Muslim Girl, Khushbu Khan, Tops All-India Quiz Competition on Bhagvad Gita
New
Age Islam News Bureau
14
February 2022
• Over
25,000 Muslim Women Gather In Maharashtra, To Defend the Hijab
• Ambar
Masjid in Lucknow to Get Separate Wing for Women to Offer Namaz
• L’Oréal-UNESCO
Celebrates Arab Female Scientists
• Afrah
Alothman: First Arab Woman to Command A Deep-Sea Submarine
• Saudi
Arabia Shops Are a Sea Of Red - But Don't Say "Valentine's"
• Honour
Killing Cases Up In Pak as Balochistan Reports 5 Killings In A Day
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-girl-khushbu-bhagvad-gita/d/126367
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Muslim
Girl, Khushbu Khan, Tops All-India Quiz Competition on Bhagvad Gita
Khushbu
with her parents and state BJP chief CR Paatil. (Express Photo)
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February
13, 2022
A
Class 7 student of Valsad district, from Muslim community, topped the all-India
quiz competition on Bhagvad Gita, held by Edutor mobile application, as part of
Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav last week. The girl, Khushbu Khan, 14, studies in Uttar
Buniyadi Girls School (Gujarati medium) in Umargam town in Valsad district.
The
school principal Maltiben Ahire said, “Around 20 students from our school
participated in the online quiz competition of Bhagvad Gita… Khushbu gave
correct answers of around 428 questions and topped in the country…”
She
added, “We have also got an intimation from the state education department that
Education Minister Jitu Vaghani will felicitate her in a program soon.”
Talking
to the Sunday Express Khushbu Khan said, “I think that my memory power is good
compared to other students. I know that Bhagavad Gita is holy book of Hindus,
but I learned many things related to humanity, while reading it…”
Khushbu,
who wants to become a doctor, lives with her father, mother and two siblings at
a rented premise comprising one room and a kitchen. “I am proud of my daughter…
She likes to know more about history and science.” said Khushbu’s father Mehbub
Khan, who works at a private factory in Umargam GIDC .
On
Thursday, state BJP president C R Paatil, felicitated Khusbu in Surat
inpresence of Gujarat state BJP minority wing president Dr Mohsin Lokhandwala
accompanied by Valsad BJP minority president Farukbhai Penwala.
Penwala
said, “The girl’s family is poor and we have planned to help them financially
for her higher education. Through donors, we are planning to make a fixed
deposit in her name.”
Source:
Indian Express
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Over
25,000 Muslim Women Gather In Maharashtra, To Defend the Hijab
Women
in hijab led a rally at the Kallu stadium in Malegaon on Friday. Pic/Sayyed
Sameer Abedi
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13
February, 2022
With
the hijab becoming a raging debate across the country, Muslim women in
Malegaon, who wear the head covering as part of their religious identity and
cultural beliefs, said they felt targeted. On Friday evening, around 25,000
Muslim women gathered at the Kallu stadium in Malegaon to show their solidarity
with the hijab-clad students, who were allegedly harassed in Karnataka for
wearing the hijab.
The
pro-Hijab rally in Malegaon was organised by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, a leading
organisation of Islamic scholars. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a woman
from Malegaon said, “This issue should not even be up for discussion, as
wearing the hijab is our fundamental right. Denying it means that people are
opposed to our religious values and ideals.”
Mohammed
Haroon Mohammed Ismail, 50, who runs a general items store opposite the stadium
said, “I have been in Malegaon for over four decades, but never witnessed such
a huge movement led by women.”
Meanwhile,
the Malegaon police said that no permission was obtained for the rally.
Additional SP of Malegaon Chandrakant Khandvi said, “An FIR has been filed
under Sections 188, 269, 270 of the IPC and relevant sections of the Epidemic
Diseases Act will also be added. No one has been arrested, but they have been
served a notice and given a warning.”
Bibi
Khan becomes face of Urdu Ghar
Bibi
Muskan Khan, the student who had raised the ‘Allahu-Akbar’ slogan in response
to the ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogan by a few other students, is being hailed in
Malegaon. To honour her brave act, the Urdu Ghar, a study centre, in Malegaon
will be renamed after her. The Jamiat
Ulama-i-Hind had earlier announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for her.
Source:
Mid-Day
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Ambar
Masjid in Lucknow to Get Separate Wing for Women to Offer Namaz
Yusra
Husain
Feb
14, 2022
LUCKNOW:
A separate wing for women to offer prayers will be built at the Ambar Masjid in
Lucknow.
All
India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) president Shaista Ambar laid
the foundation stone for it on Sunday. The mosque was established by Ambar in
1997.
Till
now, women had to offer prayers at temporary arrangements under canopy and
behind the tents on the premises.
The
proposed separate hall for women will be a single-storey structure to be built
at a cost of over Rs 3 lakh, for which funds are also being sought.
Placing
the first brick, Ambar took Allah’s name and remembered Swami Vivekananda,
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi. She also unfurled the national
flag on this occasion. “I built a three-storey mosque in SGPGI but female
‘Namazis’ had to pray outside, under temporary cover in the rain and sun,” she
said. “I hope that by Ramzan, which is in April, we will have a proper hall for
women where they will not just offer namaz but also take part in Taraweeh,
Hadith, sermons, Juma Khutbah and other religious programmes,” said Ambar.
Apart
from Namaz, special women-oriented programmes are also proposed to be held at
the site.
Ambar
is seeking funds from donors for the construction of the hall. The initial push
will come from Ambar’s pension from her late husband, and the earnings of her
daughter and son.
Speaking
on the Karnataka ‘hijab’ row, she said headscarf was not an obstacle in Muslim
women’s success.
“A
piece of cloth is seen as an obstacle in the success of women. However, if the
college has a dress code which has to be followed by all students, Muslim
students should cooperate. If not, then it is all planned and part of a
political conspiracy where students have been provoked for political gains,”
she said.
Source:
Times Of India
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L’Oréal-UNESCO
celebrates Arab female scientists
February
13, 2022
To
mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Feb. 11, the
Fondation L’Oréal and UNESCO hosted the first “For Women in Science Young
Talents Awards Ceremony” for MENA. The event took place in the Dubai Exhibition
Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai to honor and recognize 14 Arab female scientists from
the MENA region for their groundbreaking research in the fields of life and
environmental sciences, physical sciences, mathematics and computer sciences.
This program is part of the L’Oréal-UNESCO’s global “For Women in Science”
initiative that has recognized more than 3,900 phenomenal researchers and 122
laureates from more than 110 countries and regions since its inception in 1998.
The
ceremony awarded a total of 14 young talents — five from various countries in
the GCC, three from Egypt and six from Levant — in the PhD students and
post-doctorate researchers categories, underscoring their role in solving
today’s challenges as well as inspiring the future generation of females.
Since
its inception in the region in 2010, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science
Young Talents program has awarded more than 160 female scientists and 11
laureates from MENA. Among them, 16 Arab female scientists have also won an
additional international recognition through the “International Rising Talent”
program.
The
event also welcomed a group of panelists to discuss how Arab women scientists
are breaking through barriers and inspiring the next generation of leaders and
changemakers. The panelists included Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany, the permanent
representative of the UAE to the International Renewable Energy Agency; Dr.
Anna Paolini, director of UNESCO office in Doha and representative for the Gulf
and Yemen; and Rana El-Chemaitelly, founder and CEO of “The Little Engineer.”
The panel was moderated by Alexandra Palt, chief corporate responsibility
officer and CEO of the Fondation L’Oréal.
According
to the latest UNESCO Science Report published in June 2021, although the number
of women in scientific careers is increasing, reaching just over 33 percent of
researchers worldwide, this evolution is still too slow.
In
the various MENA countries, while gender parity is almost reached at the PhD
level or at the start of a scientific career, there are still strong
disparities to be observed depending on the countries and the disciplines. The
glass ceiling remains a reality in research: The number of female researchers
decreases as they access higher levels in their careers due to tremendous
obstacles and barriers.
“L’Oréal
and UNESCO have been great advocates for the contributions women are making to
the STEM sector,” said Sarah bint Yousef Al-Amiri. “The 14 exceptional
scientists being honored at this year’s event, the first to be held in our
region, are drawn from a wide array of disciplines, from life and environmental
sciences to mathematics and computer sciences. This is a reflection of both the
breadth of talent in the Middle East and the increasing opportunities for women
here to apply it.”
Source:
Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2024071/corporate-news
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Afrah
Alothman: First Arab woman to command a deep-sea submarine
February
14, 2022
JEDDAH
— The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) highlighted the achievements of Saudi
citizen Afrah Alothman, who is the first Arab female to lead an unmanned
submarine in deep water, on the International Day for Women and Girls in
Science.
The
center explained that Ph.D student in marine sciences from King Abdullah
University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has led the submarine during the
19-week expedition to explore the Red Sea launched by the center on Feb. 4.
Afrah
was orphaned from a young age, and she has begun her study journey in Al-Ahsa
where she obtained her BA in biology with distinction from King Faisal
University, after which she decided to complete her postgraduate studies at
Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, where she completed her master's
degree in biology, as part of King Abdullah's Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
Program for External Scholarship.
According
to the KAUST website, Afrah had expressed her goal was to seek more experiences
in the Red Sea, and to be an effective member who contributes to the transfer
of experiences not only to her generation but future generations as well.
"I
always dreamed of being influential among the girls in my community," she
stated. "My decision to specialize in biology was the first step toward my
bigger goal, but the scholarship was the real journey that shaped my
personality. When I finished [my studies], I came back home with a master's
degree and a wealth of knowledge and experiences gained from living abroad for
several years," Afrah said.
Alothman
prepared her first scientific research paper for publication one year after
joining KAUST and the Red Sea Research Center. She is pleased with her
accomplishment because it signifies that she has begun to contribute to serious
research and scientific accomplishments.
In
Alothman’s Biological Oceanography Lab biography, she elaborated on her
research focus. “I have been working before on diatoms response to the presence
of organic matter such as urea in iron deficiency. I am now interested in both
diatoms and bacteria interaction in different environmental conditions such as
high temperature.
The
International Day for Women and Girls in Science is a UN-designated day that
aims to accelerate gender equity and improve access to and participation in
science for women and girls.
Source:
Saudi Gazette
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/617077
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Saudi
Arabia Shops Are A Sea Of Red - But Don't Say "Valentine's"
February
13, 2022
Riyadh:
Red clothing and underwear are displayed in Saudi shopfronts, but the
increasingly popular Valentine's Day promotions are missing one thing: the
festival's name.
While
sales surge and Valentine's gifts become more common among the youthful Saudi
population, the word "Valentine's" is nowhere to be seen.
"Management
has asked us to decorate the window display with red lingerie... but without
mentioning anywhere Valentine's Day," said one salesperson at a Riyadh
mall, who did not want to be named as she was not authorised to speak to media.
The
displays represent change in Saudi Arabia, where stick-toting religious police
once cracked down on sales of Valentine's Day paraphernalia and even on people
wearing red during the February 14 festival.
Valentine's
Day has vague origins dating back to Roman times, when several Christian
martyrs were named Valentine. The celebration for lovers, marked widely around
the world, was firmly off-limits in the ultraconservative kingdom which would
only mark Muslim holidays and its September national day.
But
Saudi Arabia has been undergoing social change as it attempts to present a more
appealing image and diversify its oil-dependent economy.
It
has curbed the feared religious police and given women more freedoms. Among
these, they now have the right to drive, and can add colour to their dress
beyond the traditional plain black abaya robe. These changes, however, have
come alongside a crackdown on dissent which has seen clerics and women's rights
activists detained.
A
jarring site
"We
can now put red clothes on view comfortably and even put them on the window
display," said a saleswoman at Grenada Mall in east Riyadh, who also spoke
anonymously.
"There
are many customers requesting red lingerie during Valentine's Day," she
added. "We have discounts during this time, but we don't call them
Valentine's Day offers."
Not
everyone is comfortable with the underwear being on show, finding it a jarring
sight after decades when such items were kept strictly behind closed doors.
"I
don't want to see these things," said one woman, fully veiled in black
except for her eyes. She did not want to give her name.
"They
bother me, but there are people who like it and this is their freedom of
choice."
Times
are changing, though, and many in Saudi Arabia -- where more than half the
population is under the age of 35 -- are embracing Valentine's Day, whether
they call it that or not.
"People
did not celebrate Valentine's Day, but now many Saudis do," said Khuloud,
36, a Saudi saleswoman who did not want to give her last name.
"There
is a huge demand on clothes during this time, and customers are often asking
for the colour red and profits have also been huge."
The
saleswomen said red lingerie is most in demand during the Valentine's Day
period.
Shops
also offered discounts on perfume and makeup, while gift stores put red hearts
in their windows, also without mentioning Valentine's.
One
shopper, Reem al-Qahtani, 22, said Saudi society is "gradually"
starting to accept Valentine's Day, even if it remains nameless for now.
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"Right
now, we celebrate quietly in cafes and restaurants, but we hope that it gains
traction in the coming years," she said.
Source:
ND TV
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/saudi-arabia-shops-are-a-sea-of-red-but-dont-say-valentines-2765568
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Honour
Killing Cases Up In Pak As Balochistan Reports 5 Killings In A Day
February
13, 2022
The
cases of honour killing are on a surge in Pakistan as five people were killed
for honour in Balochistan province on Saturday, reported local media.
Three
women and two men were killed in the name of honour in Jaffarabad, Mastung and
Hub areas during the past one day, reported Dawn citing police.
In
the Goth Faqir Mohammad area of the Jaffarabad district, a man gunned down his
young wife a nephew on Friday evening.
While
on the outskirts of Mastung town, a man and his wife were slaughtered.
And
in the Hub area, a woman, Mah Jan, was allegedly gunned down by her second
husband on Saturday. It is the recent rise in the cases of honour killings in
Pakistan. Despite the assurances by the authorities, such violence are on the
rise in many regions of the country.
With
such cases, Pakistan is witnessing an alarming rise in the number of honour
killings as it claimed 176 lives last year, mostly including women, according
to the Sindh Suhai Sath, a non-governmental organisation.
Last
week, Dr Ayesha Hassan Dharejo and Advocate Farzana Khoso, the chairperson and
co-chairperson, respectively, of the organisation, said that 93 people were
killed in such incidents in Kandhkot-Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Ghotki
districts alone. According to the statistics compiled by the organisation, 27
people (23 women and four men) were killed in Kandhkot-Kashmore district, 26
people (14 women and 12 men) in Jacobabad district, 23 people (18 women and
five men) in Shikarpur district and 17 people (14 women and three men) were
killed in Ghotki district in 2021, according to Dawn.
They
pointed out that charge sheets were filed in 649 honour killing cases but only
19 of the accused were convicted. Those nominated in 136 cases were acquitted
while 494 cases were pending a trial. They noted with concern that the
conviction rate appeared to be around two per cent, and attributed the position
to weak prosecution, slackness on the part of police and anomalies in the law
and justice system.
Source:
Business Standard
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-girl-khushbu-bhagvad-gita/d/126367