Princess Haifa Bint Abdulaziz Al Muqrin Sworn in as Saudi Ambassador to Spain
New Age
Islam News Bureau
3rd January 2024
·
Dominican Women Fight Teen Pregnancy
While Facing Total Abortion Bans
·
Princess Haifa Bint AbdulazizAl
Muqrin Sworn in as Saudi Ambassador to Spain
·
Kerala High Court Declines
Termination of Pregnancy Of 12-Year-Old Minor: Report
·
UAE Delegation at UN Asserts
Defence of Women’s Rights in Afghanistan
·
Woman Among Four Executed by
Iran for Alleged Links with Israel's Spy Agency Mossad
·
Birthday Anniversary of Hazrat
Fatima (AS): Iranian Women, Mothers Symbol Of 'Pure Love, Sacrifice’
·
Sabahat Afreen Curated a
Women's World Sans Fear and Restrictions in Her Stories
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/princess-haifa-saudi-ambassador-spain/d/131446
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Princess Haifa Bint Abdulaziz Al Muqrin
Sworn in as Saudi Ambassador to Spain
Princess
Haifa Bint Abdulaziz Al Muqrin is appointed as the Ambassador to Spain.
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January 02, 2024
RIYADH — Newly appointed Saudi
ambassadors, including Princess Haifa Bint Abdulaziz Al Muqrin as the
Ambassador to Spain, took their oaths before Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
King Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Princess Haifa, along with other
ambassadors appointed to various nations, swore to be loyal to their religion,
King, and country, to protect the state's secrets, and to uphold its interests
and systems both domestically and internationally.
Other envoys appointed were Ghazi
Binzagr to Japan, Majid Al Abdan to Hungary, Fayez Al Timyat to Mauritius,
Mohammed bin Khalil to Uganda, and Rami Al Otaibi to Bulgaria,
Princess Haifa was the first Saudi
female ambassador to UNESCO, an appointment that came about a year after
Princess Reema Bint Bandar's historic appointment as the ambassador to
Washington in February 2019.
Educated in economics, with a bachelor's
degree from King Saud University and a master's degree from the School of
Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in the UK, Princess Haifa's career spans
both academia and international development.
She began as a lecturer in the Economics
Department at King Saud University and later joined the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP), focusing on social development and human rights.
She has also served as the Assistant
Deputy Minister for Sustainable Development and G20 Affairs in the Ministry of
Economy and Planning.
Princess Haifa's appointment as the
Saudi Ambassador to Spain is a reflection of the ongoing transformative changes
in Saudi Arabia, especially in enhancing the role of women under the Vision
2030 reform plan.
Her extensive experience in social and
economic fields, her work in international development, and her academic
background position her as a key figure in strengthening Saudi-Spanish
relations.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
https://cdn.saudigazette.com.sa/article/639278/SAUDI-ARABIA/Princess-Haifa-sworn-in-before-King-Salman-as-Saudi-ambassador-to-Spain
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Dominican Women Fight Teen Pregnancy
While Facing Total Abortion Bans
Rosa
Hernández shows a photo of her late daughter Rosaura Almonte, who was denied a
lifesaving abortion. Ricardo Hernandez / AP file
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January 03, 2024
It was a busy Saturday morning at Marcia
González’s church. A bishop was visiting, and normally she would have been
there helping with logistics, but on this day she was teaching sex education at
a local school.
“I coordinate activities at the church
and my husband is a deacon,” Ms. González said. “The bishop comes once a year
and children are being confirmed, but I am here because this is important for
my community.”
For 40 years, Ms. González and her
husband have pushed for broader sex education in the Dominican Republic, one of
four Latin American nations that criminalises abortion without exceptions.
Women face up to 2 years in prison for having an abortion; penalties for
doctors or midwives range from 5 to 20 years.
Powerful lobby
With a Bible on its flag, the Caribbean
country has a powerful lobby of Catholics and evangelicals who are united
against decriminalising abortion.
President Luis Abinader committed to the
decriminalisation of abortion as a candidate in 2020, but his government hasn’t
acted on that pledge. For now, it depends on whether he is re-elected in May.
To help girls prevent unplanned
pregnancies in this context, Ms. González and other activists have developed
“teenage clubs,” where adolescents learn about sexual and reproductive rights,
self-esteem, gender violence, finances and other topics. The goal is to empower
future generations of Dominican women. Outside the clubs, sex education is
often insufficient, according to activists. Close to 30% of adolescents don’t
have access to contraception.
High poverty levels increase the risks
of facing an unwanted pregnancy.
For the teenagers she mentors, Ms.
González’s concerns also go beyond the impossibility of terminating a
pregnancy.
Gender violence
According to activists, poverty forces
some Dominican mothers to marry their 14 or 15-year-old daughters to men up to
50 years older. Nearly 7 out of 10 women suffer from gender violence such as
incest, and families often remain silent regarding sexual abuse.
For every 1,000 adolescents between 15
and 19, 42 became mothers in 2023, according to the United Nations Population
Fund. And until 2019, when UNICEF published its latest report on child
marriage, more than a third of Dominican women married or entered a free union
before turning 18.
Dominican laws have prohibited child
marriage since 2021, but community leaders say that such unions are still
common because the practice has been normalised and few people are aware of the
statute.
Activists hope education can help
prevent girls from facing this situation.
Source: thehindu.com
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/dominican-women-fight-teen-pregnancy-while-facing-total-abortion-bans/article67698751.ece
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Kerala high court declines termination
of pregnancy of 12-year-old minor: Report
Jan 02, 2024
The court ruled out the option of
terminating the pregnancy, citing that the foetus had reached 34 weeks of
gestation and was fully developed.
The Kerala high court has declined
authorisation for the medical termination of the pregnancy of a 12-year-old
minor girl, who was in an alleged incestuous relationship with her minor
brother.
The court ruled out the option of
terminating the pregnancy, citing that the foetus had reached 34 weeks of
gestation and was fully developed. The parents submitted to the court that it
could cause physiological and psychological issues to the minor.
The girl's parents were unaware of the
pregnancy until recently, LiveLaw reported.
The court said as per LiveLaw, “The
foetus has already reached 34 weeks of gestation and is now fully developed,
preparing for its life outside the womb. Termination of pregnancy at this point
is not tenable, if not impossible; and obviously, therefore, the child will
have to be allowed to be born”
Justice Devan Ramachandran directed that
the minor girl should be in the care and custody of her parents petitioners.
The court has also instructed the
relevant authorities and parents to take measures ensuring that the brother,
against whom allegations have been levelled, is kept away from the girl.
The court said, “In order to ensure that
the applicable provisions of law are not violated, petitioners 1 and 2 are
hereby peremptory directed to ensure that the 3rd petitioner's brother -
against whom the allegation has been made - is not allowed anywhere near her,
or to have access to her in any manner whatsoever. This shall also be ensured
by the competent Authorities.”
In this instance, the parents approached
the Kerala HC seeking permission for the medical termination of the girl.
Initially, the Medical Board recommended
terminating the 34-week pregnancy due to the young age and potential
psychological trauma to the girl. Although, after further interaction with the
court, the Medical Board shifted its opinion, stating that the minor girl was
healthy enough to carry the child. Given the inadequacy of the Medical Board's
reports, the court ordered a reevaluation of both the girl and the foetus,
LiveLaw reported.
The Review Medical Board concluded that
continuing the pregnancy for an additional two weeks to reach full term was not
likely to cause a severe psychological impact on the girl. The Board also
suggested a caesarean section delivery, considering its lesser psychological
impact.
The petitioners' counsel argued that, if
there were no other options, the minor would endure the pregnancy for two more
weeks until reaching full term. They also requested that the choice between the
kind of delivery be left to the petitioners, with the additional plea to allow
the minor girl to stay with her parents for adequate care and support.
While rejecting the plea, the court
stipulated that the petitioners should continuously receive comprehensive
medical assistance. It further noted that the petitioners could seek assistance
under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 after
the completion of delivery.
Source: hindustantimes.com
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kerala-high-court-declines-termination-of-pregnancy-of-12-year-old-minor-report-101704198778376.html
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UAE Delegation at UN Asserts Defence of
Women’s Rights in Afghanistan
Fidel Rahmati
January 2, 2024
As the United Arab Emirates’
non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council ends, the country’s
delegation has stated that it has defended the rights of women, peace, and
security in Afghanistan over the past two years. However, experts say that the
situation of women has remained dire, and the efforts of the international
community have been ineffective.
The United Arab Emirates and Japan were
the two non-permanent members of the UN Security Council responsible for Afghan
affairs over the past two years.
A draft resolution of the UN Security
Council concerning Afghanistan, which was approved a few days ago, was proposed
by the United Arab Emirates.
Abdulmunib Rasa, a political analyst,
says that the non-permanent membership of the United Arab Emirates in the
Security Council has not been very effective in improving the situation of
women in Afghanistan.
With the resurgence of the Taliban
administration in Afghanistan, more than 50 restrictive decrees have been
issued affecting the lives and work of women in the country. The main concern
of the international community regarding Afghan women has been the prohibition
of education and work for girls and women, a situation that continues to this
day.
However, Zarqa Yaftali, a women’s rights
activist, welcomed the efforts of the United Arab Emirates’ delegation to the
Security Council, adding: “Your unwavering support for Afghan women is truly
commendable. We eagerly await your continued cooperation in the future as a
member of the United Nations.”
It is noteworthy that one of the
conditions for the Taliban regime’s integration into the international
community and international affairs is respect for human rights and the
establishment of an inclusive government in Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/uae-delegation-at-un-asserts-defense-of-womens-rights-in-afghanistan/
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Woman among four executed by Iran for
alleged links with Israel's spy agency Mossad
Jan 02, 2024
Mukul Sharma
Iran reportedly carried out the
execution of four individuals on Friday (Dec 29), including a woman, whom it
accused of being "saboteurs" with alleged ties to Israel's Mossad
intelligence service. The announcement was made by the Iranian Mizan news
agency, which is affiliated with the judiciary.
This latest development brings the total
number of executions to five in a shadowy conflict between Iran and Israel that
has spanned decades. Iran has consistently accused Israel of orchestrating
attacks on its nuclear program, charges that have neither been confirmed nor
denied by the Israeli government.
According to the Mizan news agency, the
four executed individuals—Vafa Hanareh, Aram Omari, Rahman Parhazo, and Nasim
Namazi—were described as the principal convicts in a case involving a total of
10 offenders. The agency did not clarify whether the remaining individuals
would also face execution.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency
revealed that the accused had confessed to collaborating with a Mossad officer
in neighboring Turkey, identified by the names Tony and Arash, in a video clip
posted by the official IRNA news agency.
The confessed actions included
kidnappings, threats, arson on vehicles and homes, and theft of mobile phones
from unspecified targets.
The group was reportedly under
surveillance by Iranian intelligence for at least four months, starting around
January 2022, until their arrest in May of the same year, the IRNA news agency
claimed.
The video clip suggested that the
individuals were transferred to Iran from a neighboring country.
The current execution follows a similar
event in mid-December when Iran executed a fifth individual accused of being a
Mossad agent in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan. The situation
underscores the ongoing tensions and mutual accusations between the two nations
in a long-standing shadow war.
Source: wionews.com
https://www.wionews.com/world/woman-among-four-executed-by-iran-for-alleged-links-with-israels-mossad-674797
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Birthday Anniversary of Hazrat Fatima
(AS): Iranian Women, Mothers Symbol Of 'Pure Love, Sacrifice’
Jan 2, 2024
TEHRAN, Jan. 02 (MNA) – On the birthday
anniversary of Hazrat Fatima (AS), the daughter of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH),
the Iranians express their honour to the dignified status of all women and
mothers who are the symbol of true love and sacrifice.
Lady Fatima Zahra is the daughter of
Prophet Mohammad highly revered among the Shiite Muslims. It is known among
both Shiite and Sunni Muslims that the Prophet had many times said “Fatima is
above all women of the world from the first to the last ones.”
Lady Fatima Zahra was born on the 20th
of Jamadi al-Thani, five years after the Prophet received revelations from
Gabriel the Angel in Mecca.
Hazrat Fatima was the wife of Imam Ali
(PBUH), the first Imam of Shia Muslims, and is referred to as a role model for
all Muslim women.
Iranian women, mothers symbol of 'pure
love, sacrifice'
In Arabic, the word ‘Fatima’ means
separated. She is named Fatima because her followers are separated from Hell
because of her character. Zahra means ‘shining, bright, and brilliant’. The
sixth Imam of Shia, Imam Sadiq (PBUH), said: "When our mother Fatima Zahra
prayed, she shined for the heavens as the stars shine for people on
earth."
The opinion of the Shia school of
thought is that Fatima possesses the status of infallibility. According to this
verse of the Holy Qur'an, God willed that the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH) be cleansed
from all sorts of filth and uncleanliness and according to many traditions from
both schools of thought, Fatima (PBUH) is one of the referents of this verse.
Hazrat Zahra enjoys a lofty and highly
commendable status and serves as a role model for women with her praiseworthy
demeanor.
Hazrat Zahra regarded as paragon of
virtue in Islam
As Hazrat Zahra is regarded as the
paragon of virtue in Islam, the occasion has been designated as the national
Women’s Day and Mother’s Day in Iran.
In Iran, Mother’s Day is a day to uphold
the place and character of women on the birth anniversary of the greatest of
women.
Iranian women, mothers symbol of 'pure
love, sacrifice'
On this occasion, some people seize the
opportunity to pay a visit to their old mothers who live in nursery homes.
Iranian women, mothers symbol of 'pure
love, sacrifice'
Many Iranians take the occasion of this
holiday to thank and honor their mothers, grandmothers, wives, and sisters and
to spend more time with them. They pay tribute to them by giving them gifts,
flowers, and cakes.
Iranian women, mothers symbol of 'pure
love, sacrifice'
Or if their mothers have departed this
life, they visit their tombs and lay flowers on their mothers’ final resting
places.
Iranian women, mothers symbol of 'pure
love, sacrifice'
Every year, the holy shrine of Hazrat
Masoumeh (AS) hosts enthusiastic pilgrims on the birth anniversary of Hazrat
Fatima Zahra (AS).
Iranian women, mothers symbol of 'pure
love, sacrifice'
Also, nationwide celebrations are held
in Iranian cities to honor the status of Iranian mothers and women.
Iranian women, mothers symbol of 'pure
love, sacrifice'
Leader: Hazrat Fatima best role model
for Muslim women
Addressing a group of women on the
occasion of the birth anniversary of Hazrat Fatima al-Zahra (SA) last week, the
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei described Hazrat
Fatima al-Zahra as the best role model for Muslim women.
Iranian women, mothers symbol of 'pure
love, sacrifice'
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the women
of Iran's Islamic society should try to follow the path of Hazrat Fatima
al-Zahra (SA) in all fields including in their social and political activities.
“The issue of women in Islam is one of
the strengths of Islam. Islam has a strong logic and a rational foundation in
all areas related to women,” he said.
He said women’s presence in different
managerial, political, social, and cultural positions has no restriction in
Islam.
Iranian women, mothers symbol of 'pure
love, sacrifice'
The Leader also criticized the idea of
“gender equality”, saying although it is preferable in some instances, it does
not make sense in others.
He then introduced the notion of “gender
justice” as the ideal to strive for, saying it can be applied everywhere.
Source: mehrnews.com
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/210059/Iranian-women-mothers-symbol-of-pure-love-sacrifice
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Sabahat Afreen curated a women's world
sans fear and restrictions in her stories
Aasha Khosa
January 3, 2024
Sabahat Afreen’s life will make you
believe in the adage: where there is a will there is a way. Being born into an
educated and prosperous family, Sabahat realized early in her life that her
family was not open to women coming out of the four walls of the house, bracing
against all odds to create their identity. She was raised seeing all women in
her family in purdah.
However, somewhere in her heart, Sabahat
Afreen was like a Secret Superstar of the Hindi movie by that name. Afreen was
raised in a small village in Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh by her
advocate father and a homemaker mother.
Sabahat Afreen started living in purdah
in 10th class and after passing her 12th standard, She was not supposed to move
out of the house alone. This resulted in her not attending college and opting
for home study and writing examinations as a private student for her graduation
years.
She was completing her master’s degree
when she got married. Her husband’s family was politically connected and
prosperous. She could have easily lived in comfort; Sabahat did not like to
dress up like a doll wearing jewelery and expensive sarees and lounging around
all day.
She said, “My mother was fond of reading
and writing. She had an impact on me too. I used to write poems and stories in
my childhood. Mom and Dad always encouraged me. It is a different matter that
my works were never sent for publication as they didn’t believe in getting a
picture of their daughter printed in the newspaper.”
She also realized the environment in her
in-laws' house was less conservative. “My father-in-law knew that I write, so
he used to gift me a diary and pen; my husband also supported me.” She told
Awaz-the Voice.
After marriage, she opened a secret
account on Facebook and did not use her pictures for the DP. “I started writing
stories on Facebook, my posts went viral. Someone suggested that I should send
my stories to Neelesh Misra, (Editor, Gaon Connection, lyricist, and
storyteller). His storytelling was popular. I emailed my story to him and he
liked it. From that point, I was in his circle.”
Like Insia Malik (Played by Zaira Wasim)
of Aamir Khan's 2017 film Secret Superstar, she revealed her talent to the
world by hiding her identity. Soon Sabahat Afrin was writing audio series,
stories, and books for magazines and many apps across the country. She moved
her two little daughters out of the closed environs of the village to Lucknow.
As it happens in such cases, most of the
people who had opposed her once now praise and respect her. Her family is proud
of her.
Recently her first story collection
MujheJugnuon Ke Desh Jaana Hai (I Want to Go to the Land of Fireflies)(Rujhan
Publications, Rajasthan) was released. In it, Sabahat imagines in this country
of fireflies women are also enjoying the same freedom as men, the doors of
their hearts cannot be guarded, they too have the freedom to remarry after
divorce, and they have the right to decide if they want to return to their
husband’s house after feeling unwanted there.
Her stories are set in the backdrop of
Muslim culture, but she manages to show that when it comes to the status and
rights of women, it’s the same every year. Sabahat wants to free the fireflies
from the clenched fists of Afreen women.
Her first remuneration of Rs 30,000 as a
writer was encouraging for Sabahat. She felt that being financially strong
should be the priority of a woman. Now she shares her pictures on social media
and with her stories.
Sabahat has written amazing stories that
she must have picked up from around her and kept in the secret chamber of her
heart to let them metamorphose into another form. Her stories look familiar to
readers; after reading each one of her stories, the reader feels that he has
seen these incidents.
Sabahat has adapted one such incident
into a captivating story. The story Khoobsuratauratein (Beautiful Women) starts
with this sentence – “even good looks are like a punishment, wherever she went
people's eyes were fixed on her.' The heroine of the story, Alia, is very
beautiful.”
Women are at the center of all Sabahat's
stories. The joys and sorrows of a woman, her dreams, her desire to fulfill
them and social restrictions are the key elements in her stories. Sabahat is
seen breaking these restrictions and traditions. Women in her stories are
silent protesters except for Alia from her story Beautiful Women. However, they
encounter opposition and in some cases, it’s also effective.
Sabahat becomes emotional while
narrating her stories. She wishes to create a world for women where they have
the freedom to fulfill their wishes and make their dreams come true. Her
stories reflect her progressive thoughts.
Sabahat says that she never went to the
market alone and yet when people knew about her through her stories, she felt
confident to move to a big city with her daughters. “I reached Lucknow and
rented out an apartment and enrolled my daughters in a good school. Today my
daughters are studying, and life has become a bit easier for all three of us.”
Source: awazthevoice.in
https://www.awazthevoice.in/women-news/sabahat-afreen-curated-a-women-s-world-sans-fear-and-restrictions-in-her-stories-26255.html
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/princess-haifa-saudi-ambassador-spain/d/131446