Taliban flog nine people, including three women, in public punishments
New Age Islam News Bureau
18 February 2025
· Taliban flog nine people, including three women, in public punishments
· Muslim woman scared to leave Melbourne home alone after ‘evil’ shopping centre attack
· Beyond the Veil: The role of women in Islam
· VOA Persian: Iranian lawyers protest death sentences of 3 female political prisoners
· WEC launches inquiry into challenges faced by Muslim women
· UAE champions gender equality at She Investment Summit 2025 hosted by Women Board of Directors
· Report: Muslim community leaders blocking women in local politics
· CM Maryam castigates PTI for 'politics of chaos, destroying economy'
· 42nd Niwano Peace Prize Awarded to "Musawah" Global Movement for Muslim Women's Equality and Justice
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/taliban-including-women-public-punishments/d/134657
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Taliban flog nine people, including three women, in public punishments
By SetaraQudosi
A Taliban member at a roundabout in Wazir Akbar Khan area, downtown Kabul. File photo,
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The Taliban’s Supreme Court announced that on Monday, nine people—including three women—were publicly flogged in the provinces of Ghazni and Takhar.
According to a Taliban statement, the individuals were convicted on charges of sodomy, theft, running away from home, kidnapping, and adultery.
In Jaghori district of Ghazni, the Taliban flogged three individuals, including two men convicted of sodomy and theft, and man and a woman sentenced for running away from home and kidnapping.
Taliban said the punishments were carried out on Monday, with sentences ranging from one to five years in prison and 30 to 39 lashes.
In a separate statement, the Taliban said they also flogged two women and two men in Takhar’sFarkhar district on adultery charges. The punishment was carried out in the district’s public square.
Three of the accused received one year and six months in prison and 39 lashes, while the fourth was sentenced to five years in prison and 39 lashes.
This latest round of public punishments follows the flogging of 12 people in Bamiyan and Nimroz the previous day.
According to figures compiled by Amu TV, the Taliban have publicly flogged at least 71 people—including 10 women—across multiple provinces in the past three weeks.
Despite international outcry, the Taliban continue to enforce harsh corporal punishments in public, drawing sharp criticism from human rights organizations.
Source: amu.tv
https://amu.tv/158148/
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Muslim woman scared to leave Melbourne home alone after ‘evil’ shopping centre attack
Cassandra Morgan
February 18, 2025
The entrance to the Pacific Epping shopping centre in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
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A Muslim woman punched, slapped and pushed to the ground in a suspected hate crime in Melbourne’s north was “absolutely floored” by the assault, which the Victorian premier has condemned as “evil”.
Ealaf Al-Esawie was one of two Muslim women confronted separately by the same attacker at Pacific Epping shopping centre just after 1pm last Thursday.
Al-Esawie was punched, slapped and pushed to the ground while walking alone in the shopping centre on her lunch break. She was left with bruises all over her body and a potential back injury, Action Against Islamophobia case manager Mariam Ardati said.
Both victims were wearing hijabs when they were attacked at random, Ardati said.
Security officers gave Al-Esawie ice packs and off-duty nurses tried to comfort her after the assault in the shopping centre, where police took her statement, Ardati said. “It absolutely floored her,” she said.
However, officers failed to give Al-Esawie an incident number, or follow up with her about the attack in the hours that followed, Ardati said. By Saturday, she was still yet to hear from police, and the Action Against Islamophobia initiative instead reached out to officers on Al-Esawie’s behalf.
Officers asked Al-Esawie to provide a further statement in-person on Tuesday afternoon.
The second woman, who is pregnant, has also made contact with the initiative and was yet to hear from police as of Tuesday, the case manager said.
The initiative – which supports people who have experienced Islamophobia and connects them with services – came across Al-Esawie’s story on social media, where she tried to warn her local community about the assailant in case others were also attacked.
One commenter on social media verbally abused her, and followed up with a direct message, threatening, “I can’t wait to find you and break your leg”, Ardati said.
“She went home and she didn’t feel safe to leave her house alone. She made the post in good faith,” the case manager said.
Police twice dismissed Al-Esawie’s complaint about the threat, reducing it to just “talk”, the case manager said.
“Muslim community members are shocked but not surprised by the attacks,” Ardati said.
“For many months, Islamophobic incidents and hate crimes against Muslims have been on the rise but little has been done to address it and most have not received any media attention.
“More real action needs to be taken before someone gets killed, or we see another Christchurch massacre right on our doorstep.”
The women – who did not know each other – were taken to Northern Hospital, the case manager said. Northern Health confirmed the two women attended the hospital’s emergency department.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said reports of the “evil attacks on two young Muslim women are just horrific”.
“This sort of evil, evil, evil, hatred – in this instance, Islamophobia – has absolutely no place in our community,” Allan told reporters on Tuesday.
The attacks showed the importance of the government’s Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion Bill, Allan said.
“It is so concerning to see the rise in hate in our society. But it’s here, whether it’s the attacks on Muslim women for simply demonstrating their faith – that is unacceptable – [or] the rise of anti-semitism, that is an absolute evil,” the premier said.
Federal MP Julian Hill said in a statement the attacks were not isolated incidents. He cited a 510 per cent increase in reports to the Islamophobia Register.
“Muslim women in my community in south-east Melbourne and elsewhere in Australia report a spike in racism and Islamophobic incidents,” Hill said.
Victoria Police on Monday said an unknown woman was behind the attacks, and she ran away with a man after assaulting the pair at the shopping centre.
Discriminatory, racist or hate-based behaviour would not be tolerated, a police spokeswoman said.
“Investigators believe that the victims were targeted due to the women wearing head coverings and are treating the incidents as prejudice-motivated attacks,” the police spokeswoman said.
Police were reviewing CCTV to identify the attacker, and local officers have increased their patrols around the shopping centre, the spokeswoman said.
Source:brisbanetimes.com.au
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/victoria/muslim-woman-scared-to-leave-melbourne-home-alone-after-evil-shopping-centre-attack-20250218-p5ld0f.html
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Beyond the Veil: The role of women in Islam
by Guest Author
February 17, 2025
In the contemporary world, there are many false beliefs regarding the place of women in Islam, which are frequently influenced more by cultural prejudices and media narratives than by a true knowledge of the religion. Muslim women are portrayed in these misunderstandings as downtrodden, subservient, and having little liberties; nevertheless, a deeper analysis of Islamic history and beliefs paints a far more complex and detailed picture. Like many other major global faiths, Islam places a high value on women’s worth and dignity. In Islamic culture, women play a far more active role than is sometimes depicted. We may better comprehend the diverse role that women have played and still play in Islam by thoroughly examining the Quran, the Hadith (sayings and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him), and the numerous historical instances of women in early Islamic history.
The Quran and Islamic teachings place a strong emphasis on how equal all people are in Allah’s eyes. Allah created both men and women, and they are equally valuable and dignified by nature. Men and women have equal spiritual worth, according to the Quran, which affirms that both sexes can achieve moral perfection, justice, and divine recompense. In one of the most significant verses in the Quran, Allah says, “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men and women who guard their private parts, and the men and women who remember Allah often, for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward” (Quran 33:35).
This verse underscores that both men and women are equally accountable for their actions, have the same spiritual potential, and are equally deserving of Allah’s mercy and rewards. Furthermore, the Quran offers a social justice framework that uplifts women’s standing in society and gives them more authority. Many societies treated women like property before the arrival of Islam, denied them fundamental rights, and subjected them to terrible customs like female infanticide. Islam, on the other hand, came to empower women by giving them privileges that were groundbreaking in their day.
Women were granted the ability to inherit, own property, and conduct business. “The greatest of you are those who are the best to their ladies,” the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, underscoring the need to treat women with respect (Tirmidhi). This emphasizes how important it is for Muslims to treat women with love, respect, and equity. In addition, women have played an active role in public life from the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), demonstrating that their position in Islam extends beyond the private realm. The Prophet’s first wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, was a prosperous businesswoman and among the first to accept Islam, making her one of the most famous individuals in early Islamic history. Her assistance and input were essential to the Muslim community’s early growth.
Likewise, the Prophet’s wife, Aisha bint Abu Bakr, was crucial in the transfer of Islamic knowledge and the preservation of Hadith. Her teachings still have an impact on Islamic philosophy today, and she is recognized as one of the most learned intellectuals of her day. These instances show that women in early Islam were not restricted to conventional duties; rather, they actively participated in the political, social, and intellectual life of the society, influencing its growth.
Islam gives women a great deal of autonomy and agency in terms of legal rights. A woman’s permission is necessary for a marriage to be deemed lawful, and she is free to marry anyone she chooses. In addition, a woman has the right to divorce if she so desires and is entitled to a dowry (Mahr), which is her own property rather than the husband’s. “And if they decide on divorce, then surely, Allah is Hearing and Knowing,” is what the Quran says (Quran 2:227). This text emphasizes that women have the right to file for divorce if they are mistreated if their marriage does not meet their requirements.
A deeper examination shows that the structure of Islamic law is intended to safeguard the rights and welfare of both parties, guaranteeing that a woman’s autonomy and dignity are maintained throughout the process, despite the claims of some that Islamic divorce rules are unfair or unbalanced. Muslim women have historically been thinkers, teachers, and scholars. Women have made substantial contributions to disciplines including science, medicine, philosophy, and literature in Muslim countries from the time of the Prophet. Recognizing that the status of women in Islam varies based on cultural and geographical factors is equally crucial.
The treatment of women in different civilizations may have been shaped by old cultural customs, which frequently result in behaviors that are inconsistent with Islam’s actual teachings. Instead of having their roots in Islamic theology, these practices—which include forced marriages, gender-based violence, and limitations on women’s freedoms—are the product of cultural norms and interpretations that have been shaped by pre-Islamic customs or incorrect readings of religious scriptures. Islamic teachings themselves support women’s equality as human beings, their involvement in society, and the defense of their rights. Islam’s actual message is distorted by any acts or interpretations that aim to limit women’s liberties. To guarantee that the values of justice, fairness, and respect for women are maintained in all spheres of society, it is crucial for Muslims today to go back to the original sources of Islamic knowledge.
To sum up, the position of women in Islam is far more nuanced and powerful than is frequently shown in the media or misunderstood by some cultural customs. Islam has always given women the chance to lead, educate, and participate in public life, as well as spiritual, social, legal, and intellectual rights. Women are portrayed as equal collaborators in the moral and spiritual advancement of society in both the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). We can only recognize the important contributions women have made and still make in the Muslim world and beyond by having a greater grasp of these teachings, free from prejudice and cultural distortions. The message of Islam is clear: women, like men, are valuable, capable, and deserving of respect and equality in all spheres of life.
Source:dailygoodmorningkashmir.com
https://www.dailygoodmorningkashmir.com/beyond-the-veil-the-role-of-women-in-islam/
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VOA Persian: Iranian lawyers protest death sentences of 3 female political prisoners
February 17, 2025
Over 200 Iranian lawyers have issued a statement protesting the death sentences of three female political prisoners: PakhshanAzizi, VarishehMoradi, and SharifehMohammadi.
The statement, signed by 229 lawyers, calls for an "immediate halt to the execution" of PakhshanAzizi and urges "respect for the legal rights" of VarishehMoradi and SharifehMohammadi in the handling of their appeals against the death sentences.
Source:voanews.com
https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-iranian-lawyers-protest-death-sentences-of-3-female-political-prisoners-/7978394.html
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WEC launches inquiry into challenges faced by Muslim women
17th February
A new inquiry examining issues around the challenges facing Muslim women in the UK has been welcomed.
The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) inquiry will focus on the barriers women and girls encounter reporting Islamophobia and the ways 'gendered Islamophobia' can be challenged.
During a recent evidence session, MPs on the cross-party Committee, chaired by Labour MP Sarah Owen, heard how gendered Islamophobia impacts women and girls in their everyday lives, including in the areas of education, employment and sport.
It also follows the launch in December of WEC’s new inquiry into community cohesion.
Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) Chair Sarah Owen MP said: “It’s concerning but sadly unsurprising to hear about women and girls’ experiences of Islamophobia and through this new inquiry, the Committee will explore why they are more likely to be victims of Islamophobia, and what impact this has on them, their communities and wider society.
“WEC’s new jobs" target="_blank">work will examine in what ways gendered Islamophobia has an intersectional dimension and ask why some women are more likely than others to be subject to this abuse and prejudice.
"The inquiry will also explore if there is evidence of Muslim women being harassed from within their communities, for example, for not conforming to expected community norms or due to generational differences.”
“Alongside WEC’s programme of work into the state of community cohesion nationwide, this inquiry will ask if there are any steps, including legislative, that the Government should take to help address Islamophobia.
“It will also explore what schools, workplaces, trade unions, community groups, places of worship and sports clubs can do to help tackle Islamophobia and to support Muslim women and girls.”
Source:asianimage.co.uk
https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/24940161.wec-launches-inquiry-challenges-faced-muslim-women/
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UAE champions gender equality at She Investment Summit 2025 hosted by Women Board of Directors
February 17, 2025
Dubai, UAE – The She Investment Summit, hosted by Dubai-based Women Board of Directors (WBD) in association with The Brain & Performance Centre – A DP World Company, convened top executives and government officials. The compelling conversations and key takeaways set a new benchmark for investing in women's leadership and paved the way for stronger community building and networking.
Delivering the keynote address, H.E. Safeya Al Safi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Commercial Control & Governance Sector, UAE Ministry of Economy, emphasized the UAE’s progressive journey in women’s empowerment. “As I stand here today, I am reminded of the profound journey our nation has undertaken since its founding on December 2, 1971 — from the very start, our wise leaders have recognized women as crucial partners in the UAE’s societal and economic progress,” she stated.
Quoting the UAE’s founding father, the Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, she added, “I am on the woman’s side, I always say this in order to uphold her right to work and participate in the building process of her country.”… Today, we are well past the stage of striving for gender equality. Instead, our focus is now on empowering women to lead and excel in future sectors — particularly in sectors traditionally dominated by men, such as technology, finance and entrepreneurship.”
The summit also underscored the importance of male allyship in advancing women’s leadership. Jack Uppal, President and Managing Director, General Motors, Africa and Middle East, highlighted his personal and professional experiences, saying, “Personally, I attribute my focus and drive to the environment I grew up in, while my discipline, structure, empathy, and humility were instilled in me by the many women who have been part of my journey, including my grandmother, mother, sister and wife. I have been mentored, coached, and led by more women than men in my 24-year career. By encouraging men to be allies and focusing on developing female talent, we create a culture of mutual respect, trust, and collaboration, driving innovation and setting a positive example for the community.”
He added that GM’s commitment to fostering an environment where women in leadership thrive is a testament to “our belief in diversity.”
Reflecting on the core purpose of the summit, Poonam Chawla, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of WBD, emphasized, “Any corporate that fails to leverage the vision, creativity and leadership of women is not just missing an opportunity, it’s falling behind in the modern world.”
Dr. Craig Cook, CEO of The Brain & Performance Centre – A DP World Company, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to gender parity, stating, “Empowering women has always been at the heart of our mission, and we are committed to driving meaningful progress toward gender parity.”
Meanwhile, Lena Dridi, Legal Expertise & Alliances Manager of DiliTrust, the summit’s diversity partner, emphasized the broader impact of gender diversity in leadership: “Empowering women in leadership is not just about diversity; it’s about unlocking the full potential of corporate governance. Supporting inclusion at the highest levels fosters stronger decision-making and sustainable growth. At DiliTrust, we fully support Women Board of Directors’ mission to shape a more equitable and forward-thinking business landscape.”
The essence of the summit was captured by Claudia Pinto, Head of Philanthropy and Sustainability Advisor to HH Sheikh Marwan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, who stated, “Women empowerment is a vision driven by the Rulers of the UAE… We are in the right place, women here can do anything.”
The event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including MalihaJilani, Managing Partner at Heidrick& Struggles MENA; Dr. Mariam Ketait, Boeing’s Aerospace Xelerated Lead for the Middle East, Turkey, Africa & Central Asia; Dr. RoshanakBassiriGharb, Equity Partner at Clyde & Co; Dr. Anita Yadav, CEO, Global Credit Advisory Ltd; WassimKarkabi, Managing Partner at Stanton Chase; Suvo Sarkar, Founder & CEO of 3D Advisory; and AmnahAjmal, Executive Vice President for Market Development, EEMEA at Mastercard.
The She Investment Summit was held at The Brain & Performance Centre – A DP World Company, Dubai, on 12 February 2025.
Source:zawya.com
https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/events-and-conferences/uae-champions-gender-equality-at-she-investment-summit-2024-hosted-by-women-board-of-directors-a1xbrqft
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Report: Muslim community leaders blocking women in local politics
17th Feb 2025
Muslim 'community leaders' act as "a barrier" to women trying to enter local politics, a recent report has found.
The report from Muslim Women's Network UK also found that caste discrimination and sectarian bigotry plays a role in obstructing women from Muslim communities from being elected as local councillors and retaining their seats.
It cited examples of Muslim women facing pressure from male 'community leader' networks and even "abusive and violent means" to prevent them from participating in local politics.
It also highlighted the "special relationship" male Muslim 'community leaders' have with the Labour Party.
The report, which examines how to increase the representation of women from minority communities in UK politics, found that despite minority communities constituting 18% of the population, only 3% of local council seats are held by women from these backgrounds.
Muslim 'community leaders' provide Labour "a ready-made electorate"
The report said Muslim women's participation in politics is hindered by male 'elders' who acquire 'community leader' status "by means of their connections with religious, cultural, business and political actors in their country of origin".
The report said these "patriarchal" leadership networks, sometimes known as biradari, have "controlled women's mobility, career and life choices, limiting if not entirely blocking women's personal autonomy in the political, as in the social, economic and cultural spheres".
Biradari have countered challenges to its control over who participates politically by "stigmatising and ostracising the women who challenge and sometimes by using abusive and violent means", the report said.
It highlighted how biradari have built a "special relationship" with the Labour Party via trade unions, providing the party with "a ready-made electorate".
Prior to his election victory, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a letter addressed to "Faith Leaders" his government would "ensure strong partnerships with faith communities".
Prospective councillor told Islam does not allow women in politics
One participant in the study was Saima Afzal, who is named as "Sarah" in the report but asked for her anonymity to be waived. Afzal decided to stand as a local councillor for the Labour Party in 1999 after local Pakistani 'community leaders' were "actively discouraging" women from standing, saying "Islam did not allow it".
Afzal continued to apply for candidate selection but failed to gain support in her local area where "the Labour Party, influenced by biradari politics, dictated that women were unwelcome".
When she was finally elected in 2018, Afzal was surrounded by "an aggressive masculine culture" which included councillors "who claimed religious piety". She found her male colleagues tried controlling her by instructing her to "dress modestly" and "show 'respect' when meeting mosque leaders". They also wanted to vet her public statements to "ensure they were in line with their stance". For example, they said statements given to Muslim parents about personal, social, health and economic education in schools "should not be seen as sympathetic to LGBT+ relationships and issues".
When Afzal called out her colleagues' "prejudices and intimidating behaviour" and continued to reach out to groups they disliked, including LGBT groups and trafficked women, an informal councillor group meeting disintegrated into "threats of violence" against her, she said.
Following this "smear campaign", Afzal was deselected two years after her election. After she challenged the councillors responsible for her deselection, she faced attacks against her property, including slashed car tyres and her house being broken into. She believes these attacks were carried out to stop her from making an official complaint.
All-male mosque congregation told not to vote for female candidate
Another Muslim participant in the study, 'Ghazala', said her election as councillor in her early twenties caused "consternation" among older South Asian male councillors who felt they "were not given the respect owed by a 'girl'" and disapproved of her speaking on issues such as relationships and sex education in schools.
She said a male-only congregation at a local mosque was instructed not to re-elect her in upcoming local elections, and her marriage to a white man was "used to paint her as inherently anti-Muslim and lacking in sexual morals".
Ghazala, Afzal and other participants raised concerns that when compelled to select more women to stand in local elections, 'community leaders' in the Labour Party would bring in 'paper tigresses': female family members who were "deemed safe, hence controllable".
A third participant in the study, "Jalna", highlighted how sectarianism in Muslim communities had obstructed her from local politics. Jalna is from the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, which is regarded as "heretical" by some Sunni Muslims. Ahmadi Muslims face discrimination and oppression across the world, including in the UK.
Jalna believed her mentor – a South Asian man though not Muslim – "favoured applicants of other faiths and ethnicities in the South Asian community". He reportedly said her selection, compared with that of the Sikh applicant he was backing, would "pose awkward questions". He reportedly said: "Your lot [Ahmadiyya community] have too many problems."
Another participant, 'Tamara', said despite her hopes of becoming a Labour councillor, she would never have been selected because she was from a caste "which was not accepted by the biradari in the city where she lived".
In addition to these issues within their own communities, the report said a variety of other factors, including racism and anti-Muslim attitudes, add to the barriers to minority women participating in local politics.
NSS: "Worrying" that community leaders appear embedded in Labour Party
NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: "It is extremely concerning that patriarchal religious views, in addition to sectarianism and caste discrimination, have been preventing women from Muslim communities from fully participating in local politics. This threat to democracy must be taken seriously.
"It is particularly worrying that 'community leaders' who put up these barriers appear deeply embedded in the Labour Party.
"Labour has signalled its willingness to deepen its relationship with 'faith leaders'. It must not do so at the expense of women and others who are marginalised in faith communities."
Source:secularism.org.uk
https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/02/report-muslim-community-leaders-blocking-women-in-local-politics
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CM Maryam castigates PTI for 'politics of chaos, destroying economy'
February 17, 2025
Lambasting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) "for its politics of chaos and destroying the country's economy", Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday expressed optimism about Pakistan's development despite the opposition's outcry.
"People of Pakistan are fed up by violence and chaos...they are witnessing improvement in their lives," the provincial chief executive said while addressing the cheque distribution ceremony of CM Punjab AsaanKarobaar Programme.
She further criticised the previous government for taking the country's inflation to 38%, saying that the foreign investment flew away when they were in power.
Noting that her government was constructing 700 roads in Punjab, Maryam said someone claimed that the nation could not prosper by building roads in an apparent reference to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
"If building roads doesn't bring development, can siege and burn bring it?" she asked, adding that the youth of Pakistan now understand who destroyed their future.
"It is very easy to accuse someone and throw insults," she said, adding that the time quickly changed and that person was locked up in Adiala jail — a reference to the PTI founder.
CM Maryam noted that the country cannot afford chaos and unrest, saying that if the country does not progress now, many youths will give up hope.
"The opposition is not able to digest Punjab's progress...their politics has reached the point of slapping each other," she said, referring to the recent scuffle between Fawad Chaudhry and lawyer ShoaibShaheen.
Referring to the AsaanKarobaar Programme, the chief minister said the government was providing interest-free loans, ranging from Rs1 million to Rs30 million, for establishing their businesses.
"Loans are being provided on 100% merit...no favouritism will work."
Creating employment is not an easy task, she said, noting that Pakistan's economy has improved in the last year with people's standard of living improving day by day.
"When we came to power, the inflation rate was ticking at 38%, which has now reduced to 4%," she added.
Stressing the need to provide loans for businesses for the country's development, she said that the Punjab government has so far received 185,000 applications. "As business grows, employment will subsequently increase," she added.
Nawaz, Maryam meets Punjab MPAs
Separately, members of Punjab Assembly from Sahiwal, Khanewal, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari and Bahawalnagar divisions called on PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Maryam.
The MPAs included PirWalayat Shah, Malik Qasim Nadeem, Muhammad Arshad Malik, Naveed Aslam Khan Lodhi, Rana Riaz Ahmad, Muhammad Akbar Hayat Haraj, Osama Fazal, Amir Hayat Haraj, Babar Hassan Abid, Chaudhry Zia urRehman, Rana Muhammad Saleem and Muhammad Asghar Hayat Haraj.
During the meeting, public welfare projects and a future political strategy were discussed.
Speaking on the occasion, Nawaz said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was making sincere efforts to steer the country out of challenges and due to his hard work the country had achieved economic stability.
In an apparent reference to the PTI's slogan of "change", the three-time former premier said it was very unfortunate that corruption, economic instability, inflation and bad behaviour were outcomes of the so-called change.
He said that the PML-N had said goodbye to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as its narrative was to make country prosperous.
Meanwhile, Maryam said that the public service mission was taken as a challenge, thanking the party leadership for reposing trust in her.
Source:thenews.com.pk
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1283782-cm-maryam-castigates-pti-for-politics-of-chaos-destroying-economy
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42nd Niwano Peace Prize Awarded to "Musawah" Global Movement for Muslim Women's Equality and Justice
February 18, 2025
TOKYO, Feb. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Niwano Peace Foundation will award the 42nd Niwano Peace Prize to "Musawah" (meaning "equality" in Arabic), a global movement for equality and justice in the Muslim family in recognition of its dedication to advocating women's human rights in Muslim context.
An award presentation ceremony will take place in Tokyo on May 14. In addition to an award certificate, Musawah will receive a medal and a cash prize of 20 million yen.
Founded in 2009, Musawah aims to "uncover the voices of women that have long been silenced in cultural and religious societies." Its international network includes hundreds of advocates from over 40 countries, including in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the developed world.
In selecting Musawah for the award, the Niwano Peace Prize Committee said it is "contributing immensely to the cause of women's leadership in interfaith dialogue for human rights protection and peaceful coexistence," which are in congruence with the mission of the prize. The committee cited a range of Musawah's training workshops and networking opportunities that "bring an awareness to women in our world to stand for justice in getting involved in political processes and civic engagement for the benefit of humanity."
Niwano Peace Prize:
The Niwano Peace Foundation established the Niwano Peace Prize to honor and encourage individuals and organizations that have contributed significantly to inter-religious cooperation, thereby furthering the cause of world peace, and to make their achievements known as widely as possible. In this way, the Foundation hopes both to enhance inter-religious understanding and cooperation and to encourage the emergence of still more persons devoted to working for world peace. The prize is named in honor of NikkyoNiwano, the founder and first president of the lay Buddhist organization Rissho Kosei-kai.
Niwano Peace Foundation:
The Niwano Peace Foundation was chartered in 1978 to contribute to the realization of world peace and the enhancement of a culture of peace. The Foundation promotes research and other activities based on the spirit of religious principles and serves the cause of peace in such fields as education, science, religion and philosophy.
Source:manilatimes.net
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/02/18/tmt-newswire/pr-newswire/42nd-niwano-peace-prize-awarded-to-musawah-global-movement-for-muslim-womens-equality-and-justice/2057221
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