New Jersey Judge Nadia Kahf Takes Oath On Quran, Wearing Hijab
New Age Islam News Bureau
27 March 2023
• In A First, Women Allowed To Offer Tarawih In
Lucknow Eidgah
• Nikhat Zareen Leads India's Dominance At IBA Women's
World Boxing Championships
• Sania Mirza Shares Blessings Of Umrah With Fans In
Ramadan
• Afghan Women’s Protests Violently Dispersed in Kabul
• UAE Pardons Israeli Woman Convicted On Drug Charges
• Burqa-Clad Women Protest In Pak For Release Of
Political Outfit’s Chief
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
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New Jersey Judge Nadia Kahf Takes Oath On Quran,
Wearing Hijab
Anwar Iqbal
March 26, 2023
Nadia Kahf taking oath by placing her hand on a copy
of the Holy Quran.—Dawn
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WASHINGTON: Nadia Kahf made history when she took oath
in New Jersey this week as the first judge to do so while wearing a hijab. And
she took oath by pressing her hand on a copy of the Holy Quran she inherited
from her grandmother.
“I’m overwhelmed and very happy and very honoured as
well,” Judge Kahf, 50, said in an interview to the North Jersey news outlet.
“I’m happy the bench is going to reflect (all) residents of New Jersey.”
Ms Kahf specialises in family law and has worked on
immigration cases too. Since 2003, she has served on the board of the New
Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil
rights organisation.
After a year of waiting, Ms Kahf, is now a state
Superior Court judge in Passaic County, New Jersey. She was nominated by New
Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
“I am proud to represent the Muslim and Arab
communities in New Jersey in the United States,” she said during her swearing
in ceremony on Tuesday. “I want the younger generation to see that they can
practice their religion without fear that they can be who they are.”
Ms Kahf was nominated to the Superior Court in
February 2022, but her nomination was delayed for more than a year, first by
State Senator Kristin Corrado who signed off in October.
Ninety elected officials of the State of New Jersey,
and hundreds of citizens, wrote letters to Senator Corrado, asking her to “do
the right thing and make history by appointing the very first hijabi to the New
Jersey Superior Court.”
State senators in New Jersey can use “senatorial
courtesy,” an unwritten tradition that allows a lawmaker representing the
hometown of a nominee to stall or block their consideration.
Even though Senator Corrado withdrew her hold in
October 2022, Judge Kahf’s final confirmation came early this month, almost six
months after the objection was withdrawn.
“It is ordered that effective upon taking the judicial
oath of office, and until further Order, Superior Court Judge Nadia Kahf is
hereby assigned to the Superior Court, Family Division, Passaic County,” said
an official order issued on March 3, 2023.
Nadia Kahf immigrated to the United States from Syria
when she was 2-year-old. She is the president of the Islamic Centre of Passaic
County, one of the state’s largest mosques and is also a legal counsel for Wafa
House, a nonprofit domestic violence and social service agency.
Ms Kahf did her B.A. in 1994 from the Montclair State
University, which is the second largest public university in New Jersey by
enrollment. She received a law degree (Juris Doctorate or JD) from the Seton
Hall University, New Jersey. A JD degree is the highest education available in
the legal profession in the United States.
Seton Hall is a private Catholic research university,
founded in 1856 by Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley. It is the oldest diocesan
university in the United States.
She has been practicing law in New Jersey since 2002
and is widely respected as a lawyer.
One of her clients, Clyde B, wrote that her law firm
“represented me and my wife in a real estate transaction in New York City. The
lawyers and support staff were extremely professional and always responded to
our phone calls and emails quickly. Even though we were out of town.”
Source: Dawn
https://www.dawn.com/news/1744252/new-jersey-judge-nadia-kahf-takes-oath-on-quran-wearing-hijab
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In a first, women allowed to offer Tarawih in Lucknow
Eidgah
Mar 22 2023
Women were first allowed to offer namaz on Eid and
Bakrid in the Eidgah in 2016.
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Lucknow, Mar 22 (IANS): With the holy month of Ramzan
set to begin, the Aishbagh Eidgah in Lucknow, for the first time, will allow
women to offer Tarawih namaz during Ramzan.
Tarawih namaz is one of the most special prayers for
Muslims which involves reading long portions of the Quran as well as performing
many 'rakahs' (cycles of movement involved in Islamic prayer).
"A part of the Eidgah will be reserved for women
for performing Tarawih namaz during Ramzan this year," said Imam Eidgah,
Maulana Khalid Rasheed FarangiMahali.
"The entry for women will be from the designated
gate of the Eidgah to offer namaz at its Baradari. Several women believe that
Tarawih namaz is only for men, but Fikah and Fatwa has mentioned that tarawih
should be taken up as a habit by both women and men," said Mahali, who is
also rector of Islamic Centre of India.
"There is a mention that in the times of the
Sahaba (one of the four caliphs), the practice of women offering tarawih was
followed. The doors of the mosques are and will always remain open for the
women," he added.
The move has been applauded and welcomed by Muslim
women.
Fatima Asad, a school teacher, said: "At times,
it becomes problematic for women to offer namaz properly at home due to bustle
of the servants and children. This move will provide proper space and a
peaceful environment for the women. The Eidgah should provide proper
sanitation, safety and pardah so that women feel comfortable while offering
namaz."
She said that this step will assure gender equality.
"In several Muslim countries, this provision has
been made available for several years. I am happy that finally women got their
rights in Lucknow," she said.
Source: DaijiWorld
https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1062631
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Nikhat Zareen leads India's dominance at IBA Women's
World Boxing Championships
26 Mar 2023
India's Nikhat Zareen reacts after winning the gold
medal. — PTI
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Indian pugilist Nikhat Zareen defended her title after
beating two-time Asian champion Nguyen Thi Tam of Vietnam in the final of the
50kg category at the IBA Women's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi on
Sunday.
Nikhat is now the second Indian female boxer to win
multiple gold medals at the World Championships after legendary pugilist Mary
Kom.
The 26-year-old Nikhat overpowered her opponent
throughout the bout and did not provide any chance for Nguyen Thi Tam to regain
her balance.
Later in the evening, Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze
medallist LovlinaBorgohain won the gold in the 75 kg category by beating
Australia's Caitlin Parker.
Lovlina's win gave India its fourth gold medal at the
IBA Women's World Boxing Championships after the 2022 Commonwealth Games
medallist Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) and three-time Asian medallist Saweety Boora
(81kg) also won gold for the hosts on Saturday.
Source: Khaleej Times
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Sania Mirza Shares Blessings Of Umrah With Fans In
Ramadan
27 March 2023
Sania Mirza, the wife of a sportsman and a sportswoman
herself, recently on her Instagram shared a beautiful, heartwarming video of
her family and kids, performing Umrah. She and her parental family, along with
her son Izhaan, performed Umrah during the Holy month of Ramadan.
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Sania Mirza, the wife of a sportsman and a sportswoman
herself, recently on her Instagram shared a beautiful, heart-warming video of
her family and kids, performing Umrah. She and her parental family, along with
her son Izhaan, performed Umrah during the Holy month of Ramadan.
Ms Mirza can be seen wearing a black gown and covering
her head with a head scarf, while Izhaan, was seen wearing a white “Ehraam,”
and Shalwar Qameez in some pictures.
Sania shared a wholesome note along with her pictures,
saying, “It has been the most amazing and fulfilling time here… may Allah call
us back again and again… In sha Allah… Alhamdulillah for everything… ya Rabb
tera shukarhai…” She also thanked her travel company for making sure that they
are comfortable and and everything was taken care of.
She immensely thanked Allah Pak for every opportunity
she got and for embracing her with the blessing of Umrah.
Sania also shared a picture with her son and her
niece, who is her sister Anum’s daughter. The tennis star seems to be overjoyed
with happiness as she holds both the kids. Her sister, mother, and her sister’s
mother in law were also seen in one of the pictured shared from her account.
Source:SamaaEnglishTV
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Afghan Women’s Protests Violently Dispersed in Kabul
By Fidel Rahmati
March 26, 2023
A group of Afghan women protested in the west of Kabul
city on Sunday to raise their voices against a ruling that bans females from
education and universities, Khaama Press has confirmed.
Scores of women gathered in the capital, Kabul, on
Sunday, for a peaceful march in response to the continued ban on women’s
education. Their chanting slogans demanded to reopen of schools and
universities for girls.
However, the women protesters were attacked and
dispersed by the Taliban security forces, videos sent to Khaama Press showing.
According to a protester who spoke to Khaama Press
under anonymity, the “women’s movement for justice” was responsible for
organizing the demonstrations and added at least three protesting women were
detained during the rally.
Taliban security forces reportedly beat women
protesters and fired into the air, and they violently dispersed protesters.
The women protesters say that since the Taliban seized
power, the number of girls women’s suicides has increased, women and girls
attending schools and universities have decreased to zero, and early marriages
have doubled.
The Taliban administration has received harsh
criticism from the UN and rights organizations for imposing these restrictions
on women.
According to Richard Bennett, the UN special
rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, these policies display a “pattern of
absolute gender segregation and aim to make women invisible in the society.”
Source: Khaama Press
https://www.khaama.com/afghan-womens-protests-violently-dispersed-in-kabul/
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UAE pardons Israeli woman convicted on drug charges
Ahmed Asmar
26.03.2023
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday pardoned and
released an Israeli woman sentenced to life in prison on drug charges.
FidaaKiwan, 44, was arrested in Abu Dhabi in April
2021 for possessing cocaine and cannabis. She was originally sentenced to
death, but the punishment was reduced to life in prison.
According to the Times of Israel newspaper, Kiwan has
flown back to Israel from the UAE on Sunday.
In 2020, the UAE and Israel signed a US-sponsored
agreement to normalize their relations. Since then, top officials from both
countries exchanged visits and signed several bilateral agreements.
Source: Anadolu Agency
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/uae-pardons-israeli-woman-convicted-on-drug-charges/2856198
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Burqa-clad women protest in Pak for release of
political outfit’s chief
27th March 2023
Islamabad: Following the arrest of Maulana Hidayatur
Rehman, chief of Pakistani political outfit Haq Do Tehreek (HDT), in January,
the situation in Gwadar has been calm so far. But after the lifting of section
144 in the town, protests against the Maulanas arrest have simmered again.
A demonstration by Burqa-clad women on Sunday raised
the voice for Maulana Hidayat’s release, Dawn reported.
Maasi Zainab is the female face of the Gwadar
agitation that has grabbed the nation’s attention for over a year.
According to Zainab, the HDT chief was put behind bars
for no reason.
“He is being punished for speaking out against the
injustice meted out to the people of Gwadar,” Zainab said while speaking to
Dawn in this town’s Mullah Band area, near the deep sea port.
“Our fishermen were not being allowed to go out to the
sea due to security considerations. Families had to go without a square meal
for days together.
“But after the protests led by Maulana Hidayat, the
authorities provided a little relief to fishermen. Now we are able to make ends
meet.”
According to Zaini, as she is commonly known, the
Maulana has given a voice to the inhabitants of Gwadar, who were largely
ignored by the authorities while charting out an uplift plan for this port
town, Dawn reported.
Another vocal woman here is Zargul Baloch, a member of
the HDT. She was one of the leading organisers behind the women’s march.
While speaking to Dawn, she laments that the state
does not bother to meet the citizens’ basic needs like water, electricity,
education and health.
“The most alarming development for us has been illegal
trawling as it wipes out entire fish stocks, leaving nothing for our fishermen.
Maulana Hidayatur Rehman has given some hope to us.
“But since he is in jail for giving voice to our
grievances, the people of Gwadar, women included, have come out in his
support.”
Hundreds of women, led by HDT leader Hussain Wadela
and Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, took part in the rally.
The marchers passed through the major streets of
Gwadar, including the Marine Drive, near the beach.
They also highlighted other issues, e.g. the matter of
the missing, Dawn reported.
Source: Siasat Daily
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