Malawi Defence Force Allows Female Muslim Soldiers to Wear Hijab
New Age Islam News Bureau
25 August 2022
• Emirati Woman, Dr Ebtesam Almazrouei, Is Breaking
Barriers in the Tech World
• Afghan Women Open Library To Counter Growing
Isolation
• Activists Muslim Women in Telangana Protest Against
the ‘Derogatory Comments’ against Prophet
• How Child Marriages Continue to Burden Egypt’s
Society
• Emirati Women's Day: Commemorative Book Honouring 51
Female Achievers Launched
• Emirati Women's Day: Award-Winning Filmmaker
Inspires Others To Dream Big
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/malawi-defence-force-soldiers-hijab/d/127798
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Malawi Defence Force Allows Female Muslim Soldiers to
Wear Hijab
The Malawi Defence Force
(MDF) has introduced a policy allowing female Muslim soldiers to be wearing
Hijab at work.
----
Aug 23, 2022
Russell Kondowe
The Malawi Defence Force (MDF) has introduced a policy
allowing female Muslim soldiers to be wearing Hijab at work.
Muslim Chaplain at the MDF Sheikh Major Saad Khamis
Malovu has confirmed that there has been a change in policy at the Malawi army.
Speaking to Muslim Media Agency, Sheikh Malovu said
Muslim soldiers will be able to carry out their duties while wearing Hijab, a
head covering for Muslim women, in accordance with Islam.
“Sheikh Malovu said it is a welcome development to see
female Muslim soldiers doing their work
while keeping their faith intact,” the agency reported.
On social media, Malawians have welcomed the change in
policy at the MDF with many calling it a welcome development.
Habieh Chikondi Maluwa said: “MashaAllah that’s a very
welcomed development to the security industry not to only to MDF.”
McDad Saidi Banda said: “Bravo MDF that’s the way to
go.”
Source: Malawi24
https://malawi24.com/2022/08/23/malawi-defence-force-allows-muslim-soldiers-to-wear-hijab/
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Emirati
Woman, Dr Ebtesam Almazrouei, Is Breaking Barriers in the Tech World
Dr
Ebtesam Almazrouei speaks at a session during the AI Summit in London.
-----
By
Ashwani Kumar
24
Aug 2022
Dr
Ebtesam Almazrouei is a glowing example of the evolution of Emirati women in
tech leadership roles, which are traditionally dominated by men. The youngster,
who joined Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) as a principal
researcher in January, has climbed the career ladder to become the director of
the Artificial Intelligence-Cross Center Unit (AICCU).
“In
the UAE, we are blessed to thrive with the immense support of the country’s
visionary leadership that considers women equal to men in every sense and
empowers women, no matter which field they choose to pursue,” Dr Ebtesam told
Khaleej Times ahead of the Emirati Women’s Day.
Dr
Ebtesam is the first Emirati to hold a PhD in artificial intelligence for
wireless communication engineering and computer science. She did her PhD and
master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Khalifa University
of Science and Technology, and BSc in communication and electrical engineering
from the United Arab Emirates University.
“I
was always interested in future-focused technologies and kept an eye on what
was happening around the world. I saw that AI and the Internet of Things (IoTs)
were the next breakthrough technologies that will drive the digital economy and
decided to steer my career along this path. The UAE government’s initiative of
launching its national AI strategy in 2017 reiterated the importance of
technological advancements through AI.”
Dr
Ebtesam brings to her role at TII an experience in innovation in advanced
technologies and ability to realise the adaptation of AI solutions, big data,
IoTs, and wireless emerging technologies for multiple industrial applications.
“At
TII, which is a leading global scientific research centre and the applied
research pillar of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), we work at
the intersection of science to shape breakthrough solutions to future-proof
tomorrow. We have incredible women researchers and scientists, who are at the
frontlines of the country’s march into a new era of tech leadership.”
As
the AICCU director, she is responsible for overseeing the unit’s mandate of designing
and delivering new AI methodologies, technologies, solutions, and systems that
address core challenges across multiple sectors of the economy. Earlier this
year, she led the team behind building Noor, the world’s largest Arabic natural
language processing (NLP) model.
“Within
AICCU, we have already marked some incredible milestones, including the launch
of the world’s largest Arabic language NLP model, Noor, in addition to
designing new computing paradigms and delivering new AI methodologies, technologies,
and solutions in a very short span. And in all these projects, women play an
equal and crucial role in bringing them to fruition.”
Dr
Ebtesam is the first Emirati to be elected as a member on the worldwide
steering board committee of the Wireless World Research Forum (WWRF). She is
elected to co-lead the working group on big data in the AI expert group
subcommittee of the UAE Council for AI and Blockchain.
Dr
Ebtesam is a scientific author at top-ranking conferences and leading journals.
In June, she was among the speakers at the AI Summit in London.
She
delivers big data and AI training courses for various entities across the UAE
and has led multiple projects in partnership with British Telecommunications in
the UK, as well as Etisalat, and Khalifa University in the UAE. She is also the
founder of communities like the ‘AI and Big Science’ and the ‘Women in AI and
Big Science’.
Source:
Khaleej Times
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-this-emirati-woman-is-breaking-barriers-in-the-tech-world
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Afghan
women open library to counter growing isolation
By
Mohammad Yunus Yawar
August
25, 2022
KABUL,
Aug 24 (Reuters) - Afghan women's rights activists opened a library in Kabul on
Wednesday, hoping to provide an oasis for women increasingly cut off from
education and public life under the ruling Taliban.
Since
taking over Afghanistan a year ago, the Islamist Taliban have said women should
not leave the home without a male relative and must cover their faces, though
some women in urban centres ignore the rule.
Secondary
schools for girls largely remain closed after the Taliban went back on promises
to open them in March.
"We
have opened the library with two purposes: one, for those girls who cannot go
to school and second, for those women who lost their jobs and have nothing to
do," said Zhulia Parsi, one of the library's founders.
A
Taliban spokesman did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The
library's more than 1,000 books includes novels and picture books as well
non-fiction titles on politics, economics and science. The books were mostly
donated by teachers, poets and authors to the Crystal Bayat Foundation, an
Afghan women's rights organisation which helped set up the library.
Several
women's activists who have taken part in protests in recent months also helped
establish the library in a rented shop in a mall that has a number of stores
catering to women.
In
March, the Taliban made a U-turn on a promise to open girls' high schools. Most
teenage girls now have no access to classrooms and thousands of women have been
pushed out of the workforce due to the growing restrictions and Afghanistan's
economic crisis, international development agencies say.
The
Taliban say they respect women's rights in accordance with their interpretation
of Islamic law and that since March they have been working on a way of opening
girls' high schools.
Western
governments have stepped up their condemnation of the Taliban's widening
elimination of women from public life. Many Afghan women have expressed
frustration and called for Taliban authorities to respect their rights.
"They
can't annihilate us from society, if they annihilate us from one field, we will
continue from another field," Mahjoba Habibi, a women's rights advocate,
said at the library's inauguration.
Source:
Reuters
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Activists
Muslim Women in Telangana Protest Against the ‘Derogatory Comments’ against
Prophet
AUGUST
24, 2022
A
group of Muslim women conducted a protest at Ambedkar Statue on Tank Bund on
Wednesday, opposing the ‘derogatory comments’ made by MLA Raja Singh against
Prophet Mohammed and Muslims in general.
A
note from activists Khaleeda Parveen and Kaneez Fathima demanded that the
government take stringent action against such hatred being spread by the
political right wing, and instruct the police strictly not to allow disruption
of peace and harmony in Telangana.
Reminding
that this was not the first such instance where the now suspended legislator
gave hateful and instigating speeches, they said simply arresting him without
following due procedure and then releasing him reflects the non-serious
attitude of the police in containing hate speeches, the note said.
Source:
The Hindu
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How
Child Marriages Continue to Burden Egypt’s Society
SHEREIF
BARAKAT
25
AUGUST 2022
When
Dutch documentary filmmakers Joop Van Wijk and Hillie Molenaar visited Egypt’s
rural regions in 1981, they were shocked to see the number of child marriage
cases – adolescent girls forced into marriage, often by their fathers, and
often lacking choice in the matter.
Their
trip was the inspiration behind Daughters of the Nile (1982), a documentary on
the restricted lives of rural Egyptian women, and their stories of forced
marriage.
Despite
being screened 40 years ago, the film remains relevant to Egypt’s existing
struggle against child marriage – a burden that remains on the shoulders of the
country to this day.
UNDERSTANDING
CHILD MARRIAGE THROUGH DATA
Ironically,
data trends in Egypt strongly suggest that there is an increase in the
country’s average marriage age, from 20 years old to 22, as per the United
Nations International Children Fund (UNICEF).
In
rural regions, that number jumped from 18 to 20 in the span of nearly two
decades. Yet these statistics don’t account for the total number of all child
marriages in Egypt, an unrecorded burden conducted in secrecy that continues to
plague the country.
The
United Nations, which defines child marriage as “any marriage where at least
one of the parties is under 18 years of age,” estimates that there are more
than 650 million women alive today that were forced into child marriage around
the world. The number becomes far more alarming when it translates to a child
marriage every 28 minutes, in 2022.
In
Egypt alone, nearly one in every twenty girls from ages 15 to 17 are married,
according to a 2017 census by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and
Statistics (CAPMAS). In addition, one in ten adolescent girls between ages 15
to 19 are married or were married before the legal age, a stark contrast to
Egypt’s increased average marriage age. Statistics for 2021 are, unfortunately,
unavailable.
EGYPT’S
CONTINUOUS BATTLE AGAINST CHILD MARRIAGE
While
there are Egyptian laws limiting child marriage, the country addressed the
problem later than neighboring countries in the Middle East and North Africa, only
amending the legal marriage age to 18 in 2008 – failing to criminalize the act
in the legal process.
However,
Egypt’s Cabinet approved a draft law as recently as 12 April 2022, which
intends to criminalize child marriages, with penalties of no less than one year
in prison and a fine between EGP 50,000 (USD 2,600) and EGP 200,000 (USD
10,400).
While
child marriages have become less prevalent today than in the previous decades
due to the Child Act of 2008, Egypt’s long road to correct the cultural perception
of the age for marriage continues. Particularly, in Upper Egypt, where the
phenomenon is most common.
“Prevalence
of early age of marriage was significantly high among governorates of Upper
Egypt than in Lower Egypt (reaching 39.75 in rural areas in El Minya),
especially in rural residency,” observes a report by researchers in Al-Azhar
University.
The
Child Act helped bring human rights violations into the scope of penal law,
providing preventative measures for children forced into an early marriage. Since
2014 the government amplified its efforts beyond the articles of law to also
include nationwide campaigns against child marriages.
As
recently as this year, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood
prevented 27 child marriages in Upper Egypt during Eid Al-Fitr celebrations –
14 years after the country’s 2008 amendment of its Child Act.
Furthermore,
Egypt’s Social Solidarity Ministry initiated the “Marriage Before 18 Equals No
Rights” campaign in July 2022, which attempts to raise awareness of the
consequences of child marriages.
On
a more global level, Pathfinder International, a global health organization
that tackles physical freedom and happiness, also invested in Egypt’s fight
against early marriages, providing technical assistance and education to
governmental and non-governmental organizations to enhance the country’s
awareness campaign against child marriages.
AS
EFFORTS INCREASE, SO DO THE CHALLENGES
Evidently,
the efforts by each stakeholder aim to lessen the cases of early marriages and
reshape the societal perception of the act itself. Yet the country’s facing a
race against time, as the challenges continue to surmount each year.
With
Egypt’s population predicted to spike up to 190 million in 2050, and with 33
percent of Egyptians under the age of 15, could child marriages proportionally
increase if preventative action is not taken?
Victims
of child marriage continue to fly under the radar through the archaic ‘urfi
(customary) marriages, which are unregistered and illegally officiated by an
Islamic cleric. To avoid legal punishment, child marriages are often later
formalized once the child reaches the legal age.
As
Egypt’s economy continues to suffer, and as income rates stagnate, fathers seek
to relieve as many financial burdens as possible – marrying off daughters at an
early age is treated as an answer to these burdens.
“Marrying
off a young daughter in Egypt allows parents to reduce household expenses and
to gain a source of income through the dowry paid to the bride’s family,”
UNICEF explains in a 2017 report.
Most
significantly, child marriages hinder society as a whole, creating a toxic
cycle that occurs through successive generations.
For
example, Egypt’s rapid overpopulation further suffers through child marriages,
as child brides are statistically more likely to bear far more children than
brides who were educated and married at a later age – perpetuating the
country’s overpopulation situation even more.
At
their core, child marriages are a symbol of female oppression – girls with no
voice to protest and are expected to be obedient to any patriarchal presence.
Egypt’s
road to eradicating early marriages, which began in recent decades, is the
opportunity for girls to change their fate: from a destiny of forced marriage
to a destiny of free choice.
Source:
Egyptian Streets
https://egyptianstreets.com/2022/08/25/how-child-marriages-continue-to-burden-egypts-society/
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Emirati
Women's Day: Commemorative book honouring 51 female achievers launched
by
Ismail Sebugwaawo
24
Aug 2022
Abu
Dhabi authorities have spotlighted the achievements of 51 inspiring Emirati
women responsible for furthering innovation and entrepreneurship across various
sectors.
The
initiative was spearheaded by Tamkeen and startAD — the Abu Dhabi-based startup
accelerator powered by Tamkeen and anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) —
alongside the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office (ADGMO) and The US Mission to the
UAE.
The
selected Emirati women were honoured with a commemorative book profiling their
personal journeys and experiences in their field titled 'Emirati Women
Achievers' at the event on Tuesday evening.
The
first copy of the book was received by Dr. Maitha Al Shamsi, Minister of State,
on behalf of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, and in the presence of:
-
Rima Al Mokarrab, Chair of Tamkeen and Trustee of NYU
-
Hana Barakat, Senior Associate Director of startAD
-
Nihal Shaikh, Assistant Director of Communications at startAD
-
Robin Solomon, Counselor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
The
prestigious event was held under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak,
Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood
and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, in
celebration of Emirati Women’s Day.
'Inspiring
Reality, Sustainable Future'
The
awardees were felicitated during a ceremony that included a set of keynotes and
the official unveiling of the commemorative book Emirati Women Achievers.
This
was followed by a roundtable discussion on the significance of, and the stories
behind, the 2022 Emirati Women’s Day theme announced earlier this year by
Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak’s office: “Inspiring Reality, Sustainable Future.”
Dr.
Maitha Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State, said: “Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak
is a role model for all of us, and we are honoured to follow in her footsteps
and continue on her path towards establishing a prosperous future for our
beloved country and all humanity.”
She
further praised the contributions and efforts of Emirati women in the workforce
and towards the country's development.
"Sheikha
Fatima has established the values and principles that support women", Al
Shamsi explained.
"She
has enabled them to obtain the highest levels of education, encouraging them to
participate in various aspects of economic, political, and social life.
She
has also employed all capabilities to make Emirati women occupy an advanced
position among the women of the world."
Al
Shamsi added that this would not have been possible without the wise leadership
of the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who possessed the
vision for women to be a key partner in the growth of the UAE.
Dr.
Maitha added: "Sheikha Fatima realised that caring for women and preparing
them for their life and their future is necessary.
That
development cannot be achieved without their participation, so we must provide
them with science and knowledge, empower them, and enhance their capabilities
to contribute constructively.
This
will not only contribute to economic development, but social development as
well. She advocates for women empowerment to focus on the mothers, the
educators, and those who build the future generations.”
A
Generation of Future Leaders
Dr.
Al Maitha highlighted the contribution of these Emirati women towards
innovation in the UAE, crediting them for paving the way for future generations
of inspiring women to achieve even more impressive achievements.
Rima
Al Mokarrab, Chair of Tamkeen and Trustee of NYU, said: “In tribute to our
founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and with the leadership of
Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Emirati women across all sectors are helping to
chart the UAE’s path of progress.
Today,
they are teachers, diplomats, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, and
astronauts. These remarkable Emiratis are an inspiration to us all. They
represent the next generation of leaders and continue to tackle some of the
world’s biggest challenges.”
Assistant
Director of Communications at startAD, Nihal Shaikh, said: “The UAE has seen an
active history of strong, resilient, visionary, and inspirational women who
have paved new paths of social, cultural, and economic progress. Thanks to
their efforts, we now have a treasure trove of established and emerging role
models who are building a better future from the ground up."
“Emirati
women now hold leading positions across the nation and play an instrumental
role in the country’s economic and social prosperity", he added,
"along with its push for sustainable development."
With
innovation being a central pillar of the UAE’s plans to build a highly
competitive economy, women can lead the way.”
Daleya
Uddin, Head of Public Affairs and Outreach at the US Consulate General Dubai,
said: “The US Mission to the UAE is proud to partner with startAD to celebrate
Emirati women achievers who are advancing the UAE’s agenda for women's
empowerment. We are thrilled to recognise these inspiring leaders as they
contribute to the success of the UAE’s economic development through innovation
and creativity.
She
added further: "With the support of the US Mission to the UAE, startAD has
implemented the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) training program in the
nation, which has supported 44 UAE women entrepreneurs in growing their
businesses since 2020.
AWE
gives enterprising women the knowledge, networks, and access they need to
launch and scale successful businesses. We look forward to continuing to work
with UAE-based organisations to promote women's economic opportunities.”
The
women participating in the campaign, who shared their stories and achievements,
expressed their pride in the UAE’s steady steps towards a sustainable and knowledge-based
economy.
Mona
Al-Hashmi, Incubator Chief at the Authority of Social Contribution, Ma’an,
commented: “The UAE has established itself as a pioneer for development in the
Arab world. I am optimistic and confident that further progress and growth await
us at local, regional, and global levels. I dream that the UAE will reach the
highest levels of gender equality in the economic and social fields.”
Of
her aspirations for the next 50 years, Al-Hashmi added: “My goal is to
contribute and play a leading role in this journey for positive, sustainable
development.”
Source:
Khaleej Times
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Emirati
Women's Day: Award-winning filmmaker inspires others to dream big
by
Nasreen Abdulla
24
Aug 2022
Brought
up by a single mother, Maitha Alawadi was always taught that sky is the limit.
Today, as an award-winning filmmaker who has exhibited her movies at 22 film
festivals across the world, she is paving the way for other filmmakers in the
country to dream big.
Describing
herself as the "byproduct of independent Emirati women" Alawadi and
her siblings were always taught to believe that one day they must grow up to
pave the way for other Emiratis.
"Our
mother taught us that we can truly do anything we set our minds to," said
Alawadi. "Unconventional as she was, she always reminded us to dance to
our own rhythms and see where that may lead."
Starting
young
Beginning
her education at two-and-a-half years old, Alawadi was always the youngest in
her class. While that meant she had to grow up sooner and learn more at a
younger age, it also gave her the chance to pursue many opportunities that
spanned three different continents. After graduating from school at the age of
16, Alawadi moved abroad to pursue what was the beginning of her dream of being
a filmmaker.
"I've
always been fascinated by what's being broadcasted on TV and in cinema,"
she said. "I was wowed by the feeling that I get when watching the stories
unfold, of being on the edge of my seat, at the verge of tears, laughing silly
or even cheering for the character when they've finally overcome their
obstacles. I become so invested in the characters that I used to mourn the
death or the misfortunes that befall certain characters in these films."
That
play of emotions made her realize how powerful films can be. After graduation,
she returned to the UAE with a mission.
"Film
is all about sharing the worst and best of humanity that people can relate to
and learn from, and I wanted to be part of that," she said. "I wanted
to create films that shared stories of people whose voices weren't being heard,
or of those who thought their voices didn't matter. I wanted to shed light on
social topics and help raise awareness on issues that were left unheard,
untouched, or used to push certain political narratives."
However,
there were several challenges that awaited her in the industry.
"Being
an Arab woman, an Emirati woman no less, there are a lot of expectations and
sometimes that can mean your creative outlet is limited by the standards set
forth by your culture and what is deemed to be appropriate," she said.
"At
the end of the day, I have a responsibility to deliver the stories I tell as
authentically as I can, especially when they're based on real events or people.
However, in that process, I have to consider cultural sensitivities and find
the right balance between honouring the source material and producing something
that would appeal to regional tastes and start healthy conversations rather
than culture wars.
Making
her mark
In
her career spanning over a decade, Alawadi has had several wins.
Her
film Nour, which depicted a family's struggle for survival in war-torn Syria,
was an official selection at 22 global festivals with multiple wins from the
Oregon International Film Awards, Mexico International Film Festival and Golden
Harvest Film Festival. She won second place at the Sheikh Majed Youth Media
Awards 2012 for her short, animated film Imprint and was featured as a guest
speaker at TEDxJESS. Her films X and Charlie have been screened
internationally.
However,
what she counts as her biggest achievement is the opportunity to work with
Emirati actress Fatma Alhosani who she grew up watching on TV.
"I
was chosen to direct a film commissioned for UAE's 50th National Day by Image
Nation and Creative Labs and meeting her on my set was a surreal
experience," she remembers fondly.
"What
made it even more special is the fact that the shoot was at my great
grandfather's house in the old Al Fahidi neighbourhood. As a child, I couldn't
have imagined that in 20 years, I would be directing the person I saw on TV at
a historical landmark that holds a special place in my heart, surrounded by
family and friends who also helped contribute to the film. It felt like my life
was leading up to it."
The
work is far from over for this ambitious young lady. In her current position as
Head of Production at New Media Academy, she works with multi-talented
creatives from different backgrounds to enhance Arabic digital content
worldwide.
She
is also involved in multiple film projects in the UAE, including her first
television series called Behind the Burqa'a. She is also seeking developing
options for her feature script Nour along with her Emirati film Bent Oboy.
She
has just a few words of advice for her fellow Emirati women.
"Don't
be afraid to do something that no one else is doing," she said. "Pave
your own path. Peer pressure and groupthink are powerful forces, and you might
have to fight them. No one is going to live through the consequences of the
decisions they try to make for you. You are more than capable of being in
charge of your own life. I believe in you, and so should you."
Source:
Khaleej Times
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