Audio Chat App, Clubhouse Targets Muslim Women With Vulgar And Derogatory Remarks
New
Age Islam News Bureau
18
January 2022
• Indian
Expat, Debanjali Kamstra, UAE’s Mrs World Win Is A Nod To Woman Power And
Inclusiveness
• Women,
Girls Have Their Say At Male-Dominated Jamaat-i-Islami Sit-In in Pakistan
• All-Female
Turkish Cooperative Start-up Sells Products Countrywide
• Former
Female Afghan Minister, Nargis Nehan, Talks About ‘Sexual Assaults’ And
‘Corruption’ In The Palace
• Women
In Kabul Ask IEA To Reopen Women’s Ministry
• Women
Protestors in Kabul Urge US to Release Bank Assets
• UN:
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Trying to 'Erase' Women and girls From Public
Life
• Muslim
Woman Posted As Review Officer At UPPSC Given Triple Talaq On WhatsApp, Case
Lodged
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/clubhouse-targets-muslim-women/d/126182
--------
Audio
Chat App, Clubhouse Targets Muslim Women With Vulgar And Derogatory Remarks
Delhi
Commission For Women chief Swati Maliwal
-----
January
18, 2022
New
Delhi: The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has issued a notice to the city's
police, seeking action against people making obscene comments against Muslim
women in audio chat app, Clubhouse.
In a
statement, the DCW said it has asked the cyber crime cell of Delhi Police to
register an FIR against those who participated in a nasty conversation on the
topic, "Muslim gals are more beautiful than Hindu garls". The panel
took suo motu cognizance of the chat in which "participants are clearly
heard making obscene, vulgar and derogatory remarks targeting Muslim women and
girls", the statement said.
The
commission has asked Delhi Police to immediately arrest the accused and submit
a detailed action taken report within 5 days.
Expressing
shock over the conversation, DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal said, "Someone
tagged me on Twitter the detailed audio conversation on the Clubhouse app which
targeted Muslim women and girls and made disgusting sexual comments against
them."
"I
feel outraged over the fact that such incidents are going on increasing in the
country. Strongest action needs to be taken against the culprits and that's why
I have issued a Notice to Delhi Police seeking immediate FIR and arrests in the
matter," the statement said, quoting Ms Maliwal.
This
comes close on the heels of the Bulli Bai controversy in which prominent Muslim
women, including journalists, lawyers and activists cutting across age groups,
were targeted in an online "auction".
The
disgusting "auction" was similar to the Sulli Deals, which had
triggered a row last year by offering users a 'sulli' - an insulting term used
by right-wing trolls for Muslim women.
An
audio clip from the Clubhouse chat went viral on social media, triggering
outrage and prompting calls for stringent action against those involved.
Source:
ND TV
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/clubhouse-chat-targets-muslim-women-panel-asks-cops-to-act-2714459
--------
Indian
Expat, Debanjali Kamstra, UAE’s Mrs World Win Is A Nod To Woman Power And
Inclusiveness
Debanjali
Kamstra. Photo: Supplied
-----
18
January, 2022
The
jury is out on beauty pageants — since the counter-allegation to the feel-good
factor of a Miss Universe or a Miss World is that these occasions objectify
women, while also putting in place a set of seemingly impossible “beauty
standards”… after all, beauty should be in the eyes of the beholder, right?
Having said that, there’s something invigorating about a Mrs World contest —
simply because it conveys a message that a woman can be setting gold standards
in the somewhat fickle world of beauty even as she embraces domesticity
(remember, there used to be a time when if a woman was ‘married’, her chances
at showbiz reduced greatly since it was — foolishly — assumed that she had “let
herself go”?).
But
the reason why the annual Mrs World pageant (held this year at Las Vegas) is
trending today is for an even more deeper reason — and a reason linked
irrevocably to the UAE. It was the country’s first entry in the contest, and
the participant — Indian expat, Debanjali Kamstra — snagged the title of second
runner’s up.
It’s
almost symbolic that an expat wore the national colours of her adopted country,
one she calls “home” since she’s lived here, like so many of us, for a long
time. Much of the news doing the rounds is hinged on the fact that “she
represented the UAE in a true sense”. Fittingly, at the National Costume
Competition finale, Debanjali was attired in a gold ensemble inspired by “the
Falcon”, the UAE’s national bird, created by a Filipino designer.
Speaking
to this newspaper, Debanjali, a former flight attendant and currently a
businesswoman and mum to two kids, said: “Considering I have spent more than a
quarter of my life in this country, I could not think of anything else to
represent this nation better than a Falcon.” It was a nod to woman power, humanity,
inclusiveness, ambition, integrity and aspiration — all founding principles
that have come to represent a lifestyle that is worthy of emulation.
That
moment when the UAE secured third position in a tough global competition — on
its debut at that — encapsulates the spirit of the nation: nothing is
impossible if you put your heart and mind to it, while staying on course on the
time-tested values enshrined. It was throwback to what happened at the grand
Expo opening on September 30 last year, when 12-year-old Mira Singh, an
Indo-Belarusian girl, dazzled the world in UAE colours and celebrated the
country’s pluralism, and its ties that bind residents and citizens alike to its
core.
Source:
Khaleej Times
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/editorial/uaes-mrs-world-win-is-a-nod-to-woman-power-and-inclusiveness
--------
Women,
Girls Have Their Say At Male-Dominated Jamaat-i-Islami Sit-In in Pakistan
Shazia
Hasan
January
18, 2022
KARACHI:
Just as each of the previous 17 days were special with something different
happening at the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly, day
18, Monday, is the day of the girl students from Jamiat-ul-Mohsinat
Intermediate Girls College.
Dressed
in flowing beige abayas with cream colour scarves and navy blue sashes, they
arrive in two big buses and walk in a neat line. Some carry placards with
slogans written out in beautiful writing that can pass off as calligraphy, some
carry rolled up cardboard paper in their hands, some blue, black, green and red
markers.
All
happily take a seat in the front rows under the winter sun. But as it grows
hot, they raise their already done placards for shade. The placards carry messages
such as Haq Do Karachi Ko/Badal Do Karachi Ko (Give Karachi its right and give
it a chance to transform), Khudee Khulein Gee Zanjeerein/Tukray Tukray Ho
Jaengee/Jab Hadd Se Guzrein Gee Zanjeerein (The chains will break into pieces
when spread thin), Teen Crore Insaano/Apni Ginti Penchhano (Thirty million
people, there is power in numbers), etc.
‘Karachi
was the place where caravans reached to settle down. Now they just pass
through’
Surrounding
them several banners spell out loud and clear the JI stance rejecting control
over Karachi through the ‘black’ local government law of the Sindh government.
On the closed shut assembly building gates, inside the tent walls, the writing
on the Panaflex is very clear. ‘Unacceptable!’
Engineer
Sabir Ahmed, a JI leader from Karachi, takes the microphone to speak to the
students along with the other women gathered there. He talks about their
struggle of the past few days, of sitting here in the rain and sitting here in
the freezing weather after the rain.
“But
we are not here for the Jamaat-i-Islami, we are here for powers that should be
given to a city’s mayor,” he says. Making it simpler for the students to
understand, he adds: “The city functions in pieces right now. Think of Karachi
as a cake and the different institutions here as different pieces of cake with
varied flavours,” he says.
Not
so ignorant, the students also have their say. Urdu, Arabic, Sindhi, Pashto ...
they express their views in all languages, fluently.
Young
Laiba Mushtaq talks about her transport woes, Noor ul Huda reminds they are not
gathered to ask for any kind of dole. They are there for their rights. Alina
Ali thanks JI for standing up for their rights and assures them of support.
Rukhsana Paracha from DHA tells the girls that they are like the first welcome
drops of rain on parched land. “Anything is possible when you stand together,”
she says.
The
vice president of the JI’s women’s wing in Karachi, Sana Alim, was also there
with Shabana Naeem and Sumaiya Aamir of JI’s media cell in Karachi.
“Karachi
was the place where caravans reached to settle down. Now they just pass
through. No one wants to live here. The children are leaving due to disillusion
and discontent. They are leaving behind old and lonely parents, who then only
meet them on video calls. All this discontent and frustration has its roots in
wrong census and wrong dissolution of resources, wrong budget break-ups,” says
Shabana Naeem.
When
asked if the prolonged sit-in would have any results, Shabana Naeem nods. “You
should know how to register your protest. We can teach you a thing or two about
how to carry out a protest. Just watch how we do it,” she says.
Munim
Zafar, secretary general at JI Karachi, explains more. “You cannot give in or
give up,” he says. “We are now used to all kinds of conditions here. Come rain
or shine, we are here. You can say that we are conditioned. See, we have
covered the big tents in plastic in case it rains again. We also have the
smaller blue plastic canopies on the sides. And even if we didn’t have these,
we are hardened by the difficulties we had to face last two weeks ago and
after,” he smiles.
But
it has not been very difficult. While raising their demands, they have also
been killing time by holding mushaira, naat competitions, speech competitions,
poetry competitions for children including several inter-city competitions.
They have also been playing sports. From boxing and taekwondo demonstrations to
badminton, football and T20 cricket in which JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem ur
Rehman also played, the people at the sit-in have been busy doing something or
the other and right there on the road occupied by them to raise their demands
and highlight their grievances.
It
draws even more people to the sit-in. “They come here and share their issues
with us. We have had youngsters coming here to talk about how the parks and
playgrounds near their homes are vanishing,” the secretary general shares.
Soon
it is time for the students to return. But first Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman wants to
have a word with them. “My daughters, sisters, mothers and teachers, thank you
for joining us today and sharing your views and issues. It was good to hear you
express yourselves in different languages,” he says to them.
“For
the smooth running of a city, you need your local bodies to have authority. But
sadly if the provincial government has its way, a union council is to represent
a population of 70,000 to 75,000 while in the rest of Sindh it is for every
13,000 to 20,000 people. We question this difference,” he adds.
“We
want all local body institutions to have authority. We don’t want the health
and education budgets getting drained into corruption. Karachi is being
overlooked and ignored. Why go far, see the gutters overflowing around the
Sindh Assembly? This government cannot even stop sewerage water from
accumulating outside its offices, how will it run this city like this?” He
rests his case.
Source:
Dawn
https://www.dawn.com/news/1670084/women-girls-have-their-say-at-male-dominated-ji-sit-in
--------
All-Female
Turkish Cooperative Start-up Sells Products Countrywide
JAN
18, 2022
In
Turkey's southeastern province of Şanlıurfa, which produces the most dried isot
peppers (special dried Urfa red peppers), tomatoes and eggplants in the
country, women unite under the roof of a cooperative with the support of the
Ministry of Trade and market the products they produce across the country and
abroad.
Fifteen
female entrepreneurs from Şanlıurfa have formed an all-woman cooperative. They
benefited from a project grant provided by the Ministry of Trade for female
entrepreneurs and came together under the roof of the cooperative they
established last year. Cevahir Asuman Yazmacı, a businessperson representing
the female entrepreneurs, said that by establishing the "Urfa AGRO
Cooperative" in the city, they are able to offer registered regional dishes
such as organic bread, stuffed meatballs (içli köfte), semsek (a kind of
Turkish samosa), ağzı açık (an open minced meat pastry) and ağzı yumuk (a
closed minced meat pastry), which can be frozen and marketed all over Turkey.
Contributing
to the national economy
Yazıcı,
in her statement about the cooperative, said: “Yes, we established the
cooperative on Feb. 21, 2021, with the support of the Trade Ministry. And we
started this business by renting a kitchen of the technopolis that had been
idle for 14 years. With the support we received from the Trade Ministry, we
bought some of the kitchen equipment. Our main goal here, as the Urfa AGRO
women's initiative and production cooperative, was actually to socialize women
and to contribute to the national economy in general, and the economy of
Şanlıurfa, in particular. I believe we achieved this."
Yazıcı
explained that today, they are producing more of Şanlıurfa's geographically
indicated products, including isot peppers, pepper paste, tomato paste and
dried fruit.
"And
we are helping to market them," she said.
Ultimately,
all the women will have a share in the cooperative, she explained. "For
now, of course, in order for the cooperative to stand on its own feet, it
provides my colleagues a salary while producing the products here, but I
believe that each of these sisters will continue as a partner of this company
when the cooperative gets stronger economically in a very short time," she
said.
Touching
on the philosophy behind cooperatives Yazıcı outlined: "The logic of the
cooperative system is important, and cooperatives are an important phenomenon
in terms of contributing to the family economy and socialization of everyone
who works in them. We set out with my female entrepreneur colleagues in
Şanlıurfa, and today, I believe that this cooperative will be an exemplary one
for Turkey in general, and Şanlıurfa and the region, in particular. I hope
their numbers will increase."
'Women
should obtain economic freedom'
Bahar
Güler, one of the female employees working within the cooperative, said: “We
work here. Our working environment is very good. We can both socialize and
work. It's not like a work environment, it's more like a home environment, as
if I'm working at home. We are very pleased. I hope our cooperative will get
somewhere. We don't think about the economic part at all, that is to say, we
want it to grow. I want to call on all women from here to work. Women should
not have to rely on men. They should work. They should obtain their economic
freedom.”
Gülten
Beyaz, another member of the cooperative, said: “I was spending time alone at
home because I have no children. I was bored at home from time to time; you
visit friends' homes for a day, two days, three days. These visits are only
enjoyable to a certain extent. I was bored at home. Now, thanks to this job, we
are having a great time. Psychologically, we were also very good. Working here
feels like therapy. I go home happy."
Source:
Daily Sabah
--------
Former
Female Afghan Minister, Nargis Nehan, Talks About ‘Sexual Assaults’ And
‘Corruption’ In The Palace
17
Jan 2022
Six
months after the collapse of the Afghan government chaired by the former
president, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, a former female minister of his time unveiled
several cases of ‘sexual assaults’ and ‘corruptions’ in the Presidential
palace.
Nargis
Nehan, a former female Afghan cabinet member claimed she has been noticing
several cases of corruption and sexual assaults while working for the
government of Afghanistan since 2008.
Nargis
Nehan, Former Afghan Minister of Mines and Petroleum who was speaking in a
Twitter space on Sunday said she has noticed multiple cases of corruption and
sexual assaults at the very top levels within the Afghan cabinet members and
the Presidential Palace.
According
to Nehan, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the former Afghan President had been aware of
what was happening around him.
Nargis
Nehan named Shaad Mohammad Sargand, Humayoun Qayomi, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, and
Elham Omar Hotaki as the corrupt officials she knew about.
“Shaad
Mohammad Sargand, an advisor to President Ghani who was very closed to
President, also used to be his class fellow in the past, was forcing a young
Shia girl to enter into a concubine’s marriage with him”, Nargis Nehan said.
Shaad
Mohammad Sargand had falsely reported to President Ghani about the girl blaming
her for being Iran’s secret agent in the Afghanistan government after she had
refused his proposal, Nargis added.
After
her dismissal proposal was signed by the President, the girl came to my office
seeking help as she needed the job and also didn’t want to be sacked with bad
employment history, Nargis added.
I
reported the case to the first lady with the help of whom we could stop the
girl’s dismissal and transferred her to another department in order to stay
away from the eyes of Shaad Mohamamd Sargand, Nehan said.
Nargis
Nehan spoke about another scenario when she along with 45 other high ranking
female government officials including cabinet members and deputy ministers had
gone to see President Ghani complain about the ‘sexual assaults’ in the
Presidential palace, but the President had ignored to investigate and take
action after he heard from the group.
Nargis
also revealed about the corruption cases by the National Procurement Authority,
Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and the senior advisor to President,
Dr. Humayoon Qayoumi.
She
also claimed that the international community including the World Bank and
different UN agencies in Afghanistan were highly involved in corruption.
This
comes as Dr. Fazl Mahmood Fazly, the head of the Administrative Office of the
President (AOP) despite being widely accused of hiring girls for sexual
pleasures in the government was never investigated.
Source:
Khaama Press
--------
Women
in Kabul ask IEA to reopen women’s ministry
17
Jan 2022
A
number of pro-Taliban women gathered in Kabul on Monday, January 17, 2022, and
said that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is a system that guarantees
national and Islamic interest.
The
gathering is rare as all the all-women demonstrations have been carried out to
criticize and oppose the Taliban.
The
gathering was organized by elite women’s foundation and the attendants said
that Afghanistan will not surrender to any kind of pressure from the world and
that interaction with the de facto authorities in Kabul is in favor of all.
Members
of the foundation said that if the US and the world advocates for women and
human rights then why have they affected the lives of nearly 40 million Afghan
people by economic sanctions.
They
also welcomed UN Secretary-General’s plea for releasing Afghanistan’s assets
now frozen in the US banks.
In
the meantime, they asked the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to reactivate
women’s ministry, hire female teachers for classes up to sixth grade in all
schools, appoint female deputy ministers for ministries of education and higher
education, separate female widows’ department from the ministry of martyrs and
disables and merge it in the ministry of women affairs.
Source:
Khaama Press
https://www.khaama.com/women-in-kabul-ask-iea-to-reopen-womens-ministry-87687/
--------
Women
Protestors in Kabul Urge US to Release Bank Assets
18
January, 2022
Women
held a gathering in Kabul city on Monday and voiced support for the UN
Secretary General’s call for the release of Afghanistan’s central bank
assets.
The
participants also urged the Islamic Emirate to reactivate the Ministry of
Women's Affairs, to allow girls access to education, and to include women in
the government’s cabinet.
“We
ask the world humanitarian organizations...The number of those who left the
country and say to freeze the assets are not even one million. We are aware
that they are saying such things. Is it important to kill 34 million (people)
for the sake of one million?” askedTajor Kakar, a women's rights defender.
The
participants voiced their concerns over the situation for women in the
country.
They
presented the Islamic Emirate with a proposal calling for the reopening of the
Women's Ministry, facilitating education for girls, and including women in
senior government positions.
“The
utilization of woman workers and academic women, the appointment of women as
deputy ministers, the aiding of vulnerable families, and the creation of job
opportunities for Afghans are our main wishes,” said Asma, a participant.
The
Islamic Emirate has repeatedly said that it is committed to women’s rights
based on Islamic regulations.
The
Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, told the Associated Press that
they are hoping to reopen all schools in the coming solar year.
Source:
Tolo News
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-176344
--------
UN:
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Trying to 'Erase' Women and girls From Public
Life
18
January, 2022
A
group of UN human rights experts warned on Monday against attempts to
"steadily erase women and girls from public life," the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a recent statement.
The
experts said that large-scale and systematic gender-based discrimination and
violence against women and girls has been ongoing since the fall of the former
government. “Taken together, these policies constitute a collective punishment
of women and girls, grounded on gender-based bias and harmful practices,” the
experts said. “Today, we are witnessing the attempt to steadily erase women and
girls from public life in Afghanistan including in institutions and mechanisms
that had been previously set up to assist and protect those women and girls who
are most at risk.”
According
to the experts, women and girls in Afghanistan are being pushed out of public
life. “We are concerned about the continuous and systematic efforts to exclude
women from the social, economic, and political spheres across the country.”
The
Islamic Emirate denied that it has imposed any type of restrictions on women
and said that women are continuing to work in government departments.
“No
restrictions are imposed on women. Women are working in government departments.
The plan to include women in the formation of the new government is under
discussion,” said Ahmadullah Wasiq, deputy spokesman for the Islamic
Emirate.
The
human rights experts said these concerns are exacerbated in the cases of women
from ethnic, religious, or linguistic minorities. The experts have also raised
concerns over the risk of exploitation of women and girls including trafficking
for the purposes of child and forced marriage, sexual exploitation and forced
labor.
Some
Afghan women's rights activists said that the challenges for women have been
rising since the Islamic Emirate swept into power.
“Women
are struggling with challenges in a variety of ways since the Taliban has come
into power,” said Tamana Zaryab, a women rights activist.
According
to the experts, barring women from returning to their jobs, requiring a male
relative to accompany them in public spaces, prohibiting women from using
public transportations on their own, and denying secondary and tertiary
education for girls are the policies being implemented for the exclusion of
women. “In addition to severely limiting their freedom of movement, expression
and association, and their participation in public and political affairs, these
policies have also affected the ability of women to work and to make a living,
pushing them further into poverty,” the experts said.
The
experts also called on the international community to step up the needed
humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan to prevent further
deterioration of the situation in the country. According to the experts, the
humanitarian crisis in the country has been more devastating for women,
children, minorities and female-headed households.
The
experts have also called on the international community to hold the Islamic
Emirate accountable and also to observe human rights and immediately remove
restrictions on women and girls’ fundamental rights.
Source:
Tolo News
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-176346
--------
Muslim
Woman Posted As Review Officer At UPPSC Given Triple Talaq On WhatsApp, Case
Lodged
Jan
17, 2022
A
woman officer of Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), Prayagraj,
has lodged a case against her husband accusing him of divorcing her through a
WhatsApp message, police said. She also alleged that the man issued threats to
her when she opposed.
Station
house officer, Kareli police station, Anurag Sharma said a case had been
registered under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019,
on the basis of the complaint. Further investigation was being carried out in
this connection, he added.
According
to reports, a resident of Gaus Nagar area of Kareli, the woman is posted as
review officer at UPPSC. In 2018, she was married to one Mohd Aslam of Ballia
district. The woman later alleged that her husband and in-laws were harassing
her for dowry and registered an FIR with Kareli police station.
In
her recent complaint on Sunday, she alleged that Aslam sent her a divorce on
WhatsApp and claimed that he was now going out of the country. The woman called
her husband and made protests but he issued threats instead.
Source:
Hindustan Times
--------
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/clubhouse-targets-muslim-women/d/126182