Iranian Reporters, Elahe Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamedi, Share Golden Pen of Freedom For Covering Death In Hijab Arrest
New Age
Islam News Bureau
28 June 20123
• UNFPA Calls For Addressing Arab Women's Family
Planning Needs
• Iranian Art School Students Beaten And Arrested
For Defying Headscarf Rules in al-Sha'ar District
• Medical Authorities To Decide On Wearing Hijab
By The Female Students In Operation Theatres at a Kerala Medical College
• All-Female Mecca Laundry Thrives On Hajj In
Saudi Arabia
• Forget UCC For Now, Amend Succession Act: Kerala
Muslim Women’s Forum
• Iran to Meet China at 2023 Asian Women's Junior
Handball C’hip
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iranian-reporters-elahe-hamedi-hijab/d/130100
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Iranian
Reporters, Elahe Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamedi,
Share Golden Pen of Freedom For Covering Death In Hijab Arrest
An image of Elahe Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamedi, recipients of the
Golden Pen of Freedom, is projected on a screen at the World News Media
Congress in Taipei on June 28. (Koichiro Ishida)
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June 28,
2023
TAIPEI--Two
jailed Iranian reporters received a prestigious journalism award for
courageously turning the spotlight on the death in detention of a compatriot
accused of improperly wearing a hijab.
Elahe
Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamedi were awarded the Golden Pen of Freedom on June 28
at the 74th World News Media Congress being held here.
The two
reported from an early stage about the plight of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old
Iranian woman, who was arrested over the way she wore a hijab and suddenly died
during detention in September.
The
incident led to mass protests against the government.
Iranian
authorities arrested the two journalists on the grounds they conspired with a
foreign intelligence agency and instigated a demonstration. They continue to
remain in detention.
The
World Association of News Publishers said Mohammadi and Hamedi previously
reported on women’s issues in the country and have become “symbols of Iran’s
protest movement,” which has continued since Amini’s death.
The
organizers also said the two just did their jobs as journalists and called on
Iranian authorities to release them and all other jailed journalists.
The Golden
Pen of Freedom is awarded to individuals and organizations that protect and
promote press freedom.
In 2021,
the award was given to Jimmy Lai, founder of the Hong Kong newspaper Apple
Daily, who was arrested and indicted over his critical stance against the
Communist Party of China.
Dmitry
Muratov, editor-in-chief of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and
Philippines journalist Maria Ressa won the Golden Pen of Freedom before they
were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021.
At the
opening ceremony of the 74th World News Media Congress on June 28, Taiwanese
President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan is being targeted by "well-funded,
large-scale disinformation campaigns," without mentioning China, and
explained about countermeasures implemented with private-sector institutions.
“Coming
together to discuss the most pressing issues facing the industry and democracy
is what we should be doing now,” Tsai said in a speech.
In a
keynote speech, Ressa said, "You can't have the rule of law if you don't
have integrity of facts."
To win
the information warfare, "We have to go beyond journalism. It has to be a
whole of society approach," she said.
Source: asahi.com
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14943581
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UNFPA
Calls For Addressing Arab Women's Family Planning Needs
Photo Credit: IANS
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Jun 27
2023
Amman,
Jun 27 (IANS): Nearly 15 per cent of Arab women aged between 15 and 49 have
unmet family planning needs, according to a statement released by the UN
Population Fund (UNFPA).
It is
estimated that 13.6 million women, out of a total of 91 million in the 15- to
49-year-old reproductive age range in the Arab region, desire to avoid or delay
pregnancy but are not utilising contraceptives, Xinhua news agency quoted the
statement as saying.
The
statement emphasized that the elimination of unmet needs by 2030 is one of the
three transformative goals set by the UNFPA.
The
statement was released after a three-day regional consultation on family
planning was concluded in Amman.
The
meeting gathered experts from the UNFPA, along with partners from 15 countries.
The
statement highlighted the unique challenges faced by the Arab region, including
social stigmatisation related to family planning, inequitable access to
healthcare and social services, weak supply chain management systems,
healthcare workforce shortages, and funding gaps.
These
obstacles prevent women of reproductive age from accessing the desired health
and social services, the statement read.
To
address these issues, the statement emphasized the need for increased efforts
from the United Nations, government partners, and civil society to fulfill
women's family planning needs in the region.
Source: daijiworld.com
https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1094077
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Iranian
Art School Students Beaten And Arrested For Defying Headscarf Rules in
al-Sha'ar District
27/06/2023
It all
started on Monday, June 12, when students at Tehran University of Art received
a text message: “Female students must wear a Maqna’astarting June 17 if they
want to attend university classes.”
The new
rule was imposed just days before final exams and the end of the semester. One
student we spoke to said students who still refused to wear a headscarf felt
“taken hostage” by the strict imposition at exam time. Students began a sit-in
and protested against the rule.
The
message was a shock to a number of students at the university, a prestigious
art school known to be a relatively liberal institution in the Islamic
Republic. Since the widespread “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests began in
September 2022, many Iranian women have refused to wear any type of Islamic
headscarf.
Many
students at the Tehran University of Art were active participants in the
protest movement, even posting several “revolutionary music clips” on social
media during the first days of the protests last September, some of which
became anthems of resistance.
Source: observers.france24.com
https://observers.france24.com/en/middle-east/20230627-iran-hijab-headscarf-tehran-university-of-art-protests
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Medical
Authorities To Decide On Wearing Hijab By The Female StudentsIn Operation
Theatres at a Kerala Medical College
28 Jun
2023
Thiruvananthapuram:
The Thiruvananthapuram Medical College authorities on Wednesday held a meeting
to decide if the permission will be given for wearing attire covering their
heads while in operation theatre.
The
Thiruvananthapuram Medical College principal was approached by seven Muslim
women medical students on Monday seeking permission as their religious belief is
to wear long sleeve scrub jackets and surgical hoods inside the operation
theatre and they be given permission for it.
The
women medical students belong to various batches from 2020-22 and said that the
operation theatre dress code required as part of hospital regulations makes it
difficult to comply with the attire mandated by their religious belief.
Source: dtnext.in
https://www.dtnext.in/news/national/medical-authorities-to-decide-on-wearing-hijab-in-operation-theatres-720914
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All-Female
Mecca Laundry Thrives On Hajj In Saudi Arabia
June 28,
2023
Cairo:
As women’s empowerment forges ahead in Saudi Arabia, a laundry wholly managed
by Saudi females has made a name for itself among pilgrims arriving in the holy
city of Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
The
laundry was launched nearly one year ago by a group of women who were jobless
at the time.
“In the
beginning, people were surprised, because it was the first laundry with its
crew wholly females,” said co-owner Hana Al Dhufari.
Initially,
workers were employed at the laundry, but the revenue was meagre, she told Al
Arabiya TV.
“We took
over the laundry and learnt how to wash and clean dry properly, and things have
changed for the better.”
Effort
bears fruit
In their
attempt to boost the business, they printed publicity leaflets and distributed
them at hotels in Mecca, driving the demand up for their service.
The
effort paid off in the past Islamic holy month of Ramadan when Umrah or lesser
pilgrimage in Mecca usually peaks.
“Since
the Hajj season started [this month], we have seen a high turnout on the part
of pilgrims for our service,” said Hana on a note of satisfaction.
Some 1.8
million Muslims have converged in Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj in and
around Mecca as the kingdom has lifted pandemic-induced curbs on their numbers
and ages for the obligatory Islamic duty.
“We have
become popular with everyone due to our cleaning of the clothes and good
treatment,” Hana added, hoping to open more laundry businesses.
“Women
are strong and can do everything,” she concluded.
In
recent years, Saudi Arabia has vigorously pursued a drive to empower women in
different walks of life as part of dramatic changes in the kingdom.
In 2018,
the kingdom allowed women to drive for the first time in its history, ending a
decades-old ban on female driving.
In
another move enhancing women’s empowerment, Saudi Arabia allowed women to
travel without a male guard’s approval and to apply for a passport, easing
long-time controls on them.
Two
female ambassadors were among 11 Saudi envoys, who took the oath of office
before King Salman bin Abdulaziz in January.
Source: gulfnews.com
https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/watch-all-female-mecca-laundry-thrives-on-hajj-in-saudi-arabia-1.96674916
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Forget
UCC for now, amend succession act: Kerala Muslim women’s forum
28 June,
2023
NISA, a
progressive Muslim women’s forum in Kerala has come up with a proposal to amend
the Indian Succession Act ‘to consolidate and state the law applicable to
intestate and testamentary succession for Muslims (Mohammadans) in India, in
tune with the equality provisions under the Indian Constitution’. According to
the association, this will be sufficient for the time being, instead of
bringing in a Uniform Civil Code.
The
draft bill has been submitted to the National Law Commission and the state
government as well. NISA is one of the organisations that has approached the
Supreme Court of India against the Kerala HC order on Muslim women’s right to
succession.
“It took
nearly 15 years from the formation of the Hindu Code Committee and eight years
after India became an independent state, for the Hindu Code to be made a
reality and nearly 40 years for the Hindu Succession Act to be made gender
just,” said VP Suhara, president of NISA. “It has to be kept in mind that it
took nearly 55 years for the Hindu Succession Act to impart minimum equality to
Hindu women who are being governed by the Mitakshara system of Law.”
“It is
in this backdrop that we need to consider the uncodified Indian Muslim Family
Law. It is not codified even after 76 years of India becoming an independent
country and seventy-three years after it became a Republic, with a constitution
which prohibits discrimination in the name of religion, caste, sex, etc.… and
governments after governments have not made any attempts to codify the Muslim
Personal Law,” argued Suhara. “As this is the case, I am afraid that an
immediate move to go for Uniform Civil Code instead of codification of all the
personal laws to make them gender just, will not be properly appreciated.”
Suggestions
from NISA
In its
submission to the National Law Commission, NISA has suggested that the various
aspects of Muslim Personal Law be codified as follows:
The Law
of Inheritance is to be codified by amending the Indian Succession Act and
inserting a Chapter in it for Intestate Succession among all the Indian
Muslims, in line with the Christian Intestate Succession, by avoiding all the
complexities and incorporating all the suggestions made by the Law Commission
in its various reports on Indian Succession Act to render it gender just.
By
making Divorce Act applicable to Muslims, divorce and other matrimonial
remedies can be made available to Muslims.
By
making the Guardians and Wards Act applicable to Muslims minor children after
making necessary amendments to it, as suggested by various Law Commissions, if
any, the protection of the body and property of the minor children can be
ensured (after considering the rights of LGBTQIA+ community, and making
sufficient amendments to it, to render it more inclusive and gender just).
By
Making Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act Applicable to Muslims, they
will be able to adopt children.
Fundamental
rights of Muslim women
With
these changes the fundamental rights of Muslim women and children as ensured by
the Constitution of India can be ensured. This will be sufficient for the time
being, instead of making initiative for bringing in a Uniform Civil Code,
reiterated Suhara.
The
draft amendment prepared by legal experts TG Agitha and CV Kumaran proposes
that the act may be called the Indian Succession Act (Amendment) Act, 2023 and
the word “Muhammadan” be omitted from S. 29 (1) – in Part V, Chapter I, Section
29 (1) of the Act.
‘The
discussions on Uniform Civil Code have created insecurity and fear among
several communities. That’s why we have proposed this as an alternative. The
Law Commission itself had stated that the UCC was not needed in the present
circumstance back in 2017. By amending a bunch of existing laws, we can get all
the religions and communities into the ambit of a secular code, opines Dr T G
Agitha. The constitution of Indian assures everyone the right to equality and
right to live with dignity, added Dr Agitha.
The
proposal calls for an insertion of a chapter (IIA) after Chapter II, which
should include 17 additional sections with two sub sections ranging from
devolution of property to rights of the widower.
Amendment
proposals
The
amendment proposes that, the property of an intestate should devolve upon the
wife or husband, or upon those who are of the kindred of the deceased. If the
deceased (is a male and he) has more than one wife, the share of the wife shall
be divided equally among all the wives and the share of child shall be equally
divided equally among all his children.
Where
the intestate has left a widow and any lineal descendants, one-third of his
property shall belong to his widow, and the remaining two-thirds shall go to
his lineal descendants. Where the
intestate has left a widow, if he has left no lineal descendant, but has only
left persons who are of kindred to him, his entire property shall belong to his
widow.
A
husband surviving his wife has the same rights in respect of her property, if
she dies intestate – as does a widow in respect of her husband’s property, if
he dies intestate. Where intestate’s father and mother are living — if the
intestate’s father and mother are living, both of them shall succeed to the
property taking equal shares.
In 2008,
Kozhikode-based Quran Sunnath Society approached Kerala High Court with a writ
petition to declare that the Muslim’s inheritance practices are in
contravention with the principles of the Constitution. High Court bench headed
by the then chief justice, Ashok Bhushan, ruled that it cannot decide the petition,
and left it to the legislature to weigh options and frame a new law.
Now the
case is under consideration by the Supreme Court as the petitioner filed an SLP
challenging the high court’s order. AnakkayamSaidu Muhammed for the Humanist
center, V P Suhara for NISA, M C Rabia and C V Abdul Salam have also impleaded
in the case.
Source: thefederal.com
https://thefederal.com/states/south/kerala/forget-ucc-for-now-amend-succession-act-kerala-muslim-womens-forum/
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Iran to
Meet China at 2023 Asian Women's Junior Handball C’hip
June,
28, 2023
TEHRAN
(Tasnim) – Iran will play China on Friday in the opening match of the 2023
Asian Women's Junior Handball Championship.
Iran is
in Group B along with India, Uzbekistan, China and Chinese Taipei.
Group A
consists of Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Japan and South Korea.
The
Asian Women's Junior Handball Championship is the official competition for
junior women's national handball teams of Asia, and takes place every two
years.
It will
be the second time that the competition will be hosted by the Handball
Association of Hong Kong, China.
The
competition will also serve as a qualification event for the World
Championship, with the top five teams qualifying for the 24th IHF Women’s
Junior (U-20) Handball World Championship in North Macedonia from June 19 to
30, 2024.
Source: tasnimnews.com
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2023/06/28/2917935/iran-to-meet-china-at-2023-asian-women-s-junior-handball-c-hip
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iranian-reporters-elahe-hamedi-hijab/d/130100