New Age Islam
Sat Apr 26 2025, 08:18 PM

Islam, Women and Feminism ( 8 Dec 2023, NewAgeIslam.Com)

Comment | Comment

New Era in Saudi Arabian Football As Women’s U20 ‘Green Falcons’ Get Their Wings

New Age Islam News Bureau

08 December 2023

·         New Era in Saudi Arabian Football As Women’s U20 ‘Green Falcons’ Get Their Wings

·         Malaysian Minister Nancy Shukri Shocked To Find 88% Of Teens Sexually Active

·         Bangladesh: 5 Women To Receive ‘Begum Rokeya Padak’

·         Amnesty International Urges Release Of Four Afghan Female Protestors From Prison

·         Bennett Highlighted Restrictions on Afghan Girls, Women in Online Meeting

·         40th Day After Teenage Girl’s Death Marked in Tehran Amid Tight Security

·         UK seeks Fazl’s help for Afghan women’s education

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/saudi-arabian-football/d/131277

-----

New Era in Saudi Arabian Football As Women’s U20 ‘Green Falcons’ Get Their Wings

 

The Women’s U20 National Team squad assembles in Riyadh. (SAFF)

------

December 07, 2023

RIYADH: A new era in Saudi Arabian football begins with the formation of the Women’s U20 National Team, which is expected to play a crucial role in the development of young footballers in the Kingdom.

This initiative is part of the SAFF’s broader strategy to create sustainable and clear career paths for aspiring women footballers, reflecting a commitment to the growth of the sport at all levels.

The team, comprising talented players from the senior national team and those advancing from the U17 squad, is already engaged in their first training camp. The training camp is currently taking place in Riyadh from 5-11 December 2023.

“A new chapter in Saudi women’s football begins today with the launch of the U20 National Team. This team is a beacon of hope and opportunity for our young athletes, illuminating the path to international success,”  said Head of the Women’s Football Department at the SAFF Aalia Al Rasheed.

“We are confident that under the expert guidance of Pauline Hamill, these young women will not only grow as players but also become role models for future generations. Their journey represents our unwavering commitment to elevating women’s football in Saudi Arabia and on the global stage,” added AlRasheed.

Pauline Hamill, the newly appointed head coach of the U20 team, brings a wealth of experience to the role. Her distinguished career includes playing for the Scotland National team, earning 141 caps over 18 years, and coaching various youth teams within the Scottish FA, including the U15s, U16s, U17s, and the Scotland Women’s U19s National team.

Hamill’s appointment is a significant boost to the team’s prospects and reflects the SAFF’s ambition to compete at the highest levels in future regional and international competitions.

The team is eagerly preparing for its first friendly match in March 2024, a key milestone in their preparation for future competitions.

Source: arabnews.com

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2422031/sport

-----

Malaysian Minister Nancy Shukri Shocked To Find 88% Of Teens Sexually Active

 

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri says she is appalled at the findings of a national survey which showed 88% of teenagers aged 13 to 18 are sexually active. – The Vibes file pic, December 8, 2023.

------

08 Dec 2023

A NATIONAL survey among teenagers coordinated by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has found that up to 88% of children between 13 to 18 years old were sexually active.

The findings also showed the highest teen pregnancies purportedly occur in Kelantan, Sarawak and Penang.

Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said she was appalled by the results, which also showed many teens were unaware about contraceptives, sexually transmitted diseases and physical and mental health risks due to teen pregnancy.

Speaking during a gathering with women and family groups in Sibu last night, Nancy said parents and society should be concerned by the poll.

“The finding that 88% of teens aged between 13 to 18 are engaged in sexual activities shows the incidence of adolescent pregnancies is high.

“Kelantan has the highest number of teenage pregnancies, Sarawak has the second highest and Penang has the third highest,” she said.

“Kelantan has a 9.5% ratio of adolescent pregnancies (among those surveyed), Sarawak has 9.1% and Penang has 8.9% based on the findings.”

She expressed concern about the rise in sexual activity among teenagers lead to heightened problems such as baby dumping.

Nancy emphasised that sex with minors is a crime. Police have noted an increase in rapes and sexual assault cases involving teenagers.

She said the community and schools must respond with more awareness campaigns to inform teenagers about the risks of being sexually active.

She called on women’s groups and religious bodies to work with her ministry to reach out to adolescents.

In May this year, the Health Ministry reported that 33% of teenagers engage in sexual activity before reaching the age of 14.

The findings were obtained from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022. It had surveyed secondary school students aged 13 to 17.

The survey, conducted from June 12 to July 8 last year, showed 154,646 adolescents in Malaysia were sexually active, raising significant concerns about youth wellbeing.

Of that figure, 33% or one-third of teens – a startling 51,036 – fell into the category of engaging in sexual activities at an exceptionally young age.

It was also reported that 75% of sexually active teens reported recent sexual encounters. – The Vibes, December 8, 2023.

Source: thevibes.com

https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/100301/minister-shocked-to-find-88-of-teens-sexually-active

-------

 

Bangladesh: 5 Women To Receive ‘Begum RokeyaPadak’

Dec 8, 2023

Women and Children Affairs Ministry yesterday announced the names of five notable women as Begum RokeyaPadak awardees for this year for their contribution to various fields.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira announced the names at a press conference at Secretariat.

The five awardees are -- first woman vice chancellor of Buet Prof Khaleda Ekram (posthumous) for women education; Dr HalidaHanum Akhter of Rangpur for establishing women's rights; Kamrunnesa Ashraf Dina of Netrakona for her contributions in socio-economic development of women (posthumous); NishatMazumder of Lakshmipur and Ronita Bala of Thakurgaon for rural development.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the award at an event at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka at 10:00am on December 9.

Source: thedailystar.net

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/gold-worth-tk-44cr-seized-dhaka-airport-3489031

-----

 

Amnesty International urges release of four Afghan female protestors from prison

Fidel Rahmati

December 8, 2023

Amnesty International has expressed concern over the detention and alleged torture of women activists in Taliban prisons, demanding the immediate release of Zholia Parsi, ManizhaSeddiqi, NedaParwani, and ParisaAzada. The organization stated on Thursday that these women have no access to defense lawyers or medical facilities.

Amnesty International’s South Asia Regional Office sent a letter to Abdul Haq Wasiq, the head of Taliban intelligence, expressing concern about the arbitrary detention of women human rights defenders. The head of this office also mentioned that these four women activists and their families are denied visits.

Since the Taliban’s resurgence in August 2021, female protesters opposing the Taliban’s severe policies have encountered grave hardships. They have been forcibly disappeared, arbitrarily detained, and subjected to torture and other forms of abuse.

Among the victims of this dire situation are four prominent women human rights defenders: ParisaAzada, NedaParwani, Zholia Parsi, and ManizhaSeddiqi. They were unjustly apprehended between September and November 2023, enduring detention without access to legal counsel or regular family visits.

Meanwhile, the detention of family members of protesters and their torture in Taliban detention centers is another concern highlighted by this office. Amnesty International’s South Asia Regional Office states that these detentions are inconsistent with international human rights laws, including civil and political rights and international conventions.

Amnesty International’s findings also indicate that these women have no access to defense lawyers and medical services. The international organization has raised concerns that these women activists are at risk of torture and other forms of mistreatment.

In the letter, the organization has called on the Taliban to align the conditions of detention for these women activists with international standards, including access to defense lawyers and permission for family visits.

Earlier, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) had reported that between January 2022 and January 2023, half of the 1,600 human rights violations in Taliban prisons included “torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.”

According to the findings of the UN’s political representation, women during protests have been subjected to verbal violence, including insults, humiliation, threats, and intimidation by Taliban armed forces.

In addition to this, some journalists covering women’s protests have also been arbitrarily detained and mistreated.

Source: khaama.com

https://www.khaama.com/amnesty-international-urges-release-of-four-afghan-female-protestors-from-prison/

------

 

Bennett Highlighted Restrictions on Afghan Girls, Women in Online Meeting

 December 7, 2023

The UN special rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, in a Zoom session highlighted the restrictions on “how the Taliban have really clamped down and imposed a system of widespread discrimination against women and girls.”

The session was held by the Conservative Friends of Afghanistan under the name of "Gender apartheid" and the human rights crisis in Afghanistan.

“They [Taliban] have closed schools and universities and schools above six grade for girls and have also restricted women’s ability in employment,” Bennett said.

But the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that the rights of women are ensured in Afghanistan and that 23 percent of the women are working in various organizations.

“Unfortunately, Bennett's reports have always been based on selfishness and ignored the realities. For example, he has mentioned that women have been eliminated while it is not true. Currently, [women] are active around 23.40 percent within the Islamic Emirate system. Some of them are working and receive salaries,” he said.

However, Suraya Paikan, a women’s rights activist, expressed the challenges that the Afghan women are facing as: “The government of the Taliban has yet to be ready to take the decision about the rights of women, social issues, women’s work and education."

Since the Islamic Emirate came to power, the girls and women in Afghanistan have been banned from going to schools, universities, work in NGOs and recreation areas.

Source: tolonews.com

https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-186387

-----

 

40th Day After Teenage Girl’s Death Marked in Tehran Amid Tight Security

DECEMBER 7, 2023

A ceremony marking the 40th day since the death of 16-year-old Armita Geravand was held at Tehran’s Behesht Zahra cemetery on December 6 amid heavy security presence.

After the ceremony, authorities apprehended a Tehran resident named Ariana Akbari and took him to an undisclosed location.

Akbari had previously been detained during nationwide protests that rocked Iran last year.

Armita fell unconscious on the platform of a Tehran metro station on October 1 after being assaulted for not wearing a mandatory headscarf. She was taken to a hospital where she remained in a coma for 28 days.

Anti-government chants could be heard across Tehran, Karaj, Shiraz and other Iranian cities on the evening of her death.

During Armita’s October 29 burial, authorities assaulted mourners and arrested dozens of people, including prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh.

Security forces have prevented the Geravand family and friends from speaking to the media, while journalists have faced reprisals for reporting on the teenager’s situation.

Source: iranwire.com

https://iranwire.com/en/news/123283-40th-day-after-teenage-girls-death-marked-in-tehran-amid-tight-security/

------

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/saudi-arabian-football/d/131277

 

New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Loading..

Loading..