Syria Islamist Militants: They Will Not Impose Any Religious Dress Code On Women
New Age Islam News Bureau
10 December 2024
· Syria Islamist Militants: They Will Not Impose Any Religious Dress Code On Women
· Extraordinary Footage Emerges Of Women Leaving Prisons In Syria
· Shamima Begum's UK Return Bid Boosted By Fall Of Assad Govt : Lawyer
· “We Won’t Rest Until Manahel Al-Otaibi Is Free”, Saudi Influencer Charged for Posting Photos And Videos In “Immodest” Clothing On Social Media
· Pakistan Punjab CM Maryam Vows To Transform Healthcare, Transport
· Despair Grips Afghan Women Health Care Students Facing Ban
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/syria-islamist-militants-religious-women/d/133987
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Syria Islamist Militants: They Will Not Impose Any Religious Dress Code On Women
December 10, 2024
Big announcement by Syria rebels about women, say the dress code of women will...
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Syrian rebels, who toppled President Bashar Assad’s government and forced him to leave the country, recently announced that they will not impose any religious dress code on women and have promised to guarantee personal freedom for all. According to a statement posted on social media, the General Command stated, “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any requests related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty.”
The statement stated that a personal freedom is guaranteed for all Syrians and respect for the rights of people is the core for building a civilised nation. Notably, in the areas dominated by Syrian opposition groups after the civil in 2011, women majorly dressed modestly, revealing their faces and hands.
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who leads the recently infiltrated militant faction in Damascus, has boldly severed his deep-rooted ties with al-Qaida. He now portrays himself as a proponent of diversity and tolerance.
After enduring the harsh control of Assad’s family for half a century, Syria saw a remarkable end to their rule as militants with an Islamist agenda infiltrated its capital city. Assad fled from the homeland he once dictated; a land deeply scarred by a conflict regarded as one of the deadliest of this era. His stern crackdown on the cry for democratic reforms in 2011 led to a war that cost 500,000 lives, forcing a vast majority of the population to abandon their homes and seek refuge elsewhere.
Source: india.com
https://www.india.com/news/world/big-announcement-by-syria-rebels-about-women-say-the-dress-code-of-women-will-7454121/
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Extraordinary footage emerges of women leaving prisons in Syria
December 10, 2024
Footage has emerged from Syria, purportedly showing rebel fighters freeing women from their prison cells. The video, which has been authenticated by AP news, shows several women being released from their confinement, including a small child.
As they entered the cells, rebel fighters were heard telling the female inmates “please don’t be afraid, you can go out now. We’re part of the revolution.”
The women were released and told they were free to leave.
On Sunday, after charging across Syria’s main cities over eleven days, the armed rebel alliance declared Damascus “liberated” in a video statement on state television, sending Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family fleeing to Russia where they have been granted political asylum.
The rebel coalition, who have called themselves the “Military Operations Command” comprises of groups of Islamist and moderate factions who are united in fighting common enemies, including the Assad regime, ISIS and the militias backed by Iran.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the latest events as “difficult” but reiterated “there’s no change to the assessment that has been made there” in terms of the security situation.
Albanese did not respond directly to a question about the Northern Syrian camps and whether there was any efforts to attempt to assist the children in the camps.
Overnight, multiple news sites have reported at least 40 Australian women and children remain trapped in a detention camp in Syria, with food, shelter and medicine supplies deteriorating by the day.
The 10 women and 30 children are the wives, widows and children of slain or imprisoned Islamic State fighters. They are being held in detention camps in Syria’s Kurdish-controlled north-east — most of them since 2019. Many children were born inside the camps, and have never known life outside.
On two separate occasions in 2019 and 2022, the Australian government conducted two limited repatriations to bring dozens of women and children who went to Syria under Islamic State back to Australia.
The father of one woman and child who were returned to Australia in October 2022 said this week the remaining Australian citizens inside the camps are “freaking out” and “terrified”.
KamalleDabboussy, who is acting as the families’ advocate, said the women “report a reduction in the number of guards” at their al-Roj detention camp.
“They are scared for their lives,” Dabboussy told media. “The fear is palpable. Rumours abound in the camp about what is happening. Nobody knows.”
“Women also report a reduction in the number of guards who would normally ensure the security and stability of the camps. Now these families are gripped with anxiety about what will happen in the coming days or weeks.”
Since 2019, dozens of Australians have remained trapped in the camps while other countries have successfully taken steps to repatriate their nationals from Syria. In June 2023, The Human Rights Law Centre called on the Albanese Government to repatriate all Australian people still held in detention camps in Syria, releasing a statement that insisted that “All Australian people have the right to return to Australia. The rights and protections of citizenship cannot depend on the whims of governments. The Albanese Government’s failure to act earlier has cost lives and put other lives at risk.”
Josephine Langbien, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, described the situation faced by the Australians in Syria as “dire and dangerous.”
“The Australian Government’s refusal to repatriate them is the only reason they remain there,” she said. “Every person involved in this case has a right to come home, and they should not have to resort to litigation to force their own government to bring them back.”
“The Albanese Government is prolonging the trauma these Australians have endured and the separation from their loved ones at home. The Albanese Government must take responsibility for the safety of its citizens and ensure that no more lives are lost. All of these people, children and adults alike, deserve a future. They must be brought home to their families and communities in Australia.”
Source: womensagenda.com.au
https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/extraordinary-footage-emerges-of-women-leaving-prisons-in-syria/
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Shamima Begum's UK return bid boosted by fall of Assad govt : lawyer
December 10, 2024
A British-born woman who went to Syria as a schoolgirl to join Da'ish Shamima Begum. PHOTO: AFP
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Shamima Begum’s lawyer has stated that her hopes of returning to the UK have been significantly "bolstered" by the fall of Syrian leader Bashar al Assad, which could pave the way for a new legal challenge to reinstate her British citizenship.
Shamima Begum, who left the UK at the age of 15 to join the Daesh in 2015, has been stranded in Syria’s Roj detention camp for over five years after her citizenship was revoked by the UK government.
The government cited national security concerns, claiming that she posed a threat to the British public if allowed to return.
Shamima Begum, now 25, has made multiple legal attempts to return to the UK, but these have been unsuccessful, with courts siding with the government’s stance on national security.
However, her lawyer, TasnimeAkunjee, told The Telegraph that recent developments in Syria—namely the downfall of Assad’s regime—could provide grounds for a new legal bid.
According to TasnimeAkunjee, the increasing instability in northern Syria, combined with the potential closure of camps like Roj, where Shamima Begum is currently held, could expose her to greater risks.
He suggested that this would create a compelling legal argument under human rights law, claiming that the UK government’s refusal to repatriate her could be seen as endangering her life.
“The closure of the Roj camp, where Shamima is detained, would likely force her into the desert,” TasnimeAkunjee explained. "The government’s decision to continue depriving her of citizenship could lead to far greater risks than any danger she might pose to national security.”
This development comes amid growing concerns over the conditions in Syria’s refugee camps, where detainees—including many children—are subjected to harsh conditions.
Human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have reported widespread torture and unlawful separation of women from their children within the camps.
There are still around 70 British nationals, including jihadist fighters and their families, being detained in camps controlled by Kurdish forces in northern Syria.
Among them are approximately 20 women, including Begum, and 40 children, who remain in precarious situations amid the ongoing conflict.
While the UK government has previously argued that repatriating individuals like Shamima Begum would pose a security threat, some human rights advocates have urged for their return.
Dan Dolan, deputy executive director of the human rights organisation Reprieve, called for urgent repatriation, saying the lives of detainees—especially young children—were at risk.
“It’s more urgent than ever to repatriate the British families imprisoned without charge in north-east Syria,” Dolan said. “This is a volatile situation, and lives are at risk.
The UK Government is more than capable of handling this small number of cases, and it is in the interests of justice, security, and human rights to repatriate these families without delay.”
Shamima Begum’s legal battle began in 2019 when the then UK Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, stripped her of her citizenship under the British Nationality Act 1981, arguing that her presence in Syria and her affiliation with Daesh posed a threat to national security.
The UK government also asserted that Shamima Begum could claim Bangladeshi citizenship, even though she had never lived in Bangladesh.
Despite the Supreme Court rejecting her appeal in 2021, Shamima Begum’s legal team remains committed to challenging her statelessness, and the latest developments in Syria may offer a renewed opportunity for a legal fight.
TasnimeAkunjee hinted that the evolving situation in Syria could give weight to the argument that the government’s actions—particularly in light of the imminent closure of camps—could be deemed disproportionate in relation to the risks posed by Begum.
“Watch this space,” TasnimeAkunjee said, adding that the proportionality of the government’s decision had now been "bolstered" by the current situation in Syria.
Shamima Begum, who was 15 when she travelled to Syria with two other schoolgirls from London, married an Daesh fighter and had three children, all of whom died young.
Source: tribune.com.pk
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2515011/shamima-begums-uk-return-bid-boosted-by-fall-of-assad-govt-lawyer
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“We Won’t Rest Until Manahel Al-Otaibi Is Free”, Saudi Influencer Charged for Posting Photos And Videos In “Immodest” Clothing On Social Media
December 10, 2024
I remember sitting down with Manahel al-Otaibi’s court documents, unable to believe what I was reading. The charges against her included “sharing several hashtags opposed to [government] regulations”, like #DownWithMaleGuardianship, and posting photos and videos in “immodest” clothing on social media. I kept going up to my colleague Dana’s desk, a much more seasoned researcher on Saudi Arabia, to make sure I wasn’t misunderstanding.
Was this really what they were charging her for? A fitness influencer and instructor, Manahel had built her online presence around positivity—using fitness to manage a chronic muscular condition, travelling, and connecting with people across cultures. But she’d also written from the heart about women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Manahel had been an early optimist about Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s promises of reform. In a 2019 TV interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, she described the “radical changes” taking place in the Saudi kingdom, including the dress code reforms, and said she felt free to express her views and wear what she liked. Yet she was arrested on 16 November 2022 for exercising these freedoms. Her social media posts defending women’s rights, including posts of photos of her walking through a shopping centre in a T-shirt and overalls, turned her into a target for the Saudi authorities.
When Amnesty International started working on the case in February this year, Manahel had already been forcibly disappeared for over three months. Her sister Foz was distraught. She told us the family had called the prison and every government office they could think of, but no one would tell them where Manahel was. She told us she just wanted someone to check if her sister was alive. Just weeks after Amnesty International’s campaign began, Manahel was finally able to contact her family. She told them she had been beaten in detention and held in solitary confinement.
This contact with her was modest progress, it was something to build on. Along with her sister Foz and Saudi activists, Amnesty International believes that highlighting Manahel’s case around the world might pressure the Saudi authorities into releasing her. This year she’s part of Amnesty International’s annual campaign, Write for Rights, so we know her story will reach millions of people around the world.
A burden no one should bear
We have been working closely with Foz to prepare the campaign. Foz carries a burden no one should have to bear. Not only is her sister serving an unjust 11-year prison sentence, but her other sister, Mariam – a well-known women’s rights defender – is under a travel ban and has been subjected to trumped-up charges. Foz fears Mariam could be arrested at any moment. Further, Foz herself has also been pursued by the Saudi judiciary and risks arrest if she returns to Saudi Arabia from abroad where she lives. In the court documents I reviewed for Manahel, the prosecutor accuses Foz of “leading a propaganda campaign to incite Saudi girls to denounce religious principles and rebel against customs and traditions”, stating that she used hashtags like #Society_Is_Ready to “promote liberation and the fall of male guardianship”.
Every time Saudi Arabia hosts an event, be it a major sporting competition or a celebrity-studded concert, I think of the al-Otaibi sisters. These events contribute to deliberate efforts by Saudi authorities to distract the world from human rights abuses, a practice often referred to as “sportswashing” or “entertainment washing”. For families of the many people unjustly detained in Saudi Arabia, these events sweep human rights abuses under the rug and lift the international pressure off of Saudi authorities to release their loved ones and adopt real reforms.
But I believe in the power of collective action to challenge that. I think of how international pressure led to the release of activists like Loujain al-Hathloul and others, who received shorter prison sentences or were spared a death sentence because of the relentless campaigning around the world, including from Amnesty International members. Amnesty International members worldwide have rallied in incredible ways to draw attention to Manahel’s case. In Austria, Amnesty International activists held a “fitness for freedom” protest, with fitness instructors offering classes outside the Saudi embassy. In Oslo, students ran from their law faculty to the Saudi embassy with banners and photos of Manahel before gathering to discuss her case and sign petitions. In the US, colleagues have successfully lobbied Congress members to speak out for Manahel’s case.
A global family
The Saudi Arabia team at Amnesty International acts as a bridge between Foz and the wider Amnesty International movement. We’re based in Beirut, in one of Amnesty International’s regional offices. Since late September, when the war between Hezbollah and Israel escalated, we’ve had to work through near-constant Israeli airstrikes on our city. It’s been a devastating and terrifying time. On many days, I’ve been at my desk as a bomb whizzes past, bracing myself for the impact. For weeks now, the bombs have shaken my building and my insides. Colleagues from abroad are often surprised that our team is still working. But we’ve had to take a deep breath and keep going. We’re committed to campaigning with people like Foz. I’ve often found solace in knowing that I’m serving a movement larger than myself.
On a recent call with Amnesty International colleagues from around the world, including Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Taiwan and the US, colleagues briefed Foz on their planned actions for her sister. They shared creative tactics —murals, fitness protests, public meet-ups. Foz told them that it had made her feel like she had a global family supporting her.
Slowly but surely, Manahel’s case is receiving attention worldwide, and we hope this will lead to her release. Women footballers have written to FIFA, calling on them to break ties with Saudi Aramco (largely owned by the Saudi state), while highlighting Manahel’s story among the many others unjustly detained in Saudi Arabia for promoting women’s rights. Manahel’s story is also gaining global media attention, with The New York Times and The Guardian highlighting how Saudi authorities are punishing women like Manahel for speaking out about women’s rights.
Our team speaks to Foz almost every day. I have thanked her for placing her trust in us and I have promised her we won’t rest until Manahel is free. If you’re reading this, you can be part of that promise. Join a letter-writing campaign, attend an event, or simply share Manahel’s story. Every action helps amplify our voices and ensures that we don’t let the world forget her name. We won’t stop until Manahel al-Otaibi walks free.
Source: amnesty.org
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2024/12/we-wont-rest-until-manahel-is-free/
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Pakistan Punjab CM Maryam Vows To Transform Healthcare, Transport
December 10, 2024
LAHORE: The Punjab government has signed an agreement with a China firm to procure machinery and advanced cancer treatment methods for the first public-sector cancer hospital in Lahore, which is likely to open next year.
The deal was signed during Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s meeting with Hygeia Medical Technologies President Lu Fu Liang in Beijing on Monday.
Dr Liang and his team briefed her on interventional oncology and co-ablation treatment techniques, including the use of freezing and heating techniques.
In addition, an MoU was signed between AI Force Tech and the Punjab agriculture department to set up a robotic agricultural equipment manufacturing plant in Punjab.
CM Maryam inspected the latest agricultural tools equipped with robotic technology.
According to APP, she vowed to transform Punjab’s healthcare and transport systems during a series of engagements in Beijing.
She also visited Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, where she discussed sustainable transportation initiatives with deputy director general Shang Wangyu.
She explored Beijing’s state-of-the-art central transport control room and commended its eco-friendly and smart transport infrastructure.
CM Maryam expressed her ambition to replicate this model in Punjab.
Source: dawn.com
https://www.dawn.com/news/1877827/cm-maryam-vows-to-transform-healthcare-transport
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Despair grips Afghan women health care students facing ban
December 10, 2024
KABUL: For Saja, studying nursing at a health care institute in Kabul was her last lifeline to make something of herself after women were banned from universities in Afghanistan two years ago.
But the Taliban government has crushed this ambition by ordering, according to multiple sources, the exclusion of Afghan women from medical training, sparking panic across institutions.
When she heard the news, Saja, who had been at university before women were barred, said it felt like “reliving the same nightmare.”
“This was my last hope to do something, to become something,” said Saja, not her real name.
“Everything has been taken away from us for the crime of being a girl.”
The authorities have made no official comment or confirmation, nor have they responded to the numerous condemnations and calls to reverse a decision that further blocks women’s access to education.
Since their 2021 return to power, the Taliban government has imposed reams of restrictions on women, making Afghanistan the only country to ban girls from education after primary school.
Directors and employees of health training centers have told AFP they were informed in recent days of the order, issued by the Taliban supreme leader and passed down verbally by the health ministry, to expel women students until further notice.
Institutes across the country — which many women had turned to after the university ban — were given a few days to organize final exams.
But without an explicit announcement or document clarifying the rules, confusion reigns.
Some institutions told AFP they would operate as normal until they received written orders, while others closed immediately or scrambled to hold exams before shuttering.
“Everyone is confused, and no one is sharing what is really happening,” said Saja, who was in her first year at a private institute.
“We have been given two or three exams each day... even though we already finished our exams a few months back,” said the 22-year-old, adding they had to pay fees to sit the exams.
“We received a lot of concerned messages from students and teachers wanting to know what is going on and asking ‘is there any hope?’” said the director of a Kabul private institute with 1,100 students, of which 700 were women.
“No one is happy,” he told AFP from his office steps away from women’s classrooms, where the last lesson on the board advised how to manage stress and depression in patients.
According to a source within the health ministry, 35,000 women are currently students in some 10 public and more than 150 private institutes offering two-year diplomas in subjects including nursing, midwifery, dentistry and laboratory work.
The Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC) non-governmental organization, which trains 588 women in institutes managed in collaboration with the health ministry, was verbally informed classes were “temporarily suspended.”
This has to be taken “equally seriously as a written document,” said NAC country director Terje Magnusson Watterdal, adding that “there are a lot of people high up within the current government that are quite opposed to this decision.”
He hopes, at the minimum, public institutes will reopen to women.
International organizations like the United Nations, which has said Afghan women are victims of a “gender apartheid,” have already warned of devastating consequences of the plan, in a country where maternal and infant mortality are among the world’s highest.
If implemented, the reported new ban “will undoubtedly lead to unnecessary suffering, illness, and possibly deaths of Afghan women and children, now and in future generations, which could amount to femicide,” UN experts warned Monday.
Midwifery students are especially passionate about their studies, according to Magnusson Watterdal.
“So many of these young women have been motivated to become a midwife because they have lost a mother or an aunt or a sister in childbirth,” he said.
“It’s not just a profession that you choose, it’s a vocation. So, of course, there’s great desperation” among students and staff.
Small protests have been held in parts of Afghanistan, according to sources and images circulated on social media.
Assal, another student using a pseudonym, received an expedited diploma last week, but has little hope of finding a job in a country where unemployment is widespread and opportunities for women are increasingly limited.
“I wanted to practice medicine and study further,” the 20-year-old told AFP.
“They had already taken everything from us. Next thing we won’t even be allowed to breathe.”
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2582455/world
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/syria-islamist-militants-religious-women/d/133987