushyaNakshtra.
The event is also set to script a new chapter in Sanatan’s history as Prayagraj Mahakumbh records an unprecedented 1000 women ascetics receiving ‘Diksha.’
Sanyasini Shri Panch DashnamJuna Akhara Divya Giri mentioned that more than 200 women are set to receive sanyasdiksha (initiation) under their Akhada during this Mahakumbh.
The cumulative count of women to receive Diksha may exceed the 1000 mark, reaching a historic milestone.
Registration for Diksha ceremonies is already underway, and the ritual will tentatively be scheduled for January 27.
In Sanatan Dharma, the decision to renounce worldly life and embrace asceticism is often driven by spiritual awakening or transformative life events, such as personal loss or disillusionment with materialism.
According to Divya Giri, this year, those receiving initiation include highly educated women who are choosing the spiritual path for deeper self-realisation.
Among them is Radhenand Bharti, a PhD scholar in Sanskrit at Kalidas Ramtek University in Gujarat.
Hailing from Rajkot, Bharti shared that despite hailing from a prosperous business family, her quest for spiritual fulfilment led her to renounce worldly pursuits.
She has been extending services to her Guru for the last 12 years and is now ready to enter the world of asceticism.
The Shri Panch DashnamJuna Akhara has been at the forefront of acknowledging and elevating the contributions of women devotees within the Akhara system.
Recently, it granted a new, prestigious title to its women’s wing, renaming it ‘Sannyasini Shri Panch DashnamJuna Akhara’. This decision come after female ascetics proposed the change to their patron Mahant Hari Giri who approved it.
For the first time, the women’s wing will have its own dedicated camp at the Mahakumbh, bearing its new title.
Divya Giri mentioned that this recognition symbolises progress in acknowledging the contributions and aspirations of Matrushakti (women power) within the traditionally male-dominated Akhara framework.
Source: newindianexpress.com
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jan/18/over-1000-women-ascetics-to-receive-diksha-during-mahakumbh
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HRW Expresses Concern Over Increasing Restrictions on Women in Afghanistan
18 January 2025
Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its 2024 annual report expressed concern over what it describes as worsening human rights conditions in Afghanistan.
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According to the report, restrictions on women have intensified this year, with women in Afghanistan facing serious obstacles to employment, freedom of expression, and movement.
The report states: “The situation in Afghanistan worsened in 2024 as the Taliban authorities intensified their crackdown on human rights, particularly against women and girls. Afghanistan remained the only country where girls and women were banned from secondary and university education, while also facing significant barriers to employment and freedom of movement, assembly, and speech.”
"2024 was painful for us because we stayed at home; we couldn’t attend courses or continue our studies," Anahita, a student, told TOLOnews.
"Our demand from the Islamic Emirate is to reopen all schools and universities for girls," said Beheshta, another student.
The report also mentions that critical journalists were arrested, and additional restrictions were imposed on the media this year.
Afghanistan’s economic crisis is another aspect highlighted in the Human Rights Watch report, stating that this crisis has left 23 million people in need of humanitarian aid.
The report said: "The Taliban also detained journalists and critics and imposed severe restrictions on the media. Afghanistan’s economic crisis left 23 million in need of humanitarian assistance; women and girls were disproportionally affected."
"Instead of humanitarian aid, they should assist with large-scale projects to create long-term job opportunities," said Abdul Haseeb Safi, an economic analyst.
Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, rejected the report, stating that ensuring citizens' rights within the framework of Islamic rulings is the responsibility of the interim government, and no one is allowed to violate individuals' rights.
Mujahid commented: "The measures taken for our sisters are based on Islamic Sharia principles, and we are also seeking solutions for some social issues. However, no one’s rights have been violated."
This comes as the international community continues to link normalizing relations with the interim government to ensuring women's rights in the country—a condition the Islamic Emirate has consistently viewed as a means of applying pressure on the government.
Source: tolonews.com
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-192653
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UN: Iran Must Immediately Revoke Death Sentence Against Kurdish Woman Activist
JANUARY 17, 2025
January 17, 2025 —Top UN human rights experts have expressed “grave concern” over the Iranian Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the death sentence of Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish woman activist and social worker. In a statement released on January 14, the experts condemned the ruling as a “serious violation of international law.”
Highlighting the reports of her torture, the denial of her right to counsel of choice and other due process and fair trial rights, and the detainment of several members of Aziz’s family aimed at forcing her to “confess,” the experts said the death sentence against Ms. Azizi was “arbitrary in nature.”
The UN officials called attention to Iran’s “systematic targeting of Kurdish women activists,” and the “heightened persecution that minority women activists face in Iran.” They urged Iranian authorities to immediately revoke the death sentence, investigate allegations of torture and denial of fair trial rights, and cease the persecution of women activists in Iran.
Read the UN experts’ full statement below.
GENEVA – A group of independent human rights experts* today expressed grave concern at the Iranian Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the death sentence handed down to Ms. Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish woman activist and social worker.
“The charges against Ms. Pakhshan Azizi do not meet the threshold of ‘most serious crimes’ required by international law for the death penalty,” the experts said. “Her death sentence constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law.”
Pakhshan Azizi was arrested in Tehran on 4 August 2023, by Iranian Intelligence Services, and held in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for five months. On 23 July 2024, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to death for “armed rebellion against the state (baghy)” and “membership of opposition groups”, along with a four-year prison term for alleged membership in the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK). On 8 January 2025, Branch 39 of the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence.
“Ms. Azizi’s arrest and sentencing appear to be solely related to her legitimate work as a social worker, including her support for refugees in Iraq and Syria,” the experts said.
They were alarmed by reports that she had been subjected to severe psychological and physical torture in solitary confinement in order to extract a confession, while also being denied access to family visits and legal representation of her choice. The experts noted that several members of Ms. Azizi’s family have also been temporarily detained and faced national security charges, presumably to pressure her to confess.
“The use of torture to extract confessions and the denial of fair trial rights render the death sentence against Ms. Azizi arbitrary in nature,” they said.
The experts noted with grave concern that the total number of executions in Iran surpassed 900 in 2024 with an increase in the execution of women. The experts insisted on the necessity for Iran to stop executions that are in disregard to international law requirements and in violation of fundamental rights and freedoms.”
“We are deeply concerned by the specific targeting of Kurdish women activists with politically motivated charges,” they said. “Ms. Azizi’s prosecution reflects the heightened persecution that minority women activists face in Iran and the continued intention to punish and silence them by creating a climate of fear.”
The experts urged Iranian authorities to immediately revoke the death sentence against Ms. Pakhshan Azizi, investigate allegations of torture and denial of fair trial rights, and put an end to the harassment and targeting of women activists in Iran. The experts are in contact with the Government on this matter.
Source: iranhumanrights.org
https://iranhumanrights.org/2025/01/un-iran-must-immediately-revoke-death-sentence-against-kurdish-woman-activist/
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Meet UAE's first all-women Esports team who made global debut at world championship in Riyadh
18 Jan 2025
ByRuqayya Al Qaydi
The UAE’s first all-female Esports team made their highly anticipated global debut at the World Esports Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last November. It was a historic moment that not only highlighted the remarkable skills of the team but also marked a significant leap in empowering women in Esports, a field traditionally dominated by men.
Among the members of the UAE female team were Moza Khalid (25), Fatima Al Ansari (24), and Mariam Al Shamisi (34), who each shared their journey from gaming enthusiasts to competitive athletes representing the UAE on a global platform.
Moza Khalid, from Sharjah, recalls how her journey began with classic titles like Ninja Gaiden on PlayStation. “From a young age, I was fascinated by the immersive world of gaming. It started with Ninja Gaiden, which sparked my curiosity and love for games,” she told Khaleej Times.
As her gaming skills developed, so did her desire to compete. “I initially played for fun, but as I honed my abilities and gained recognition within the community, the idea of competitive gaming felt like a natural progression,” Moza shared.
Fatima Al Ansari, who also hails from Sharjah, discovered her love for gaming while playing casual games on her iPad. “I would complete all the games, but Mobile Legends was the first online game I played,” she explained. “It was by chance that I discovered it. Watching League of Legends, I wondered why there wasn’t a similar game available for mobile. After some research, we found Mobile Legends, and that’s when things took off.”
Mariam Al Shamisi, from Dubai, has deep roots in gaming. “My uncle introduced me to computers and games at an early age. Growing up, electronics were part of my world. Every new device released would arrive at our home first,” she said. “That exposure to gaming and technology ignited my passion.”
Defining moment
November 2024 marked a defining moment in the careers of these women, as they represented the UAE’s first women’s esports team at the World Esports Championships in Riyadh. The competition was a milestone not only for the athletes but for the broader UAE gaming community.
Moza said: “It was a surreal feeling. When we first arrived in Riyadh, it didn’t hit me that I was part of the first-ever women’s team from the UAE competing globally.”
“It was a mix of excitement, pride, and pressure to represent my country. But it was an amazing experience, and I learned so much about teamwork and staying calm under pressure,” she added.
Fatima recalled the moment she set foot on the global stage with immense pride. She shared: “Being part of the first UAE women’s Esports team was such a rewarding experience. I remember thinking that we were making history, and the sense of responsibility to do well for my country was powerful.
For Mariam, the event was a culmination of years of hard work. “It was a dream come true. It felt like everything I had worked for came to life when I stood on that stage. Representing my country and being part of this historic moment was beyond exciting,” she added.
Strong family support
Behind the success of these athletes lies the unwavering support of their families. Moza credits her family, particularly her mother and friends, for always encouraging her to pursue her passion. “They never questioned my commitment to gaming. Even when I started considering competitive gaming, they were right there with me,” she shared with pride.
Fatima’s journey also owes much to her sister and mother, who have been her biggest cheerleaders. She noted: “My sister has always played with me, and my mom has been incredibly supportive, never once telling us to stop or reduce our gaming time. They’ve always encouraged me to follow my dreams.”
For Mariam, balancing gaming with her personal life has been challenging but made easier by the support of her family. “My family has always been understanding, even when I’m juggling gaming with raising my children. It’s not easy, but their encouragement makes it all possible,” she added.
Inspiring the next generation of female gamers
The debut of the UAE women’s Esports team marks an important step in the broader mission of empowering women in Esports across the region, as well as inspiring the next generation of female gamers to believe in their potential and pursue their passion without fear of limitations.
“My ambition is to keep improving as a player and establish myself internationally,” said Moza, adding: “But it’s also about paving the way for more women to join the Esports community. We need to inspire others to take that first step and show them that they, too, can compete at the highest levels.”
“I hope the UAE women’s team is recognised as one of the strongest in the world. Our success on the global stage is proof that with dedication, we can achieve anything. I want to be part of a movement that helps the next generation of female gamers rise and thrive,” Mariam said.
Fatima is equally driven to make an impact. “We’ve shown that there’s space for women in Esports, and I want to encourage more young girls to pursue this passion. Esports is not just a game; it’s a chance to develop, grow, and achieve greatness,” she added.
The team’s appearance at the World Esports Championships is just the beginning of what promises to be a long and successful journey as the UAE is well on its way to becoming a powerhouse in global Esports.
With players like Moza, Fatima, and Mariam leading the charge, the country’s women’s Esports scene is set to continue to flourish.
Source: khaleejtimes.com
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/meet-uaes-first-all-women-esports-team-who-made-global-debut-at-world-championship-in-riyadh
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Redefining Boundaries: Muslim Women’s Path for Liberation
By SEHD News
01-17-2025
Muslim women around the world are navigating the dual-edged sword of external scrutiny and restrictive norms within our own communities. In the United States, Muslim women who wear a veil, often called hijab, are 40% less likely to get job interviews or risk losing life-changing opportunities, such as competing in athletics championships, than their non-hijab-wearing counterparts, despite equal qualifications. Meanwhile, in a Muslim-majority country like Malaysia, Muslim women who choose not to veil often face harsh judgments and discrimination, branded as disobedient daughters and lesser Muslims, with their identity shaped by the stigma of failing to meet religious expectations and the potential shame brought to their families, particularly in rural communities.
Yet, what is too often overlooked is the full humanity of each Muslim woman with diverse stories. This essay calls for recognizing Muslim women’s humanity and shifting the focus from scrutinizing our choices to challenging the systems and institutions that often perpetuate these struggles. As a Muslim hijabi woman who has lived nearly equal parts of my life in both Muslim majority and minority contexts, I call for a more inclusive understanding of what it means to be a Muslim woman beyond the confines of stereotypes and societal expectations that too often reduce us to mere symbols rather than embracing our full, complex identities.
A world (not) built for Muslim women
Addressing the challenges requires a closer examination of their root causes. Muslim women, along with other women of color are perceived as the “Others”. Western feminist ideas cannot fully address the issues Muslim women face because they fail to value the importance of faith in us and instead portray the Muslim world as uniformly patriarchal, ignoring that patriarchy exists in the Western world as well.
The experiences of Muslim women are far more nuanced and sometimes cannot be limited to the lens of social, cultural, and religion. Following 9/11, visiblyMuslimwomen, such as those who wear hijab have often felt the burden of having to explain themselves, justify their choices, and appear in public as a visible representation of Islam, in many ways, becoming synonymous with representing the entire religion. For Muslim women wearing hijab, this burden is understood as a form compounded by gendered Islamophobia, often stemming from a lack of understanding of the meaning of the hijab veiling, especially in contexts where Muslims are marginalized, such as in the United States. Meanwhile, in Muslim-majority countries like Turkey, Muslim women who veil find themselves caught between secular and religious expectations that limit their activism and social participation, forcing them to choose sides despite embracing feminist values grounded in Islamic principles.
While change and action are required, speaking up comes at a cost in both the Muslim and Western world. Criticizing issues within our own Muslim communities may be weaponized by the Western world to justify further intervention or further perpetuate the harmful impact of “missions” to save Muslim women. On the other hand, speaking out against Islamophobia can invite a risk of backlash from the Western community. As a result, Muslim women are frequently silenced, trapped between these opposing forces, which only serves to marginalize our voices further and diminish our agency.
A liberated world for Muslim women
Muslim women deserve a liberated world to live without their identity and faith being questioned, whether in the West or within the Muslim world. Practicing religion is a fundamental source of well-being for believers, and for most Muslim women, it is an integral part of their personal and collective identity. Building an inclusive world for Muslim women requires dismantling Islamophobia and exclusion, not burdening us to thrive in hostile environments. Muslim women globally are already challenging societal expectations, such as in Egypt, where they enter traditionally male-dominated spaces like mosques, or in Indonesia, where women religious scholars advocate to strengthen the social justice principles within Islamic interpretations. In Denmark, they establish gender-segregated swimming sessions, while in Canada, they create spaces to address the discrimination Muslim women face.
While numerous studies have examined the mental health impact of discrimination against Muslim women, it is crucial to move beyond understanding these effects. What is more urgent is normalizing Muslim women’s self-determination and educating those who misunderstand or weaponize religion to perpetuate discrimination. A liberated world is to shift from scrutinizing Muslim women’s choices or forcing Muslim women into predefined categories, whether secular or religious, Western or traditional, and recognizing our full humanity and right to self-determination. Conversely, please instead challenge and question the structures and systems, whether colonial legacies, Islamophobic policies, or other power relations that seek to limit our choices. By doing so, we can begin to create a world where Muslim women are not merely symbols in someone else’s narrative but fully recognized as the complex, resilient individuals we are.
Bio
FairuzianaHumam is a fourth-year PhD student in Community Well-being at the University of Miami, Florida, USA, and an international student from Aceh, Indonesia. She holds a master's in Community Psychology and Social Change from Penn State University and a bachelor’s in psychology from UniversitasSyiah Kuala. She has actively worked with women and youth in Indonesia and Southeast Asian countries, particularly in health and well-being education and advocacy. She has also researched and published articles on the well-being of Acehnese refugees and Muslims' mental health in the U.S. Her research currently focuses on lived experiences of daily Muslim women’s lives and how they shape gender experiences and well-being by considering the influences of historical, cultural, social, and political contexts.
Source: miami.edu
https://news.miami.edu/edu/stories/2025/01/redefining-boundaries-muslim-womens-path-for-liberation.html
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/afghan-women-cricket-council-taliban/d/134368