Hijab Diversity Campaign Tweets Removed amid Backlash from Senior French Politicians
New
Age Islam News Bureau
04
November 2021
• Iran's
Female Soccer Fans Still Can't Attend Games
• Women’s
Prayer Halls in Sharjah Mosques to Reopen after Covid Shut Down
• Pakistan
Senate Body Rejects Bill Declaring Women’s Inheritance Fundamental Right
• Female
Refereeing Team Takes Charge of Jordan Men’s Game For First Time
• Muslim
Woman Forced To Remove Hijab by Police Files Lawsuit against Ferndale in the US
State Of Michigan
• First
Afghanistan Female Pilot, Shaesta Waiz: Dream of Aviation School in ‘Taliban
Land’ May Not Take Off
• Afghan
Women Athletes Worried About Their Future, Urge Taliban to Continue Sports
• Saudi
HR Fund Helps 120,000 Women into Work since January
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Hijab
Diversity Campaign Tweets Removed amid Backlash From Senior French Politicians
November
04, 2021
Posters
featuring young women wearing Islamic headscarves were removed from Twitter
just days after the project's launch.
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STRASBOURG
— The Council of Europe has withdrawn images from a social media campaign
promoting diversity among women and their freedom to wear the hijab.
Posters
featuring young women wearing Islamic headscarves were removed from Twitter
just days after the project's launch.
The
campaign has prompted a strong backlash from senior French politicians over
secular values.
The
continent's top human rights body confirmed that the social media posts had
been removed while they "reflect on a better presentation."
But
the Council did not confirm that the decision to withdraw the campaign elements
was a direct result of French criticism.
Some
Muslim women have criticised the response in France, saying it showed a lack of
respect for the right of women to choose what to wear.
The
Council of Europe says the "Freedom in the hijab" project aimed to
celebrate Europe’s diversity and inclusivity.
The
project was launched last week by the Strasbourg-based human rights
organization through their Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Programme.
The
campaign was also co-financed by the European Union, which is distinct from the
47-country body.
Social
media posts featured split images of young women, with one side of their face
wearing an Islamic headscarf, and the other not. Messages alongside the videos
and images read, "beauty is in diversity as freedom is in hijab."
"How
boring would the world be if everyone looked the same?" another slogan
read.
The
campaign initially went relatively unnoticed, but after a few days, the project
generated a major backlash in France among politicians.
Secularism
and symbols of Islam have generated debate in the French parliament for months,
ahead of the country's presidential election in 2022.
In
2011, France became the first European country to ban full-face Islamic veils
in public places.
On
Wednesday, the French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said the Council of
Europe campaign went against "common sense."
Speaking
to reporters after a Council of Ministers meeting, Attal said that Paris did
not agree with the "identity-based approach."
"[This
is] opposite to the freedom of belief that France defends in all European and
international forums," Attal said.
"We
can consider that this campaign was made in spite of common sense, because we
must not confuse religious freedom with the promotion, de facto, of a religious
sign."
Marine
Le Pen, a presidential candidate for the far-right Rassemblement National
party, had earlier described the campaign as "scandalous and
indecent."
"It
is when women remove the veil that they become free, not the other way
round," Le Pen said on Twitter.
The
former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier -- another right-wing presidential
candidate -- also called for the campaign to be "withdrawn."
"The
veil is not an instrument of freedom," Barnier said in an interview with
France 2 television.
France's
women's rights minister -- Socialist senator Laurence Rossignol -- also stated
that the campaign had "promoted" the hijab.
"It
is one thing to point out that women are free to wear the hijab ... to say that
freedom is in the hijab is another," Rossignol tweeted.
Although
the social media posts were removed following political condemnation in France,
the Council of Europe did not confirm there was any link.
In
a statement to Euronews, a spokesperson confirmed that the campaign was part of
a joint project with the EU.
The
project aimed to "raise awareness for the need to respect diversity and
inclusion, and to combat hate speech of all kinds," the spokesperson said.
"The
tweets reflected statements made by individual participants in one of the
project workshops, and do not represent the views of the Council of Europe or
its Secretary-General [Marija Pejčinović Burić]."
"We
have taken down these tweet messages while we reflect on a better presentation
of this project."
The
European Commission, which has contributed €340,000 euros to the overall
project, has also distanced itself from the campaign images.
A
spokesperson said on Wednesday that Brussels "has not validated" the
controversial images and called for "other actions" to be considered
in tackling hate speech.
"Our
position is extremely clear: women must be able to wear what they want,
according to the laws of the country where they live," a statement added.
— Euronews
Source:
Saudi Gazette
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Iran's
Female Soccer Fans Still Can't Attend Games
November
3, 2021
Female
football fans show their support during of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match
between Iran and Cambodia at Azadi Stadium on Oct. 10, 2019 in Tehran. - Amin
M. Jamali/Getty Images
-----
Exactly
one week after the national Iranian men’s soccer team tied South Korea 1-1 in a
crucial 2022 World Cup qualifier in the empty Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Saudi
fans — both male and female — loudly cheered at Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium
in Riyadh as Saudi Al Hilal club took on Iran’s Persepolis in the quarterfinals
of the AFC Champions League.
Just
a few years ago, it would have been hard to believe that in women in Saudi
Arabia, where they did not even have the right to drive until recently, can now
watch soccer games in person. But while Iran enjoys a much more progressive and
robust civil society than the kingdom, Iranian women still are denied the right
to watch sports events in stadiums — a ban that has persisted for the past 40
years.
Prior
to the Iran-South Korea match, world soccer governing body FIFA issued an
ultimatum to the Iranian Football Federation on Sept. 9 that women had to be
allowed in the stadium, or it would ban Iran from hosting matches.
On
Oct. 10, the Iranian Football Federation officially announced that the match
against Korea would be held Oct. 12 without any spectators, Previously, they
had announced that as many as 10,000 fully vaccinated spectators would be
allowed to enter the stadium.
"After
a lot of discussions, we decided that the game would be without any
spectators," Hassan Kamrani Far, secretary general of the Iranian Football
Federation, said on Oct. 11. "We would have to observe a lot of
coronavirus protocols and would have to ask [fans] to show [negative COVID-19]
PCR tests."
These
remarks were met with skepticism, and many fans were of the opinion that the
federation had barred spectators because it could not meet FIFA's demand for
female spectators.
Faezeh
Hashemi, the daughter of late President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who always
supported the presence of women in stadiums, said on Oct. 11, "I hope FIFA
is not fooled and follows up on this issue. This is a ploy."
Hashemi,
who called for boycotting the June 18 presidential elections, added,
"Coronavirus is an excuse. They wanted to prevent women from going to the
stadium, and they used coronavirus as an excuse."
Female
fans were allowed into the stands for the first time on Oct. 10, 2019 in the
match between the Iranian and Cambodian national football teams when moderate
president Hassan Rouhani was in office. But the moderates and reformists have
been replaced by hardliners who have no interest in such breakthroughs.
Eventually,
the national Iranian football team tied the South Koreans 1-1. However, less
than a week later on Oct. 16, Persepolis FC was destroyed 3-0 by the Al Hilal
Saudi Football Club — which has professional Brazilian and French players on
their roster — in Riyadh.
Saudi
women were supporting Al Hilal from the stands of Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium alongside
men. While some were fully veiled, others were not wearing a headscarf at all.
Saudi women, many wearing blue Al-Hilal T-shirts, cheered for their team with
enthusiasm. Their deafening applause could be heard by the Persepolis players,
who have been playing without spectators for more than a year.
This
prompted widespread response from Iranians on social media, who criticized
their leaders for not granting minimal rights for women, and posted pictures of
Saudi female fans in the stadium who were not wearing hijabs. Head coverings
have been compulsory for women in public since the 1979 revolution.
While
Iran has a strong history of social movements to bring about more rights for
women, activists have yet to make a breakthrough on this issue.
"The
efforts of women and civil society activists in Iran in recent years have not
led to a fundamental change in the restrictions on entry to stadiums,"
Iranian journalist Fahimeh Miri told Al-Monitor. "Unfortunately, there is
very serious resistance to creating an opening for women's rights in the
Islamic Republic."
It’s
not clear whether the Iranian Football Federation's decision was to repel FIFA
pressure to admit female fans or over concerns of implementing necessary health
protocols. Nevertheless, the juxtaposed scenes of the empty Azadi Stadium in
Tehran and the cheering Saudi women at the Riyadh stadium frustrate many
women's rights activists in Iran.
Source:
Al Monitor
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/11/irans-female-soccer-fans-still-cant-attend-games
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Women’s
Prayer Halls in Sharjah Mosques to Reopen after Covid Shut Down
A
general view of a mosque in Sharjah.
-----
By
Afkar Ali Ahmed
3
Nov 2021
Women’s
prayer halls at Sharjah's mosques are set to reopen, the authorities announced
on Wednesday.
Even
though mosques across the country reopened with Covid safety protocols in July
last year, women’s prayer halls remained shut.
The
Sharjah Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Team (SECDMT) has also
approved the reopening of washrooms and ablution spaces at the mosques.
The
authority urged mosque-goers to follow all Covid safety measures, including
wearing a mask during prayer and observing a safe social distance.
A
top official of the Sharjah Police told Khaleej Times that the reopening has
been approved as Covid cases continued to drop across the UAE.
The
number of violations of safety measures has also been on the decline, the
official said.
The
SECDMT noted that they have also been receiving a ‘large number’ of requests
for women, who were appealing for the prayer halls’ reopening.
The
decision was taken in coordination with the Sharjah Islamic Affairs Department,
in line with the emirate’s efforts to facilitate a safe, gradual return to
normal life.
Source:
Khaleej Times
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/womens-prayer-halls-in-sharjah-mosques-to-reopen
--------
Pakistan
Senate Body Rejects Bill Declaring Women’s Inheritance Fundamental Right
Amir
Wasim
November
4, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Wednesday rejected two
constitution amendment bills, including the one seeking to declare women’s
inheritance a fundamental right, with a majority vote.
The
committee, however, approved two other constitution amendment bills, including
the one seeking to authorise advisers to the chief ministers to participate in
the proceedings of the provincial assemblies.
The
committee which met under Syed Ali Zafar of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf
(PTI), was to take up a heavy legislative agenda that included 11 private
member’s constitution amendment bills, but it had to defer most of them due to
the absence of the movers.
Through
the bills, mostly tabled by the opposition members, the movers had suggested
some crucial changes to various provisions of the Constitution related to the
promulgation of ordinance, increase in the powers of the Senate, ensuring
meaningful participation of the provinces in the affairs of the federation and
fundamental rights of the citizens of Pakistan.
The
committee members were found divided in their opinion while discussing the bill
moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Saadia Abbasi seeking to
include the right of inheritance for women as the fundamental right under the
Constitution.
Through
the bill, Ms Abbasi had suggested insertion of a new Article 24A in the
Constitution and the proposed amendment read “no women shall be deprived of her
share from the inheritance in Pakistan”.
While
arguing in favour of her bill, Ms Abbasi said Islam had prescribed well-defined
shares for the male and female descendants of a deceased person, according to
an official handout issued by the Senate Secretariat.
She
said Islamic law entitled women to inherit immovable and movable properties,
yet the practice had been to deny women their share in inheritance. She termed
it an unjustified practice that had become a norm.
She
said the purpose of her bill was to acknowledge, declare and assert the right
of women in inheritance as a fundamental right in consonance with principles of
Islam. She further said if the said amendment was approved it would enable
women to directly approach the Supreme Court on matters related to inheritance.
Railways
Minister Azam Swati was of the view that relevant laws already existed and
there was no need for listing the matter of inheritance as fundamental right.
On
the other hand, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar,
while supporting the bill, said this amendment reinforced the state’s
commitment towards protecting women’s right to inheritance.
However,
another PPP senator and former law minister Farooq Naek also endorsed the
minister’s viewpoint, saying they needed to work towards better implementation
of the existing laws. Later, the chairman put the bill before the members for a
vote and it was rejected with a majority.
The
committee rejected another constitution amendment bill, also introduced by Ms
Abbasi, regarding citizens’ right to bail and also declaring it a fundamental
right in the Constitution.
The
committee, however, approved the bill moved by Ms Abbasi regarding
identification, preservation, conservation, restoration and access for all to
national heritage sites of Pakistan.
Source:
Dawn
--------
Female
refereeing team takes charge of Jordan men’s game for first time
Nov
04, 2021
An
all-female refereeing crew took charge of a men’s soccer match in Jordan’s Pro
League for the first time on Tuesday as part of the country’s efforts to
promote the game among women.
Referee
Esra’a Al-Mobideen and assistant referees Islam Al-Abadi, Sabreen Al-Abadi and
Haneen Murad handled Sahab’s 4-1 win over Al-Baqa’a in the final round of the
competition.
“At
the beginning, the players were smiling in the tunnel when we first walked in
because a girl was officiating and they were surprised by the idea,”
Al-Mobideen said.
“But
as soon as the game started, there were no jokes and everyone became serious.”
The
Jordan Football Association wants more women to be involved in the sport and
Al-Mobideen said she was keen to make a difference.
“To
have an influence on society is an ambition of mine,” she added.
“It
is important to have a positive impact on the society that I live in. Taking
part in the professional league will give a good image of female refereeing.
“I
can send a message that women can work in any field.” —Reuters
Source:
Tribune India
--------
Muslim
Woman Forced To Remove Hijab by Police Files Lawsuit against Ferndale in the US
State Of Michigan
November
3, 2021
A
Muslim woman has sued the city of Ferndale in the US state of Michigan, arguing
the city violated her religious rights by forcing her to remove her hijab for a
booking photo following her arrest.
The
Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) filed
the lawsuit last week in US District Court on behalf of Helana Bowe, who was
pulled over by Ferndale police on June 21 for allegedly driving with an expired
license plate tag. During the traffic stop, she told police she had a Taser for
self-defense after she had been mugged earlier in the year.
Police
arrested her, saying state law requires people to have a permit to possess a
Taser.
At
the police department, a male officer searched Bowe, even though she requested
a female officer. She was then required to remove her hijab for a booking
photo, which is a violation of her religious beliefs, CAIR-MI said.
CAIR-MI
Executive Director Dawud Walid said the group decided to file the lawsuit after
Ferndale officials declined to discuss the violation of Bowe’s religious
beliefs.
"By
failing to formally respond to our concerns raised on behalf of our client's
civil rights having been violated, we were left with no other option but to sue
the Ferndale Police," Walid said in a statement. "Though the city
touts itself as being a municipality of diversity and inclusion, it appears
that its police department is not serious about this claim when it comes to
Muslims."
CAIR-MI
staff attorney Amy Doukoure said police mishandled the case from the time they
pulled over Bowe.
“The
Ferndale Police Department’s entire conduct on June 21, 2021, was problematic,
starting with its dragnetting of the city of Detroit side of Eight Mile road
looking to engage in traffic stops of individuals who have no connection with
the city of Ferndale,” Doukoure said. “The Ferndale Police’s problematic
conduct only escalated when officers allegedly violated Ms. Bowe’s
constitutionally protected religious rights by subjecting her to a cross-gender
search unnecessarily and forcibly removing her hijab for a booking photograph.
It is surprising that a city that prides itself on its vast diversity and
claims to strive for inclusivity finds itself silent on its own insensitive
treatment of a religious minority in their care and custody.”
In
a statement in September, Ferndale Police Chief Dennis Emmi defended his
officers but acknowledged there was room for improvement.
“Our
officers were simply following departmental policy, which includes a
photographing hair as an in important identifying feature,” Emmi said. “Now, in
reviewing the case and circumstances, I see the opportunity for our policies to
evolve to better meet the needs of our community.”
Source:
ABNA24
--------
First
Afghanistan Female Pilot, Shaesta Waiz: Dream of Aviation School in ‘Taliban
Land’ May Not Take Off
Nov
4, 2021
MELBOURNE:
Circumventing the globe solo in a single-engine airplane is a challenge even
experienced pilots would balk at. But hailing from a war-torn country and
growing up as a refugee in another, Afghan-American Shaesta Waiz, 34, learned
how to overcome adversities at an early age. At 30, Waiz became the youngest
woman to pilot a single-engine airplane solo around the globe, with her home
country among the pit stops she made during her145-day sojourn in 2017. For the
last few months, memories of her trip — she won admiration from many while the
Taliban sent threats — and concerns for her extended family have kept Waiz up
at night.
Years
ago she had earlier sent a letter to the Afghan government, asking to be put in
touch with female pilots who could mentor her. “The government wrote back
saying in the history of Afghanistan, there had never been a certified civilian
woman pilot. I would be the first. This was the motivation I needed to really
stick through it,” she said. “It hurts my soul when I think of Afghanistan,”
said Waiz, who has another achievement to her credit — she is the first female
certified civilian pilot of Afghan-origin. Following the withdrawal of US
military forces, Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August. Waiz said some
of her family has fled to the US while others are still stuck in Afghanistan.
“Taliban says women can study, but the situation seems to be quite different on
the ground,” said Waiz, whose parents migrated to the US as refugees in 1987
during the Soviet War. “For many, history is repeating itself,” she told TOI
from California.
Waiz
rued that her dream of opening an aviation school in Afghanistan ruled by
Taliban is unlikely to take off now. “After I came back in 2017, I tried
several times to get the project off the ground, but every time, I was told it
was not the right time as it was not safe for women to learn flying outside the
military environment as there was no protection and they would become targets.”
The pilot’s visit in 2017 was also not free from such risks. The venue for her
talk had to be changed to a more secure TV recording studio following threats
from the Taliban. “That day, 300 girls showed up and I thought they could teach
me about bravery. Sadly, the country is not set up for these girls to really
succeed.” Waiz’s aviation record is currently being challenged by 19-yearold
Belgian Zara Rutherford who is flying across the planet solo on a single engine
plane.
Source:
Times of India
--------
Afghan
Women Athletes Worried About Their Future, Urge Taliban To Continue Sports
By
Anurag Roushan
3rd
November, 2021
A
number of Afghan women athletes have requested the Taliban administration to
allow them to continue their sports activities. Worrying about their uncertain
future, they have expressed their anxiety about safeguarding their
accomplishments so far, reported TOLO News. 17-year-old Qadria, who competed in
martial arts for two years and won three gold medals in national tournaments,
urged the current regime to allow athletes to conduct their activities
publicly. "We don't want our two years of hard work to go in vain,"
she stated who is reportedly held inside the country.
Another
athlete called Karima said she has been confined within her home since the
Taliban's take over, and she is worried that her hard work and accomplishments
would fade away. "We are neither able to practise nor participate in any
sporting event. We live in constant fear of being attacked by the Taliban. Even
our trainers are adamant about not training us," she was quoted as saying
by outlet. Meanwhile, several women athletes have urged the international
community to help in preserving their achievements. "We want the UN and
human rights organisations to speak out about our rights," said Parisa
Amiri, another athlete.
'Female
athletes allowed to participate in sports under Islamic norms'
According
to the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, female athletes are allowed to
participate in sports under Islamic norms and guidelines. "No one's rights
will be infringed upon. We grant everyone the right and status based on Sharia
and Islamic regulations," Bilal Karimi, the deputy spokesman of the
Islamic Emirate was quoted as saying by TOLO News. It is important to mention
that last month, the Taliban prevented female staffers from entering Kabul's
Ministry of Women Affairs, allowing only males to enter.
According
to a report, last month the extremist outfit beheaded an Afghanistan junior
women's national volleyball team player. This development was confirmed to the
Independent Persian by one of the coaches of the team. Since the Taliban formed
the government in Afghanistan, women have been restricted from taking part in
sports, politics and other things. On several occasions, women have taken to
the streets to demand their inclusion in political and social developments. The
Taliban is struggling to gain recognition from the international community
after taking control of Afghanistan and announcing its interim government.
Source:
Republic World
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Saudi
HR fund helps 120,000 women into work since January
November
03, 2021
JEDDAH:
A Saudi government fund has helped get more than 120,000 women into jobs in the
private sector since the beginning of the year, according to the Saudi Press
Agency.
The
Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) also supported 80,000 men to find work
in the commercial world.
The
Kingdom established reforms dedicated to the promotion of women’s engagement in
economic development by preventing gender discrimination in terms of wages,
occupation, work field and hours, according to the Unified National Program.
The
rate of women’s participation in the labor market doubled from 17 to 32 percent
by the end of 2020, exceeding the Vision 2030’s goal to reach 30 percent,
according to the ministry of human resource and social development.
Source:
Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1960751/business-economy
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