Only Sharia-Following Women Can Engage in Kuwaiti Politics
New Age
Islam News Bureau
22 Aug 2023
·
Only Sharia-Following
Women Can Engage in Kuwaiti Politics
·
Humaira Ahmad, Federal
Secretary, Refuses to Become Pakistan President’s Principal Secretary
·
Twenty Female Artists’
Paintings Displayed in Kabul to Motivate and Show the Ability of Afghan Women
·
Girls
Enrolment in Afghan Seminaries Up 50%: Instructors
·
PM Modi's Pakistan Sister,
Qamar Mohsin Sheikh, To Tie Him Rakhi This Raksha Bandhan: ‘Made It Myself’
·
Baby
Killer Nurse Lucy Letby Sentenced to Whole-Life Term In UK
·
Participation
Rate of Saudi Female Environmental Inspectors Up 360% In A Year
·
Women’s Speed Running
Event Closes, Raising Over $110,000 For Malala Fund
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/sharia-kuwaiti-politics/d/130499
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Only Sharia-Following Women Can Engage In Kuwaiti Politics
Photo: The Century Foundation
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21 August 2023
This piece was first published by Raseef22, on August 3, 2023. An edited version is republished here, under
a content sharing agreement.
Female members left the Kuwaiti National Assembly session during the
passing of Article 16 of the General Election Commission law. The amended
version mandates “adherence to the provisions of the constitution, law, and
Islamic Sharia to exercise the right to vote and run”. This move was perceived
as an attempt to exclude women from political participation and impose further
guardianship over them in the name of religion.
The special session convened on August 1, 2023, witnessed the second
round of discussions regarding the draft law for the election of National
Assembly members. The Council had previously approved it during its initial
discussion on July 27.
With 62 deputies present and the endorsement of 53, the council approved
Article 16 of the Election Commission law. The article’s second paragraph
connects the right to vote and candidacy to adherence to the constitution, the
law, and Sharia. Only nine members rejected this paragraph, including Dr. Jenan
Boushehri, the sole female member in the current Kuwaiti parliament.
The council dismissed a removal request put forth by MP Jenan Boushehri,
who cautioned against the “danger of including a broad and open-ended provision
in the election law,” interpreting the amendment as “political manipulation”
and a “political game with Sharia and its rules and fatwas.”
The amendment’s main objective is to enforce women’s compliance termed
“Sharia regulations,” including wearing of the hijab and dressing “modestly,”
as proposed by MP Majed Al-Mutairi and others.
However, the joint committee consisting of the parliament's Interior and
Defense Affairs Committee and the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee expanded
the scope, obligating both genders to “adhere to Sharia.”
Consequently, there have been appeals for Kuwaiti women to rise up in
defense of their constitutional rights and gains against what’s been described
as “the birds of darkness” before the session.
‘The entire country has been hijacked by religious hard-liners”
Numerous Kuwaiti activists and citizens have taken to social media to
voice their dissatisfaction with the approval of the article, which they view
as an attempt at “politically excluding women under the guise of religion.” They
deemed it as a “historical setback” reinforcing the notion of “imposing
guardianship on women and using religion and Sharia to justify it.”
Feminist activist, Maryam al-Azmi hinted that the decision revolves
around “political hypocrisy”:
Kuwaiti media personality Laila Ahmad, commented on the passing of the
amendment:
Kuwaiti academic Shaikha Bin Jasim humorously questioned the intended
meaning of the amendment:
She also speculated that “this law will likely not pass, and even if it
does, the Constitutional Court will nullify this clause, as it happened in
2009.
In response to assertions by proponents of the amendment that it
advances “equality” through its application to both men and women, Kuwaiti
writer and politician Salwa Al-Saeed clarified that this perspective is flawed.
Instead, she argued that the amendment exacerbated the issue.
Requiring Sharia compliance from both genders could potentially
disqualify candidates based on their vague commitment to Sharia principles.
This decision lies with the Commission, operating under the authority of the
Minister of Justice, leading to uncertainties in selection.
Al-Saeed emphasized, “I've said it before, the lack of legislation is
better than bad legislation. This represents a lamentable decline in legislative
quality!”
Kuwaiti women activists underlined the significance of leveraging the
session’s events when choosing their representatives in future parliamentary
elections. Dr. Aroub al-Rifai, a public affairs activist, urged:
While Kuwait became the first Gulf country to adopt a parliamentary
system in 1962, it wasn't until 2005 that Kuwaiti women were granted the right
to vote and run for elections.
In 2009, four Kuwaiti women made history by winning seats in the
National Assembly for the first time. However, the number of female deputies in
the assembly has declined since then.
While Kuwait was at the forefront of granting women political rights in
the Gulf region, extending back for decades, it has experienced a distressing
regression in freedoms and achievements in recent times, coinciding with the
emergence of those who advocate for the fusion of religion and politics.
Source: globalvoices.org
https://globalvoices.org/2023/08/21/only-sharia-following-women-can-engage-in-kuwaiti-politics/
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Humaira Ahmad Refuses To Become Alvi’s Principal Secretary
President Dr
Arif Alvi denies having signed Official Secrets Act Amendment Act 2023 and Army
Act Amendment 2023. He is pictured here giving the green signal to recently
passed PEMRA amendment law. PHOTO: PID/FILE
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By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
August 22, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Ms Humaira Ahmad, a grade-22 DMG officer, federal Secretary
of national heritage and culture division, refused to serve as Principal
Secretary to the President.
President Arif Alvi had requested principal secretary to the Prime
Minister (PSPM) Dr Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah on Monday to remove his Waqar Ahmad
as his principal secretary in the backdrop of saga created by him (Arif Alvi)
on account of notification of two bills regarding amendments to Secret Act and
Army Act. Waqar Ahmad challenged the contention of President Alvi openly but
the President has not offered any rejoinder on Waqar Ahmad’s response. The
Press Secretary to the President was not available for his comments on the
development.
Meanwhile, the sources said that no transfer and posting could be
possible without permission of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after
dissolution of the assemblies.
The massive transfers and postings made three days back including change
of Chief Secretaries of the provinces and large reshuffling in the federal
secretaries where about half a dozen senior officers were asked to report to
Establishment Division.
Ms Humaira Ahmad who had earlier served as PSPr opted to leave the
assignment at her own request and she was posted as Federal Secretary Science
and Technology. Later, she was posted to the national heritage division.
Source: thenews.com.pk
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1102609-humaira-ahmad-refuses-to-become-alvi-s-principalsecretary#:~:text=Waqar%20Ahmad%20has%20challenged%20the,has%20not%20offered%20any%20rejoinder&text=ISLAMABAD%3A%20Ms%20Humaira%20Ahmad%2C%20a,Principal%20Secretary%20to%20the%20President.
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20 Women’s Paintings Displayed in Kabul
By TOLOnews, TV Network
20 AUGUST 2023
More than twenty female artists have exhibited their paintings in the
capital by holding an exhibition.
According to the organizers of this exhibition, the purpose of launching
this exhibition is to motivate and show the ability of women.
“The work of approximately 20 to 24 girls are exhibited here. We also
have another book exhibition at the same time, so visitors can enjoy both the
painting exhibition and the book,” said Rahila, an organizer.
Meanwhile, some female artists who displayed their paintings want the
support and attention of the Islamic Emirate for their artistic works.
“In Afghanistan, we have many female artists who can’t show their
ability, but our message to them is to not give up under any circumstance and
participate in such exhibitions and display your art to the world,” said
Frozan, an artist.
“We called on the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools and universities for
girls,” said Hussna Aslami, an artist.
At the same time, a number of
visitors welcome the holding of such exhibitions and ask the current government
to provide work for women in the country.
“My purpose of participating in this gallery was to see the girls who
were limited, the girls who have been able to shine under difficult conditions,
I wanted to see the talent of Afghan girls and their creativity,” said Fahima
Jafari, a visitor.
“Please recognize women. It is not right that men work, and women stay
at home. When they said that men and women have equal rights, they should also
pay attention to it,” said Zahra Ahmadi, a visitor.
According to the officials of this exhibition, more than 250 books are
displayed besides paintings, and this exhibition is open to visitors for three
days.
Source: tolonews.com
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-184702
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Girls Enrolment in Afghan Seminaries Up 50%: Instructors
By TOLOnews, TV Network
Instructors at seminaries say that the number of girls attending
seminaries has recently increased by 50 percent as the schools for female
students in grade 7-12 remain closed since the Islamic Emirate came to power.
According to officials, the numbers of students increased in the
seminaries after the Islamic Emirate closed schools for female students.
“The number of students has increased. We are happy that we can at least
provide them with this much service,” said Shabana, a university instructor.
“After the schools closed for girls, the number of female students
surged up to 50 percent. There are no restrictions for the girls to study in
the seminaries,” said Tariq, an instructor in a seminary.
TOLOnews interviewed some of the students who are attending the
seminaries after their schools were closed.
Angila, who was in grade 6 of a medical faculty, is now studying at the
seminary.
“Education is compulsory for every Muslim, both men and women. The
schools and universities should be reopened for the girls so that they can
continue their education,” she said.
Meanwhile some of the students urged the interim government to reopen
their schools.
“School is a place where you learn science subjects, religious subjects
and seminary is a place where you cannot study anything else but religious
studies,” said Muqadas, a student.
“We call on the Islamic Emirate to reopen the doors of the schools for
the girls,” said Marriam, a student.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Karimullah Akhundzada, said that there are more than 14,000 seminaries across
the country, where 330,000 students including boys and girls are studying.
“In total, 14,000 seminaries have been registered within the education
ministry,” he said.
Meanwhile, women’s rights activists criticized the Islamic Emirate’s
dual policy towards men and women in Afghanistan, saying that the obstacles
ahead of women should be removed.
“The Islamic Emirate should allow the women and girls to study modern
education beside religious education. The doors of the schools and universities
will be reopened,” said Suraya Paikan, a women’s rights activist.
This comes as more than 700-days have passed since the schools beyond
grade six have been closed for the girls. It has also been more than 230 days
since universities for female students have been shut.
Source: tolonews.com
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184748
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PM Modi's Pakistan sisterm, Qamar Mohsin Sheikh, to tie him rakhi this
Raksha Bandhan: ‘Made it myself’
By Sreelakshmi B
Aug 22, 2023
Qamar Mohsin Sheikh, also known as Narendra Modi's Rakhi sister of
Pakistani origin, will visit New Delhi to tie a rakhi to the Prime Minister on
the occasion of this Raksha Bandhan. Sheikh has been sending a Rakhi to Modi
every year for the past 30 years.
"This time I have made the 'Rakhi' myself. I will also gift him (PM
Modi) a book on agriculture as he is fond of reading. For the last two-three
years, I was unable to go due to Covid-19 but this time, I will meet him in
person," Sheikh, who move to India from Pakistan after her marriage, told
news agency ANI.
“I have specifically made a red-coloured Rakhi for him. The red colour
is considered a symbol of strength…Earlier, I prayed for him to be the chief
minister of Gujarat and he became. Whenever I tied the Rakhi, I used to express
my desire for him to become the prime minister. His response was always
affirmative, saying that all your wishes will be fulfilled by God. Now, he is
doing commendable work for the country as the PM," she added.
While sending Raksha Bandhan greetings to the prime minister last year,
she said she was looking forward to meeting him this year. Speaking about the
2024 Lok Sabha elections, she said, "There is no doubt, he will be the
prime minister again. He deserves this because he has those capabilities and I
wish him to be PM of India every time."
On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie Rakhi on their brother's
wrist and pray for their prosperity and long life. Contemporary trends have
also seen sisters reciprocating the gesture. The festival is celebrated on the
last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shravana, which typically falls
in August.
(With inputs from ANI)
Source: hindustantimes.com
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modis-pakistan-sister-to-tie-him-rakhi-this-raksha-bandhan-made-it-myself-101692669084941.html
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Baby killer Nurse Lucy Letby sentenced to whole-life term in UK
22 August 2023 | PTI | london
Nurse Lucy Letby was on Monday sentenced to a whole-life term by a UK
court for killing seven babies and attempting to murder at least six others while
working at a hospital in northern England.
Justice James Goss removed any early release provisions from the
whole-life sentence order, saying the exceptionally serious nature of her
crimes meant that the 33-year-old will spend the rest of her life behind bars.
Letby was last week found guilty of the murder of seven newborn babies
and also found guilty of seven counts of attempted murder relating to six other
babies. In his sentencing remarks, Justice Goss said the nurse had acted in
“gross breach of trust” and with “premeditation, calculation and cunning” as he
handed down the tough custodial sentence at Manchester Crown Court.
“You acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human
instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust
that all citizens place in those who work in the medical and caring
professions,” said Justice Goss.
“The babies you harmed were born prematurely and some were at risk of
not surviving but in each case you deliberately harmed them, intending to kill
them,” he said.
On Friday, a jury at the same court had handed down a guilty verdict at
the end of a 10-month trial, following which Indian-origin consultant
paediatrician Dr Ravi Jayaram spoke out about the alarms he and his colleagues
had raised at the Countess of Chester Hospital – where the nurse committed the
crimes between 2015 and 2016 at its neonatal unit.
“I do genuinely believe that there are four or five babies who could be
going to school now who aren’t,” Dr Jayaram said after the verdict.
Letby enhanced the anguish of the parents whose babies were murdered or
attacked by refusing to attend her sentencing hearing.British Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak condemned the nurse as “cowardly” for this, adding that his
government is looking at changing the law to compel guilty criminals to face
their victims after being found guilty.“I think, like everyone reading about
this, it’s just shocking and harrowing. Now, I think it’s cowardly that people
who commit such horrendous crimes do not face their victims and hear first-hand
the impact that their crimes have had on them and their families and loved
ones,” said Sunak.“We are looking and have been at changing the law to make
sure that that happens, and that’s something that we’ll bring forward in due
course,” he said.
The murder trial heard how Letby deliberately injected babies with air,
force fed others milk and poisoned two of the infants with insulin. Many of the
parents impacted by her crimes addressed the court with their victim impact
statements ahead of the sentencing, with tearful mothers speaking of their
trauma at discovering how their babies suffered as they breathed their last.
The judge noted that the nurse, now convicted as one of Britain’s worst
serial killers in history and only the fourth woman to be handed a whole-life
term, “relished” being in the intensive care unit where she took an interest in
“uncommon” complications and targeted twins and triplets.
“The impact of your crimes has been immense… Loving parents have been
robbed of their cherished children. You have caused deep psychological trauma,”
said Justice Goss.
“There was a malevolence bordering on sadism in your actions. During the
course of this trial you have coldly denied any responsibility for your
wrongdoing. You have no remorse. There are no mitigating factors,” he said,
explaining the factors that determined her tough sentence without any prospect
of parole.
The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which was able to prove the
case against Letby after months of intense evidence gathering, expressed relief
that the nurse had finally been brought to justice.“My thoughts remain with the
families of the victims who have demonstrated enormous strength in the face of
extraordinary suffering. I hope that the trial has brought answers which had
long eluded them,” said Senior Crown Prosecutor Pascale Jones.“These were tiny,
vulnerable newborn babies that she should have been caring for. She will never
leave prison,” added Cheshire Police, which led the murder investigation.
Meanwhile, a senior manager in charge of nursing when Letby murdered and
seriously injured babies in her care has been suspended from her current role.
Alison Kelly, serving as nursing director at the Northern Care Alliance
until recently, has now been suspended “in light of information” that emerged
during the Letby trial.
Source: dailypioneer.com
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/world/baby-killer-nurse-sentenced-to-whole-life-term-in-uk.html
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Participation rate of Saudi female environmental inspectors up 360% in a
year
August 21, 2023
JEDDAH — The participation rate of Saudi women in the field of
environmental inspection soared more than 360 percent during the year 2023 as
compared to last year while the participation rate of male inspectors increased
only by 10 percent.
Saudi women have proven their excellence in environmental inspections
this year, according to a report of the National Center for Environmental
Compliance. The center pointed out that the total number of environmental
inspectors reached 263 during the current year, while the number of female
inspectors quadrupled, bringing the number to 111 for the same period.
The center praised the high efficiency demonstrated by female inspectors
in applying the standards and conditions of the Environment Law during the
inspection tours of the facilities that accounted for 22,000 tours.
It stressed that the increase in the number of female environmental
inspectors comes as an achievement of the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to
empower women. “Their selection was made in accordance with the criteria and
terms and conditions of employment in this vital sector after passing the
academic qualifications such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree in
environmental disciplines,” it pointed out.
The center noted that female inspectors receive the necessary training
to carry out environmental inspection tasks. The environmental inspection
program provides employment and training opportunities for cadres working in
this vital field, in order to raise environmental quality standards during each
inspection round.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/635125/SAUDI-ARABIA/Participation-rate-of-Saudi-female-environmental-inspectors-up-360-in-a-year
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Women’s speedrunning event closes, raising over $110,000 for Malala Fund
August 21, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Games Done Quick’s all-women summer speedrunning event Flame
Fatales has concluded after a week of femme runners blazing through a lineup of
over 60 games, raising more than $110,835 for Malala Fund, the charity video
game platform said on Monday.
Games Done Quick is a series of video game marathons that feature
high-level gameplay by speedrunners raising money for charity. Since 2010, GDQ
has partnered with some of the world’s most impactful charities, including
AbleGamers, Doctors Without Borders, Organization for Autism Research, and
Prevent Cancer Foundation. To date, GDQ events have raised more than $46.3
million.
“Flame Fatales 2023 benefited Malala Fund, a non–profit that works to
secure free, safe, and quality education for girls around the world, especially
in regions where many girls miss out on secondary education,” GDQ said in a
statement on Monday.
This year included exciting runs from games like Stardew Valley, The
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Final Fantasy X, Octopath Traveler II,
Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, a three-player run of PlateUp!, and Resident Evil
Village. Fans can catch videos of all this week’s runs on Games Done Quick’s
official YouTube channel.
Frost Fatales returns March 3-10, 2024 with another week of
speedrunning.
Malala Fund advocates for resources and policy changes needed to give
all girls a secondary education, invests in local education activists and
amplifies the voices of girls fighting for change.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2358991/pakistan
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/sharia-kuwaiti-politics/d/130499