‘My Voice Is Not Forbidden’: Afghan Women Sing, Post Videos To Protest Against
New Age Islam News Bureau
29 Aug 2024
· ‘My Voice Is Not Forbidden’: Afghan Women Sing, Post Videos To Protest Against Taliban’s New Law
· Young Iranian Girl, MobinaZeynivand, Murdered By Father In Honour Killing
· Tri Rismaharini Picks Muslim Scholar as Her Running Mate in East Java Election
· Muslim Actress, Actress Azmeri Haque Badhon, Misidentified As 'Hindu Woman' Protesting for Hasina's Resignation
· 55-Year-Old Muslim Woman Dies During Police Raid Over ‘Beef Storage’ In UP’s Bijnor
· Emiratia: Women Leaders Are Reshaping The Future
· Raja Al MazroueiAttributes Her Success To UAE’s Investment In Education
· With around 5,000 participants, Malaysia to host Int’l Muslim Women Conference in September
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/forbidden-afghan-women-protest-against/d/133074
‘My Voice Is Not Forbidden’: Afghan Women Sing, Post Videos To Protest Against Taliban’s New Law
August 29, 2024
The United Nations has expressed concern, saying these restrictions could make life even harder for women and girls in Afghanistan. (X/@JahanzebWesa)
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Afghanistan women are posting videos online of them singing and protesting against a law put forth by Taliban administration which prohibits women from speaking aloud in public.
The Taliban administration last week issued rules and regulations governing the behaviour and lifestyle among 35 articles, which included rules that deal with women’s face, bodies and voices which need to be “covered”.
In response to the rules, which were approved by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Afghan women started posting videos on internet showing their rebellion against the set of regressive laws which are part of a 114-page document released by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.
In a video posted on X, a user named Taiba Sulaimani can be seen getting ready while she looks into the mirror and singing a song in protest against Taliban’s new law.
In the post, Taiba wrote, “you call my voice naked; But I will sing the anthem of freedom!” with the hashtag ‘No to Taliban’.
In another post, JahanzebWesa whose X bio says that she is an independent journalist in Afghanistan, uploaded a video of a group of women singing songs in order to lodge their protest against Taliban’s law.
Wesa wrote, “This is the answer of brave Afghan women’s on the Taliban's new laws. Afghan women are boldly countering Taliban’s New Draconian law by singing out louder than ever,” with the hashtag ‘MyVoiceIsNotForbidden’.
The United Nations has expressed concern, saying these restrictions could make life even harder for women and girls in Afghanistan, reported news agency Associated Press.
Source: indianexpress.com
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/afghan-women-sing-post-videos-to-protest-against-taliban-9538652/
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Young Iranian Girl, MobinaZeynivand, Murdered By Father In Honour Killing
August 29, 2024
Mobina Zeynivand, a 17-year-old girl from Ilam province, was murdered by her father in an honor killing
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Femicide and honour killings remain a reality in Iran, where patriarchal laws continue to claim the lives of innocent women. The latest case to emerge is the murder of 17-year-old MobinaZeynivand, a young girl from Ilam province in western Iran.
Her life was cut short by her own father, Rahim Khan Zeynivand, who shot her dead with a shotgun because of her relationship with a young man.
Mobina attended school in the village of Sheikhmakan, where she became acquainted with a boy from another tribe. However, these two tribes had a history of conflict.
According to sources, her father opposed the relationship due to longstanding "tribal disputes." The situation escalated when the boy visited Mobina, only for the couple to be discovered by her cousin. A confrontation ensued, and Mobina, fearing for her life, fled to a neighbor’s house. But her father tracked her down, dragged her back home, and shot her in front of her mother.
This act was later confirmed by Ilam’s police commander, Jamal Soleimani, who downplayed the incident by labeling it as a "family dispute," a common euphemism used by Iranian authorities to describe honor killings.
The case of Mobina is far from an isolated incident. In Iran, a legal framework rooted in Islamic law offers leniency to men who commit such acts. Under the Islamic Penal Code, fathers who kill their children are shielded from the punishment of "qisas" (retributive justice), effectively granting them impunity. Furthermore, Article 630 of the Penal Code allows a man to kill his wife and her lover if he catches them in the act of adultery, without facing any punishment.
Critics have long pointed to Iran's patriarchal culture and its legal system as factors contributing to the prevalence of honor killings. These murders, often carried out for reasons as trivial as a woman’s refusal to wear the mandatory hijab, are a reminder of the oppressive environment in which many Iranian women are forced to live.
Recent reports highlight an increase in honor killings across Iran. The newspaper Etemad reported that at least 85 women were killed by male family members in April, May and June of the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, with Tehran leading the statistics.
On March 29, a 21-year-old girl in a border village near Abadan was killed by her father. On April 7, a 27-year-old woman in Ahvaz was stabbed to death by her brothers in front of her husband. In May alone, a string of murders occurred: a man in Mashhad killed his wife and injured her 16-year-old sister and brother; another man set his wife on fire in Kosar Hospital, and an Afghan woman six months pregnant was murdered by her husband for being "disobedient."
These are just a few examples of the countless lives lost to a culture that prioritizes male honor over female life. The full extent of this crisis may never be known, as many honor killings go unreported, with families and communities conspiring to keep these atrocities hidden.
Organizations like Stop Femicide Iran have been working to shed light on this epidemic of violence. Their efforts have revealed a 60% increase in femicides in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year. Of the 93 gender-based killings recorded, nearly half were young women aged 15 to 35.
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202408284891
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Tri Rismaharini Picks Muslim Scholar as Her Running Mate in East Java Election
YustinusPaat
August 29, 2024
Jakarta. Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini, commonly known as Risma, has been officially nominated as the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) candidate for East Java governor, with Muslim scholar Zahrul Azhar Asad as her running mate for the November 27 election.
While Risma’s candidacy has been widely anticipated in recent weeks, the confirmation of her running mate was made public on Thursday, just ahead of the candidate registration deadline set by the General Election Commission.
Said Abdullah, head of PDI-P’s East Java chapter, announced that the duo would formally register with the commission later in the evening.
Risma, 62, previously served two terms as mayor of Surabaya, the capital of East Java, before being appointed as social affairs minister. During her tenure as mayor, Surabaya became the first city in Indonesia to implement an electronic public service system.
Zahrul, also known as Gus Han, is the leader of an Islamic boarding school and serves as vice chancellor of Darul Ulum Islamic University in Jombang, East Java.
According to Said, Risma and Zahrul form an ideal partnership, combining Risma’s extensive experience in public office and her representation of women’s interests with Zahrul’s strong backing from Muslim voters and the youth.
Source: jakartaglobe.id/
https://jakartaglobe.id/news/tri-rismaharini-picks-muslim-scholar-as-running-mate-in-east-java-election
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Muslim Actress, Actress Azmeri Haque Badhon, Misidentified As 'Hindu Woman' Protesting for Hasina's Resignation
August 29, 2024
Numerous Hindus in Muslim-majority Bangladesh have reported attacks following the chaotic ouster of autocratic premier Sheikh Hasina but a video repeatedly shared online does not show a Hindu woman crying as she reeled from the violence. The video shows Bangladeshi actress Azmeri Haque Badhon in one of the protests that called for Hasina's resignation. She told AFP she is Muslim and not Hindu as the false posts claimed.
"Video from Bangladesh. Hindu Women crying as they have been given an ultimatum to either convert or leave Bangladesh," read a Facebook post published on August 12, 2024.
It went on to say in Hindi: "Hindus, support us wholeheartedly, Bangladesh Hindus need us, tomorrow you will also need us, 57 countries are united."
The 12-second clip shows a rain-drenched woman shouting into a loudspeaker before breaking into tears. "Because the country is mine and we will also reform the country," she said.
The date "August 12, 2024" and Hindi-language text that read "listen to the roar of the Hindu lioness of Bangladesh" can be seen on the video.
Similar false claims surfaced elsewhere on Facebook and X in Hindu-majority India.
The false claim appeared after more than 1,000 Hindus gathered to demand Bangladesh's new interim government, led by Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, urgently protect members of their faith from harm (archived link).
There were numerous reports of attacks against Hindus after Hasina -- who had been in power since 2009 -- resigned and fled to India on August 5 following a student-led uprising.
Hindus are the largest minority ethnic group in Bangladesh and are considered a steadfast support base for Hasina's party, the Awami League.
But the video actually shows a Bangladesh actress Azmeri Haque Badhon speaking in solidarity with the student-led protests -- days before Hasina resigned.
Badhon told AFP on August 26 that she is a Muslim and the video showed her "talking at a rally of the students".
She also addressed the false claims on her official Facebook page on August 13, 2024 and called the false claims "blatant lies and propaganda spread by Indian media and far-right groups about Bangladesh" (archived link).
"As a proud Bangladeshi, I'm sharing my own video from a recent protest where I demanded rights for students and spoke out against the tyrannical Hasina regime," she wrote.
Badhon also posted a longer video of her speech at the rally on Facebook on August 3 showing a similar scene (archived link).
Below is a screenshot comparison of the video used in the false posts (left) and the clip shared by Badhon (right):
Further keyword searches found a report by the Bengali-language daily Ajker Patrika which included a similar photo of Badhon in the rain from a different angle (archived link).
The report said she took part in a demonstration by visual artists to show solidarity with the student protesters in Bangladesh on August 1, where she gave a speech demanding reforms to the government.
According to the report, she said: "A state that openly shoots innocent people indiscriminately, a state that makes mass arrests indiscriminately, that state can never be a reflection of a democratic state."
The protest was also covered by local media outlets here and here (archived links here and here).
Source: factcheck.afp.com
AFP has debunked other false and misleading claims related to the unrest in Bangladesh here.
https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.36EH4FY
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55-year-old Muslim woman dies during police raid over ‘beef storage’ in UP’s Bijnor
August 29, 2024
MuslimMirror
A 55-year-old Muslim woman allegedly died from a “panic attack” in Khatai village, Bijnor district, on Monday after a police team stormed her residence and reportedly misbehaved with her, following a tip-off that beef was stored in her house.
The woman was identified as Razia.
The family of the woman has alleged that the cops misbehaved with her during the raid at their home.
“The four police constables barged into our house and misbehaved with the women members of the family. They ransacked the household while we kept pleading. My mother had a panic attack due to the behaviour of the cops. We took her to a local clinic, where the doctor pronounced her dead,” Indian Express quotes Nasim, the son of deceased, as saying.
Samajwadi Party MLA from Nagina, Manoj Kumar Paras, led a delegation of local leaders and Muslim community leaders to the district police chief’s office, demanding more strict action against the constables who raided the house.
“As the representative of my constituency, it is my responsibility to ensure that the police or anti-social elements don’t harass people,” Paras said to the newspaper.
Jai Bhagwan Singh, Station House Officer (SHO) of Kiratpur police station, said the woman’s death had nothing to do with the police raid. “Razia was an asthma patient and had been undergoing treatment for the past few years,” Singh said to IE.
Meanwhile, Bijnor Superintendent of Police Abhishek Jha said the four constables, who raided the premises and did not find any “objectionable material”, have been sent to the police lines.
“An inquiry has been ordered. Necessary legal action will be taken against the informer for providing biased information, and also against the police officers if our probe finds them guilty,” Jha said. ( With Agencies Inputs )
Source: muslimmirror.com
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/55-year-old-muslim-woman-dies-during-police-raid-over-beef-storage-in-ups-bijnor/
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Emiratia: Women leaders are reshaping the future
August 28, 2024
Emirati women are revolutionising leadership and spearheading transformative change across diverse sectors. This powerful shift and their critical role in driving the nation forward were highlighted during a panel discussion, titled Beyond limits: Redefining leadership, at Emiratia, an exclusive event organized by Gulf News and Being She to mark Emirati Women’s Day.
Four powerful leaders shared their journeys of overcoming personal and professional challenges to achieve leadership roles. They offered actionable strategies for transforming challenges into opportunities, inspiring future generations to lead and create impactful change.
In the male-dominated finance industry, Zahra Al Dahmani, Director of Tax Payer Services at the Federal Tax Authority, has made a strong mark with her expertise and leadership skills. She discussed the barriers she overcame to rise to her current role
“Being a woman leader in my role as taxpayer services director has not been easy. It required mastering both technical and communication skills,” said Al Dahmani.
“Since the UAE introduced taxes six years ago, I have leveraged my expertise in taxation, attended specialised programmes, and worked to support taxpayers in understanding their obligations with the Federal Tax Authority. Building awareness and ensuring compliance with tax laws has been a significant part of my role. It has been a challenging journey, especially as the first Emirati woman in this field, but it has been a rewarding experience.”
Dr Reem Saleh Easa Al Gurg, Director of Strategy & Institutional Excellence at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), spoke about her career journey in health sciences.
“As an Emirati woman, I felt that pursuing a career in medicine or health sciences was the best way to contribute to my nation. Raised in a family that valued global opportunities, I decided to stay in the UAE for my initial education, focusing on nutrition and public health. This path allowed me to build a strong foundation and then advance my expertise in London. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities that have shaped my journey,” she said.
Yusra Baqi, Chief Human Capital Officer at Aafac Islamic Finance, worked as an engineer before advancing her career in the finance sector. She offered practical advice to young women aspiring to become leaders, focusing on the importance of determination, continuous learning, and seizing opportunities.
“Starting from scratch in banking, I began as a retail officer serving customers. My love for interacting with people and my passion for the field drove my rapid advancement. Over the years, I progressed to senior leadership roles, fueled by hard work and a continuous quest for knowledge. Balancing my career with family responsibilities was challenging, but my dedication and ongoing learning were key to my success,” Baqi said.
As a change management specialist and a happiness and positivity ambassador, she encouraged women to fing joy in every moment to ensure their overall well-being.
"Happiness doesn't come instantly; it requires time and consistent effort. It's a daily practice to teach ourselves to find joy and fulfillment. Despite a demanding schedule—waking up early, attending events, managing work, and spending time with family—it's possible to maintain a sense of energy and passion. The key is to stay committed and embrace the journey, understanding that true happiness evolves over time. Age is just a number; it's the attitude and dedication to personal growth that truly matter," Baqi said.
Inspire and motivate
Al Gurg shared effective strategies to empower other women and unlock their full potential. She asked women to seek help when needed as it’s a vital aspect of leadership and personal well-being.
“Voicing your need for support is not a sign of weakness but an act of bravery. Leaders must clearly communicate their needs rather than expecting others to anticipate them. Support can come in various forms, and if it doesn’t meet your needs, it’s important to express that clearly. Requesting help may require courage, but it strengthens your position rather than weakening it,” explained Al Gurg.
Architect of change
Meanwhile, Hind Al Huwaidi, Chief Executive Development Officer at BEEAH, highlighted the critical role women leaders play in advancing the UAE’s sustainability agenda. She detailed the significant challenges she faced in promoting sustainability and highlighted the need to overcome deeply ingrained behaviours.
BEEAH’s focus on sustainability has always been proactive rather than reactive. “Founded in 2007, our company faced the challenge of introducing sustainability—a relatively new concept at the time. Changing deeply ingrained habits and mindsets is difficult, particularly when trying to shift generational behaviours,” she said, adding, “One of our main challenges was educating the public about sustainability, environmental management, and waste management. Initially, we approached this by turning theoretical concepts into practical examples. By equipping people with the necessary tools and demonstrating practical applications, we made it easier for them to embrace and implement sustainability practices.”
Mentoring future leaders
Panelists highlighted the importance of mentoring for the success of the next generation.
“In our organisation, we have established a mentorship programme where I share my experiences with other women. This programme is vital for transferring technical expertise and communication skills, as we engage with diverse sectors across the country. This knowledge exchange is crucial for fostering successful relationships and building awareness within various industries,” explained Al Dahmani.
The event is supported by Ajman Free Zone as the Platinum Sponsor, Virgio and La Marquise as Gold Sponsors, HSBC as the Banking Partner, Areen East and West and Moser as Support Partners, Raffles The Palm as the Venue Partner, Apparel Group as the Lifestyle Partner, Clean Rebel and Lush as Gifting Partners, Al Haramain as the Fragrance Partner, and Arpan as the Flower Partner.
Source: gulfnews.com
https://gulfnews.com/uae/emiratia-women-leaders-are-reshaping-the-future-1.1724861529438
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Raja Al Mazrouei attributes her success to UAE’s investment in education
August 28, 2024
The UAE's investment in education, building top institutions, and adopting best practices have enabled Emiratis, especially women, to pursue a variety of careers, said Raja Al Mazrouei, CEO of Etihad Credit Insurance, during Emiratia, an event organised by Gulf News and Being She on the occasion of Emirati Women's Day at Raffles the Palm Dubai.
“I'm very proud to say that I'm a local product,” she said during the fireside chat on Life and Challenges of an Emirati CEO. “I've been through the UAE educational system, did my higher studies with Higher Colleges of Technology, continued with my bachelor’s programme in the country, and a few years later, I got my MBA from a UAE university.”
Curious as a student, Raja had always chosen paths that were uncommon. Her family didn’t suppress her curiosity or energy and guided her in hitting the right balance. In college she ended up taking technology as her major, which didn’t have a defined career path at that time. But she was able to spot opportunities and grab them with both hands.
“Opportunities don't come packaged with a lace - they don't look great,” she said. “But you should be able to tap into that. Trust yourself and take that path.”
After years at DIFC where she learned about the financial services sector and her executive education at Harvard Business School, she decided to move to marketing and business development within DIFC when the opportunity presented itself.
“That move to marketing has been a major step in my life. We realised that technology is disrupting all sectors, including financial services, and we realised that there is an opportunity to create something new, which is bringing the big players with the technology companies, to co-create solutions that are specific for the new segment of customers, who are our kids.
"So when there was an opportunity to launch a fintech initiative at DIFC, I stepped up. I was curious about combining technology and financial services. It was something that I haven't really done. But I was aware of the opportunities, and I took the initiative.”
Having established the region’s most successful and innovative fintech ecosystem at DIFC, the FinTech Hive, Raja today is an accomplished leader in the world of fintech. She has been credited with crafting innovative strategies that have become the driving force behind ECI's transformative goals. As she works to take ECI to greater heights, she is also developing her own fintech solution.
“There’s no stop line; there's no deadline," she said, offering inspiration and invaluable advice to women. "Sometimes you have to slow down because other things are happening. Sometimes you can accelerate, and it's okay. Just make sure that what you are doing is aligned with your purpose. Opportunities will come. You have to be present and show up when they come.”
Emiratia is supported by Ajman Free Zone as the Platinum Sponsor, Virgio and La Marquise as Gold Sponsors, HSBC as the Banking Partner, Areen East and West and Moser as Support Partners, Raffles The Palm as the Venue Partner, Apparel Group as the Lifestyle Partner, Clean Rebel and Lush as Gifting Partners, Al Haramain as the Fragrance Partner, and Arpan as the Flower Partner.
Source: gulfnews.com
https://gulfnews.com/uae/raja-al-mazrouei-attributes-her-success-to-uaes-investment-in-education-1.1724859526105
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With around 5,000 participants, Malaysia to host Int’l Muslim Women Conference in September
August 28, 2024
Malaysia’s Deputy Minister for Women, Family, and Community Development, Nuraini Ahmad, announced the upcoming International Muslim Women’s Conference, which will take place at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre next month.
The Malaysian minister highlighted that the conference will gather around 5,000 women, including entrepreneurs and influential figures from various countries, under the theme “Strong Women for the Future Generation: Leaders of Feminine Power.”
Women from the 57 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are expected to participate in the event.
The conference, expected to be inaugurated by Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, will serve as a platform to enhance the role of women in society and facilitate the exchange of experiences and knowledge among female participants from around the world.
Source: shiawaves.com
https://shiawaves.com/english/news/110095-with-around-5000-participants-malaysia-to-host-intl-muslim-women-conference-in-september/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/forbidden-afghan-women-protest-against/d/133074