Malaysia's Northeastern Terengganu State Law to Punish Women for Wearing Men's Clothing
New
Age Islam News Bureau
16
December 2022
• Women
of Brazil Group Is Building Commercial Bridges between Brazil and the Arab
World
• Malala
Yousafzai Meets Pakistan Women's Cricket Team
• SDAIA
Honors Prize-Winning Saudi Women Employees
• California
Woman Admits To Unwittingly Funding Iran Critic Kidnap Plot
• Defending
Champs Egypt Sink Malaysia In Women’s World Squash Team Championships Semis
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/malaysia-law-punish-clothing/d/128646
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Malaysia's
Northeastern Terengganu State Law to Punish Women for Wearing Men's Clothing
Photograph:
(
Dec
16, 2022
Malaysia's
northeastern Terengganu state will punish women for donning men's clothing and
conceiving out-of-wedlock pregnancies. The state also outlawed 'witchcraft and
sorcery'. The move has drawn the ire of human rights activists in South-East
Asia. The laws that were passed by the Terengganu state assembly earlier this
month make legislative provisions for punishments by a fine of up to 5,000
ringgit ($1,134), a three-year jail term and six lashes, or any combination of
the three.
As
many as 14 rights groups, including the All Women’s Action Society, said the
legislative changes violate the right to freedom of expression, equality and
non-discrimination.
Terengganu
is governed by Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, focused on Islamic fundamentalism.
The
new law in the Malaysian state follows a similar move by neighbouring
Indonesia, which outlawed extramarital sex and raised the penalty for
abortions. The bill, which became law last week, also adds limitations to how
much people can criticise Indonesia's public institutions.
Fundamentalism
in Malaysia hitting country's economic standing?
While
Malaysia appeared to pick up economic momentum by investing diplomatic capital
and financial apparatus into landmark G20 summit last month as well as multiple
investors' summits this year, so far global funds have pulled up over $1.2
billion from the domestic bond market in 2022 amid concerns related to
fundamentalism driven by political instability in the Southeast Asian country,
Bloomberg Reported.
New
laws for 'well-being' of Muslims
The
new laws would better protect “the well-being of Muslims,” state-run Bernama
news agency cited state religious official Satiful Bahari Mamat as saying. He
added that the prohibition on women behaving like men was enacted because
existing laws only dealt with men acting like women.
“Because
in the past, there might not have been much of this issue (women acting like
men),” he told the state news agency. “But we see now that ‘pengkid’ (tomboy or
lesbian) cases and the like are becoming more widespread, so the state
government intends to curb this issue.”
Parti
Islam Se-Malaysia, or PAS as it’s known, won the most seats of any single party
in last month’s general election. It has been a proponent of transforming
Malaysia into an Islamic state, and has pushed the parliament to allow it to
implement strict Islamic laws in the states it controls.
Source:
WIO News
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Women
of Brazil Group Is Building Commercial Bridges between Brazil and the Arab
World
Members
of Grupo Mulheres do Brasil and the chamber’s Wahi committee at a roundtable in
Sao Paulo. The GMB has been opening branches across the Arab world for
Brazilian expatriate women and Arab women to do business. (Supplied)
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Eduardo
Campos Lima
December
15, 2022
SAO
PAULO: Moving to a new country and navigating a radically different culture can
be extremely daunting, especially if you do not speak the local language and
need help finding work or establishing a business.
That
is why Grupo Mulheres do Brasil, or the Women of Brazil Group, recently
established two new branches in the Arab world to help Brazilian women meet
like-minded compatriots and explore employment, business and social
opportunities.
The
network, which launched nine years ago, set up new branches in the Egyptian
capital, Cairo, and the UAE’s commercial hub, Dubai, in partnership with Wahi,
the women’s committee of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
Connecting
100,000 participants across 25 countries, organizers say the new GMB branches
will not only benefit Brazilian women living in the Arab world but will also
help Arab businesswomen expand their own networks and trade opportunities.
Led
by Brazilian retail tycoon Luiza Trajano, GMB has grown into a global network
committed to empowering women through education in different fields,
professional training and mentoring, entrepreneurship, and an environment of
mutual support.
Having
first established branches throughout Brazil, GMB began its international
expansion in 2017, opening centers in the US and Europe. Trajano was inspired
to bring her network to the Arab world following a visit to Expo 2020 Dubai in
March.
It
was there Trajano met with several Arab businesswomen and Brazilians living in
the Middle East who were eager to forge links, share contacts, and exchange
experiences. Now organizers are considering expansion into Saudi Arabia.
In
reference to Brazil’s large diaspora, Lilian Leandro, GMB’s expansion director,
said: “Our goal is to spread our presence as much as possible so we can pursue
our vision of social change for Brazil — a country that goes beyond its
borders.
“Women
living in other countries often face emotional problems and psychological
conditions.” This meant networks such as GMB were important for the comfort and
wellbeing of expat communities, she added.
In
addition, the network offers opportunities to build commercial bridges between
Brazil’s booming economy and Arab business-holders looking to import Brazilian
commodities, skills, and expertise, and export goods of their own.
Claudia
Yazigi Haddad, one of Wahi’s directors, told Arab News: “There are female
entrepreneurs in Arab countries who want to export to Brazil. At the same time,
there has been a growing interest in the Middle East and North Africa for
Brazilian products.”
Brazilian
beauty and personal care products are in especially high demand in Egypt.
Similar to many Brazilian expats living in Cairo, 37-year-old Ingrid Missi
works in the beauty business.
“Many
women come from Brazil for temporary work as manicurists, hairdressers, and
makeup artists. Egyptian women like to take care of themselves and value the
work of Brazilian professionals,” she said.
Pay
for such services is also considerably higher than in Brazil, Missi added.
Other
Brazilian women have moved to Egypt after meeting Egyptian men online. However,
Missi pointed out that differing cultures and the language barrier could often
make relationships difficult.
“Some
women begin a relationship through the internet, come to Egypt and get married
to a person they do not know very well. This can put them in a risky
situation,” she said.
Unable
to speak Arabic or English and without financial independence, many Brazilian
women who have arrived in Egypt look to the GMB network in search of support.
Susy
da Silva, head of the new Cairo branch, told Arab News that language training
was one of the organization’s key programs. However, promoting financial
independence was a primary concern.
She
said: “We also plan to give support to the women who want to be entrepreneurs.
We will offer guidance on how to legally open a business here and help them
through the process.”
GMB
Cairo plans to conduct a survey with the Brazilian community to identify needs
and concerns. “We may also help to insert women into the job market,” Da Silva
added.
Erica
Miele, an aromatherapist who has lived in Cairo since 2019 and who is a
founding member of the new GMB branch, said one of their goals was to establish
a network of female entrepreneurs, integrating Brazilian women with their local
communities.
“This
way, not only they but also the Egyptian women with whom they work will be
impacted by our work,” she said.
In
Dubai, the new GMB branch is now reaching out to hundreds of Brazilian women
who moved to the UAE to work or to accompany their husbands.
According
to Adrianna Kezh, a legal consultant who has lived in Dubai since 2006, the
local GMB branch is made up of women who have lived in the UAE for several
years and who “have a deep knowledge of its culture, customs, and social and
corporate relations.”
“We
know some of the difficulties faced by women here and we intend to launch
projects that can benefit them and increase female participation in the job
market and in entrepreneurship in Dubai, in fields like technology, education,
and other areas,” she said.
Trade
between Brazil and Arab countries grew by 44 percent during 2021, Tamer
Mansour, chief executive officer of the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, told
CNBC Arabia earlier this year. The volume of food exports alone reached an
estimated $14 billion, its highest since 2012.
According
to Mansour, reports in January revealed that trading between Brazil and Arab
nations could increase further, by 2 to 4 percent this year.
The
volume of trade between Saudi Arabia and Brazil increased 56 percent last year,
compared to 2020.
In
June, the Council of Saudi Chambers announced the formation of the Kingdom’s
side in the Saudi-Brazilian Business Council and the nomination of its
executive committee members, headed by Mishaal bin Hathleen and his two
deputies, Waad Abu Nayan, and Badr Al-Busais.
Food
security, air and sea logistics, energy, industry, and defense are seen as
particularly strong areas of future cooperation.
Egypt
is currently Brazil’s top trade partner among Arab countries, with a trade
volume of nearly $2.6 billion.
The
Brazilian business community enjoys investment opportunities in the Egyptian
market in transportation, spare parts, pharmaceuticals, engineering, and
textiles. Emergency markets and investment trends include renewable energy.
For
Miele, supporting entrepreneurship among Brazilian and Arab women was about
more than simply helping expatriates to open businesses and building bridges with
local partners.
“It
is about attaining independence and self-sustainability,” she said. “But also,
about having high self-esteem, empowerment, and feeling that you belong.”
Source: Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2216811/middle-east
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Malala
Yousafzai meets Pakistan women's cricket team
December
16, 2022
LAHORE:
Nobel Peace Prize holder Malala Yousafzai, along with her husband Asser Malik,
met with the Pakistan women's cricket team as well as the U-19 women's team,
before departing for London on Friday.
Malala
met with women team stars Sidra Ameen, Diana Baig and Tuba Hassan and Eman Ali
and Shawal Zulfiqar from the U-19 women's team.
Speaking
to the athletes, Malala expressed her best wishes for their upcoming
endeavours, especially the 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Malala motivated the
players to have faith in their abilities, carry on practicing and enjoy the
game as much as they can.
She
added that the players should always accept any challenges because success
always lies beyond hardships and challenges.
Malik
said both of them are very fond of cricket and follow it regularly. They would
also try to come and watch the women's World Cup games, he added.
The
players gifted Malala a signed T-shirt and a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
jacket.
Malala
tour to Pakistan
Malala
Yousafzai arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday along with her family and husband
Asser Malik. Malala attended multiple seminars and sessions, including a
meeting with CM Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.
The
Nobel laureate called on the CM on Wednesday to persuade him for banning
corporal punishment in schools and madrassahs across the province.
Upon
Malala's request, the chief minister announced the initiation of legislation
banning the act. He said that the corporal punishment of students —
particularly female students — is absolutely unacceptable.
Malala's
last visit
Malala
last visited Pakistan two months back when she visited flood-affected areas of
the country.
Her
visit in October — only the second since she was flown to Britain for
life-saving treatment — also came at a time when thousands of people protested
in Swat.
Yousafzai
was just 15 years old when the TTP shot her in the head over her campaign for
girls' education.
Malala
Fund said in a statement said that her visit aims "to help keep
international attention focused on the impact of floods in Pakistan and
reinforce the need for critical humanitarian aid."
Source: The News Pakistan
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1020590-malala-meets-pakistna-women-cricket-team
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SDAIA
honors prize-winning Saudi women employees
December
16, 2022
RIYADH
— The Chairman of Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), Dr.
Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, has honored eight Saudi female employees of the
National Center for Artificial Intelligence (AI) for achieving first and second
places in three local competitions.
The
competitions were organized by the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of
Culture, represented by the Literature, Publishing & Translation
Commission, and the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises “Monsha'at”,
represented by Thakaa Center in partnership with the Ministry of Sports in the
areas of data and AI in support of young national cadres in this advanced
technological field.
The
move to honor the winners comes within the framework of SDAIA's endeavor to
support Saudi women's empowerment within the targets of the Kingdom's Vision
2030 and its belief that women have the bulk role in development and
construction, and to enhance their active participation and presence in the
development scene in the Kingdom.
The
winners who have been honored are: Atheer Al-QarniReem Al-Ruwaili, Al-Jawhara
Al-Mulhim, Fatima Al-Ghamdi, Renad Al-Musaed, Sheikha Al-Subaie, Asma
Al-Khalidi, and Raneem Al-Najem. — SPA
Source:
Saudi Gazette
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/628042
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California
woman admits to unwittingly funding Iran critic kidnap plot
December
16, 2022
NEW
YORK: A California woman pleaded guilty on Thursday in connection with her
unwitting role in a foiled plot to kidnap a prominent Iranian opposition
activist living in New York City and take her back to Tehran.
US
prosecutors have not accused Niloufar Bahadorifar of participating in the plot
to abduct Masih Alinejad, a journalist and vocal critic of the Iranian
government for its treatment of women and other issues.
But
authorities said four Iranians who plotted to kidnap the activist paid an
American private investigator to watch her used Bahadorifar as a go-between.
Bahadorifar
pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to violate US economic sanctions on
Iran by helping channel money to the investigator.
Her
lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, told The New York Times that Bahadorifar was herself
a victim of a “cancerous” Iranian regime.
“When
Iran’s terrorist leaders aren’t slaughtering their own people,” he said,
“they’re travelling the globe trying to kill their critics, including the
despicable manipulation of Ms. Bahadorifar by an old family friend.”
Bahadorifar
said in court she was unaware the money was used to pay the investigator to
conduct surveillance. She told the judge she had sent the funds to the
investigator via PayPal on behalf of a government official in Iran who was a
longtime family friend.
An
Iranian intelligence officer and others were charged in New York last year with
attempting to kidnap Alinejad and take her back to Iran. The Officials in Iran
have denied the charge.
The
private investigator, who also was unaware his employers were actually Iranian
agents, later cooperated with the FBI and has not been charged.
Alinejad
became a US citizen in 2019 after working for years as a journalist in Iran.
She fled the country after its disputed 2009 presidential election and has
become a prominent figure on Farsi-language satellite channels abroad that
criticize Iran.
US
authorities are investigating whether Alinejad was the target of a second plot
after the first one was disrupted.
Last
summer, police arrested a man near her Brooklyn home with a loaded assault
rifle and dozens of rounds of ammunition. Alinejad said a home security video
had recorded the man outside her front door.
Bahadorifar
will be sentenced April 7.
Iran
has conducted a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters who took to the streets
in September after the death of a 22-year-old woman taken into custody by the
morality police.
Source:
Gulf News
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Defending
champs Egypt sink Malaysia in Women’s World Squash Team Championships semis
16
Dec 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR, Dec 16 — Malaysia’s campaign in the Women's World Squash Team
Championships was ended by powerhouse Egypt in the semi-finals in Cairo last
night.
Chan
Yiwen gave a fighting display in the first set before losing to Egypt’s world
number three Hania El Hammamy 11-8, 11-2, 11-5 in 23 minutes in the opening
match.
In
the second match, world number 31 Aifa Azman managed to take a set off world
number one Nouran Gohar but still lost in 43 minutes.
Nouran
won 11-8, 11-3, 3-11, 11-4 to take the hosts into the final with a 2-0 win.
National
head coach Ajaz Azmat said the girls gave the Egyptians a good fight despite
losing.
“Their
play was very positive, and they were trying to get results today. I actually
think today was Aifa’s best performance of the event,” he was quoted as saying
by the organiser on its website.
In
the final, defending champions Egypt will face first-time finalists the United
States (USA). USA, coached by former Malaysian international Ong Beng Hee,
downed England 2-0 in the other semi-final. — Bernama
Source:
Malay Mail
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