‘Congress Will Lift Hijab Ban’: Kaneez Fatima, Karnataka's Only Muslim Woman MLA
New Age
Islam News Bureau
22 May 2023
• ‘Congress Will Lift Hijab
Ban’: Kaneez Fatima, Karnataka's Only Muslim Woman MLA
• Cycle Sisters and UK Based Newham
Initiative Launched to Encourage Muslim Women to Cycle
• Muslim Women Allege Police
Misbehavior, Loot During Ram Navami Violence In Bihar Sharif
• Iranian Women At Forefront Of Islamic
Revolution
• Over 400 Women Attending Forbes
Summit In Riyadh
• SpaceX launches first Arab
woman on private flight to International Space Station
• Sheikha BodourTells Tech Firms
To Free Up Top Jobs For Women
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/congress-hijab-kaneez-muslim-karnataka/d/129827
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‘Congress Will Lift Hijab Ban’: Kaneez Fatima, Karnataka's Only Muslim Woman MLA
Kaneez Fatima, only Muslim woman MLA in Karnataka’s 224-member assembly
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21 May 2023
FATIMA KHAN
When Kaneez Fatima was asked by the Congress party leadership to contest
the Karnataka assembly elections in 2018, she was left quite baffled. It hadn’t
even been a full year since her husband, Qamar ul Islam, a six-time MLA and a
two-time cabinet minister, had passed away.
After all, a hijab-clad Muslim woman is hardly the poster-figure of
electoral politics in India, let alone Karnataka. Hesitantly though, Kaneez
agreed to contest the elections from Gulbarga North constituency — the seat
that her late husband had held for three decades — and won by a margin of
nearly 6,000 votes, making her the only Muslim woman MLA in Karnataka’s
224-member assembly.
Five years later, in 2023, the competition was fiercer. Not only did the
BJP campaign actively in the region, Kaneez also had to compete with nine
candidates from within the Muslim community, including those from the Janata
Dal-Secular (JD-S), the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and multiple
independent candidates.
This time she won by a margin of nearly 3,000 votes, and just managed to
defeat BJP’s Chandrakanth Patil, a Lingayat leader.
Kaneez Fatima campaigning ahead of the elections.
(Kaneez Fatima/ Twitter)
“When multiple Muslims contest in a seat that has a significant Muslim
population, it’s always tougher. But it’s not just that. BJP was also very
active in its campaign here, especially since they saw how vocal I was on the
hijab ban issue. They knew it could be a good subject to polarise voters on,”
Kaneez told The Quint, days after her victory.
Excerpts from an interview:
"Congress Will Remove Hijab Ban, Bring Back 2B": Kaneez Fatima
While her husband was engrossed in his four-decade long political
career, Kaneez mostly stuck to household duties and bringing up their son. Some
of the political acumen, inevitably, did rub off on her.
“I would be involved in Qamar saab’s campaigning, especially when we had
to specifically meet women voters. Many women would also come to me with their problems
that they wanted relayed to him. But that was it. This was my limited exposure
to politics,” said 64-year-old Kaneez.
After becoming an MLA in 2018, she turned a new leaf in her life.
“People started recognising me and I got so much respect from the locals that
the transition became easy,” she said, over a phone call.
In early 2022, the BJP-led state government imposed the hijab ban, and
since then, Kaneez has been at the forefront of the protest against the ban. It
is pertinent to note that she is one of the few sitting MLAs to have done so.
Before that, she was also active during the protests against the
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and led the sit-ins in Gulbarga region of the
state. She was also involved in COVID-19 relief work in her constituency.
Kaneez Fatima leading protests against the hijab ban.
(Kaneez Fatima/ Twitter)
"Today I am an MLA and politician in my own right. I have been
vocal whenever the people of Karnataka have been oppressed either by way of the
hijab ban or by the CAA-NRC,” said Kaneez.
In a conversation with The Quint, she claimed that the Congress will
remove the "hijab ban and bring back the 2B reservation for Muslims
immediately after forming the government."
In April this year, ahead of elections in the state, the Karnataka BJP
government had scrapped the four percent reservation for Muslims, which fell
under the '2B category'. The reservation was beneficial to Muslims of the
state, whose families earned less than Rs eight lakh annual income, thus making
them disadvantaged. The four percent reservation was applicable in government
colleges and jobs.
The Quint had reported from Karnataka about how the scrapping of the
reservation had ignited fear among the Muslim community of the state about
their future.
“In the very first cabinet meeting, we will pass resolutions removing
the hijab ban and bringing back the 2B reservation. I am confident,” she
claimed.
'Could Identify With Hijabi Women Being Targeted'
While Kaneez was active in the protests against the hijab ban, she said
that she herself didn't face any issues despite being a hijab-clad woman.
“I personally didn’t face many issues because of my hijab. This is
because I had security guards with me at all times -- when I would travel for
work, go to my office, or anywhere else. But I realise that most hijabi women
in Karnataka don’t have that privilege,” she said.
In the last one year, several videos of Hijabi students being accosted
by classmates, peers, and members of right-wing groups, have gone viral. “When
I would watch those videos, it would upset me. I could identify with those
women. I felt a heightened sense of urgency about the need for the Congress to
come back to power, so that we can stop all this from happening,” said Kaneez.
"So in that sense, there was a lot more at stake this time,"
she added.
"Society, Muslim Community Need To Accept More Muslim Women
Politicians": Kaneez Fatima
Kaneez was the only Muslim woman MLA in Karnataka in 2018 and now again
in 2023. The only other Muslim woman MLA in the history of Karnataka was
Mukhtar Unnisa Begum — that too back in 1985. Women, in general, have had a
poor history of representation in Karnataka’s politics.
Over 2,000 candidates contested in the 2023 Karnataka elections, of
which only 185 were women, as per an analysis of the data available on the
Election Commission website. Of these, only 11 made it to the Karnataka
Assembly. Karnataka has never touched even 10 percent representation of women
in its Assembly.
This despite the fact that women voters play an important role in the
elections. As per the Election Commission, more women than men polled in 52
assembly constituencies of the state this year.
Muslims too, despite being 13 percent of the state’s population, have
traditionally been under-represented in the Karnataka assembly. A total of nine
Muslims made it to the Assembly this year, including Kaneez, making them four
per cent of the Assembly. The highest number of Muslims to ever be in the
Karnataka assembly were 11, back in 2013.
Kaneez Fatima with other women MLAs in the 2018-23 term.
(Kaneez Fatima/ Facebook)
Kaneez said she recognises the under-representation at play here.
“Muslims aren’t represented adequately, and neither are women. Muslim women,
then, are grossly under-represented. There are a number of factors responsible
for this. The society needs to be more accepting of Muslim women in politics
and even the community needs to stop seeing it as a bad thing. They need to
welcome it,” she said.
“Muslim women come from their specific stand-point, which they can talk
about more strongly if they enter politics. Muslim women must enter
politics," she added.
Kaneez also said that she didn’t just get support from the Congress, but
also from her own community. “Muslim residents and even the ulema (scholars) were
very encouraging,” Kaneez said. Every few years, Imams from different mosques
across different parts of north India, release statements saying Islam doesn’t
permit women in politics. Most recently, such a statement was made by the imam
of Ahmedabad's Jama Masjid, Mufti Shabbir Ahmed Siddiqui, ahead of the 2022
Gujarat polls.
“Ulema in Karnataka and generally in southern states are far more
educated, in terms of deeni (religious) education as well as duniya (worldly).
So they are encouraging of Muslim women in politics,” she said.
Soon after Kaneez’s victory, some on social media began sharing an old
picture of hers performing the Umrah (holy pilgrimage) at Mecca, trolling her.
Kaneez said, “Communalism has risen in Karnataka over the years.”
“With BJP’s antics, communalism and hate have risen substantially in
Karnataka in the last few years. Ours has traditionally been a syncretic
society but things have got bad lately. Hopefully, now we can work to improve
things,” she said.
Source: thequint.com
https://www.thequint.com/elections/karnataka-election/muslim-women-needed-in-politics-kaneez-fatima-karnataka-only-muslim-woman-mla#read-more
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Cycle Sisters and UK Based Newham Initiative Launched to Encourage
Muslim Women to Cycle
Rukaiya Moola (in red) leading a cycle ride (c) Cycle Sisters
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21 May, 2023
A UK-based walking, wheeling and cycling charity has launched a new
partnership with Cycle Sisters Newham to encourage and inspire Muslim women to
cycle.
The partnership with Sustrans charity was announced during an Eid
Cycling Celebration held at The View Tube community hub in the Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park and attended by more than 30 women.
“Cycle Sisters Newham is such a ground-breaking and important project
taking place here in Newham,” said Rokhsana Fiaz, Mayor of Newham, London Post
reported.
“The project inspires and enables Muslim women to cycle and I look
forward to seeing this initiative grow as it inspires more women to join in and
start cycling.”
The Cycle Sisters Newham team has eight Ride Leaders who lead rides
specially customized for Muslim women’s needs. This can include advice on
cycling in modest clothing, halal café stops and timings around prayers.
“It’s fantastic to see this infectious enthusiasm the event created, it
really goes to show how much joy cycling can bring into our lives,” Sarah
Javaid, Programmes & Partnerships Lead for Cycle Sisters, said.
Breaking Barriers
ccording to the partnership, Sustrans will work with Newham Council and
Cycle Confident and make cycle skills take-up easier, and with View Tube Bikes
to give women access to cycles.
“At Sustrans we are committed to breaking down barriers to ensure that
cycling is for everyone. We are delighted to partner with Cycle Sisters to
increase access to cycling for Muslim women and the wider community,” James
Cleeton, Sustrans London Director, said.
A growing number of Muslim women have been taking part in different
sports recently, in a celebration of diversity.
According to Sport England, only 18 percent of Muslim women take part in
sports, compared to 30 percent of the total female population.
Six years ago, the figures were as low as 12 percent – indicating a rise
in Muslim women taking up sport and fitness.
Muslims’ approach to sports is often determined by religious, cultural,
and ethnic factors.
In general, Islam promotes good health and fitness and encourages both
men and women to engage in physical activity to maintain healthy lifestyles.
Source: aboutislam.net
https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/europe/new-burton-first-muslim-mayor-seeks-to-unite-people/
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Muslim Women Allege Police Misbehavior, Loot During Ram Navami Violence In Bihar Sharif
21-05-23
Bihar Sharif in Bihar’s Nalanda district witnessed violence during the
Ram Navmi procession, resulting in the looting of shops and houses. However,
allegations of misbehavior and loot by the police have now surfaced, leading to
fear and insecurity among Muslim women in the town.
According to Rubi Khatoon, a resident of Bihar Sharif, “Bajrang Dal pelted
stones on Muslim men returning from Masjids.” Another eyewitness claimed that
“the police forcibly entered our houses and misbehaved with the ladies. They
searched our houses and took away all our valuables. They snatched the dupattas
and earrings from the ladies.”
While speaking to Maktoob, Muslim women of Bihar Sharif have voiced
their concerns about the safety of their belongings and people.
“Police abused us and gave us rape threats. We were forced to open the
doors, and then they were free to get into our houses. They put ladders in the
balcony and entered,” a woman alleged.
In response to the allegations, ADM Patna stated, “When violence
happens, these allegations are made. We will not spare anyone. Everyone who is
responsible will be punished.” He also claimed that the situation in Bihar
Sharif is currently under control.
Violence and vandalism have marred Ram Navami Processions in several
states of India, targeting Muslims. Hate speech and stone-pelting against
places of worship and shrines were common in all the incidents, which occurred
in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana,
West Bengal, and Gujarat.
Source: maktoobmedia.com
https://maktoobmedia.com/india/ram-navami-violence-in-bihar-sharif-muslim-women-allege-police-misbehavior-loot/
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Iranian women at forefront of Islamic Revolution
May 21, 2023
TEHRAN – Throughout history, the enthusiastic presence of Iranian women
in many political and social scenes has been proven. Undoubtedly, women played
a great role in the process of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Women have always been present throughout history and paid a role in its
construction, even though their contributions are often masked or overshadowed.
Throughout history, women have been present shoulder to shoulder with men in
the ups and downs of life and in the construction of society. Sometimes
directly and occasionally by persuading men and creating the necessary
motivations in them, they have shown their role in human history.
Iranian women's movements and their effective role before the victory of
the Islamic Revolution were stronger than ever before. By encouraging their
husbands and children to fight against the Shah's [Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]
regime, they tried to overthrow the tyrant government, which was one of the
effective factors in the evolving process of the Revolution.
Speaking about the role of women in the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini [Founder of the Islamic Republic] said, "If the role of
the women was not greater than that of the men, it was certainly no less. Their
presence on the various fields of battle made the faint-hearted strong and
doubled the strength of the strong. And you yourselves can vouch for the fact
that the role of you ladies throughout this Islamic movement, this Islamic
Revolution, has been greater. For you were both active yourselves and inspired
the men to be active too. You have been a source of pride and it is much
appreciated." (April 8, 1984)
Defiant Iranian women played a crucial role in the success of the
Islamic Revolution. Some women backed the Islamic Revolution because they were
living under a government [Pahlavi dynasty (1925-1979)] that had no respect for
the traditional and Islamic values that many of them had been taught to respect.
These women didn't want to be molded into Western women; they wanted to create
their own images. They felt the Pahlavi regime was trying to make them into
mindless Western dolls to keep their minds off more important issues, like
politics.
These women who participated in revolutionary and religious activities
believed that an Islamic government would give them the respect they deserve.
Women took an active role in discussing the issues surrounding them, including
what constituted proper attire. Forms of dress were increasingly becoming a
matter of choice.
In this regard, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed
Ali Khamenei in one of his speeches said, "Fortunately pious women have
been pioneers in different arenas and in different events in our society, not
just after the Revolution, but since a long time before the Revolution...
Iranian women rose up at a time when only a few religious scholars and
outstanding personalities were involved in the issue.
They arranged a gathering and blocked the path of the ruler of the
time... In the case of the resistance
that led to the Islamic Revolution, I know for a fact that in certain parts of
the country, our women entered the arena earlier than our men. They arranged
street protests earlier than men." (May 12, 2012)
Women living in that era also were tired of the corruption and
incompetency of the government and were also horrified by the violent way that
the regime dealt with peaceful demonstrations. Iranian women, through their
support of the Islamic Revolution, were looking for an alternative to the Shah
regime.
There isn't one specific group of women that can be pinpointed as the
main participants in revolutionary activities; Women from all walks of life,
rich and poor, liberal and secular, amplified their revolutionary roles and
activities. Support for the Islamic Revolution among women increased, as the
shah’s brutality increased. Women's participation in revolutionary activities
was non-violent for the most part, although some women did become famous for
their participation in guerilla warfare. Women became ever more instrumental in
the days leading up to the success of the Islamic Revolution. However dreadful
the storm was, it was the women who bore the brunt – as Ayatollah Khamenei
often indicated, it was the women who carried the heaviest burdens in those
times.
"In fact, during the Revolution, women were the frontline soldiers
of the Revolution; this is not an exaggeration... If women did not accept the
Revolution and did not believe in it, the Revolution would certainly not have
happened, because first of all, half of the group of revolutionaries would not
be directly present at the scene; Secondly, they indirectly would influence
their children, husbands, and brothers [for not attending revolutionary
activities],” said Ayatollah Khamenei. (January 16, 1990)
Some of the responsibilities women took upon themselves, during the
revolution, were as follows: educating others on the religious ideologies,
which facilitated the revolutionary process; women also took to writing and
expressing themselves, by way of their own female-centric pamphlets and
magazine publications; asides from taking part in the demonstrations, they also
spread the word on events that were to take place against the shah. Some of
them cared for the wounded, opened their homes when needed, and female doctors
provided medical assistance.
As a further matter, religious enlightenment paralleled with the
struggle for women’s rights led many women to adopt Islamic values; additionally,
to show their disdain for the shah and support of the revolutionaries. They
took to chador, as a symbol of their support – for and with the
revolutionaries.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also in one of his speeches talked
about some clerics who opposed political roles of women during the Revolution,
saying, “I admit that our magnanimous Imam [Khomeini] was the first person who
understood the roles of all people in society—including women… Imam Khomeini
(r.a.) had the same attitude towards women: he understood the importance within
each role that women could play. On the other hand, there were certain
luminaries, among our religious scholars, who had to be convinced whether it
was necessary to let women take part in demonstrations. They used to say that
women should not take part in the demonstrations. Imam Khomeini's thoughts and
determination were shaped into a firm pillar, which people relied upon in order
to stand up against such views: views that were historically presented by
important centers.” (January 4, 2012)
Source: tehrantimes.com
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/484943/Iranian-women-at-forefront-of-Islamic-Revolution
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Over 400 women attending Forbes summit in Riyadh
May 21, 2023
RIYADH: The Forbes Middle East Women’s Summit 2023 kicked off in Riyadh
on Sunday.
The three-day event, chaired by Princess Noura bint Faisal Al-Saud,
brings together more than 400 of the region’s most talented and accomplished
women from all spheres of society.
The summit aims to examine the most important gender-related issues,
refute outdated perceptions, and spark connections among a multigenerational
global network of innovative women.
It aims to provide a platform for women to explore and redefine their
role in the growth and evolution of the Middle East as a possible global hub
for innovation and business excellence.
The summit includes a variety of experiences, activities and workshops
designed to empower and support women in business while showcasing Saudi
culture.
The speakers confirmed at the summit this year include astronaut Lama
Al-Oraiman, actress Maguy Bou Ghosn, model and activist Halima Aden, swimmer
Yusra Mardini, and motorsports athlete Dania Akeel.
Leading business icons include Shaista Asif, group COO at PureHealth;
Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, senior vice president and group country manager for the GCC
at Visa; and PakinamKafafi, CEO of TAQA Arabia.
Other influential women leaders featured at the summit include Lujaina
Mohsin Darwish, chairperson of infrastructure, technology, industrial and consumer
solutions at Mohsin Haider Darwish L.L.C.; Hoda Mansour, SAP’s senior vice
president and head of business process transformation, EMEA South; and Moon
Baz, creator partnerships lead, Middle East, Africa and Turkiye at Meta.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2307546/saudi-arabia
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SpaceX launches first Arab woman on private flight to International
Space Station
Mon, May 22, 2023
SpaceX's second private flight has sent passengers, including Saudi
Arabia's first female astronaut, rocketing towards the International Space
Station.
The SpaceX Falcon rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre on
Sunday night, and the four passengers are expected to reach the space station
in their capsule on Monday.
They will spend just over a week there before returning home with a
splashdown just off the coast of Florida.
Saudi Arabia's first astronauts in decades are stem cell researcher
RayyanahBarnawi, and Royal Saudi Air Force fighter pilot Ali al Qarni.
"This is a dream come true for everyone," MsBarnawi said
before the flight.
"Just being able to understand that this is possible - if me and
Ali can do it, then they can do it, too."
The journey was organised by Houston-based Axiom Space and the crew is
led by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who now works for the company.
Ms Whitson holds the US record for the most accumulated time in space -
665 days and counting.
Rounding out the crew is John Shoffner, a US businessman who owns a
sports car racing team.
The company would not reveal how much the latest tickets cost, but
previously cited per-seat prices of $55m (£44m).
NASA's latest price list shows per-person, per-day charges of $2,000
(£1,600) for food and up to $1,500 (£1,200) for sleeping bags and other gear.
The charge to get gear to the space station in advance is around $10,000
(£8,000) per pound, with the same fee for disposing of it afterwards. It costs
the same again for the items to be handed back intact.
The guests will have access to most of the station as they conduct
experiments, photograph Earth and chat with schoolchildren back home,
demonstrating how kites fly in space when attached to a fan.
Source: ca.style.yahoo.com
https://ca.style.yahoo.com/spacex-launches-first-arab-woman-215300443.html
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Sheikha Bodour tells tech firms to free up top jobs for women
21-05-23
Sheikha BodourBint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the American
University of Sharjah (AUS) and of Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation
Park (SRTIP), has urged leaders of technology companies to be more proactively
inclusive by factoring women’s needs into corporate thinking from the start.
Keynoting WIRED’s third anniversary ‘Arab Women in Tech’ conference, in
Dubai, Sheikha Bodour said it was imperative humanity learn from its mistakes
and evolve without ‘leaving half the population behind’.
To illustrate, she said: ‘When airbags were introduced, they killed and
injured more women and children than men. Why? Because women and children’s
physical differences and car seating positions were not calculated in the test
results.’
She continued: ‘When we talk about technology and the future, we should
ask ourselves if women are included in our calculations. Are women being
encouraged and supported to keep up with this change, or being left behind?’
Progress made, work still to do
Citing regional progress, Sheikha Bodour said 56% of UAE government
university graduates in STEM subjects were women, while in Saudi Arabia the
ratio of women in ICT had increased from 7% to 28% since 2018, surpassing the
EU and G20 averages of 17.5%.
Female enrolment at American University of Sharjah’s College of
Engineering has surged to 36% of new undergraduates and 47% of graduates for
the spring semester of 2023. And at Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation
Park, women make up more than half the workforce, including leading roles in
technology, engineering, and lab teams.
Despite these successes, female-led start-ups in the Middle East receive
only 2% of funding from venture capitalists, and only 38% of women who studied
computer science work in the field, compared to 53% of men.
Steps firms can take
Sheikha Bodour told Arab Women in Tech that companies must remove
barriers to participation by considering women’s needs higher upstream in
decision making, because opportunities are only equal when access to them is
equal.
‘Women have unique needs and face specific challenges, such as balancing
work and family responsibilities and dealing with pregnancy and motherhood. We
can’t expect them to perform and grow in their careers in environments that
weren’t built with their needs in mind.'
— Sheikha Bodour
She suggested creating inclusive workplaces and cultures that promote
and leverage diversity and inclusion; starting female mentorship programmes;
allowing flexible working; and ensuring equal pay and opportunities for
advancement.
Additionally, she called for more women to be promoted to leadership of
tech organisations, as their ongoing exclusion “perpetuates gender biases and
limits diverse perspectives in decision-making”.
“Women have unique needs and face specific challenges, such as balancing
work and family responsibilities and dealing with pregnancy and motherhood. We
can’t expect them to perform and grow in their careers in environments that
weren’t built with their needs in mind,” she said.
“By actively promoting and supporting women's career advancement in the
tech sector, we can increase their representation in leadership roles and bring
their voices, fresh ideas and innovative solutions to the industry's challenges.”
From 2021 to 2022, Sheikha Bodour was the second woman and first Arab
and Muslim president of the 126-year-old International Publishers Association.
In 2019 she started PublisHer, an initiative to empower women in publishing and
advance them towards leadership and board roles. In 2021 PublisHer released a
Diversity & Inclusion Diagnostic Toolkit, a step-by-step guide for
publishing companies to assess and improve their DEI performance.
The ‘Women in Tech’ event was a celebration of women’s leadership in the
technology sector organised by WIRED magazine to mark its third anniversary.
The event convened regional innovators and featured leading women in STEM, who
shared their stories and discussed challenges and opportunities for women in
the industry.
Source: gulftoday.ae
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2023/05/21/sheikha-bodour-tells-tech-firms-to-free-up-top-jobs-for-women
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/congress-hijab-kaneez-muslim-karnataka/d/129827