Thousands Stage Rally in Ethiopia Over Hijab Ban in Schools
New Age Islam News Bureau
25 Jan 2025
· Thousands Stage Rally in Ethiopia Over Hijab Ban in Schools
· Jammu Women Stitch Tricolours, Distribute Them Free Amid Low Demand
· Four Female Israeli Soldiers, Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy And LiriAlbag, Freed From Gaza Under Hamas Ceasefire
· Iranian Police Arrest Two Women For Dancing In Cemetery, Disregarding The Sacred Site
· Africa Observes Pan African Women’s Day
· UNICEF: Over 100 schools destroyed in Afghanistan as girls’ education remains banned
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/rally-ethiopia-hijab-ban-schools/d/134432
-----
Thousands Stage Rally in Ethiopia Over Hijab Ban in Schools
January 24, 2025
Thousands of Muslims gathered in Mekelle, Ethiopia, on Tuesday to protest the refusal of schools in Axum to allow hijab-wearing students to attend classes, ABNA reported yesterday. The rally, organized by the Tigray Islamic Affairs Supreme Council under the slogan “She will learn while wearing her hijab,” called for compliance with court rulings and respect for cultural practices.
Sheikh Adam Abdulkadir, President of the Council, emphasized the importance of education access for Muslim girls, stating, “Despite clear rulings from the court, our daughters are still being denied access to education.” The protests were sparked by the exclusion of Muslim Grade 12 students from national exam registration due to their hijabs.
Lawyer Mustefa Abdu argued against the ban, asserting, “There is no legal justification for forcing them to choose between their religious beliefs and their education.” Kamil Abdu Oumer, a lecturer at Wollo University, highlighted that the ban violates Article 27 of the Ethiopian constitution, which mandates that laws be published to be enforceable.
While many support the right to wear hijabs, some school officials defend the ban, claiming schools should remain neutral spaces. This reflects a broader pattern of anti-Islam attempts under the pretext of secularism to remove Islamic identification in the world.
Source: shiawaves.com
https://shiawaves.com/english/news/world/africa/ethiopia/117471-thousands-stage-rally-in-ethiopia-over-hijab-ban-in-schools/
--------
Jammu Women Stitch Tricolours, Distribute Them Free Amid Low Demand
Jan 24, 2025
A group of women in Jammu display tricolours (ETV Bharat)
----------
Jammu: Amid declining market demand for national flags this year, a group of women in this district of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly from Bishnah’sKanhal village, have taken it upon themselves to distribute the tricolour flags for free.
Led by 39-year-old Anita Baru, the head of a stitching centre here, the Hindu and Muslim women have been diligently crafting national flags as a gesture of patriotism and social service ahead of Republic Day.
Year after year, under Anita’s leadership, the dedicated group has contributed to the national spirit by stitching these symbols of pride. These women at the stitching centre learnt the art of stitching, which took a patriotic turn when they started making national flags. Since then, the group has tirelessly created thousands of flags, marking the celebrations on the eve of January 26.
A team of 11 women is currently stitching flags in Kanhal, and they claim to have produced thousands so far. These women expressed their satisfaction, stating that the team finds joy in their patriotic contribution and benefits them financially. “We are making national flags, and a government scheme also helps us procure materials for flag stitching,” Razia Begum, a member of the group, said.
However, these women have faced challenges this year in selling flags due to low market demand. In response, they have decided to distribute the flags free of cost to encourage people to unfurl the tricolour at their homes.
“We are doing it as a social service this year, to distribute the national flag among poor people who can’t buy it from the market,” said Razia Begum. “I never thought I would stitch something that is a symbol of national pride. Our flags will be atop homes across Jammu, and I will be happy to see it unfurling.”
Source: etvbharat.com
https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!state/jammu-women-stitch-tricolours-distribute-free-amid-low-demand-enn25012403729
---------
Four Female Israeli Soldiers, Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy And LiriAlbag, Freed From Gaza Under Hamas Ceasefire
Reuters/ 25.01.25
Four female Israeli soldiers, who had been held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, are released by Hamas militants as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, January 25, 2025
Reuters
------------
The Palestinian militant movement Hamas handed four female Israeli soldier hostages over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza on Saturday, releasing them in return for some 200 Palestinian prisoners.
The four hostages were led onto a podium in Gaza City amid a large crowd of Palestinians and surrounded by dozens of armed Hamas men. They waved and smiled before being led off, entering ICRC vehicles and being transported to Israeli forces.
The Israeli military said it had received the four in Gaza. They are being released in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners under a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 15-month-old war in Gaza.
The four soldiers - Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy and LiriAlbag - were all stationed at an observation post on the edge of Gaza and abducted by Hamas fighters who overran their base during the attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
After being reunited with their family at an Israeli military base near the Gaza border, the released hostages will be taken to a hospital in central Israel, the Israeli Health Ministry said.
Hamas said 200 prisoners will be freed on Saturday as part of the exchange. They include convicted militants serving life sentences for their involvement in attacks that killed dozens of people. Around 70 are set to be deported, Hamas said.
Saturday's planned exchange will be the second since a ceasefire began on Sunday and Hamas handed over three Israeli female civilians in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners.
The ceasefire agreement, worked out after months of on-off negotiations brokered by Qatar and Egypt and backed by the United States, has halted the fighting for the first time since a truce that lasted just a week in November 2023.
Source: telegraphindia.com
https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/hamas-hands-over-4-female-israeli-soldiers-to-red-cross-as-part-of-gaza-ceasefire/cid/2079588
-----
Iranian Police Arrest Two Women For Dancing In Cemetery, Disregarding The Sacred Site
January 24, 2025
Iranian women in Tehran. PHOTO: AFP
------------
Iranian police arrested two young women after publication of a video in which they danced in a Tehran cemetery without adhering to the country's strict dress code, local media reported Friday.
"Not long ago, two people, in the cemetery of martyrs in Tehran, disregarding the sacred site, recorded a video clip with inappropriate clothing and movements that were outside of custom and Sharia" Islamic law, a police statement carried by Tasnim news agency said.
The move "caused strong public protests, especially from the families of the martyrs and the two were arrested by the police and handed over to judicial authorities," the statement added.
Under rules imposed after the 1979 Islamic revolution, women must cover their hair and neck and wear loose-fitting clothes in public. They are also not allowed to dance in public places.
But many women have pushed the boundaries by allowing their head coverings to slide back and reveal more hair, especially in Tehran and other major cities.
The trend has been more evident, especially since protests erupted following Mahsa Amini's death in custody in September 2022. She had been arrested by the morality police for allegedly violating the dress code.
Hundreds of people, including dozens of security personnel, were killed in the subsequent months-long nationwide protests and thousands of demonstrators were arrested.
Source: tribune.com.pk
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2524288/iranian-police-arrest-two-women-for-dancing-in-cemetery-without-hijabs
-----------
Africa observes Pan African Women’s Day
January 25, 2025
31 July is Pan African Women’s Day and 2019 marked the 57th anniversary of the Pan-African Women’s Organization (PAWO), the Specialised Agency of the AU dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment
In his statement to commemorate the day, the AU Commission Chairperson Moussa FakiMahamat noted amongst other things the import of the day pointing out that Pan African Women’s Day is a day to celebrate and acknowledge the Foremothers of Africa who gallantly fought for the liberation and development of this continent. He also reiterated the important role of African women who continue to be the backbone of our economies as farmers, entrepreneurs, traders, scientists and leaders in many other sectors.
The Chairperson noted that one of his priorities remains the full implementation of the policy organs’ call to have gender parity in the workforce of the AU by 2025 and committee that he will continue to demand dignity and protection for all women and girls who have been forcibly displaced in Africa; remarking that it is the collective responsibility of Africans to hold themselves and their leaders accountable to deliver on the gender equality and women’s empowerment commitments.
Source: au.int
https://au.int/en/articles/africa-observes-pan-african-womens-day
---------
UNICEF: Over 100 schools destroyed in Afghanistan as girls’ education remains banned
ByFidel Rahmati
January 24, 2025
On the occasion of International Education Day, UNICEF announced that in 2024, floods in Afghanistan destroyed or damaged 110 schools, disrupting the education of thousands of students.
On International Education Day, UNICEF reported on Friday, January 24, via its X/Twitter that over 100 schools in Afghanistan have been destroyed or damaged by floods, disrupting the education of thousands of students. Meanwhile, UNAMA called on the Taliban to lift the ban on education for millions of Afghan girls, describing it as a “tragedy.” UNAMA highlighted that 1,225 days have passed since Afghan girls were denied their fundamental right to education.
The United Nations has designated January 24 as International Education Day, recognizing access to education as a fundamental human right and a critical pillar for societal progress.
The UN General Assembly officially established January 24 as International Education Day on December 3, 2018. In its resolution, the UN called on governments, organizations, institutions, and communities to ensure and implement the right to equal education for all members of society at the highest level.
UNESCO, on its official website, has declared the theme for International Education Day 2025 as “AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation,” emphasizing that as technology advances rapidly, education must equip individuals with the skills to manage and leverage it effectively.
While many countries celebrate International Education Day by highlighting their educational achievements and pursuing further advancements, Afghanistan remains far from these goals. Over the past three years, girls above grade six have been barred from attending school.
The ongoing challenges in Afghanistan, including school destruction and restrictions on girls’ education, underscore the urgent need for global support to address educational inequalities. Ensuring education for all children in Afghanistan is vital for the nation’s recovery and progress.
As the world marks International Education Day with ambitions of technological advancement and societal progress, Afghanistan’s education crisis serves as a stark reminder that basic educational access must be prioritized as the foundation for any meaningful development.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/unicef-over-100-schools-destroyed-in-afghanistan-as-girls-education-remains-banned/
--------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/rally-ethiopia-hijab-ban-schools/d/134432