Jamaat-e-slami Woman Wing Welcomes Justice Dhulia's Verdict On Hijab
New
Age Islam News Bureau
14
October 2022
•
Pakistan Reports Rape of a Woman Every Two Hours: Survey
•
Morocco's Women Martial Artists Defy Cultural Stereotypes
•
HRW's Heather Barr: Continued Ban on Afghan Girl's Schooling 'Shameful'
•
Saudi Arabia’s Inaugural Football Women’s Premier League Kicks-Off
•
If Not Hijab, Should Muslim Women Wear Bikini? Asaduddin Owaisi Asks
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/jamaat-islami-hijab-verdict/d/128177
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Jamaat-e-slami
Woman Wing Welcomes Justice Dhulia's Verdict on Hijab
Representational
photo
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Oct
14, 2022
The
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind's (JIH) women wing has welcomed Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia's
verdict in the hijab case.
Appreciating
Justice Dhulia's position that wearing a hijab is a matter of choice, JIH
Secretary Rahamathunnissa, in a statement, said: "We concurred with
Justice Dhulia's remarks that the 'Karnataka High Court took the wrong path'
and that Article 15 is "a matter of choice, nothing more and nothing
else'."
Appealing
to the judiciary to expedite the matter, she said the matter is "already
affecting many girls and depriving them of their fundamental right to attend
college and study in the education stream of their choice" She also
appealed to the Karnataka government of Karnataka to withdraw its controversial
order in view of Justice Dhulia's observation and make an end to the
unwarranted controversy.
Rahamathunnissa
said: "The JIH feels that it is not the job of courts to decide about
essential religious practices of any religion. We are not against the practice
of uniforms in educational institutions. However, publicly funded schools,
while deciding the dress code, should maintain neutrality and respect for the
religious and cultural practices of the concerned students, and the dress code
should accommodate their religious principles, cultural leanings, and the
voices of their conscience. If the Karnataka HC order is upheld then it may
exclude Muslim women from education and it goes against the stated policy of
the government of including all communities and social groups in the path of
progress and development. Education is a crucial national priority and it
demands a conducive atmosphere where all could pursue their education without
being forced to make any compromise on their faith or conscience."
Source:
Web India123
https://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20221014/3993000.html
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Pakistan
Reports Rape of a Woman Every Two Hours: Survey
In
2022, the media reported 305 rape cases across the country. (Representational)
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Oct
13, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
A woman is raped in Pakistan in every two hours, according to a recent survey,
highlighting the unsafe conditions for women in the country where cases of
honour killing is also rampant.
The
survey, which was conducted by Pakistani channel's investigation unit based on
the data collected from the Punjab province's home department and Ministry of
Human Rights, also found that while the rape cases of women spiked, the
conviction rate remained an abysmal 0.2 per cent.
"Newly
collected and compiled data showed that as many as 21,900 women were reported
to have been raped in the country from 2017 to 2021. This meant that around 12
women were raped across the country daily, or one woman every two hours,"
said the survey.
According
to the surveyors, these reported cases could be just the tip of the iceberg
since societal stigma and fear of retributive violence prevent women from
reporting the incidents to the authorities.
The
data showed that in 2017, some 3,327 cases of rape were reported. This jumped
to 4,456 cases in 2018, 4,573 cases in 2019, dipped to 4,478 cases in 2020
before rising to 5,169 cases in 2021, the report said.
In
2022, the media reported 305 rape cases across the country. As many as 57 cases
were reported in May, June (91), July (86) and August (71).
Previously
media reports have said that in Punjab, around 350 rape cases were reported
from May 2022 to August 2022 but no data was available for the first four
months of the year.
In
2022, as many as 1,301 cases of sexual violence against women were heard in 44
courts in Pakistan. The police filed charge sheets in 2,856 cases. But only 4
per cent of the cases went to trial, the report said.
The
conviction rate in rape cases during this period remained at an abysmal 0.2 per
cent, the report highlighted.
In
2020, the United Nations Development Programme ranked Pakistan top among the 75
countries with an anti-women bias in courts.
In
July this year, a report released by the World Economic Forum placed Pakistan
as the second-worst country in terms of gender parity and put it at the 145th
spot in a survey of 146 countries. The only worse performer than Pakistan was
Afghanistan.
Pakistan
(145th) has a population of 107 million women, and in 2022 has closed 56.4 per
cent of the gender gap that affects them.
This
is the highest overall level of parity Pakistan has posted since the WEF report
was launched.
Pakistan
has also been urged by international bodies, including the United Nations, to
take action against the rising cases of honour killings in the country.
According
to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan data, 1,957 incidents of honour
killings were reported over the past four years, according to a report by the
The Express Tribune.
The
average rate of honour killing in women between 15-64 years was found to be 15
per million women per year. "This may be yet another dubious world
distinction we have achieved", the article in the newspaper commented.
Source:
Times Of India
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Morocco's
Women Martial Artists Defy Cultural Stereotypes
Naima
Morelli
October
14, 2022
The
world of martial arts has been opening up to female fighters only recently.
While famous mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and ex-judoka Ronda Rousey paved
the way to the ring for generations of fighters internationally — de facto
changing a very macho environment — in the Arab world the concept of a female
fighter is still something new.
Yet
it is the very traditional Morocco that is producing a number of female
champions, in many different martial arts disciplines. Perhaps this is because
Morocco promotes martial arts. The Union of the Royal Moroccan Federation of
Martial Arts and Combat Sports, which was established in 2014 by the Moroccan
Ministry of Youth and Sports, actively promotes, develops and protects the
interests of this sport.
During
the Islamic Solidarity Games 2022 in Turkey, Morocco secured 62 medals: 15
gold, 13 silver and 34 bronze medals. In June, the sport received additional
attention when Moroccan boxer Aya Bozarhoun won the fourth title at the Muay
Thai and Boxing Championship in France. The 11-year-old athlete has dominated
several regional and national boxing and Muay Thai competitions recently,
receiving praise from the president of the Moroccan Royal Federation of
Kickboxing and Muay Thai, Abdelkrim El Hilali.
Hilali
said that Morocco is proud that four athletes — two females and two males —
qualified for The World Games in Birmingham over the summer. This came right
after the announcement of the qualification for The World Games of female
athletes Belouarrat Oumaima and Meriem El Mubarak, the first Arab girl who
qualified for the 2017 World Games and awarded by King Mohammed with the Wissam
Al Moukafaa Al Wataniya order of national merit in 2016.
Moroccan
female athletes told Al-Monitor of the challenges they face in practicing
martial arts.
“As
a Moroccan woman I strongly believe that it is very important for women to
learn how to defend themselves,” said two-time world champion, category 62 kg,
Hind Charifi, 32, who practices the martial art of Brazilian jiujitsu (BJJ).
She is convinced that martial arts can provide self-defense tools for women in
order to help them regain autonomy over their physical security in Morocco and
elsewhere.
Charifi
studies at Royce Gracie Ju Jitsu Academy in Dubai, where she competes
professionally. She moved to Dubai after having taken up martial arts in
Morocco in 2019.
When
she first walked onto the mat, she knew she was entering a discipline with few
female athletes. “There is still the idea that combat sports aren't safe, and
for women especially there is this fear of damaging their face,” she told
Al-Monitor.
The
first prejudice is connected to the stereotype that women are fragile and not
suited for combat sports, a belief rooted in the mentality of many Moroccan
families.
Charifi's
family was initially not on board, but after seeing their daughter's results
and observing her increased confidence, they started supporting her. “They were
proud of my results, and even my sister was inspired to become a boxer,” she
noted.
Religion
might present additional issues. “I’m a Muslim and as you can imagine it is
hard to explain that women can fight and defend themselves,” Charifi added.
“Moroccan women are only just starting to get into combat sports. At the time I
was living in Morocco, for five or six years, I was the only female Moroccan
BJJ competitor.”
Charifi’s
first fight was in Abu Dhabi in 2012. “I was scared to get injured, but I made
it to second place,” she recalled.
Khaoula
Oubraim, Moroccan kickboxing champion, was encouraged by her mother to study
martial arts, but when she started participating in championships more
seriously, the rest of the family opposed to the decision, fearing she would
get hurt. “But my mother was always supportive; for her, it was this dream that
her eldest son did not realize,” she added.
Based
in a small Moroccan city at the time, training in a safe space proved
challenging. She was only 17 when she took up kickboxing at a local gym, where
she experienced sexual harassment by two coaches.
But
despite the bad experience, she didn’t give up the sport and decided to enroll
in another gym more than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from where she lived, a place
she reached on an old motorbike that, on several occasions, broke down in the
middle of the road. Often she had to commute by foot and confront thieves and
attackers.
Her
commitment and determination paid off; Oubraim won the title of Moroccan
Champion in K-1 in 2018.
“My
mother was the first person to support me, along with my coach, who is also my
father-in-law,” said Brazilian jiujitsu world champion Amal Amjahid. She told
Al-Monitor, “People around me often said it wasn't a woman's place and it was
for men.” However with time, everyone around her started accepting her love for
kickboxing, becoming proud and supportive of her successful career.
“I
tried several types of martial arts with the aim of finding the one that I
liked the most,” she noted.
As
soon as Amjahid took her first BJJ class, she knew it was exactly what she was
looking for. “With jiujitsu I had finally found the martial art that allowed me
to beat someone bigger and stronger than me.”
She
tested her skills in both girl's and boy's divisions to challenge herself and
get the most out of the tournaments. “When I started jiujitsu I was the only
girl taking the classes and only few girls took part in tournaments,” Amjahid
said. “Today there is noticeable progress, several classes at the various
academies are filled with girls.”
Amjahid
is from Belgium, but she feels very connected to her Moroccan heritage, noting,
“I am a mix of both cultures and I try to make the best of both. I feel very
connected to Morocco, and I think this connection strengthens me.”
Franco-Moroccan
Rizlen Zouak, 36, told Al-Monitor, “Morocco is part of me. I am proud and
honored to be the first Moroccan woman to qualify for the Olympic Games and to
be the first female MMA fighter.”
Nicknamed
"the lioness of the Atlas," Zouak is several times African champion,
European team champion in France, and has participated twice in the Olympic
Games in judo.
Zouak
started practicing judo when she was six years old. “When I was a little girl I
loved getting into fights. When I took up judo I loved it straight away and I
told myself I wanted to become a champion,” she said. She was lucky to have a
supportive family that helped her in her efforts.
At
her first competition as a young judoka, Zouak won national medals in 2008 and
2010. She won seven World Cup medals and took silver at the Grand Prix in
Samsun in 2014. She took the African title in 2012 and 2015 in the U63kg
division. At the Olympic Games in London, she finished 17th. “When I entered
higher level competitions, I had the chance to really prove my worth. At 15, I
started training with the France judo team. I was extremely determined, and I
had a deep desire to become proficient at a higher level.”
In
2017, Zouak became interested in MMA, where athletes have a diverse background
in different martial arts. In order to enter this new discipline, she had to
learn boxing and kicking; even though she was a very proficient judoka, she was
a beginner in striking disciplines. Her first big challenge was in London. “It
was just incredible; what an immense joy to be able to bring this first female
victory in MMA to my homeland Morocco,” she said.
Amjahid
explained, “Practicing martial arts is important for women in order to
acknowledge our strength, and also realizing that we are capable of dealing
with aggression makes us more confident and courageous. Luckily I never faced
aggression myself. I think people notice your self-confidence in the way you
walk, but also in your eyes.”
Charifi
remembers having to use her fighting skills a few years ago at a club in Paris,
where a person followed her and tried to touch her chest. “I chocked him, and
then I had to raise his legs in order to wake him up,” she said.
She
also experienced a street attack in Morocco. “The guy was shocked and scared by
my reaction, which actually came quite natural to me,” she recalled. “He
understood that I could beat him up and he ran away.”
Aside
from self-defense, Charifi believes that being a martial arts athlete is
something that influences all aspects of her life. “For me, it is something
that enhances confidence in all areas of your life — from the way you present
yourself at work, to raising kids, to doing stuff that is traditionally
considered ‘a men's task’ such as fixing the sink or a car.”
Zouak
concluded, “There always will be people who are misogynistic, but you have to
leave them in their world, ignore them and be on top of your game.”
Source:
Al Monitor
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HRW's
Heather Barr: Continued Ban on Afghan Girl's Schooling 'Shameful'
October
14, 2022
Amid
ongoing international calls for the reopening of girls' schools, the associate
director of the Women's Rights Division at Human Rights Watch said that
Afghanistan is the only country on the planet kept from school because of
gender.
It
has been 389 days that girls have been banned from going to schools and it's
faced with lots of reactions of human rights organization.
“Today
is the 389th day that girls in Afghanistan have been banned from attending
secondary schools after the Taliban imposed this ban in September of 2021. This
is absolutely a shameful situation which makes Afghanistan the only country on
the planet which systematically denies girls access to education because of
gender. This is going to have a devastating impact,” said Heather Barr,
Associate director of the Women's Rights Division at Human Rights Watch.
Meanwhile,
some female students above grade six and residents of the country urged the
government to reopen secondary schools for girls.
"If
schools are closed even for one day that is a big loss for girls and
Afghanistan, I hope schools reopen for girls," said Shakila, a student.
"Girls
have the same right to go to schools as boys, and Islam also emphasizes girls'
education," said Najma, a student.
"Education
is obligatory for men and women, from Allah," said Mohammad Zameer, a
Helmand resident.
The
deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate said efforts are continuing to reopen
schools for girls above grade six.
"On
this issue, officials of the Islamic Emirate have explained it to you and that
is enough for now," said Billa Karimi, Deputy Spokesman for the Islamic
Emirate.
In
the current situation, thousands of girls are deprived of education and this is
negatively affecting the Islamic Emirate's relationship with the international
community.
Source:
Tolo News
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-180291
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Saudi
Arabia’s Inaugural Football Women’s Premier League Kicks-Off
14
October, 2022
In
another historic milestone for women’s football in the Kingdom, the Saudi
Arabian Football Federation Women’s Premier League marked its official launch
in Riyadh on Thursday.
Last
year’s inaugural Regional Women’s Football League was a massive success,
crowning three champions across Riyadh (Al Yamamah), Jeddah (Jeddah Eagles) and
Dammam (Eastern Flames) and welcoming over 400 players from 16 teams.
Riyadh
side al-Mamlaka then went on to claim the National Championship following an
8-team knockout battle in Jeddah.
Since
then, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has restructured the
competition to launch the Premier League and First Division League.
The
newly launched league has not only captured attention locally but has also
welcomed an influx of talented players from across the region and rest of the
world.
With
a historic prize pool of $380,500, the Premier League will see eight teams
compete in two-legged fixtures over the next 14 weeks.
Meanwhile,
the First Division League, launching on November 11, will play host to 17 teams
from across the Kingdom who will battle over a prize pool of $175,580, with the
champion promoted to the Premier League.
The
new leagues come on the back of massive progress across all areas of women’s
football in Saudi Arabia, from youth development to coaching to refereeing.
Last
month, the national team took part in its first-ever matches on home soil
against Bhutan, with the first fixture seeing the hosts bounce back from a 3-1
defeat at half-time to claim an epic three-all draw thanks to Bandari
al-Mubarak and Nora Ibrahim’s strikes in the closing 15 minutes.
The
second match also featured a 6-goal thriller with the visitors getting the
upper hand in a 4-2 victory. Led by German head coach Monika Staab, the team
made its debut earlier this year with two victories against the Seychelles and
Maldives.
Transformative
grass roots investment has also been undertaken with the launch of three
regional training centers welcoming hundreds of 6 to 17-year-old girls.
Saudi
Arabia’s investment in the women’s game also stretches to staging regional
tournaments. It recently staged the West Asian Football Federation 3rd Women’s
Futsal Championship in Jeddah, with the hosts finishing with a silver medal.
SAFF also announced an intention to host the 2026 Women’s AFC Asian Cup,
growing the game across the continent, central to the bid.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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If
not hijab, should Muslim women wear bikini? Asaduddin Owaisi asks
Oct
14, 2022
HYDERABAD:
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin
Owaisi has said when Sikhs can wear pagdi (turban), Christians can wear a cross
and Hindus vibudhi on their foreheads, why can't Muslim girls wear hijab in the
classrooms.
“If
not hijab, should we wear a bikini? If you want, you can wear it. Why are you
bent upon finishing off our religion, culture and traditions like hijab and
beard. Banning Hijab will send a wrong message to the girls from Sikh, Hindu,
Christian and other communities that Muslims are lesser citizens compared to
them. If freedom of religion and culture is allowed, they will learn each
other's culture and the nation will only get united and stronger," Owaisi
said.
Addressing
a public meeting organised near Golconda fort here on Thursday night, the AIMIM
chief said divisive forces are trying to wipe out Muslim culture. “But Muslims
will not leave India. They will fight democratically to achieve all the rights
guaranteed to the citizens in the Constitution of India. We will stay in India
and will also die here. We will not get intimidated by the BJP and RSS,” said
Owaisi.
Referring
to the split verdict of the Supreme Court on hijab, the Hyderabad MP said one
of the judges, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia observed that asking a pre university
schoolgirl to take off her hijab at her school gate, is an invasion on her
privacy and dignity. Justice Dhulia opined that asking the girl student to
remove the hijab at the school gate is violative of the Fundamental Right given
to her under Article 19(1)(a) and 21 of the Constitution of India.
Owaisi
played a video clip on the stage and said: “A police officer while addressing
huge crowds in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has said he will pick up and kill
Muslims (chun chun ke maroonga), will bury the Muslims (Mitti mein mila
doonga), will run bulldozers on their houses."
"Listen
to the language of the UP police officer. After taking oath on the
Constitution, a police officer is talking like this. And Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath will not react on this issue,”
he said.
Source:
Times Of India
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