Four Ultra-Runner Women from UK, Canada and Philippines Set To Make History By Travelling Around Qatar On Foot
New
Age Islam News Bureau
05
February 2021
•
University Of Cincinnati's Basketball Player, Nesma Khalifa, Represents Muslim
Women On Court
•
US, UK Vow Action after Report Of Sexual Violence Against Uighurs
•
Ayatollah Khamenei Decries Western Outlook on Women
•
Makinde’s Aide Distributes Hijabs In Ibadan
•
Egypt arrests father, nurse for female genital mutilation of 15-year-old
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/four-ultra-runner-women-uk/d/124234
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Four
Ultra-Runner Women from UK, Canada and Philippines Set To Make History By
Travelling Around Qatar On Foot
01
Feb 2021
Doha:
Ahead of the National Sports Day, "The Desert Roses" will attempt to
make history as the first women to circumnavigate Qatar, on foot. Starting on
Friday, the four female ultra-runners will begin camping by the roadside and
take on the 500 kilometre distance by walking, jogging, and running around the
periphery of the country in a period of five days (Feb 5-9).
The
Desert Roses, composed of Stephanie Innes-Smith and Isobel Bushell from the UK;
Heather Lee from Canada; and Ross Ayuro from The Philippines, share a common
passion for running. With a shared history on sporting activities and belonging
to the same running community, the four women were able to establish a team
that could try the record-breaking adventure in the country.
The
group’s goal does not simply end by completing the 500 kilometre distance. Much
like the team's name, "The Desert Roses" also wants to highlight and
encourage exploration in the country beyond Doha, its capital city. The
challenge also serves a greater vision to inspire women and girls to engage in
challenging, arduous outdoor activities. They also aim to raise the profile of
female sporting competence in Qatar as well as to inspire amateur athletes to
set ambitious and unconventional personal goals.
In
an interview with the Qabayan Radio, teacher and army reservist Stephanie
Innes-Smith shared: "We certainly feel we're in a position where we're
able to try and I think anyone can start small and build up and be committed to
it."
With
two teachers in the same team, Isobel Bushell and Innes-Smith, their passion
for sports and running also ties with their vision to lead the students they
teach by setting as an example. Educational Psychologist Heather Lee and
finance professional Ross Ayuro completes the team.
"Our
other message is to children, again you're never too young to start and you
just get involved and get going. You never know, you might really like
it," Innes-Smith added.
Ahead
of the journey, preparations and training are underway along with identifying
inevitable challenges they might encounter such as food supply, weather
conditions and the on-going pandemic.
The
quartet received overwhelming support from local sports communities, such as a
Filipino cycling community and the Doha Bay Running Club (DBRC), who are
willing to accompany the team and be of help along the journey.
Bringing
the community spirit ahead of the much-awaited Qatar National Sports Day on
February 9, The Desert Roses have a few days to go to gear up and train for the
historical record that could mark them as the first women to travel around
Qatar, by foot.
Also
speaking to Qabayan Radio, Filipina expat Ayuro shared a short message to all
amateur athletes and fellow runners ahead of the 500 kilometre challenge.
"Do
whatever you can with whatever you have and wherever we are, in line with
Qatar's vision 2030, like spreading sporting awareness and get involved in physical
activities," Ayuro concluded.
https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/01/02/2021/Four-women-set-to-make-history-by-travelling-around-Qatar-on-foot
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University
Of Cincinnati's Basketball Player, Nesma Khalifa, Represents Muslim Women On
Court
Nesma Khalifa – a junior in the University of
Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning and an
international student-athlete from Alexandria, Egypt – is the only D1
basketball player to wear a hijab in the American Athletic Conference.
Provided | Nesma Khalifa
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February
05, 2021
Nesma
Khalifa – a junior in the University of Cincinnati's College of Design,
Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) and an international student-athlete from
Alexandria, Egypt – is the only D1 basketball player to wear a hijab in the
American Athletic Conference.
Khalifa
has dreamed of playing basketball in America since she was eight years old.
"Since then, I did not leave the court," she said.
Before
coming to America to play basketball, Khalifa played in many different
countries. While overseas, she played on the Egyptian national team. But, a few
years ago, FIBA (The International Basketball Federation) wouldn't let her play
with her hijab.
She
had to decide between two options; take her hijab off, or sacrifice playing the
game. "I don't have to choose between my religion, me playing and
achieving my dream," said Khalifa.
In
2017, she chose not to play for the national team, but the following year she
was approved to wear her hijab around the same time frame Nike started
producing them.
As
a result, she was asked to play for the Egyptian national team again. Her team
played in the African championship and went to the World Cup in Italy, where
they were the first Egyptian women's team to win a game.
Her
journey of playing basketball in the U.S started when Khalifa attended
Tallahassee Community College in Florida, known for its national championship
reputation. After a year of attending Tallahassee community college, she
transferred to the University of Cincinnati.
At
UC, she received abundant support from her teammates and coaches on and off the
court. However, her dream of playing basketball in America was almost put on
hold due to the pandemic. In June of 2020, Khalifa went back home to Egypt.
"It
was a risk because we didn't know if I was able to come back from the
airport," she said.
Although
there was a huge possibility of not being able to carry on with pursuing her
dream, at that moment, she knew that she needed to be with her family.
Even
though Khalifa and her family were scared because they were not sure what was
coming next, she was thankful that she eventually was able to come back to the
U.S. later on in the summer.
Through
all of the challenges that Khalifa has endured, her family has always been by
her side. "My parents and my brothers are my 'why.' They are the reason I
started basketball.” Khalifa said. “They are the reason I had the confidence to
come here by myself to do something I really love.”
She
is proud to have her family support her every step of the way, but she knows
that her journey in the present and the future will never be easy.
Khalifa's
parents always told her and her brother that "you are strong enough to do
anything," she said.
Her
family motivates her to keep moving forward, and she encourages all women who
face challenges when wearing a hijab to do the same.
Her
advice to Muslim women when faced with adversity is to "keep working hard
and you will achieve your dreams. Just keep your faith and follow your heart,"
Khalifa said.
https://www.newsrecord.org/news/breaking-barriers-uc-basketball-player-represents-muslim-women-on-court/article_5f666f18-6763-11eb-9598-179ea5975b49.html
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US,
UK vow action after report of sexual violence against Uighurs
04/02/2021
The
United States and Britain on Thursday reacted with horror and vowed action
after a BBC investigation detailed harrowing accounts of torture and sexual
violence against Uighur women in Chinese camps.
The
reactions came as a "people's tribunal" was convened to examine
allegations against China of anti-Uighur brutality, chaired by a British lawyer
who led the UN prosecution for war crimes of former Serbian leader Slobodan
Milosevic.
"These
atrocities shock the conscience and must be met with serious consequences,"
a US State Department spokesperson said, reiterating the view of both the
former and new US administrations that China is perpetrating
"genocide" against the Uighurs.
"We
will speak out consistently and jointly with allies and partners to condemn
these atrocities, and we will consider all appropriate tools to promote
accountability for those responsible and deter future abuses," the
spokesperson said.
British
junior foreign minister Nigel Adams said the BBC report revealed "clearly
evil acts".
"The
evidence of the scale and severity of these violations is now far-reaching, it
paints a truly harrowing picture," he told parliament.
"This
government is committed to taking robust action in respect of Xinjiang,"
he said, although the government has stopped short of invoking the term
"genocide", arguing only UK courts can make that legal definition.
-
'Screams echoed' -
In
a lengthy investigation based on witness testimonies, the BBC reported
allegations of systematic rape, sexual abuse and torture of women detainees by
police and guards in China's western region of Xinjiang.
It
described torture by electric shock, including anal rape by guards using
electrified sticks. Women were subject to gang rape and forced sterilisation,
witnesses said.
"The
screams echoed throughout the building," one was quoted as saying.
The
report also triggered outrage from politicians in Australia, and new calls for
China to grant access to UN rights inspectors to tour Xinjiang.
The
region is home to the mainly Muslim Uighur minority and has seen a sweeping
security crackdown by Chinese forces in recent years in response to separatist
unrest.
Rights
groups believe that at least one million Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking
Muslims are incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang.
China
is accused of compelling Uighurs to parrot Communist propaganda and renounce
Islam, forcibly sterilising women and imposing a regime of forced labour.
After
initially denying the camps existed, China's government abruptly acknowledged
them, saying they were vocational training centres aimed at reducing the appeal
of Islamic extremism.
The
Chinese foreign ministry dismissed the BBC investigation as "false".
-
Tribunal hearings -
Last
month, Britain and Canada announced new rules to ban imports of Chinese goods suspected
of being made using forced labour in Xinjiang.
Meanwhile
the new tribunal was convened at the request of Dolkun Isa, president of the
World Uyghur Congress, and is chaired by Geoffrey Nice, who prosecuted
Milosevic in The Hague. The former leader died in 2006 before a verdict was
reached.
There
is no state backing for the tribunal, but Nice told reporters that such panels
had played an important role through the 20th century in holding offenders to
account, noting China would block any international prosecution by the UN.
Its
eight jurors intend to hear from more than 30 witnesses, mostly Uighurs who
allege Chinese violence, and experts in international law.
The
panel will hold two rounds of hearings in London, in May and September, with a
view to publishing its verdict by the end of the year into whether China is
guilty of genocide and/or crimes against humanity.
It
has reached out to the Chinese embassy in London to participate, but has yet to
receive any reply, organisers said.
"We
will hope to persuade them that it is genuinely in their interest to provide us
with information for our investigation," Nice stressed.
Another
tribunal led by the British lawyer found last year that China continues to
harvest the organs of executed prisoners, including of Uighurs and members of
the banned Falungong spiritual movement, despite official denials.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210204-us-uk-vow-action-after-report-of-sexual-violence-against-uighurs
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Ayatollah
Khamenei Decries Western Outlook on Women
February,
03, 2021
Ayatollah
Khamenei on Wednesday attended a videoconference with a group of Iranian
eulogists in an annual ceremony marking the birth anniversary of Hazrat Fatimah
Zahra (PBUH), daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Highlighting
the fundamental difference between the viewpoints of Islam and the West on
women, the Leader said the Islamic Republic has high regard for women’s respect
and dignity, while the typical Western outlook considers women as commodity and
instrument.
From
the viewpoint of Islam, women and men are equal when it comes to divine and
humanitarian values, the Leader added, stressing, “We are proud of Islam’s
view, and are diametrically opposed to the West’s view on women and lifestyle.”
Dismissing
the Western propaganda about Islam and Islamic hijab’s restrictions on the
growth of women as an “outright lie”, Ayatollah Khamenei said a clear evidence
for the falsity of such claim is the status of women in the Islamic Republic of
Iran.
The
Leader noted that before the establishment of the Islamic Republic, Iran has
never had so many educated women involved in various social, cultural,
political, scientific and economic fields.
Islam’s
view on women provides the foundation for the prominent role of mothers and
families, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined, saying the strongest pillars of
intellectual and spiritual education and the most genuine atmosphere of
intimacy are formed within the family.
The
Leader finally deplored the attempts from the Western propaganda campaign and a
number of Westernized individuals inside Iran to devalue or eliminate the key
role of mothers in families.
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2021/02/03/2445930/ayatollah-khamenei-decries-western-outlook-on-women
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Makinde’s
aide distributes hijabs in Ibadan
By
Shakirah Adunola
05
February 2021
The
Special Assistant to Oyo State Governor on Islamic Affairs, Alhaji AbdRasheed
AbdAzeez, has donated 250 hijabs to Muslim women in commemoration of this
year’s World Hijab Day.
The
beneficiaries were Islamic organisations that included Al-Akhwaatul Muslimaat,
Alhamdulilah Islamic Society and the Peoples Democratic Party’s Muslim women of
Ward 8, Ibadan Northwest Local Government.
Addressing
members of Al-Akhwaatul Muslimah Organisation, Oyo State chapter, who paid him
a visit in his office, AbdAzeez stressed the importance of hijab as the pride
of believing women.
He
emphasised that the use of hijab is compulsory in Islam, while hijab sisters
should avoid discriminating against those who are yet to use it “as the good
character of the regular users will serve as a motivating factor for others to
join them.”
The
Special Assistant noted that the administration of Seyi Makinde had been fair
to all religions and would continue to promote peaceful coexistence among
adherents of different religious organisations.
He
said the governor had done a lot for Muslims before he came into office and
would not deny Muslims their entitlements now that he is the governor.
AbdulAzeez
called on people, especially the politicians, to desist from campaigns of
calumny and engage in constructive criticisms to enhance the development of the
state.
The
Amirah of Al-Akhwaatul Muslimaat Organisation, Oyo State chapter, Alhaja
Bashirat Haashim, who said the visit was aimed at identifying with the special
assistant and to celebrate the day, expressed confidence that the occasion
would encourage more Muslim women to embrace wearing hijabs.
“The
hijab is not fashion, but a dress code to encourage morals in Muslim women. The
celebration is also aimed at addressing the issue of discrimination faced by
Muslim women in our society on some occasions.”
According
to her, wearing of hijabs has nothing to do with social vices such as the Boko
Haram insurgency as believed by some people. She commended Governor Makinde for
identifying with Muslims across the state.
The
group also paid a similar visit to the Commissioner for Women Affairs and
Social Inclusion, Alhaja Fausat Sanni.
https://guardian.ng/features/makindes-aide-distributes-hijabs-in-ibadan/
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Egypt
arrests father, nurse for female genital mutilation of 15-year-old
February
03, 2021
Cairo:
Egypt arrested a father and a retired nurse on Tuesday for carrying out female
genital mutilation (FGM) on a 15-year-old girl, after announcing plans to
toughen the penalty to 20 years.
Police
made the arrests a day after the crime was reported to the public prosecution
by a doctor in a hospital about 35km northeast of the capital, Cairo, said
Sabry Osman, head of a child helpline that supports children subjected to
violence.
“The
surgery was done at home and when the girl had severe bleeding, the father
transported her to a nearby hospital,” Osman, who works for the state-run
National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, told the Thomson Reuters
Foundation.
“We
followed up the case until the girl went out of hospital and returned home. We
are now in the process of offering the girl the psychological support that she
needs after going through this incident.” Nearly 90 per cent of Egyptian women
and girls aged between 15 and 49 have undergone FGM, according to a 2016 survey
by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the ritual is practised widely by both
Muslims and Christians despite a 2008 ban.
World
leaders have pledged by 2030 to eradicate FGM, which typically involves the
partial or total removal of the external genitalia, and can cause long-lasting
mental and physical health problems, including infections and childbirth complications.
Egypt’s
cabinet last month approved a draft law hiking the maximum sentence for FGM
from seven to 20 years, in a bid to stamp out the ancient practice.
The
law was tightened in 2016 to make it a criminal offence to request or carry out
the widely condemned practice but women’s rights groups say the ban has not
been well enforced.
https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/egypt-arrests-father-nurse-for-female-genital-mutilation-of-15-year-old-1.76935906
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