Two Muslim Women, Shahnaz Khan and Her Chef Shazia Karamat, Booked for Blasphemy in Pakistan
New Age Islam News Bureau
14 Aug 2024
· Two Muslim Women, Shahnaz Khan and Her Chef ShaziaKaramat, Booked for Blasphemy in Pakistan
· Five Iranian Women's Rights Activists Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison
· Turkish Woman Arrested for Criticizing Instagram Ban, Media Says
·
French Senator Goulet Receives Princess Reema,
Saudi Ambassador in Paris
·
Saudi Woman, Umm MohammedServes Up Tasty Dishes
and Royal History Out of Her Passion for National and Cultural Heritage
· Iranian Female Scholars Discuss Women's Rights and Role In Government
·
London Knife Attack: 11-Year-Old Girls Severely
Injured, Heroic Intervention By Local Guard
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Two Muslim Women, Shahnaz Khan and Her Chef ShaziaKaramat,Booked for Blasphemy in Pakistan
13 August, 2024
Lahore, Aug 13 (PTI) Two Muslim women
have been booked under blasphemy charges for allegedly burning pages of the
Quran in Pakistan’s Punjab province, police said on Tuesday.
The principal of a private school Shahnaz Khan and her chef ShaziaKaramat have been booked under section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of a local Imam (prayer leader) Kashif Ali at Rai Kalan village of Kasur district, some 50 km from here.
Both the women in question and their families have fled the village following an announcement by Kashif Ali from his mosque that they (women) had burnt the pages of the Quran on Saturday, police officer Khalid Saleem told PTI.
A heavy contingent of police also reached there to avert any untoward incident, he said, adding, Shahnaz Khan went into hiding before the charged mob could reach the house and her school.
Last week, Punjab police said they had booked two young Christian sisters under blasphemy charges against them.
Samia Masih and Sonia Masih, both in their 20s, allegedly threw a sack containing the pages of the Quran outside their house in Gojra, Toba Tek Singh district, some 200 km from here, on August 7.
Meanwhile, Minorities Alliance Pakistan chairman Advocate Akmal Bhatti said that the desecration allegations against the Christian sisters are false. PTI MZ NPK NPKNPK
Source: theprint.in
https://theprint.in/world/two-muslim-women-booked-for-blasphemy-in-pakistan/2221655/
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Five Iranian Women's Rights Activists Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison
August 13, 2024
Rozita Rajaei (left) and Nina Golestani
(combo photo)
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Five Iranian women's rights activists were sentenced cumulatively to more than 20 years in prison, sources told RFE/RL. Nina Golestani, Anahita Hejazi, Anahita Dostdar, Rosita Rajaei, and Nagin Adalatkhah were arrested in the northern city of Rasht in November alongside other women activists. They were sentenced to three years and six months each for "assembly and collusion" and seven months and 16 days each for "propaganda against the regime." Rasht witnessed widespread protests during the "Women, Life, Freedom" demonstrations following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, who was arrested for allegedly wearing her head scarf improperly. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, click here.
Source: rferl.org
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-womens-rights-activists-prison/33076899.html
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Turkish Woman Arrested for Criticizing Instagram Ban, Media Says
August 13, 2024
ANKARA: A Turkish court on Monday ordered the arrest of a woman on charges of inciting hatred and insulting the president after she criticized a ban on social media platform Instagram, broadcaster Haberturk and other media said.
Turkiye blocked access to Instagram on Aug 2 for failing to comply with its “laws and rules” and public sensitivities. It removed the ban on Saturday, after it said the Meta Platforms-owned app agreed to cooperate with the authorities to address the government’s concerns.
In an interview posted on YouTube channel last week, when the app was still blocked, the woman was one of several passers-by who were asked what they thought about the ban.
“This is wrong. The president cannot ban Instagram as he wishes,” the woman said. She also criticized President Tayyip Erdogan and those who supported the ban.
Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrest.
Monday’s arrest, ordered by a local court in the western city of Izmir, came after the head of Turkiye’s broadcasting watchdog RTUK criticized street interviews aired on social media, saying they “manipulate public opinion.”
The Instagram access ban came after a top Turkish official accused the social media platform of blocking posts expressing condolences over the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Source: arabnews.pk
https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2567227/media
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French Senator Goulet Receives Princess Reema, Saudi Ambassador In Paris
August 13, 2024
PARIS: French Senator Nathalie Goulet received Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US, and Ambassador Fahad Al-Ruwaily, the Kingdom’s envoy to France, in Paris on Monday.
The princess is visiting France in her capacity as a member of both the International Olympic Committee and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
The visit included a tour of the Senate, and a discussion about various topics including Saudi Arabia’s participation at the recently concluded Paris Olympics, areas of cooperation and the growth of women’s sports in the Kingdom.
In a statement to Arab News enFrancais, Goulet said: “We welcome Her Royal Highness Princess Reema’s visit to the Senate today, where I commended her on her recent speech at (the) Olympic Committee and the impressive growth in her county’s female athletic participation. Saudi Arabia is making huge strides in women’s empowerment and Princess Reema is an embodiment of those strides.”
The princess recently gave a speech at the 142nd session of the IOC where she stated that the unfair media criticism of Algerian Olympic gold medallist boxer ImaneKhelif must stop, adding that “kindness and human dignity must prevail every time.”
Prior to being appointed ambassador to the US, Princess Reema played a crucial role in the implementation of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reforms involving the inclusion of women in sports, and has been championing female athletes through the initiatives and programs overseen by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Sport.
Goulet, a lawyer by practice, represents the Orne district of Normandy in the Senate. She has vast experience as vice chair of the foreign affairs committee and chair of the France Gulf Cooperation friendship group, and is the author of the book “The ABC of Terror Financing.”
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2567228/saudi-arabia
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Saudi Woman, Umm MohammedServes Up Tasty Dishes and Royal History Out of Her Passion for National and Cultural Heritage
August 13, 2024
JEDDAH: A restaurant in Jeddah is serving up not only delectable Saudi dishes, but also a peek into royal history and heritage through personal effects of the Kingdom’s beloved royals.
They are part of Umm Mohammed’s collection of rare items acquired over the last 20 years out of her love for her country and her passion for national and cultural heritage.
Among the treasured items at Faseelah Restaurant, which is located in the Al-Rawdah district, is a travel bag that belonged to King Salman; King Abdullah’s shoes; King Faisal’s office clock; a portrait of King Faisal drawn by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal; King Abdullah’s sunglasses; Prince Naif’s stuffed falcons; and other notable items such as silver incense burners and coffee pots.
Umm Mohammed told Arab News: “The memorabilia displayed at the restaurant holds a special connection … and allows visitors a glimpse into history.
“My deep love for our leaders is what prompted me to search for their possessions and display them so that people can see them, specifically the present generations so that they know the greatness of our history and our heritage that the kings have not abandoned.”
She added that the artefacts in her collection were sourced in a number of ways, including from private collectors, charity associations, international auctions, royal palaces, and donations from the relatives of kings and emirs.
And she is continuing her search for more items to expand the collection.
She said: “I truly love our leaders and I’m proud to display their memorabilia.
“Our leaders have done great things for their country and people. Now, with Saudi Vision 2030, we are achieving our ambitious plan.”
Umm Mohammed said she believes in not only preserving but sharing the country’s rich culture and heritage, adding that it is “a powerful force” and that the most important part of it is “making the new generations aware of it.”
Umm Mohammed’s husband Maj. Gen. Abdulhafiz Al-Rahily is also involved in collecting and has helped in the quest to present items for the public to see.
Umm Mohammed added that she has been inspired by the need to preserve Saudi history as the Kingdom’s vast heritage “has not been given its due.”
She said: “Heritage is a combination of all things that we inherit from our ancestors and it forms the groundwork on which we build our entire lives.
“It is necessary that we, as old members of society, introduce today’s new generation to the heritage and the culture that has helped build this great country.”
She added that this heritage is preserved in the “memories and objects connected to the national narrative, each belonging to specific individuals that have had an impact on the story of the nation.”
Faseelah Restaurant and Museum is not just limited to royal heritage, but also showcases pieces from around the world, including historic artifacts from the Ottoman era, Europe and the imperial palaces of China.
Her son, Mohammed Al-Rahily, said that some of the items were sourced directly from their owners and relatives, adding: “King Abdullah’s possessions were given to my mother by one of the king’s sons.”
He explained that Faseelah was originally launched as a museum called Al-Mahra Heritage Museum, and was transformed into a restaurant last year.
The restaurant serves traditional Saudi food, deepening the cultural experience for its patrons.
Hilal Al-Ahmadi, the supervisor of the restaurant, said that the site contains more than 300 items, and added: “This restaurant provides a real opportunity for foreign customers and the new generation to see authentic Saudi heritage.”
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2567310/saudi-arabia
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Iranian female scholars discuss women's rights and role in government
While some politicians and activists in Iran hoped the new President would tackle gender discrimination by appointing women to top political positions, women's rights advocates remain skeptical and see the issue from a different perspective.
Their skepticism proved to be well placed when on August 11 President Masoud Pezeshkian unveiled the names of his proposed ministers and only one woman was on the list.
Four Iranian women's rights activists and academics—media activist TahminehArdakani, sociologists FatemehSadeghi, FatemehAlamdar, and Bahareh Arvin—discussed the state of gender equality recently hosted by the Free-Thinking School, a civil society institute in Tehran that has been facilitating political debates on YouTube.
TahminehArdakani expressed optimism, stating that the election of Massoud Pezeshkian as Iran's new president could potentially reduce gender inequality in both society and the cabinet.
However, FatemehSadeghi challenged this view, arguing that the gender divide in Iran is a broader social and political issue, not just a problem for women. She emphasized that women's political power, street violence against women over hijab, and issues like women's sports need to be societal priorities. Sadeghi also criticized previous reformist and moderate governments for their inaction, pointing out that they often blamed conservatives for blocking progress while admitting they had no intention of taking action themselves. She expressed skepticism about the current administration's ability to enact meaningful change, likening the cabinet's steering committee to a council of elders out of touch with the younger generation's demands.
Another sociologist, FatemehAlamdar, highlighted that gender inequality is not unique to Iran, citing a UN study indicating that nine out of ten people worldwide hold outdated views on gender roles. She noted that women in Iran face significantly greater economic and political disparities than in many other countries, with Iran ranking low on the World Economic Forum's gender gap index. Despite this, she pointed out that Iranian women are well-educated, with one in three Ph.D. holders being female, leading to high expectations for their social standing.
Alamdar said that women's economic participation is one sixth of men's contribution to economic activities. On the other hand, even in developing countries, women hold four times more seats in their parliaments than Iranian women. Based on the World Economic Forum, in terms of gender gap Iran, Chad, Algeria, Afghanistan are at the bottom of the world list. The inequality between men and women in these countries is far wider than the rest of the world.
Bahareh Arvin, another Iranian academic and sociologist said that a large part of the society did not care about the presidential election. Some probably decided not to vote as they did not hear any positive promises during the campaigns. She said in order to prioritize actions we need to see if poverty or unemployment affects women more than problems [like hijab and inequality] that are solely women's problems.
In a relevant development about women's role in the government, former lawmaker ParvanehSalahshouri told Rouydad24 website that even the Vice President for Women's Affairs said that women who are appointed to that post lack executive powers. Ms. Salahsouri suggested that a Women's Organization need to be established in Iran to uphold women's rights. She questioned the mechanism to select the state officials mainly from among men and said that women in Saudi Arabia are in a better position in this regard compared to Iranian women.
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202408136616
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London Knife Attack: 11-Year-Old Girls Severely Injured, Heroic Intervention By Local Guard
August 13, 2024
London police have reported that an 11-year-old girl has been seriously injured in a knife attack in the city. According to the London police, the girl’s mother also sustained minor injuries during the attack.
The attack occurred on Monday, August 12, in Leicester Square, central London. The police believe that this incident is not related to terrorism. A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the incident.
London police stated, “We currently believe that the attacker and the victim did not know each other.”
According to Reuters, the police are not searching for any other suspects following the arrest of the 32-year-old man.
Local media reported that a young security guard at a nearby shop apprehended the attacker before the police arrived. Abdullah, a 29-year-old, quickly intervened upon hearing the child’s screams and managed to stop the assailant.
This young man, who is reportedly a Muslim immigrant, has been hailed as a “hero” by social media users.
Knife attacks have recently raised significant concerns across Europe and Australia. A recent attack by an African immigrant on a school in London, which resulted in the death of three young girls, has fueled right-wing extremists’ anger against Muslims and immigrants.
Initially, there were rumors on social media suggesting that the attacker was a radical Muslim immigrant. However, the government has since identified the attacker as a British citizen of Rwandan descent.
The violent protests by far-right extremists have ended after a week of unrest. This incident underscores the ongoing tensions and challenges related to immigration and social integration in various regions. The swift response by local heroes and the efforts of law enforcement reflect a community’s resilience and commitment to addressing such incidents.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/london-knife-attack-11-year-old-girls-severely-injured-heroic-intervention-by-local-guard/
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