Moroccan Rider, Noor Slaoui, Makes History as First Arab Woman to Compete In Eventing
New Age Islam News Bureau
20 July 2024
·
In Saudi Arabia, Seera, An All-Women
Psychedelic Rock Band Jams It Out
·
Moroccan Rider, Noor Slaoui, Makes History as
First Arab Woman to Compete In Eventing
·
Iran Summons a Group of Young Women for Hijab
Violations on Ashura
·
Law Professor, SolmazAkbarzadeh, Latest Victim
of Iran's University Dismissals
·
Azerbaijan Did Not Grant Visa to Iran Female Basketball
Players
·
FAO, Jordan to Provide Agriculture Training to
120 Women
·
The Olympics Should Be for All Women, Including
Muslim Women
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
Moroccan
Rider, Noor Slaoui, Makes History as First Arab Woman to Compete In Eventing
20 July
2024
Twenty-nine-year
old equestrian, Noor Slaoui, is gearing up for the Olympic Games which get
underway in Paris next Friday.
She is
about to become the first Moroccan female rider ever to take part in the
Eventing discipline.
This is
when a single horse and rider compete against others in dressage,
cross-country, and show jumping.
She is
also the only Arab athlete to have qualified to ride in the discipline and the first
Moroccan rider to compete internationally in the sport.
"I'm
just super happy and super honoured to be representing Morocco, Africa and the
Arab countries in the Olympics, it is just a dream that comes true for
me," she says.
Noor
developed her passion for horses as a very young girl. She says her family were
big on hiking, and would take her trekking on mules in the High Atlas
mountains.
"I
started riding very early as early as 4 years old, but then I really started
competitions when I was 19,” she says.
Noor
says it was very hard at the beginning as she had very little exposure to the
sport and knew nothing about it.
“I had
to read through the rule book and just give it a go. I quickly realised it was
a lot harder than I thought. So I started riding and training with other
competition riders that are the top level to see how they do how they
work."
She
shares a very special bond with her horse, Cash in Hand, who will accompany her
to Paris. The pair started riding together when Noor was still learning the
competition ropes.
Although
she has quite a few plans for Cash, but says she is not going to change things
too much as things have worked for them so far.
"I
need to get a qualifying result as do all of the people taking part of the
Olympics need to, and then I have two other preparations that I need to do.”
With the
Olympics her first senior championships, she sees the competition as a stepping
stone to a future in the sport.
"I'm
hoping to get a lot of exposure and to just learn a lot from this experience to
build on it in the future," she says.
Source: africanews.com
https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/19/moroccan-rider-makes-history-as-first-arab-woman-to-compete-in-eventing/
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In Saudi
Arabia, Seera, An All-Women Psychedelic Rock Band Jams It Out
May 20,
2024
Members
of the psychedelic rock band Seera (from left), including Thing, Noura,
Hayahuascah and Meesh
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RIYADH:
Leaning into the microphone in Saudi Arabia's capital, Nora let loose a primal
scream. Guitars wailed and drums throbbed as part of a set with her bandmates
at a recent show.
The
performance by Seera, an all-women psychedelic rock band that blends
traditional Arabic melodies with psychedelia, would have been unthinkable years
earlier.
But as
Saudi Arabia liberalises some aspects of its society, Seera represents the way
women now are finding their voice.
"We
didn't know how people would react," said Meesh, the bassist, who like
other members asked to be identified by their stage names. The band's name
means "life" or "biography" in Arabic.
Seera's
music style revolves around the life experiences of the four-member band. They
are quick to point out they aren't the first female band in the kingdom and
said they plan to release their debut album later this year. They've also
booked their first international concert in Dubai.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/saudi-arabia/in-saudi-arabia-all-women-rock-band-jams-it-out/articleshow/110280973.cms?from=mdr
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Iran
Summons Women for Hijab Violations on Ashura
JULY 18,
2024
Iranian
authorities have summoned a group of young women after they participated in
Ashura religious ceremony without wearing the mandatory hijab.
The
ceremony held in Karaj, near Tehran, has sparked controversy after videos
circulated showing several young women participating without wearing the
mandatory hijab.
The
incident has led to swift action from authorities and ignited a debate on
social media.
Hamid
Hodavand, the police commander of Alborz province, announced on Wednesday that
law enforcement has identified and summoned the individuals involved in the
incident.
"Given
the release of a video on social media about the presence of several girls
without hijab in the Ashura day mourning and the harming of the feelings of
Hosseini mourners throughout the country, pursuing the issue was placed on the
agenda of the police officers of the province," Hodavand said, according
to ISNA state news agency.
The
police commander emphasized that they "do not condone the violation of the
sacred space of the imams and will deal with the violators according to the
law."
The
incident comes amid law enforcement agencies intensifying the enforcement of
hijab regulations by implementing the Noor Plan since April 13.
There
have been numerous reports of women being arrested and harassed for perceived
violations of dress codes across Iran.
Users
across social networks are participating in a spontaneous campaign using the
hashtag "war against women" to document their experiences and
observations regarding the government's crackdown on the opponents of mandatory
hijab.
Reports
have also emerged detailing repressive tactics, especially targeting female
students in various universities.
Additionally,
there has been increasing pressure on civil activists, political dissenters,
women political prisoners, and cultural figures.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/131917-iran-summons-women-for-hijab-violations-on-ashura/
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Law
Professor, SolmazAkbarzadeh, Latest Victim of Iran's University Dismissals
JULY 19,
2024
SolmazAkbarzadeh,
a law professor at Al-Zahra University in Bushehr, has been dismissed, joining
a growing list of academics forced out of Iranian universities.
Akbarzadeh,
who had four years of teaching experience in legal courses at the university,
received the dismissal notice through a text message from the university's
security department.
The
message reportedly used the phrase "termination of cooperation"
instead of "dismissal" and emphasized confidentiality without
providing any specific reasons for the action.
The
dismissal is part of a trend in Iranian academia. Earlier this month,
RasoulRasoulipour, a professor of philosophy, and Hossein Serajzadeh, a
professor of sociology, both from Kharazmi University, were forced to withdraw
from teaching.
Rasoulipour
was just five years away from retirement.
In
another high-profile case, Zahra Mousavi, daughter of imprisoned Green Movement
leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard, was expelled from the Faculty
of Arts at Al-Zahra University.
Mousavi
said her expulsion was due to her support for students who were barred from
attending classes because of hijab-related regulations.
These
dismissals contradict recent statements by Iran's Minister of Science, who
dismissed reports of widespread firings of university professors as
"spreading of lies."
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/131955-law-professor-latest-victim-of-irans-university-dismissals/
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Azerbaijan
Did Not Grant Visa to Iran Female Basketball Players
Jul 19,
2024
Tehran,
IRNA - Due to the non-issue of visas by the Embassy of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, the trip of the selected Iranian women's basketball team to the
women's series was canceled.
Iranian
Basketball Federation announced that while the ticket and preparations for the
trip of the women's three-person team were prepared to participate in the
women's series and this participation in the ranking was very important, the
trip was canceled due to the non-issuance of visas by the Embassy of the
Republic of Azerbaijan.
The
women's series will be hosted by the Republic of Azerbaijan in the city of Guba
from tomorrow.
Source: en.irna.ir
https://en.irna.ir/news/85542867/Azerbaijan-did-not-grant-visa-to-Iran-female-basketball-players
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FAO,
Jordan to provide agriculture training to 120 women
July 19,
2024
AMMAN:
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Jordan River Foundation have
signed an agreement to support women in agriculture through vocational and
technical training, Jordan News Agency reported on Friday.
JRF
provides local communities and refugees with economic opportunities through its
Community Empowerment Program, improving standards of living.
The
agreement will bolster the skills of 120 women in the Jordanian governorates of
Balqa, Jerash, and Ajloun. It will include a technical and vocational training
program that will teach project management and financial literacy, in addition
to skills in the processing of carob, sumac and honey.
By
improving technical and administrative capacities, the agreement aims to
empower women to start agricultural initiatives, enhancing their standard of
living and raising household earnings.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2552571/middle-east
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The
Olympics should be for all women, including Muslim women
July 19,
2024
Anna
Błuś is Amnesty International’s Researcher on Gender Justice in Europe.
Excitement is mounting ahead of the Paris Olympic Games, but in a country which
proclaims its devotion to “égalité”, Muslim women athletes are being left out
and discriminated against – simply because they refuse to give up their right
to wear what they want.
It’s
Saturday and I just completed another parkrun in South London. I lie down on
the warm grass and stretch. Around me, there are people of all backgrounds,
racial identities, ages and abilities. This is our space, where we come every
weekend and chat after racing each other to the finish line. I feel elated,
energized, alive. Running has given me so much: an outlet in times of stress, a
refuge from trauma, a way to challenge myself and most of all, a lot of fun. It
helped me find my people and be a part of a community when I moved to London.
To think that all this could be taken away from me is unbearable.
In the
last few months, my runs have become faster. I have been channeling the
feelings of rage and injustice into them and dedicating them to the sportswomen
in France who I have been speaking with as part of my work with Amnesty
International.
Footballers,
basketball players, volleyball players, gym-lovers and swimmers – all prevented
from doing what they love because they are Muslim and wear hijabs and other
forms of religious clothing. Yes, you read that right – this is what is
happening in France, the country that wants you to think it champions women’s
rights. The country that proclaims its devotion to “égalité”, and that will in
just a few days host the 2024 summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Last
September, France’s Minister for Sport announced that no female athlete
representing the country will be allowed to compete in the Games if she wears
religious headgear. This country, marred by gendered Islamophobia for decades,
would rather risk losing medals, discriminate against and exclude incredibly
talented sportswomen from its national teams than allow them to be their full
selves.
But it’s
not only during the Olympics that France does not want to see visibly Muslim
women. Even at amateur levels and in regional competitions, several sports
federations have banned sports hijabs. So, after training for years, excelling
in their sport, coaching young girls and considering sports as a professional
career, young Muslim women athletes are told to remove their hijabs or give up
on their dreams.
“It’s a
form of violence”
It’s
“really frustrating, really humiliating,” says Hélène Bâ, a co-founder of the
Basket Pour Toutes collective that campaigns to overturn such bans. Instances
of referees asking teenage girls to remove parts of their clothing to
participate are not uncommon. “It’s gender-based violence because … the
referees are, the majority of them are men,” Hélène tells me. “And so, it’s men
asking me to take off my clothes. Whether it’s covering the head, whether it’s
your T-shirt, whether it’s your dress, this is violence. … It’s a mix of a lot
of discrimination and a lot of violence.” This gender-based violence is also a
manifestation of Islamophobia, perpetuating systemic racism and discrimination
against Muslim women, and reflecting the continuing consequences of France’s
history and legacy of colonialism, with profound impacts particularly on
racialized women.
Volleyball
player Assma describes her experience of being prevented from competing. “When
I wanted to register for a women’s competition,” she says, “my coach told me it
wouldn’t be possible. So I asked her why. And she tells me right away: ‘because
you’re wearing something on your head’ … At that moment, I didn’t feel very
well and straight away, I knew that it was going to be a problem.”
In
France a rule banning religious clothing
from competitions has been in place in Football since 2006. A collective of
hijab-wearing football players called the Hijabeuses challenged it before
French courts, and now also at the European Court of Human Rights. They
recently organized “alternative Olympic Games” – truly inclusive of all – near
Paris. One of its co-founders, FounéDiawara, stressed to Amnesty International:
“Our fight is not political or religious but centred on our human right to
participate in sports. Many women are excluded from football fields in France
every weekend solely because they wear a veil.”
Sports
hijabs that meet the safety requirements are authorized by international sports
federations such as FIFA, FIBA and FIVB. Moreover, France is the only country
in Europe with bans on religious headwear in sports such as women’s football,
basketball and volleyball. No other country in the region, at the level of
national laws or individual sports regulations, has enshrined bans on religious
headwear such as those worn by some Muslim sportswomen and girls.
Discrimination
against Muslim women and girls in sport
The bans
are discriminatory and violate the human rights of Muslim women and girls who
wear religious headwear and who play sports, including their right to equality,
freedom of expression, association, religion, health, bodily autonomy, physical
and psychological integrity, among others. The right to participate in sport
itself is a human right under the full spectrum of human rights, for example
the right to take part in cultural life, the right to health, including mental
health, the right to participate in public life and take decisions about one’s
own body and private life. All of these rights must be respected and protected
for everyone without discrimination.
Hijab
bans in sports, and beyond, are a feminist issue and a matter of racial and
gender justice as well as a human rights concern. Religion is often a
racialized category. Muslim people in Europe are racialized in categories
encompassing perceived race, ethnicity and/or nationality, irrespective of
their religious practice and actual religion. The wearing of headscarves and
other types of religious clothing by Muslim women has long been
instrumentalized and negatively stereotyped in our region, particularly in
France, to demonize them and homogenize the diverse significance such clothing
represents to those who wear it or would wish to do so.
No woman
should be coerced into decisions about her clothing or face the impossible
choice between career and faith, identity and autonomy. If the discriminatory
bans at amateur and professional levels are not eliminated, even fewer Muslim
women athletes – who already face systemic barriers in accessing sports in
France – will ever reach the Olympics and Paralympics.
This is
why ahead of, and during, the forthcoming Paris Olympics and Paralympics,
Amnesty International is calling for an end to these violations of women and
girl athlete’s human rights. We call on everyone who understands the
transformational power of sport to use their voice against these racist, discriminatory and harmful bans on
sports hijab. Please use your voice and show solidarity with Muslim women
athletes in France. FIND OUT MORE:
Source: amnesty.org
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2024/07/why-hijab-bans-in-french-sports-defy-olympic-values-and-human-rights/
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2024/07/the-olympics-should-be-for-all-women-including-muslim-women/
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