Iranians Hold Global Rallies to Mark Anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s Death
New Age Islam News Bureau
16 Sep 2024
· Iranians Hold Global Rallies to Mark Anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s Death
· Tributes Paid to Safeya Binzagr, The ‘Mother of Saudi Art’
· Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Urges UN to Take Action Against Gender Apartheid in Iran
· Three-Time Olympic Gold Winner Sifan Hassan Aims to Instill ‘Confidence’ In Qatar’s Young Female Athletes
· African Women's Orchestra and Guitarist Rafael Serrallet Strum for Unity
· UAE: 20-Year-Old Scientist Named Among Global 200 Powerful Women Leaders for 2024
· Iran Deploys Heavy Security in Mahsa Amini's Hometown
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iranian-mahsa-amini-death/d/133212
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Iranians Hold Global Rallies to Mark Anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s Death
An Iranian in a rally in Rome demands justice for Mahsa Amini. File photo
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SEPTEMBER 16, 2024
In a show of global solidarity, Iranians staged protest rallies across cities in Europe and Australia on Sunday, as communities in the United States also planned their own gatherings in different cities.
These protests mark the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's tragic death in police custody, which sparked the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising in Iran.
Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, died after receiving fatal injuries in the custody of Iran's so-called "morality police" on September 16, 2022. She had been arrested in Tehran for allegedly violating the country's mandatory hijab law. Her death, which came amid allegations of police brutality, ignited months of nationwide protests in Iran, led predominantly by women and young people demanding greater rights and freedoms. The protests rapidly spread across the country, calling for the end of mandatory hijab laws and the broader Islamic Republic system.
Sunday's protests serve as both a tribute to Amini and a continuation of the calls for justice that arose from her death. Demonstrators gathered in major European cities, including Berlin, Paris, Hamburg, and the Hague to name a few. They carried photos of Amini, raised banners that read “Woman, Life, Freedom,” and chanted slogans against Islamic Republic, condemning its repressive tactics and ongoing human rights abuses. Protests were also held in London and Sydney, Australia.
Protesters filled the streets, waving the lion and sun pre-Islamic Republic national flag and calling for governments to increase pressure on Tehran. Protestors also demanded from International leaders to list Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist entity in Europe, United Kingdom and Australia.
Similar global rallies were held on Saturday ahead of Amini's anniversary.
Meanwhile in Iran, strikes were held across at least 11 cities in Western Azarbaijan and Kurdistan provinces.
Security forces banned Amini's family from leaving their home to visit her burial site on her anniversary, and threatened them with arrest.
There was heavy security in many cities in western Iran to prevent any street gatherings. The government arrested 22,000 people during the protests after Mini's death and executed several young men who had taken part in the street rallies in 2022.
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202409153489
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Tributes Paid to Safeya Binzagr, The ‘Mother of Saudi Art’
Late Safeya Binzagr and Professor Katakura Kunio, the former Japanese ambassador to Egypt, Iraq, and the UAE. (National Museum of Ethnology, Japan & Kanakawa Foundation)
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September 15, 2024
TOKYO: Katakura Kunio, the former Japanese ambassador to Egypt, Iraq, and the UAE, has paid tribute to Safeya Binzagr, who passed away last week, emphasizing the profound impact of her contributions to enhancing Japan’s cultural ties with Saudi Arabia.
Binzagr, known as the “mother” of Saudi Arabia’s fine art movement and a symbol of Vision 2030, helped bridge the cultural link between Japan and Saudi Arabia and was the aunt of current Saudi Ambassador to Japan Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr.
Katakura, chairman of Japan’s Foundation for Desert Culture, fondly recalled Safeya’s “warm and encouraging nature” toward him and his late wife, Motoko.
“Her support was instrumental in Motoko’s cultural anthropological fieldwork in Wadi Fatima,” he said. “She always welcomed the foundation’s follow-up missions with open arms, fostering a deep and personal connection with us.”
Katakura said Binzagr was not only a gifted artist whose work inspired many but also a cherished friend and mentor. Her passion for creativity and dedication to her paintings left an indelible mark, and her artistic legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
Ambassador Binzagr commented: “Building a cultural bridge is the core for creating a distinguished future between two countries and I strive, as an ambassador, to support this because it creates an opportunity for common interests to rise to a common outlook and mutually supportive values.
“The mission carried out by my late aunt will continue (in) the making of a new era. She was one of the pillars that paved the way for this through her dedication to building and promoting the culture of the arts for future generations. The Kingdom considers her the mother of the cultural heritage of creative fine arts.”
The ambassador said there are ongoing efforts to further collaboration between Japan’s Foundation for Desert Culture and prominent foundations in the Kingdom to build upon the cultural ties between the two countries.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2571470/saudi-arabia
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Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Urges UN To Take Action Against Gender Apartheid In Iran
Sep 16, 2024,
Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi on Sunday urged the United Nations to criminalize gender apartheid, in a message from prison on the second anniversary of Iran's 'Woman, Life Freedom' movement.
The protests erupted after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, died in the custody of Iran's so-called "morality police" on September 16, 2022. She had been arrested in Tehran for allegedly violating the country's mandatory hijab law. Her death, which came amid allegations of police brutality, ignited months of nationwide protests in Iran, led predominantly by women and young people demanding greater rights and freedoms.
"The 'Woman, Life, Freedom' movement has redefined the people's role in confronting tyrannical rule, imposing a new understanding that instills fear within this theocratic regime," Mohammadi said in her letter from Evin Prison.
On the second anniversary of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, Mohammadi's letter said, "we reaffirm our commitment to achieving democracy, freedom, and equality and to defeating theocratic despotism."
The Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate's letter was published shortly after thirty-four women prisoners including Mohammadi went on hunger strike in Evin Prison to mark two years since protests erupted in 2022.
In her Sunday letter, Mohammadi urged the United Nations "to end its silence and inaction in the face of the devastating oppression and discrimination by theocratic and authoritarian governments against women by criminalizing gender apartheid."
"The liberation of women from the grip of oppression and discrimination is essential for empowering the force that drives peace and democracy," she said.
The concept of gender apartheid emerged from Afghan women's human rights defenders in response to the Taliban's suppression of women's rights in the 1990s.
However, Iranian activists have been joining the campaign after widespread protests against compulsory hijab laws which have seen brutal crackdowns by morality police, including the deaths of women including Mahsa Amini.
Women such as Iranian-American dissident activist Masih Alinejad, have played a pivotal role in amplifying and broadening the campaign's reach. She has been the subject of multiple assassination attempts abroad by the regime as it continues to target dissidents both at home and on foreign soil.
In June, human rights group Amnesty International joined a campaign against gender apartheid amid continued nationwide oppression in Iran and Afghanistan. The group says it aims to strengthen efforts against “institutionalized regimes of systematic oppression and domination imposed on the grounds of gender.”
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202409156861
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Three-Time Olympic Gold Winner Sifan Hassan Aims To Instill ‘Confidence’ In Qatar’s Young Female Athletes
Sudesh Baniya
September 15, 2024
The Dutch-Ethiopian athlete is living up to the greatest-ever runner tag and wants to create a lasting legacy for young females to take up sports.
For Sifan Hassan, the most striking moment in any race, regardless of whether she’ll win or not, comes a couple hundred meters before the finishing line.
The three-time Olympic gold winner has ended up in the positive side more often than most, but there are moments where Hassan has had to wrestle with the self-doubt like everyone.
As she sat down in front of a room full of people on Saturday, Hassan spoke with confidence, acknowledging the vulnerabilities that come with being a female athlete in the age of mainstream attention.
“It is normal to get overwhelmed”, she said and admitted she has had to “build the mettle”.
Hassan highlighted the importance of not “giving up” and her latest initiative, as an ambassador of Qatar Foundation’s Creating Pathways, is geared towards just that by inspiring women and girls through running.
One attendee questioned what keeps her going from one distance to another and excel in every single one of them.
“Confidence,” she answered, noting one of the main motives of her joining the initiative is to instill confidence in females and how that translates to families’ and ultimately the societies’ well-being.
“Happiness and confidence can come through sports. We all are beautiful, we all have the capability to excel at things. We just need to be confident and I hope to contribute in any way I can,” she added.
It would, however, be an understatement to limit the Dutch-Ethiopian runner’s achievement so far to just confidence. She won medals at the 5000-meter, 10000-meter, and the grueling 40-kilometer marathon in Paris. Three years ago in Tokyo, she had won gold in 5000 and 10000-meters and finished third in the 1500-meter event.
“I used to try to run very fast on my way to school in Ethiopia,” she said, “because I woke up late. If I did not run fast enough, I would not make it and as I kept getting faster, I started waking up even later.”
In the era of hyper specialisation, many consider Hassan’s feat the greatest performance ever by an athlete in the summer games. The endurance she embodies is generational, according to one of the runners who competed with Hassan in Paris, and that she had solidified herself as the “greatest distance runner of all time if she was not already.”
‘The key is to keep trying’
In Hassan’s early life, it was not easy as she was forced to leave her country of birth as a refugee at age 15 in 2008 to arrive in Netherlands, the country she represents now.
Choosing to focus on what she has rather than what she doesn’t “always helped” her, Hassan said. One recent instance she remembers is the build-up to Paris Olympics, where she did not have the most convincing of performances and had to actively push through the pain.
“The key is to keep trying. If today’s dark, tomorrow there will be light. You just have to deal with it,” she added.
In hindsight, however, it almost seems like a fairytale for Hassan, who left Paris with a claim at greatness. Her crowning moment was fitting too, as she wore a Hijab to receive the gold medal from the International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach in the grand closing ceremony.
She attributes her self-discipline and the ability to get back up after losses to Islam, and says the medal ceremony was an ode to her faith.
“There is a connotation that Muslim girls are weak, because they are being told to wear a Hijab,” she said. “It is not accurate. I’m a Muslim, I’m Olympic champion, and I’m strong. That’s what I want to convey and instill with this collaboration.”
Source: dohanews.co
https://dohanews.co/sifan-hassan-aims-to-create-pathways-and-instill-confidence-in-qatars-young-female-athletes/
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AFRICAN WOMEN'S ORCHESTRA AND GUITARIST RAFAEL SERRALLET STRUM FOR UNITY
09-16-2024'
Musical Cooperation Builds Bridges Between Cultures and Fosters Integration Through the Work of These Talented Artists.
There is no doubt that music is one of the most unifying elements in our world today. As a universal language, it transcends borders, cultures, and languages, fostering cooperation, integration, and understanding. This is evident in the work that the African Women's Orchestra (AWO) and Spanish guitarist Rafael Serrallet are currently developing, culminating in a highly anticipated concert this Saturday.
Rafael Serrallet, a celebrated Spanish guitarist with deep ties to Kenya, has been a frequent visitor to the country for several years. His dedication to teaching, playing, and sharing his passion for music with Kenyan musicians has left a lasting impact. His work with institutions such as the Kenya Conservatoire of Music and various local musicians has helped nurture a new generation of talent in the region.
One of Serrallet's most notable achievements in Kenya was his Guinness World Record, set in Mombasa in 2018, where he became the first guitarist to perform on all seven continents. This achievement symbolises his lifelong connection to the country and its musical landscape. Beyond breaking records, his ongoing contributions have helped shape Kenya's vibrant music scene, particularly through his educational efforts.
This week, Serrallet will rehearse with the extraordinary group of women musicians who make up the African Women's Orchestra, founded by Wandiri Karimi and Keziah Ntwiga, a collective of talented female musicians from across the continent, dedicated to celebrating the power of music and highlighting the stories of African women. The Orchestra International Women's Day Events have since 2017 brought together the best of traditional and contemporary music from Kenya, the region and beyond.
As the orchestra and Maestro Serrallet collaborate, their work-sponsored by the Spanish Embassy and Spain's Ministry of Culture-will explore a repertoire that celebrates both African and European traditions. This fusion of cultures through music reflects a broader mission of collaboration and mutual understanding.
This ongoing partnership between the African Women's Orchestra and Rafael Serrallet underscores the power of music to bring people together, creating lasting bonds and mutual respect across cultures. It is a gift that Serrallet continues to share, and Kenya remains grateful for his lasting contributions to its musical landscape.
Dominican piano player and philanthropist Rita Simó used to say "Music is a gift, pass it on,"-and Rafael Serrallet is doing just that, ensuring that the next generation of Kenyan musicians is inspired, educated, and ready to take on the world stage.
Source: openpr.com
https://www.openpr.com/news/3655538/african-women-s-orchestra-and-guitarist-rafael-serrallet-strum
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UAE: 20-year-old scientist named among Global 200 Powerful Women Leaders for 2024
by Ruqayya Al Qaydi
16 Sep 2024,
A 20-year-old Emirati has been recognised as one of the Global 200 Powerful Women Leaders for 2024 by the White Page International Conclave. Her groundbreaking achievements in scientific research and public health have garnered her this prestigious international accolade at such a young age.
The journey of Jameela Almasoud been marked significant challenges, including early scepticism from a prominent scientist who doubted her future potential. “You will not succeed for the rest of your life. This is just a fleeting period of time,” he told her.
Undeterred, Jameela resolved to prove him wrong, declaring, “Give me just one year, and I will be back with something that will shock you,” she said.
True to her word, she returned less than a year later with a published paper in the esteemed journal Microbiology Resource Announcements, a rare achievement for an undergraduate student before the age of 20.
Turning rejections into successes
Jameela's resilience was further tested when she faced rejection from a prestigious lab before starting her PhD. The lab head dismissed her application due to her age and perceived inexperience, which initially threatened her confidence and ambitions.
However, within a month, she was offered PhD positions at two top universities worldwide, ultimately choosing to join University College London (UCL).
Reflecting on the experience, she quoted Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi: “The challenges we face are what shape us into who we are meant to be.”
Currently, Jameela serves as the University College Dublin (UCD) ambassador in the Middle East and was recently elected to the Global Youth Council in the UK, making significant strides in her field.
Her academic background is equally impressive, with three majors in Genetics, Cancer Biology, and Neuroscience. She also has additional credentials from Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Fresh approach
Jameela's innovative approach involves integrating various scientific disciplines, believing that such intersections lead to transformative discoveries. “I want to be unique, not just another scientist following the well-trodden path,” she explained. “By bringing fresh, multifaceted approaches to the table, I hope to inspire others to look beyond the obvious.”
Looking ahead, Jameela aims to advance scientific research, particularly in genetics and cancer biology, and lead global public health initiatives. She is also dedicated to mentoring young scientists, especially women. “I want to inspire and mentor the next generation, showing them that with determination, anything is possible,” she said.
In her message to all Emirati women, she emphasised resilience and pride. “You hold within you the power to shape the future and uplift those around you,” she urged. “Embrace your journey with pride and courage. Your spirit and perseverance are the true treasures of our nation.”
Source: khaleejtimes.com
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-20-year-old-scientist-named-among-global-200-powerful-women-leaders-for-2024
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Iran Deploys Heavy Security in Mahsa Amini's Hometown
SEPTEMBER 15, 2024
Widespread civil disobedience and a heavy security force presence have been reported in Iran's Kurdish city of Saqqez on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death.
The city, birthplace of Amini, whose death in custody sparked the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in 2022, has become a focal point of commemorative activities and government attempts to suppress them.
According to information obtained by IranWire, the government's strategy has shifted from last year.
Military forces arrived in Saqqez two days before the anniversary. This year, they have been stationed at an IRGC base near the city's entrance from Sanandaj, rather than at the governor's compound where they were the previous year.
Additional forces have been positioned at the exit towards Baneh and along the route to Aichi cemetery, where Amini is buried.
While the streets remain free of visible military or special unit presence as of midday on Sunday, the skies above Saqqez are under constant surveillance by several military helicopters.
The IRGC has intensified its presence at city entry points and has been checking incoming vehicles.
The authorities' preparations for this day began several days in advance.
In a repeat of last year's tactics, they released water from the Cheraghweis dam on Friday night, causing the Saqqez River to expand to impassable levels at all points.
The measure appears designed to limit movement within the city and access to key locations.
Despite these obstacles, Saqqez's residents have responded to calls from various Kurdish parties and personalities to support the Amini family and others who lost loved ones during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests.
A significant strike action began Sunday morning, with many businesses in the main market and along major city routes remaining closed.
The outskirts of Saqqez have also been affected by the strike. However, government offices remain open, with some citizens attending to administrative matters.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/news/133944-iran-deploys-heavy-security-in-mahsa-aminis-hometown/
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iranian-mahsa-amini-death/d/133212