Nigar Johar, Pakistan’s First Female General Hails Saudi Arabia For Women-Centric Reforms
New
Age Islam News Bureau
15
January 2022
• Hijab-Clad
Students Of The Government PU College For Girls In Udupi Prevented From
Attending Classes
• Female
Iranian Crafter Wins Top Prize At Intl. Craft Awards
• Four
Including Two Women Shot Dead For Honour In Pakistan
• ICRC
Urged To Check Women Detainees' Conditions In Israel’s Damon Jail
• ‘Nour’
Journal by Arab Women Writers Digitalized for the Public
• Girl
Gunned Down In Taliban’s Check Post In Kabul
• Turkish
Woman's Dried Fruit Hobby Turns Into Major Export Business
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/nigar-johar-female-general-saudi-arabia/d/126164
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Nigar
Johar, Pakistan’s First Female General Hails Saudi Arabia For Women-Centric
Reforms
Nigar
Johar, Pakistan’s First Female General
----
January
14, 2022
RAWALPINDI:
Pakistan’s first female general, Nigar Johar, who in November was appointed
colonel commandant of the Army Medical Corps, has hailed Saudi Arabia for introducing
“commendable” reforms for the welfare of women.
Lt.
Gen. Johar joined the Army Medical College in 1981 and graduated four years
later. She subsequently became the only woman in the history of the Pakistan
Army to reach the rank of a three-star general, and was asked to lead a corps.
A
native of Swabi, a small settlement in the conservative Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
province in Pakistan’s northwest, Johar said the environment of her town when
she was growing up did not prevent her from dreaming of a professional career,
adding women should believe in themselves as they are capable of excelling in
any field.
She
also praised the recent reforms undertaken by Saudi Arabia to empower women.
“In
Saudi Arabia, where there were restrictions, females are driving there after
commendable steps taken by His Majesty (King Salman),” she told Arab News in an
exclusive interview earlier this week. “I was recently there for Umrah and saw
female drivers there which made me very happy.”
Women’s
rights are one of the issues that have benefited most from Saudi Arabia’s
reform push in recent years. Saudi women have been appointed to high-ranking
positions in the public and private sectors, as well as diplomatic missions.
More Saudi women are also working in the legal profession and have
opportunities to represent clients in court and work at public prosecution
offices.
In
her own case, Johar attributed professional success to a clear sense of purpose
along with a system of meritocracy in the Pakistani armed forces.
“If
you know your job and work hard with clear direction and sincerity, there is no
reason why you would be left behind,” she said. “The army system is
merit-based. This is also exemplified by my presence here.”
Explaining
her passion for the armed forces, she said her father was an artillery officer
who inspired her.
“He
was my ideal,” she said. “I had seen him in uniform from the beginning which
influenced my decision to become a doctor and join the army.”
Johar’s
dedication and professional excellence captured the attention of her superiors,
who gave her positions of command and authority, making her feel she was facing
“the biggest challenge” of her life.
She
said her first leadership role arrived when she was asked to command a hospital
as a brigadier
“That
was definitely a huge challenge, since you have to prove yourself,” she said.
“Then you feel a burden of responsibility because you know that you are there
to make it or break it for females coming there after you.”
With
the outbreak of the coronavirus disease pandemic, Johar was asked to convert
the Military Hospital Rawalpindi into a fully equipped COVID-19 center within a
week.
She
recalled the daunting challenge, saying: “We converted it into a COVID hospital
by spreading oxygen services to over 100 beds and expanding its intensive care
unit.”
As
the disease started spreading in the country, she took the initiative to add a
further 3,000 beds by taking over the Army Public School building.
“We
worked day and night with our team to manage the emergency situation,” she
said. “Now, I can proudly say that we did quite well, because our mortality
ratio was very low.”
In
the beginning of her career, Johar said she had faced gender-based
discrimination, which was a global issue present in every field.
She
remembered how female doctors were initially not allowed any specialty other
than gynecology in the army, but said things have now changed.
“I
wanted to be a cardiologist but I couldn’t because I was a female and they were
not allowed to be cardiologists,” she said. “Now, we have females in so many
areas in the army.”
Although
her initial dream of a medical career did not come true, she believes her life
took a better turn.
“I
feel that my destiny turned out to be better than what I had planned for
myself,” Johar said. “I could not become a cardiologist but I am sitting here
now, which is better for me.”
Source:
Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2004581/world
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Hijab-Clad
Students Of The Government PU College For Girls In Udupi Prevented From
Attending Classes
Six
Muslim girl students of the government women's PU College in Udupi have alleged
that the principal is not allowing them to wear 'hijab' (headscarf) in the
classrooms (Photo: National Herald)
-----
14th
January 2022
Muslim
students of the Government PU college for girls in Udupi are missing out on
attendance and classes as the school reportedly imposed a ban on the hijab,
early in January. The students adorning Hijab have not been allowed to attend
classes since then.
The
students are left with little choice but to while away time around the campus,
as they choose to cover their heads with scarves, despite the ban.
The
college reportedly banned the use of Hijab, the Urdu language, and the Arabic
greeting (Salaam), recently, following which the students stood outside
classrooms in protest of the college’s decision.
They
also are allegedly being barred from speaking in Urdu, Arabic, and Beary
languages. The principal of the college, Rudhra Gauda had earlier refused to
discuss the issue with the parents even though the students had mentioned that
they were not being given attendance.
Gauda
reportedly has claimed that the students have always been removing hijab and
burqa after they enter classrooms. He says that under the insistence of some
groups only a few Muslim students are making this a controversial issue.
Gauda
had earlier said, “The students can wear hijabs in the school premises but not
inside the classrooms. The rule is being followed to ensure uniformity in
classrooms,”. He also mentioned that they would hold a parent-teacher meeting
on the issue.
Source:
Siasat Daily
https://www.siasat.com/karnataka-hijab-clad-students-prevented-from-attending-classes-2258412/
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Female
Iranian crafter wins top prize at Intl. Craft Awards
January
14, 2022
Arabian,
who is a master of metalwork and Minakari (enamel), participated in the event
with one of her exquisite works, a lavishly-decorated metal bowl designed for
serving gaz (nougats with pistachios and almonds), CHTN quoted Vida Tavahodi as
saying on Friday.
Minakari
is an ancient art of painting natural motifs such as flowers and birds on the
surface of metals, mostly copper.
Due
to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the event was held virtually in India, but
the artist will soon be awarded the prize at a ceremony, the official added.
The
award for the Male Craftsperson of the Year went to Dalavayi Kullayappa from
India, while Zohra Said from Morocco and Ismael Arturo Rodriguez Moreno from
Mexico named Female Craft Designer of the Year and Male Craft Designer of the
Year respectively. ICA is organized by
Craft Village, a social organization, based out of New Delhi, India, working
towards training and promotion of handicrafts.
ICA
sets a new benchmark in the world with the highest level of skill and design
excellence. The awards provide an open platform for makers working in a wide
variety of materials and media to have their work assessed by a professional
jury and international craft experts.
These
awards promote, inspire and encourage talent of the highest standards, making
International Craft Awards an annual global feature.
With
14 entries, Iran ranks first globally for the number of cities and villages
registered by the World Crafts Council, as China with seven entries, Chile with
four, and India with three ones come next.
In January
2020, the cities of Shiraz, Malayer, and Zanjan and the village of Qassemabad
were designated by the WCC- Asia Pacific Region, putting Iran’s number of world
crafts cities and villages from ten to 14.
Shiraz
was named a “world city of [diverse] handicrafts”. Malayer was made a global
hub for woodcarving and carved-wood furniture. Zanjan gained the title of a
“world city of filigree”. And Qassemabad village, which is nationally known for
its traditional costumes, was also promoted to a world hub of handicrafts.
Chador Shab, a kind of homemade outer garment for women, was, however, the main
subject for the WCC assessment for the village.
The
value of Iran’s handicrafts exports stood at $120 million during the first
eleven months of the past Iranian calendar year 1399 (March 20, 2020 – February
18, 2021), Mehr reported. The country’s handicrafts exports slumped during the
mentioned months in comparison to the same period last a year earlier due to
the damage the coronavirus pandemic has inflicted on global trade.
The
Islamic Republic exported $427 million worth of handicrafts during the first
eleven months of the calendar year 1398. Of the figure, some $190 million was
earned via suitcase trade (allowed for customs-free and tax-free transfer)
through 20 provinces, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Cultural
Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.
Ceramics,
pottery vessels, handwoven cloths as well as personal ornamentations with
precious and semi-precious gemstones are traditionally exported to Iraq, Afghanistan,
Germany, the U.S., the UK, and other countries.
Source:
Tehran Times
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/469045/Female-Iranian-crafter-wins-top-prize-at-Intl-Craft-Awards
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Four
Including Two Women Shot Dead For Honour In Pakistan
January
15, 2022
MANSEHRA/DERA
ISMAIL KHAN: Four persons, including two women, were killed in the name of
honour on Friday, the police said.
A man
killed his wife and a ninth grade student for honour in Jijal area of Lower
Kohistan district.
“The
accused suspecting his wife to have illicit relations with a boy, first killed
the ninth grader and then went to his home and shot his wife dead,” district police
officer Zulfiqar Khan Jadoon told reporters.
“The
student was on way to school when the accused shot him dead,” Mr Jadoon said.
Meanwhile,
a married woman and a man were killed for honour in Darazinda tehsil of Dera
Ismail Khan.
A
police official said unidentified attackers opened fire at the man, 36, in
Darazinda Bazaar, killing him on the spot. The attackers escaped.
Soon
after the man’s killing, the attackers also shot dead a woman inside her house
in Kot Falak area of the tehsil.
The
deceased man’s father told the police that his son was killed over an alleged
affair with a married woman. The deceased woman’s father told the police that
his married daughter was killed by her in-laws over suspicion of having
relations with a man.
The
police registered a case against the accused and his brother, residents of Kot
Falak area. The bodies were handed over to relatives after postmortem.
Source:
Dawn
https://www.dawn.com/news/1669453/four-including-two-women-shot-dead-for-honour
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ICRC
Urged To Check Women Detainees' Conditions In Israel’s Damon Jail
Awad
Rajoub
14.01.2022
RAMALLAH,
Palestine
The
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)-run Commission for Detainees and
Ex-Detainees' Affairs on Friday called on the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ISRC) to visit women prisoners in Israel’s Damon prison and check
their health conditions. In a statement, the commission urged the ICRC to send
an "urgent medical team to Damon prison to inspect the health conditions
of the infected female prisoners and the female prisoners who are subject to
sanitary isolation, and to provide them with all the necessary medicines, food,
and sterilizers."
"The
number of female prisoners infected with the coronavirus has risen to seven
which doubles the anxiety and fear for them," the statement said.
The
Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) reported on Thursday that the number of
prisoners infected with the coronavirus since April 2021 climbed to 410.
According
to Palestinian NGOs, there are around 4,600 Palestinian inmates in Israeli
jails, including at least 600 sick prisoners.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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‘Nour’
Journal by Arab Women Writers Digitalized for the Public
14
JANUARY 2022
Nour,
a quarterly review of books by and about Arab women published from 1994 to
2004, has been digitized by the Centre for Arab Unity Studies.
Sharing
a wide range of works by Arab women in literature, research and translations,
the quarterly review presents brief biographies of Arab women researchers,
writers, scientists and artists to allow the public to learn more about these
writers.
In
total, 22 issues were published, and the total books reviewed or mentioned are
about 650 books.
The
review includes a long list of 164 women writers from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria,
Bahrain, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, and Palestine.
Arab
women’s writing has existed for centuries, with the likes of ‘A’isha
al-Taymuriya and Zaynab Fawwaz being early pioneers in Egypt and the Levant.
For 3,000 years, Arab women have written a variety of works and literature in
different styles, contexts and creative expressions, yet not a lot of works
have documented their history and work.
One
example of another book that documents Arab women’s writings – first published
in Arabic in 2004— is ‘Arab Women Writers: A Critical Reference Guide’ by Radwa
Ashour, which traces the development of Arab women’s literature through the end
of the twentieth century, and also includes a comprehensive bibliography of
Arab women.
The
Center for Arab Unity Studies is an independent and scientific research
institution, focused on tackling the issues of Arab unity as well as culture,
sociology, the Palestine cause and youth and women’s issues.
The
Centre also publishes a monthly Arabic
scholar journal, called “Al-Mustaqbal Al-Arabi” or The Arab Future.
Source:
Egyptian Streets
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Girl
gunned down in Taliban’s check post in Kabul
15
Jan 2022
A
family in the western Kabul Dasht-e-Barchi claimed that their 25-year-old
daughter has been shot dead in a check post of Taliban.
Family
members of the slain Zainab said that they or the way home back from a wedding
function who were stopped in a check post and were then shot at.
The
Father of Zainab asked for justice and the arrest of the culprits.
The
motive behind the shooting is not yet clear but the Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan pledged to be investigating the case and bring to justice the
perpetrators.
It is
worth mentioning that, last month a 22-year-old Faisal was shot dead in a check
post of the Taliban in Kabul city.
The
Taliban affiliate was arrested but the family of the slain Faisal pardoned him.
Source:
Khaama Press
https://www.khaama.com/girl-gunned-down-in-talibans-check-post-in-kabul-8756587/
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Turkish
woman's dried fruit hobby turns into major export business
JAN
14, 2022
Female
entrepreneur Merve Anıl from Turkey's Aegean province of Uşak, who entered the
dried fruit sector with the two drying ovens she bought for her home, increased
her production capacity with a workshop she opened in April last year and
started exporting her products.
Mother
of one Merve Anıl, who initially produced dried fruit at her home in Banaz
district to prevent waste and sold her products over social media, established
a workshop equipped with a cold storage unit in April last year.
Adding
noodles and pasta colored with vegetables to its product range, Anıl started to
export products to the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, the United States and
France.
Her
success comes on the heels of all-time highs of Turkish agricultural exports.
Anıl
told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the demand for dried fruit is quite high, and
those who want to adopt healthier eating habits are increasingly turning to
dried fruit and similar products.
"I
am happy I am providing employment for women"
Touching
on her aim to increase her business' capacity by 30% and to process 500 tons of
products next year, Anıl said: "We can process 250-300 tons of products at
the moment. When the demand for our products increased, I couldn't keep up with
the work on my own. I have three other women working with me in the winter
season, and eight-nine people in the summer. I feel very happy to be able to
provide employment for women. My next goal is to provide employment to more
women and to do better things with them."
Explaining
that she fulfills incoming customer orders by courier, Anıl continued as
follows:
"We
have reached 81 provinces of Turkey. The demand for natural products is
increasing day by day. Health nutritionists support us in this regard.
Therefore, we have become a unique opportunity for our citizens who prefer
natural products. We have started to dry vegetables as well as dried fruits. We
also produce vegetable powders.
"Since
there is not much fresh fruit in winter, the demand for dried fruit is quite
high. In summer, there is not much demand because the amount of fresh fruit is
quite high. Therefore, we produced vegetable powders to be used in natural
colorings to be used in yogurts and cakes and put them on the market. At the
same time, we started to produce noodles and pasta with vegetables by steaming
them before drying them. We also offered them for sale."
Woman
entrepreneur Merve Anıl's vegetable pasta product, Uşak, Turkey, Jan. 12, 2022.
(AA Photo)
Preparation
of woman entrepreneur Merve Anıl's vegetable pasta product, Uşak, Turkey, Jan.
12, 2022. (AA Photo)
Anıl
explained how she started to send her products overseas. "The happiest
development for me this year is that my products are also in demand
abroad," she said.
"I
first started on this path to prevent waste, and now tons of my products are
sent to countries. I am honored to be able to process tons of products,"
she proudly said.
Anıl
said her biggest goal is to increase her exports. "Being a female
entrepreneur, I am very happy that our products are sent to the whole world,"
she added.
Her
wish is to introduce her products to the entire world.
Source:
Daily Sabah
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