Cairo Metro Employs Egypt’s First Women Train Drivers
New Age Islam News Bureau
22 August 2022
• Dina Kumari, A Sikh Schoolteacher Converts to Islam;
Marries A Muslim
• Lahore Police to Have More Woman Investigators
• Pakistan Government Have Been Depriving Women of
Their Rights: Jamaat-e-Islami
• Male Resistance Seen an Obstacle To 30% Seat Quota
For Women In Malysia
• Kerala: Noorbina Rasheed Criticises Omission of
Women Character from Documentary On P K Aboobacker
• Arab Mothers Must Take the Lead to Educate Their
Sons about Best Way to Treat Women
• Kashmiri Women Seek Inclusivity, Equity and Justice
• US Court Orders Moroccan Woman to Pay $500 Million
to Kuwaiti Ex-Husband
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/cairo-metro-egypt-train-drivers/d/127773
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Cairo Metro Employs Egypt’s First Women Train Drivers
In the driver's seat!
----
August 22, 2022
CAIRO: As it prepares to expand to serve a population
now exceeding 20 million, the Cairo metro has recruited Egypt’s first female
train drivers, a novelty in a country where few women have formal jobs.
Since April, commuters on the network’s newest line
have seen women take the controls in the driver’s cab, with reactions ranging
from raised eyebrows to outright disapproval, according to the two pioneers.
Egyptian women have had the right to vote and stand
for office since 1956, but patriarchal legislation and a male-dominated culture
have severely limited personal rights.
The Cairo metro itself provides reserved carriages for
women who do not wish to ride with men in an attempt to provide protection
against sexual harassment.
Business graduate and mother of two Hind Omar said she
had rushed to apply to be a train driver, eager to be a pioneer in a country
where only 14.3 percent of women are in formal employment, according to 2020
figures.
“I have several thousand lives in my hands every day,”
the 30-year-old said, proudly wearing a fluorescent jacket emblazoned with the
RATP-Dev logo of the foreign operations arm of the Paris metro beneath her
black and white headscarf. Omar acknowledged that she had been lucky to have
the support of her family.
“My parents found it strange at first but they ended
up supporting me,” she said.
“My husband was enthusiastic from the start and always
encouraged me.”
A key factor had been the exemption from night shifts
offered to women drivers, she said.
Omar said the tests for would-be drivers had been
grueling, requiring candidates to demonstrate their “attention span” and
“endurance.”
She said drivers had to remain “extremely vigilant for
long hours” during a six-day working week.
Omar was one of two women accepted for the training
program run by Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels in cooperation with
RATP-Dev.
The other, Suzanne Mohamed, 32, recalled the first
time commuters on the platform saw her in the driver’s cab.
She said she could understand “they were surprised” in
a country where women have limited access to many careers.
“Some passengers were afraid,” she said. “They doubted
my skills and said they didn’t feel safe with a woman at the controls.”
Launched in 1987, the Cairo metro is the oldest in the
Arab world but it has fallen behind other Arab countries in providing
employment opportunities for women. Moroccan Saida Abad became the first female
train driver in Africa and the Arab world in 1999.
With the Cairo metro planning to add three new lines
as well as Egypt’s first monorail system, Omar said she hoped her example would
help “pave the way for other women” to become train drivers and ensure “that
there’s a lot of us.”
Source: Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2147346/middle-east
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Dina Kumari, A Sikh Schoolteacher Converts to Islam;
Marries A Muslim
Photo: Pakistan Today
----
August 21, 2022
WAT: A schoolteacher Dina Kumari, belonging to the
Sikh community of village Pacha Kale in Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
accepted Islam and got married with youth of her village.
The parents of Dina and local Sikh community members,
however, demanded action against the youth, alleging that the girl was
kidnapped and forced to marriage.
On the other hand, Schoolteacher Dina Kumari, whose Islamic
name is Dina, said in a video message that she is wise and mature, added she is
happily inspired by the religion of Islam and accepted Islam and married a
youth namely Hizbullah of her village.
He also demanded protection from the government.
The Sikh community took to the streets in Buner to
protest against “what they called kidnapping and forced marriage.” Dina’s
father Gurchran Lal filed an application to the administration and accused his
daughter of kidnapping and forcefully accepting her to Islam.
The Sikh community blocked the main highway in protest
to register a case of abduction of a Sikh girl.
On the other hand, Buner police took Newly Muslim Dina
and her husband Hizbullah into custody from Shangla District and produced them
in the court. Where Dina recorded a statement under Section 164 and demanded
that she be allowed to live with her husband because she has accepted Islam by
marrying of her own free will and she is not ready to go with her parents in
any case.
After this incident, there are fears of a rift between
the residents of Buner and the Sikh community, and local leaders are trying to
resolve the issue in the light of the court’s verdict and evidence.
During the protest of the Sikh community, a patient
died on the way because he did not reach the hospital on time. After which the
relatives of deceased protested by keeping the body on the road.
Source: Pakistan Today
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Lahore police to have more woman investigators
Asif Chaudhry
August 22, 2022
LAHORE: The Lahore police higher-ups have given a
green signal to make more appointments of lady police officers after it
received positive public feedback during the first 10 days of posting of six
women officers as heads of the investigation wings at the city’s police
stations.
The Lahore police has six divisions and the
appointments have been made at one police station of each division. Inspector
Farhat was posted as in-charge of investigation at Wahdat Colony police
station, Sub-Inspector Sadaf Rasheed at Quaid-i-Azam Industrial Area police
station, SI Sumaira Nazir at Model Town police station, SI Ambrin Rehman at the
Defence A police station, SI Shazia Kausar at Akbari Gate and SI Sonia Liaquat
was posted in-charge investigation at the Racecourse police station.
Though it constituted nearly five per cent of the
total postings in 84 police stations, the move was declared a positive sign to
increase the women representation in the police.
An official told Dawn that the appointments of lady
police officers as heads of the investigation wings at the police stations in
Lahore had inspired more women to play a leadership role. He said the
underrepresentation of the women in police stations had gone unnoticed. It is
evident from the fact that Lahore has one lady police station out of 84 despite
the fact that women constitute 48 per cent of the total population of the city
and they need support of lady police officers to stop gender discrimination.
The decision-making authorities in the police have
kept the women police officials away from the investigation wing because of
nature of risks involved. Recently, IGP Faisal Shahkar expressed his plan to
encourage women police officers. He said the appointment of lady police
officers would also help change the thana culture or police image in the public.
The official said Lahore was a tough city to serve for
the police officials in all ranks as it reported over 0.2 million annual cases
of crime annually, which was more than the total crime of half of Punjab. The
investigation wing of Lahore police in particular faces tremendous challenges
to improve conviction rate against hardened criminals.
He said the burden of cases on the investigation
officers had led to the high crime in the city as most criminals resumed their
activities due to the faulty investigations and poor prosecution.
In April this year, the Lahore investigation police
had taken up the issues with the then IGP, citing a lack of IOs, shortage of
other staff, equipment, transport and funds.
Source: Dawn
https://www.dawn.com/news/1706127/lahore-police-to-have-more-woman-investigators
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Pakistan
Government Have Been Depriving Women Of Their Rights: Jamaat-e-Islami
August
22, 2022
LAHORE:
Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Sirajul Haq has said the ruling parties have kept
deprived women from their rights despite claims.
Addressing
JI women chapter meeting at Mansoorah, he said the worst wave of inflation
badly affected millions of women who were lone earners of bread and butter for
their families. Similarly, he added, the women felt unprotected due to
deteriorating law and order situation in parts of country.
Sirajul
Haq said the customs of wani and marriages with Quran were not ended in presence
of feudal culture in different areas. Women must be given their share from
inheritance instead of dowry, he emphasized, adding Islam guaranteed all rights
to women and it was need of the hour that Quran and Sunnah based system
introduced in Pakistan. “Women should raise voice for their rights,” he said,
asking the women of the JI to spread the message of Islam among females in the
society.
The
JI chief said the state must ensure free education and health facilities for
women. Thousands of women and their children died because of lack of health
facilities in rural areas, he regretted. He said the government must build
separate universities for women education at district or division levels.
He
said there must be laws with their strict implementation to stop rape and
harassment incidents and the culprits behind the incidents of rape should be
hanged in public.
He
demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan ensure registration of all
eligible women voters in the country. He said the family system had been attacked
in the country under a conspiracy. Pakistani women, he said, should compete
western propaganda and culture with the power of arguments mentioned in Quran
and Sunnah regarding women rights. He said media should play its role to
protect the Islamic culture in the country.
He
expressed regret over incidents of forced marriages and disappearances of
women, saying there was no concept of forced marriage in Islam. He expressed
concern over the silence of international community and Pakistani rulers over women
rights abuses in Indian occupied Kashmir.
Source:
Brecorder
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40192933/govts-have-been-depriving-women-of-their-rights-ji
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Male
Resistance Seen an Obstacle To 30% Seat Quota for Women In Malysia
Dineskumar
Ragu
August
22, 2022
PETALING
JAYA: Advocates for more women in politics say resistance by male politicians
might be a major obstacle to setting up a legal requirement for political
parties to have women form 30% of their candidate lists.
The
proposal to make this quota part of the law was mooted by Wanita Barisan
Nasional recently.
However,
Ong Bee Leng, CEO of Penang Women’s Development Corporation, and University
Sains Malaysia researcher Zaireeni Azmi said male politicians might feel
entitled to their seats.
“It
is about power,” said Zaireeni. Putting forward more women candidates would
mean fewer men would have access to political power.
Zaireeni,
who is with USM’s women and gender research unit, said increasing female
representation by at least 30% has been discussed over the last four general
election cycles.
The
academic, who studies women’s representation in politics, added that she had
heard politicians promising to increase women’s representation to match the
population percentage.
“But
they did not act on it,” she told FMT. “If you want to impose the quota on all
political parties, do you think they will be happy to share the power? To put
women as party presidents and vice presidents?”
Ong
said some women politicians themselves might not support a quota by law. They
might feel “short-changed” and discredited by being given seats simply because
of a quota.
According
to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, legal
gender quotas are mandated by the constitution in Burkina Faso, Nepal, the
Philippines, and Uganda, and by electoral law in Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina,
Slovenia, France, and many parts of Latin America.
Ong
said the legal quota would be the first step in setting the foundation for 30%
women representation in politics, pointing out that women account for only 15%
of Malaysia’s 222 MPs.
Zaireeni
recounted her experience interviewing female MPs in 2018, where some opposed
such a legal gender quota over the issue of meritocracy.
She
pointed out that male political candidates were rarely questioned about their
capabilities and credibilities, while women on the other hand were often
subjected to such scrutiny.
Wo
Chang Xi, a research associate at Sunway University, told FMT that the issue of
women’s representation in politics was not a priority for voters. This, he
said, contributed to the lack of buy-in from MPs for a gender quota law.
Politicians
and political parties will cater to strong demands from the voters first, he
added.
Wo
also said the aversion towards all forms of affirmative action might be an
issue with some political parties, especially those who advocate against racial
quotas in Malaysia.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
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Kerala:
Noorbina Rasheed criticises omission of women character from documentary on P K
Aboobacker
22nd
August 2022
KOZHIKODE: Amid the raging discussions on gender
equality, Noorbina Rasheed, the national general secretary of the Muslim
Women’s League, has taken strong exception to the complete blackout of women in
the documentary on P K Aboobacker, the Wayanad district vice-president of the
party.
Speaking
on the occasion of conferring the Quaid-E-Millat award to Aboobacker in
Kalpetta on Saturday, she said there was no woman in the documentary on the
life of the leader though he was active in organising them under the banner of
the Women’s League.
“PK
was the strength behind the growth of the Women’s League in Wayanad. He took
the initiative in building the organisation when the IUML decided to form the
Women’s League in the 90s,” Noorbina said.
“PK
was the observer for the organisation in Wayanad and the post was one of the
milestones in his political career. I don’t know why women did not figure in
the documentary shown here. Maybe because the organisers might have thought
that photographs of PK with women would attract criticism,” she said.
Noorbina
told the organisers that they need not worry because the Women’s League is functioning
within the stipulated framework.
Indirectly
referring to the controversies on gender neutrality and gender equality, she
said that whatever the terms, the Women’s League will function by upholding the
moral principles of the IUML. Noorbina’s words assume significance against the
background of the controversial statements from IUML leaders M K Muneer and P M
A Salam on gender neutrality. Salam had opposed the suggestion that boys and
girls can sit together in classrooms.
Leader
of Opposition V D Satheesan presented the award to Aboobacker. IUML leaders E T
Muhammad Basheer, M K Muneer, K M Shaji, K P A Majeed attended.
Source:
New Indian Express
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Arab
mothers must take the lead to educate their sons about best way to treat women
Heba
Yosry
22
August, 2022
I’m
exasperated. Having to write about yet another murdered young woman in Egypt
who was killed for the mere fact that she said no, is heartbreaking. And yet
here we are.
Salma
Bahjat, a young woman who recently graduated from university, was brutally
murdered in the stairwell leading to the newspaper where she was interning. The
perpetrator was a young man, a colleague of Salma’s who couldn’t bear her
rejection. He stabbed her fifteen times and called his mother while Salma’s
dead body was lying on the steps at the building entrance.
A
video recorded by the witnesses who were fearfully stranded showed him
hysterically screaming and telling his mother that he had killed her. He told
his mother that he spent 50,000 Egyptian pounds on Salma, and she refused to
marry him, so he killed her. He paid the amount and was claiming what was in
his mind rightfully his. And just like that, Salma’s life had a price tag.
Most
rational people came out to condemn the murder and offer prayers for Salma,
whose life was tragically cut short by a delusional young man. But there were
also the usual tropes hurled by those who found the brutal murder of a young
woman an appropriate opportunity to criticize the deceased. This person dared
to socialize and maybe get involved in a romantic relationship with a young
man. There was the usual blame on the secular forces of society that allowed
women and men to mingle freely on university campuses and elsewhere. There was
the usual blame of parents who let their daughters roam freely and scandalizing
their families as a result.
Some
attributed the murder to the wrath of God, punishing us for straying away from
His teachings that compel us to strict segregation between the sexes. A rumor
was circulating that the government is considering sex-segregated campuses to
prevent future incidents. The government denied the story afterward, stating
that no such discussions occurred.
It
was suggested that murdering young women by their persistent suitors has become
a phenomenon in Egypt. Officials responded to that claim by denying the word
phenomenon since two incidents do not constitute a phenomenon. And I agree that
one can’t claim that we are still witnessing a phenomenon. However, I believe
that the underlying factors that led to the tragic murders of these women
constitute a pervasive and troubling trend. It’s grounded in bad parenting of
young boys, who grow up to be entitled men.
In
this murder, the killer believed that spending money on Salma, having her name
tattooed on several parts of his body, and his desire to be with her were
reasons enough to claim her as his own. I think the murderer truly believed
that he loved Salma and that she deserved to die because his love is very
precious, and she refused it.
The
young man felt he should punish her ingratitude and the act of insulting him.
It’s
common for male youths to consider themselves unique for the mere and simple
fact that they are men. This young man, sadly like many young Arab men,
believed that he was entitled to anything or anyone he wanted. His failure is
the failure of others who could not see his greatness. Rejection is an
unforgivable act they must violently avenge.
Welcome
to the dominion of the inflated, fragile male ego.
After
this recent tragedy, a video was posted on Tiktok by another young man advising
other men on what to do in case their girlfriend’s families rejected them.
Firstly, he recommended eloping. If the girl doesn’t want to get married
without her family’s consent, he says: “You should kill her and kill yourself.”
The video amassed two million likes. Two million individuals agreed with his
rationale and motives and thought his actions permissible. It’s ok for a young
man to murder a young woman with her entire life ahead of her to avenge his
scorned pride.
The
murders perhaps are not a phenomenon. Nonetheless, this cult of death mentality
plaguing young male minds should be concerning since it holds the seed of
becoming a phenomenon.
Naturally,
not all Arab men struggle with the weight of an inflated, fragile ego.
Nevertheless, suppose we do not acknowledge and address the underlying factors
causing men to believe they have the right to dictate who lives and dies. In
that case, we will witness and eulogize more innocent young women. So, for all
the mothers who idolize their sons, convincing them that they can have anything
that pleases them, remember to tell them that other human beings aren't
included.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Kashmiri
women seek inclusivity, equity and justice
August
21, 2022
Women
should prirotize their respective growth targets while overcoming obstacles in
achieving their aims.
Only
then, women will be able to recognize their true potential and make their voice
heard in the society, said Nighat Khan, the head of New Vision for Women based
in London while talking to a group of women from diverse backgrounds gathered
on the same floor to share their life experiences, perceptions, opinions,
achievements, struggles, and passions at a capacity~building workshop hosted in
Rawalakot Azad Jammu Kashmir on Sunday.
Besides,
they also discussed the steps and strategies that need to be implemented to
overcome the challenges they face because the existing status quo does not meet
their need for gender equality.
According
to March 2022 data, women have only three quarters of the legal rights
guaranteed to men globally, she lamented.
Nighat
Khan highlighted the emerging global opportunities for women and suggested
upscaling their skills, and lobbying for their participation in political and
peace processes within communities. She suggested women to create learning
opportunities and support each other so that their voice in society heard and
valued. “Only a woman can understand the pain of a woman and only she can bring
a change in another woman’s life”, she said.
A
participant shared her view that the lack of representation of women in
decision-making processes is not because women are not qualified or skilled but
rather an absence of willingness for inclusion. She said that the Kashmir
conflict, deteriorating human rights conditions in Indian-held Kashmir and
worsening India-Pakistan relations are tearing down the region.
The
women, considered the marginalized section in the male-dominated society, can
now claim their role as they are trying their best to create a sanctioned space
for themselves where they can show the best of their capabilities.
The
Centre for Peace, Development and Reforms (CPDR), a research and training civil
society organization, brought together women from different backgrounds and
different experiences to reflect on various aspects of women’s lives, the
challenges they face, and ways and means to improve their participation in the
decision-making, conflict resolution and mediation processes locally and
regionally.
Fatima
Khan was of the view that woman carries equal human rights and no authority can
deny those rights. Additionally, she raised the concern that there are no
institutions in Azad Jammu Kashmir that focus on the capacity building of
women, their role in the decision-making and peace process as mediators.
According
to Eman Hassan, women grow up in a society where their presence is undermined
and the established narratives, unconsciously, control their lives. Hence, the
role of women, predetermined by men, is the real challenge they face in today’s
world.
Kashmiri
women are capable of doing marvels only if they are given better learning and
growth opportunities. Despite having limited career opportunities in Azad
Kashmir, they still utilize the best of their talents to make a difference in
the world around them, says Shabana Kiyani.
Hooria
Khan said, “If we do not educate our women today, the society as a whole will
be blamed for a rotten, ignorant, and stubborn generation because an educated
woman raises an educated child. If we want to see a better society, we need to
invest in women’s education, capacity building and creating gainful employment
for them”. Ends/app/ahr
Source:
Pakistan Today
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/08/21/kashmiri-women-seek-inclusivity-equity-and-justice/
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US
court orders Moroccan woman to pay $500 million to Kuwaiti ex-husband
16
Aug 2022
A
US court has awarded a $500 million payout to a Kuwaiti ambassador after he
accused his ex-wife of adultery and forgery.
Sadiq
M. Marafi, a Kuwaiti ambassador claimed that his now ex-wife, Hind El-Achchabi
had lied to him before and after their marriage regarding several issues,
including the paternity of their children.
El-Achchabi
claimed that her relationship with the Kuwaiti diplomat ended years ago and
that she divorced him before she married a Moroccan businessman, while the
Kuwaiti diplomat claimed that she is still married to him and the divorce
papers are forged.
According
to Al Rai media, the Kuwaiti diplomat had filed cases in different countries
over the course of five years to resolve this issue.
A
Moroccan court had previously imprisoned El-Achchabi and her new husband for
two years.
The
case has been a constant topic of discussion in Morocco, with people supporting
both - the defendant and the plaintiff.
Source:
GDN Online
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