Indian Women's Kabaddi Team Moves Supreme Court For Iran Tournament
New Age Islam News Bureau
28 Jan2025
· Indian Women's Kabaddi Team Moves Supreme Court For Iran Tournament
· Afghan Women Take Scholarship Tests Offered By Pakistan
· 'It's Time To Invest In Women’s Health': Female Healthcare Is A UAE Priority, Says Official
· In Russian Region, Muslim Women Lose Child Custody After Remarrying
· Delmarva Muslim Community To Host World Hijab Day Event
· Indian Muslim Woman Wants To Follow Secular Property Law, Court Seeks Centre Reply
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/indian-women-kabaddi-team-supreme-court/d/134458
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Indian women's kabaddi team moves Supreme Court for Iran tournament
Jan 28, 2025
Representational image for women's kabaddi
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NEW DELHI: Bringing to fore the worrying affairs of kabaddi’s administration in India, the women’s team on Monday requested the Supreme Court to direct the 'Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI)', which lost affiliation to the international body, to take steps to send them to 'Senior Kabaddi Championship' scheduled in Iran from February 20-25.
Appearing for two national kabaddi players, Priyanka and Pooja, senior advocate K Parameshwar told a bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh that the women’s team is a strong contender for the gold medal at the event, but their participation is in doubt as the AKFI’s affiliation has not been restored with International Kabaddi Federation (IKF).
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IKF had disaffiliated AKFI on July 2 last year preventing both men’s and women’s teams from participating in several international competitions. The petitioners pleaded with the court to direct the Union Government to take steps for restoration of AKFI’s affiliation to the international body.
The bench initially thought that it was because of the presence of an administrator in the sporting body which led to disaffiliation of the AKFI. However, it was pointed out that elections have taken place, but the elected body has not taken charge.
“What is this politics going on?” Justice Kant asked and sought a response from the Union Government by February 3.
The petitioners said, “As AKFI’s disaffiliation by the IKF has not been revoked till date, the AKFI continues to be managed by an administrator (for the last six years). Centre and AKFI are taking no steps towards restoring the affiliation with IKF.”
International bodies revoke affiliation to national sports federations if they are not managed by a democratically elected body.
Source: indiatimes.com
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/indian-womens-kabaddi-team-moves-supreme-court-for-iran-tournament/articleshow/117617443.cms
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Afghan Women Take Scholarship Tests Offered By Pakistan
January 27, 2025
Afghan female students taking the scholarship exam in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Jan. 26, 2025.
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It took Susan Salih about eight hours to travel from Kabul, Afghanistan, to Peshawar, Pakistan, to take a scholarship exam the Pakistani government offers to Afghan students.
Salih, 25, and a group of other young Afghan women who took the exam at the Institute of Management Sciences in Peshawar told VOA that despite being able to take the test online, they traveled, accompanied by family members, to sit for the exam in person "to not miss the opportunity."
"I hope this will pay off at least for those girls who now have the chance [to pursue their higher education]," said Salih, who could not pursue her dream of a post-graduate degree in Afghanistan after the Taliban banned women from attending universities in 2022.
Pakistan's Higher Education Commission said about 5,000 young women were among 21,000 applicants for the 2,000 scholarships announced for Afghan students.
These scholarships are part of the 4,500 Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships for Afghan Students, the commission said.
The Pakistan government said the undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships are fully funded, covering tuition fees, hostel dues, and living, book and travel allowances.
Tests for the scholarships took place in-person and online on Saturday and Sunday in Peshawar and Quetta.
Muhammad Waqar Khan, senior project manager at the Higher Education Commission, said students will be "short-listed" for scholarships based on merit.
"After this [the tests], we will conduct interviews" with those students, Khan said.
Pakistani officials earlier told VOA on the condition of anonymity that the Taliban agreed to let female students pursue higher education in Pakistan, provided that their male guardians are granted visas to accompany them.
But the Taliban, who seized power of Afghanistan in 2021, denied Monday that they reached any "conditional agreement" regarding the scholarships.
The Taliban have "no agreement with Pakistan or any other country regarding scholarships for girls. ... Such unfounded claims are propaganda by certain malicious groups against the Islamic Emirate," said a statement posted on the Taliban's Ministry of Higher Education website.
The Taliban banned women from traveling long distances without a chaperone, working with the government and nongovernment organizations, and going to public baths, beauty salons and public parks.
Pakistan's Higher Education Commission said the scholarships aim to "strengthen [the] bilateral relationship" between the two countries.
Salih said these scholarships offer Afghan women hope.
"We want to be a beacon of hope for those still in Afghanistan," said Salih, adding that "even in tough times and with many limitations, there is always hope and a path forward."
Source: voanews.com
https://www.voanews.com/a/afghan-women-take-scholarship-tests-offered-by-pakistan/7952691.html
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'It's time to invest in women’s health': Female healthcare is a UAE priority, says official
28 Jan 2025
Dr Maryam Matar and Dr Nawal Nour. KT photos: Hind Aldah
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The UAE is making significant strides in addressing the unique healthcare needs of women, with a focus on increasing awareness and education.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of Arab Health 2025 on Monday, Dr Maryam Matar, founder and chairperson of the Emirates Genetic Diseases Association, emphasised the importance of empowering students in higher education "so they understand the basic physiology of their bodies".
This knowledge will help them gain “a better understanding of epigenetic impact on how our bodies react to different factors," she explained.
She also stressed the importance of health education, noting that both women and men need a deeper understanding of their health. By empowering individuals with proper information and resources, she believes many diseases can be prevented. She also pointed out that one of the simplest and most effective ways to preserve health is ensuring a good night’s sleep.
Her insights were shared during a panel discussion on ‘Advancing Healthcare for Women in the MENA’ at Arab Health 2025. Alongside Dr Matar, the panel included three other notable health professionals: Dr Nawal Nour, chair of OBGYN at Mass General Brigham hospital, Dr KalthoomAlBulooshi, chief innovative officer at Emirates Health Services, and Farouk ShamasJiwa, head of policy and communications META at Organon.
'Invest in women's health'
Dr Matar, who made history as the first woman to serve as undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, highlighted the significant gap in gender-specific healthcare, particularly in refugee camps.
In many of these settings, healthcare services are not tailored to the unique needs of women. She noted that essential services, such as antenatal care, were often overlooked.
She also shared another example from a refugee school in Mali, where the introduction of female-specific bathrooms resulted in a dramatic increase in attendance, underscoring the impact of gender-targeted services in such settings.
Other experts echoed Dr Matar’s call for more gender-targeted healthcare. Dr Nawal Nour, chair of OBGYN at Mass General Brigham Hospital, emphasised that the Middle East is not alone in the effort to improve women’s health. “Globally, it’s up to all of us to improve women’s health. Now is the time to invest in women’s health," she said.
Dr KalthoomAlBulooshi, chief innovative officer at Emirates Health Services, further highlighted that improving women’s health is not about competing with men but enhancing healthcare for all. “It’s not as if improving women’s health will negatively affect men’s health,” she stated. “When we take care of women’s health, we are taking care of the health of the whole community."
Tackling misconceptions
Throughout her career, Dr Matar has worked to dispel harmful misconceptions about women's health. One common belief she encountered was that Down syndrome is inherited from the mother. “Many of my colleagues used to believe that a young mother’s age could impact the likelihood of having a child with Down syndrome,” she explained. In response, she founded the UAE Down Syndrome Society.
She also shared a story from Hatta about a family who hid their child who had Down syndrome, due to the stigma attached to the condition. The family, who had five daughters, was worried that the child’s condition would negatively impact the daughters’ marriage prospects.
“They were concerned that people would wrongly believe it was the mother’s fault,” Dr Matar explained. “If anyone knew they had a child with Down syndrome, they would assume it was because of the mother and fear that the daughters might pass it on to their own children.”
Dr Matar shared how challenging it was to convince people to get their children screened for conditions like Down syndrome.
However, in the UAE, "if you present a well-researched case, things get done quickly,” she said. “Women in my country are very fortunate, and we’re in a unique position to help improve health services worldwide.”
“I was able to get the Ministry to include various types of screenings on a national level,” she added.
She highlighted how the UAE’s healthcare system is uniquely positioned to implement changes quickly—something that might take years in other countries. "We can implement changes that would take years in countries like the UK or the US, where legislation often needs to go through Congress," she said.
Lack of gender-specific research
Dr Matar also recalled a pivotal moment, 14 years ago, that profoundly influenced her career path. While pursuing a PhD in clinical genetics in Japan, she was taking high doses of longevity pills when a colleague advised her to stop using them during her menstrual cycle.
“It was an eye-opener,” Dr Matar recalled. “I had never been told to stop taking the supplements during my period.”
This revelation prompted her to explore the wider implications of how medication can affect women differently from men, especially during menstruation. Upon reviewing past clinical trials, she found that most did not account for gender differences, leading her to rethink the use of blood pressure medication for women during their periods.
"There were no clinical trials that considered this element back in 2011," Dr Matar said, highlighting the lack of gender-specific research. Driven by this discovery, she began lobbying for such research, making significant strides in addressing genetic disorders within the UAE population.
Source: khaleejtimes.com
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/lifestyle/health/uae-advancing-womens-health-is-a-priority-for-the-country-officials-say
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In Russian Region, Muslim Women Lose Child Custody After Remarrying
January 28, 2025
Sannet lost custody of her two children -- both under 12 -- after she remarried.
A family court in Russia’s North Caucasus region last year ruled in favor of her ex-husband, who said he did not want his children to be raised by their stepfather.
Sannet’s case is far from unique in the conservative, predominantly Muslim region, where children are often considered the sole property of their fathers and their father’s family.
These local beliefs clash with Russian law. Yet they often shape court rulings, depriving many mothers of custody of their children if they divorce, remarry, or become widows.
During the custody hearing, Sannet said the judge and her ex-husband’s lawyer openly told her that she did not have the right to keep her children because she remarried.
“My ex-husband has remarried, too, but nobody says that the children should not be raised by a stepmother,” said Sannet, whose name has been changed to protect her identity.
“I was told that [unlike a mother’s remarriage], a father’s remarriage doesn’t affect the case, and that the father should raise the children,” added the 31-year-old, who lives in Russia’s region of Ingushetia.
The court granted Sannet visitation rights to see her daughter once a week and meet her son once a month. But Sannet said her ex-husband often does not allow her to see her children.
Sannet’s former husband has also taken her to court, demanding that she pay 26,000 rubles ($260) per month in alimony. The average monthly salary in Ingushetia is 39,000 rubles ($380), according to Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service.
Judges 'Influenced' By Local Customs
The exact number of women who have lost custody of their child to their husbands in the region is not known. But such cases are considered widespread.
In 2021, the European Court on Human Rights (ECHR) ordered the Russian authorities to reunite Chechen woman Luisa Tapayeva with her four underage children, who were taken away by their paternal grandfather when her husband died.
Tapayev’s father-in-law told her that her children “belonged” to their father’s family. After failing to regain custody of her children in Russia, Tapayeva took her case to the ECHR.
In its ruling, the ECHR said it has previously dealt with similar cases from Russia’s North Caucasus regions of Chechnya and Ingushetia.
A family lawyer in the region, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said many judges in Chechnya and Ingushetia are “influenced” by local customs, and apply them in court rulings instead of following Russian law.
Attorneys representing fathers in custody trials often use the mother’s decision to remarry as a card to win the case, the lawyer said.
According to many Islamic scholars, mothers should keep custody of their children if they divorce but do not remarry. Fathers must provide financial support for their children, regardless of their living arrangements, according to scholars.
“When I hear such arguments, I tell them that this is a secular court, and that they should go and find an Islamic court if they want a ruling based on their religion,” the lawyer said.
“They tell me in the corridor that ‘it is not in our tradition to leave the children with their mother if she remarries.’ But when I ask them, ‘is it in our tradition to get alimony from a mother?’ they have no answer.”
Source: rferl.org
https://www.rferl.org/a/chechnya-ingushetia-north-caucasus--russia-child-custody-divorce/33290769.html
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Delmarva Muslim Community to host World Hijab Day event
Jan 28, 2025
SALISBURY, Md. – Hijabis on Delmarva gearing up for world hijab day, with a special event on the agenda.
On February 1st, the Delmarva Muslim Community is hosting a Crowning Culture Hijab Experience event. Folks of any background can try on a hijab and learn about the significance of the garb to the Islamic faith.
Event coordinator, Brigitte Malik encourages every woman who is curious about hijab culture to attend this free community event.
“Even if you’re Christian, you can wear the hijab. If you have a Muslim woman who you love, come and support us; wear a hijab,” Malik said. “We want to educate and spread awareness of why our hijab is worn, so we can fight discrimination with education and tolerance.”
Source: wmdt.com
https://www.wmdt.com/2025/01/delmarva-muslim-community-to-host-world-hijab-day-event/
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Indian Muslim Woman Wants To Follow Secular Property Law, Court Seeks Centre Reply
Jan 28, 2025
Amid a nationwide debate on a Uniform Civil Code, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre if a person born in a Muslim family can follow secular laws in matters of property or is bound to abide by the Sharia, the Muslim personal law. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has given the Centre four weeks to file a reply and posted the next hearing for May 5.
The petitioner in the matter is Safiya PM from Kerala. She has said she wants to leave her entire property to her daughter. Her son is autistic and her daughter takes care of him, the petition says.
Under the Sharia, a son gets twice the share of a daughter if the parents' property is divided. The petitioner has said that in her case, if her son dies due to Down Syndrome, her daughter will get only one-third of the property and the remaining would go to a relative.
Safiya has said in her petition that she and her husband are not practising Muslims, so she should be allowed to distribute her as per the guidelines in the Indian Succession Act. Currently, the Indian Succession Act does not apply to Muslims. Safiya's petition challenges this.
When the matter came up in court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said it is a "very interesting case".
The case plays out against the backdrop of the BJP's push for a uniform civil code with common civil laws for all citizens, irrespective of religion. While criminal laws are common, laws governing inheritance, adoption and succession differ across certain communities. Those opposing a Uniform Civil Code argue that such a step would curb religious freedom and threaten India's diversity.
Uttarakhand yesterday became the first state to implement a Uniform Civil Code. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said this marked a historic moment for the state and stressed that the law is designed to ensure equal rights for citizens, irrespective of caste, religion, or gender. "UCC is a constitutional measure to end legal discrimination. Through this, an attempt has been made to provide equal rights to all citizens," he said.
In his address to the nation on Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that the Supreme Court has given various directions regarding a common civil code.
Source: ndtv.com
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/muslim-woman-wants-to-follow-secular-property-law-court-seeks-centre-reply-7577616
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/indian-women-kabaddi-team-supreme-court/d/134458