Iran Arrests Lawyer, Mohsen Borhani, Who Criticized Regime’s Crackdown On Women’s Rights Protests
New Age Islam News Bureau
08 July 2024
·
Iran Arrests Lawyer, Mohsen Borhani, Who
Criticized Regime’s Crackdown On Women’s Rights Protests
·
Three Sportswomen, Maryam Al-Tamimi, Maysan
Hussein, And Tasneem Al-Qassab Given Saudi Citizenship as Part of Royal Order
·
Saudi Arabia Keen to Get More Women in The
Workforce
·
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: United Energy
Egypt Leads the Way in “SHE CAN” Scholarship Program
·
Iran Cracks Down On Nurses Protesting for
Better Working Conditions
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
Iran
Arrests Lawyer, Mohsen Borhani, Who Criticized Regime’s Crackdown On Women’s
Rights Protests
7 July
2024
In this
photo taken by an individual not employed by the Associated Press and obtained
by the AP outside Iran, Iranians protests the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini,
in Tehran, October 27, 2022. (AP Photo, File)
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DUBAI,
United Arab Emirates —An outspoken Iranian lawyer who has publicly criticized
how the government handled the 2022 protests has been arrested, state media
reported Sunday.
The
unrest at the time followed the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who was
detained by the police for allegedly not properly wearing her mandatory hijab.
United
Nations investigators said Iran is responsible for the physical violence that
led to her death, which triggered massive protests that quickly escalated into
calls to overthrow Iran’s four-decade-old Islamic theocracy.
The
Iranian judiciary’s Mizan news agency said Sunday that Mohsen Borhani had been
previously sentenced but did not give further details on his case or jail time
issued.
Borhani,
also a university professor, became popular on social media for his critical
views of the Iranian government during the 2022 demonstrations that shook the
Islamic Republic and sparked a security crackdown that killed more than 500
people and saw over 22,000 detained.
The
arrest came a day after reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian was elected to
lead the country.
Pezeshkian
promised to ease enforcement of the country’s mandatory headscarf law and reach
out to the West after years of sanctions and protests squeezing the Islamic
Republic.
Source: timesofisrael.com
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-arrests-lawyer-who-criticized-regimes-crackdown-on-womens-rights-protests/
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Three
Sportswomen, Maryam Al-Tamimi, Maysan Hussein, And Tasneem Al-QassabGiven Saudi
Citizenship as Part of Royal Order
08 Jul
2024
The
athletes given Saudi Citizenship included three: French tennis player Mayasan
Hussaein(L), Muay Thai fighter Tasneem Ali-Qassab(c) and American footballer
Maryan Al-Tamimi(R).(Social Media)
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RIYADH:
A number of athletes have recently been granted Saudi citizenship after a royal
order issued on Thursday.
The
decree aims to grant Saudi citizenship to people whose distinguished expertise
serves the nation in various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It is
also in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to create an environment that
attracts, invests in, and retains exceptional creative minds, SPA added.
The
athletes given Saudi citizenship included three women: American footballer
Maryam Al-Tamimi, French tennis player Maysan Hussein, and Muay Thai fighter
Tasneem Al-Qassab.
Al-Tamimi
was picked by head coach Monica Staab for the women’s national team. She is
registered with the Saudi Football Federation and was influential in securing
her former side — the Sharqiya Flames — first place in the Eastern Province
League in 2021. She has since signed for Al-Ittihad in a deal that runs until
2025.
French
teenage tennis player Hussein, who is 15 years old, was also given citizenship.
She has won several girls’ championships in Saudi Arabia.
She
finished 41st in the Asian Tennis Federation’s U14 competition and won the
Mahdia Open Tennis Championship in Tunisia in the U16 category.
She was
also runner-up in the women’s singles at the 2023 Saudi Games.
Syrian
Muay Thai fighter Al-Qassab, also a teenager, was among those granted
citizenship. She won the 2021 Saudi Women’s Championship, held in Riyadh, and
came third in the Virtual World Championship, held in the same year amid the
COVID-19 pandemic, during which she represented Saudi Arabia.
Source: arabnews.jp
https://www.arabnews.jp/en/features/article_125795/
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Saudi
Arabia keen to get more women in the workforce
July 06,
2024
RIYADH:
Tourism and hospitality in Saudi Arabia are experiencing a remarkable
transformation driven by the increased participation of women, thanks to
inspirational leaders and strong government action.
This
shift is significant considering that tourism is one of the few global
industries where women already constitute the majority of the workforce.
Saudi
Arabia is keen to get more women in the workforce, and the Kingdom has already
surpassed its Vision 2030 ambition of achieving 30 percent female participation
in the labor market.
Indeed,
the goal has now been upscaled to 40 percent — double the rate seen in 2010,
according to World Bank figures.
Tourism
and hospitality is seen as a sector where women can thrive, and the Kingdom is
working hard to create more opportunities in this area.
According
to EHL Insights, just five years ago, Saudi females faced significant barriers
when it came to working in hospitality companies, and women had to go to great
lengths to convince their families to allow them to pursue education or
employment opportunities in this industry.
This has
changed thanks to the economic and cultural shifts spearheaded by the Vision
2030 initiative, and according to data issued by R Consultancy Group in March,
45 percent of the sector’s workforce now comprises female professionals –
925,000 workers.
“There
are several inspirational female leaders that have helped to strategically
shape both the Saudi tourism sector and the regional tourism sector more
broadly such as Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al-Saud, vice minister of tourism,
and Basmah Al-Mayman, regional director of the UN World Tourism Organization,”
Anne-Laure Malauzat, partner at Bain & Co. in the Middle East, told Arab
News.
She went on to stress that on the ground in Saudi
Arabia, there is a massive presence of women across different parts of the
tourism and hospitality sectors, from the architects designing the Kingdom’s
key airports, passport control officers, and cab drivers as well as hospitality
leaders and tourist guides.
“Examples
of these success stories include Sarah Gasim, senior vice president — head of
KSA Hotels and Hospitality at JLL — who managed hotel complexes in the past.
(She) is a published author and lectured on hospitality, helping to shape
future generations in the sector,” Malauzat said.
From Red
Sea Global’s point of view, spokesperson ZainabHamidaddin Al-Hanoof Al-Hazzani
told Arab News that women bring unique perspectives, skills, and insights to
roles such as hospitality management, customer service, marketing, and event
planning, which significantly enhance the overall quality of service and customer
satisfaction.
“Their
diverse perspectives, enhanced service delivery, and inclusive workplace
contributions are driving innovation and economic growth, making them
indispensable to its success,” she said.
Al-Hazzani
claimed that women are actively shaping the future of the tourism and
hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia, adding: “This is particularly true at RSG
where women play a pivotal role in elevating guest experiences, fostering
cultural diversity, and contributing to the overarching success of our
projects.
For
example, our Elite Graduate Program has provided employment opportunities for
250 individuals, with 30 women advancing to management positions.”
Opportunities
and challenges for women in the tourism and hospitality sector
The
tourism and hospitality sector in Saudi Arabia is undergoing a significant
transformation, with a growing focus on cultural tourism, luxury experiences,
and heritage preservation which presents a wealth of opportunities for women.
Laila
Kuznezov, director, Implementation Practice at management consulting firm
Oliver Wyman told Arab News that from leadership roles in hotel management to
careers in event planning, cultural tourism experiences, and hospitality
education, women can leverage their “unique skills and perspectives” to shape
the future of Saudi tourism.
“By
empowering women in tourism and hospitality, they are not only creating a more
inclusive workforce, but also sending a powerful message to the world. With a
diverse pool of talent contributing to the industry, they can create a
world-class visitor experience that reflects the Kingdom’s rich heritage,
culture tapestry, and forward-thinking vision for the future,” Kuznezov added.
Speaking
on the key constraints women face in entering the labor force and securing
employment, Kuznezov shed light on how many of the barriers in Saudi Arabia are
similar to those faced globally.
“A gender wage gap persists, and women at
certain education levels, particularly those with only a secondary school
leaver’s certificate, have much lower participation rates than men. A huge
opportunity lies in capitalizing on the highly skilled female workforce in
Saudi Arabia,” she explained.
The
director also noted that: “We need to see more women as CEOs, CFOs, and senior
managers across all industries, particularly in highly productive sectors
driven by technology and knowledge. Encouraging female entrepreneurship is also
crucial. The talent and ambition are there – it’s about providing continued
support and fostering a culture that actively supports and promotes women in
transformative roles.”
She
continued to clarify that the recent rise in female labor force participation
is a positive indicator, but the next step is ensuring these women secure
high-quality jobs that leverage their full capabilities.
“It is
also important to support gains for women at all levels and geographic areas. A
key focus in Saudi Arabia is ensuring access to the training and childcare
options needed for success, especially for women who have been out of the
workforce for long periods of time, are first-time job holders, or have lower
education levels,” Kuznezov emphasized.
“Since
Saudi women tend to stay closer to their hometowns, geographically dispersed
training programs and readily available childcare are crucial to expanding
regional employment opportunities,” the director further said.
According
to Kuznezov, Saudi Arabia is embracing a progressive approach by developing and
enabling regulations to promote new forms of work, such as freelancing,
part-time work, platform and gig economy work, and remote working.
“These
models offer women increased flexibility and more channels to enter and
participate in the workforce, which should contribute to continuing the
positive trends of increased participation and reduced unemployment for women,”
she said.
Women
participation’s impact on Vision 2030
Female
participation in the tourism and hospitality sector has helped support the
Vision 2030 agenda on multiple fronts, believes Bain & Co.’s Malauzat.
“From a
talent perspective, enabling the sector transformation through their
leadership, skills, and contribution across all parts of the tourism and
hospitality lifecycle,” she said.
“From a consumer understanding perspective,
women globally take an estimated 80 percent of consumer-related decisions so
having women represented in the sector is critical to ensure a real
understanding of consumers in this space,” the partner affirmed.
She
concluded: “From a gender equity perspective, this has been an important
contributing factor to helping the Kingdom achieve its overall aspirations for
female participation in the labor market nationally.”
From
RSG’s lens, according to Al-Hazzani, by actively promoting gender diversity in
the workforce within the tourism and hospitality sector, the firm is taking
significant strides towards realizing the vision outlined in Vision 2030.
“This
initiative aligns seamlessly with the broader objective of cultivating a
vibrant and inclusive economy that harnesses the full spectrum of talent and
capabilities within the nation,” Al-Hazzani said.
“Recognized
as a fundamental driver of economic diversification, the tourism and
hospitality sector in particular benefits immensely from the integration of
female talent. Their presence not only fuels the sector’s growth but also
enhances its competitive edge and long-term viability through delivering an
enriched tourism experience and driving innovation,” she added.
The
spokesperson justified that by prioritizing gender diversity in the tourism and
hospitality workforce, RSG is not only embracing Vision 2030’s ideals but also
paving the way for other sectors to do the same.
“Our
dedication to inclusivity not only strengthens our economy but also reaffirms
our collective commitment of creating a more prosperous and equitable society,”
Al-Hazzani concluded.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2544801/business-economy
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Empowering
Women Entrepreneurs: United Energy Egypt Leads the Way in “SHE CAN” Scholarship
Program
7th July
2024
United
Energy Egypt celebrates the outstanding achievements of 50 remarkable female
entrepreneurs at the graduation ceremony of the “She Can” program, in
collaboration with The American University in Cairo (AUC) – School of
Continuing Education.
The SHE
CAN Scholarship is 60 Hours program which offered opportunities to 50 eligible
candidates from Cairo and Alexandria and equipped women entrepreneurs with the
practical skills to effectively manage, lead, and scale up microenterprises.
Through comprehensive training and mentorship, participants apply program
content to their existing startups, developing action plans for implementation.
The curriculum covered various entrepreneurship topics, including business
modeling, planning, management, marketing, product costing, pricing, hiring,
workforce development, startup growth, and market analysis.
Speaking
at the graduation ceremony, Yasmin Ali, Senior Manager of Corporate Affairs at
United Energy Egypt, expressed her insights to the participants. “It is with
great pride that United Energy Egypt sponsors SHE CAN for the second year in a
row. The program provides unique opportunities not only in academia but aims to
take businesses to the next level of engagement and investment. Witnessing the
passion and potential of these entrepreneurs underscored our belief in the
transformative power of education and community support.”
Kamel Al
Sawi, President of United Energy Egypt, shared his enthusiastic support for the
program. “Since the launch of the first round in 2022, the graduates of the
‘She Can’ program have consistently impressed us with their innovation and
dedication. We are committed to continuing our educational and upskilling
support to the entrepreneurs and look forward to witnessing the incredible contributions
they will make in the coming years.”
United
Energy Egypt will continue investing in the women empowerment initiatives that
foster innovation, excellence, and sustainability.
Source: egyptoil-gas.com
https://egyptoil-gas.com/news/empowering-women-entrepreneurs-united-energy-egypt-leads-the-way-in-she-can-scholarship-program/
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Iran
cracks down on nurses protesting for better working conditions
08-07-24
The
Islamic Republic has intensified its pressures on nurses protesting in various
parts of Iran for improved working conditions and better wages.
Protesting
nurses in Iran’s Mazandaran province in northern Iran have been summoned by
Labor Dispute Settlement Boards for "participating in illegal
gatherings" and given “10 days to present a defense,” ILNA reported
Sunday.
However,
the threats and summons aren’t limited to Mazandaran province, said the head of
the Iranian Nursing Organization, Mohammad SharifiMoghadam, adding that dozens
of nurses have been summoned and threatened across the country.
“This
has been the policy of the Ministry of Health throughout the country. About 60
nurses have been summoned in Kerman, some in Kermanshah. In different parts of
the country, nurses have been summoned and threatened because of expressing
their protest,” SharifiMoghadam said.
Iran's
labor law forbids the formation of trade unions and as such trade unions are
not recognized in Iran.
The
prohibition means that a wide range of professionals, from teachers and nurses
to industrial workers, are unable to freely organize and protest against their
challenging working conditions.
Defying
the restrictions, Iranian nurses have been protesting for better wages and
improved working conditions in recent weeks.
Nurses
employed in the private sector risk "non-renewal of their contracts and
termination" if they join protests. Similarly, protesting nurses working
in the public sector under the Ministry of Health are often "summoned and
punished by Labor Dispute Settlement Boards," ILNA said.
According
to SharifiMoghadam, despite the critical shortage of nursing staff, Iranian
nurses earn a meager 200,000 rials per hour, equivalent to just 33 cents.
Moreover, even this paltry salary often takes months to be paid.
“We have
a shortage of nurses, and they force nurses to work overtime with an hourly
wage of 200,000 rials, which is paid after six months. Nurses have no right to
say that we don't want forced overtime or that we object to this illegal
behavior,” SharifiMoghadam said.
Earlier
this year nurses in Kermanshah had not received their salaries for over 12
months, he said. Consequently, the nurses resorted to protests which led to
them being summoned by the Labor Dispute Settlement Boards.
The
nurses say the current wages are neither legal nor fair and are protesting
against mandatory overtime, SharifiMoghadam said.
The
issue of low wages however isn’t just limited to nurses. Iran’s economic
landscape for workers is marked by severe hardship, with annual inflation
hovering above 40% for five years while wages have only risen marginally.
In
March, the Iranian government announced a 35% increase in the minimum wage,
raising it to 110 million rials (approximately $186) with benefits.
Despite
the increment, the new minimum wage remains woefully insufficient, covering
only almost half of the monthly $400 that the average household of three
requires for basic food and necessities in a big city like Tehran.
The dire
working conditions for Iranian nurses have led to several deaths, suicides, or
migration of nurses to other countries, especially Oman.
Last
month, three nurses died due to overwork. Additionally, in April, an Iranian
nurse took his own life due to these harsh conditions.
Last
year, Iranian MP Hossein Ali Shahriari reported that around 10,000 healthcare
practitioners have left Iran over the past two years, seeking better
opportunities in the Arab world.
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202407070490
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iran-crackdown-lawyer-mohsen-borhani/d/132658