'Bhajan' By Muslim Girl, Syed Zehra Batool, From J&K Wins Hearts
New Age
Islam News Bureau
16 January 2024
·
'Bhajan'
By Muslim Girl, Syed Zehra Batool, From J&K Wins Hearts
·
Iran
Extends Sentence Of Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Laureate, To 15 Months In Prison
·
In Cox’s
Bazar, Making Eco-Friendly Bags Helps ‘Change Lives’ Of Rohingya Women
·
Islam
Provides Khula Rights To Women, Rules Pakistan SC
·
Islamabad’s
First Anti-Rape Crisis Cell Set Up At Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/bhajan-muslim-zehra-batool-jammu-muslim/d/131529
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'Bhajan' By Muslim Girl, Syed Zehra
Batool, From J&K Wins Hearts
Syeda Batool
Zehra (19), a college student who belongs to the Syed community, was inspired
by a 'bhajan' sung by singer Jubin Nautiyal
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Jan 15, 2024
In a video posted by news agency PTI
Batool was seen singing the Ram Bhajan.
Ram ‘Bhajan’ sung by a Muslim college
student Syed Zehra Batool, hailing from Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district
has become an instant hit on the internet amid the rising popularity of Lord
Ram's Bhajans in connection with the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in
Ayodhya. In a video posted by news agency PTI Batool was seen singing the Ram
bhajan.
Syed Zehra Batool told PTI, “I wrote a
Ram Bhajan in the Pahadi language recent which became viral on the internet. I
believe that as the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple is nearing in Ayodhya,
we the people of Jammu and Kashmir should also have contribution in it…”
"Our LG is a Hindu but he does not
discriminate against us on the basis of religion while carrying out development
work. Our Imam Hussain has also taught us that the followers of the Prophet
love the country in which they live. Loving one's country is part of being
faithful," she added.
Speaking about what inspired her to
create the bhajan, Batool said, "I came across a Hindi bhajan by
JubinNautiyal on YouTube. I sang it in Hindi first and I felt good about it.
Then I thought of singing it in my Pahari language. I translated it, used
various resources to write this four-line bhajan and posted it online".
The consecration of the Ram Temple will
be held in Ayodhya on January 22. The temple authorities will conduct 7-day
rituals preceding the consecration event. The event will be attended by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, renowned cricketers, celebrities, and industrialists.
Source: hindustantimes.com
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ram-temple-consecration-bhajan-by-muslim-girl-from-j-k-wins-hearts-101705317330131.html
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Iran Extends Sentence Of Narges
Mohammadi, Nobel Laureate, To 15 Months In Prison
Iranian
human rights activist Narges Mohammadi at the Defenders of Human Rights Center
in Tehran in 2007. (Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images)
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January 16, 2024
Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian activist
and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been sentenced to an additional 15
months in prison for “spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic
regime,” her family said in a statement shared on social media.
She had been a vocal supporter of the
wave of protests that swept Iran after a young woman named Mahsa Amini died in
custody in 2022 after she was accused of wearing insufficiently conservative
clothing. On the anniversary of Amini’s death, Mohammadi and other female
detainees staged a protest inside Iran’s notorious Evin Prison and burned
headscarves, she said.
Mohammadi’s latest conviction is her
fifth since March 2021, which in total mount to 12 years and three months in
prison, 154 lashes, and various social and political prohibitions, her family
said Monday. She was first arrested in 2011.
“She declined to take part in any of the
interrogations or trial sessions in court,” the family statement said. Mohammadi
was also sentenced to two years of exile outside Tehran and was banned for two
years from membership in sociopolitical groups and from using a smartphone.
Mohammadi, 51, was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize after a career spent helping imprisoned activists, leading a
campaign against the death penalty and criticizing the “regime’s use of torture
and sexualized violence,” the organization said.
“More than 20 years of fighting for
women’s rights made her a symbol of freedom and standard-bearer in the struggle
against the Iranian theocracy,” it said.
She was in prison when the Nobel Prize
was awarded, and it was accepted by her children, who live in exile with
Mohammadi’s husband in France. Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the award.
Iran’s latest judgment emphasized
“accusations that she repeatedly incites and encourages public and individual
opinions against the Islamic regime to sow chaos and disturbances,” her family
said, adding that the judgment “resembles a political statement.”
NiloofarHamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, two
female journalists who reported on Amini’s death, were released from prison on
bail this week, Reuters reported, citing local media. After images of their
release were shared online, both were charged under laws requiring women to wear
a hijab, the Guardian reported.
Mizan, Iran’s judiciary news site, said
new cases were brought against two female defendants after they were
photographed after their release, but it did not identify them.
Source: washingtonpost.com
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/01/16/iran-narges-mohammadi-nobel-prison/
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In Cox’s Bazar, making eco-friendly bags
helps ‘change lives’ of Rohingya women
January 15, 2024
COX’S BAZAR: Rashida Khatun spends about
four hours most days making grocery bags, a skill she learned with other
Rohingya women in the Kutupalong refugee camp to help support her family.
The whirring sounds of a sewing machine
fill her work shifts, as she lines up fabric upon fabric made out of vegetable
fiber called jute on the table, before she lets the machine do the stitches.
The work brings her joy, Khatun says.
“I have been working here for the last
three years, here my job is to sew the grocery bags. I am very happy to learn this
skill,” the 38-year-old told Arab News.
Khatun is one of 150 Rohingya women
currently working at the Jute Bag Production Center in Cox’s Bazar, an
initiative by the UN refugee agency and its partner organization, the NGO Forum
for Public Health.
The coastal district, which has for
decades given shelter to Rohingya fleeing violence in neighboring Myanmar, has
become the world’s largest refugee settlement with the arrival of hundreds of
thousands of them following the 2017 Myanmarese military crackdown.
The world’s largest stateless community
has been cut off from formal work and education opportunities, as they await
their fates with growing uncertainty. Though their return to Myanmar has been
on the agenda for years, a UN-backed repatriation process has not taken off
until now, despite pressure from Bangladesh amid dwindling financial support to
host the large community.
At the center, women like Rashida earn
less than half a dollar per hour, which accumulates to around $35 per month.
The meager income, however, offered them a little taste of freedom.
“I have three children. With this money,
I have been able to provide education for my children. I could bring happiness
to them, buy them rice, and manage to buy new dresses for myself. All these
things made me very happy,” she said. “In fact, this earning gives me the
liberty to do many things.”
Urbi Chakma, who has been managing the
center since it opened over three years ago, said the center has focused on
working with vulnerable Rohingya women, including those who are disabled,
divorcees and victims of gender-based violence.
“Another objective is to involve women
in economic empowerment to provide support to their families. In this
production center we have 150 women working here, we produce 500,000 bags each
year,” she told Arab News.
Made out of natural materials, the jute
bags are degradable and therefore an environmentally friendly alternative to
plastic. The center also produces other items besides grocery bags, including
gift bags and file folders.
“Women who are working here, they
changed their lives after coming here. You know, with the incentive or the
payment or money they get with this, they buy food for their children, clothes,
and for their families,” Chakma said.
Women and children make up over 75
percent of the nearly one million Rohingya refugee population in Bangladesh.
More than six years into the refugee crisis, humanitarian aid has dwindled
while the needs remain urgent.
In January, the UN’s World Food
Programme said it will increase food rations for all Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar,
after severe aid cuts that led to a rise in malnourishment in the refugee
camps. But there is still a $61 million funding gap for the UN body to restore
the critical food assistance to the full amount.
For Halima Khatun, the money she earns
from making the jute bags goes to supporting her family.
“Earlier, my life was fully dependent on
the food (aid) rations, and it was very tough,” she said. “All the money I get
from this job, I spend to bear my family expenses … With this, I provide food
and education for my family.”
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2442016/world
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Islam Provides Khula Rights To Women,
Rules Pakistan SC
January 16, 2024
Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday
held that Islam confers the right of Khula (separation) by virtue of which a
Muslim woman can get herself released from the bond of marriage if she could
not live for any reason with her husband within the limits prescribed by Allah
Almighty.
“Islam does not force on the spouses a
life devoid of harmony and happiness and if the parties cannot live together,
it permits a separation,” explained Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi in a
judgement he wrote.
Justice Rizvi was member of a
three-judge bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and also comprising
Justice Irfan Saadat Khan that had taken up an appeal by one Sohail Ahmed
against a decision of the Sindh High Court (SHC) last year.
The case revolves around a marriage
between Sohail Ahmed and Samreena Rasheed, a Pakistani American, duly
registered at New York in accordance with Islamic law against a dower amount
of $5,000.
Court dismisses appeal of Pakistani
husband against SHC decision
However, within nine months of their
marriage, petitioner Sohail allegedly maintained a harsh and irresponsible
behaviour with the respondent (Samreena) and then returned to Pakistan.
Consequent-ly, hatred developed between the spouses and the respondent filed a
suit on Oct 12, 2019, in a family court of Karachi for the dissolution of
marriage by the way of Khula.
The petitioner contested the suit by
filing an application on Dec 17, 2019, for dismissal or return of plaint on the
ground that courts in Pakistan have no jurisdiction to entertain the case as
marriage was solemnised in the US and the cause of action also accrued therein.
This application was dismissed by the
family court on Feb 27, 2021, which was assailed by the petitioner before the
SHC. Thereafter, in the family suit, reconciliation proceedings were conducted.
And after the failure of the reconciliation proceedings, an order for the
dissolution of marriage by way of Khula was passed on April 10, 2021, by the
family court and preliminary decree was prepared the same day.
Being aggrieved, the petitioner filed
another constitutional petition before the high court challenging the
withdrawal of the suit. Both the petitions filed by the petitioner were
consolidated and decided by the SHC on Feb 6, 2023.
The Supreme Court, after hearing the
case, held that family courts in Pakistan have jurisdiction to entertain the
matter and the trial court has rightly exercised so while deciding the question
whether the family courts in Pakistan have jurisdiction when the wife was a
dual citizen of Pakistan and the US and residing abroad at the time of the
institution of the suit, whereas, the husband is national and permanent
resident of Pakistan.
In the present case, though the
respondent was living in the US at the time of the institution of the suit, the
respondent usually comes to Pakistan, acquired her education in Karachi and
visits her family in the city from time to time.
The seven-page order said the right and
mode of Khula has been described in a verse of Surah Baqra: “The divorce is
twice, after that, either you retain her on reasonable term or release her with
kindness. And it is not lawful for you (men) to take back (from wives) any of
your Mahr (bridal money given by man to his wife at the time of marriage) which
you have given them, except when both parties fear that they would be unable to
keep the limits ordained by Allah (e.g. to deal with each other on a fair
basis). Then if you fear that they would not be able to keep the limits
ordained by Allah, then there is no sin on either of them if she gives back
(Mahr or a part of it) for her ‘Al-Khul’ (divorce). These are the limits
ordained by Allah, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the
limits ordained by Allah, then such are the Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.).”
In the present case, the judgement said,
the preliminary decree passed by the family court for the dissolution of
marriage by way of Khula was in due compliance with Section 10(4) of the West
Pakistan Family Courts Act, 1964.
The record reveals that after
preliminary decree of Khula, the respondent has contracted a second marriage in
the US. The petitioner also attempted to contract second marriage in Pakistan
as he has made several applications to relevant authorities for permission to
solemnise second marriage, the judgement recalled.
Thus, the petitioner was unnecessarily
dragging the respondent into litigation when the marriage stood dissolved, it
said.
In the end, the judgement explained the
petitioner failed to point out any infirmity or illegality that could persuade
the Supreme Court to interfere in the matter. Therefore, the petitions being
meritless are dismissed and leave to appeal is refused, the apex court ruled.
Source: dawn.com
https://www.dawn.com/news/1806203/islam-provides-khula-rights-to-women-rules-sc
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Islamabad’s First Anti-Rape Crisis Cell
Set Up At Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
January 15, 2024
Haseeb Bhatti
Islamabad’s first anti-rape crisis cell
(ARCC) was established at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on
Monday to provide timely response and expedite justice for victims of sexual
violence.
The cell was set up by the ministries of
health and law and justice with support from the UK government, the United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Legal Aid Society.
According to a press release issued by
the law ministry, the inauguration of the ARCC came as a part of the
implementation of the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act, 2021, which
necessitated the establishment of anti-rape cells across districts to provide
survivors with access to multiple services including the registration of first
information reports (FIR), collection of evidence and a medical examination
within six hours.
“Survivors of sexual violence suffer
tremendously from physical impacts emotional trauma and even social stigmatisation.
Therefore, confidential and quick medico-legal services must be available to
help them receive justice and hope,” it said.
“This ARCC will be helpful in addressing
the critical issues of gender-based violence,” the press release quoted Raja
Naeem Akbar, secretary of the law ministry, as saying.
“We are working, through the Special
Committee on Anti-Rape Law and National Commission on Rights of Child, with all
provinces to ensure that similar Anti-Rape Crisis Cells are established and are
fully functional across Pakistan to ensure timely and effective assistance to
survivors of rape,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ministry of National Health
Services Regulations and Coordination Secretary Iftikhar Ali Shallwani noted
that the need for a 24/7 helpline or app was suggested as a means for survivors
to access the services provided, particularly in light of the stigma attached
to speaking up about rape.
He also emphasised the need for
self-defence training for girls in schools.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the chairperson for
the Special Committee on Anti-Rape Law and National Commission on Rights of
Child, stated that the government’s goal was to allow every citizen, especially
women, to claim public spaces and travel on public routes without any fear of
sexual violence.
Separately, UNFPA representative Dr
LuayShabaneh termed rape “an ugly crime” and a crisis that warranted a
“collective response”.
“I hope this Anti-Rape Crises Cell will
be the first building brick based on the Sexual Violence Response Framework and
will be expanded throughout the country,” he said.
Speaking at the inauguration, Pims
Executive Director Dr Rana Imran Sikandar asserted that rape cases would be
addressed through a holistic approach and with respect, care and
confidentiality throughout the medical examination.
According to a report published by Sahil
— a non-profit organisation — last year, 12 children on average were subjected
to sexual abuse every day in Pakistan from January to June 2023.
It stated that in 2023, the total number
of abuse victims was 2,227, of which more than half (54 per cent) were girls.
The number of boys abused had risen to 1,020.
Meanwhile, a policy brief released by
the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) on March 8, 2023, said that
around 63,000 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) had been reported in
Pakistan over the past three years.
The NCHR, quoting Ministry of Human
Rights data, said 80pc of these cases were related to domestic violence, while
some 47pc pertained to domestic rape, wherein married women experienced sexual
abuse. The data was based on reported cases; the actual number is feared to be
much higher.
Source: dawn.com
https://www.dawn.com/news/1806051/islamabads-first-anti-rape-crisis-cell-set-up-at-pims
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/bhajan-muslim-zehra-batool-jammu-muslim/d/131529