Islam Made Me Better Woman, Mother And Always At Peace –Ghanaian Akuapem Poloo
New
Age Islam News Bureau
11 April 2024
•
Islam Made Me Better Woman, Mother And Always At Peace –Ghanaian AkuapemPoloo
•
Girls Deprived Of Education In Afghanistan: Eid Means Continuing Education
•
Iran Court Summons 15 Baha'i Women Amid Rise in Harassment
•
Gender Persecution and Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan: Seeking the Appropriate
Legal Basis for International Accountability
•
Israel Translates Stories Of Oct. 7 Sexual Horrors To Arabic
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/ghanaian-akuapem-poloo-muslim/d/132120
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Islam
Made Me Better Woman, Mother And Always At Peace –Ghanaian Akuapem Poloo
Akuapem Poloo who also goes by her Islamic name,
Haniya
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Apr
- 11 - 2024
Ghanaian
actress and a social media influencer, Rosemond Brown with professional name
AkuapemPoloo who describes Islam as beautiful is still in awe by her recent trip
to the sacred place Mecca to perform Umrah (lesser Hajj).
In
a chat with Graphic Showbiz on Saturday, April 6, Akuapem Poloo who also goes
by her Islamic name, Haniya, said: “I was overwhelmed with joy and relief after
seeing the holy sacred Kaaba. In fact, I had goosebumps all over me seeing it
and doing the Safah and Marwa”, she disclosed with excitement.
“The
crowd alone was something else; it was very massive and I had to force my way
to perform the Safah and Marwa which is touching the holy Kaaba seven times. I
really had to struggle but I’m so happy I was able to do it. It’s worth it. In
fact, Islam is so beautiful.
“Islam
has really changed my way of life. I don’t take in alcohol anymore and I have
become a better woman and mother to my son. I don’t do stuff that will make him
feel bad and I get much respect from my social media fans and I’m always
peace,” she added.
Touching
on why she described Islam as a beautiful religion, Akuapem Poloo said although
there were some initial struggles when she converted to Islam some two years
ago, it was the best decision she had ever made.
“It
was not easy from the onset with some of the Islamic teachings and practices.
For instance, it was difficult for me to get up to pray at 5am, shifting from
my skimpy dress style to long abaya, recitation of some Islamic verses among
others.
“However,
with determination, perseverance and encouragement from some Islamic leaders
who helped me in converting to the Islamic faith and my Muslim friends, I am
now enjoying the practices with ease despite my imperfections.”
“We
all serve one God, but being a Muslim has been a blessing to me. I’m always at
peace; it has opened a lot of doors for me and I’m so grateful to Allah. I am
received warmly whenever I go to any Muslim community in Ghana. I have received
abaya outfits as gifts and when I wear them, I look very decent and beautiful
in them.
“I
want to use this opportunity to first of all thank Allah for making this
possible and my appreciation also goes to Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Sharubutu,
who converted me to the Islamic faith by teaching me the practices.
Source:
Graphic
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Girls
Deprived Of Education In Afghanistan: Eid Means Continuing Education
Photo: The Khaama Press
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By
Fidel Rahmati
April
10, 2024
As
the Eid ul-Fitr approaches, some of the girls deprived of education in
Afghanistan have emphasized that their Eid would entail the continuation of
girls’ education and the reopening of universities, asserting that societal
progress hinges on women.
Amina
Amin, a communication and journalism student at Kabul University, who for the
second consecutive year couldn’t continue her studies, sees this situation as
“disheartening” and “discouraging” for all girls in Afghanistan.
At
23 years old, Amina, speaking to Khaama Press, expressed her search for
alternative ways to fill her leisure time, having been deprived of continuing
her university education.
Amina
added, “Certainly, during the school years, especially when preparing for the
university entrance exam, we faced difficulties, and we endured those hardships
to fulfil our aspirations, hoping to succeed in our desired field at
university.”
According
to this student, the prohibition on education for all Afghan girls is
“discouraging” and “disheartening,” and with the closure of universities, all
her aspirations and plans have been disrupted, and she couldn’t achieve her
goals.
Ms.
Amin urges the Taliban government to allow girls to learn, as she believes that
Afghanistan, in its current circumstances, needs educated women, and Islam does
not prohibit girls’ education.
In
Amina’s belief, among Islamic countries, Afghanistan is the only country where
girls’ education has been prohibited, and the progress of society depends on
the advancement of women in that society; educated women can raise an educated
generation for Afghanistan.
This
is while UNESCO statistics show that the presence of female students in Afghan
universities reached 103,854 students in 2021, which dropped to zero after the
ban on girls’ attendance at universities in 2023.
Another
student, Sarah, at Kabul University, also regards girls’ education in
Afghanistan society and the current conditions as “important and necessary.”
She
adds, “I demand, on the occasion of Eid, the Taliban administration to reopen
the doors of universities as a gift; Afghanistan needs educated girls for a
progressive society.”
It
is worth mentioning that over the past two years, most girls have resorted to
online education, scholarships, hidden schools, foreign language centers, art,
and commerce.
This
is while human rights organizations, women’s rights activists, and some girls
in the country have emphasized the reopening of schools and universities for
girls.
Additionally,
Hamid Karzai, the former president of the country, also stated in a
congratulatory message for Eid that the progress and development of the country
rely on education and knowledge, and without it, this matter is impossible.
Source:
Khaama Press
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Iran
Court Summons 15 Baha'i Women Amid Rise in Harassment
APRIL
11, 2024
In
an escalation of harassment against religious minorities, a Revolutionary Court
in central Isfahan province summoned 15 Baha'i women on Wednesday.
The
summons indicate they are being called to trial. However, specific charges
against them remain unknown.
The
development follows a period of surge in the harassment of Baha'i citizens in
Iran.
In
April 2021, authorities raided the homes of the same women, confiscating
religious items and books.
Eleven
of them were arrested, only to be released on bail after a month.
Over
a hundred Baha'i women have been arrested or imprisoned in the past year alone.
Baha'is
have been systematically persecuted in Iran for 44 years because of their faith
and are often accused of being spies or opposed to the Iranian government.
The
Baha'i International Community notes that no evidence has been provided to
demonstrate these charges.
The
government has intensified its crackdown on members of the Baha'i faith,
imprisoning dozens of them on spurious charges over the past year, denying them
access to higher education and livelihoods, and confiscating or destroying
their personal properties.
Source:
Iranwire.Com
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Gender
Persecution and Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan: Seeking the Appropriate Legal
Basis for International Accountability
by
Ahmad Ali Shariati
April
10, 2024
From
as early as 1980, Afghanistan signed the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), a decisive step in protecting
women’s rights to equality, notably in education. Additionally, since 1994,
Afghanistan has been a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights (ICCPR), which explicitly includes rights such as education,
privacy, and the right to life. Notably, Afghanistan is also a party to the
Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR).
After
the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban
launched their offensive, marking their return to power after being ousted in
2001. In August 2021, they seized control of the capital, leading to the
collapse of the government
Since
the Taliban takeover, the situation for women has rapidly deteriorated, with
ongoing escalations. In August 2021, women were instructed to remain at home.
By September 2021, they were prohibited from pursuing secondary education.
These restrictions on education increased in October 2021 to prohibit women
from studying specific subjects deemed “too challenging for women”. By December
2022, women were barred from accessing higher education and prohibited from
working with NGOs. Subsequently, they have been restricted from, inter alia,
accessing healthcare without a male guardian, obtaining driving licences, using
public transportation unaccompanied by a male, and accessing parks and various
public facilities.
The
dire circumstances faced by women in Afghanistan raise an important question:
how can we ensure accountability for the de facto Taliban regime and deliver
justice? This question is not as straightforward as it may seem, partially due
to the (absolutely justified and encouraged) absence of international recognition
of the Taliban de facto regime.
The
objective of this article is to focus on the appropriate pathways for
accountability, specifically discussing the legal foundations for seeking
international accountability. I will focus on two main possibilities: first,
the individual criminal responsibility of Taliban members for their commission
of international crimes against humanity targeting women, drawing upon the
framework of international criminal law, the Rome Statute, and the jurisdiction
of the International Criminal Court; second, the international responsibility
of States that support and enable the Taliban de facto regime in their
persecution of women, as addressed by the Ljubljana Convention and the regime
of the International Court of Justice.
The
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Ljubljana
Convention on the investigation and prosecution of international crimes both
include gender-based offences, particularly within the definition of crimes
against humanity (CAH). Notably, CAH includes the offence of gender persecution
(GP), which is defined as the severe deprivation of women’s fundamental rights
based on their gender.
Hence,
the severe deprivation of women’s fundamental rights can serve as a legal basis
for pursuing the individual criminal responsibility of Taliban members who
commit this crime, whether through direct or indirect involvement.
Additionally, any State that aids the Taliban’s de facto regime in perpetrating
gender persecution may be held internationally accountable for failing in its
obligations to prevent CAHs as outlined in the Ljubljana Convention – provided
that this State ratifies the new convention
However,
part of the public discourse surrounding the plight of women in Afghanistan
does not centre around the concept of
GP, but instead focuses on a relatively new expression: “gender apartheid”
(GA). The concept of GA was popularised by Dr. Karima Bennoune within the
context of Afghanistan, and it has since been adopted by numerous governmental
and non-governmental organisations.
As
of today, GA lacks a legal basis. While the Rome Statute and the Ljubljana
Convention both address the CAH of apartheid, their definitions do not
currently incorporate gender. However, despite this notable limitation, Dr. Karima
Bennoune and other scholars advocate for efforts to be made towards the
inclusion of GA within international conventions, aiming to pursue
accountability for the actions of the Taliban. While I fully support the
collective sentiment amongst part of scholarship regarding the need to
unequivocally condemn and punish the Taliban de facto regime, I find myself
questioning whether this call would be more efficient if grounded in relevant
legal frameworks.
The
first and most apparent reason for incorporating GA into international
conventions lies in the historical significance of the term “apartheid”. The
concept of apartheid carries inherent weight, akin to “genocide”, possessing
the potential to convey the severity and magnitude of a situation swiftly and
effectively. Therefore, it is well-equipped to influence public perception and
galvanise civil society into action. In this regard, I endorse the GA campaign.
Secondly,
it has been frequently claimed that GA would acknowledge the
“institutionalised” and “widespread” nature of gender-based atrocities in
Afghanistan, implying a different level of severity compared to other crimes.
However, apartheid is classified as a CAH just like GP. Additionally, the
chapeau criteria of CAH already include the requirement that CAHs must be
systematic (i.e., institutionalised) or widespread, thus already encapsulating
this idea.
Finally,
criminalising GA is often advocated for because it would imply a “special
animus and intent”, purportedly distinguishing it from GP. However, I am
inclined to disagree with this perspective. The specific animus and intent
associated with apartheid involve the perpetrator’s aim to “maintain [their
apartheid] regime through that conduct”. While it’s true that the Taliban seeks
to maintain their de facto regime through their atrocities, I believe the
motivation extends beyond mere regime maintenance. The Taliban’s convictions,
politically, philosophically, and religiously, regarding the inferiority of
women and their subjugation to men, run deeper than mere regime preservation.
It’s not solely about maintaining a discriminatory regime; rather, it reflects
a broader belief system. In this regard, GP may be better suited to bring
justice to the women of Afghanistan, as GP extends beyond the limited scope of
maintaining a discriminatory regime.
Afghanistan
is a State party to the ICC, granting the Court jurisdiction over crimes
committed by Taliban members within its borders. There is an ongoing
investigation by the ICC into alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes
committed in Afghanistan since 1 May 2003. Pre-Trial Chamber II of the ICC
authorised the Prosecution to resume the investigation into the Afghanistan
Situation on 31 October 2022, after a suspension. Thus, the investigation by
the ICC in Afghanistan continues.
Civil
society’s involvement is key to exerting pressure on the ICC prosecutor and
urging the court to prioritise addressing the dire situation in Afghanistan –
recently ranked the saddest country in the world. A targeted campaign, grounded
in the legal jurisdiction of the ICC, focusing on gender persecution regarding
women’s plight could be effective. Advocating for the issuance of arrest
warrants against key Taliban leaders would hit two birds with one stone,
addressing this issue and potentially achieving two objectives simultaneously.
Firstly,
it would constitute a significant stride towards accountability, marking the
initial step to secure international recognition of the Taliban’s international
crimes.
Secondly,
it would preclude any possibility of diplomatic relations between State Parties
to the Rome Statute and the Taliban’s de facto government – ensuring their
non-recognition. If arrest warrants are issued, State Parties would be
obligated to arrest the Taliban leaders and surrender them to The Hague if they
were to enter their territory, as there are no immunities within international
criminal law amongst State parties.
Source:
Ejiltalk.org
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Israel
translates stories of Oct. 7 sexual horrors to Arabic
April
10, 2024
Israel’s
Foreign Ministry recently launched a campaign to present evidence of Hamas’s
sexual crimes on Oct. 7 to the Arabic-speaking world.
The
campaign material will be distributed through the ministry’s media channels,
which together reach more than five million followers.
Dozens
of media articles covering the sexual horrors committed by Hamas, testimonies
of survivors and freed hostages, and the stories of first responders who saw
the atrocities have been translated into Arabic.
The
United Nations’ March 4 report showing there is “clear and convincing” evidence
that terrorists committed sexual violence was also translated.
The
testimonies are presented by Israeli women. One was made by a survivor of the
Supernova music festival, who said, “Everything was an apocalypse of
corpses—girls without clothes, upper part, lower part. People cut in half,
people slaughtered, some of them beheaded. There were girls there who simply
had their pelvises broken because they were raped. They were spaghetti, legs
apart.”
The
campaign compares the crimes of Hamas to the crimes of ISIS against Yazidi
women in Iraq, as Arab states are familiar with the Islamic State’s brutality.
The
materials have been collected on a website in Arabic to serve as a source of
information and “stimulate public and media discourse about the massacre,” Ynet
reported.
Source:
Jns.Org
https://www.jns.org/israel-translates-stories-of-oct-7-sexual-horrors-to-arabic/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/ghanaian-akuapem-poloo-muslim/d/132120