Lawyers, Groups Condemn Iran’s Execution Of Women’s Rights Protester
New Age Islam News Bureau
09 Aug 2024
· Lawyers, Groups Condemn Iran’s Execution Of Women’s Rights Protester
· Top Arab Women Who Are Breaking the Glass Ceiling
· Guards, Female Inmates Clash at Iran Evin Prison, Says Nobel Winner Narges Mohammadi’s Family
· Highway Police Join Hijab Crackdown in Iran
· Iran’s NahidKiani wins silver medal at the Olympics
· ImaneKhelifand Other Female Arab Athletes Deserve More Respect
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Lawyers, Groups Condemn Iran’s Execution Of Women’s Rights Protester
August 08, 2024
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA —
FILE - In this photo taken by an
individual not employed by the Associated Press and obtained by the AP outside
Iran, Iranians protest the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, after she was detained by
the morality police, in Tehran, Oct. 1, 2022.
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Lawyers and human rights groups have condemned Iran for the execution of a man accused of killing a Revolutionary Guard during women’s rights protests.
The family of Gholamreza "Reza" Rasaei and his lawyer were not informed in advance of the execution that took place Monday. Iran’s judiciary website later announced its action against the 34-year-old, whom Iran alleged had stabbed a member of the Revolutionary Guard.
Rasaei, a member of the Kurdish and Yaresan ethnic and religious minority, was arrested in November 2022 after taking part in the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. Amnesty International has described his trial as “grossly unfair,” noting it used as evidence forced confessions obtained under torture.
The protests were a response to the death in September 2022 of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who had been detained by the morality police for allegedly not complying with the country’s veiling laws.
Dadban, a group of pro bono lawyers who represent Iranian political prisoners, and Amnesty International are among the organizations to condemn Iran’s actions as unfair and unlawful.
“The continuing arbitrary execution of protesters in the aftermath of the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising illustrates yet again that without constitutional, legal and policy reforms, human rights violations and impunity will persist,” Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa deputy director, said in a statement.
During the first week of the protests, Iran detained between 15,000 and 16,000 people, Amnesty has previously reported. Those detained have reported widespread torture and ill treatment, the rights group has said.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to VOA’s email requesting comment.
Rasaei was the 10th person to be executed in connection with the protests.
Human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher has also condemned the action and called the case a “sham.” Gallagher works for British legal firm Doughty Street Chambers, which advocates for high-profile cases, including the Nobel laureate and journalist Maria Ressa and the detained pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai.
“Reza Rasaei — a supporter of #WomenLifeFreedom — executed in secret, after his conviction on sham charges, a grossly unfair trial & sustained torture. No one should now persist with the illusion of a 'reformist' President; this is the reality,” said Gallagher in a post on X.
Eltahawy said the case against Rasaei underscores the need for states to hold Iranian officials responsible by initiating criminal investigations under international standards.
Journalists and activists, including the Iranian actress NazaninBoniadi, have also condemned the execution on social media.
Source: voanews.com
https://www.voanews.com/a/legal-rights-experts-condemn-iran-s-execution-of-women-s-rights-protester-/7735418.html
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Top Arab Women Who Are Breaking the Glass Ceiling
August 9, 2024
Arab women have a long and triumphant
history of excellence, overcoming various challenges to make significant
strides in numerous fields. From athletes to aeronautics experts, from business
leaders to scientists, Arab women are reshaping narratives and breaking
barriers across the globe.
Here are just a few of the many Arab women making headlines and inspiring future generations:
Reemabint Bandar Al Saud
As a royal in Saudi Arabia, Reemabint Bandar Al Saud could’ve enjoyed a life full of luxury and comfort. Instead, she worked hard and rose through the ranks of not just the private business sector but also the government.
Today, she operates as the official Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States, the first time a woman has ever held the position.
Beyond her diplomatic role, Princess Reema has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights and economic empowerment in Saudi Arabia. She has spearheaded initiatives to increase women’s participation in the workforce and sports.
Tawakkol Karman
A founding member of Women Journalists Without Chains, Tawakkol Karman is a writer, poet, and human rights activist who has been a trailblazer for the written word of Arab women. In 2011, she actually won the Nobel Peace Prize for the work she did in promoting and protesting for the rights of Middle Eastern and African journalists.
She was the first Yemeni and second Muslim woman to ever win a Nobel. Her nickname is “The Mother Of The Revolution.”
Sarah Al Amiri
Growing up in Abu Dhabi, Sarah Al Amiri has always had her eyes on the sky. She would eventually lead her country’s efforts in space travel through the Emirates Mars Mission.
Today, she’s the chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency and a Minister of State for the advanced technology sector of the UAE Council of Ministers. An impressive feat for a woman who grew up when the UAE didn’t even have a space program!
Nour El Sherbini
One of the most unique Arab women in sports is Nour El Sherbini. Nour plays squash, a game that’s already rare in the world of competitive athletics. She’s even rarer: the first Egyptian woman to become a champion.
She’s currently ranked #1 in the world in women’s singles in squash.
Haifaa Al Mansour
Haifaa Al Mansour isn’t just breaking the glass ceiling; she’s shattering it into smithereens. Not only is she one of the first female Saudi Arabian filmmakers, but her debut film, Wadjda, is one of the first ever to be fully shot and developed in the country.
It was also the first movie of Saudi origins to ever be submitted to the Academy Awards. Just how many records can this powerhouse break? Even more excitingly, what’s next?
SheikhaMozahbint Marwan Al Maktoum
SheikhaMozah is quite literally taking Emirati women to new heights. At just 26 years old, she became the first female pilot for Dubai’s royal family. She also served as a pilot for Dubai’s police force, eventually rising to the rank of Captain Pilot.
Eager to inspire others from her community, she founded the Women in Aviation Association, and she currently has plans to write a children’s book about young Arab girls learning how to fly.
ShohrehAghdashloo
Born in Iran, ShohrehAghdashloo overcame a lot of hardship in her early life, including going against a family and a much older husband who didn’t support her dreams of acting. She eventually fled the country at the start of the Iranian Revolution and became a movie star at a time when movies were banned in her homeland.
You might recognize her from a number of critically acclaimed works, including 24, The Punisher, Star Trek Beyond, The Expanse, and House of Sand and Fog. She’s won multiple Emmys and been nominated for an Academy Award.
Dr. FatmahBaothman
Arab women are sometimes associated with old-fashioned ideas or traditions. But try saying that to Dr. FatmahBaothman, a female computer scientist and the first Arab woman to earn her PhD in AI studies!
It’s the culmination of a long and illustrious career in STEM that spans the globe from America to England to Saudi Arabia. Today, Dr. Baothman is the board president of the entire Artificial Intelligence Society.
LubnaOlayan
LubnaOlayan broke new ground in the Arab business world when she became the first female head of a Saudi bank. As the CEO of Olayan Financing Company, she has been a pioneer for women in business and finance in the region.
Hayat Sindi
Dr. Hayat Sindi is a pioneering biotechnologist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Her inventions in medical technology have the potential to revolutionize healthcare in developing countries.
Wrapping Up
Several Arabs have made their mark in international sports, business, fashion and other sectors. Be it players like OdayAboushi (of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams), tech entrepreneurs like Ronaldo Muchawar (founder of Souq), or Elie Saab (founder of the eponymous fashion label), Arab men are achieving remarkable success across diverse fields. As is evident from the above list, the women aren’t far behind either.
As more Arab women get opportunities to shine, we’re witnessing a diverse range of skills, abilities, products, and passions emerging from this demographic. Whether it’s in the boardroom, the sports arena, the laboratory, or the silver screen, Arab women continue to prove that there are no limits to what they can achieve.
Source: ozarab.media
https://ozarab.media/top-arab-women-who-are-breaking-the-glass-ceiling/
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Guards, Female Inmates Clash at Iran Evin Prison, Says Nobel WinnerNarges Mohammadi’s Family
9 August 2024
Guards beat female inmates in clashes that erupted at Tehran's Evin prison following a spate of executions, the family of jailed Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi said, raising new concerns about her health.
Rights activist Mohammadi, 52, who won the 2023 prize for her campaigning including against the death penalty, has been jailed since November 2021, and has spent much of the past decade in and out of prison.
The Paris-based family of Mohammadi emphasized it had no direct contact with her since her right to make phone calls was cut in November.
But it said it had learned from several other families of detainees held in Evin that clashes erupted on Tuesday as the female prisoners launched a protest in the yard against the executions.
According to rights groups, around 30 convicts were hanged this week, including Gholamreza (Reza) Rasaei, who the Iranian judiciary said was executed on Tuesday in connection with 2022 protests.
"The protest by prisoners against the execution of Reza Rasaei led to a violent crackdown by prison guards and security agents," Mohammadi's family said in a statement late Thursday, citing the reports.
"Several women who stood in front of the security forces were severely beaten. The confrontation escalated, resulting in physical injuries for some prisoners."
The family said that after being punched in the chest, Mohammadi suffered a respiratory attack and intense chest pain, causing her to collapse and faint on the ground in the prison yard.
She was bruised and treated in the prison infirmary but not transferred to a hospital outside, it said.
"We are deeply worried about her health and well-being under these circumstances," the family said.
Iran's prison authority denied that prisoners were beaten and blamed the confrontation on inmates.
Two prisoners "had heart palpitations due to the stress," but medical examinations determined that their general condition "is favorable," it said in a statement, according to the Tasnim news agency.
Relatives and supporters had earlier this month raised new concern about Mohammadi's condition, saying they had been informed of the results of medical tests carried out in July "which showed a worrying deterioration of her health".
In the past eight months, Mohammadi has been suffering from acute back and knee pain, including a herniated spinal disc. In 2021, a stent was placed on her main heart artery due to a blockage.
Mohammadi has kept campaigning even behind bars and strongly supported the protests that erupted across Iran following the September 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22-year-old Iranian Kurd arrested for allegedly violating the country's strict dress rules for women.
Mohammadi in June received a new one-year prison term for "propaganda against the state", on top of a litany of other verdicts that already amounted to 12 years and three months of imprisonment, 154 lashes, two years of exile and various social and political restrictions.
Source: english.aawsat.com
https://english.aawsat.com/world/5048964-guards-female-inmates-clash-iran-evin-prison-says-nobel-winner%E2%80%99s-family
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Highway Police Join Hijab Crackdown in Iran
AUGUST 8, 2024
The enforcement of Iran's mandatory hijab regulations has intensified in recent days, with the highway police now also responsible for overseeing compliance.
Teymor Hosseini, the head of highway police, said in a press conference that "the issue of chastity and hijab has been communicated to all units and specialized police, including the highway police," which now also plays a role.
The crackdown on vehicles carrying passengers without the mandatory hijab began in 2014 but has become more stringent following the Woman, Life, Freedom protests. The enforcement extends to vehicles even if only one passenger is not in compliance, with repeated SMS warnings sometimes preceding the confiscation of the car.
However, many citizens report having their cars impounded without receiving any warning messages. The economic aspect of this enforcement is significant: impounding vehicles has become a profitable enterprise for the Islamic Republic.
Mahshid, for instance, was with her elderly mother in Vanak Square in Tehran when their car was impounded despite their urgent medical appointment. She recounted to IranWire, "No matter how much I pleaded, the police would not reduce the fee for the crane. It cost two million and 500 thousand tomans ($41) to transport my car to a parking lot in Vali Asr."
Various entities benefit from the car confiscation process. Tow truck operators, parking lot owners, and even some officials receive compensation from this system. Tow trucks charge between one million ($16) and one and a half million tomans ($25) for each car they transport, with additional fees if the transfer is made at night. Cranes charge between two and three million tomans per day, with higher rates for night transfers.
Car owners often face additional fees. Once a car is transported to a parking lot, there is no guarantee that the lot will accept it unless a bribe is paid. As Mahshid recounted, the parking lot manager demanded an extra one million tomans to find a space, claiming that the lot was full.
Moreover, moving the car to a different lot incurs further costs for another tow or crane service. In addition to these fees, owners must also pay for the car’s protection from the sun and heat while it is impounded.
Despite regulations mandating that impounded vehicles be moved to designated parking areas, many lots claim to be private and charge up to 200,000 tomans ($3.3) per night. The parking fees and additional bribes create a financial burden on car owners, who are also approached by intermediaries seeking to help them retrieve their vehicles from the impound lot.
Following the death of Mahsa Amini, the Moral Security Police building on Vozara Street in Tehran has been closed. Now, those with impounded vehicles must visit the Public Security Police building on NazarianQomi Street in the Geisheh area. The Public Security Police are responsible for determining the duration of the impoundment. Once this period is established, a violation notice is issued, and further actions must be taken to resolve it. The minimum daily wage is 600,000 tomans ($10).
However, for individuals like Alireza, the situation is far more complex. Two days after purchasing a new car, Alireza's vehicle was confiscated by traffic police on Karim Khan Zand Street. Despite his claims that no woman had ever driven the car and that he himself has short hair, he was puzzled by the system's record of receiving four text messages, none of which he had actually received.
Alireza's experience is not isolated. Many cars are impounded without the owners receiving the required text messages. On the day Alireza visited the Public Security Police, he encountered dozens of others facing the same issue.
Another issue is the random checks conducted by police forces, who have the authority to query any vehicle’s license plate at any time. In recent months, there have been numerous reports of cars being questioned and impounded at odd hours and remote locations under the pretext of hijab violations.
One such case involves Niloufer, whose car was impounded at 1:00 a.m. on Imam Ali Highway. Despite the car and mobile phone being registered in her name, Niloufer did not receive any text messages. She later discovered that the messages were sent to her ex-husband's phone, and no explanation was provided for this error. The 35-day impoundment, supposedly due to four text messages, was resolved after extensive effort and nearly 10 million tomans in expenses.
The process can be expedited by engaging intermediaries. These middlemen can simplify the process by arranging parking spots and handling paperwork for a fee. They are often found outside public security buildings and police stations, facilitating quicker resolutions for a cost. More sophisticated operators, demanding substantial sums, can even help resolve impoundments more efficiently.
Alireza opted to use a middleman rather than endure the lengthy and costly legal process. He recounted to IranWire, "A person in plain clothes approached me and said, 'Give me 10 million tomans, and you can retrieve your car immediately.' Considering the potential costs and delays, I chose to pay this person, who claimed to have connections with the police. It was the right decision, as my car was indeed returned."
The increasing severity of car impoundments related to hijab violations has drawn criticism from legal experts, who argue that impounding vehicles for such reasons without a court order is unlawful. Despite public outcry, the lucrative nature of this operation has led government officials to continue the practice.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/132668-highway-police-join-hijab-crackdown-in-iran/#google_vignette
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Iran’s NahidKiani wins silver medal at the Olympics
8/8/2024
This is the first silver medal in the history of Iranian women's sports at the Olympics.
NOURNEWS: NahidKiani lost in the final of the -57 kg taekwondo competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics against South Korea's Yoojin Kim in two consecutive rounds, securing the silver medal.
This is the first silver medal in the history of Iranian women's sports at the Olympics.
Source: nournews.ir
https://nournews.ir/en/news/184644/Iran%E2%80%99s-Nahid-Kiani-wins-silver-medal-at-the-Olympics
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ImaneKhelif and other female Arab athletes deserve more respect
08 August, 2024
The Paris Olympics are coming to an end on Sunday. And while many athletes will return home with an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and pride, for some female Arab athletes, the feelings may be more mixed. They have had to defend themselves over the past fortnight against undue scrutiny and social media bullying – not because of their athletic performance, but because of their womanhood.
The high-profile mistreatment of Algerian boxer ImaneKhelif is the case in point. Khelif's emotional journey during the Olympics captured the attention of millions. After her victory over Hungarian boxer Luca Anna Hamori, she tearfully declared, “I’m a woman,” in response to the harsh commentary questioning her gender. The wave of online hate and bullying she faced, with cruel accusations about her identity based solely on her build, reflects a broader societal bias against women athletes who do not conform to traditional feminine ideals.
And it is worth noting that these biases, in Khelif’s case, came primarily from the West – not the Middle East and North Africa. The boxer was misgendered by former US president Donald Trump as well as his running mate, who exploited the controversy around her to reinforce talking points about gender and sport. She was misgendered by French politician Marine Le Pen and British author JK Rowling, too, and shamed by Italian Prime Minister GiorgiaMeloni, who implied on social media that an Italian boxer’s bout with Khelif was unfair.
All of this was even more galling in an Olympic Games whose opening ceremony drew controversy for its French organisers’ efforts to bend traditional gender norms. At the same time, France’s decision to ban its own Muslim athletes from wearing the hijab has put them in an especially vulnerable position, caught between their personal circumstances and state and societal pressure.
As Khelif herself put it, this bullying “harms human dignity” and has to stop.
Ilona Maher, a US rugby player, has faced a similar experience. Maher helped her team secure a bronze medal, but was nonetheless criticised by some in the US for her outspoken advocacy of body positivity and desire to challenge traditional beauty standards in sports. Some questioned Maher's femininity based on her muscular build.
One cannot help but wonder if male athletes, or white European athletes, would attract the same level of negative attention. The Dutch Olympic team drew some controversy at the start of the Games for including on its men’s volleyball squad a convicted child rapist, but that case has received nowhere near the amount of press – or comments from politicians – as Khelif’s. It seems somewhat acceptable in many circles to attack an Arab woman, using her case as a hate advertisement to gain traction from conservatives for casting ballots.
Khelif's experience highlights the intersection of race and gender. As an Algerian woman competing in a predominantly western-influenced event, she faced unique challenges. The racialised lens through which her body was viewed further marginalised her achievements and reinforced stereotypes about Arab women. Instead of championing diversity, the Paris Olympics experience revealed deep-seated biases that continue to affect women from Eastern cultures.
Much of the commentary has also demonstrated a chauvinistic attitude towards women. It is not about protecting women in sports, or protecting women from oppression, it is about dictating how women should appear and behave according to western standards.
Arab women athletes don’t need to be "saved" from their own choices, or appearance, western politicians need to stop imposing gender norms that their countries claim to oppose.
There is enough pressure, for many of these athletes, coming from relatively conservative corners in their home countries without being drawn into the West’s culture wars. Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez, who competed while seven months pregnant, was scrutinised not for her athletic prowess but for her decision to compete during her pregnancy. Similarly, Egyptian boxer YomnaAyyad was disqualified for not meeting the weight requirement, with her own coach attributing this to "emotional and physiological changes that all women experience”, presumably meaning her menstrual cycle.
The cultural reluctance to accept women in non-traditional forms and roles sends a discouraging message to young girls that sports are not for them and that they must choose between being an athlete and being a woman who does not fit pre-determined norms.
On the bright side, Arab women like Khelif, Hafez and Ayyad, along with many others – Oumaima El Bouchti of Morroco, MarwaBouzayani from Tunisia, Safia Al Sayegh of the UAE, Palestinian swimmer Valerie Tarazi – showcased remarkable commitment during the Olympics. Other Arab female athletes have, too. Ayesha Al Balooshi’s participation in judo, Fatima Al Ali’s representation in track and field events highlights the UAE’s investment in nurturing young talent across various sports. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Yasmine Al Dabbagh, Huda Al-Shahrani, DunyaAbutaleb and Dalal Al-Shahrani have embodied the Kingdom’s progress in women’s sport and are inspiring future generations.
With and without medals, these Arab women athletes deserve the utmost support from spectators, their communities, the media and, most importantly, from the host country that claims to uphold liberty while simultaneously suppressing female athletes who do not fit their narrow mould.
The Paris Olympics should be a celebration of women's achievements in sport, not a platform for criticism and discrimination. Arab women athletes have shown incredible strength and resilience – now it is time for detractors to show them the respect they have always earned.
Source: thenationalnews.com
https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2024/08/09/imane-khelif-olympics-sport-women-middle-east/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/lawyers-groups-iran-women-protester/d/132901