Kurdish Activist, Varisheh Moradi, on Hunger Strike in Iranian Prison
New Age Islam News Bureau
12 OCTOBER 2024
· Kurdish Activist, Varisheh Moradi, on Hunger Strike in Iranian Prison
· Pakistani Artist Saher Shah Rizvi’s Tribute to the Women of Karbala Honoured in Syria?
· Iranian Female Single Sculler, Zeynab Norouzi, Wins Gold At Asian Games
· UN Mourns Ban On Afghan Girls’ Education On International Girl Child Day
· Women Defenders Continue To Call On UNHRC To Ensure Justice For Grave Human Rights Violations In Afghanistan
· US Charge D’Affaires: Afghanistan’s Future Is Bleak Without Girls’ Participation
· Fact Check: No, That's Not A US Woman In Viral Bangladesh Video Showing Her Being Heckled For 'Not Wearing Hijab
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/kurdish-varisheh-moradi-prison-strike/d/133424
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Kurdish Activist, Varisheh Moradi, on Hunger Strike in Iranian Prison
Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner serving her sentence in Tehran's Evin Prison
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OCTOBER 11, 2024
Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner serving her sentence in Tehran's Evin Prison, has begun a hunger strike to protest the death sentences handed to female activists in Iran.
Moradi, imprisoned in the women's ward of Evin, started the hunger strike on Thursday.
A source told IranWire that during Moradi's second court hearing on October 5, Judge AbolqasemSalavati prohibited her lawyers from speaking.
The Ministry of Intelligence forces arrested Moradi in Sanandaj on August 1, 2023.
During the investigation phase in Tehran's Revolutionary and General Prosecutor's Office, she was charged with "rebellion" due to her membership in one of the Kurdish opposition parties.
In the laws of the Islamic Republic, the charge of "rebellion" is defined as an "armed uprising against the Islamic Republic" and carries the death penalty.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/134919-kurdish-activist-on-hunger-strike-in-iranian-prison/
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Pakistani Artist Saher Shah Rizvi’s Tribute to the Women of Karbala Honoured in Syria?
October 11, 2024
Pakistani artist Saher Shah Rizvi has made history. Her series of paintings, dedicated to the women of Karbala, has been permanently displayed in the holy shrines of Syeda Zainab, Syeda Ume Kulsoom, and Syeda Sakeena in Damascus, Syria. This is the first time any artwork has been exhibited in these sacred sites. Saher, known as the “Girl with Golden Fingers,” was honored at a ceremony held on October 1st, 2024, at the Shrine of Syeda Zainab. Mr. Mohsin Al Harb, Manager of the Haram of Syeda Zainab, praised her work, saying, “We have never displayed any artwork before, but these paintings will remain in the shrine forever.” Syrian government officials awarded Saher for her remarkable contribution. Born in Badin, Sindh, Saher’s art highlights the strength and resilience of the women of Karbala, particularly Syeda Zainab, who she describes as “a symbol of resistance and hope.” Her paintings serve as a tribute to the pivotal role women played in the story of Karbala. This isn’t Saher’s first major achievement. Recently, she held an exhibition titled Hundred Heroes at the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi, which celebrated Pakistan’s forgotten heroes and heroines. The exhibition earned widespread acclaim. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she started a campaign to honor these unsung heroes, streaming her art sessions live. Millions tuned in to watch. Saher graduated with distinction from the Centre of Excellence in Arts and Design, Jamshoro (now SABS). Her art has been displayed in countries including the USA, Italy, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Dubai, Kosovo, and Iran. Over her career, she has received numerous national and international awards, inspiring many young artists and writers with her work. With 11 years of experience as a professional artist, Saher has also worked as a lecturer in fine arts and spent a decade as a media host and director on Pakistani TV channels. She currently resides and works in Karachi, where her paintings continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Saher’s journey has not been without challenges. After losing her brother, who was a pillar of support in her artistic endeavors, she transformed her grief into a source of creativity. Her series From Pain to Paintings reflects her resilience and artistic brilliance. “Art,” she says, “is a way to preserve history and inspire future generations.” As her work now graces the walls of these sacred shrines, Saher has not only paid homage to the women of Karbala but has also brought great pride to Pakistan. Her achievements should be recognized. The Government of Pakistan should honorSaher Shah Rizvi with a national civil award for her extraordinary contributions to art and culture. Her work, both in Pakistan and internationally, deserves greater promotion. She is a true cultural ambassador, and her art inspires millions. The author, Engr. Ramesh Raja, PMP, is a Civil Engineer, visionary planner, and literary enthusiast with a passion for art and recreation. He can be reached at engineer.raja@gmail.com
Source: dailyparliamenttimes.com
https://www.dailyparliamenttimes.com/2024/10/11/from-sindh-to-syria-saher-shah-rizvis-tribute-to-the-women-of-karbala-honored-in-syria/
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Iranian Female Single Sculler, ZeynabNorouzi, Wins Gold At Asian Games
12 October 2024
Iranian rower ZeynabNorouzi has clinched the gold medal in women’s lightweight single sculls at the Asian games in Uzbekistan, delivering Iran its first gold in the event.
Norouzi secured victory with a time of 8:02.721 minutes, overcoming strong competition from rowers representing Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Thailand.
The silver and bronze medals went to Uzbekistan and Hong Kong representatives, respectively.
In another event, FatemehMojallal earned a silver medal in the women’s single sculls final, clocking a time of 7:50.701 minutes.
She faced tough opponents from Chinese Taipei, China, Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, and Japan.
China’s representative took the gold, while Hong Kong secured the bronze.
The Uzbek rower, who previously competed in the B final of the Paris Olympics, finished fourth.
Iran is participating in the competitions with a team of five athletes: Mahsa Javar, ZeynabNorouzi, Kimia Zarei, FatemehMojallal, and AmirhosseinMahmoudpour.
Source: presstv.ir
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/10/12/735073/Iranian-female-single-sculler-secures-gold-for-the-country
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UN mourns ban on Afghan girls’ education on international girl child day
October 11, 2024
By Ayaz Gul
ISLAMABAD —
The United Nations expressed "a great deal of sorrow" Friday over the continued ban on girls’ secondary school education in Taliban-led Afghanistan as the world body marked the International Day of the Girl Child.
Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, renewed her appeal to Taliban leaders to "change course" by lifting the restrictions. She lamented that over 1,100 days have passed since the de facto Afghan authorities imposed the ban on educating girls over the age of 12.
“This is more than three years of lost opportunity – not just for millions of girls, but for families, communities, and the entire country,” Otunbayeva stated.
”As each day passes, even greater damage is being done to the lives of women and girls. Afghanistan is being taken backwards, not forwards, in its quest for peace, recovery, and prosperity,” the U.N. envoy added.
Otunbayeva pledged that her organization will continue to advocate for Afghan women and girls, even in the face of attempts to silence them.
The Taliban have enforced their strict interpretation of Islamic law since regaining control of the impoverished country in 2021.
Girls ages 12 and older are barred from attending school, making Afghanistan the only country with that restriction. Female students have been prohibited from attending universities, and most Afghan women are banned from working in both public and private sectors, including the U.N. They are also forbidden from visiting public places such as parks and gyms.
Islamist leaders enacted contentious “vice and virtue” laws last month, which solidified existing restrictions on women’s freedoms and deemed the sound of a female’s voice in public as a moral violation.
The decree requires women to cover their entire bodies and faces when outdoors and forbids them from looking at men to whom they are not related and vice versa, sparking a global outcry and calls for reversing the curbs.
The Taliban government, which is officially not recognized by any country, defends its policies as being aligned with Sharia and Afghan customs, rejecting international criticism as an interference in the internal affairs of the country.
The United Nations recognizes October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child to acknowledge girls' rights and the challenges they face worldwide.
Source: voanews.com
https://www.voanews.com/a/un-mourns-ban-on-afghan-girls-education-on-international-girl-child-day/7818949.html
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Women Defenders Continue To Call On UNHRC To Ensure Justice For Grave Human Rights Violations In Afghanistan
11 October 2024
On 9 October, the UN Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a European Union-led resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan. Despite ongoing calls from human rights groups and defenders, the resolution does not establish a mechanism to advance justice, accountability and reparation for past and ongoing grave human rights violations and abuses, some of which amount to crimes against humanity, including gender persecution against women and girls.
Last month, ninety Afghan, regional and international non-governmental organisations renewed their appeal for the Council to establish an independent investigative mechanism, complementary to the Special Rapporteur’s mandate, with a mandate to collect and preserve evidence of international crimes committed in Afghanistan. Such a mechanism would support and strengthen accountability efforts, including at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. This call was echoed in a joint statement by ISHR and partners during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur at this session.
However, as noted by South Africa during the resolution’s adoption, the resolution does provide a strong basis on which the Human Rights Council ‘can and indeed must build going forward’. The resolution includes language that provides a blueprint for future action and acknowledges the need for further action to advance accountability including through the ‘collecting, preserving and analysing evidence of crimes’. The resolution referenced the report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which was presented to the Human Rights Council earlier this session, which identified the need to address deeply entrenched impunity for abuses during decades of conflict in Afghanistan. The OHCHR report highlighted the importance of collecting and preserving evidence of abuses for future accountability and transitional justice processes, and proposed guiding principles for accountability efforts, including that they are comprehensive, multidimensional, victim-centred, and gender-responsive.
At this Council session, Afghanistan’s Universal Periodic Review was also adopted. Building on our joint submission, ISHR, WILPF and Forum Asia noted that gender persecution is taking place within an institutionalised system of gender-based discrimination, segregation and oppression; meaning that the people in Afghanistan, particularly women and girls, are living under a regime of gender apartheid.
As UN experts have concluded ‘nowhere else in the world has there been an attack as widespread, systematic and all-encompassing on the rights of women and girls as in Afghanistan’, and the situation continues to deteriorate, with women and girls facing arbitrary restrictions in every area of their lives.
‘Governments need to take action. An independent accountability mechanism to address past and ongoing abuses in Afghanistan that adopts a gender-responsive approach, and effectively investigates the gendered dimensions of violations and abuses is urgently needed. It will respond to calls from women human rights defenders and contribute towards the pursuit of justice for all in Afghanistan, including women and girls; justice which demands a multifaceted approach. The time to act is now,’ said ISHR’s Tess McEvoy.
Source: ishr.ch
https://ishr.ch/latest-updates/hrc57-women-defenders-continue-to-call-on-the-council-to-adequately-advance-justice-for-grave-human-rights-violations-in-afghanistan/
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US Charge d’Affaires: Afghanistan’s future is bleak without girls’ participation
By Fidel Rahmati
October 11, 2024
Karin Decker, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, stated that Afghanistan’s future is bleak without the participation of girls. She emphasized that Afghan girls deserve learning, growth, work, and advancement opportunities.
On Friday, October 11, Decker wrote on the social media platform X to mark International Day of the Girl, reaffirming that the U.S. mission tirelessly supports the right to education for Afghan girls.
“The U.S. advocates tirelessly for Afghan girls who face barriers to education and basic freedoms because every Afghan girl deserves the chance to learn, grow, work, and thrive. The future of Afghanistan cannot be assured without their contributions,” Decker said.
October 11 is designated as International Day of the Girl. On this day, many international human rights organizations and women’s rights activists reiterated the importance of girls’ education and called for the removal of restrictions on Afghan women.
Rosa Otunbayeva, head of UNAMA, announced on International Day of the Girl that it has been 1,120 days since the Taliban banned education for girls. She highlighted that Afghan girls are suffering more each day and that Afghanistan is regressing instead of progressing.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a message on International Day of the Girl, stating that collective action is needed to support and remove barriers for Afghan girls. The organization emphasized the importance of investing in women’s movements and amplifying the voices of “Afghanistan’s courageous girls.”
The ongoing denial of educational opportunities for Afghan girls is a critical issue that demands urgent attention from the international community.
Supporting their right to education not only empowers these young women but also contributes to Afghanistan’s broader development and stability. Global leaders and organizations must work together to ensure that Afghan girls can realize their potential and shape a brighter future for their country.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/us-charge-daffaires-afghanistans-future-is-bleak-without-girls-participation/
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Fact Check: No, That's Not A US Woman In Viral Bangladesh Video Showing Her Being Heckled For 'Not Wearing Hijab'
12 Oct 2024
By : Logically Facts, Prabhanu Das
Social media users have circulated a 20-second video showing a woman on a cycle-rickshaw being harassed by a group of young boys, claiming it depicts an American woman in Bangladesh targeted for not wearing a hijab or burqa.
In the viral video, the woman holds what appears to be a cake in one hand while attempting to call someone on her phone as the boys heckle her. The video abruptly ends after she exits the rickshaw and walks away, continuing to be heckled. Archived versions of posts featuring the video can be found here, here, here, here, and here.
Screenshots of X posts claiming that an American woman was heckled and harassed for not wearing a burqa in Bangladesh. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)
However, we found that the woman in the video is Bangladeshi actor MishtiSubas. She was harassed after publicly cutting a cake to celebrate former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday in Dhaka.
What we found
A reverse image search using keyframes from the viral video led us to a report published by Lokmat Times (archived here). According to this report, the woman in the video is MishtiSubas, a supporter of Hasina who faced harassment after publicly celebrating the politician's birthday in Dhaka.
We found additional video clips of the same incident, captured from different angles but featuring the same woman and the group of boys, posted by users on Facebook (archived here) and YouTube (archived here), detailing the event in Bangla.
Visuals shared in media reports of the incident involving MishtiSubas are the same as the ones seen in the viral video. (Source: Lokmat Times/Modified by Logically Facts)
A Google keyword search in Bangla yielded several news reports, including a Hindi report by ABP Live and Bangla reports by the Daily Inqilab and The Report. These reports included similar screenshots from the viral video and identified the woman as Subas.
We also located video reports from Bangladeshi news organizations Protidiner Bangladesh, SATV, and Channel Satkahon (archived here, here, and here). In these reports, the actor is seen holding a cake and announcing her intention to celebrate Hasina's birthday. However, the crowd begins to heckle and harass her, eventually ruining the cake. Subas condemns the incident while attempting to fend off the hecklers, as shown in the videos.
According to these reports, the incident in the viral video occurred on September 29, 2024, at Dhaka University's Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) when Subas visited to celebrate Hasina's birthday. The reports quote her stating that she had privately celebrated Hasina's birthday on the actual date, September 28, 2024, but this public celebration was a protest against a disrespectful ceremony organized by students at TSC on Hasina's birthday (archived here).
The verdict
The viral video does not depict an American woman being harassed for not wearing a burqa in Bangladesh. The woman seen in the video is Bangladeshi actor MishtiSubas, who was heckled after attempting to publicly celebrate former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday on September 29, 2024.
Source: abplive.com
https://news.abplive.com/fact-check/viral-bangladesh-video-does-not-show-us-woman-being-heckled-for-not-wearing-hijab-1723727
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/kurdish-varisheh-moradi-prison-strike/d/133424