Aya Shata’s Jeddah Student Club Brings Smiles with Charity and Community-Building
New Age Islam News Bureau
22 May 2024
·
Aya
Shata’s Jeddah Student Club Brings Smiles with Charity and Community-Building
·
PM
Anwar Gives Contribution to Actress Nur Azifah for Her Cancer Treatment
·
Female
Entrepreneurs Highlight Success Stories at Amcham Saudi Arabia Event In Jeddah
·
Scripture
Stories Offer Hope to Women Targeted by Iranian Government
·
War
on Women and Girls: Iranian Dissidents Testify Before Canadian Parliament
·
Supreme
Court of India to Examine If Muslim Women Can Claim Equality in Succession
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/aya-student-jeddah-charity-club/d/132364
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Aya Shata’s
Jeddah Student Club Brings Smiles with Charity and Community-Building
The club has organized various projects including delivering essential
food items to more than 200 people across Jeddah, as well as Eid clothing
drives. (Supplied)
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May 21,
2024
RIYADH:
Aya Shata, 13, was on a mission to enhance mental well-being and school spirit
when she started the Middle School Happiness Club at the American International
School in Jeddah.
Engaging
in charitable acts with her family, like distributing food packages or taking
part in the Iftar Saem program during Ramadan, has been an important part of
her life growing up.
By
championing charitable and community growth initiatives within the learning
institution, Happiness Club has quickly become an integral part of the school’s
fabric to nurture social responsibility and personal development.
The club
was established recently but has quickly grown to include 30 members from
various middle school grades. It is open to any student who wants to make a
difference in the community. “Our activities have already had a significant
impact,” Shata told Arab News.
The club
has organized various projects so far, including a Ramadan food drive, where
students delivered essential food items to more than 200 people across Jeddah,
as well as multiple Eid clothing drives.
Shata,
who is an accomplished athlete and an ambassador for the Saudi Gymnastics
Federation, said: “Middle school is a time when many teens struggle with the
stress of academic classes, making friends and loneliness. The Happiness Club
can help us connect through acts of kindness and shared activities.
“I
thought this club would be a great way to bring us all together, do good things
for our community, and help us to balance school life with personal growth and
community service.”
In the
first Eid drive, the club organized a clothing collection across the school in
partnership with Kiswat Al-Sayida Aisha. The young philanthropists gathered
used clothes for all ages, which were then sorted and organized at Kiswat
Al-Sayida Aisha’s facility. They also installed a donation bin in partnership
with the organization at their school to collect clothes year-round.
The club
has collaborated with AlOula, one of the Kingdom’s leading nonprofits, to
distribute Eid clothing and iftar meals to orphans and other children in need.
This is Shata’s third year working with AlOula and the club’s first. In the
third drive, they visited families in Bahra to deliver toys, Eidiyat (or Eid
money), and candy to children in need.
Egyptian
student Amina Mohamed, 14, said that the club “is engaging in activities that
promote positivity … we can put smiles on people’s faces, whether it’s seeing
orphans, volunteering to donate clothes, or simply spreading kindness in our
daily routine, I saw the Happiness Club as a platform to help make a difference
in people’s lives and that’s why I joined it.”
The
program has taught students of all ages and backgrounds about the power of
community. “If we do this when we’re younger it grants us a better tomorrow and
also because you get a good feeling when you’re giving to charity,” said
11-year-old Lebanese Moroccan student Rahaf Ibrahim.
At
school, the club organized a Mother’s Day event in March in celebration of the
dedicated caretakers of their community, as well as a middle school iftar
during Ramadan.
The
events brought together students, staff and families of various backgrounds,
celebrating diversity as they all gathered around one table to share a meal and
their collective experiences.
“It was
a perfect example of how our club aims to bring happiness and unity to our
community, fostering stronger connections and understanding among all
participants,” Shata said.
Mahdiya
Elegbede, a 13-year-old American student, said her biggest takeaways from
joining the Happiness Club are learning the importance of kindness and creating
significant impact on others’ lives.
“I hope
to spread more charity and good in this school because I think it is a useful
and nice thing to do. In the end, doing something good makes us feel good, as
well as others, and that itself is wonderful. I am so grateful to join the MS
Happiness Club this year, and I hope others will be inspired and will be more
giving and kinder, too,” Elegbede told Arab News.
Saudi
student Hamza Al-Tayyar, 11, joined the club to give back to “my beautiful city
of Jeddah,” while Aseel Al-Horaibi, 13, wanted to show how little things can
impact others and spread positivity. “It taught me to be grateful for
everything I have and never take anything for granted,” she said.
“I
learned so much from all the activities we did, such as event planning and time
management. One of the most important things is teamwork, and resolving
conflicts as they arise,” 11-year-old Zuhair Al-Marzouki said. But ultimately,
the true prize is what they can bring to others: “What is there better to give
than happiness?
“I love
to be in this group to share my ideas and time, and all resources possible to
add one extra smile into this world,” Meral Noor, 12, said.
With
immense support from the school administration, the club has many more plans
underway to continue making a positive difference both inside and outside the
school in Jeddah.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2514591/saudi-arabia
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PM Anwar
Gives Contribution To Actress Nur Azifah For Her Cancer Treatment
Actress Nur Azifah
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22-05-
2024
KUALA
LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim presented a personal donation
to actress Nur Azifah Zainon Abidin to help ease the financial burden of her
cancer treatment.
Anwar
shared on Facebook that the donation was conveyed by his political secretary
Ahmad Farhan Fauzi when the latter visited Nur Azifah under Ziarah MADANI at
the actress’ residence in Hulu Kelang.
“Nur
Azifah has been suffering from breast cancer since last year. The actress who
acted in Istidraj and Tujuh Warna Pelangi needs to undergo periodic treatment
to treat the cancer, but the cost of the treatment is very burdensome.
“I pray
that Nur Azifah will be blessed by Allah SWT and that she will be given the
strength to face this test,” he said.
The
media previously reported that the actress who has five children, aged three to
35, needed financial assistance of RM35,000 for her treatment.
Nur
Azifah acted in several dramas including Tujuh Warna Pelangi, Istidraj, Kalimah
Jiwa, Dia Bidadari Syurga, Inikah Dikatakan Cinta, Syurga Noah, Ratu Lori and
Suri Cinta.
Source:
thesun.my
https://thesun.my/local_news/pm-anwar-gives-contribution-to-actress-nur-azifah-CA12478468
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Female
Entrepreneurs Highlight Success Stories At Amcham Saudi Arabia Event In Jeddah
May 21,
2024
JEDDAH:
The Women in Business Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Saudi
Arabia recently organized an event in Jeddah dedicated to honoring the
remarkable achievements of female entrepreneurs in the Kingdom.
Maha
Al-Juffali, founder, director, and supervising board member of the Help Center,
highlighted her journey as an entrepreneur and the establishment of her NGO
supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities in Saudi Arabia during a
time when their needs were largely overlooked.
She
said: “It demanded resourcefulness, innovation, and hands-on engagement at
every turn. We overcame challenges, and with the support of my family and
friends, we achieved significant progress in reshaping societal perceptions and
providing essential support to individuals with disabilities.”
Al-Juffali
highlighted the essential ingredients that empower women entrepreneurs to
thrive, stating: “It’s about fostering a supportive ecosystem that nurtures
their ambitions, providing access to mentorship, networks, and tailored
financial instruments. Additionally, it involves changing the narrative and
challenging outdated stereotypes by celebrating female role models and
showcasing their achievements to inspire others.”
She also
emphasized the significance of leveraging the digital revolution, stating: “It
is crucial to embrace the opportunities presented by the digital revolution,
which have opened unprecedented avenues for women entrepreneurs. Technology has
become a great equalizer, enabling individuals with vision and determination to
launch and scale businesses.”
The
event featured an enlightening panel discussion on women’s empowerment and
economic inclusion, moderated by Nora Al-Jindi, director of Dar Al-Hekma
University’s marketing program.
Joining
the panel were esteemed guests such as Marriam Mossalli, founder of Niche
Arabia; Dania Shinkar, founder and creative director of Dania Shinkar Ltd;
Jehan Alallah, IT manager at Amazon; and Mohammed Khan, associate professor in
the marketing, entrepreneurship, and strategy department at Effat University.
The
session delved into a range of topics, including effective scaling strategies,
leveraging networks, and attracting investors, offering valuable insights from
experienced business leaders. Moreover, the event served as a platform to
showcase the exceptional talent, innovation, and resilience of female
entrepreneurs who are playing a pivotal role in shaping the business landscape
of Saudi Arabia.
Mossalli
emphasized the importance of networking and relationships in the Saudi
entrepreneurial landscape, saying: “Events like these facilitate networking and
relationship-building. Despite the digital advancements and various platforms,
it still boils down to who you know. I eagerly anticipate the next one.”
She
highlighted the challenges of scaling a business, noting the psychological
shift required to delegate responsibilities. “Scaling is the most challenging
part, especially when your business is your baby. Delegating and letting go is
a psychological change you have to get used to. It’s not about stepping down
but about trusting others. Taking risks, like expanding Niche into large
events, was scary but necessary. It's about pushing through fear and embracing
competition.”
She also
commended the government’s efforts in breaking down taboos around working
women, calling it “a positive change from the top down.”
For
aspiring entrepreneurs, Mossalli advised: “Immerse yourself in the industry you
aim to enter. Work in various roles and gain a comprehensive understanding of
all aspects of the business before embarking on their entrepreneurial journey.”
Shinkar
said: “My involvement in the event centered around fashion female
entrepreneurs. The event has been fantastic for networking and raising
awareness about female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia. The recent reforms
under Vision 2030 have provided significant opportunities and support for
female entrepreneurs through initiatives, programs, and incubators. These have
been invaluable in offering mentorship, funding, and access to trade shows and
fashion exhibitions, helping us gain brand exposure regionally and
internationally.”
Zeina
Alnouri, AmCham Saudi Arabia Jeddah chapter coordinator, emphasized the
importance of women supporting each other in business to pave the way for
current and future success.
She
said: “To excel as women in business, it’s important to work with one another
to pave the path for those who are currently working towards their success and
those who will come after them. We are proud to have brought together so many
influential females from various fields this evening. It is inspiring to
witness the accomplishments and experiences of each of our guests, and we
eagerly anticipate hosting similar events of this caliber in the future.”
Attendees
had the opportunity to engage in networking and knowledge-sharing activities,
gaining valuable perspectives on the successes and challenges faced by women in
business.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2514496/saudi-arabia
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Scripture
stories offer hope to women targeted by Iranian government
May 22,
2024
By Anna
Deckert
Increasing
Restrictions for Women
In April
Iran launched a new “Nour” campaign that encourages rigorous enforcement of the
already mandatory hijab laws. Videos uploaded online show police as well as
plain clothes officers apprehend women violently. Many say this sort of conduct
has become more aggressive and common since the campaign began.
In
addition to the Nour campaign repressions, women are facing increased exclusion
from public places. They have been banned from soccer stadiums in northern
Mazandaran after a man insulted and threatened women attendees.
These
increased attacks on women may become even more commonplace after codification
of the in process “hijab and chastity” bill.
However,
even as the government tightens its grip, International Media Ministries offers
hope through stories from church history and Scripture.
Standing
for Hope and Truth
Denise
Godwin with International Media Ministries (IMM) says, “It’s a pretty intense
time to make sure we tell the stories of truth and hope into parts of the world
that don’t encourage that. We don’t see that encouraged in Iran; the government
there is cracking down on women again. [They are] cracking down on hijab
wearing again, continuing to say things about hypocrisy and lies in other parts
of the world while they continue to persecute their own people and young people
continue to die from trying to stand up for truth. Yet, the Iranian government
can just shout louder and say, it’s the West’s fault.
“It’s
such an amazing time in world history to be able to bring truth – to phone
screens, to computer screens, to television screens – and what a challenge we
all have as believers to live truth.”
IMM’s
most recent project is Esther: Queen of Hope. This story not only features a
woman but is reminiscent of the current conflict between Iran and Israel. IMM
hopes this story will encourage believers and provide opportunities for them to
share truth with others.
“The
believers in Iran are excited to share their faith, and they are reaching out
at great risk to themselves personally,” Godwin shares. “It’s an amazing time
to be praying with them and standing with them and remembering that there’s
believers inside Iran, despite the terrible regime that’s in control of the
government. We have brothers and sisters there that are under persecution and
that are evangelizing at the same time.”
Get
Involved
Please
pray for the many believers in Iran to stand strong in the Lord despite fierce
persecution.
Godwin
urges, “In addition to praying for our Iranian brothers and sisters, please
pray for creativity and funding and protection for our team, as we make stories
that call into question the powers of darkness. It is a terrible situation for
women in Iran and they need to know they’re not alone.”
Join IMM
financially to help get this story into the hands of Iranian believers as soon
as possible here.
Source: mnnonline.org
https://www.mnnonline.org/news/scripture-stories-offer-hope-to-women-targeted-by-iranian-government/
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War on
Women and Girls: Iranian Dissidents Testify Before Canadian Parliament
Negar
Mojtahedi
Members
of Canadian parliament heard testimony Tuesday from Iranian human rights
advocates, dissidents, victims and an exiled artist on the brutality of the
Islamic Republic, and called on Ottawa to take more action.
Human
rights advocate and founder of Stop Child Execution Nazanin Afshin-Jam told the
House of Commons Subcommittee on Human Rights that Iran is "waging a war
on women and girls."
"Girls
are beaten, dragged, screaming into police vans and raped for not wearing a
hijab," said Afshin-Jam via remote video.
"There's
a surge in executions of peaceful protesters. And there's a crisis in Turkey
where bona fide Iranian refugees like Shilan Mirzaee are sent notices of
deportation back to Iran despite lethal outcomes," said Afshin-Jam.
Shilan
Mirzaee, a human rights and political activist
Mirzaee
is an Iranian activist based in Turkey who was forced to flee for being an
outspoken critic of the Iranian regime. She's supported other Iranians seeking
asylum in Turkey since 2016, but now she's in danger of imminent deportation to
Iran where she could face the death penalty.
Authorities
in Turkey have yet to explain why this activist was arrested and transferred to
a Turkish detention center.
Afshin-Jam
made reference to the results of the UN fact-finding mission on Iran's response
to the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, which was presented on March 18 to the UN
Human Rights Council during its regular session in Geneva.
The
council established that the fact-finding mission in Iran to document the
deteriorating situation of human rights two months after the in-custody death
of Mahsa Jina Amini sparked nation-wide anti-regime protests.
The UN
fact-finding mission said it uncovered murders, torture, and rape amounting to
"crime against humanity" during Iran's brutal crackdown on protestors
following Amini's death.
Afshin-Jam
encouraged Canada to exercise its universal jurisdiction, where a state can
investigate and prosecute crimes that happened in another country, committed by
people of a different nationality against victims of a different nationality.
She said
it gives "an international crime grounds for the International Criminal
Court and grounds for UN member states with universal jurisdiction, like
Canada, to try the perpetrators of these crimes in a tribunal. The report
recommends this to open structural investigations for these crimes against
humanity."
"It's
a gender apartheid state that is waging a war on women and girls," said
human rights activist and actress Nazanin Boniadi who echoed Afshin-Jam's calls
to end gender apartheid.
Repress,
Deflect and Divide
"These
woman-life-freedom protests were yet another reminder that the Islamic Republic
is incapable of reform. Instead, it stays in power using a three pronged
survival strategy repress, deflect, and divide. Repression is at the core of
the strategy," said Boniadi via remote video.
She said
the Islamic Republic holds the "appalling record of having the highest per
capita execution rate in the world, and ranks 177 of 180 countries on the World
Press Freedom Index."
"Domestic
repression includes censorship, blinding, rape, torture and arbitrary
detention. Ethnic, religious and sexual minorities face systemic persecution
and discrimination."
Iranian
parliament, she said, has allocated $2.9 billion to a government institutions
responsible for intensified hijab enforcements.
Iran has
seen an intensive crackdown on policing women bodies, with the UN Fact finding
mission confirming that the regime uses AI technology to track and monitor
women.
Canada:
A Safe Haven for Regime Affiliates
Iranian
human rights activist Atena Daemi testified in person in parliament.
She
spent six years in prison for her activism, where she said she was tortured
both physically and mentally. In 2022, after being diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis (MS) she escaped illegally to seek medical care abroad, taking her
from Tehran to St John's, Canada.
Daemi
described to members of parliament, though a translator, her perilous journey
to escape Iran through Kurdistan and how she found smugglers to take her to
Iraq.
She's
grateful to be in Canada but said "agents of the regime view Canada as
their sanctuary."
Boniadi
and Afshin-Jam agree.
Canada,
they said, has become a safe haven for the Iranian regime.
"Global
News did an investigative piece revealing 700 such regime affiliates in Canada,
nine of which have been called to be deported. But instead of deportation, they
could be on trial. Setting the precedents for accountability," said
Afshin-Jam.
A recent
year-long Global News investigation uncovered upwards of 700 regime-linked
associates operating on Canadian soil and threatening the lives of some Iranian
dissidents.
In
February, Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) ordered the deportation
of Majid Iranmanesh, who was director general of Iran's Vice-Presidency for
Science and Technology.
A month
later, the (IRB) ordered the deportation of Salman Samani, Iran's deputy
minister of interior during Hassan Rouhani's administration.
"With
each of these regime affiliates comes a trail of dirty, laundered money and
evidence of foreign interference, including threats to Iranian Canadians and
political interference," said Afshin-Jam.
Afshin
Jam, who is the member of the Iranian Justice Collective (IJC) announced a
disturbing revelation during Tuesday's session.
"My
organization, Iranian Justice Collective, was here a couple of weeks ago on the
Hill providing policy recommendations on foreign interference. The PS752 file
upping the number of Iranian refugees, actions on listing the IRGC on the
terrorist list, and expansion of sanctions. We called to much sanctions.
Shortly after the trip to Ottawa, my colleague received a call by a regime
official in her family's home in Iran, threatening how she would end up like
the woman she was trying to defend if she continues with her activism."
Repression
of Iranian artists
The
repression of Iranian artists, in particular Toomaj Salehi, who faces death for
his rapping critical of the regime, was a topic brought up by all speakers
testifying.
A poster
with Toomaj's photo in a protest in Toronto
Arash
Sohrabi, an artist now living in exile in the West, said the targeting of
Iranian artists has been part of a "cultural purge" in Iran since the
1979 revolution.
"Between
1988 and 1999, aged over 80, writers, translators, poets, political activists
and ordinary citizens were killed in what became known as the 'Chain
Murders'," said Sohrabi.
Since
nationwide protests erupted in 2022 sparked by Amini's death, Sohrabi said more
than "100 Iranian filmmakers, actors, and musicians have been detained,
banned from working or face travel bans for supporting the 2022 protest."
Boniadi
referenced Mohammad Rasoulof, a dissident filmmaker who was sentenced to eight
years in prison by the Islamic Revolution Court, and escaped the country
earlier this month.
She said
he "issued a defiant message to the regime if geographic Iran suffers
under the boot of your tyranny, cultural Iran is alive in the collective mind
of millions of Iranians who are forced to leave Iran because of your oppression
and barbarity."
Boniadi
said that repression extends beyond Iran's borders.
"Human
rights abuses are among the regime's primary exports, including assassination
plots, abductions and hostage taking of dual and foreign nationals," she
said.
In
January, two Canadian men with ties to Hells Angles were charged in what US
authorities called "a murder for hire" plot allegedly coordinated by
Iran.
Recommendations
Made to Canada
What can
Canada do?
Everyone
who gave their testimony urged Canada to follow the lead of the US and
proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity.
"To
echo my fellow witnesses, Canada should immediately implement the motion to
brand the IRGC, a terrorist organization, and expel Islamic Republic
agents," said Boniadi.
Earlier
this month, the Canadian House of Commons unanimously adopted a Report to
designate Iran’s IRGC as a terrorist entity, but the motion is not binding.
Afshin-Jam
also stated the Government of Canada can exercise universal jurisdiction to
prosecute perpetrators of the regime on Candian soil.
Both
Afshin-Jam and Boniadi called on Canada to recognize Iran as a gender apartheid
state.
"We
hope you support our campaign to end gender apartheid in Iran and Afghanistan,
as Canada did, to end racial apartheid in South Africa," said Afshin-Jam.
Another
recommendation made by Boniadi is to support Iranian civil society by
"establishing a dedicated immigration stream to annually provide refuge to
at least 200 Iranians fleeing the regime's persecution."
Boniadi
concluded with a message to the people of Iran to stand united.
In the
words of Toomaj, she said, "if you and I become us, we are
limitless."
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202405214155
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Supreme
Court of India to Examine If Muslim Women Can Claim Equality in Succession
21 May
2024
The
Supreme Court has decided to consider whether Muslim women have right to claim
equality in succession in view of the mandate of Constitution of India under
Articles 14 (fundamental right to equality) and 15 (non-discrimination on the
grounds of sex and others) thereof in the light of Article 44 (State's
endeavour to secure uniform civil code for citizens).
A bench
of Justices C T Ravikumar and Rajesh Bindal said the matter required deeper
consideration, including the question whether a testator, who is governed by
Mohammedan Law, is entitled to execute a Will of his entire estate left,
according to his wish.
The
court also framed another question whether a testator, who is governed by
Mohammedan Law, can execute a Will to the extent of 1/3rd of the estate left by
him in favour of any or more of his legal heirs without the consent of other
legal heirs.
The
bench appointed senior advocate V Giri as amicus curiae and asked Attorney
General R Venkatramani to assist the court in this matter "as the issues
have large ramifications and there is no direct judgment on the issue by this
Court".
In its
order from May 16, the bench clarified that the issues noticed may be reframed
after hearing the Amicus Curiae and the Attorney General for India.
Court
was hearing an appeal filed by Tarsem concerning the issue pertaining to
execution of the Will by late Hazi. The parties are governed by Mohammedan Law,
which is not codified, it noted.
The suit
was filed by respondent no 1 and 2 (Dharma and others) claiming that late Hazi
had executed a Will in favour of three of his sons namely Dharma, Gulzar and
Karam Chand leaving the fourth son namely Tarsem. Trial Court had decreed the
suit. The First Appellant Court modified the judgment and decree of the Trial
Court and directed that late Hazi could execute Will only to the extent of 1/3
rd of his estate and the same was upheld to that extent.
For the
remaining 2/3rd estate all the legal heirs were to share the estate equally.
In
further appeal to the High Court, the genuineness of the Will was upheld. The
judgment and decree of the First Appellate Court was set aside and that of the
Trial Court was restored.
The
court noted during the course of argument various judgments of different High
Courts were cited in terms of which a Mohammedan is not entitled to
discriminate in bequeathing his estate amongst his legal heirs unless they
consent for the same. Meaning thereby all legal heirs are to share the estate
equally.
On the
other side, the testator is entitled to bequeath 1/3rd of his estate in favour
of third party and the balance 2/3rd will go to the legal heirs in equal
shares. This bar of 1/3rd will not be applicable in case the legal heirs
consent for the same.
The
bench also found in one of the judgments of the Karnataka High Court in
Narunnisa Vs Shek Abdul Hamid (1987) reference has been made to an earlier
judgment holding that if a Mohammedan is survived by a son and a daughter and
the daughter does not consent to the deposition by the testator of giving 3/4th
of the property to the son and 1/4th to the daughter, she will be entitled to
claim 1/3rd of the property as her share of inheritance and not 50%.
"While
going to the root of the issue, we came across “The Hedaya – Commentary on the
Islamic Laws” translated by Charles Hamilton, “Mohammedan Law by Syed Ameer
Ali” containing the law relating to ‘Gifts, Wakfs, Wills, Pre-emption and
Bailment’, “Principles of Mohammedan Law by Mulla” and others. The times have
changed ever since those views were expressed by the High Courts specially in
view of the judgments of this Court in Prakash and others Vs Phulavati and
others (2016) and Shayara Bano Vs Union of India and others (Invalidating
Triple Talaq) (2017)," the bench said.
The
court scheduled the matter for consideration on July 25, 2024.
Source: lawbeat.in
https://lawbeat.in/top-stories/supreme-court-examine-muslim-women-claim-equality-succession
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URL:
https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/aya-student-jeddah-charity-club/d/132364