New Age Islam
Sat Apr 26 2025, 08:55 PM

Islam, Women and Feminism ( 20 Aug 2022, NewAgeIslam.Com)

Comment | Comment

Historic Occasion as Cape Town Open Mosque Prayers to Be Led By All-Women Group; Set To Be Streamed To A Worldwide Audience

New Age Islam News Bureau

20 August 2022

• Muslim Woman, Haifa, Denied Rental Home over Her Religion in Bengaluru

• A Young French Woman, Elodle Moreno, Finds Islam on Türkiye Holiday Trip

• Supermodel Bella Hadid Regrets Not Being Able To Grow Up In A ‘Muslim Culture’

• Saudi Model Amira Al-Zuhair Talks Paris Catwalks and London Student Life

• From Hyderabad to Riyadh: Women Trafficked Under Pretext of Jobs

• Afghan Girl Appeals to PM Modi about Visas Being Unavailable To Study in India

• UN Lauds Nigerian Women’s Drive for Economic Development.

• Dubai-Based Chiara Noja Latest Name to Join Golf Saudi as Ambassador

• Domestic Violence, Academic Failure Pushing Chitral’s Young Women to Commit Suicide

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:  https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/historic-mosque-prayers-jumaah-women/d/127761

--------

Historic Occasion as Cape Town Open Mosque Prayers to Be Led By All-Women Group; Set To Be Streamed To A Worldwide Audience

 

Jumuah Friday congregational prayers by The Open Mosque will on Friday be led by an all-female group. Picture: ANA Archives

----

By Chevon Booysen

Aug 19, 2022

Cape Town - In an unprecedented move, Juma’ah Friday congregational prayers by The Open Mosque will on Friday be led by an all-female group.

This will be held and hosted in conjunction with the Oxford Institute for British Islam (OIBI) and is set to be streamed to a worldwide audience.

In a statement, the Open Mosque – described as autonomous, non-sectarian, gender-equal, inter-racial and unaffiliated to any specific school of thought (Madhab) ideology or denomination – said they were happy to co-host the historic open-air service.

“For the first time, the weekly Friday worship in Islam will be led and performed exclusively by leading feminist Muslim scholars for a non-segregated and entirely mixed-gendered congregation.

“Professor Elham Manea, from Zurich University, who specialises in Shari'ah Law will deliver the Khutba (sermon) on Women and the Mosque and also conduct the congregational prayers. Ani Osman-Zonneveld, a noted Islamic activist and acclaimed singer, will melodically recite the Adhan or call to prayer.

“This historic open-air religious service takes place in the lovely tranquil gardens of St John's College, Oxford University at 1pm UK time (2pm SA time)…It is a gigantic step in advancing genuine female empowerment and gender parity in Islam,” the statement read.

Reacting to the planned event, the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) said they “reserve our comments on the matter at this time”.

Cape Town Ulama Board’s Mufti Sayed Haroon Al Azhari said their views did not align with that of the Open Mosque.

“Islam has and will always hold diverse views, which may or may not be accepted by other Muslim persuasions. The Cape Town Ulama Board together with the vast majority of the South African Muslims do not align with the views of the open mosque.

“Discussions of Islam, gender-politics and women (who are also Muslim) form part of a greater and politically-charged discourse in which Islam is largely described as archaic.”

According to the OIBI’s website, it conducts weekly hybrid Friday prayers at 1pm with Cape Town’s Open Mosque, based in Wynberg.

Detailing what to expect from the event, the website read: “These liberal and progressive prayers and forward-looking sermons are derived from an exclusive Qur'anic-centric provenance. They combine the sacred scripture's pertinent spirituality with topical worldly secularity.

“Original, solely scripturally-based,, thought-provoking theological analyses are complemented by salient philosophical input and intrepid politico-social commentary.

“With this bold and novel approach, OIBI's trailblazing Friday congregational service embraces both uplifting spiritual facets as well as conspicuous secular dimensions.”

Source: IOL

https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/historic-occasion-as-open-mosque-prayers-to-be-led-by-all-women-group-5260587b-15dc-43f8-a95b-6050c927925a

--------

Muslim Woman, Haifa, Denied Rental Home over Her Religion in Bengaluru

 

© iStock/mensxp

-----

August 20, 2022

It appears that when William Shakespeare wrote in his Romeo and Juliet “What’s in a name?” he definitely didn’t see 2022 coming, wherein a name means a lot. Wondering why so? Well, a woman in Bengaluru was denied a rental house, as soon as she revealed her name, through which owners learned that she is Muslim. The woman named Haifa shared the screenshot of her conversation with the house owners, who denied renting her the premises because of her religious beliefs. The more saddening thing is that this comes while the country was enthralled in the celebrations of 75th Independence Day.

While sharing the screenshots of her WhatsApp interactions with two different house owners on Twitter, Haifa wrote in the caption, “If everyone is done celebrating the 75th anniversary of independence, here is how I spent my August 15.” And, ended with the hashtags, “Bangalore and house hunting.” The first picture revealed that the conversation begins with the owner asking Haifa her “good name”. After Haifa told her name, the owner asked her if she belonged to a “Hindu family”, to which she responded “No” and asked “is that a problem?” The owner said, “Yes” and added, “Property is available but the owner wants a Hindu family.”

Similarly, the second picture also shows that as soon as Haifa tells the owner her name, he was quick enough to point out that she is Muslim. Now, the screenshots of the conversation are making rounds on the internet, triggering chatter. The comments section was swamped under the comments from users feeling sorry for Haifa. While several shared their own incidents, many supported and advocated for the owners. One user commented, “This is so disheartening. I am sorry you are going through this.” Another commented, “I was denied a property after paying the full amount, owner told me that he has pressure from neighbours not to keep a Muslim in the locality! India after 75yrs.”

A third user wrote, “It's their home, they have some beliefs which one should follow if they want to live there. I know a lot of these peeps, encountered them when I was in college, be it Hindus, Muslims, strict families, peeps living in a society with different rules and norms, etc. Nothing wrong.” A fourth user commented, “It happened to me many times. I don't know why people judge the basics of religion. Why don't they understand we all are Indians? It's disgusting.” What are your views on the incident?

Source: Firstpost

https://www.firstpost.com/india/muslim-woman-denied-rental-home-over-her-religion-11085581.html

--------

A Young French Woman, Elodle Moreno, Finds Islam on Türkiye Holiday Trip

Firat Cakir  

19.08.2022

A young French woman, who visited Türkiye’s northwestern Tekirdag province for a holiday, converted to Islam on Friday.

Impressed by her friend, Elodle Moreno, 24, started searching about Islam.

After reaching the decision to become Muslim, she applied to the provincial mufti.

Mufti Ismail Ipek gave information about the basic principles of Islam at the conversion ceremony.

Elodle, who recited the kalima shahadah -- the declaration of belief in the oneness of Allah and the acceptance of Prophet Muhammad as His messenger, was renamed "Sibel."

Ipek gave Sibel a "conversion certificate," the Muslim holy book of Quran and various books on Islam.

Source: Anadolu Agency

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/life/french-woman-finds-islam-on-turkiye-trip/2664761

--------

Supermodel Bella Hadid Regrets Not Being Able To Grow Up In A ‘Muslim Culture’

August 19, 2022

Bella Hadid has headlined major fashion events and weeks around the world and has also walked the ramp for many leading luxury brands. But she admits that the one thing she misses the most is being closer to her Muslim roots.

In a new interview with GQ magazine, the supermodel — who is of Palestinian descent — talked about making her acting debut in the Emmy-nominated show ‘Ramy‘, saying that when she arrived on set on the first day, she wept as she was gifted a t-shirt by the crew that read, ‘Free Palestine’.

“I couldn’t handle my emotions. Growing up and being Arab, it was the first time that I’d ever been with like-minded people. I was able to see myself,” the 25-year-old said.

Bella is the daughter of a Palestinian real estate developer Mohamed Hadid and Dutch model Yolanda Hadid. She is also the younger sister of supermodel Gigi Hadid. In the past, she has spoken about Palestinian causes and continues to raise awareness about the citizens there and the state of affairs in the country, which has long been in conflict with the neighbouring Israel.

The GQ article called Bella “the most outspoken American celebrity advocating on behalf of the Palestinian people”. She told the magazine that one of her “bigger regrets” is that she was not raised around “Muslim people”, especially after her parents separated.

“I would have loved to grow up and be with my dad every day and studying and really being able to practise, just in general being able to live in a Muslim culture,” she was quoted as saying. “But I wasn’t given that,” she added.

When Bella was a toddler, her family relocated to California and she was plucked from the Palestinian side of her family in Washington DC. “I speak about [this stuff] for the elderly that are still living there that have never been able to see Palestine free, and for the children that can still grow up and have a beautiful life,” the model said.

She told the publication that while she realises being this vocal about such causes can impact her career, she remains unfazed. “I realised I’m not on this earth to be a model. I’m so lucky and blessed that I’m in a position where I can speak out the way that I do. And really, the downfall is what? That I lose my job?”

She added that some things remain more important than her career.

Source: Indian Express

https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/bella-hadid-regret-grow-up-muslim-culture-palestinian-roots-modelling-8099272/

--------

Saudi model Amira Al-Zuhair talks Paris catwalks and London student life

HANADI MERCHANT-HABIB

August 19, 2022

DUBAI: It’s been a breakout year for 21-year-old Saudi model Amira Al-Zuhair. At last month’s Paris Haute Couture Week, she walked the runway for some of the world’s most renowned couturiers, including Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika and Giorgio Armani, attracting international headlines. A couple of weeks before that, she picked up her Bachelor’s degree (with first-class honors) in philosophy, politics, and economics from King’s College, London.

Al-Zuhair signed to the prestigious Elite Model Management agency aged just 15. “I was having lunch with my family at a restaurant in Paris, and I was spotted by a former Elite agent who told me I should go to the agency and that they’d really like me. So I went, and within 10 minutes I got a contract, which was pretty surreal,” Al-Zuhair tells Arab News.

But she didn’t become a model full-time until she was 18. Instead, she had a gradual introduction to the industry with test shoots and editorials.

“School and my education have been a top priority,” she explains. “I’ve always been a bit of a nerd — I represented my school in national math competitions, I was head of the math team, and a member of the UK’s Youth Parliament. And then I focused on my degree. It’s still my goal today to become a lawyer.”

Al-Zuhair was born in Paris to a French mother and Saudi father. She was raised in London, however (“My father wanted me to follow his steps and graduate from a UK university,” she says). The family traveled frequently between the UK and Riyadh, so Al-Zuhair feels a strong cultural and emotional attachment to the Kingdom.

“I love Saudi. It’s a big part of who I am and I really appreciate everything that’s going on at the moment — the advancements in culture, education, economy, and infrastructure,” she says. “The current leadership has done an amazing job at putting the country at the forefront of the global stage, and I’m really proud to see these changes.”

Although Al-Zuhair grew up in Europe, she says she was raised with “traditional values” and that her religion is very dear to her. From the get-go, she was clear about what she would, or wouldn’t, be prepared to do as a model.

“I think the industry is very accommodating,” she says. “It’s all about what boundaries you set. My agency is amazing – and these boundaries have been respected with all aspects of my work and with all my clients. I’ve been very fortunate to have a very good experience.”

Paris Haute Couture Week was a triumph for Al-Zuhair — if you ignore the time that some guy on a bike tried unsuccessfully to steal her vintage purse. In the same month, she was also part of Dolce & Gabbana’s monumental show in Sicily, where the label celebrated 10 years of its Alta Moda line. Wearing a black habit and black dress with sheer panels, she was an absolute vision on the runway situated in the historic Piazza Duomo in Siracusa.

Al-Zuhair has also worked with some of the industry’s biggest names in the form of ad campaigns and editorials, including Tiffany & Co, Burberry, and Carolina Herrera. In 2020, she landed her first Vogue Arabia cover, attracting widespread praise.

“It was shot in NEOM, and we were the first group to shoot there,” she says. “It was such an exhilarating experience because I discovered a whole new side of Saudi Arabia. It’s just one of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen — the sea, the mountains, the land — you cannot get sick of the views. We had lots of trailers in the middle of the desert; it kind of felt like a movie set. I also got to meet lots of local Saudi production members and stylists. It was so nice to have that representation.”

Juggling a demanding modeling career and a full-time university course was no easy feat. “That that was one of the most difficult aspects — the balance. It requires a lot of discipline and good time-management because every second counts. Every day I had to study, exercise, eat, go to university and see my family. There weren’t enough hours. Once, I went to Milan for work, and within 48 hours I’d been in five different cities and four countries.”

Al-Zuhair shows no signs of slowing down, though. She’s already applying to universities to continue her education and it’s clear that her modeling career is on a steep upward trajectory, with labels and brands clamoring to work with her. It seems that she’ll grab as many opportunities as possible.

“With each show you get a different atmosphere, mood and energy. There’s a different inspiration behind each collection, and that’s reflected in the clothes and the we way act and walk. I’m very grateful for all the opportunities that I’ve been given and to all of these designers for trusting me. It’s a big responsibility,” she says. “I see the work that goes into it behind the scenes, and it’s a very emotional experience. To me, fashion is an art and a form of self-expression. I’m honored to be able to present these collections and their designers’ works of art to the world.”

Source: Arab News

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2146001/lifestyle

--------

From Hyderabad to Riyadh: Women trafficked under pretext of jobs

Irfan Mohammed

19th August 2022

Jeddah: Hyderabad is known as the Information Technology (IT) hub and offers a large pool of talent that contributes to the rapid growth of the city and attracts the attention of national and global players.

However, the dark side of the city is the increasing poverty in some parts of Hyderabad which is becoming a top breeding ground for job recruitment fraud. Every day dozens of poverty-stricken women are sent to Gulf countries by fraudulent agents, falsely promising them remunerative salaries.

Whether it is Muscat or Dubai or Riyadh in the Gulf region Indian Missions have been regularly receiving appeals from Hyderabadi women for rescue and repatriation, in fact, one can find Hyderabadi women in destitute women’s shelter houses that are being operated by Indian embassies.

Despite repeated cautions by officials, Hyderabadi women still fall into the traps of local agents in desperate attempts to secure a decent future for their families. In fact, most women are aware of hardships abroad yet they are ready to take the risk to get rid of poverty.

The latest case of a 26-year-old young lady, from Aghapura of Hyderabad, in Saudi Arabia illustrates how financial compulsions can make victims of circumstances.

Excelled in studies and a self-esteemed yet poverty-afflicted Hyderabadi young lady was fraudulently brought into Saudi Arabia on the false promise of a lucrative administrative job only to discover that she was duped.

The lady, whose name has been withheld, was a topper in a college and graduated in MA English literature with distinction.

She was wedded last year and within six months of her marriage, her husband was diagnosed with renal failure, as both of his kidneys no longer functioned on their own. In a desperate bid to provide funds for her husband’s treatment, the young educated lady decided to try her luck in the Arabian deserts.

An acquaintance promised her an administrative job in a firm in Riyadh where sizable women work in various capacities and by believing in him she arrived in Saudi Arabia only to discover that the job of a house help for a family awaited her.

She was allegedly forced to longer hours and even deprived of proper food, shocked by cheating, the lady tactically ran away from the employer’s house on the pretext of disposing of garbage, and reached Hara, the Hyderabadi neighbourhood in heart of the city, from where she escaped to the Indian Embassy. She was later shifted to the Indian women’s shelter house run by the embassy.

The story of another woman, Mehrunnisa (31), is not different from the 26-year-old woman.

A native of Musheerabad in Hyderabad, a skilled beautician who arrived in Saudi to be employed in a beauty parlour but was forced to work as a maid, that too without remuneration for eight months, according to her complaint.

It was not her choice of job, but due to poverty and her responsibilities towards her family, she choose to keep the job. However, with the nonpayment of her salary, in addition to harsh working conditions, she was forced to escape.

These young ladies were part of six destitute Indian women from Telugu states, lodged in the Indian Embassy shelter house in Riyadh, desperate to return home.

Their employers had filed cases against them that hindered their departure from Saudi Arabia, however, after a long pursuit by the Indian Embassy’s diplomat S. R. Sajeev, coordinated by noted community worker Nass Vokkam of Kerala, the women were allowed to return home from Dammam and repatriated by the embassy on Wednesday.

Only a few cases are being brought to light whereas the majority of cases go unnoticed in the city.

The Telangana police are known for their best performance in investigating, however, when it comes to women being trafficked into Gulf countries, it fails to display its investigating track record. Loopholes in legal and witness modalities also cause inaction.

The Hyderabadi community is known for its passion for poetry and religious beliefs at home and abroad but when it comes to this dark side it preferred to keep mum.

There is no woman activist from Hyderabad, or anywhere in the Gulf who could counsel and coordinate with those distressed in their hour of need.

Source: Siasat Daily

https://www.siasat.com/from-hyderabad-to-riyadh-women-trafficked-under-pretext-of-jobs-2393882/

--------

Afghan girl appeals to PM Modi about visas being unavailable to study in India

Ashraf Wani

Kabul

August 19, 2022

Afghan girl Fatima, a college student, appealed PM Narendra Modi regarding the unavailability of visa to study in India.

“I, college girl Fatima from Afghanistan, appeal to the Prime Minister of India to give me a scholarship for studies in India. We love India it is like our family,” she said in a video recorded by India Today.

AFGHAN STUDENTS WAIT FOR VISAS TO STUDY IN INDIA

About 5000 students in different cities of Afghanistan studying in India are stuck in Afghanistan for the last year and are unable to do their studies due to the non-availability of visa.

After the Taliban entered Afghanistan, Afghan students enrolled in Indian institutes are still awaiting the issuance of visas to continue their education.

In May 2022, the students protested outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul and requested the Indian govt to issue e-visas at the earliest.

Source: India Today

https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/afghan-girl-appeals-to-pm-modi-about-visas-being-unavailable-to-study-in-india-1990047-2022-08-19

--------

UN lauds Nigerian women’s drive for economic development.

19th August 2022

The UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, has commended Nigerian women for their drive in enhancing empowerment for economic development.

Eyong gave the commendation on Friday, in Abuja when she received a delegation from the National leadership of the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigerian (WOWICAN)

According to her, involving non government agencies and having other interreligious partnerships for women empowerment is a wise decision to grow an association and the country at large.

She noted that interrelationships also promoted peace in a nation and enhanced growth and development.

“Partnering traditional rulers and getting to the grassroots is very necessary for effective and efficient services, child education, challenges in capacity building and cooperative management, personal hygiene are critical and would be looked into,” she said.

She urged the women not to allow their children and wards get involved in electoral violence and malpractices such as rigging, vote buying and selling which had a long term negative effects on the society.

She said that UN Women had developed a new five-year plan from 2023 to 2027, known as “Our Strategic Notes,” adding that the plan was done in a unique way.

“We went round the six geo political zones and had town hall meetings; we met with the women and ensured they spoke out, expressing themselves.

“They told us what they wanted, how they wanted it and why. We seek to know the issues and how they could be curbed”.

She noted that a holistic involvement programme which was multifaceted, multidimensional was developed as women’s needs were not the same and thus should be captured as presented by affected persons.

Eyong also said that her office had collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and other relevant agencies in how to tackle gender issues.

She said that the UN women would partner them in all they had listed for empowerment and curbing gender based issues as it concerned national development.

She further told them  that the Federal Government had approved two major programmes initiated by the UN Women with other UN donor in support.

Eyong listed the programmes as rural women economic programme and the market women transformative initiative.

“The first which is the rural women economic programme, as  we all know agriculture is the country’s  backbone, we want to ensure food security and  reinforce women capacity.

“We will inform and educate them of  the market generally, hygiene and how to sell their produce anywhere by stating the details, price, quantity and location as companies and other countries will be involved in the trade.

“The second, which is the market women transformative initiative, food wastage and storage is a key factor resulting to poverty and all farmers should note and have a way to go around this.

“These farmers need to be transformed from informal to formal ways of carrying out their activities,” she said.

She assured them that the UN Women was with them for any women empowerment programme leading to national development.

“We are a credible partner and will  like to work with you and the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) including the Muslim women.

In his speech, Osalobo Osemhenjie, Programme Specialist, Women’s Leadership and Participation, said women involvement and participation was critical as the general elections approached.

“We are going to different institutions, strengthening women leadership capacity. This will enable them observe elections to mitigate Gender based violence and other election violence.

“We also collaborate with the media, political candidates, political parties, traditional rulers and the National Centre for Women Development,” she said.

Earlier, Deaconess Victoria Ihesiulor, National President, Women Wing of the CAN commended that UN Women , stressing that they had come to seek for partnership in women development programmes.

She sought for continuous assistance by the UN Women in gender equality globally, women’s empowerment and the girl child education.

“Our education programmes have helped out over 5,000 vulnerable families with educational materials, as well as adult literacy for educationally disadvantaged single mothers who are victims of rapes or had been abandoned.

“We have equally helped 3,500 educationally disadvantaged mothers to read and write at the basic levels.

Other areas she listed included economic empowerment to address challenges of capacity in business management for women.

The women also specially invited the UN Women representative to their national convention coming up in October in Enugu.

She said WOWICAN had membership strength of over 48 million women and girls across Nigeria.(NAN)

Source: Sun News Online

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/951093-2/

--------

Dubai-based Chiara Noja latest name to join Golf Saudi as ambassador

August 19, 2022

Sotogrande: German professional golfer and Europe’s youngest golfer to win a professional golf tour event, Chiara Noja, is the latest international ambassador to join Golf Saudi in 2022, following on from icons of the women’s game including Anna Nordqvist, Anne Van Dam and Carlota Ciganda.

One of the in-form players of the past twelve months, Noja will not only feature in Golf Saudi owned events going forward but more importantly will aid the organistion in its ongoing journey to bring the great game of golf to new audiences, particularly young girls and women, both globally and within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

News of Chiara’s ambassadorship was announced during this week’s Aramco Team Series event in Sotogrande, which is taking place from August 18-20, inclusively. This week’s field is packed full of global stars, with Chiara set to go up against household names including Nelly and Jessica Korda, Anna Nordqvist, Carlota Ciganda and last year’s winner Alison Lee.

On-course lessons

Part of Chiara’s new role with Golf Saudi will see her participate in on-course lessons and clinics with female amateurs of the game, in order to not only inspire those participating but more importantly encourage them to continue to play the sport. Chiara will draw upon her own experiences of rising through the amateur ranks and what it takes to become a professional as well as talking about how golf can reach new audiences and ensure its future development.

“I have always enjoyed fantastic support from the whole team at Golf Saudi, not only via invites to their fantastic events but also in terms of providing advice too. By turning professional, I have been able to concurrently continue my academic career whilst still developing and improving as a golfer. I was lucky enough to make my debut on the Ladies European Tour at the end of 2020 and the subsequent twelve months gave me the confidence to turn professional in 2021,” commented Chiara Noja, who became a scratch golfer at the age of 11, before topping the European Rankings at both an Under-12 and Under-14 level, maintaining her upward trajectory ever since.

She added, “Golf Saudi is doing amazing things for the game whether it’s through their Mass Participation programs to drive youth engagement and their efforts to draw more people to our sport, particularly young girls and women. I am delighted to be confirmed as the latest Golf Saudi ambassador and to not only work alongside so many female superstars from women’s golf but to also support such an ambitious organisation as Golf Saudi. Having come to prominence at a similar time to Golf Saudi, I’d like to think that we’ll be able to share insights mutually and both do our bit in terms of growing the game both in Saudi Arabia and globally.”

Young start

It is fair to say that she has enjoyed a rather stellar first year as a debut professional. Making the step up at just 15 years old in October 2021, she paid back her early sponsor invites in full by not missing a single cut at the Dubai Moonlight Classic, Aramco Saudi Ladies International, and the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah. Just two months ago in June 2022, Chiara secured her maiden professional victory at the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge, nine strokes ahead of Sára Kousková, and rose to the top of the LETAS Order of Merit.

Majed Al-Sorour, the CEO and Deputy Chairman of both Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, commenting on her appointment said: “Chiara immediately impressed me when I saw her play last year in Saudi Arabia. She put in two impressive back-to-back performances at both of our tournaments. To make not only the cut in the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF and finish T40 but to do so with a shoulder injury, before following this up with a T26 in the Aramco Team Series belies her talent and bodes very well for both our new partnership but also for the future of women’s golf on the Ladies European Tour. Having also both lived and played in the Middle East, she has the potential to become a role model for all young girls here in the region and help us with our long-term aims at Golf Saudi of developing the women’s game in the Kingdom.”

Source: Gulf News

https://gulfnews.com/sport/golf-in-uae/world/dubai-based-chiara-noja-latest-name-to-join-golf-saudi-as-ambassador-1.90012268

--------

Domestic violence, academic failure pushing Chitral’s young women to commit suicide

Manzoor Ali

August 20, 2022

PESHAWAR: More young women are committing suicide than men in Chitral region due to domestic violence, academic failure and family pressure for marriage, shows a recent study published by the Pakistan Journal of Criminology.

According to the ‘Rising Trend of Suicides among Youth in Chitral: A Sociological Analysis’ conducted by teachers Noor Sanauddin and Dr Imran Sajid of the University of Peshawar and Zafar Ahmad of the Jehanzeb College Swat, 176 people ended life in Chitral region from 2013 to 2019 and 58 per cent of them (102) were women.

It noted that the 15-30 age bracket was the most vulnerable to suicide as 144 of 176 cases fell in it.

The study said women were more likely to end their life between 15 and 30 years of age as 92 of the women, who committed suicide during the period, belonged to that age bracket.

According to it, 16 men, who had ended life, belonged to the 30-45 age group. It said the suicide tendency decreased sharply for both men and women aged 40 and above.

Researcher Zafar Ahmed told Dawn that he and other researchers analysed suicide cases in Chitral in light of French sociologist Emile Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide.

He said the study argued that the traditional culture of Chitral was subjected to drastic social change in a very short time.

Mr Ahmed said social change had made youth aware of their rights but their aspirations from the current modern times were thwarted by centuries-old local traditions.

“Culture, traditions and festivals, which once used to give socio-cultural identity to the individuals, have grown weak and so do the bonds and the meanings necessary for keeping individuals into a cohesive whole.

“The culture is in a state, where traditional norms tend to disappear yet are not fully replaced by the new ones, what could be called anomie. The mind has become split between tradition and modernity creating uncertainty regarding how to live a balanced life which has increased vulnerability towards suicide,” he said.

The study listed the family disputes or mostly issues with in-laws, violence by brothers or husbands, allegations of love affairs, cultural attitudes towards women’s role in marriage, marriage against parent’s will, the burden of work, high expectations and allegations for the bad socialisation, and academic failure of children as reason for women’s suicides.

Besides, it has also listed the academic pressure or craze for success as another reason for the growing suicide incidence.

The study noted that in the district, education was considered the ladder for social mobility and there was much emphasis on it creating a culture where success was worshipped and underachieving was demonised.

“A local intellectual said congratulating those who gain success in the job market or in academia is mandatory here. The local media and the social media glorify the achievers as the proud Chitrali (Fakhr-i-Chitral)” it said.

The study noted that family members instilled their dead aspirations into their children and the result was intense stress on the youths and frustrations for those who fail to secure good grades in exams.

“A young boy, who had attempted suicide, said ‘too much’ expectation had resulted in his academic failure and ultimately led him to attempt suicide. On one occasion, six female students committed suicide less than a week after exam results were declared,” it noted. Besides, it said that youths were also committing suicide as a protest or an act of revenge.

“In Chitral, the rapid social change has brought the aspirations of youth into a clash with traditions creating an annoyance for the youths. The youths protest by ending their own lives, perhaps they find no other option,” it said.

It said threatening to commit suicide was quite a familiar dialogue in Chitral.

The researchers noted that the traditional culture of Chitral was largely developed and preserved in isolation and remained aloof from the rest of the country due to the geographical isolation,

They added that local culture used to provide socio-cultural identity and security to the natives by binding them into a cohesive whole for centuries but that security started to vanish after the region suddenly witnessed drastic social change facilitated by the telecommunication revolution, education and investment in the social sector. “This phenomenon disturbed the traditional worldview which resulted in anomie,” the study said.

“Since young people are the agents of this change, their aspirations clash with the dominant traditions. A hostile environment is created for those who deviate from the traditional ethos. The situation is more severe for young women as socio-cultural taboos restrict their choices,” it added.

The study said sympathetic response of the community towards the victims, portraying them as the oppressed, condemning the potential perpetrators, surrendering to the demands of suicide survivors and, of course, the cultural unacceptability of homicide was creating a situation where anger internalised by the youths was expressed in the form of suicide.

Source: Dawn

https://www.dawn.com/news/1705747/domestic-violence-academic-failure-pushing-chitrals-young-women-to-commit-suicide

--------

URL:  https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/historic-mosque-prayers-jumaah-women/d/127761

 

New Age IslamIslam OnlineIslamic WebsiteAfrican Muslim NewsArab World NewsSouth Asia NewsIndian Muslim NewsWorld Muslim NewsWomen in IslamIslamic FeminismArab WomenWomen In ArabIslamophobia in AmericaMuslim Women in WestIslam Women and Feminism

Loading..

Loading..