Two Muslim Women Suffer Knife Attack near Eiffel Tower by Two White Female Assailants
New
Age Islam News Bureau
22
October 2020
• Ninety-Nine New Women Security Personnel to Guard Rawdah Sharif, Prophet’s Mosque
•
Saudi King Praises Role of Women at W20 Summit
•
Saudi Arabia Makes Golf Free For Women in Bid to Grow Game
•
Saudi Women's Summit Accused of 'Whitewashing' Record On Rights
•
#Iamemirati: This Dubai-Based Woman Engineer Can Unravel 'Mysterious' Deaths
•
Afghan Women Seek Regional Support For Ceasefire
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/two-muslim-women-suffer-knife/d/123231
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Two Muslim Women Suffer Knife Attack near Eiffel Tower by Two White Female Assailants
Cindi
Cook
22.10.2020
Eiffel
Tower
----
PARIS:
Two Muslim women were left injured after being stabbed near Paris’ Eiffel Tower
by two white female assailants, local media reported on Thursday.
The
attack took place amid heightened tension after French President Emmanuel
Macron said in an Oct. 2 speech that Islam was “in crisis,” a claim critics
charged would fuel Islamophobia.
As
reported by franceinfo and other outlets, the incident happened on Sunday under
the iconic landmark as the Muslim women were out for a walk, when a dog ran up
and frightened their children.
When
the Muslim women asked the dog’s owners – described as white women “of European
appearance” – to put it on a leash, they refused, and instead shouted insults
such as "Dirty Arab!" and "Go home!"
They
then pulled out a knife, slashing one of the Muslim women three separate times
– on the skull, on the rib, and on the upper arm, and delivering six stabs to
the other woman.
The
attack was halted by vendors working at the foot of the tower.
The
victims of the attack – identified as Kenza, 49, and Amel, her cousin, both of
Algerian origin – suffered a punctured lung and other wounds.
Police
arrested one of the assailants immediately and the second on Tuesday. Paris
prosecutors on Wednesday opened an investigation into attempted murder and
assault with a weapon, according to the reports.
Tension
high, double standards seen
The
attack has fueled ongoing tension in the capital after the murder of teacher
Samuel Paty by an extremist last Friday, an incident Macron branded an
“Islamist terrorist attack.”
Muslim
leaders across France have condemned the murder, stressing that extremists
abuse religion for their goals and their actions cannot be justified through
Islam.
Paty,
47, a middle school teacher, was decapitated Friday by Abdoullakh Anzorov, an
18-year-old man of Chechen origin. The suspect was gunned down by police.
The
teacher, during one of his classes on freedom of expression, had shown
controversial cartoons depicting the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, according to the
reports.
Critics
have warned the government may exploit this murder to intensify its
controversial anti-Muslim campaign. Community leaders also expressed concern
that the attack would further stigmatize French Muslims and stoke Islamophobia.
Social
media users also criticized local media for biased reporting of the stabbing
incident.
"Will
the media call this a terrorist attack? No! Blatant double standard here
folks," CJ Werleman, an activist against Islamophobia, wrote on Twitter.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/muslim-women-suffer-knife-attack-near-eiffel-tower/2015156
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Ninety-Nine
New Women Security Personnel to Guard Rawdah Sharif, Prophet’s Mosque
October
21, 2020
Prophet’s
Mosque
----
MADINAH
— Director of Public Security Lt. Gen. Khalid Al-Harbi has issued an order to
appoint 99 women military personnel in the Special Force for the Security of
the Prophet’s Mosque.
This
was in implementation of the directives of Minister of Interior Prince Abdul
Aziz Bin Saud Bin Naif.
The
newly appointed security women will join their duty of crowd control in
managing the visit of women worshipers at the Rawdah Sharif from the beginning
of next week.
These
women have developed their skills after undergoing training programs in both
field and administrative security.
This
comes out of utmost keenness and follow up of Madinah Emir Prince Faisal Bin
Salman to have a separate wing of female military personnel assuming security
duties to organize the visit of women worshipers to the Rawdah Sharif.
The
resumption of visit to Rawdah Sharif was resumed on Oct. 18 after a hiatus of
more than seven months following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/599399
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Saudi
King Praises Role of Women At W20 Summit
October
22, 2020
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has praised the exceptional role played by women
during the coronavirus pandemic.
In
a speech delivered at the end of the W20, the G20 women’s engagement group, on
Wednesday, King Salman said: “I would like to express my gratitude to the Women
20 Engagement Group for their remarkable efforts and commitment to deliver
their agenda during these unprecedented times caused by the COVID -19
pandemic.”
The
Saudi king described women as the source of evolution for any society and said
that without empowered women it is difficult to reform societies.
“Women
are the main source of development for any society. Hence, without empowered
women, it is almost impossible to implement any societal reforms given that
women form half of the societies and they are the ones who raise up
generations. Women has proven through history their remarkable role in leading
change and in decision making.”
The
king noted that Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the G20 has dedicated special
attention to discussing policies related to women across different ministerial
and working group meetings.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1752301/saudi-arabia
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Saudi
Arabia makes golf free for women in bid to grow game
October
21, 2020
JEDDAH:
Saudi Arabia has announced a sporting initiative that will allow women to take
up the game of golf expense-free.
To
be launched at next month’s debut Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented
by Public Investment Fund, Golf Saudi’s innovative ‘Ladies First Club’ will
offer a complimentary membership inclusive of golf lessons, driving range
access and full 18-hole rounds on three different courses.
It
will be open to all Saudi women, with initial membership capped at 1,000
registrants.
All
players signed-up to the scheme will be designated as a Ladies First Member at
either Riyadh Golf Club, Dirab Golf Club or King Abdullah Economic City’s
(KAEC) Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, depending on their location.
The
membership will include a digital ‘Introduction to Golf’ education pack, which
will provide monthly seminars outlining the key aspects of golf for beginners.
Each of the three golf courses will also host a Ladies First golf clinic once a
month, led by a professional, which will conclude with an on-course induction
for all participants and a chance to play an 18-hole round.
Full
range access will then remain available to all members of the club, with the
program’s top 12 performers being offered a full, year-round membership at
their course of choice.
Majed
Al Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi, said: “The Ladies First Club will be a club like
no other. It is our most exciting initiative yet aimed at developing the great
game of golf across Saudi Arabia and is the ideal way to celebrate the historic
nature of the Kingdom’s first ever women’s golf tournament, the Aramco Saudi
Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund.
Sorour
continued: “Golf is growing in Saudi Arabia and we remain committed to our
targets. We are already seeing a steady rise in interest from women golfers and
we hope the Ladies First Club will help us reach that next level.”
Off
course, the Ladies First Club will include a range of additional social
opportunities too, including invites to social mornings with the likes of
Pilates, yoga, bridge and other social and wellbeing activities.
All
registrants will also receive member discounts across all three golf clubs’
restaurants and shops and will receive access to discounted full membership
options on completion of the program.
Maha
Haddioui is the first and only Arab woman golfer to play on the Ladies European
Tour to date. She will be taking part in both of next month’s Saudi events.
She
said: “Any way of making it easier to get women out playing golf has my backing
— and the scheme that Golf Saudi have created with the Ladies First Club is a
fantastic idea. From my experience, there is no better way of opening the sport
up to new golfers than making it fun, inclusive and social. This initiative is
each of those things.”
Amateur
golfer Sara Salhab, 27, regularly plays golf with friends at Dirab Golf Club,
having played the sport since she was young.
She
said: “The Ladies First Club is a great idea because it’s creating a platform
to take women’s golf to the next level, by giving the required professional
help and building a community that will allow players to flourish, so I think
it’s great.
“Golf
is a very nice sport that works both your mind and your body — and you’re
outdoors in greenery, which is great, especially here. I really enjoy it. More
women should play because it is very healthy, you get to be outdoors and it’s a
social activity that — with the Ladies First Club — is more accessible than
ever.”
The
Ladies First Club will officially launch during tournament build-up week for
the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund,
which takes place 12th-15th November — two days before the Saudi Ladies Team
International, which will see teams of four golfers compete together for a
share of $500,000 prize money, 17th-19th November.
Women
looking to register for the Club will be able to do so via the Golf Saudi
website from the week the historic events get underway.
For
more information about the Ladies First Club, Golf Saudi and both the Aramco
Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF and the Saudi Ladies Team
International, visit: www.golfsaudi.com/en-us/ladies-international
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1752101/sport
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Saudi
women's summit accused of 'whitewashing' record on rights
Emma
Graham-Harrison
21
Oct 2020
The
sister of a jailed Saudi activist has criticised a G20-linked women’s summit
hosted by Riyadh this week as a disturbing attempt to whitewash the country’s
dismal record on women’s rights.
Loujain
al-Hathloul has been in prison for more than two years without trial after
campaigning for an end to Saudi Arabia’s ban on women driving and its system of
male guardianship, which effectively relegates women to the status of
second-class citizens, requiring permission from male relatives for many life
decisions.
The
coordinator of the W20 summit which opened on Wednesday invited participants to
“imagine a world where women’s equality is a reality”, yet Hathloul and other
activists were deprived of their freedom because they fought for that dream
inside Saudi Arabia, her sister, Lina, told the Guardian.
“[Summit
attendees] legitimise a regime that silences all voices on human rights,
including women’s voices,” Lina al-Hathloul said. “Women activists are behind
bars, and the official charges they face are for their activism.”
“If
women don’t speak out about what is happening in Saudi Arabia, then the
situation won’t change.”
Saudi
Arabia is hosting the summit of G20 leaders in November, and the women’s summit
– which hosted speakers from international organisations including the United
Nations and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development – is part of a
string of linked events.
But
the high-profile international gatherings have proved a lightning rod for
controversy about the country’s record on human rights.
The
mayors of major cities, including London, New York, Los Angeles and Paris,
boycotted another major G20 linked event – the Urban 20 summit – last month, in
protest at the plight of political prisoners in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi
Arabia’s powerful crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, widely considered the
country’s de facto ruler, has presented himself as a reforming moderniser.
In
recent years he has dismantled restrictions on daily life, allowing women to
drive, curtailing the powers of the religious police who patrolled women’s
clothing and mixing of the sexes, and allowing cinemas to open after a
decades-long ban.
Yet
critics say reforms represent largely superficial changes to life in a country
that is one of the world’s few remaining absolute monarchies, where total
obedience to the royal family is still demanded.
In
recent years Saudi authorities have sought to silence critics at home and
around the world. Most notoriously, exiled journalist Jamal Khashoggi was
murdered by government officials in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
Hathloul
was detained and released several times for her campaigns, before she was
caught up in a wider crackdown against women’s rights activists in May 2018,
just before the ban on female drivers was lifted.
“The
only thing that has changed [in recent years] is Saudi Arabia’s image in the
west,” said Lina al-Hathloul. “There is no place for reform at all. All the
reformers are behind bars and my sister is one of them. What Saudi Arabia wants
is to whitewash all the rights violations.”
The
summit and its tagline – “If not now, when” – was attacked as an exercise in
hypocrisy by other human rights campaigners.
Grant
Liberty, a new human rights group specialising in civil liberties in Saudi
Arabia, described the W20 as “ludicrous and offensive”, and warned that it
risked turning the G20 into a “PR tool for Mohammed Bin Salman’s brutal
regime,” and called for a boycott.
Human
Rights Watch also called on women attending the W20 summit to speak up for the
jailed campaigners, saying that while female activists were in jail, “talk of
reform rings hollow”.
“The
Saudi government’s use of women’s rights to divert attention from other serious
abuses is well documented. Recent changes, including the right to drive and to
travel without male guardian permission, might be significant, but do not hide
the fact that some of the women who campaigned for these changes still languish
behind bars,” the group said in a statement.
Hathloul
was charged with destabilising national security and working with foreign
entities against the state, but nearly two-and-a-half years after her detention
she is still awaiting trial.
Her
family say she has been tortured in prison, facing electric shocks, whipping,
prolonged periods in solitary confinement and sexual harassment.
Earlier
this year she went on a hunger strike to campaign against a ban on family
visits and phone calls. Her parents were allowed to visit at the end of August,
after she agreed to eat and found her thin but resolute, Lina said.
“It’s
crazy how strong and resilient she is. After two-and-a-half years she doesn’t
give up anything, she wants real justice. She still has strength to tell my
parents everything, even though she knows could face backlash [from
authorities] over that.”
Since
then, however, the family have not been able to contact Loujain, and Lina said
she wasn’t sure if her sister was aware of the W20 summit.
“I’m
not sure how connected she is to the world, so I can’t comment on what she
knows,” she said, adding that the long silence is very worrying for the family.
“It’s always very stressful for us when she doesn’t call, because our only
experience [of communications being cut] is when she is being tortured or on
hunger strike.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/21/saudi-womens-summit-accused-of-whitewashing-record-on-rights
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#IAmEmirati:
This Dubai-based woman engineer can unravel 'mysterious' deaths
Hesham
Salah
October
10, 2020
She
loves her work, which she described as "very exciting".
In
one incident in Dubai this year, a worker was killed while fixing a washing
machine. It was a case that puzzled a lot of people - but the first Emirati
woman in the police's forensic engineering section cracked it and explained
what exactly went wrong.
Solving
the case wasn't easy, though, said Hamdah Majid Al Ali, an electrical engineer.
"It took me 10 days to investigate what the man had done with the washing
machine and file a report."
"It
turned out the worker modified the electricity cycle of the machine in a way
that made him the only person that could understand how to use it
properly," Ali said.
"Changing
the cables would require a special method, which he knew. However, once, he
forgot to switch off the electricity and used the cable. So he ended up getting
a strong electricity shock that killed him."
It
was the most interesting incident she has handled so far, since she joined the
Dubai Police in September last year. She has unraveled several others and every
case closed is a fulfilment for her.
"The
forensic engineering section, where I work, is very important, as it is mainly
responsible to check cases that are related to any engineering failures that
caused harm or damage to people or properties. It can be related to buildings
or machines, such as incidents of electric shocks, among others," Hamdah
said.
She
loves her work, which she described as "very exciting". "It's
very challenging, interesting and unusual."
First
woman on the job
Soon
after she earned her electrical engineering from the American University in
Sharjah, she applied for a vacancy at the Dubai Police.
And
when she did, there was no other woman in the forensic engineering section of
General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology.
"I
trained for almost five months and was immersed in both theoretical studies and
field missions, with her colleagues," Hamdah said. She aced the
qualifications and became the first woman to do such a job - not only in Dubai
but in the UAE.
A
case starts from the moment an incident report lands on the police's desks,
either at the operation room or the police station, she explained. Officers go
to the scene, carry out all checks, gather all the evidence they could find,
and then take them to the laboratory for an examination. Finally, a report will
be written for the authority that needs it.
"The
forensic engineering section typically receive four main cases, including:
Problems with planning or design, implementation issues, manufacturing
problems, or failure to follow safety rules and procedures," Hamdah said.
Her work starts at 6.30am and usually ends at 3.30pm, she added.
"I
am very proud to be the first Emirati woman in our team," Hamdah said, as
she stressed that every woman should always choose to do something they love.
"Always
chase your dreams," she said, offering an advice to women in the UAE.
"Now,
I dream to continue studying for a master's degree. Someday, I hope to invent a
thing or carry out a research that can help humanity."
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai/iamemirati-this-dubai-based-woman-engineer-can-unravel-mysterious-deaths-
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Afghan
women seek regional support for ceasefire
Oct
21, 2020
KABUL
(Pajhwok): An independent women’s advocacy group on Wednesday urged civil
society leaders and human rights defenders in the region to work together with
them for defending shares values and achieving prosperity.
“We,
the women of Afghanistan, have been advocating for peace and appealing to both
sides to commit to a comprehensive ceasefire and end the killings of Afghan
citizens,” the Afghan Women’s Network (AWN) said.
The
women also raised their concerns over a recent spike in targeted killings,
saying the only way to achieve durable peace was to ensure that any agreement
envisaged equal rights for all Afghans, including women and ethnic and
religious minorities.
“Marginalising
and exclusion will only provoke new cycles of violence and conflict, something
all of us have witnessed in our region,” AWN said in a statement.
“We
want you to stand with us in achieving lasting and dignified peace in
Afghanistan and the entire region. The Afghan conflict is as much a regional
conflict as it is a domestic one,” the group remarked.
In
recent decades, the statement added, the region had seen growing extremism and
militarisation, creating unprecedented challenges to its development.
“Our
region has been in turmoil for far too long. Hostilities have undermined our
population’s basic human rights and liberties, most importantly, our right to
live in peace,” AWN explained.
It
went on to cite the June 2020 attack on the maternity hospital in Kabul, the
April 2019 assaults in Sri Lanka, the December 2014 school massacre in Peshawar
and the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai as some of the atrocities targeting
common citizens.
“As
members of civic groups, together we can be a critical force in calling for
action to end violence that has been destroying the lives of all children.
“We
know that if we raise our voices together, our shared experiences of suffering
and injustice and love for our communities will make our voices louder and
heard,” the statement continued.
“As
members of civil society groups, we have a shared responsibility to hold our
leaders accountable and demand an end to the suffering of our citizens.”
Afghanistan
is at a crossroads and the opportunity for peace must not be frittered away for
personal and political interests, the network stressed.
Many
women leaders were closely involved in peace efforts and their influence would
shape the process. “We urge you to hold your leaders accountable and call on
them to play a positive role in ending the violence in Afghanistan.”
In
its call for regional efforts to end the war, the Afghan Women’s Network was
joined by Our Voices, Our Future and other groups.
“We
believe in an inclusive, just and
sustainable peace in
which women are
accepted as equal citizens of
Afghanistan.”
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/10/21/afghan-women-seek-regional-support-ceasefire
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