Saudi Actress Ida Al-Kusay: Saudi Arabia Has Great Future in Film Industry
New
Age Islam News Bureau
07
September 2022
• Balochistan
Appoints A Female Officer, Ayesha Zehri, To Serve As Deputy Commissioner
• Sergeant
Khulood Al Marri Dubai Police's First Female Underwater Explosives Specialist
• UAE
Driver Hamda Al-Qubaisi Selected For Top Formula 3 Test
• Mangoush
Not First Woman to Chair Arab League FMs Session
• Abu
Dhabi's Girl Guides Conference Highlights Need To Empower Young Women
• Plymouth
Woman Accepts Islam after Reading the Quran Four Times
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/saudi-actress-ida-film/d/127899
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Saudi
Actress Ida Al-Kusay: Saudi Arabia Has Great Future in Film Industry
Saudi
Actress Ida Al-Kusay
----
September
06, 2022
RIYADH:
MBC Studios has started production of the Saudi fantasy series “Rise of the
Witches” with an all-local cast and crew.
The
high-end production division of the MBC Group stated that it is producing the
show based on a novel by Saudi author Osamah Al-Muslim. The series is set in
ancient Arabia and tells the story of an epic war between two rival witch
covens.
One
of the lead Saudi actresses in the series is Ida Al-Kusay, who has worked in
feature films, series and theater.
In
an interview with Arab News, she spoke about her journey in the acting world,
which started in 2019, and her present work.
Al-Kusay
studied clinical psychology at King Saud University in Riyadh, then double
majored in marketing and American Sign Language at Emerson College.
“I
was always obsessed with sign language. The culture of sign language, how to be
appropriate, how to be nice, helped me a lot with my acting because you learn
how to express yourself not just with words but with body language, with your
eyes, with your facial expressions,” Al-Kusay said.
Al-Kusay
was nominated as best actress in her first feature film “Junoon,” which was
released on Oct. 27 at the London Film Festival 2021.
Talking
about her character, Al-Kusay said: “When you shoot horror films, you need to
get into the mentality of the character. I play the character of Jiji, a
fashionista, and I lived her character. I got into the emotional and mental
state of Jiji. I didn’t know the right way as an actress to leave the character
when they said ‘Cut.’”
She
added: “They’re saying, ‘Cut,’ but for me, I’m still acting and I’m going into
something very traumatic. So, the minute they said, ‘Cut,’ I could not stop. I
was still there, living the trauma. But it’s a good thing I won an award for
it.”
Al-Kusay
is among a handful of Saudi actresses who underwent stunt training as she feels
that it adds to her list of credentials.
“It’s
not easy to learn all the fight movements with swords and spears, but it’s so
nice and empowering. It requires a lot of physical effort that I’m not always
ready for, but it’s testing me, and I feel like I want to take this step to
move forward into the stunt world,” she said.
“Not
everyone is prepared to do roles that have a lot of physical movements and
fights. I want to have that,” she said.
Al-Kusay
believes there is a great future for the film industry in the Kingdom, and more
people should consider acting as a career.
“The
industry is blooming, and I’m so happy with everything that’s happening now in
Saudi Arabia. It’s so beautiful because I feel like, at this moment, we are
creating history.”
Source:
Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2157601/saudi-arabia
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Balochistan
Appoints A Female Officer, Ayesha Zehri, To Serve As Deputy Commissioner
Source:
Ayesha Zehri (Twitter)
----
Saleem
Shahid
September
7, 2022
QUETTA:
The Balochistan government on Tuesday appointed a female officer to serve as
deputy commissioner of Nasirabad district with an immediate effect replacing
the outgoing deputy commissioner Mohammad Hussain.
Engineer
Ayesha Zehri assumed her new responsibilities, after a notification was issued
by the Services and General Administration regarding her appointment.
It
was the first time in the administrative history of Balochistan that a female
officer was appointed as deputy commissioner of any district in the province.
Ms
Zehri, basically an electrical engineer, was working in the irrigation
department. She did her BE in electrical engineering from Khuzdar Engineering
University and joined as SDO in Wapda but in 2017 she appeared in provincial
services commission exam and joined the provincial services.
During
her stint as assistant commissioner of Chagai, Ms Zehri conducted many raids
against criminals and drug smugglers in district and arrested a number of
suspects after exchange of heavy fire.
She
had also seized a huge amount of chemicals, being used in preparation of
heroin, after an exchange of fire. However, when she went to the Levies
station, they refused to take the custody of the chemical and registered a case
in this regard. As she spoke to the press on the matter, a disciplinary action
was taken against her and she was transferred and made OSD. She was later
promoted and posted as deputy secretary (irrigation). During the rain emergency
in Bolan, she helped the flood-stricken passengers stranded between Bibi Nani
and Pinjra Bridge.
Source:
Dawn
https://www.dawn.com/news/1708860/balochistan-govt-appoints-female-deputy-commissioner
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Sergeant
Khulood Al Marri Dubai Police's First Female Underwater Explosives Specialist
6
Sep 2022
Sergeant
Khulood Al Marri has become the Dubai Police's first qualified female officer
to handle explosives under water. The officer has 16 years of “outstanding
performance” and a “long list” of achievements, the police said on Tuesday.
Sergeant
Khulood is a member of the security inspections and explosives diffusers team
at the General Department of Organisations Protective Security and Emergency.
She underwent a six-month practical training course to acquire the necessary
skills to conduct thorough inspections, detect suspicious items, and defuse and
dispose of explosive hazards.
Additionally,
Sgt. Khulood has been trained to utilise artificial intelligence-powered
technologies to facilitate her missions and reduce potential risks that field
specialists usually encounter.
The
officer said she is passionate about being a cop. "I'm grateful to have a
job that never ceases to motivate me with new challenges. The Dubai Police have
created a motivating environment for the youth in general and women in
particular to ensure we strive for nothing but excellence," she added.
Colonel
Hisham Al Suwaidi, director of the Explosives Security Department, explained
that Sgt. Khulood’s mission involves securing explosives or hazardous devices
under any water surface. "She was among the first female batches to be
professionally trained in 2020 on conducting security inspections and diffusing
explosives. Afterwards, she enrolled in advanced diving courses and joined the
underwater explosives team, which is responsible for disarming and disposing of
explosive hazards.”
Source:
Khaleej Times
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/meet-dubai-polices-first-female-underwater-explosives-specialist
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UAE
driver Hamda Al-Qubaisi selected for top Formula 3 test
September
07, 2022
ABU
DHABI: In a boost for women drivers, the UAE’s Hamda Al-Qubaisi has been
selected to take part in a Formula 3 test on Sept. 16 at Magny-Cours in France.
As
part of a campaign to provide women access to the FIA’s single-seater
competition, the 20-year-old Al-Qubaisi, a Formula 4 and regional racer, will
be testing for a full day, to introduce her to the F3 category’s cars and
different set-ups.
The
Emirati racer secured her maiden overall podium finish in the Italian Formula 4
Championship in 2021, becoming the first and only woman to achieve that result.
Al-Qubaisi
said: “I’m thrilled to be invited by the FIA F3 promoters to take part in this
high-profile test. It is a very strong message in acknowledging female drivers
and I would personally like to thank Bruno Michel for the opportunity.
“It
means a lot to be acknowledged for my efforts and achievements in motorsports
and offered the chance to test this amazing machine,” she added. “It is a
natural progression in my career, and I aspire to drive in this championship
next season, if all goes well.
“More
importantly, I look forward to experiencing and getting a feel of this car,
which has more power and downforce than the car I’m currently competing in. I
have been working very hard on my physical fitness to cope with the extra
g-force and feel confident that I will be able to handle it well.”
Al-Qubaisi
is considered an outstanding global talent. She comes from a racing family that
includes her father Khaled, an accomplished and respected figure in UAE
motorsport, and sister Amna, who races in Formula 3 and is a member of the
champion PREMA Team. The trio represented Abu Dhabi Racing together in this
year’s Formula Regional Asian Championship.
“A
lot of women in the UAE have been asking me about getting into motorsport and
this makes me incredibly happy,” Al-Qubaisi said. “I want to continue inspiring
young women everywhere and be a positive role model for them. If you are
determined, focused and put your mind to something, you can really do it.”
Starting
in go-karting, she moved to single-seaters in 2019 and went on to capture
podium finishes in 2020 and 2021. In addition, she has had two successful
campaigns in the F4 UAE Championship, with six wins (the most by any female in
F4 worldwide) and multiple poles to her name, in addition to two overall
fourth-place finishes in the series.
FIA
Formula 3 CEO Bruno Michel said: “It’s very important to us to ensure that more
and more female drivers join our championship. Diversity is one of our key
discussions regarding the future of motorsport. We initiated these dedicated F3
tests last year, with Nerea Marti, Doriane Pin, Irina Sidorkova and Maya Weug,
who all said how beneficial this one-day test had been to their understanding
of the demands of our championship. We selected four new drivers for this year,
as we follow closely not only the W Series, but also female drivers in other
categories.
“The
purpose of this test is not to compare their performance, but it is an opportunity
for them to understand what is required from an F3 driver from every aspect, so
that they can prepare for the challenges when they progress to our
championship, hopefully in the near future.”
Khaled
Al-Qubaisi, who acts as his daughter’s manager, said: “Hamda has a bright
future in motor racing. It makes me very proud that my daughter, an Emirati
female driver, is racing professionally and acting as an inspiration for women
across the region. With Hamda competing at this level, she is taking the family’s
motor racing legacy to a new level. This is an incredibly positive message from
the UAE, the region and Arab nations. I truly believe that Hamda is on her way
to becoming a strong role model for a new generation of racing drivers.”
Source:
Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2157911/sport
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Mangoush
Not First Woman to Chair Arab League FMs Session
7
September, 2022
An
ordinary session for Arab League foreign ministers kickstarted on Tuesday in
Cairo with Libya heading the meeting after taking over from Lebanon to chair
the talks.
The
session is being led by Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush, who indicated
in a tweet that she is “the first woman to chair the meeting of Arab foreign
ministers.”
“I
am overjoyed and proud that Libya has regained leadership of the ministerial
meeting of the Arab League for the first time in 9 years, and I am honored to
be the first woman to lead the healing of Arabs on the land of Egypt,” tweeted
Mangoush.
“We
hope that this will be a good start for our country to return to its pioneering
role at the heart of the Arab family,” added Mangoush.
Despite
Mangoush’s claims, she is not the first woman to head a meeting for Arab League
foreign ministers. Two women had chaired Arab League meetings before.
In
July 2014, Morocco's Minister-Delegate of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Mbarka Bouaida chaired an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers held in
Cairo.
Morocco
chaired the 141st Arab League session and Bouaida was chosen to stand in place
of former Moroccan Foreign Minister Salah Mezouar, who could not attend the
session at the time due to his travel abroad.
As
for the second woman to chair a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers, she
was Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vatma Vall Mint Soueina.
Soueina
chaired a session held in March 2015 to prepare for an Arab League summit in
Sharm el-Sheikh.
Five
Arab women have held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The
first female Arab foreign minister was Mauritania’s Naha Mint Mouknass, who was
appointed in the government of Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf between 2009 and
2011.
Source:
Aawsat
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Abu
Dhabi's Girl Guides conference highlights need to empower young women
Shireena
Al Nowais
Sep
06, 2022
Thirty-four
years ago, the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al
Nahyan, met a small group of young women dressed in brown uniforms and
neckerchiefs.
They
were part of the 11th Arab Regional Conference for Girl Guides being held in
Abu Dhabi at the Cultural Foundation, which marked the beginning of the UAE’s
membership in the World Association for Girl Guides and Scouts.
About
10 million girls are members of the organisation today.
At
the 23rd Arab Regional Conference held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Algeria
participated as a member for the first time.
The
Girl Guides association uses outreach programmes so that girls and young women
can develop connections with local communities and cultural groups.
Through
fun and challenging activities, the organisation empowers girls to find their
voice, inspiring them to discover the best in themselves and to make a positive
difference in their community.
Importance
of voluntary work
The
Emirates Girl Guides Association was established in 1981 and continues to be
supported by Sheikha Fatima, Mother of the Nation.
In
a speech read on her behalf, Sheikha Fatima said: “The Arab Girl Guides
Association is one of the important pillars for developing a promising
generation of young women guides, enhancing their roles and adopting programmes
and initiatives that are concerned with building generations of girl guides who
will contribute to the development and growth of the scouting activity.”
She
said the movement was important for refining talents and creating awareness
about the importance of guidance and voluntary work to serve communities and
nations.
“The
era of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, may God rest his soul, was full of
achievements for the daughter of the Emirates in all fields, including the
field of scouting and guiding, and we are proud of the remarkable presence and
progress that this movement has achieved in the country.”
Laying
foundations
In
1988, the UAE had only a few schools and Emiratis were mostly sent abroad for
further education.
But
Sheikha Fatima, who is also head of the Girl Scouts initiative, supported the
project with a firm belief that it would lead to the progress and development
of women in the UAE.
Encouraged
by Sheikh Zayed, who travelled as far as Ras Al Khaimah to attend their events
along with rulers from other Emirates, Emiratis began sending their daughters
to join the group in the hopes it would equip them with the skills they would
need in the future.
“We
were elated,” said Shaikha Al Jaberi, member of the Emirates Girl Guides
Committee.
“Whenever
there was any event or activity, they would immediately send their daughters.
They wanted their daughters to be independent and to have strong
personalities.”
Young
girls learnt how to tie different kinds of knots, how to start fires without
matches and other skills that endowed them with a sense of independence and
self-sufficiency.
It
was the very beginning of the UAE women’s movement and was the first step on a
path that led to the country's first female astronaut, minister, fighter pilot
and others.
The
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is the largest movement
dedicated to girls and young women in the world, representing girls and young
women from 152 countries.
For
more than 100 years, Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting has transformed the lives
of girls and young women worldwide, supporting and empowering them to achieve
their potential and become responsible citizens of the world.
Source:
The National News
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Plymouth
woman accepts Islam after reading the Quran four times
By
Mariam Khan
3
SEP 2022
A
Plymouth woman who grew up Christian, accepted Islam after reading the Quran
four times in the space of a month. Her decision left her friends and family
shocked with her grandmother labelling her change of faith a "phase".
Whilst
the Muslim community is small in Plymouth, during Ramadan (April) three women
accepted Islam. Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims which happens each year.
During this period Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset and give charity. I
spoke to a Plymothian woman born and raised here, who has changed her life by
changing her faith.
Maryum
grew up in a Christian Church of England household and has always believed in
God. During her teens she began to waver, not really being able to understand
why going to church every Sunday was important or understand liturgy, but just
following along with the motion of the faith because that’s what she had been
raised to believe.
In
her early 20s, she came back to Christianity but attended an Evangelical Church
which she found easier to access. Maryum reverted and took her Shahada at Piety
Islamic Centre, so has only been a Muslim for a few months.
Shahada
is a declaration of faith, one which is often repeated by new Muslims as they
enter the faith. The words during the Shahada translate to, “I bear witness
that there is no deity but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the
messenger of God.”
She
said she came to Islam bit by bit, having studied other Abrahamic faiths at
university but it wasn’t until a conversation with an electrician who came to
fix something in her house just after the Manchester bombing that she felt more
driven to explore Islam. She said: “I was scrolling through my phone and I said
‘this is so awful’ and I remember him responding, ‘that’s obviously extreme,
what do you think about normal Muslims?’ and I said I don’t know any Muslims.”
Maryum said this led her to further look into Islam.
During
Ramadan this year, Maryum read the Quran - the Islamic holy book - four times
in translation, doing further research for parts she didn’t understand. She
said: “At first I was just interested in what the Quran said, you get people
who have plucked bits of the Quran and say it’s violent and hateful.
"So
I wanted to see what it said and actually, I didn’t glean the message of
violence from it. I kept thinking there has to be something in it as it’s the
fastest-growing religion in the world.
“My
grandmother thinks I’m going through a ‘phase,’ we don’t talk about it cause it
upsets her. It’s not an ideal situation for my mum but she’s glad I’ve found
somewhere to feel a sense of belonging.
"Actually,
I’ve felt more of a backlash from, friends or those at church who have decided
to think “someone has done this to me, someone has radicalised me. I’ve been
told: "women fought and lost their lives for your freedom."
"I
think it’s hard for many people to believe this is my choice, to accept it. My
faith makes me feel happy and content, I keep thinking Allah is bigger than all
our problems no matter what happens."
“I
still think there’s not much provision for revert women to be involved, the
stuff that is available you have to be in that community and space to be in it,
I think there needs to be better communication from the mosque administration
and directors.
"Where
I have been involved with the mosque I have found all the women to be really
friendly and really welcoming, they have known each other longer than they have
known me but I’ve never felt like an outsider."
Source:
Plymouth Herald
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/local-news/plymouth-woman-accepts-islam-after-7187800
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