New
Age Islam News Bureau
19
January 2021
• Lifting
Of Hijab Ban In Southern Belgium Offers Hope For Muslim Women
• Developing
Saudi Women Leadership Career Skills Quite At An Early Stage Of Their Lives
• Defending
Women’s Rights A Top Priority: Iran’s Judiciary Chief
• Iraqi
Women Carving Out Businesses
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/reject-march-7-referendum-ban/d/124101
--------
Reject
March 7 Referendum To Ban Full Facial Coverings Such As Burqas And Niqabs,
Swiss Government Urges To Voters
January
19, 2021
The
grouping behind the proposal was also behind a 2009 move to ban the
construction of new minarets, which was approved by nearly 60 percent of Swiss
voters [File: Michael Buholzer/Reuters]
------
By
Silke Koltrowitz
ZURICH
(Reuters) - The Swiss government recommended on Tuesday that voters reject a
proposal in a planned March 7 referendum to ban full facial coverings such as
burqas and niqabs worn by some Muslim women, saying the move would hurt
tourism.
Under
Switzerland’s system of direct democracy, any proposal to change the
constitution goes to a popular vote if supporters raise more than 100,000
signatures. In 2009 Swiss voters backed a proposal to ban the construction of
new minarets.
The
Swiss cantons of St. Gallen and Ticino have already banned full face coverings
in regional votes, but the Swiss government said following through with a
nationwide constitutional ban was a bad idea.
“Very
few people in Switzerland wear a full facial covering,” the government said in
a statement.
“A
nationwide ban would undermine the sovereignty of the cantons, damage tourism
and be unhelpful for certain groups of women,” it said.
Most
women who wear full facial coverings are tourists and only spend a brief time
in the country, the statement added.
Montreux
and other destinations around Lake Geneva as well as Interlaken in central
Switzerland traditionally attract some Muslim tourists, mainly from the wealthy
Gulf Arab states.
France
and Denmark have also banned facial coverings, citing efforts to uphold secular
values and combat discrimination against women.
Switzerland’s
proposal also forbids forcing somebody to wear a facial covering based on their
gender.
The
grouping behind the burqa ban proposal - the “Egerkinger Komitee” that includes
members of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) - was also behind the 2009
move to ban minarets, which was approved by nearly 60% of voters.
Supporters
of the 2009 proposal saw the minarets as alien to Swiss traditions and values
at a time of growing unease over the activities of Islamist militants in Europe
and the Middle East.
Muslims
make up only about 5% of Switzerland’s 8.6 million people, official statistics
show.
The
Swiss government has made a counter-proposal to the facial covering ban that
would come into force if voters reject the initial proposal on March 7. This
would require women wearing a facial covering to reveal their face if necessary
for identification at administrative offices or on public transport.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-swiss-referendum-face-coverings/swiss-government-urges-voters-to-reject-burqa-ban-in-march-referendum-idUSKBN29O0V7
--------
Lifting
Of Hijab Ban In Southern Belgium Offers Hope For Muslim Women
January
19, 2021
Activists,
anti-Islamophobia organisations welcome the announcement regarding
universities, and look forward to the lifting of bans in other institutions
-----
Activists,
anti-Islamophobia organisations welcome the announcement regarding
universities, and look forward to the lifting of bans in other institutions
Religious
symbols, including the hijab will be permitted in universities in the
French-speaking Wallonia region of Belgium starting September 2021, local
officials announced, in a victory for anti-Islamophobia and Muslim women’s
groups who have been fighting the ban for years.
The
decision was welcomed by activists and Muslim women who also acknowledged that
further steps were needed to realise the lifting of similar bans across
institutions and workplaces in Belgium.
“This
decision was very important, and it will impact a lot of women - It will impact
their decision to pursue studies, to be a normal part of society, be
financially independent, and follow their dreams about what they want to to
become,” said Fatima Zahra Younsi, an activist who has been fighting
Islamophobia in Belgium for a decade.
“Schools
are an important first step, [they help create the kind of profile] that is
needed in the job market. I hope this decision will influence other
organisations to change their own rules regarding the hijab, I really hope
companies will follow.”
Until
now, Belgium had banned “religious symbols”, including the headscarf worn by
Muslim women in their religious practice, in schools, including higher
education.
“We
are reversing the principle, in the name of the inclusion of the greatest
number, of emancipation and the fight against inequalities,” Julien Nicaise,
general administrator of Wallonia-Brussels Education (WBE), a public body that
manages French-speaking public schools in Belgium told local media on Saturday,
adding that there will be restrictions in cases where “security is threatened
or for reasons of hygiene".
"The
general interest must come first. We can no longer refuse these young women on
the pretext that they wear a veil, prevent them from studying. A diploma is
their passport to inclusion through employment."
The
announcement came after years of campaigning by anti-Islamophobia and Muslim
women’s rights groups in Belgium.
“I
think this is a political decision, as we really made a lot of demonstrations,
and it’s also a social decision, as more and more Muslims in Belgium are
wearing hijab,” said Younsi, who is a co-founder of Collectif les 100 diplômées
(100 Graduates Collective), an NGO that supports young professionals who wear the Islamic
headscarf and face discrimination. She tells TRT World that her organisation has
been lobbying for the lifting of hijab bans in schools and also tracking
incidences of hijab bans in workplaces and public institutions across Belgium.
According
to official WBE figures, higher education institutions have 50,000 students,
including 20,000 in universities and 30,000 in social advancement institutions.
Thus, the new decision concerns five universities, five arts schools and 29
social advancement institutions.
Although
Belgium does not keep official demographic records based on religion, it is
estimated that out of a population of nearly 11.5 million, over 850,000 are
Muslims. Even though not all Muslim women in Belgium wear hijab, the impact of
this new decision has the potential to affect a vast number of women who were
previously limited in their studies and employment opportunities.
The
decision was reached by consensus within the board of directors of WBE, which
has representatives of all political parties.
#HijabisFightBack
The
news comes after the Belgian constitutional court ruled in June that
prohibiting religious symbols, including hijabs, in higher education did not
constitute a violation of freedom of religion or the right to education under
the Belgian Constitution and European Convention on Human Rights.
The
decision was slammed by rights activists, anti-Islamophobia organisations, and
women’s and feminist collectives, who viewed this as a violation of basic human
rights and as a discriminatory act against women.
In
response, thousands went online to protest the decision using hashtags like,
#TouchePasAMesEtudes (Don’t touch my studies) and #HijabisFightBack. In July,
over one thousand (some organisations counted several thousand) gathered in
Brussels to advocate for the right to wear headscarves in universities.
Anti-Islamophobia
organisations said that the court opinion could lead to the isolation of
Muslims and entrench structural discrimination within the education system.
Belgium
is a federal country divided into three regions: majority French-speaking
Wallonia, majority Flemish-speaking Flanders, and the Brussels-Capital Region.
Each region has its own government and legislative body, which decide upon
housing, education policy, the economy, and other public matters.
There
is still no federal legislation that protects the right of Muslim women to wear
the headscarf in universities across Belgium.
At
the same time, headscarf bans in universities are not widespread. Several
higher education institutions, including the prestigious KU Leuven and Free
University of Brussels (VUB) stated in July that they welcome students
"regardless of gender, origin or social status, with or without a
headscarf."
However,
Belgians did not hear similar statements from universities in Brussels or
Wallonia, according to Younsi.
The
Islamic headscarf is a contentious issue in many European countries, most
notoriously in France, where the government has been criticised over the
decades for discriminatory and marginalising policies against Muslim women in
the name of laïcité (secularism). Studies have shown that anti-Muslim hate
crimes overwhelmingly target women. In Belgium, for instance, a recent report
found that 9 out 10 victims of Islamophobia were women.
“I
have been receiving so many messages from girls wearing hijab saying, ‘Now I
can pursue this program,’ or ‘before I was thinking of not doing it, as the
hijab is forbidden,’” says Younsi.
“Economically,
it will make sense to open school for everyone, no matter their belief. It just
makes sense.”
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/lifting-of-hijab-ban-in-southern-belgium-offers-hope-for-muslim-women-43365
--------
Developing
Saudi Women Leadership Career Skills Quite At An Early Stage Of Their Lives
January
18, 2021
Azhar
Ali Gawarir
Eventually,
Saudi women have made significant strides in the country's workforce,
indicating how the Vision 2030 has borne fruits. The women have defied all odds
to become substantial players in the running of organizations.
Princess
Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud's life story is a perfect illustration that voices
the need to support women's entry into their professions at an early age. Doing
so helps them develop skills that would eventually lead them to leadership
positions. Princess Reema, at a younger age, in a strange career for women,
started (Yibreen) that offered women gym services.
Over
the years, she nurtured the leadership skills that have enabled her to serve in
different leadership positions. She remains one of the decorated women leaders,
having served as CEO for Al Hama and Alfa International. Her excellent
leadership earned her an appointment as an ambassador, reaffirming how molding
women skills would help make them good leaders.
Amal
Yahya Al-Mouallimi offers another similar story for women in leadership. After
years of practice as a trainer, Amal has ascended to the position of an
ambassador in Norway. Her breakthrough serves as a reminder that women have the
potential in leadership.
Before
appointment to this plum job, Amal developed her skills when serving as
director-general in Human Rights Commission (HRC). She also worked in the
National Dialogue Center as an assistant secretary-general. These were
significant stepping stones that helped prepare her for an ambassadorial role.
Undoubtedly,
Saudi Arabia can increase women's representation in leadership positions by
supporting them right from their youthful years. Offering women opportunities
at an early age provides them with platforms to develop skills and knowledge
needed in leadership. Such a strategy will help the country improve diversity
in leadership.
—
Azhar Ali Gawarir is a PhD Researcher at the University of Brighton in the UK.
She can be reached at: Azharalim@hotmail.com
Twitter: @AzharA15
https://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/602627/Opinion/Voices/Developing-Saudi-women-leadership-career-skills-quite-at-an-early-stage-of-their-lives
--------
Defending
Women’s Rights A Top Priority: Iran’s Judiciary Chief
January
18, 2021
Speaking
at a meeting of the Supreme Council of Judiciary on Monday, Raisi said, “We
have taken measures to introduce a bill to ensure the security and dignity of
women and have submitted it to the government”.
The
Judiciary chief made the remarks on the occasion of the martyrdom anniversary
of Fatemeh Zahra (SA), the daughter of Prophet Mohammad (S) and the wife of
Imam Ali (AS), the first Shia Imam.
He
asserted that “the Quran, humanity, justice, and the first Imam of Shia are
four central points of Fatemeh Zahra’s speeches, and are sufficient to
indoctrinate the people and guide the individuals toward the salvation.”
By
depicting the life of Fatemeh Zahra (AS) as the best example of unity and
coalition building in the Islamic society, Raisi said, “Britain’s narrative
about Shia Imams in the frame of Hollywood’s illusion will lead to division,
however, we don’t acknowledge neither the extremist view of woman as an
isolated person nor the Western view of woman as a commodity”.
He
added, “An excellent woman, as Fatemeh Zahra (SA), is God seeking, selfless,
the main part of family, and influential in the society in a way that she plays
a key role in politics and society.”
In
his point of view, the top judge said, women, have a “vital role to know the
enemy, to encounter adversary, to resist suppression, and to defend Velayat
(rule of supreme jurisprudent).”
‘Progress
in production of Iranian vaccine’
The
Judiciary chief also appreciated the efforts of Iranian physicians to contain
Covid-19 pandemic, saying, “The production of vaccine is a valuable measure
which can immunize the public against the virus.”
He
added, “When the Barakat Foundation and Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order
decided to produce the Covid-19 vaccine, the enemy got furious and expressed
his irritation by imposing sanctions on the foundation and Astan Quds Razavi.”
The
senior judge pointed to the word of Ayatollah Beheshti who has said, “America,
be angry with us and die from this anger.”
He
believes that “the great steps taken by Iranian specialists to produce the
Covid-19 vaccine are a source of authority and power which visibly made the
enemy furious.”
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/457082/Defending-women-s-rights-a-top-priority-Iran-s-Judiciary-chief
--------
Iraqi
Women Carving Out Businesses
January
17, 2021
BAGHDAD
-- Fatima Ali was in her final year studying to become a medical analysis
specialist when Iraq imposed a full lockdown in March. Forced by a raging
pandemic to stay home, she spent her days on social media, looking for
something to do with her time.
Then
an idea came to her: Six years ago, visiting America on a young leaders
exchange program, she and other students toured a Vermont cheese factory where
aged cheese platters were displayed on wooden boards so inviting they looked
like paintings.
"I
liked it ... I said to myself, why not be the first to do it in Baghdad?"
She took a free online business course, and researched cheeses and wooden
plates available in the Iraqi capital.
Months
later, 22-year-old Ali is successfully marketing her cheese boards, making a
small but steady income and garnering more than 2,000 Instagram followers.
A
growing number of Iraqi women are using pandemic restrictions to establish
home-based businesses. It's a way to bypass discrimination and harassment that
often come with working in Iraq's male-dominated, conservative society -- and
bring in extra income as the economy worsens.
On a
recent day in her kitchen, Ali cut up and arranged cheeses, dried fruit and
nuts as she talked about her further dreams. She wants to go to culinary school
abroad and one day open a school in Iraq for those "who have passion for
cooking, like me."
"This
is just the beginning. I'm still developing myself," she said. The slogan
on her purple t-shirt declared, "You Have to Love Yourself."
Rawan
Al-Zubaidi, a business partner at an Iraqi nonprofit organization that supports
startups and young entrepreneurs, said there's been a noticeable increase in
home-based businesses since the pandemic's start, including women making food
deliveries, sweets, accessories, crocheting and embroidering.
"It
represents a solution to obstacles that Iraqi women face when trying to find a
job," she said, citing women whose husbands or fathers won't let them
work, unsupportive male colleagues, discrimination and lack of career growth
opportunities.
"Some
Iraqi women can't find a job because conservative families or husbands consider
that women talking directly with other men on the job will bring shame on
them," Rawan said.
Women's
labor force participation in Iraq is particularly low. As of 2018, only 12.3%
of women of working age were employed or looking for work, according to the
United Nations.
Tamara
Amir, who manages a Facebook page to educate Iraqi women about their rights,
said she receives dozens of calls each day from women facing sexual harassment
at work. Often, they report feeling they have to give their male boss
"something in return" to get a job or advancement.
Ali's
parents have been supportive of her home-based business, which she says is more
secure and means she does not have to go outside and mix with people. Her
mother helps her prepare her products, and Ali teamed up with a popular
delivery app.
At
first, she received two orders a week maximum. Now she can barely keep up with
the multiple orders she gets every day.
Mariam
Khzarjian, a 31-year-old Iraqi-Armenian, worked as an executive assistant in an
engineering company for seven years. She quit in late 2018, feeling her career
was going nowhere and started her own home business selling handmade
accessories inspired by her ancestors, who used to work as carpenters.
She
called her business Khzar -- Armenian for the art of cutting metals and woods
-- with the slogan "wear a story," since Khzar designs are based on
telling stories and building emotional communication with the clients.
She
got off to a slow start. Distractions got in the way. But the pandemic forced
her to focus, working on new designs and techniques during curfews. The move
toward online shopping helped her business take off in a way she could not have
imagined.
"Online
became the only way to reach clients, and they in turn became more loyal and
more confident about my art, because they are buying something without trying
it," Khzarjian said.
"Corona
is terrible, but for those able to take advantage of the internet and build
connections with customers, it had its positive side," she said.
Sara
al-Nedawi, 23, studied business administration and has tried to find a job for
months.
"One
day I sent my CV to a company, and they texted me to ask if I was pretty and
whether I wear the hijab or not," she said, referring to the headscarf
worn by some Muslim women. Someone from another company she applied to called
her to get more information, then told her she has a lovely voice and asked for
a photo.
Now
she is trying to start a home-based food-catering business but lacks the
capital.
"I
need to work first to collect enough money," she said.
https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2021/jan/17/iraqi-women-carving-out-businesses/
--------
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/reject-march-7-referendum-ban/d/124101
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism