Muslim Woman, Jannah Hague, To Sue Kent County Sheriff’s Office After Being Forced To Remove Hijab For Mugshot
New Age
Islam News Bureau
31 May 2023
• Muslim Woman, Jannah Hague, To Sue Kent County
Sheriff’s Office After Being Forced To Remove Hijab For Mugshot
• Milton Keynes 11-Year-Old Becomes Youngest
Campaigner In UK For International Muslim History Month
• Xi Jinping Replies To Letter From Bangladeshi
Girl Alifa Chin
• ‘We Want To Be Free’: Filipinos Demand Right To
Divorce In The Catholic-Majority Country Is Illegal
• Irish Muslim Women Making a Mark at Tralee
Boxing Club
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-kent-county-sheriff-hijab/d/129894
-----
Muslim Woman, Jannah Hague, To Sue Kent County Sheriff’s Office After Being Forced To Remove Hijab For Mugshot
File photo of a woman wearing a hijab.
-----
May 30,
2023
A Muslim
rights group plans to sue the Kent County Sheriff’s Office for forcing a Black
Muslim woman to remove her hijab for a booking photo following her arrest.
The
photo was later posted on the sheriff’s publicly accessible website.
In a
notice of claim filed Tuesday, the Michigan chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) alleges the sheriff’s office violated the
religious rights of Jannah Hague, a 21-year-old from Grand Rapids.
Notices
of claim are required before people can sue government entities.
Hague
was arrested on April 8 following an alleged domestic altercation at her home.
At the
Kent County jail, deputies forcibly removed Hague’s hijab, despite her pleading
with them to allow her to keep her head covered as part of her religious
beliefs, according to the complaint. She was forced to stand in front of a male
officer for the photo, which was later uploaded to the office’s website.
CAIR-MI
says the office violated its own policy regarding religious head-coverings.
A hijab
is a traditional Muslim headscarf that is worn by women in the presence of men
who are not a member of their family.
Hague
was later released without being charged, according to the complaint.
“Muslim
women have the right to their sincerely-held religious expression even when
encountering law enforcement,” CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid said in a
written statement. “The Law enforcement officials involved in Ms. Hague’s
detention need better training in religious competency and religious rights to
ensure that no Muslim woman is ever again striped of her hijab in public.”
The
notice of intent is just the latest legal action taken against a law
enforcement agency in Michigan. In November 2021, a Muslim woman sued the
Ferndale Police Department for forcing her to remove her hijab.
In
October 2020, a Muslim woman filed a lawsuit after she was ordered to remove
her hijab for a booking photo at the Detroit Detention Center.
In
December 2020, CAIR-MI filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the
Michigan Department of Corrections for forcing more than 15 women to remove
their hijab for mugshots.
“When a
Muslim woman is stripped of her hijab for a photograph and that photograph is
placed on the internet for all to view, it is akin to publishing an intimate
and private photograph of any woman and leaves the Muslim woman ashamed and
embarrassed,” CAIR-MI staff attorney Amy V. Doukoure said. “It should never
have happened to Ms. Hague, especially in light of the previous litigation in
the state of Michigan involving several other law enforcement agencies engaging
in the same illegal conduct. Kent County Sheriff’s office knew better and
should have done better by Ms. Hague.”
Source: metrotimes.com
https://www.metrotimes.com/news/muslim-woman-to-sue-after-being-forced-to-remove-hijab-for-mugshot-33244902
--------
Milton
Keynes 11-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Campaigner In UK For International Muslim
History Month
Maryam Jazeem, an 11-year-old schoolgirl,
-----
30th May
2023
An
11-year-old schoolgirl has become the youngster campaigner in the UK for
International Muslim History Month.
Maryam
Jazeem has appealed to politicians and community leaders, urging them to
following in the footstep of New York State and recognise the event in the UK.
Her
remarkable efforts have gained recognition and appreciation from Nazma Khan,
the founder of IMHM.
Maryam's
journey began when she received a prestigious award at the 'Honouring the
Honourable' Annual Gala Dinner organized by the British Muslim Heritage Centre
in Manchester in May last year .
As the
only child honoured at the event, Maryam gave a speech and was applauded by the
audience.
Since
then her campaign has gained momentum and she has spoken at various events,
schools, and community centres to raise awareness about Islamic education,
tolerance, interfaith dialogue, charity, climate change, children's mental
health, the environment, and the significance of the International Muslim
History Month.
Maryam,
who is memorizing the Holy Quran in her self-interest to become a Hafiza,
firmly believes that celebrating the history of Islam and Muslims can combat
negative stereotypes and misinformation often associated with the Muslim
community.
When the
third International Muslim History Month kicked off on May 1, 2023, Maryam
released a video on her social media channels appealing to people to support
the cause and bring the event to the UK.
Inspired
by her video, Nazma Khan shared a message on her social media, emphasizing the
importance of staying focused on the "why" behind actions and
highlighting Maryam as an example of someone striving to make a difference.
Nazma
thanked Maryam for her support and contribution, particularly in dismantling
Islamophobia, and hailed her as an inspiration for future generations.
She
said: “Maryam Jazeem, an eleven-year-old girl, is a perfect example of someone
who strives to make the world a better place through various initiatives. She
gives me hope that when we're gone, Allah (God) will raise torchbearers to
carry on our mission."
The
impact of Maryam's message resonated with people around the world. In
recognition of her efforts, she was invited to the popular UK and worldwide
Muslim community channel, Islam Channel TV, for their 'Salam Britain' Morning
show on May 4.
During
the live TV interview, she joined World Hijab Day UK Ambassador, Shreen
Mahmood, to discuss and raise awareness about International Muslim History
Month.
Maryam,
who has already been recognised as the 'Best Qur'an Reciter' in the UK, has now
been shortlisted as a finalist in two categories, Young Inspiration Person and
Inspiring Young Volunteer, for the upcoming Milton Keynes Inspiration Award
2023, set to be held next month.
She is
also interested in current affairs and politics. During the undemocratic
protest and violence held in the Sri Lanka Parliament on Black Day, she was
badly disturbed by the scenes and activities shown in the live news.
She
immediately released a video under the title of HARDTalk to condemn the
violence and acts of the MPs of the Sri Lankan Parliament. Her video went viral
and received worldwide support.
Source: miltonkeynes.co.uk
https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/milton-keynes-11-year-old-becomes-youngest-campaigner-in-uk-for-international-muslim-history-month-4162559
--------
Xi
Jinping Replies To Letter From Bangladeshi Girl Alifa Chin
31-05-23
Chinese
President Xi Jinping has encouraged a Bangladeshi girl, who was born with the
help of doctors from Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark in 2010, to study
hard, pursue her dream and carry forward the traditional friendship between the
two countries.
In a
recent reply letter to Alifa Chin, Xi wished her good health and progress in
study, and wished her family happiness, days ahead of International Children's
Day that falls on June 1 annually.
The
girl's father named her after "Chin," which means "China"
in the Bengali language, as a gesture of gratitude, after her mother
JannatulFerdous, who was then diagnosed with a serious heart problem and in
critical condition, delivered the baby safely following a cesarean operation
performed by doctors of the Chinese hospital ship.
Xi said
that Chin's personal experience, as told in her letter, is a vivid example of
the friendship between China and Bangladesh.
Since
ancient times, the peoples of China and Bangladesh have been "good
neighbors" and "good friends," with a history of millennial
friendly exchanges, he said.
More
than 600 years ago, the Treasure Ship of Zheng He, a Chinese navigator of the
Ming Dynasty, visited what would become Bangladesh twice, sowing the seeds of
friendship between the two peoples.
More
than 600 years later, during a visit of the Peace Ark of the Chinese navy,
Chinese female military doctors helped Chin's mother out of danger with a safe
childbirth at the port of Chittagong, and she was named after the word of
"China" in the Bengali language, writing a new touching chapter of
China-Bangladesh friendship, said Xi.
The
Chinese president said he was glad to learn that Chin aspires to become an
ambassador of friendship between the two countries and wants to study medicine
in China so as to save lives just like Sheng Ruifang, one of the female
military doctors. To Chin, Sheng is known as "Chinese mom."
Chin
described the day she received the letter from President Xi as a special day.
She told
CGTN that she will study hard just like what President Xi wrote in the letter,
and become a doctor like her "Chinese mom."
(Cover:
Alifa Chin (R) and her brother walk down an alley in Dhaka, Bangladesh,
November 28, 2022. /Xinhua)
Source: news.cgtn.com
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-05-31/Xi-Jinping-replies-to-letter-from-Bangladeshi-girl-Alifa-Chin-1kfmqXi0DK0/index.html
--------
‘We Want
To Be Free’: Filipinos Demand Right To Divorce In The Catholic-Majority Country
Is Illegal
Wednesday,
31 May 2023
MANILA,
May 31 — Philippine mother-of-three Stella Sibonga is desperate to end a
marriage she never wanted. But divorce in the Catholic-majority country is
illegal, and a court annulment takes years.
The
Philippines is the only place outside the Vatican where divorce is outlawed,
with the Catholic Church — which holds great influence on Philippine society —
opposing the practice as against its teachings.
Those in
favour of legalising divorce say the ban makes it difficult to escape violent
or otherwise abusive spouses, or even for couples to amicably cut ties.
People
wanting to end their marriage can ask a court for an annulment or a declaration
that the nuptials were invalid from the start, but the government can appeal
against those decisions.
The
legal process is slow and expensive — cases can cost as much as US$10,000 or
more in a country plagued by poverty — with no guarantee of success, and some
people seeking a faster result fall for online scams.
“I don’t
understand why it has to be this difficult,” said Sibonga, who has spent 11
years trying to get out of a marriage that her parents forced her into after
she became pregnant.
Sibonga’s
legal battle began in 2012, when she applied to a court to cancel her marriage
on the basis of her husband’s alleged “psychological incapacity”, one of the
grounds for terminating a matrimony.
After
five years and US$3,500 in legal fees, a judge finally agreed. The former
domestic worker’s relief was, however, short-lived.
The
Office of the Solicitor General, which as the government’s legal representative
is tasked with protecting the institution of marriage, successfully appealed
the decision in 2019.
Sibonga
said she requested the Court of Appeals to reverse its ruling, but is still
waiting for an answer.
“Why are
we, the ones who experienced suffering, abandonment and abuse, being punished
by the law?” said Sibonga, 45, who lives near Manila.
“All we
want is to be free.”
‘Dysfunctional
marriages’
The most
powerful opponent to divorce in the Philippines is the Catholic Church, which
is also against abortion and contraceptives.
Around
78 per cent of the country’s 110 million people are Catholic, according to
official census data, and many politicians are wary of contradicting the Church
on sensitive social issues.
But
Congress has scored significant wins in recent years.
A
controversial birth control law was passed in 2012, despite strong opposition
from the Church.
And in
2018, majority and opposition parties in the House of Representatives approved
a divorce bill that later stalled in the Senate. It was the first time such a
proposal had got that far.
Surveys
conducted by polling company Social Weather Stations show a shift in Philippine
attitudes towards divorce.
In 2005,
43 per cent of Filipinos supported legalising divorce “for irreconcilably
separated couples”, while 45 per cent disagreed.
The same
survey in 2017 showed 53 per cent in favour, while only 32 per cent disagreed.
A group
of lawmakers is now leading a fresh push to legalise divorce, with several bills
filed in the House and the Senate.
“We are
not destroying any marriage,” said EdcelLagman, a congressman and author of one
of the bills.
Lagman
said divorce was for “dysfunctional marriages beyond repair” and legalising it
would enable women and their children to escape “intolerant and abusive
husbands”.
Before
he was elected, President Ferdinand Marcos said the country should consider
allowing divorce, but insisted it should not be easy.
Annulment
scams
The
burdensome process for getting a court order to end a marriage has spawned
online scams offering to secure a quick ruling without time-consuming court
appearances.
AFP fact
checkers found numerous Facebook posts spreading false information about the
legal process for annulment in order to attract clients, underscoring a growing
global trend of fraudsters profiting off disinformation.
One
victim told AFP she was charged the equivalent of US$2,400 for an annulment
service that turned out to be fake.
She is
now considering converting to Islam in the hope of securing a divorce under
Muslim law.
“I’m
really trying every possible option just to be single again,” she told AFP on
the condition of anonymity.
“Annulment
takes so long, it’s so expensive and it’s not guaranteed, so I’m seeking a more
convenient way.”
Family
law specialist Katrina Legarda said the number of people falling for bogus
services showed there was a “dire need” for new legislation.
But
Father Jerome Secillano, of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines, said the nation should be “proud” to be the only country outside
the Vatican “holding on to the traditional concept of marriage”.
“There
will always be imperfections in a relationship,” he said.
Secillano
said divorcing an abusive partner would “perpetuate the violence” because the
perpetrator would go on to abuse their next partner.
“You are
not actually curing the disease itself,” he said.
‘I’m a
sinner’
Sibonga
was raised a Catholic, but stopped attending church to avoid accusations of
adultery.
She has
a long-term boyfriend, but cannot tie the knot with him until her first
marriage is legally terminated.
That her
case has dragged on for so long is not unusual in the Philippines, where a
creaky justice system can take years to resolve even minor issues.
“People
think that because I am still technically married, I’m a sinner,” she said.
“They
really believe that what God has united cannot be separated. Really? Even if
your husband is trying to kill you, even after everything he’s done, divorce is
still not allowed?”
Sibonga
said her relationship with her husband had been traumatic and had pushed her to
attempt suicide twice.
She does
not want her children to marry until divorce is allowed.
“I told
them they can cohabitate and have as many children as they want, but I won’t
ever consent to them getting married,” she said.
“I just
don’t want them to end up like me.” — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2023/05/31/we-want-to-be-free-filipinos-demand-right-to-divorce/71826
--------
Irish
Muslim Women Making a Mark at Tralee Boxing Club
30 May,
2023
For
years, Kerry Muslim woman Rahma Eldars had always wanted to join a boxing club.
But the absence of “Muslim-friendly” clubs in the southwest Irish county was
always a barrier.
So it
was a great joy for her when she learnt that Tralee Boxing Club was providing a
safe place for Muslim women to take part in training sessions in 2022.
“As a
Muslim girl, I found the club great for developing my character, boosting my
confidence, and giving me the strength I never had before,” Rahma told
Independent.ie.
“I’d
like to give a special thanks to Lynda for making me feel welcome and accepted
right away. I would strongly recommend this club to anyone wanting bravery and
success,” Rahma added.
The
club’s initiative to include more Muslim women in sport started in 2022 when
club secretary and coach Lynda McGrath welcomed members from Kerry’s Islamic
Outreach Society Ladies’ Program to train and become members of Tralee Boxing
Club.
With 40
percent of its coaching staff female, the club was in the perfect position to
accommodate Muslim women.
Safe
Place
Irish
Muslim Women Making a Mark at Tralee Boxing Club - About Islam
Newham
Initiative Launched to Encourage Muslim Women to Cycle
Today,
about 20 Muslim women and children are taking part in training sessions on
Saturday and Sunday at the gym.
“They
are great women. They have really taken to the sport, and they enjoy it,” Lynda
said.
“We’re
one of only a few clubs in Ireland to roll out this initiative. Initially, on
Sunday mornings, we had an all-male coaching staff. But this was changed to an
all-female staff, which meant Muslim women could be integrated into our Sunday
morning class,” Lynda added.
Lynda
believes that boxing builds fitness and personal character, hoping to expand her
initiative to introduce boxing to people of all ages and abilities.
“I’m
very impressed with the level of interest Muslim women have shown the sport,
they’re really up for it. This gives us great pride and pleasure as a club,”
said Lynda.
“We’ve
done this for other sectors in our community as well – some of whom may be
themselves marginalized because of a disability,” Lynda said.
“There
is always some part of boxing that people can partake in. We found this has
shaped people’s lives; boxing is a sport for everyone, it’s empowering.”
According
to the 2016 Pew Research Centre report, Ireland’s Muslim population stands at
approximately 70,000.
Source: aboutislam.net
https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/europe/irish-muslim-women-making-a-mark-at-tralee-boxing-club/
--------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-kent-county-sheriff-hijab/d/129894