Kuwaiti Artist Amira Behbehani: Inside The Kuwait Exhibition Raising Funds For Palestinian Women
New Age Islam News Bureau
11 October2024
· Kuwaiti Artist Amira Behbehani: Inside The Kuwait Exhibition Raising Funds For Palestinian Women
· Physical Remand Of Imran’s Sisters, Aleema Khanum And Dr Uzma Khan, Extended For Two More Days
· This Happened — October 10: Iran Lets Women Attend Soccer Game
· British Woman On Death Row, 27 Muslim Inmates Participate In Navratri Fast And Rituals
· For International Day Of The Girl Child: Afghan Girls Share Their Stories Of Resilience And Resistance Under Taliban Rule
· Women’s Rights Group Warns Of Genocide Threat In Sudan’s El Fasher
· Iraq: Reject Changes To Personal Status Law Which Would Allow Child Marriage
· A Decade Of Photos Captures The Enduring Resilience Of Ordinary Afghans
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Kuwaiti Artist Amira Behbehani: Inside The Kuwait Exhibition Raising Funds For Palestinian Women
Kuwaiti artist Amira Behbehani
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10 October, 2024
In Kuwait, more than 100 artists from around the world expressed their solidarity with Palestinian women through an extensive art exhibition.
Curated by Kuwaiti artist Amira Behbehani, Women in War – Palestine was held this month at the Contemporary Art Platform art gallery, showcasing approximately 200 artworks varying in artistic mediums.
The event was organised by the Intisar Foundation, established by Kuwaiti philanthropist HH Sheikha Intisar AlSabah, with the aim of supporting women and children in war zones by allowing them to express themselves through mental health drama therapy programmes.
The October exhibition aligned with the one-year mark of the start of Israel's genocide on Gaza and so funds from Women in War – Palestine went towards supporting Palestinian women.
"Art is a very peaceful and acceptable medium to support any cause. Artists talk through their creativity and send strong messages through art," Amira Behbehani told The New Arab.
"What is happening to women and children in Palestine is very evil and sad, and now we know that this is an ongoing war against humanity in the region, especially with what happened to Lebanon," she added, highlighting the expansion of Israel's war into Lebanon.
Some of the participating artists, including Raed Issa and Abdul Rahman Katanani, are Palestinians themselves, and according to Amira, it was a challenge getting their work out of Palestine.
She was also overwhelmed by the great turnout of the public. "We had daily visitors and the artwork sold very well," she added.
"The support of people, either buyers or visitors, is unbelievable. You can feel how everyone is affected by the situation."
One of the artists who donated their work to the exhibition is Mohammed Joha, who is based in Marseille, France, but is actually from Gaza.
After a long period of absence, Mohammed finally visited his hometown again in July 2023.
"It was a beautiful visit," he told The New Arab. "I met with my family, friends and a new generation of people. The city also developed with new buildings and other details, and there was high luxury. Today, Gaza, in the most unexpected way, looks the exact opposite of how I last saw it."
The war on Gaza broke out one month after Mohammed's return to France. "It was really difficult and painful. I lost my sister, her husband and their children in one hit," he said.
"We lost a lot of family members, friends, neighbours and acquintances. The first three months of the war greatly affected my psyche and energy, but life had to go on... I had to go back to my work and life. At the same time, I am still following my family's news and attending to their needs."
At the exhibition, Mohammed, who attended its opening in late September, presented his textural artwork, Capital of Tents.
Scraps of fragile material, notably cloth and paper mache, are juxtaposed together, creating a landscape of tents, as currently seen in Gaza.
"Life in Gaza is primitive now and has been completely transformed," he said, adding that the work also reflects the decades-long history of displacement endured by Palestinians, from the Nakba to now.
Another artist who took part in the show is the Lebanese, Dubai-based artist TagreedDarghouth, known for her highly expressive canvases marked with swirly brushstrokes, that reflect troubling times.
Through her gallery representative, Tabari Artspace in Dubai, a selection of her paintings, based on the devastating August 4, 2020 explosions in Beirut, were on display.
"I was enthusiastically approached by Maliha Tabari, the gallerist of Tabari Artspace, who explained the initiative behind this exhibition," Tagreed told The New Arab.
"We are all seeking ways to support the Palestinian people in any way we can. The exhibition's focus on helping distressed Palestinian women through drama therapy is incredibly impactful," Tagreed added.
"Even in the darkest times, we continue to create and use art as a powerful response. For me, this represents a significant challenge to the war machine that dehumanises us, often with the backing of countries that pride themselves on human rights.”
Source: newarab.com
https://www.newarab.com/features/inside-kuwait-exhibition-raising-funds-palestinian-women
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Physical Remand Of Imran’s Sisters, Aleema Khanum And Dr Uzma Khan, Extended For Two More Days
An undated image showing PTI founder Imran Khan (centre) pictured with his sisters Uzma Khan (left) and Aleema Khan. — X/@Aleema_55/File
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Malik Asad
October 11, 2024
ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Thursday extended the physical remand of Aleema Khanum and Dr Uzma Khan, sisters of former prime minister Imran Khan, for two more days in a case related to the PTI’s recent protest in Islamabad’s D-Chowk.
ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain extended the physical remand for two days while the prosecution had sought their custody for 15 more days.
The prosecutor, Raja Naveed, argued that the sisters of Mr Khan had incited protesters using a megaphone, thrown stones on police officers, and coordinated with others to plan attacks on state institutions, including Parliament and the Supreme Court.
According to the prosecution, mobile phones recovered from the two sisters contained crucial evidence, and further investigation was necessary to retrieve all relevant information.
The prosecution also stated that a co-accused had alleged that the two sisters supplied explosive materials for use during the protest.
This, according to Mr Naveed, was part of a larger plot to target key government institutions.
The sisters were allegedly part of a group that aimed to stage a violent demonstration which led to clashes with law enforcement agencies, resulting in damages to public and private property, he added.
Barrister Salman Safdar, representing Mr Khan’s sisters, contested these allegations, arguing that they were being unjustly detained and had not been arrested at the protest site.
He highlighted the fact that none of the sisters had been involved in any direct violence at the time of the incident, and questioned the need for their continued remand.
He criticised the authorities for targeting women, especially given their status as family members of a former prime minister, and called for their release on bail.
“These women have not committed any crime. They were merely present in the area and are now being punished because of their relationship with Imran Khan,” argued Barrister Safdar.
“Where is the evidence to show that they provided explosives or led these protests? The prosecution is merely speculating,” he added.
During the hearing, Aleema Khan reiterated her innocence, claiming that she and her sister had been standing peacefully when they were detained.
She questioned the credibility of the charges against them and criticised the authorities for their handling of the case.
Meanwhile, the same court granted pre-arrest interim bail to PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja in connection with a case related to a protest outside the Supreme Court.
The PTI supporters had gathered outside the apex court to express their dissatisfaction with the ongoing legal and political developments, especially decision on Article 63-A, and the proposed constitutional amendments.
The Kohsar police registered the case against several PTI leaders and workers, accusing them of instigating unrest and causing damage to public property.
In a related development, the Islamabad High Court was told that a special investigation team had been set up to look into the disappearance of PTI’s lawyer IntizarPanjutha.
During the hearing of a petition seeking his recovery, the inspector general of Islamabad police informed Chief Justice Aamer Farooq that through digital camera footage MrPanjutha was last seen in F-6 and Ayub Chowk, Islamabad. He said various agencies had been contacted for tracing his whereabouts.
However, he added, SIM of MrPanjutha’s mobile phone had not been traced through Call Data Record (CDR) and efforts to track the phone’s location via WhatsApp were being made.
The court directed the IGP to submit a detailed report on the progress of the investigation and adjourned hearing till Friday (today).
Source: dawn.com
https://www.dawn.com/news/1864468/physical-remand-of-imrans-sisters-extended-for-two-more-days
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This Happened — October 10: Iran Lets Women Attend Soccer Game
By Worldcrunch
October 10, 2024
Some 3,500 women were the first since the Islamic Revolution to be allowed to attend a football match in Iran for a World Cup qualifier in Tehran on this day in 2019.
What was the first sporting match attended by women in post-Revolution Iran?
In October 2019, Iran allowed 3,500 women to attend a World Cup qualifying football match in Tehran's Azadi Stadium. The 3,500 women who were allowed to attend the match were selected through a lottery system. This approach aimed to ensure fairness in the distribution of tickets.
Why had women been banned from attending men's football matches in Iran?
For nearly four decades, Iran had a strict ban on women attending men's football matches in stadiums. The ban was enforced by conservative clerics and officials who argued that allowing women in stadiums would lead to the mixing of genders and create an inappropriate atmosphere.
Why were Iranian women allowed to attend a soccer match in 2019?
The change in policy allowing women to attend the football match was partly the result of international pressure and activism within Iran. There were instances of women openly defying the ban and attempting to attend matches, and these actions garnered attention and support both nationally and internationally.
Source: worldcrunch.com
https://worldcrunch.com/this-happened/iran-women-soccer
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British Woman On Death Row, 27 Muslim Inmates Participate In Navratri Fast And Rituals
Oct 10, 2024,
NEW DELHI: In a remarkable show of religious harmony, a group of Muslim inmates and a British woman on death row are participating in the nine-day Navratri fast at the district jail in this city, according to officials who spoke on Thursday.
The group, which is part of the 217 inmates housed in the jail, including 17 women, also took part in traditional prayers within the jail premises.
Jail Superintendent Mijaji Lal informed PTI, "Twenty-seven Muslim men, along with British national Ramanpreet Kaur, are observing the nine-day fast. They also participated in a havan (ritual offering) on Ashtami."
Kaur, who was sentenced to death in 2023, was found guilty of killing her husband in Puwaya in 2016, the prison officer added.
To support the fasting inmates, the jail administration provided them with daily rations of 750 grams of boiled potatoes, 500 grams of milk, fruits, and sugar. Additionally, they were given puja (prayer) materials to perform the necessary rituals during the festival.
Source: indiatimes.com
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/british-woman-on-death-row-27-muslim-inmates-participate-in-navratri-fast-and-rituals/articleshow/114124607.cms
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For International Day of the Girl Child: Afghan girls share their stories of resilience and resistance under Taliban rule
OCTOBER 10, 2024
The August 15, 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan devastated the lives of millions of Afghans. But the rights and freedoms of women and girls in particular have been progressively trampled by a series of edicts that have created a virtual system of gender apartheid.
Yet, despite great restrictions, many girls and young women are taking a stand and resisting in whatever way they can. In line with the 2024 International Day of the Girl theme, ‘Girls’ vision for the future’, Afghan young women and girls speak out despite severe restrictions and share their visions for the future. With anonymized photos and names and locations changed to protect their identity, their unvarnished stories appear on the After August platform – a collaboration of UN Women, Limbo and Zan Times. What follows are excerpts that capture the fear, anger and profound sense of loss that shapes their lives – but also their resistance and resilience.
“Although they’ve deprived me of my education, I have taught 12 other individuals, and this kind of fight against ignorance and illiteracy will be victorious, with time. … I am making the most of my current captivity. In these days of deprivation, I’ve come to realize two vital values: the struggle for freedom, though challenging, is rewarding, and every person should taste it. And secondly, that there is no sacrifice more pleasant than sacrificing for freedom. … The future generations will not be victims of this turmoil. Today, all I can do is to remain hopeful, continue studying and coordinate my all efforts to bring more people onto this beautiful caravan.” —Negina, a 15-year-old student-turned-teacher from Bamyan.
“The Taliban have turned women into puppets who must dress, behave, not speak and obey their wishes. They think that men are superior and that women were created to serve them. They view women with contempt and do not accept our presence in society. I have learned that stopping means death, and I will always fight to the best of my ability. … I wanted to become a doctor, but the Taliban closed the doors of universities. However, institutes for studying nursing and midwifery are still open so I’m attending one of these private institutes to study midwifery and live the dream of helping women in remote areas who do not have access to a hospital. I urge everyone watching not to leave Afghan women alone because if we become victims, the world will never find peace.” —Parisa, an 18-year-old student from Mazar.
“… engagement was forced upon me after the return of the Taliban. I still vividly remember the day I cried out loud when I got engaged. I felt helpless and found myself in a situation where I had no say in my decisions. … I’m not alone in this predicament. … For all girls who have been unable to complete their education, marriage is not a choice but a forced reality. I dream of better days at night, but face hopelessness by day. I have even developed suicidal thoughts. …” —Mahnaz, a forced bride and former student from Farah.
“I might not have been born under a lucky star, but I consider myself a resilient young girl. Challenges are what I embrace, and I firmly believe that nothing can deter me from my dreams. … I’ve cried and felt really down at times. But I’ve never lost hope. My journey as a writer began with the publication of my first work of fiction, A Memento Doll, and I’m determined to continue without looking back. My message to all Afghan women is this: Keep hope in your hearts, and never give up on your dreams. Think about how a diamond and coal are made of the same stuff, but the difference is in how much pressure they can handle. We, as women, can choose whether to become like diamonds, strong and brilliant, or stay like coal.” —Sadaf, an 18-year-old writer from Kapisa.
“… after August, all my aspirations suddenly turned to dust, like a sweet dream transforming into a terrifying nightmare. … I decided not to surrender. Instead, I chose to fight against the Taliban and the current circumstances. … Leveraging my existing knowledge, I started online computer and English language classes. I also initiated online reading sessions for girls. … It is my belief that the Taliban should not fear girls going to schools and universities. Instead, they should fear the girls who, despite being imprisoned in their homes, read a hundred pages of a book daily. The Taliban must understand that the current generation of Afghan women and girls is vastly different from the women who lived under their past regime. … We believe in better days, days when ignorance and darkness will succumb to knowledge and awareness.” —Nazmina, a former journalism student from Kapisa.
“I have faced many obstacles in my life because I’m a girl. I was deprived of many things I wanted to do, like art, music, sports and more. Dealing with all these struggles taught me never to stop fighting for my dreams and future. I have never stopped dreaming about all the fantastic ways we can build our future. I have worked hard to keep up with my education in a place where no girl is allowed to go to school. I want to be one of the examples of brave Afghan women and girls who never lost hope, reached peaks of success and continued to serve their country and their people.” —Ghotai, a former computer science student from Baghlan.
“My days are spent in a corner of the house. … Sometimes I think of running away from home, but if I fall into the hands of the Taliban due to escaping from home, they will lash me. Afghan girls are waiting for schools to reopen, but I have lost my chance to wait for school. I will never forgive the Taliban for their crimes.” —Sara, a 16-year-old child bride from Samangan.
“We want to live. We want to express our opinions. We want to be heard, to show the world that Afghan girls can build and endure. I know I can succeed, and until my last breath, I will fight to reclaim my rights, provide a better life for my children, and tell all Afghan girls not to let the sacrifices we have made over the years go in vain. We must rise, united as one voice, and demonstrate that we can achieve our fundamental rights to work, an education and freedom.” —Motahara, a baker and former nursing student from Logar.
“Since I refused to remain silent in the face of such an oppressive regime, I joined the ranks of other resilient women in the streets and joined them in demanding women’s rights against the Taliban. We participated in numerous protests and were determined to challenge the unjust restrictions imposed on us. The country’s stability is at a critical point with sudden, oppressive restrictions on women, causing fear and insecurity. From my perspective, Afghanistan has turned into a women’s prison that is even more restrictive than the prison where I’d worked. In that prison, women had certain rights, including the right to play sports. … I appeal to the international community not to support the Taliban and to pay attention to the difficult living conditions of women in Afghanistan.” —Rabia, a basketball athlete from Herat.
Source: womensenews.org
https://womensenews.org/2024/10/for-international-day-of-the-girl-child-afghan-girls-share-their-stories-of-resilience-and-resistance-under-taliban-rule/
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Women’s Rights Group Warns Of Genocide Threat In Sudan’s El Fasher
October 11, 2024
October 10, 2024 (EL FASHER) – A women’s rights group warned on Wednesday of a looming genocide threat in Sudan’s El Fasher as escalating violence traps civilians and cuts off essential aid.
The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) condemned recent attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilians, including the shelling of markets and displacement shelters on Oct. 1 that killed over 100 people and injured more than 150.
SIHA said RSF forces had entered homes and killed civilians, citing the case of a man whose wife was killed and two daughters injured. It also voiced concern over the abduction of an unknown number of women and girls from a shelter on Sept. 22, who it feared may have been subjected to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and killings.
El Fasher is currently under siege by the RSF, hindering humanitarian aid delivery and exacerbating food insecurity. Hospitals have been destroyed by aerial bombardment, leaving civilians with limited access to medical care, especially for women suffering from sexual violence.
“Civilians have nowhere to go,” SIHA said, highlighting the plight of over two million displaced people, mostly women and children. The group reported instances of women forced into “survival sex” to access food and families resorting to forced marriages of young women in exchange for resources.
SIHA echoed U.N. Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide Alice Nderitu’s warning that “risk factors and indicators for genocide and related crimes are present in El Fasher.” It said CRSV was being used as a tactic of war, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The group called for urgent international action to protect civilians, ensure accountability for perpetrators of violence, pressure warring parties to cease hostilities, and support local communities and aid workers.
Source: sudantribune.com
https://sudantribune.com/article291935/
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Iraq: Reject Changes To Personal Status Law Which Would Allow Child Marriage
October 10, 2024
Iraqi lawmakers must drop amendments to the Personal Status Law, which would violate women and girls’ rights, further entrench discrimination and could allow for girls as young as nine to be married, Amnesty International said today, ahead of an imminent parliamentary vote on the changes.
“Iraqi lawmakers must heed the warnings of civil society and women’s rights groups on the devastating impact of these amendments, which would eliminate the current legal marriage age of 18 for both girls and boys, paving the way for child marriages, as well as stripping women and girls of protections regarding divorce and inheritance, said RazawSalihy, Amnesty International’s Iraq researcher.
“Not only does child marriage deprive girls of their education, but married girls are more vulnerable to sexual and physical abuse, and health risks related to early pregnancy. It is alarming that these amendments to the Personal Status Law are being pushed so vehemently when completely different urgent legal reforms are needed to protect Iraqi women and girls’ rights.
“Iraq’s parliament must reject these harmful proposed amendments and instead focus their efforts on addressing woeful shortcomings in the Penal Code, which permits ‘honour’ as a mitigating factor for the killings of women and girls and allows for the corporal punishment of the wife and children by the husband, as well as failing to criminalize marital rape.”
The current Personal Status Law applies to all Iraqis irrespective of their religion. The proposed amendments would grant religious councils of the Sunni and Shia sects of Islam in Iraq the authority to develop their own “code of Sharia rulings on personal status matters” within six months of the law being passed, effectively threatening women’s and girls’ rights and their equality before the law.
The amendments would also open the door to legalizing unregistered marriages, which are often used to circumvent child marriage laws, and removing penalties for adult men who enter such marriages and clerics who conduct them. It would also remove critical protections for divorced women, such as the right to remain in the marital home or receive financial support from the former husband.
“The amendments violate international treaties that Iraq has ratified, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Ensuring the safety, dignity and rights of women and girls is not only a state obligation under international human rights law but also a moral imperative that all Iraqi institutions must uphold,” said RazawSalihy.
Background
The first reading of the bill took place on 4 August 2024. Similar amendments were proposed in 2014 and 2017 but failed to pass due to nationwide outcry. On 3 September 2024, Iraq’s parliament attempted to hold a second reading of the draft bill but opposing MPs had waged a boycott campaign that succeeded in breaking quorum.
The second reading of the bill took place on 16 September with women MPs and opponents of the bill raising concerns that none of their recommendations had been taken into account, nor an amended draft shared. On 17 September, the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court ruled that the amendments were aligned with Iraq’s constitution.
Source: amnesty.org
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/10/iraq-reject-changes-to-personal-status-law-which-would-allow-child-marriage-and-further-entrench-discrimination/
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A decade of photos captures the enduring resilience of ordinary Afghans
10/10/2024
In 2007, after studying art and photography in Paris, Calligaro went to Afghanistan for what was meant to be a short trip, pursuing her dream of becoming a war correspondent.
She ended up staying for more than a decade, capturing the complexities of a country that grew on her over time.
It was in Kabul where she became a professional photographer, she tells RFI.
The exhibition “From Kabul with Love” is a selection of 50 photos from 2007 to 2022, depicting the extraordinary panorama of her time observing people going about their daily lives, despite the constant danger, crises and conflict.
“In Afghanistan, all the encounters I’ve had are noteworthy because the stories are not trivial. They are not always happy stories, even if the people are resilient. But it's not just drama, there's also joy,” she explains.
From the start, Calligaro focused on photographing women. As a woman, she had access to homes that male journalists found difficult to reach.
Paradoxically, she said, being a foreign female journalist gave her slightly more freedom, as she wasn’t expected to follow all the strict rules Afghan women faced, though she did cover her head in the presence of Taliban members.
Over the years, Calligaro built up a body of work that carefully documented the lives of girls and women and their ever-diminishing freedoms.
Becoming a mother also helped her take better stock of the situation for women, and they became true heroes to her, she says.
When the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, the shock was immense, Calligaro recalls. Although not present in the country during the takeover, she arrived shortly afterwards to document the changes.
She mostly stopped photographing outdoors, finding it too dangerous. While she admired the strength of Afghan women, she also sympathised with the men she met.
“Women's lives are hard, they rely on sisterhood,” she explains. “But it is not an easy society for men either. Men have a lot of pressure on their shoulders when it comes to the women in their family. And there are very few prospects.”
Calligaro describes meeting a 22-year-old man who was not lucky enough to go to one of the international schools because he grew up in a small village. His only instruction came from the madrasa – a Koranic school.
She photographed him standing guard with a gun in a palace in Kabul, a city he’d never seen before. His eyes are wide with wonder as he takes in the opulent, white marble hall.
“A Kalashnikov was put in his hands at the age of 12. Whether he chose to be Taliban, I don't know. I don't think it's an informed choice in any case,” Calligaro says.
Many Afghans asked her for help obtaining visas to leave, but Calligaro had to tell them it wasn’t that simple.
“It's very hard to face your own helplessness in this situation,” she says. “It makes me doubly sad because it’s a country that I particularly like.”
For the exhibition, it was important for Calligaro to show Afghanistan in all its complexity with what she calls “nuance and tenderness”.
Although violence and conflict are never far away, she has chosen to keep them out of the frame. Instead, she invites the viewer to sense a life beyond what is presented in the news.
“I tried to show that in life, in societies, nothing is fixed, white or black, it’s not the good guys on one side or the bad guys on the other. I tried to show that history is not linear,” she says.
"From Kabul with Love" is one of eight exhibitions at this year’s Bayeux Calvados-Normandy Award for war correspondents’ festival, known as the Prix Bayeux.
The event kicked off on Monday and will host a programme of round tables, conferences, screenings, a book fair and the prize ceremony itself on Saturday evening.
The exhibitions remain open to the public until mid-November.
The president of the jury is award-winning CNN journalist Clarissa Ward, the first and only Western journalist to enter Gaza last December without explicit Israeli permission or escort.
While the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is very much in the spotlight this year, there is a focus on Russian war crimes in conflicts over the years including in Ukraine, as well as a look back at April 1975, a crucial turning point for wars in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Source: www.rfi.fr
https://www.rfi.fr/en/culture/20241010-a-decade-of-photos-captures-the-enduring-resilience-of-ordinary-afghans
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