Hijab-Wearing Players in NCAA Tournament, Jannah Eissa and Diaba Konate, Hope to Inspire Others
New Age Islam News Bureau
30 March 2024
·
Hijab-Wearing Players in NCAA
Tournament, Jannah Eissa and Diaba Konate, Hope to Inspire Others
·
Dark Humour Works Wonders For
Arab, US Egyptian Moroccan Stand-Up Dina Hashem
·
Aseefa Bhutto Zardari Elected
Member Of Parliament On Seat Vacated By Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari
·
'I Survived': Gaza Reporter
Bayan Abusultan Alive Following Social Media Absence, Safety Concerns
·
Saudi Women Excel in Science and
Innovation
·
French Principal Receives Death
Threats For Telling Student To Remove Hijab
Compiled by New Age Islam News
Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/hijab-players-ncaa-jannah-eissa-diaba/d/132043
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Hijab-Wearing Players in NCAA
Tournament, Jannah Eissa and Diaba Konate, Hope to Inspire Others
North
Carolina State's Jannah Eissa warms up prior to a second-round college
basketball game against Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., on
March 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
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March
29, 2024
North
Carolina State University's Jannah Eissa and University of California, Irvine's
Diaba Konate are bringing visibility and inspiration to some Muslim women by
wearing hjiabs while they play basketball.
They
aren't the first women to do it in NCAA Tournament play, but with record
viewership and attendance, they are certainly getting noticed.
"Representation
really matters," said Konate, whose team lost in the first round of the
tournament to Gonzaga University. "Just having people, young Muslim women
wearing the hijab, we're not there yet. Just seeing us play, I think it makes
me really happy because I used to have people that I was looking up to. Now
having people that look up to me makes me happy."
Konate
admires Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, who made NCAA history by being the first to wear a
hijab in college basketball when she played for Memphis a decade ago.
Abdul-Qaadir was instrumental in getting FIBA, the International Basketball
Federation, to overturn its own ban on headgear in 2017.
Former
University of Connecticut player Batouly Camara, who was one of the first to
wear a hijab in Spain's LF1 league, has enjoyed seeing Eissa and Konate
represent their religion.
"It's
truly inspiring to witness these two Muslim athletes competing at the highest
level. This tournament serves as a significant moment, shining a spotlight on
the best teams simultaneously with their faith," said Camara, who founded
the nonprofit organization Women and Kids Empowerment in 2017. "It sends a
powerful message to girls worldwide, affirming that they belong on the sports
field, regardless of economic class, race, culture and more."
Konate
started 31 of 32 games for UC Irvine, averaging 7.5 points and nearly four
assists. She moved to the United States from France after receiving a
scholarship from Idaho State University. She transferred to UC Irvine as a
junior.
She'd
like a chance to play in a hijab at home in France, where she won two medals
playing on their youth teams. But currently, the French Federation of Basketball
prohibits the wearing of "any equipment with a religious or political
connotation."
"Being
French and hosting the Olympics, it really hurts to not be able to be
ourselves," said Konate, who first started wearing the hijab in 2020.
"Hopefully, it changes."
Eissa
and Konate have never met but are aware of each other.
"I
just know there's another woman wearing a hijab," Eissa said. "I just
saw a post about two days ago. I was so happy there are other people."
Eissa,
who turned 18 in February, was a walk-on at N.C. State. She joined the team
after trying out in September. She didn't play much this season — appearing in
11 games and hitting one 3-pointer.
Earlier
this season, a group of young Muslim girls came to her game. They also showed
up a few more times to support her.
"I'd
love to say I was a role model to them. Never thought I could be a role model
for someone I didn't know," said Eissa, who grew up in Cairo before coming
to N.C. State. "Never knew one person could make such an impact."
Eissa
chose N.C. State because her father received his PhD there and her two older
sisters attend the university.
She
said when having a bad day or an off day, she'd remember her young fans and it
would bring a smile.
"If
they see someone giving them hope, I'm happy that I'm the person to give it to
them," Eissa said. "I want to make it as far as I can for the image
of women in hijabs."
Source:
voanews.com
https://www.voanews.com/a/hijab-wearing-players-in-ncaa-tournament-hope-to-inspire-others/7548705.html
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Dark Humour Works Wonders For
Arab, US Egyptian Moroccan Stand-Up Dina Hashem
Dina Hashem’s standup acts are based on cynical
views on life, marriage, her Arab upbringing and living in America. (Getty
Images)
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March
30, 2024
LOS
ANGELES: US Egyptian Moroccan comedian Dina Hashem, who is known for her
trademark cynical sense of humor, is heading from the standup stage to TV
screens with the upcoming animated series “#1 Happy Family US,” by Golden
Globe-winner Ramy Youssef and Amazon.
The
show revolves around a US-based Muslim family in the era after the September 11
terrorist attack, and Hashem voices a lamb called Lammy.
The
series logline describes “#1 Happy Family USA” as an exploration of “the
experiences of a Muslim-American family that must learn how to code-switch as
they navigate the early 2000s: A time of fear, war, and the rapid expansion of
the boy-band industrial complex.”
Unlike
other comedians, Hashem’s standup act is based on cynical views on life,
marriage, her Arab upbringing and living in America.
“The
things I think are funny are usually more extreme than what people do on
stage,” she remarked, highlighting the nuanced specificity of her humor.
“Because with standup, you have to be kind of broad because you’re talking to a
large group of random people, so it can’t be that specific a lot of the time.
And I feel like my sense of humor is pretty specific.”
In
a landscape where many comedians gain fame by addressing the negative impacts
of societal prejudices, Hashem distinguishes herself by exploring the
complexities of familial dynamics and personal struggles.
“The
ones who are most famous right now talk about the negative impacts,” she noted.
“They talk about how the world has treated them negatively because of their
identity. Whereas in my life, a lot of the negativity came from my own family
rather than people out in the world. So, I feel like that's sort of what makes
my act a little different from theirs.”
Hashem
said that growing up, she had “so many issues communicating with people” due to
anxiety and mental health issues.
“With
standup, I was learning how to communicate and realized that people wanted to
hear what I had to say and I never really felt that way at home before,” she
said.
Hashem
currently writes for “The Daily Show” and has written for the HBO Max comedy
series “The Sex Lives of College Girls.”
Source:
arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2485281/lifestyle
---
Aseefa
Bhutto Zardari elected member of parliament on seat vacated by Pakistan's
President Asif Ali Zardari
30.03.24
Aseefa
Bhutto-Zardari, the youngest daughter of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto,
who is her lookalike, was on Friday elected unopposed as a member of the
parliament.
Aseefa
had filed a nomination for the National Assembly seat NA-207 from Shaheed
Benazirabad (formerly Nawabshah) area of Sindh province for the by-election
scheduled for next month.
According
to a notification issued by the Returning Office of the area, Aseefa was
elected unopposed after three candidates who had filed papers against her
withdrew their names from the contest.
The
three candidates were Abdul Rasool Brohi, Amanullah and Mairaj Ahmed.
It
left her with no challenger and she was declared a winner in her maiden
electoral contest.
The
seat was vacated by her father, Asif Ali Zardari after he was elected as the
president.
Aseefa
said she was “grateful and honoured” to be elected unopposed by the constituency.
“I
pledge to serve all my constituents to the best of my abilities, with
dedication and irrespective of political affiliation,” she said in a post on X.
She
holds a bachelor’s degree in politics and sociology and a master’s in global
health and development. Aseefa initially served as a goodwill ambassador for
polio eradication in 2012 which made her face familiar among masses.
Her
father, President Zardari, had announced plans to make Aseefa the country's
first lady.
Except
for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff
and has been published from a syndicated feed.
Source:
telegraphindia.com
https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/aseefa-bhutto-zardari-elected-member-of-parliament-on-seat-vacated-by-pakistans-president-asif-ali-zardari/cid/2009997
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'I
survived': Gaza reporter Bayan Abusultan alive following social media absence,
safety concerns
29
March, 2024
The
Gaza-based reporter Bayan Abusultan, announced on Friday that she is alive,
addressing concerns over her safety and whereabouts after a prolonged absence
from her typically active social media pages.
Abusultan,
based in Gaza City, posted an image of herself on the Instagram Stories feature
with the caption "alive", alongside a time stamp of 10:29am local
time. The journalist also wrote "I survived" on X, formerly known as
Twitter, ten days after she said on the social media platform that her brother
had been killed by Israeli forces in front of her eyes.
Fellow
journalists and pro-Palestinian activists expressed their relief over
Abusultan’s survival on social media.
Reporters
Without Borders (RSF) raised concerns earlier this week about the journalist’s
whereabouts, demanding that the Israeli army "immediately sheds
light" on her disappearance.
The
NGO said Abusultan was last seen on 19 March, among detainees in the vicinity
of the Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, which has been under Israeli
siege for over a week.
Israeli
forces have detained and killed scores of Palestinians in the medical facility,
which has become a place of refuge for many residents of Gaza City escaping
Israeli bombardment.
Reports
on Wednesday stated that the Israeli army executed 13 children in and around
the hospital, sparking international outcry and accusations of war crimes and
crimes against humanity.
On
Saturday, Palestinian activist and journalist Ahmed El-Madhoun said on X that
Abusultan was "okay and stuck in her house" near Al-Shifa Hospital,
and that she buried her brother in the backyard of her house.
Absultan
has been using her social media platforms to report the ongoing atrocities
committed by Israel during its military campaign of the enclave, which has been
ongoing since October 7.
Israel
has carried out a full-scale onslaught on the enclave, targeting residential
buildings, hospitals, refugee camps and places of worship.
Since
the conflict began, at least 32,623 Palestinians, mostly women and children,
have been killed. A looming famine threatens much of the enclave, exacerbated
by a severe shortage of food, water, and medicine resulting from Israel’s
blockade.
The
Gazan journalist has posted multiple photographs and videos documenting the
Israeli aggression on the enclave, as well as video testimonies of life under
Israeli shelling. In many of her videos, bombardment can be heard.
This
isn't the first time alarms were raised over Abusultan's safety. During an
Israeli-imposed telecommunications blackout in November last year, she
wrote: "When I go silent for long,
it either means that I got no internet connection, that my battery died, or
that I died."
"My
full name is: Bayan Abusultan and I live in western Gaza City. If you google me
and find out I was killed, please take care of my books," she added.
Source:
newarab.com
https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-reporter-bayanpalestine-alive-after-safety-concerns
---
Saudi
Women Excel in Science and Innovation
29
Mar, 2024
Saudi
women are making impressive strides in science and innovation, fueled by a
strong academic and professional foundation.
Specialized
pathways for women students and collaborations with prestigious international
institutions further empower them. Their creative and passionate minds
contribute to the advancement not only of their nation but of humanity in
general, particularly in this age of rapid technological advancements and
artificial intelligence.
The
Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), whose programs are
aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 goals, plays a key role in nurturing the
capabilities of Saudi women and meeting the demands of the modern era.
TVTC
has helped young women become valuable scientific partners alongside their male
counterparts. Its endeavor is further bolstered by equal rights and supportive
legislation.
As
a result, young Saudi women, often in their early twenties, impress observers
with their exceptional intellect. They have competed and achieved remarkable
success in international competitions, consistently securing top positions.
In
recent years, Saudi women's consistent presence and contributions at
international scientific forums helped establish Saudi Arabia as a force to be
reckoned with. The Kingdom is now regularly seen at the forefront of winners'
lists or among top contenders for prestigious awards.
A
young Saudi woman who is excelling in science and innovation is Manar
Al-Ghanim, a student at the Digital Technical College in Al-Ahsa specialized in
programming and web development.
In
September 2023, she represented Saudi Arabia at the WorldInvent Singapore, an
international exhibition for inventions, innovation and technology, where she
won the gold medal and a special award from the National Research Council of
Thailand for her invention of a system that designs tourist plans and itineraries
based on customers’ preferences and budgets.
The
system uses artificial intelligence to collect and analyze data and present the
client with a plan for all tourist destinations.
Saudi
innovator Malath Al-Dahish emerged as a model for Saudi girls when she participated
as a candidate of the Buraidah College of Technology in the Malaysia Technology
Expo (MTE) in February 2024 with her invention, the Smart Splint, a
three-dimensional system linked to moisture and temperature measurement sensors
to protect patients with gangrene. The probes send data to reading devices,
including mobile phones.
At
the same international event, another talented Saudi girl, Shahd Ajeebi, from
the TVTC Women Technical Digital College in Riyadh, was awarded the silver
medal for her innovation of AI-Based TerraSight Drone for assessing damages
after natural disasters. Equipped with an integrated high-resolution camera,
the drone assesses cases of fires, floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes. An
AI-based platform classifies the risk, location, date of occurrence, and the
nature of damages.
This
innovation helps the efforts of civil protection, rescue, weather forecasting,
climate, and humanitarian aid teams by providing information that helps them
execute their response plans.
Saudi
innovator Dana Ibrahim is another name and example that confirms the ability of
Saudi women to confidently go far in achieving the impossible, topping lists of
innovators from around the world, and inscribing her name in the history of
science and innovation with inventions that contribute to improving the quality
of life and serving humanity.
As
a student at TVTC, Ibrahim represented her country at the WorldInvent
Singapore, armed with her specialization in technical support technology, which
enabled her to invent an electronic stick, named "magic move", that
helps children with autism draw. It earned her the gold medal and the prize for
the best invention from the National Research Council of Thailand.
Another
creative and role model among Saudi women is student at the Technical Digital
College in Riyadh Dana Al-Sakran, who was awarded the silver medal during the
same international exhibition in Singapore for her invention of an air quality
measuring device.
Rawan
Al-Zain, from Al-Ahsa Technical Digital College, is yet another example that
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia teems with innovative women. Al-Zain was awarded
the silver medal by experts and judges at MTE for her inventing a method to
sort out coffee, replacing the time-consuming and less accurate manual way.
Al-Zain,
used AI to detect defective coffee beans, which significantly reduces the time
taken to carry out the sorting process and ensures its high accuracy and
efficiency.
Young
Saudi women have engaged in various experiments in different technology fields.
Quality and excellence have consistently characterized their contributions in
various international forums, where they represent their country with
distinction, keeping pace with the ambitions and aspirations of the wise
leadership that has always relied on the capability of the nation's youth to
take the country to higher and better positions.
The
Kingdom's leadership constantly invests in the capabilities of its citizens,
providing them with environments that help them unleash their potentials, present
their ideas and make them into reality.
Source:
alriyadhdaily.com
https://alriyadhdaily.com/article/8d873e31b85547e9a220be23b3148b21
---
French Principal Receives Death
Threats For Telling Student To Remove Hijab
MARCH
29, 2024
WALLA!
A
school principal in France resigned from his position after receiving death
threats following an argument he had with a Muslim girl over the removal of her
headscarf, as required by law. His resignation caused a great uproar in the
country, where Islamist threats to educational institutions have already led to
the murder of two teachers in recent years.
French
Prime Minister Gabriel Attel said the country would sue the girl for lying and
claiming the principal attacked her during the argument, which led to threats
against him on social media.
"I
have finally made the decision to resign from my position due to concerns for
my safety and that of this institution," the principal wrote in an email
he sent last Friday to his colleagues at the Maurice Ravel high school in the 20th
arrondissement of Paris. The teacher's name has not been disclosed to the
public for protection.
"I'm
leaving after seven years, rich and intense, that I spent by your side and
after 45 years in public education," added the principal, who thanked his
colleagues for the support they showed him over the last three weeks.
The
incident occurred on February 28, when the principal told three female students
to obey the law and remove their head coverings. Two of them complied with his
instructions, but the third did not. In the following days, the principal
received death threats on social media, which the school forwarded to the
Interior Ministry's hotline.
The
authorities arrested two suspects in connection with the threats. Their
identities remain undisclosed, but the Education Ministry said they are
unaffiliated with the school. Due to concerns about violence from extremist
elements, the police began patrolling around the educational institution, and
the Education Minister, Nicole Belloubet, visited it.
Police
discovered no evidence of attack
The
police found no evidence that the principal attacked the girl, and the Prime
Minister promised that she would stand trial for false accusations.
"The
state will always stand by these public figures, those who are at the forefront
of the fight against such assaults on secularism, against attempts by Islamism
to infiltrate our educational institutions," said Attal, who led the ban
on the wearing of the burqa in educational institutions while serving as Education
Minister last year.
The
incident was condemned by politicians from the right and the left, a few months
before the European Parliament elections, in which the issue of immigration
will be a primary focus.
"This
government is not capable of protecting our schools," Marine Le Pen,
leader of the far-right "National Union" party, wrote on X. Her
niece, Marion Maréchal, a member of a rival far-right party, said, "This
is a defeat for the country, and the Islamist agenda continues to spread."
"This
is where you end up when your policy is 'not to stir up a storm'. This is where
all these small concessions lead," said Bruno Retailleau, from the
center-right "Republicans" party.
"This
is unacceptable. When a manager resigns because of threats to his life, it is a
collective failure," said Boris Vallaud from the Socialist Party.
Meanwhile,
several schools in Paris closed their gates Wednesday after receiving bomb
threats allegedly from Islamist elements. French authorities have not ruled out
that these are part of a Russian disinformation campaign. Last week, about 30
other schools in the Paris area received similar threats, accompanied by a
video of a beheading, recalling the murder of teacher Samuel Paty in a Paris
suburb in 2020.
Prime
Minister Attal warned in early March that the Kremlin had begun a "massive
operation to destabilize" France to erode its support for Ukraine.
Source:
jpost.com
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-794381
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/hijab-players-ncaa-jannah-eissa-diaba/d/132043