Two Hijabi Muslim Women Claim Discrimination, Denied Entry To Kamala Harris Campaign Event
New Age
Islam News Bureau
31 January 2024
·
Two Hijabi Muslim Women Claim
Discrimination, Denied Entry To Kamala Harris Campaign Event
·
Hattan Alsaif Makes History As
First Saudi Woman To Sign With Major Global Mixed Martial Arts Promotion
·
Karzai Stresses Girls’
Education in Meeting with Women Activists
·
UN Emphasizes Support For
Women’s Businesses In Afghanistan
·
CAIR Asks VP Harris to Clarify
Why Two Muslim Women in Hijab Were Barred from Nevada Event
·
Afghanistan’s Neighbours
Reluctant To Prioritize Afghan Women’s Rights, Says International Crisis Group
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/hijabi-muslim-kamala-harris/d/131627
------
Two Hijabi Muslim Women Claim
Discrimination, Denied Entry ToKamala Harris Campaign Event
Minister of
State for Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates Sarah bint Yousef Al
Amiri welcomes U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris as she arrives to attend the
United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates, December 2, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky Acquire Licensing Rights
------
Darren Lyn
31.01.2024
A video released Tuesday showing two
Muslim women being denied access to a campaign event for US Vice President
Kamala Harris in the state of Nevada is drawing accusations of discrimination
against the Biden-Harris campaign.
The exchange was recorded at a "Get
The Vote Out" event in Las Vegas on Saturday where Harris was the guest
speaker. The two women, both wearing hijabs, were told by event staff that they
were not allowed into the venue, despite both women having invitations and
wristbands necessary to gain entry.
"Why are you choosing us not to go
in when we have an invite?" the first woman said to the man who was
allowing guests inside.
"Right, you specifically singled us
out," said the second woman, as the man said nothing and continued to let
other people pass through the line.
The women accused the man of
discriminating against them because they were wearing hijabs and the first
woman took over the conversation.
"Is that against Democrats' whole
campaign?" she asked. "That's very Islamophobic. That's very
racist."
To which the man only replied, "I'm
sorry," evoking the woman to speak her mind even further.
"They're disinviting us because we
have hijabs on our heads... this is disgusting," she said. "Obviously
we're the only hijabi women, that's kind of clear. They're disinviting us
because we have scarfs on our heads...that's disgusting... when we have an
invitation just like everyone else. What is the problem?"
"I feel really targeted right now
and that's disgusting," she continued. "We didn't do anything wrong.
We literally have an invite, we have a wristband...we showed our ID."
The pro-Palestinian community voiced
their outrage at the situation, posting the video exchange on X.
"Both of these Muslim constituents
had RSVPd for the event, were given wristbands upon checking in and were
standing in line when the Harris campaign officials denied them entry,"
said Nevadans for Palestinian Liberation in a post.
There has been an uptick in protests
against President Joe Biden's foreign policy when it comes to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict that began Oct. 7 after a Hamas attack on Israel
that killed nearly 1,200 people.
Several of Biden's events have been
disrupted by protestors who have shouted comments like "Genocide Joe"
at the president.
For that reason, the Biden
administration has hired Doug Landry, a veteran logistical planner for several
presidential campaigns, according to NBC News. Landry is now trying to
establish a balance on the campaign trail to allow critics of Biden's policies
to freely express their opinions while not overwhelming the events or blocking
supporters from attending.
Officials told NBC that volunteers at
events are being trained to keep an eye out for potential protesters, though
they are not able to stop them from attending.
However, the two Muslim women in Nevada
were prohibited from attending the event, apparently because of their ethnic
appearance, which is drawing ire from the pro-Palestinian community.
"As you can clearly see in the
video, these women were 'disinvited' while others were being let in who were in
line behind them. When pressed about why they were not allowed in, the Harris
officials could not give a legitimate reason," said Nevadans for
Palestinian Liberation.
The Biden-Harris team has not yet
addressed this recent event, but campaign officials are preparing for more
situations like this leading up to the Democratic National Convention in
Chicago which will be held in August.
"We are closely coordinating with
law enforcement overseeing security, including planning for expression of First
Amendment rights, and we look forward to hosting what we are confident will be
a safe and successful convention," a spokesperson for the Democratic
National Convention said in a statement.
Source: aa.com.tr
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/2-muslim-women-claim-discrimination-after-being-denied-entry-to-us-vice-president-s-campaign-event/3123535
----
Hattan Alsaif Makes History As First
Saudi Woman To Sign With Major Global Mixed Martial Arts Promotion
Muay Thai
athlete Hattan Alsaif has become the first Saudi woman to sign an exclusive
multi-fight contract with a global mixed martial arts promotion. (Supplied)
-----
January 30, 2024
NEW YORK, US: Muay Thai athlete Hattan
Alsaif has become the first Saudi woman to sign an exclusive multi-fight
contract with a global mixed martial arts promotion.
The Professional Fighters League
announced the historic signing of Alsaif in a media statement.
The 22-year-old, a gold medal winner at
the 2023 International Federation of Muay Thai Associations World
Championships, said: “Receiving a contract from the PFL is a dream come true.”
Alsaif, who took first place at the
World Combat Games and at the Saudi Games, anticipates making her amateur MMA
debut for the PFL this year.
She added: “As the first Saudi woman
signed to a global MMA contract I do not take the responsibility lightly, and I
am committed to representing my country.
“I hope to pave the way for aspiring
female fighters. I am thankful to God and the PFL for this incredible
opportunity.”
Ray Sefo, president of fighter
operations at the PFL, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Alsaif, a truly
groundbreaking athlete, to the PFL.
“In collaboration with our partner, SRJ
Sports, PFL is dedicated to discovering exceptional fighters like Alsaif and
championing the cause of women in MMA in the region. Our goal is to provide
them with a global platform to showcase their skill sets.”
Alsaif will train predominantly with
Abdullah Al-Qahtani. Her signing bolsters a roster that will have opportunities
to compete in PFL MENA (Middle East and North Africa), the PFL’s second
regional league outside the US.
The PFL is the only organization in MMA
with a sports-season format, in which individual fighters compete in a regular
season, playoffs, and championship each year.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2451011/saudi-sport
----
Karzai stresses girls’ education in
meeting with women activists
Fidel Rahmati
January 30, 2024
Hamid Karzai, former President of
Afghanistan, emphasized the vital importance of reopening schools and
universities for girls during a meeting with a group of women activists and
supporters of girls’ education.
Mr. Karzai considered girls’ education
crucial for the progress and development of Afghanistan during this meeting.
He also wrote in his social media
platform X on Tuesday that “National dialogue and understanding are essential
for ensuring lasting peace and stability in the country.”
During this meeting, female activists
stressed the necessity of higher education for girls for the growth and
development of society.
These women activists called for
effective measures in various areas, including ensuring girls’ education
rights, and emphasized national unity in this regard.
Mr. Karzai had previously mentioned
during a meeting with representatives of international organizations that
national dialogue should be initiated for the establishment of peace and
stability in Afghanistan.
Since the Taliban took control of Kabul,
they have implemented over 50 decrees that severely curtailed women’s rights,
including access to education, employment, and free movement. These
restrictions have effectively erased women from public life.
Despite facing widespread criticism from
both national and international organizations and prominent figures, the
Taliban has continued to tighten its grip and impose more restrictions. As a
result, no countries have officially recognized their regime due to these
oppressive policies.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/karzai-stresses-girls-education-in-meeting-with-women-activists/
----
UN emphasizes support for women’s
businesses in Afghanistan
Fidel Rahmati
January 30, 2024
The United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) has stated that, in light of the collapse of Afghanistan’s economic
system, it has supported 50 women in the central regions of the country in
various aspects, ranging from small and medium-sized businesses to
infrastructure and healthcare services for women.
On Monday, 29th January, this
organization released a report, affirming that the goal of UNDP’s development
programs is to support women entrepreneurs in strengthening and enriching
communities.
Friba, a college student at Bamyan
University’s Law School, who couldn’t continue her education due to
limitations, expressed to this organization that she wanted to support her
family after completing her studies. However, due to the constraints, she has
established a small dairy business in a residential complex in Bamyan.
She, who collects raw materials from
villages across the region to produce dairy products, emphasized that with the
“cessation of dairy product purchases, orders decreased by over 60%, and women
in the districts even had to stop raising sheep and cows because there was no
demand. I lost hope and considered quitting.”
Friba, expressing her satisfaction with
the United Nations development programs, stated, “One of the reasons women are
subjected to violence is their lack of economic independence.”
According to the UNDP report, in
addition to supporting women entrepreneurs, the organization has also provided
them with business opportunities worth over USD 1,500.
This is happening while, after two
years, women are still deprived of access to their fundamental rights,
including education, work, and active participation.
The United Nations Development Program
had previously announced that it has created communal kitchens to provide work
opportunities and income.
According to the UNDP development
program, the prohibition of women’s work has affected Afghanistan’s economy,
causing a blow of 600 million to 1 billion dollars to the country’s economy.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/un-emphasizes-support-for-womens-businesses-in-afghanistan/
-----
CAIR Asks VP Harris to Clarify Why Two
Muslim Women in Hijab Were Barred from Nevada Event
Ibrahim Hooper
January 30, 2024
The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy
organization, today called on Vice President Kamala Harris to clarify why two
Muslim women wearing Islamic head scarves, or hijab, were allegedly profiled
and barred from attending a “get out the vote” event featuring the vice
president in Nevada.
A video posted online reportedly shows
the women being barred from the event, but does not offer an explanation why
they were not let in.
“The American people deserve to know
whether these women were profiled and barred from an event featuring Vice
President Harris because they were visibly Muslim,” said CAIR Government
Affairs Director Robert McCaw. “Throughout her term, Vice President Harris has
been respectful in her interactions with American Muslims, even during a time
of intense disagreement. We encourage Vice President Harris to take appropriate
action to address this apparent incident of profiling.”
He noted that yesterday, CAIR released
new civil rights data showing that it has received 3,578 complaints during the
last three months of 2023 amid an ongoing wave of anti-Muslim and
anti-Palestinian hate.
This represents a 178 percent increase
in incoming complaints in the last three months of 2023 compared to a similar
period the previous year.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil
rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American
Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las
libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y
empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstados Unidos.
Source: cair.com
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-asks-vp-harris-to-clarify-why-two-muslim-women-in-hijab-were-barred-from-nevada-event/
-----
Afghanistan’s Neighbours Reluctant To
Prioritize Afghan Women’s Rights, Says International Crisis Group
Fidel Rahmati
January 30, 2024
In a recent report, the International
Crisis Group reports that regional authorities are not inclined to emphasize
the rights of Afghan women and girls in their interactions with the Taliban.
The group also notes that the failure to
form a comprehensive government has pushed regional countries towards engaging
with the Taliban temporarily.
According to the International Crisis
Group’s recent report, the Taliban and their regional partners are working on a
range of bilateral issues, from strengthening trade to managing disputes over
water and fighting transregional terrorism.
The report states, “Efforts by the
Taliban and regional countries to cooperate in these areas, while challenging,
are valuable, and Western capitals should not obstruct them.”
The report highlights that the Taliban’s
treatment of women and the deprivation of education for girls have tarnished
their image on the global stage.
Interactions with the Taliban are
described as temporary due to the group’s discriminatory policies against women
and girls, causing diplomatic cancellations by Western officials.
While some regional countries have
condemned the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls, overall, regional
authorities are reluctant to emphasize women’s and girls’ rights.
The report suggests that regional
authorities prefer patient cooperation with the Taliban over complete
rejection, as it aligns with their long-term interests and encourages
behavioural changes within the Taliban.
Nevertheless, the continued open lines
of communication between the Taliban and regional capitals offer the best hope
for diplomatic engagement in the coming years.
The report states that the Taliban’s
reluctance to include former enemies in their cabinet formation has led
regional actors to accept partial engagement for specific issues.
Security concerns remain at the top of
the regional agenda, with some exceptions like Pakistan, which has been
targeted by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) after the Taliban’s return to power.
The report also emphasizes the need to
bridge the gap in information sharing between the Taliban and regional
countries to build trust and address regional security challenges
collaboratively.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/afghanistans-neighbours-reluctant-to-prioritize-afghan-womens-rights-says-icg/
----
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/hijabi-muslim-kamala-harris/d/131627