"Make Eye Contact": Pak Woman Leader, ZartajGul's Appeal to Speaker in Parliament Is Viral
New Age Islam News Bureau
01 July 2024
· "Make Eye Contact": Pak Woman Leader, ZartajGul's Appeal to Speaker In Parliament Is Viral
· Egyptian Media Personality, MofidaShiha, Under Fire for Dancing In Mosque Courtyard
· TikToker Ayesha Withdraws Complaint in Minar-e-Pakistan Harassment Case
· SamadianaFariz Helping Shift the Stereotype for Islamic Women
· Hyderabad's Afsar Jahan Helps Women Who Are Clueless About Their Rights
· Miss Arab USA 2024 ZenoviaJafarTalks Pageant Experience and Aspirations
· Meet the Women Artists In Coke Studio Pakistan's 'Blockbuster'
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
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"Make Eye Contact": Pak Woman Leader, ZartajGul's Appeal to Speaker In Parliament Is Viral
July 01, 2024
The speaker explained that he refrains
from making eye contact with women.
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Pakistani leader and former minister in Imran Khan's cabinet, ZartajGul, sparked controversy in the Assembly when she requested the speaker not to avoid eye contact while she was speaking. The recent video of the exchange went viral, showing MsGul urging the speaker to wear his glasses and look at her. Pakistani media covered the incident extensively.
"My party leaders have taught me to speak while looking directly into the eyes. I cannot continue speaking if you avoid eye contact like this. Please wear your glasses, sir," ZartajGul told Speaker AyazSadiq. "I am a leader. I have received 150,000 votes. If you do not listen to me, I will not be able to address you," Ms. Gul asserted.
"I will listen, but I cannot make eye contact with a woman as it does not appear appropriate," MrSadiq responded.
In response to MrSadiq's statement, MsGul remarked, "If you dismiss 52% of women in this manner, only selected individuals will participate here."
The speaker explained that he refrains from making eye contact with women.
The video gathered more than 1.3 million views on X with an array of comments.
A user wrote, "Brilliant humour. Class act."
Another user commented, "Well! I thought we are the ones who talk about such important issues."
Even though they are struggling economically and also in an unstable political situation they keep their cool and jovial is a miracle. Subtle comparison "meanwhile". Just compare the India and Pakistan Speaker," the third user wrote.
According to local media reports, MsGul is a Pakistani politician who held the position of Minister of State for Climate Change in Imran Khan's ministry from October 5, 2022, until April 10, 2022, when Imran Khan was removed through a no-confidence motion. She served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 to January 2023. In 2024, MsGul was re-elected from Dera Ghazi.
Source: ndtv.com
https://www.ndtv.com/feature/make-eye-contact-pak-woman-leaders-appeal-to-speaker-in-parliament-is-viral-6008233
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Egyptian Media Personality, MofidaShiha, Under Fire For Dancing In Mosque Courtyard
June 30th, 2024
mofidashihaofficial on Instagram
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Social media users demanded local authorities fine whoever allowed the incident to happen as dancing, let alone with music near a mosque is considered "Haram" (forbidden in Arabic) in Islam.
The video in question took place in the courtyard of the Muhammad Ali Mosque in Cairo which had media personality MofidaShiha dancing with several people in celebration of her daughter's wedding ceremony.
MofidaShiha took to her official Instagram account and posted a video and some photos there. Despite receiving more than 60,000 likes, users swarmed the comment section with hateful and judgmental comments as they shamed her for doing something forbidden.
This resulted in Shiha turning off the comments.
According to Al MasryAlyoum, Head of the Campaign to Defend Egyptian Civilization, Abdel Rahim Rayhan stressed that all officials responsible for the ceremony should be held accountable.
He told Al Arabiya, "This is considered a desecration and disrespect for the Islamic religion and a complete contempt for Islam. Everything has limits."
Moreover, Rayhan stressed that mosques are sacred sites including Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa and Mecca. He also stated that weddings should be held outside mosque premises.
Source: albawaba.com
https://www.albawaba.com/node/video-egyptian-media-personality-under-fire-mosque1574782#google_vignette
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TikToker Ayesha Withdraws Complaint in Minar-e-Pakistan Harassment Case
July 01, 2024
Ayesha was assaulted by a mob at Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore on August 14, 2021. The incident drew national outrage after videos of the attack went viral on social media, prompting the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Punjab to take notice and demand swift action.
A case was registered by the LariAdda Police Station and Punjab Police arrested at least 92 suspects in the case.
However, Ayesha recorded her statement in the Lahore Sessions Court, presenting an affidavit that she would not pursue the case further.
Additional Sessions Judge Gul Abbas presided over the hearing, where Ayesha stated, "I have forgiven all the accused for the sake of Allah and His Messenger’s approval. I have no objection to the acquittal of the accused. I am freely and voluntarily recording my statement without any fear."
AamirSohail, also known as Rambo, along with twelve other accused, has filed applications for acquittal. The court has scheduled a hearing for August 26, summoning lawyers to present arguments regarding the acquittal requests and Ayesha's statement.
The harassment incident involving TikToker Ayesha Akram occurred in August 2021, garnering widespread attention after videos went viral on social media. The Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Punjab took notice of the incident.
While former Prime Minister Imran Khan took notice of the harrowing event, social media 'investigators' did some digging and termed it all to be a "publicity stunt."
Source: tribune.com.pk
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2475550/tiktoker-ayesha-withdraws-complaint-in-minar-e-pakistan-harassment-case
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Samadiana Fariz Helping Shift The Stereotype For Islamic Women
01-07-24
As part of the ongoing CHILL Campaign, the Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand introduces SamadianaFariz, an accomplished gymnast and coach whose presence and participation in sports directly challenges stereotypes about Muslim women.
The CHILL Campaign, an acronym for Challenge Islamophobic Language and Loathing, is a 10-week initiative designed to counter gendered Islamophobia by showcasing the achievements and lived experiences of eight Muslim women in New Zealand.
Jesse speaks Samadiana about the campaign and her role in it.
Source: rnz.co.nz
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018944940/samadiana-fariz-helping-shift-the-stereotype-for-islamic-women
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Hyderabad's Afsar Jahan helps women who are clueless about their rights
01-07-2024
I met her in the small interval between her making intense arguments for her client, mostly kin of the custodial deaths, before the judge to her sessions at the Mohalla family counseling centres. Afsar Jahan works almost without taking a break from her hectic schedule as a human rights lawyer and women's rights activist. Besides her routine legal work, she provides free legal aid at the Mohalla Family Counseling Centre and on the weekends works in her office.
From fighting for justice in landmark cases, UzmaAfreenvsParveen Begum which was for the custody of a child, to fighting for Women’s rights and marginalized prisoners, Afsar Jahan is one of the most honest and powerful voices for the empowerment of women in Hyderabad, Telangana.
She is also an active member and the legal head of the All India Milli Council Telangana Chapter.
Advocate Afsar Jahan’s life has been a saga of unwavering determination and groundbreaking achievements. She not only shattered the glass ceiling in the Law Courts but also redefined social activism in India.
Afsar Jahan told Awaz-the voice that she has considered herself to be two things: an optimist and a problem-solver. Neither of these happened by accident. Growing up in a social justice family, she learned these qualities (and so many others) from the extraordinary women in her life, her mother and her aunts as well as her father whom she hero worships.
For Afsar Jehan, it began in 1996, when she was a political science student at St Pious Hyderabad. People from far and near approached her father who played the role of an arbitrator to many and helped parties to resolve their mutual disputes issues amicably.
Her mother a teacher also contributed to the parties arriving at a compromise by giving her opinion during the final calibration becoming the point for reconciliation.
Afsar Jahan studied law and it was during this phase that she was married and even carried her child. All through her mother stood like a rock to back her up.
Today her life has changed - from a difficult phase of life she is today presiding over platforms, and is a name to reckon with in her profession. She has come up from her humble beginnings to become a celebrity in her own right.
Women struggling with stumbling business, messy divorce, or the loss of a job, come to Afsar Jahan and her network of women helps them take charge and control of their lives.
As a member of the Telangana Marriage Counselling Centre for Minorities at the Haj House, she worked for the rights of the underprivileged. However, she found other members of the Board of the Centre were misogynists. She faced resistance and even threats from some of them.
Afsar Jahan didn’t succumb to the intimidation; she opened her Mohalla Family counseling center.
She also provides free legal aid in cases of family discord issues at these centers.
She collects Zakat (money given by Muslims for charity) and uses it to pay off the fines and bail money of the marginalized prisoners to get them freedom.
She classifies the marginalized prisoners as those who are either first-time offenders or petty offenders and they commit offenses to keep their body and soul together.
She explained to me the four Indian laws that can help women fight the various kinds of violence they experience and are useful in crimes like domestic violence to sexual assault. “The law isn't the deterrent; it's our society and institutional structures that bear down on women that are the real deterrent,” she says.
“Every woman should know the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, a special l law that protects against all forms of violence and abuse; be it physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and/or economic. One of the reasons many women are unable to escape abusive or violent relationships is that they have no safe space to turn to - the matrimonial home is not theirs and they're no longer welcome in their natal home.
“Under Domestic Violence law, not only can you seek an injunction against the violence, but it also recognizes the woman's right to reside in the matrimonial or shared household, whether or not you have any rights to the concerned property. We still have a long way to go to make our laws gender-just. In the meantime, this is your go-to law for protection.”
Afsar Jahan is not the one to stick to one type of work. She is presently working on prison reforms like the badly needed decongestion of jails. She accomplished this by securing the release of the marginalized prisoners. She also offers help to those fighting for the rights of those who have died in custody.
She also serves as the legal head of the All India Milli Council Telangana Chapter. Earlier, she served as Assistant Government pleader for Industries and Mines and the Department of Energy at the High Court for the State of Telangana for six years.
She says he meets women from all classes and sections of society who are clueless about their rights in property, their bank accounts, and assets owned by their families as these are either controlled by their fathers or husbands. She says it is important to know one’s property rights and the laws that one is married into. She therefore provides counsel to help women in distress.
Afsar Jahan’s story makes one believe how a single human being can have a profound impact on society. Before signing off, she says, “We need laws that establish equality and justice and which recognize diverse forms of relationships.”
Source: awazthevoice.in
https://www.awazthevoice.in/personality-news/hyderabad-s-afsar-jahan-helps-women-who-are-clueless-about-their-rights-29733.html
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Miss Arab USA 2024 ZenoviaJafartalks pageant experience and aspirations
June 30, 2024
DUBAI: Iraqi American ZenoviaJafar was over the moon for “having made it” as she was crowned winner of the Miss Arab USA 2024 pageant in Arizona on Sunday.
“My experience with Miss Arab USA is one of the best experiences of my life. When I walked in, I had no idea what was going to happen, if I was even going to win. But most importantly, when I walked in, I will honestly say that winning was the only thing on my mind. I didn’t think about anything else,” Jafar told Arab News in an interview.
“But once I actually got there, I realized the friendships and the connections I’ve made with the people here is priceless and it is far more important than winning … I genuinely wanted to connect with every single person that I met, and I think that’s what helped me win Miss Arab USA. Because I focused more on genuine connection and doing what I need to do. And I was committed to just being myself,” she added.
When asked about her goals going forward, the Michigan resident said: “I’m going to be using my platform to raise awareness on issues regarding people who are … from underdeveloped communities, people who are in need. I’m going to be raising more money for charities. I’m here to serve Miss Arab USA and use my voice to amplify the voices of people who are not heard all over the world.”
Jafar’s family moved to the US — having escaped the war in Iraq and spent two years in Syria after — in the late 90s, when she was a toddler.
“When I moved here, I remember one thing that my mother told us is that we should never forget our roots and where we come from. My mother was committed to teaching us how to read and write and speak Arabic. And that is something that I am so grateful to my mother for because I can read Arabic, I can write Arabic, I can speak Arabic, I can understand many Arabic dialects. And I never let go of who I was and where my family came from. And I think that’s something that is so important when you grow up away from home, is to stay connected to who you are. Because at the end of the day, all you have is your roots,” she said.
When asked if she had any advice for young Arab American women, Jafar said: “I will say that as an Arab woman, it is very, very important to push your limits and always do things outside of your comfort zone because you will never grow as a person if you are stuck in your comfort zone. Always push yourself to be better.”
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2540561/lifestyle
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Meet The Women Artists In Coke Studio Pakistan's 'Blockbuster'
IshikaThanvi
01 Jul 2024
Coke Studio Pakistan has consistently mesmerized audiences with its unique blend of music and stunning performances. However, their latest release, “Blockbuster,” has achieved an unprecedented level of success, primarily due to a surprising element—a young girl who effortlessly stole the show. Let's explore how this remarkable event unfolded and the creative brilliance behind the production.
A Groundbreaking Music Video
Coke Studio has always pushed the boundaries of music production, and “Blockbuster” is no exception. The song features FarisShafi in a novel look that has intrigued fans, but what truly sets it apart is its massive one-take music video. Directed by ZeeshanParwez, this ambitious project involved an extensive set constructed in a village, 400+ extras, and over 200 crew members. The video’s choreography was handled by the renowned Norwegian dance group, The Quick Style, adding a layer of energy that resonates with viewers.
Behind the Scenes: The Making of a Blockbuster
The official Instagram account of IFP highlighted this achievement, noting the scale and execution of the video. They wrote, “Have you heard this song by Coke Studio Pakistan? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!! Coke Studio Pakistan (@coke_studio) hits another milestone with the Blockbuster music video which is a one-take biggest Coke studio production video.”
This acknowledgement is of the meticulous planning and effort that went into creating this visual masterpiece.
The Unexpected Showstopper: A Little Girl Named Saba
While the video’s production values are undoubtedly impressive, the real heart of “Blockbuster” lies in the unexpected contribution of a young girl named Saba. Producer Xulfi, known for his innovative ideas, shared the captivating story behind her inclusion. During a rehearsal session, the Gharwi Group arrived with Saba, who was minding her little brother. Her presence and the way she soothed her brother with her voice caught Xulfi’s attention.
Xulfi decided to bring her into the recording studio, where she instantly impressed the Coke Studio team with her confidence and flawless delivery. After some nurturing and encouragement, Saba was integrated into the song, where her captivating voice and poise made her the undeniable showstopper.
The Musical Brilliance of “Blockbuster’’
Blockbuster, part of Coke Studio Season 15, is a hip-hop track that has garnered over 13 million views on YouTube. The song features catchy lyrics like “Vey baby rickshaw meinkarliya main terewaleyaariyan…vey mar janiya” performed by the Gharwi Group, which adds to its mass appeal. FarisShafi’s surprising look and the energetic dance sequences choreographed by The Quick Style further elevate the song's entertainment value.
Women Artists in Focus:
Coke Studio has also been a platform for showcasing female talent, and Blockbuster is no different. The inclusion of Saba and The Gharwi Group is a testament to the producer’s commitment to highlighting diverse voices and talents. This approach not only enriches the music but also provides a platform for emerging artists to shine.
“Blockbuster” is more than just a song; it’s a testament to the power of creativity and the magic of unexpected moments. With its ambitious one-take video, energetic choreography, and the charming addition of young Saba, Coke Studio has once again proven its ability to create cultural masterpieces that resonate deeply with audiences.
As we continue to enjoy and celebrate these artistic achievements, one thing is clear—Coke Studio’s “Blockbuster” is here to stay.
Source: shethepeople.tv
https://www.shethepeople.tv/film-theatre/coke-studio-pakistan-blockbuster-little-girl-saba-gharwi-group-4787248
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/pak-woman-speaker-parliament-zartajgul/d/132614