EU: Education is key to Afghanistan’s prosperity and resilience
New Age Islam News Bureau
24 March 2025
· EU: Education is key to Afghanistan’s prosperity and resilience
· Hate crime: Muslim woman targeted in unprovoked attack at Toronto library
· Ramadan Reads: Female Muslim authors pen reflections on modern Islam
· SAJIDA fires employee for harassing SabnamFaria on Facebook
· Region making progress on ending violence against women
· UAE Sets Housing Support Criteria for Unmarried Emirati Wome
Compiled by New Age Islam News Burea
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/education-afghanistan-prosperity-resilience/d/134962
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EU: Education is key to Afghanistan’s prosperity and resilience
By Fidel Rahmati
March 24, 2025
In response to the ongoing ban on girls’ education in the country, the European Union has emphasized the importance of education for all segments of society, stating that it is the key to the resilience and long-term prosperity of the nation.
As the new academic year begins, the European Union’s mission in Afghanistan has reiterated that educational equality is essential for the country’s sustainable development. The EU has expressed its support for the right to education for Afghan girls, emphasizing that educated women play a crucial role in building a powerful, stable, and self-sufficient Afghanistan.
Simultaneously, as the new academic year began on March 21, the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education entered its fourth year. During the school reopening ceremony in Kabul, there was no mention of reopening girls’ schools. This ongoing restriction continues to hinder Afghan girls’ access to education.
Since the Taliban came to power in August 2021, one of their first actions was to impose a ban on education for girls beyond the 6th grade. This decision effectively blocked access to secondary education for millions of Afghan girls, leaving them without the opportunity to continue their studies. The ban sparked widespread protests from both within Afghanistan and across the international community, as it not only violated the rights of young girls but also undermined Afghanistan’s long-term development prospects.
In addition to the restrictions on secondary education, the Taliban has also closed universities and recently medical institutions to female students. Recent reports indicate that female students have been barred from attending university classes, with many women in medical fields being unable to continue their education or pursue careers in healthcare. This exclusion from higher education has significant consequences for Afghanistan’s future, as it stifles the potential of half of the population, hindering both social and economic progress.
Earlier, UNESCO reported that the Taliban’s restrictive policies have blocked access to education for 1.5 million Afghan girls. The organization expressed deep concern, warning that if these limitations persist, over 4 million girls could be deprived of education by 2030.
Several international organizations have condemned the continued ban on girls’ education, urging the Taliban to reopen schools and universities to women and girls. Human Rights Watch and the UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan both called for accountability from the Taliban for their actions.
Amnesty International has also urged the Taliban to end their discriminatory programs against Afghan women and girls. However, the Taliban dismisses global criticism, considering girls’ education a “domestic issue” and claiming to uphold women’s rights under their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.
The Taliban’s persistent refusal to allow girls’ education has drawn widespread international condemnation. The EU and various global organizations continue to advocate for Afghan girls’ right to education, stressing its critical role in the nation’s future prosperity. The ongoing situation highlights a significant challenge for Afghanistan’s development and international relations.
Source:khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/eu-education-is-key-to-afghanistans-prosperity-and-resilience/
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Hate crime: Muslim woman targeted in unprovoked attack at Toronto library
24 March 2025
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) said in a press release they are “horrified” by the incident.
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A suspect is in custody a day after a Muslim woman was attacked in a public library near the Canadian city of Toronto, with the assailant attempting to set the victim’s hijab on fire, according to a police statement Sunday.
“(She) was in the library studying when she was approached by an unknown female,” Durham Regional Police said in a statement. “The female began yelling profanities at the victim and throwing objects at her head.”
“The suspect then tried to remove the victim’s hijab, while pouring an unknown liquid on it. The suspect then grabbed a lighter and attempted to light the hijab on fire.”
The victim screamed for help and library security staff intervened. Police said the suspect fled but was arrested a few hours later.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) said in a press release they are “horrified” by the incident.
“It is an outrage that this kind of violence has become a regular occurrence in our community,” said NCCM Chief Executive Officer Stephen Brown. “Incidents of Islamophobia have increased exponentially in recent years.
“It is time for our elected leaders to step up and address this issue collaboratively,” he added.
Ajax Mayor Shaun Collier and library board chair PiyaliCorreya issued a joint statement on the town’s website.
“To the victim of this terrible act and anyone triggered, hurt, or disheartened by this attack — especially as it occurred during Ramadan, a month of peace and spiritual connection — we are here to support you and to stand up against all forms of hate and intolerance,” it said.
Brown said the NCCM has asked police to treat the incident as a hate crime.
Source:trt.global
https://trt.global/world/article/e400e8f4b86b
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Ramadan Reads: Female Muslim authors pen reflections on modern Islam
23 Mar 2025
By NaheedMaalik
As Muslims mark the holy month of Ramadan, two books from Dubai-based publisher, The Dreamwork Collective are offering readers the opportunity to explore different perspectives on the modern-day practice of Islam. Dream Du'a Do: A Millennial Muslimahs’ Guide to Achieving Your Wildest Dreams, by RuzinaAhad, delves into the world of self-help grounded in spirituality, while Mathilde Loujayne’s Big Little Steps tackles women’s common concerns in finding a balanced lifestyle while embracing the Islamic faith.
Born out of her own desire to realise her wildest dreams, Ahad began to pen her book during the 2020 lockdown. Like many people at that time, she was looking for a positive outlet for her thoughts and dreams but found that there was a lack of self-help literature connected to the Muslim faith. As she began to note down her own ambitions, the idea of Dream, du’a, do was born.
Written in three parts, the book begins by encouraging readers to identify their dreams and articulate what they want to achieve in life. A big believer of manifesting ambitions through the power of prayer, Ahad dedicates the second part of the book to du’a, the Arabic word for prayer, taking readers through the journey of achieving their wildest dreams. The third section of the book provides practical tips to link dreams and prayers, weaving principles of neuroscience and positive psychology with the teachings of Islam.
Originally aimed at the Millennial Muslimahs, Ahad says, “As a young Muslim woman who was trying to find her way, there was not enough literature out there for me, but I’ve also discovered that non-Muslim women have loved my book as well. The text assumes that the reader knows nothing about the Islamic language and breaks down complex stories into simple prose, with some gentle humour along the way.”
Also drawing on her own experience of a gap in Islamic literature, French national, Loujayne, set out to write the book she felt was missing from the bookshelves when she converted to the faith. Big Little Steps is labelled as ‘a woman’s guide to finding a balanced lifestyle and a glowing heart in Islam’. The book reflects on Loujayne’s journey of conversion and explores the questions that she, and those around her, had about the religion.
Reflecting on her personal experiences of grief, moving countries, work, marriage, and motherhood, Loujayne set out to explore women’s common concerns and break through the myths of gender in Islam. Based on interviews with more than fifty women from different countries, Loujayne gathered all the questions she and her Muslim sisters had encountered in their Islamic education, to develop a one-stop guide to help women to tackle these topics.
Aimed at readers who are simply curious about Islam, as well as those who have already embraced the faith, Big Little Steps is an accessible book for non-Arabic speakers, with Islamic terminology expressed in the English language. Speaking about her hope for the book, Loujayne says, “My mission is to share what I’ve learned over the years, backed up by beautiful verses from the Quran and narrations of the Prophet Mohammad. I want to unearth what Muslim women have achieved in many fields over the centuries. I also want to shed light on the way women were treated before the Quran was revealed, and how ground-breaking Islam was.”
Source:khaleejtimes.com/
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/lifestyle/books/ramadan-reads-female-muslim-authors-pen-reflections-on-modern-islam?_refresh=true
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SAJIDA fires employee for harassing SabnamFaria on Facebook
Mar 23, 2025
SAJIDA Foundation, a non-government organisation, has terminated one of its staffers for making inappropriate remarks about actor SabnamFaria in a Facebook comment.
In an email to Faria, SAJIDA Foundation's Chief of Staff and also the Director of Safeguarding, Legal and Employee Engagement, SajedaFarisaKabir said her organisation sincerely apologises for the Facebook comment made by Rakibul Hasan on March 18.
"SAJIDA Foundation condemns his comment in the strongest terms and believes it is against the core values of the organisation," read the email.
"Our Safeguarding Committee (comprising of internal and external members specializing in human resources, gender and law) has reviewed the investigation report of this incident and has reached a decision against Mr. Rakibul Hasan. Mr. Hasan has been terminated from SAJIDA for the comment made on your post and also for tarnishing the reputation and goodwill of SAJIDA through his actions," reads the email.
In reply, Faria in a Facebook post wrote that she was "deeply grateful" to SAJIDA Foundation for taking the matter seriously.
"They have set an example by their actions, showing how every organisation and individual can play a role in preventing violence against women," she said.
Source:thedailystar.net
https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/sajida-foundation-fires-employee-over-fb-comment-sabnam-faria-3855781
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Region making progress on ending violence against women
SARA AL-MULLA
March 23, 2025
A beacon of light is emerging across the Middle East and North Africa region, signaling a new era in the fight against violence targeting women. It is led by a series of robust legal reforms, shifting cultural attitudes and policy-driven interventions. Governments, communities and advocacy groups are coming together to ensure that women in the region can live a dignified life, free from violence and all forms of abuse. In doing so, they are crafting a future where women’s safety, rights and empowerment are at the heart of societal progress.
Long deemed to be an entrenched issue in the region, violence against women has been a persistent and pervasive challenge, with an alarming 2024 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report claiming that nearly one in three married women in the MENA region have experienced physical or sexual abuse by an intimate partner at least once in their lifetime. And a report published by the Social Institutions and Gender Index in 2023 revealed that fewer than half of MENA countries had laws protecting women from forms of violence beyond physical abuse, such as psychological and economic abuse.
However, this challenge is being rapidly dismantled through interventions led by MENA governments. From landmark legislation criminalizing all forms of violence and domestic abuse against women to national strategies advancing women’s rights, progress is becoming more tangible. Furthermore, widespread awareness campaigns and educational programs are rewriting cultural norms to ensure women’s rights prevail.
Violence against women is a complex and multifaceted matter that includes a broad spectrum of interlinked forms, including intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, sexual violence, exploitation, harassment, stalking, technology-facilitated violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, honor-based killings, human trafficking and workplace violence. As such, policies, programs and legislative reforms must take a more human-centric approach, considering the full journey that women face, from prevention to post-abuse recovery.
Perhaps the recalibration of this issue should begin with capturing important datasets that shed light on incidence and prevalence, demographic details, reported cases, the number of legal cases and the utilization rates of support services. Additionally, data on the healthcare impacts of abuse and violence, societal attitudes and the effects on children and families can help design targeted interventions and mass communication campaigns.
Violence against women is predominantly perpetrated by men and boys across all countries, largely triggered by toxic social norms and notions of masculinity, making it essential for a comprehensive strategy that focuses on changing male attitudes as part of prevention and management efforts. MENA countries have launched groundbreaking initiatives to shift men’s and boys' attitudes toward violence and abuse against women, both nationally and regionally.
One compelling example is the “Because I am a Man” campaign, a collaboration between the governments of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia, alongside UN Women. This campaign focused on preventing violence against women and fostering positive masculinity by engaging men, particularly through fatherhood, to challenge gender-based discrimination. The campaign included many grassroots activities, reaching 480,000 men and an online audience of 17 million.
On the other hand, once violence occurs, it is critical that policymakers put in place responsive and empathetic support systems, including access to helplines, shelters, legal assistance, financial assistance and counseling. A noteworthy example comes from the Egyptian government, which established a Collective Unit for the Protection of Women from Violence in 2021 and a reception center that integrates support services from various ministries and governmental authorities. This center offers an initial examination of victims and survivors, facilitates reporting of the case and the filing of legal complaints, provides temporary accommodation during investigations and refers women to a network of legal aid, health, psychological and social services.
Another example is the Jordanian National Commission for Women, which has mapped out a comprehensive list of all services available to survivors in the country and published a directory of hotlines linked to the Family Protection Unit and various nongovernmental organizations. Meanwhile, many MENA countries — such as Bahrain, Morocco and the UAE — offer victims and survivors temporary shelters.
At the same time, legal frameworks should hold perpetrators accountable. For instance, the UAE’s Federal Decree-Law No. (13) of 2024 on the Protection Against Domestic Violence establishes comprehensive legal measures to prevent, address and penalize domestic violence, thereby protecting survivors and holding perpetrators accountable for their dreadful actions.
Beyond the stages of legal and social support, recovery should also focus on restoring the victim’s sense of dignity and empowerment. Therefore, programs could be designed with a long-term recovery perspective, such as providing psychological counseling, vocational training and economic empowerment through workforce participation or entrepreneurship.
To assist with its complex suite of interventions, Egypt has drafted a series of practical guides for various service providers who work with victims and survivors, including medical professionals, judiciary members, police officers, hotline operators, social workers and NGO staff. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s National Family Strategy, developed in alignment with Vision 2030, includes programs to open new economic pathways for women, empower them to make informed life choices, protect them from abuse, and facilitate access to all kinds of government services.
Ultimately, victims and survivors should be given all the necessary tools to rebuild their lives.
As we look to the future, MENA governments have an opportunity to transform challenges into progress by implementing stronger policies, advancing legal protections and fostering a culture of zero tolerance for violence against women — empowering women to thrive in this new, brighter landscape.
Source:arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2594599
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UAE Sets Housing Support Criteria for Unmarried Emirati Women
Mar 23, 2025
The UAE Cabinet has introduced new regulations specifying eligibility criteria for unmarried Emirati women seeking housing support under the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme.
The updated policy outlines six main categories of eligible applicants, including widows with children, divorced women with custody of their children, orphans, women of unknown parentage, women who have lost both parents, and elderly women.
Women who do not fall under these categories must apply for housing assistance through their parents’ applications. The regulations align with Cabinet Resolution No. (61) of 2021, which sets out the conditions and framework for government-funded housing support.
The Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme aims to enhance family stability and provide a high standard of living for Emirati citizens. The updated regulations reinforce the UAE’s commitment to social welfare, ensuring that housing support is allocated based on structured eligibility criteria to those in need.
Source:cairoscene.com
https://cairoscene.com/Buzz/UAE-Sets-Housing-Support-Criteria-for-Unmarried-Emirati-Women
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/education-afghanistan-prosperity-resilience/d/134962