Hijab Rules And Segregated Pools - Religion Reshapes Social Norms In Malaysia, Indonesia
New
Age Islam News Bureau
31
March 2024
•
Hijab Rules And Segregated Pools - Religion Reshapes Social Norms In Malaysia,
Indonesia
•
Islamophobia: Muslim Woman Wearing A Hijab Faces Police Brutality In Berlin
•
Ukrainian Woman, Daria Kutsaryenko, Dies A Day After Converting To Islam In UAE
While Observing Her First Ramadan Fast
•
UN Warns Of Rising Malnutrition Among Women And Children In Afghanistan
•
Only Seven Women Among 126 Superior Court Judges In Pakistan: Report
•
Pakistani Girls, Women Capable Of Achieving The Impossible: US Consul General
to Lahore
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/hijab-rules-pool-religion-malaysia-indonesia/d/132046
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Hijab
Rules And Segregated Pools - Religion Reshapes Social Norms In Malaysia,
Indonesia
Ms Jenny Hia, 19, was forced to wear the hijab in
2021 even though she is a Christian. Her case sparked a nationwide debate about
the presence of Syariah-inspired regulations issued by several Indonesian provinces
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Rashvinjeet
S Bedi
31
Mar 2024
KUALA
LUMPUR/PADANG: It was supposed to be an exciting day for Ms Jenny Hia. After
six months of studying remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the teenager
finally set foot at Public Vocational School Number 2 in Indonesia’s Padang
City in January 2021.
The
Christian teenager, then 16, was the only girl in school who did not wear the
hijab, a Muslim headscarf meant to conceal a woman’s hair and neck and a
mandatory garment for all female students at the school.
Over
the next few days, MsHia was summoned by various school officials about her
refusal to wear the item. One teacher even brought four Christian students, all
of whom had decided to comply with the public school’s regulation, to put
pressure on her to do the same.
“Public
schools are supposed to be open to people of all religions. The way we dress
should not be according to one religion. Everyone should be able to dress
however they want,” she said.
Ms
Jenny Hia, 19, was forced to wear the hijab in 2021 even though she is a
Christian. Her case sparked a nationwide debate about the presence of
Syariah-inspired regulations issued by several Indonesian provinces, regencies
and cities.…see more
Her
family took the case to Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights,
putting a much needed spotlight on the plight of religious minorities in West
Sumatra.
The
case sparked a nationwide debate so fierce, three Indonesian ministries – the
ministry of education, the ministry of religion and the ministry of home
affairs – issued a joint decree on Feb 3, 2021 barring schools and regional
governments from requiring students and teachers to wear “attributes of a
specific religion”.
But
three months after it was enacted, the Indonesian Supreme Court repealed the
decree amid pressure from conservative Muslim groups and the customary council
of the Minangkabau people, the biggest ethnic group in West Sumatra.
Three
years on, MsHia’s case has faded from the limelight. The Supreme Court decision
meant that the requirement for all female students to wear the hijab in West
Sumatra, as well as other Indonesian provinces, is here to stay.
Discrimination
towards religious minorities has been on the rise in homogenous Indonesian
provinces such as West Sumatra, where 97 per cent of the province’s 5.5 million
inhabitants are Muslims.
“West
Sumatra has become an icon of conservatism,” Mr Bonar TigorNaipospos, deputy
chairman of not-for-profit organisationSetara Institute for Democracy and
Peace, told CNA.
To
woo Muslim voters, politicians and public officials have been issuing
Syariah-inspired regulations and decrees as well as discriminatory policies and
programmes.
In
2005, then-Padang mayor Fauzi Bahar issued a decree mandating all Muslim
students in public schools wear Islamic outfits. The same decree also required
non-Muslims to “adjust their outfits” to the requirement but left no further
explanation.
Schools
were left to decide what the provision for non-Muslim students meant. Nearly
all public schools in Padang interpreted the decree as requiring all female
students, regardless of their faith, to wear the hijab.
“Spaces
for non-Muslims to express their non-Muslim identities have indirectly become
limited,” said MrSudarto, the founder of West Sumatra-based interfaith group,
Inter-Community Study Group (Pusaka), adding that it has been happening
gradually over decades.
According
to New York-based rights group, Human Rights Watch, there are at least 120
mandatory hijab regulations and decrees issued by regional governments across
Indonesia. Meanwhile, there are close to 150,000 schools across Southeast
Asia’s largest economy which require students to wear “attributes of a certain
religion.”
MsHia
said after the incident, her school no longer forced her or other Christian
students to wear the hijab. She graduated last year.
Activists
also warned that the school’s decision not to enforce its policy – which has
never been revoked – is fragile, especially as MsHia’s case fades from public
memory.
In
Malaysia, policies on modest clothing, checks on unmarried couples, the closing
down of 4D betting shops, and religious “moral policing” by the authorities are
making MsSitiKasim fear for her country’s future.
The
lawyer is worried that the path of “Islamisation” taken by the country’s
politicians will slowly and surely change the Malaysian way of life.
Miss
SitiKasim, an outspoken critic of Islamic religious authorities, said that the
imposition of religion was becoming more and more rampant in the country, used
and promoted by politicians.
“The
problem is these people want to enact more laws to control us. Politicians
allow this religious sort of morality to be imposed on us and we have to follow
them. The governments are putting these laws in place. So, it is part of
political Islam,” she said.
Kelantan
and Terengganu states, which have shown the strongest support for the Islamist
party Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) for decades, have come under the microscope
for some of their policies regarding social practices. Critics say they were
tantamount to moral policing.
Muslims
make up more than 95 per cent of the population in states such as Kelantan and
Terengganu, higher than the 63.5 per cent in Malaysia.
In
July 2023 for example, an owner of a salon in Kota Bharu - the capital of
Kelantan - was fined RM100 (US$ 21.20) for allowing her female worker to cut
the hair of a Muslim male customer.
This
incident occurred a month after a non-Muslim boutique owner was issued a
summons for violating the council's bylaw on "indecent clothing" by
wearing shorts in her shop.
She
had committed an offence under Section 34(2)(b) of the Business and Industrial
Trade Bylaws 2019, which states non-Muslim business owners and non-Muslim
employees must wear “decent clothes”.
After
the incident made headlines, the Minister of Housing and Local Government
NgaKor Ming said that the summons was cancelled following a discussion with the
local council.
These
bylaws that supposedly emphasise Islamic values were enforced and implemented
by the Kota Bharu Municipal Council and also prohibit advertisements that do
not cover the modesty of models.
Cinemas
have also been banned in Kelantan since 1990 - the year PAS won the state -
with various government representatives claiming over the years that cinemas
could lead to social ills.
“The
moral police are pushing the boundaries until they get what they want. The
majority of Malays, especially the young, have been indoctrinated to a certain
way of thinking,” claimed MsSitiKasim.
PermatangPauh
MP Muhammad Fawwaz Muhammad Jan, who is with PAS, protested alcohol being sold
openly at a mall in his constituency during the Chinese New Year celebrations
last year.
Over
the years, other politicians from PAS and religious groups have made headlines
for their statements protesting Valentine's Day and Halloween.
In
2016, then-PAS Youth chief Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz said that Muslim
youths should not celebrate Valentine's Day as it went against the teachings of
the Islamic religion.
Even
the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) has over the years
reminded Muslims not to celebrate the occasion as it is not part of Islamic
culture.
More
recently, Coldplay, Billie Eilish and Blackpink concerts held in Malaysia have
not been spared either, with various statements by politicians saying that they
would promote social ills such as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) culture.
In
May last year, MrNasrudin Hassan - a PAS central working committee member -
called for the cancellation of a Coldplay concert in a Facebook post.
“Does
the government want to nurture a culture of hedonism and perversion in this
country?” asked MrNasrudin, adding that the concert would bring no benefit to
“religion, race and country”.
The
Facebook post was accompanied by images of lead vocalist Chris Martin holding a
rainbow flag - which is used to represent the LGBT community - during a
performance.
Source:
Channelnewsasia
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/islam-religion-malaysia-indonesia-social-issues-4222196
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Islamophobia:
Muslim Woman Wearing A Hijab Faces Police Brutality In Berlin
Photo:
Azar News
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30
March 2024
Fatime
Letifova
A
Muslim woman was assaulted by the police in Berlin, the capital of Germany.
According
to Azernews, the policemen surrounded the woman wearing a hijab, assaulted her
from all sides and handcuffed her, knocking her to the ground.
It
should be noted that the trend of anti-Islam and Islamophobia, which started in
France and later became widespread in Europe, has recently become popular in
Germany as well.
It
is mentioned in a post on the social network that this is of several incidents
against Muslims. It seems that this kind of massive police attack and violence
against civilians of Muslim origin is a clear example of the fall of the West's
next crusader policy.
Unfortunately,
the West and Europe, which pretends to be a symbol of democracy, have recently
been showing open aggression against the Islamic religion due to the failure of
a number of plans against the East.
Source:
Azernews.Az
https://www.azernews.az/region/223954.html
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Ukrainian
Woman, Daria Kutsaryenko, Dies A Day After Converting To Islam In UAE While
Observing Her First Ramadan Fast
Osama
Ali
March
30th, 2024
ALBAWABA
- Thousands of people came together in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to say
goodbye to a Ukrainian woman who recently converted to Islam. Tragically, Daria
Kutsaryenko, 29, died in Dubai the day after she converted to Islam and
observed her first Ramadan fast.
Israeli
soldiers rape, assault Palestinian women at Shifa hospitalIsraeli soldiers
rape, assault Palestinian women at Shifa hospital
Kutsaryenko
had been studying Islam for some time before to coming to Dubai in pursuit of
work. At a nearby mosque in the emirate, she publicly accepted Islam as her
religion, demonstrating her dedication to it. Her tragic death, however,
abruptly ended her newfound journey, leaving a society profoundly touched by
her tale.
Following
the Friday congregational prayers, mourners gathered at the Martyrs Mosque in
Dubai for Kutsaryenko's funeral procession, which attracted sizable crowds.
Her
sudden passing and the events surrounding her conversion have spurred
discussions about tolerance, faith, and the process of learning Islam. An
increasing number of people are embracing Islam in the UAE, which is renowned
for its openness and variety. In 2021 alone, there were over 3800 new Muslims
registered.
Source:
Albawaba
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UN
warns of rising malnutrition among women and children in Afghanistan
By
Fidel Rahmati
March
30, 2024
The
World Food Programme in Afghanistan emphasizes that the number of women
suffering from malnutrition has increased, with 1.2 million women affected in
the country. The organization has also issued a warning about the rising number
of malnourished children in Afghanistan through a video posted on social media.
Mona
Sheikh, responsible for nutrition at the World Food Programme, notes that more
malnourished children have been referred to clinics for treatment due to the
reduction in foreign aid last year. According to Sheikh, these figures are on
the rise, with a possibility of three million children being affected by
malnutrition in the current year.
According
to statistics from the World Food Programme, the number of malnourished
children being treated in specialized clinics across Afghanistan has increased.
Currently, are 2,700 clinics available for treating these children throughout
the country.
Furthermore,
the head of nutrition at this organization emphasizes, “Last year, we expected
around 800,000 pregnant and lactating women across the country to suffer from
malnutrition. However, this number exceeded expectations, reaching nearly two
million, and unfortunately, it is expected to increase further this year.”
It
is estimated that three million children will suffer from malnutrition in
Afghanistan this year. Nonetheless, the World Food Programme has stated, “We
will be able to assist around six million of them.” Sheikh says the decrease in
aid has led to increased malnutrition statistics, as families have had their
food aid reduced due to budget cuts.
This
comes as the United Nations and various human rights organizations have warned
of increasing poverty and malnutrition, especially among women, in Afghanistan.
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),
more than 23 million people in Afghanistan require humanitarian assistance this
year.
Source:
khaama Press
https://www.khaama.com/un-warns-of-rising-malnutrition-among-women-and-children-in-afghanistan/
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Only
seven women among 126 superior court judges in Pakistan: Report
30
March, 2024
Islamabad
[Pakistan], March 30 (ANI): There are only seven women among 126 superior court
judges in Pakistan, a report has found, according to Pakistani daily Dawn.
A
recent report by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) has
disclosed that among the 126 judges in Pakistan’s superior judiciary, merely
seven are female, Dawn reported.
The
report, titled Women in the Justice Sector, aims to report the statistics of
women working in Pakistan’s judicial sector, highlighting judges, lawyers,
prosecutors and other personnel, read an LJCP press release on Friday, as per
Dawn.
According
to the report, there are presently 3,142 judges and judicial officers serving
throughout the country. Of this figure, 2,570 are male, while 572 are female,
accounting for 18 per cent of the total workforce.
According
to Dawn, within the upper tier of the judiciary, encompassing the Supreme Court
of Pakistan, the Federal Shariat Court, and the five high courts, there are
currently 126 judges. Only seven of these judges are female, with male judges
dominating the field at 119.
Consequently,
female judges represent a mere 5.5 per cent of the total judicial workforce at
the upper tier.Women’s poor representation in Pakistan’s judiciary, especially
in the higher tiers, is a reflection of their overall treatment in society and
the issue could be addressed through an assertive action that requires a strong
will to address it at all levels, the panellists concluded.
The
panelists concluded that the poor representation of women in Pakistan’s
judiciary, particularly in the higher tiers, mirrors their overall treatment
within society and the issue could be addressed through an assertive action
that requires a strong will to address it at all levels.
International
Commission of Jurists’ legal adviser for South Asia Reema Omer said women’s
near absence in the judiciary was a crisis for the country’s democracy as well.
She said it was an issue of a particular mindset that there were no women
judges in the higher judiciary.
Three
female judges are active in the Sindh High Court. Meanwhile, there are no
female judges in the Federal Shariat Court, Peshawar High Court or the High
Court of Balochistan.
The
report also highlights a similar trend at the district judiciary level, where
out of a total of 3,016 active staff, only 565 are female lawyers, constituting
less than a fifth of the total workforce.
Furthermore,
the report highlighted a total of 230,879 lawyers enrolled with different
provincial bar associations across the country. Of this number, 198,100 lawyers
are men, while 40,000 are female.
“The
report highlights the significant contributions of women in the justice sector
of the country but also points out that their representation is not proportional
to their share of the overall population,” the report stated.
“It
is recommended that the government and other relevant stakeholders take steps
to encourage the inclusion of more women in the justice sector.”
Source:
Theprint.In
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Pakistani
Girls, Women Capable Of Achieving The Impossible: US Consul General to Lahore
MARCH
31, 2024
The
US Consul General to Lahore Kristin Hawkins has said that women empowerment has
been the nucleus of her efforts at the Consulate and women participation is
encouraged through exchange programs, educational scholarships and internship
programs.
“I
believe Pakistani girls and women are capable of achieving the impossible
through equal opportunities,” she said during an interview with APP in
connection with the Women’s History Month here on Saturday.
Kristin
Hawkins said the U.S. Mission shares the belief that gender equity is essential
to economic growth and development, democracy, and political stability in all
societies.
About
the Women’s History Month, Kristin Hawkins said the month of March, besides observing
International Women’s Day on March 8, was commemorated throughout the United
States and other countries to celebrate the strengths, resilience and
accomplishments of the women across all sectors ranging from business,
academia, sports and others.
To
a question she said her efforts towards empowerment of women are not limited to
Women’s History Month only as the women-centred initiatives occupy the whole
calendar, adding that it is not only about celebrating women but making them
independent, vocal, self-sufficient and leader.
Charismatic
Kristin Hawkins, passionate about women empowerment and cultural preservation
in Punjab, said “during the past 20 years, the US Mission Pakistan has funded
35 cultural preservation projects worth $8.4 million through the AFCP,” adding
costing approximately one million dollars, 20 out of these projects are in
Punjab and scores of young women have been involved in these projects to revive
and restore the past galore of architectural wonders side by side their male counterparts.
She
said a US funded internship program in conservation techniques for local youth
to acquire marketable skills has provided opportunity to girls at the Lahore
Fort and Wazir Khan Mosque, adding the program is intended to make the youth
more resourceful.
“Fulbright
Scholarship, International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), Student Exchange
Programs and multiple High school scholarships are different opportunities
offered to the young girls to make their mark,” the diplomat said.
Meena
Arham, a conservation scientist and team lead at the Wazir Khan Mosque
Restoration Project, told APP that she has been part of the Agha Khan Cultural
Services in Pakistan (AKCSP) in Pakistan since 2014, adding that she feels
empowered that she feels empowered to work on the restoration of a
centuries-old architectural heritage site like the Wazir Khan Mosque.
Zeina
Naseer, a Conservation Scientist at AKCSP, has been heading conservation and
restoration of the 1600 feet long historic Picture Wall and Sheesh Mahal
(Palace of Mirrors) at the Lahore Fort. She takes pride in the fact that their
work will be a beacon for generations to come, adding the US-funded internship
program will usher in a bright future for the young professionals.
In
her message to Pakistani girls and women, in connection with the Women’s
History Month, the Consul General Hawkins said, “just keep it up. You can
achieve great things whether you want to be a professor, doctor, engineer,
lawyer, politician or go into business. Look to connect with others in your
community and set high goals in life.”
Source:
Dailytimes.
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/hijab-rules-pool-religion-malaysia-indonesia/d/132046