Syria Appoints, Maysaa Sabreen, 1st Female Interim Central Bank Governor
New Age Islam News Bureau
31 December 2024
· Syria Appoints, MaysaaSabreen, 1st Female Interim Central Bank Governor
· Ban Child Marriage And Polygamy, Says Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan
· Hijab And The Right To Choose: Afghan Women Speak Out
· 328 Saudi Women Join Labour Market Daily
· Saudi Woman Tech CEO Opens Up About Building Business In Male-Dominated Industry
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/syria-appoints-female-central-bank-governor/d/134204
-----
Syria Appoints, Maysaa Sabreen, 1st Female Interim Central Bank Governor
30.12.2024
Maysaa Sabreen has been appointed as the interim governor of Central Bank of Syria on Monday, becoming the first woman to lead the country’s central bank.
Sabreen has been a member of the board of directors at the Damascus Securities Exchange since Dec. 2018, representing the central bank.
She has also served as deputy governor and the head of the Office Control Division at the bank.
She holds a master’s degree in accounting.
Sabreen is the second woman appointed by the new Syrian administration headed by Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Earlier, Aisha al-Dibs was appointed as the head of the Women's Affairs Office in Syria's interim administration.
Bashar Assad, Syria's leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8, marking the end of the Baath Party's rule, which had been in power since 1963. The takeover came after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters captured key cities in a lightning offensive that lasted less than two weeks.
Source: aa.com.tr
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/syria-appoints-1st-female-interim-central-bank-governor/3438167
---------
Ban Child Marriage And Polygamy, Says Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan
31 December,2024
(From left) BMMA members Noorjehan Safia Niaz, Nishaat Husein, Zakia Soman and Khatoon Shaikh. Pic/Shadab Khan
------------
The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), a pan-India organisation, headquartered in Mumbai working in the space of Muslim women’s rights, held a press conference at the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh at Azad Maidan, SoBo, on Monday afternoon.
The BMMA wanted to highlight the need for fully codified Muslim personal laws and push for an inclusive Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The panel also pointed to attacks on Muslims and their places of worship. They wished to shine the spotlight on amendments to the Waqf Bill. Codified laws refer to the rules and regulations that have been collected, restated, and written down for the purpose of providing civil order to a society.
The conference began with NishaatHusein stating their background. “The BMMA has been in existence for 18 years. We have fought and won battles like abolishing instant triple talaq, ensuring women access to Haji Ali, and more,” she said.
The four-person panel, addressing the press at the conference, stated that there are tangible battles that have been fought and won, and there have also been intangibles, like smashing stereotypes about Muslim women, such as, “they are incapable of achieving anything. While fighting for our rights, for change in certain spheres, we have proved we are equal to all and extremely capable.”
Polygamy
All the panelists said that while instant triple talaq has been addressed, they were awaiting laws on polygamy and halala. They also said they have several points that needed to be included in the UCC so that women could benefit and it would be gender-just and inclusive.
Speaker Khatoon Sheikh said, “I ask the Waqf Board that you have so many properties. What have you done for the Muslim women? They need to take women as members—women who have worked in the activism and rights space, who have a voice in the discourse, and who are not mere passive spectators sitting with their heads down.”
Maintenance
Panelist Zakia Soman pointed to “hate speech and crimes that are vitiating the atmosphere.” Soman also said there was much dissent and friction within the Muslim community, “when we speak about maintenance for women, some from the community state that we should not ask for maintenance, as the Waqf Board will give maintenance. I ask the board, how many women have got maintenance?”
Another panelist, Noorjehan Safia Niaz, said, “If halala and child marriage are not addressed in the UCC, then what is its use for Muslim women?”
An interaction followed, with the BMMA releasing several key points they hoped would be addressed in the UCC. With reference to marriage, some subjects that the trailblazing women's body wanted in the UCC were that “a marriage must be considered a contract between two adults and not a sacrament. Witnesses to the marriage must be adults with verifiable documents of age and residence. Polygamy and child marriage to be made illegal”.
Equality
The BMMA advocacy for an inclusive UCC when it came to adoption, custody, and guardianship also cited: “Custody of the child is not necessarily lost on conversion or remarriage of the parent.” It added, “There must be gender parity in inheritance rights, including share in the marital property.” When it comes to divorce, the BMMA stated, “Divorce in the court and outside the court must be regularized. The renunciation of Islam by a married Muslim woman or man or their conversion to another faith by itself cannot dissolve the marriage.”
Source: mid-day.com
https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-ban-child-marriage-and-polygamy-says-muslim-womens-body-23456273
---------
Hijab And The Right To Choose: Afghan Women Speak Out
31 December 2024
Afghan Women Speak Out Photo: AP
-------------
“With the coming of Taliban, the Hijab was imposed on us, along with strict control over how we dress and the colours we wear. We were not allowed to work or drive. They stripped us of our basic human rights, and that is why we fled the country,” says Sorya, a woman who sought refuge in France after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021.
Originally from Afghanistan, Sorya now resides in France with her family. Ironically, she moved from a country where the Hijab was forcibly imposed to one where the Hijab is banned. But where is the choice for Muslim women?
The issue here transcends the debate over the Hijab itself; it is about the fundamental right to choose and the right to autonomy and freedom. “Clothing should always be a woman’s choice. I stopped wearing the hijab after moving to France, but my younger sister still wears it here because it is her choice,” she explains. The struggle of Muslim women to live according to their own decisions remains a distant dream.
Sorya now lives in France, a country often hailed as progressive in the West, yet it is the same country that has banned the hijab. Are these two countries not two sides of the same coin? Sorya’s family illustrates this diversity: her sister chooses to wear the hijab, yet the core issue remains — it is never truly about what a woman wants but about the imposition of the state, whether in Afghanistan or France.
The Taliban, which claims to uphold rights in accordance with its interpretation of Islamic law, has systematically restricted the rights of Afghan women. Most women have been excluded from government jobs, banned from parks and gyms, prevented from traveling without a male guardian and denied education beyond primary school. The Taliban’s policies have reduced women to being held responsible for men’s actions, implicitly blaming them for any sexual harassment or violence if their bodies or faces are revealed.
Women in Afghanistan face restrictions that men do not, with the mandatory hijab being one of the most visible symbols. The ban on women attending private medical institutions is another severe blow to women’s rights. “How can a pregnant woman receive medical care when women are banned from medical institutions? What will happen when there are no female doctors or midwives left?” asks Atifa Amiri, a woman from Afghanistan’s Hazara community. She is currently studying in India, seeking refuge with her parents after her brother, who worked with the United Nations Human Rights Commission, was killed by the Taliban in 2019.
Atifa further explains that the Hazara community, which has been targeted by the Taliban due to its progressive leanings, has long been disproportionately represented in universities, government jobs and civil society organisations. The community, despite its small population, has produced a remarkable number of female doctors, engineers, politicians, businesswomen and activists.
France, on the other hand, has long had negative connotations associated with the hijab. The French parliament in March 2024 passed a law banning headscarves in schools. It outlawed “symbols or clothing that conspicuously demonstrate a pupil’s religious affiliation". In 2024, French athletes were banned from wearing the hijab during the Paris Olympics.
A member of the 400-meter relay team, 26-year-old Sylla voiced her frustration on social media. “You are selected for the Olympics, organised in your own country, but you cannot participate in the opening ceremony because you wear a headscarf,” she wrote. She was later permitted to take part in the opening ceremony, but only if she agreed to wear a cap instead of a hijab.
Afghanistan and Iran, over the past few years, have enforced the hijab, while countries like France, Austria and India have moved to outlaw it. Sadly, countless women have been assaulted or even killed for either removing their hijab or wearing them “incorrectly", as the tragic case of Mahsa Amini in Iran shows. There are also disturbing reports of women being physically attacked by their own relatives for wearing the hijab. This patriarchal system, which restricts women’s freedom of choice, is the driving force behind both the imposition of the hijab and the anti-hijab sentiment.
“When a commodified mindset toward women’s bodies reaches its peak, these kinds of nonsensical restrictions are imposed —whether by the Taliban or by the Iranian state,” says Umra, a scholar of Politics and International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
The Quran, in chapter no. 2, verse no. 256, states, “Let there be no compulsion in religion.” This verse underscores that no one can be coerced into anything in Islam—whether it is marriage, conversion or the decision to wear a hijab. However, in our societies, we often find ourselves subjected to governmental control — with authorities dictating our desires and needs, sometimes through the oppressive pillars of extremism. Whether it is the forced dress code of the Taliban or the strict regulations in Iran, such impositions breed alienation and resentment. The tragic death of Mahsa Amini exemplifies the consequences of such forced rules that blurs the lines between culture, religion and politics and harms the very essence of Islam.
In October 2021, I faced humiliation during the Uttar Pradesh Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (Prelims) examination, which was held at Lucknow, because I was wearing a hijab. I, like other aspirants, was frisked by female personnel before entering the examination hall, and there was no objection from the invigilators. However, during the examination, a male official demanded that I remove my head scarf. After explaining that I had lost part of my hair due to an acid attack, he left, only to return with the college principal, who insisted that I remove the hijab. I was humiliated in front of everyone, and my examination time was wasted. When my father addressed the issue with the college officials, they threatened to call the police. He was accused of hindering the duties of a government servant.
The issue of Muslim girls wearing hijabs in educational institutions in Karnataka became a national debate in 2022. The controversy was so polarised that Hindu students began protesting against the hijab, wearing saffron scarves and shouting religious slogans.
“All the petitioners want is to wear a hijab. Is that too much to ask in a democracy?” remarked Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia of the Supreme Court while hearing the plea. “How is it against public order, morality or health? Or even decency or against any other provision of the Constitution?” he asked. His judgment highlighted a woman’s constitutional right to privacy and the freedom to choose what she wears, as well as the importance of understanding diversity at a young age. It is not merely about Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees religious rights, but about Article 21, which affirms the right to life and personal liberty. It is a woman’s liberty to make her own choice about her body and appearance.
During the hijab row, Bibi Muskan Khan, a college student from Mandya in Karnataka, faced opposition from saffron-clad male students when she entered her campus wearing a burqa (veil). “Every religion has freedom. India believes in unity and allows us to follow our culture,” she said. “I was just going to college to submit my assignment. At the gates, a group of boys gathered, telling me I could not enter because I was wearing a burqa. They demanded that I remove it. I barely managed to get inside, and it felt as if the group was about to attack me.”
This is an ongoing struggle for Muslim women’s right to choose across different parts of the world. The debate surrounding the hijab and Muslim women’s rights is inextricably tied to larger discussions on patriarchy, freedom and cultural identity. For some, the hijab represents an empowering expression of faith and autonomy, while for others, it is seen as a symbol of oppression within patriarchal systems. This tension highlights the need to prioritise women’s autonomy and ensure they are free to make their own choices — whether that means wearing the hijab or rejecting it. Women’s rights, in this context, should not be defined by external judgments but by the ability to live according to their own values, free from coercion or control.
Source: outlookindia.com
https://www.outlookindia.com/international/hijab-and-the-right-to-choose-afghan-women-speak-out
--------
328 Saudi women join labour market daily
December 30, 2024
Dubai: Saudi Arabia has seen a remarkable surge in the number of women entering the workforce, with more than 480,000 joining between mid-2020 and mid-2024.
This represents an average of 328 women entering the labour market daily, coinciding with a sharp decline in the unemployment rate for Saudi women, which dropped from 31.4 per cent to 12.8 per cent during the same period.
The data was compiled by Okaz newspaper from official sources including the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), the General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI), and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD).
By the end of the first half of 2024, the total number of Saudi women registered with GOSI surpassed 1.09 million, up from 652,000 in mid-2020. This 78.25 per cent increase underscores robust growth across public and private sectors, driven by targeted policies and economic reforms.
Smaller regions
Riyadh leads in female workforce participation, with over 528,000 women— 48.38 per cent of all Saudi women registered in social insurance. The Mecca region follows with 222,000 women (20.38 per cent), and the Eastern Province ranks third with 189,000 women (17.29 per cent). Smaller regions, such as Al Jouf, recorded the fastest growth, with a 145 per cent increase in female employment.
Younger women have also made significant gains. The number of employed women aged 15-19 nearly doubled, rising from 11,000 in 2020 to 20,000 in 2024. This suggests smoother integration of female graduates into the labor market, bypassing prolonged job searches.
A series of initiatives led by MHRSD has underpinned these advancements. Over the past four years, 14 Saudisation-related decisions were implemented, raising the minimum wage from SAR 3,000 to SAR 4,000 and localizing key industries, including tourism, education, and retail.
Policies also prohibited collective layoffs of Saudi workers in medium and large companies except in cases of bankruptcy or closure.
Localization efforts extended to niche professions such as women’s decoration and sewing services and project management roles, ensuring broad opportunities for Saudi women.
Source: gulfnews.com
https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/328-saudi-women-join-labour-market-daily-1.500008822
----------
Saudi woman tech CEO opens up about building business in male-dominated industry
TAMARA ABOALSAUD
December 30, 2024
RIYADH: One of the few Saudi women tech CEOs working in a male-dominated industry has opened up about the journey of building her own computer consultancy in Riyadh.
SulafahJabarti, who was born in Riyadh, founded information technology services company Clear Vision in 2003.
Jabarti told Arab News: “The beginning of my journey started when I realized the power of turning ideas into action.
“It wasn’t a single defining moment, but a shift in perspective, a recognition that the world of business, particularly in technology, could serve as a platform to enable my vision and drive meaningful change.”
Like any other visionary trying to turn ideas into reality and create their own business, Jabarti faced challenges in building the right team, finding resources, and making sure her ideas were applicable and suitable to real-world needs.
One of her biggest challenges, however, was navigating the male-dominated tech world as a female leader, fighting the perception battle and striving to earn her colleagues’ trust, in addition to negotiating the steps every entrepreneur must take.
She said: “These experiences, while demanding, became catalysts for growth and innovation. What kept me going was a relentless focus on problem-solving, staying adaptable, and remaining grounded in the purpose behind it all: To create solutions that empower others and push boundaries in meaningful ways.”
What makes Jabarti’s experience so unique is that she is one of the few Saudi women to own and lead a holistic IT solutions and digital transformation company in the private sector. She recently became the first Saudi woman to win the Best 100 Arabian CEO Award for her work with Clear Vision.
She said staying true to her personal values and remaining focused on her growth were the defining factors in her business success and the personal connections she made along the way. She advises other entrepreneurs to follow a similar path.
Compromising one’s principles, ethics, and neglecting the people around you, or even yourself in the process, can result in even your greatest achievements feeling hollow, she said.
She added: “I would also advise against isolating yourself. No matter how capable you are, success is rarely achieved alone. Build connections, seek guidance, and don’t be afraid to lean on your support system.”
The key, she added, is to focus not solely on what you want to achieve, but on who you want to become along the way.
Jabarti said the most surprising part of building a business was how personal the process was, and realizing that success is as much about self-development and clever leadership as it is about innovation.
She said: “I saw business not as the goal, but as a powerful enabler: a space where creativity, strategy, and impact intersect.”
In terms of what is next for Clear Vision at the corporate level, Jabarti said the company is committed to pioneering solutions in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and sustainable technologies; exploring new verticals to diversify its impact and secure its relevance in a continuously evolving digital landscape.
“We are committed to empowering organizations to not only thrive in the digital age but to lead it,” she said.
Contributing to something larger than the individual and leaving a positive mark both on the business world and on home communities are the overarching aims that give Jabarti the drive and motivation to constantly grow and innovate.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2584769/saudi-arabia
---------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/syria-appoints-female-central-bank-governor/d/134204