A Burqa-Clad Muslim Woman Shouted Allah U Akbar amongst Chants of Jai Shri Ram In Karnataka
New Age
Islam News Bureau
23 January 2024
·
A Burqa-Clad Muslim Woman Shouted Allah U Akbar
Amongst Chants Of Jai Shri Ram In Karnataka
·
Activist Manizheh Seddiqi, Detained By The Taliban,
Must Be Released Immediately: Amnesty International
·
CAIR-MI Files Notice of Claim for Dearborn Muslim
Woman Stripped of Her Hijab by Oakland County Sheriff
·
AWST, UANOC Partnership Aims To Shape Future Of Arab
Sports For Women Athletes
·
Indian Actress Puja, Made Debut in Film on Afghan
Urges for Women Empowerment
·
A Glimmer Of Hope For Women And Girls As A Sexual And
Reproductive Health Clinic Reopens In Sudan’s West Darfur State
·
UN Says Taliban Enforcing Restrictions On Single And
Unaccompanied Afghan Women
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/burqa-clad-allah-akbar-shri-ram/d/131573
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A Burqa-Clad Muslim Woman Shouted Allah U Akbar
amongst Chants of Jai Shri Ram In Karnataka
Screengrab from video shared on X.
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22nd January 2024
Tense moments prevailed in Karnataka’s
Shivamogga district as a burqa-clad Muslim woman accompanied by a child shouted
Allahu Akbar amongst chants of Jai Shri Ram on Monday, January 22.
The incident took place at Shivappa
Nayaka Circle where several right-wing supporters gathered to celebrate the
consecration of Ram temple by distributing sweets. Suddenly, the woman started
shouting slogans against PM Modi, accusing him of leading the country astray.
“Do you have any shame? Because of you
people, the country has been destroyed. You people are supporting Modi. You
don’t know how Modi has cheated you. You will understand it later,” the woman
is heard saying in the video that quickly went viral on social media.
While speaking, she is interrupted by
Jai Shri Ram chants, triggering her to shout Allahu Akbar in response.
Police soon rushed to the spot and took
her and her child away. According to the police, the woman’s father alleged
that his daughter has been ‘mentally unstable’ for months and is currently
undergoing treatment. Further investigations are on.
Faceoff in Mumbai railway station
A similar situation prevailed at a
Mumbai railway station where a few right-wing men chanting Jai Shri Rai were
confronted by Allahu Akbar slogans.
The incident reportedly took place on
Sunday. A video has emerged showing young men holding saffron flags in an
altercation with Muslim men, abusing each other.
On information, police reached the spot
and took the situation under control.
Source: siasat.com
https://www.siasat.com/allahu-akbar-muslim-woman-confronts-right-wing-mob-in-karnataka-2961480/
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Activist Manizheh Seddiqi, Detained By the Taliban,
Must Be Released Immediately: Amnesty International
Manizheh Seddiqi, a women’s rights
activist
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Fidel Rahmati
January 23, 2024
Amnesty International has announced that
Manizheh Seddiqi, a women’s rights activist who was arbitrarily detained by the
Taliban security forces on October 9, 2023, is at risk of torture and other
abuses.
In a letter addressed to Abdulhaq Wasiq,
the head of the intelligence department of the Taliban administration, the
organization stated that “Manizheh Seddiqi has been detained arbitrarily and
solely for exercising her right to freedom of expression and participating in
peaceful assemblies.”
Amnesty International expressed deep
concern in this letter about the situation of Manizheh in the custody of the
Taliban and stated that “she is at risk of torture and other abuses.”
In another message on the social media
platform, Amnesty International wrote that since the return of the Taliban to
power in August 2021, women protesters in Afghanistan have been subjected to
forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture, and other abuses.
According to the statement, Manizheh, a
human rights defender who was arbitrarily detained on October 9, 2023, does not
have access to lawyers or regular family visits while in the custody of the
Taliban.
Amnesty International has added at the
end of its statement that Manizheh must be immediately and unconditionally
released.
The organization has described the
Taliban’s actions in detaining women protesters as a blatant violation of human
rights and added that the detention of women activists without committing any
crimes, such as Manizheh, contradicts international human rights treaties,
including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which
Afghanistan is a member.
This comes in light of recent reports
about the torture of women protesters in Taliban prisons. An audio recording
containing the voice of Manizheh’s mother, in which she pleaded tearfully with
human rights organizations to expedite her daughter’s release from the
Taliban’s prison, was also released.
There is no credible information available
about the physical and mental well-being of Manizheh in the custody of the
Taliban. However, the United Nations has not made any statements regarding this
issue in its quarterly reports.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/amnesty-international-manizheh-seddiqi-must-be-released-immediately/
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CAIR-MI Files Notice of Claim for
Dearborn Muslim Woman Stripped of Her Hijab by Oakland County Sheriff
Ismail Allison
January 22, 2024
The Michigan chapter of Council on
American-Islamic Relations, (CAIR-MI) a local chapter of the nation’s largest
Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the filing of a
Notice of Claim against the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and Oakland County
Sheriff Micheal Bouchard for the forcible removal of the hijab, or Islamic head
scarf, of a Dearborn Muslim woman in August 2023 while she was detained in
Oakland County Jail.
“The wearing of that hijab is a
sincerely-held religious belief of thousands of women in Michigan, including in
Oakland County. The stripping of the religious head covering in front of men
and creating a permanent public record of an image of the Muslim woman without
her hijab is highly offensive,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director, Dawud Walid.
“Oakland County Michigan is home to a large Muslim population and its public
services should ensure that their respecting the religious rights of all its
Muslim citizens. What took place in August 2023 at the Oakland County Jail
falls significantly short of the Sheriff’s Office’s legal and ethical
obligations to those they are tasked to protect and serve.”
“It is disheartening that we continue to
see the abject violation of Muslim women’s constitutionally protected religious
rights by Michigan’s law enforcement agencies,” said CAIR-MI Staff Attorney,
Amy V. Doukoure. “In this case, Oakland County Jail had policies in place that
should have protected our client from the gross violation of her religious
beliefs. However, as we see in this case, a policy is not sufficient, when it
is not trained, followed and enforced by those in charge.”
She noted that CAIR’s national office
offers educational booklets, called “A Correctional Institution’s Guide to
Islamic Religious Practices,” and “A Law Enforcement Official’s Guide to the
Muslim Community,” to help law enforcement authorities gain a better
understanding of Islam and Muslims.
BACKGROUNDER:
In August 2023, a Dearborn Muslim woman
was arrested by Waterford Township Police Department and transferred to Oakland
County Jail where she was processed after her arrest.
While in the custody of the Oakland
County Sheriff’s Office, the woman was subjected to a cross-gender search of
her person in front of three other male officers during which she was stripped
of her hijab by a male officer.
The Dearborn woman was not allowed to
obtain a hijab for the entirety of her stay at Oakland County jail and was
paraded around the entire jail facility in front of male staff, officers and
detainees without her hijab. In addition, the Dearborn Muslim woman was forced
to take a booking photograph without her hijab that was later released to
Oakland County Sheriff’s Offices’ public website. The Dearborn woman was later
released without charge.
Earlier this month, CAIR-MI filed a
federal lawsuit against Kent County and Kent County Sheriff for a Muslim woman
who was forcibly stripped of her hijab for a booking photograph that was
released to the internet.
Source: cair.com
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mi-files-notice-of-claim-for-dearborn-muslim-woman-stripped-of-her-hijab-by-oakland-county-sheriff/
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AWST, UANOC Partnership Aims To Shape
Future Of Arab Sports For Women Athletes
January 23, 2024
The Higher Steering Committee of the
Arab Women Sports Tournament 2024 (AWST) has entered into a collaboration agreement
with the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees (UANOC) which aims to
amplify the reach and impact of women athletes, securing exclusive rights
encompassing sponsorship, advertising, marketing, and broadcasting for the
highly anticipated seventh edition of the tournament.
The agreement, held at Al Jada in
Sharjah, was officially inked by Abdulaziz Al Anazi, Secretary-General of the
Union of Arab National Olympic Committees, Sheikha Hayat Al Khalifa,
Chairperson of the Supervision and Monitoring Committee at UANOC, and Hanan Al
Mahmoud, Vice Chairman of the Higher Steering Committee of AWST, under the
presence of key representatives from AWST and UANOC.
During the signing ceremony, Sheikha
Hayat underscored the instrumental role sports play in fortifying the bonds of
sisterhood among Arab nations. She emphasised the shared objectives, interests,
and values that unite everyone in their pursuit of excellence.
"The Arab Women Sports Tournament
embodies a visionary approach led by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed
Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of Sharjah
Women Sports (SWS).
“Since its inception in 2012, this
vision has dedicated special attention to Arab women in the sports arena,
reflecting a commitment to sustainability and continuous development.
The goal is to achieve meaningful
participation and regional and international impact, fostering communication
among Arab girls.
“I also commend the efforts and guidance
of His Royal Highness Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz, the
President of the Arab National Olympic Committees, whose significant
contributions support and guide all efforts toward the success of this edition.
This positively reflects on women's sports in our beloved Arab homeland,"
stated Sheikha Hayat.
On her part, Hanan Al Mahmoud expressed
gratitude to UANOC, acknowledging it as a strategic partner and steadfast
supporter of the tournament, and affirmed the committee's commitment to
delivering an exceptional and ideal edition that befits the esteemed status of
Arab sports, ensuring the realization of its goals and aspirations.
"Our partnership with the UANOC is
a cornerstone in supporting and developing Arab women's sports. It streamlines
the efforts of the Higher Steering Committee of AWST and backs our efforts in
growing the Arab sports sector, both in general and women's sports
specifically, thanks to the support of all official government and private
entities, yielding significant benefits for Arab societies in terms of health,
development, and progress," said Hanan.
She added, "Women's sports are an
integral part of social responsibility. It is a highly rewarding investment,
and we witness its positive effects with every edition of the AWST. Whether
through Arab female athletes showcasing their talents, the exchange of
experiences among administrative and technical Arab bodies, or the passionate
support of a diverse Arab audience, the spirit of sisterhood and passion for
sports prevails."
The eagerly awaited 7th edition of the
AWST is slated to kick off at Al Majaz Amphitheatre in Sharjah on February 2,
2024. Organized by Sharjah Women's Sports, the tournament will witness the
participation of 64 sports teams and 560 women athletes from 15 Arab countries,
competing for gold in eight main games until February 12, 2024.
This edition promises to be a monumental
celebration of women's sports, uniting nations in the pursuit of athletic
excellence and camaraderie.
Source: gulftoday.ae
https://gulftoday.ae/sport/2024/01/22/awst-uanoc-partnership-aims-to-shape--future-of-arab-sports-for-women-athletes
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Indian Actress Puja, Made Debut in Film on Afghan
Urges for Women Empowerment
Ayanangsha Maitra
January 22, 2024
Puja Banerjee, an Indian actress who
made her debut with actress Manisha Koirala in the bollywood film ” Escape from
Taliban (2003)”, not only empathizes with the anguish of oppressed Afghan women
through her portrayal in an Afghan-centric film, but she also resonates deeply with
the universal sentiment shared by all women.
In a candid chat with Khaama’s
Consulting Editor in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata earlier this week, Puja
Banerjee asserted, “Situation is such that even if you want you can’t help. But
of course, we all should try to bring some change.”
“I want women empowerment to happen in
Afghanistan,” she added.
In the movie, both her and Koirala’s
performances not only skillfully depict the challenges faced by women in
Afghanistan but also serve as a poignant reminder of the universal pain felt by
women globally. This resonates especially with those enduring the hardships
confronted by their counterparts in Afghanistan.
“We feel the pain and every woman would
feel the pain,” the Mumbai based Bengali actress Puja told Khaama.
Puja Banerjee made her debut in the
Hindi film on Afghanistan, in which Manisha Koirala played the role of writer
and activist Sushmita Bannerjee. Sushmita Banerjee’s (also known as Sayeda
Kamala) memoir “Kabuliwalar Bangali Bou”
recounts her marriage to an Afghan man and her experiences in Afghanistan
during the Taliban era.Tragically, at the age of 50, she was killed by
suspected Taliban militants on the evening of September 4 or in the early
morning hours of September 5, 2013, outside her residence in Paktika Province,
Afghanistan.
Brimming with suspense, drama, and an
exploration of the indomitable human spirit, “Escape from Taliban” delivers a
poignant cinematic depiction of a woman’s courageous quest for freedom amid the
perils of war-ravaged Afghanistan.
Source:
khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/indian-actress-puja-made-debut-in-film-on-afghan-urges-for-women-empowerment-0987/
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A glimmer of hope for women and girls as
a sexual and reproductive health clinic reopens in Sudan’s West Darfur State
23 January 2024
WEST DARFUR STATE, Sudan – “I came to
the health centre after the fighting calmed down, but I found it destroyed –
there were no beds left, no equipment, no supplies,” recalled Hiba*, a doctor
in the city of El Geneina, in Sudan’s West Darfur State.
The Ardamata clinic is supported by
UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, and when
functional provides critical support for some 300,000 people, both those
displaced within Sudan and from host communities.
Its services range from sexual and
reproductive health support to gender-based violence response and clinical
management of rape. Despite the violence and widespread upheaval since conflict
spread across Sudan in April 2023, health and aid workers in the community have
been committed to carrying on their work. But when armed groups stormed and
looted the facility in November, staff could no longer ensure even basic
services, leaving a significant gap in care for those most in need.
Where the security situation allowed,
they persevered and delivered care straight to women’s doors. “After the
destruction of the centre, we visited pregnant women and girls at their homes.
However, we faced access challenges and we couldn’t handle complicated cases,”
explained Sara*, a midwife. “For some [pregnant women], we had to deliver them
in the street.”
The situation in Sudan is dire. Some 6
million people are internally displaced within the country – 4.5 million of
them since April – including an estimated 167,000 women who are currently
pregnant. Reports of brutal sexual violence, coercion and trafficking of women
and girls are rising at alarming rates, while protection mechanisms have
shuttered and temporary shelters become overwhelmed.
In under a year there have been 60
reported attacks on health infrastructure, and 70 per cent of facilities in
conflict zones are not functional. Health workers have gone without pay for
months and many facilities remain occupied, looted or destroyed. Those that
remain are reporting shortages of blood, transfusion equipment, intravenous
fluids and medical supplies.
A resilient response
After supporting the repair of the
clinic in December 2023, UNFPA together with local partner the Child
Development Foundation and international donors replaced essentials such as
beds, lighting, surgical tools and midwifery equipment so the clinic could
resume operating.
“We performed 49 deliveries at the
centre [in December],” health-care provider Khalid* told UNFPA. “We are
delighted to resume serving the women and girls of Ardamata.”
“These women would be left without
medical care if the centre remained out of service.”
As the clinic resumes its full range of
support, including for sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence
response and prevention, health worker Eman* said, “We now offer all services
for free, including deliveries and postnatal care.”
Funded by the European Union, the
Republic of Korea and the United States, the clinic not only provides medical
care, but also gives the women and girls of El Geneina a sense of security in a
time of severe crisis.
UNFPA in Sudan
UNFPA is supporting health centres and
safe spaces operating across Sudan, along with nine temporary clinics deployed
to provide sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence protection
services in Al Jazira, Blue Nile, Gedaref, Kassala, Northern, West Darfur and
White Nile States.
Women’s and girls’ health and safety is
especially jeopardized in conflict and displacement settings; they are forced
to seek refuge in unsanitary, crowded shelters and are often responsible for
collecting food, fuel and water – exposing them to violence and abduction as
they must venture far and alone.
More than 4.2 million women and girls in
Sudan are at risk of gender-based violence, a number that could rise to 6.9
million in 2024. Despite severely compromised access and acute insecurity, the
staff of the Ardamata clinic remain devoted to supporting their communities as
the lives and well-being of millions of people are increasingly hanging in the
balance.
Source: unfpa.org
https://www.unfpa.org/news/glimmer-hope-women-and-girls-sexual-and-reproductive-health-clinic-reopens-sudan%E2%80%99s-west-darfur
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UN says Taliban enforcing restrictions
on single and unaccompanied Afghan women
January 23, 2024
ISLAMABAD: The Taliban are restricting
Afghan women’s access to work, travel and health care if they are unmarried or
don’t have a male guardian, according to a UN report published Monday.
In one incident, officials from the Vice
and Virtue Ministry advised a woman to get married if she wanted to keep her
job at a health care facility, saying it was inappropriate for an unwed woman
to work, it said.
The Taliban have barred women from most
areas of public life and stopped girls from going to school beyond the sixth
grade as part of harsh measures they imposed after taking power in 2021,
despite initially promising more moderate rule.
They have also shut down beauty parlors
and started enforcing a dress code, arresting women who don’t comply with their
interpretation of hijab, or Islamic headscarf. In May 2022, the Taliban issued
a decree calling for women to only show their eyes and recommending they wear
the head-to-toe burqa, similar to restrictions during the Taliban’s previous
rule between 1996 and 2001.
The UN spokesman, asked for
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ reaction to the latest bans, replied:
“Horror!” Stephane Dujarric added: “It must be unimaginable to have to live
there.”
In its latest quarterly report, covering
October to December last year, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said
the Taliban are cracking down on Afghan women who are single or don’t have a
male guardian, or mahram, accompanying them.
There are no official laws about male
guardianship in Afghanistan, but the Taliban have said women cannot move around
or travel a certain distance without a man who is related to her by blood or
marriage.
Three female health care workers were
detained last October because they were going to work without a mahram. They
were released after their families signed a written guarantee that they would
not repeat the act, the report said.
In Paktia province, the Vice and Virtue
Ministry has stopped women without mahrams from accessing health facilities
since December. It visits health facilities in the province to ensure
compliance.
The ministry, which serves as the
Taliban’s morality police, is also enforcing hijab and mahram requirements when
women visit public places, offices and education institutes through checkpoints
and inspections.
In December, in Kandahar province,
ministry officials visited a bus terminal to ensure women were not traveling
long distances without mahrams and instructed bus drivers not to permit women
to board without one, the UN said.
Women have also been arrested for buying
contraceptives, which the Taliban have not officially banned.
The Taliban’s chief spokesman,
Zabihullah Mujahid, said the UN report was based mostly on misunderstandings
and accused the mission of ignoring or criticizing Islamic law, or Shariah.
With an Islamic government in power in
Afghanistan, it must “fully implement all aspects of Shariah for both men and
women,” Mujahid said in a statement.
This means enforcing rules for the
hijab, male guardianship and gender segregation for women in education and
employment, he said.
“If UNAMA criticizes these cases or
considers explicit Islamic rulings as an act against human rights, then it is
an insult to the beliefs of a people,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2446486/world
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/burqa-clad-allah-akbar-shri-ram/d/131573