Television Journalist Behishta Joined The Women’s Protests Against The Taliban In Afghanistan, Now She’s Wants The UK To Take Her In
New
Age Islam News Bureau
30
January 2023
•
Asir Mountain Festival Is Perfect Stepping Stone For Young Saudi Woman
•
No Woman In Pak Delegation To Ajmer For Urs In 49 Years
•
Audio Leak Reveals...: Pakistan
Religious Affairs Minister Joined Panel To Fail Woman Officer
•
National Bonds, Arab Women Authority To Empower Arab Women On Their Financial
Journey
•
Females ‘Just Getting Started’ In Esports, Says Saudi Federation Official
•
Hall Says Would Have ‘Strong Think’ About Joining Potential LIV Women’s Golf
Tour
•
IFC, Al Tadamun Microfinance Partner To Support Women’s Small Projects In Egypt
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Television
Journalist Behishta Joined The Women’s Protests Against The Taliban In
Afghanistan, Now She’s Wants The UK To Take Her In
Holly
Bancroft
(The
Independent )
-----------
On
15 August 2021, the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan. Two days later,
Behishta joined the movement to resist them.
A
television journalist for Afghan broadcaster Noor TV, she had made a career
from being outspoken on women’s rights and attracted criticism for her views.
There
was the time in 2018 when she decided to run a programme on virginity testing,
a barbaric practice where women are subjected to a faux medical procedure to
determine their virginity. Her critics rang in to complain that such a topic
was being discussed in an Islamic country.
Or
the time when she ran a civil institute in Panjshir, a province in northeast
Afghanistan, which brought young people together to discuss books they were
reading. Her critics denounced her as inciting secularism in the region.
The
time when she stood in the way of a local Taliban member, when he wanted to
force a young girl into marriage. The girl fled Afghanistan and Behishta was
held responsible.
And
there was the time when a conservative academic objected to her reporting,
telling her he “would not soil my hands in your blood” but would rather get his
fanatical female students to kill her instead.
When
the Taliban came to power, the men – who once only issued threats – now had
guns in their hands and fighters at their control.
“On
15 August the Taliban came to power, and on the 17th the women decided to do
something,” she told The Independent through a translator.
“All
of us who got together were human rights or civil activists who wanted to fight
for women’s rights. We came out in colourful clothing into the town. We wanted
to show that we were not the women of 20 years ago. We wanted people to accept
us just as we are.
“Third
of September, which was a Friday, was the first day I went out to the protests.
Then I went out on the 4, 5 and 7 [September].”
Pictures
of the approximately hundred women carrying banners and chanting slogans in
Kabul went around the world. “We want the Taliban to know that they cannot
eliminate us from society”, one young woman, Arezo, said at the time.
But,
despite the world watching, the authorities reacted violently, stopping the
women and beating at least 10 of them during one protest. Since then, the
reality for women in Afghanistan has gotten significantly worse. Women have
been blocked from attending university, most teenage girls cannot get a
secondary school education, and the Taliban has banned female humanitarian
workers.
“Afghanistan
has got many genius young minds,” Behishta said. “The way the world views
Afghanistan at the moment is just because of a coincidence of history. If the
time was right you would see what young minds we have in Afghanistan.”
After
the first few weeks of protest, a Taliban member who Behishta knew told her she
would have to stop. In fear of her life, she knew she would have to flee the
country. Once she was able to get hold of a physical passport in February 2022,
she made her way to Pakistan. She stayed there for nine months before managing
to get a visa in October 2022 to travel to a European country, where she lives
now in a government camp.
Her
hope is to one day build a life in the UK, but her options for getting here are
slim.
Launched
in August 2021, the government’s Afghan citizens resettlement scheme (ACRS)
said that it would prioritise “those who have assisted the UK efforts in
Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom
of speech and rule of law”. It also promised to bring in “vulnerable people,
including women and girls at risk”.
But
the reality is that there is no functioning legal route to the UK for Afghan’s
women’s rights activists. Only 4 people have been brought to the UK under the
scheme since the fall of Kabul.
Afghan
refugees cannot apply directly to the UK government for resettlement, instead
they have to apply to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
which could then send them anywhere. The UNHCR have said that they will
primarily help refugees in the countries neighbouring Afghanistan and they will
prioritise those at risk.
Former
government officials have been pushing the Home Office to widen the criteria
for those who will be accepted on the third pathway of the ACRS programme,
which is currently open only to British Council, GardaWorld contractors, and
Chevening alumni.
Applications
are closed for the first spots on the scheme, but it will be renewed next year
and campaigners hope that women activists will be prioritised.
Dr
Neelam Raina, of Middlesex University London, said: “ACRS was originally
designed to protect the most vulnerable members of society, including the
media, press and civil rights defenders. People who were public figures.
“So
the first pathway was designed for the right people, but then the reality is
that it was filled by people who were already in the UK.”
It
emerged last February that about a third of the places available under ACRS had
been granted to Afghans who had already been relocated to Britain during
Operation Pitting – the UK’s evacuation effort following the Taliban takeover
in 2021.
One
former government official who worked in Afghanistan, Sarah Hearn OBE, told The
Independent: “For over ten years, Behishta was a successful TV and radio
journalist. She used her position to oppose the Taliban’s violence against
women.
“She
chaired the legal defence committee to protect women journalists and she
founded an NGO that helped journalists to promote human rights. Behishta
defended the UK’s values and objectives in the world, but when it was time for
her to flee to safety, the UK’s doors closed.”
Behistha
is currently in a European country on a year-long visitor’s visa and three
months have already passed. Speaking from her government dorm, she said she
wasn’t sure what would happen to her next.
“The
camp is for people who come through Turkey or Serbia – those who are being
brought through by smugglers. We are the only three women who have visas and a
passport and people know us now because we are staying here for a long time.
Everyone else moves on quickly to other European countries,” she said.
“I
travelled a lot in my job before but despite all the chances I had to go
elsewhere I always returned to my homeland. If I wasn’t forced to leave, I
would still be there. It’s just out of necessity that I have had to flee.”
A
government spokesperson said: “Supporting the resettlement of eligible Afghans
who may be vulnerable and at risk remains a top priority. This complex
situation presents us with significant challenges, including securing safe
passage out of the country for those who want to leave – and who are eligible
for resettlement in the UK.
“So
far we have brought almost 23,000 vulnerable people to safety, including
thousands of people eligible for our Afghan relocation schemes.”
Source:Independent
UK
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Asir
mountain festival is perfect stepping stone for young Saudi woman
Mariam
Nihal
Jan
27, 2023
Shahd
Abdullah enjoys the world view afforded by working at the Qemam International
Festival for Mountain Performance Arts in Saudi Arabia's Asir region. Photo:
Shahd Abdullah
----------
The
best part about working at Saudi Arabia's Qemam International Festival for
Mountain Performance Arts is learning about other cultures, says Shahd
Abdullah.
"It
is not the first time that I have worked with this event," Shahd, 22, told
The National. "I worked with them in the first edition last year and
enjoyed it very much."
The
festival, organised by Ministry of Culture, is held in the mountainous
south-western region of Asir. There are 16 Saudi and 14 international folk
troupes taking part this year, with 32 performances scheduled from January
21-27 in eight villages around the main cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait.
Shahd,
from Khamis Mushait, works as a public relations officer at the festival. With
the diversity of foreign participation, including India, China, Scotland,
Morocco, South Korea and Switzerland this year, what she enjoys most is getting
to "know about the cultures through my eyes and ears".
"I
enjoy it more when we receive visitors at the venue and get to share the
diverse cultures with them and to see them enjoy themselves in heritage palaces
where these events are held," she says.
Shahd
is stationed at the Maliki palace in Abha, where she welcomes local and foreign
visitors and speaks to them about the different countries performing and their
traditional costumes, as well as the cultural heritage of the Asir region.
The
conversations are a "mixture between our origins and cultures, and
cultures from other countries".
Shahd's
participation in the event fits in neatly with her wide-ranging interests and
passions, which include organising events, fashion, salsa dancing and writing
short stories.
"There
was a period of my life when I learnt sign language — that interested me. I
like to make conversation with new people in a coffee shop. I like Japanese
culture — I love anime, I like to make matcha ... I like to learn about many
cultures," she says.
She
hopes to get a full-time job at the Culture Ministry after the festival ends.
She says she prioritises cultural events as they give her the opportunity to be
a part of the sweeping changes in the kingdom under the Vision 2030 plan
announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016.
Vision
2030 opened many doors to women as the country underwent transformative
economic and social reforms and opened borders to the world. It also gave new
hope to young people in the kingdom, where 70 per cent of the population is
under 30.
The
participation of Saudi women in the kingdom's workforce has more than doubled,
from 17.7 per cent in 2016 to 37 per cent, Minister of Human Resources and
Social Development, Ahmed Al Rajhi, said this month.
Shahd
says she feels "immensely proud, excited to see and be a part of these
wonderful changes".
She
has many plans for the future, "the most prominent of which is that I
learn something new every day and keep acquiring more knowledge".
"I
like to move around and see other cultures. I intend to work with the Ministry
of Culture because I love this job, and I see myself in better and bigger
places with the ministry," she says.
Source:TheNationalNews
https://www.thenationalnews.com/weekend/2023/01/27/postcard-from-abha/
--------
No
woman in Pak delegation to Ajmer for Urs in 49 years
Jan
30, 2023
Ajmer:
Official delegations from Pakistan coming to attend the yearly Urs of Sufi
saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty in Ajmer has included no woman for the last 49
years. The delegation of 240 Pakistani devotees that reached Ajmer on Wednesday
is all male. It has hardly helped that the preeminent dargah is one where women
are allowed to offer prayers.
While
women following Islam can go to Hajj as per the rule of Mehram, which allows
Muslim women to travel on religious tours, the absence of women devotees from
Pakistan to the Ajmer dargah remains perplexing. It has mixed reasons. The Sufi
saint has millions of followers in Pakistan.
“The
dargah is open for women also, and there is no discrimination in any sense here
because the teachings of Khwaja Garib Nawaz include equality, harmony and
peace,” said Khadim (priest) Syed QutubuddinSakhi, who is the priest for many
Bollywood actors and actresses. Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone are among the
Bollywood stars who frequently come to the dargah to offer prayers.
Khadim
SF Hussain, another priest at the dargah, said women writers and social workers
from Pakistan come to the dargah but on their own visa and arrangements. “Many
women devotees of the saint in Pakistan make calls from there to offer prayers
on their behalf. Women devotees somehow do not come in the delegation for the
annual Urs here,” he added.
Pakistani
devotees in the official delegation ask the khadims to offer prayers for their
wives and children. “They also say that their women are keen to visit the
dargah. When women come to Ajmer, they bring their children along,” said Peer Bilal
Hussain Chisty, another khadim.
India
and Pakistan have been issuing religious visas to their citizens for visits to
each other’s countries ever since a bilateral agreement was signed on this on
September 14, 1974.
One
of the Pakistani delegates said the Pakistan government seeks applications for
the tour to Ajmer Urs every year, but women do not apply for visa.
“It
is generally known that the facilities for women are not proper here. We are
now staying in a school, and there are only five bathrooms for 240 of us. It is
difficult for women to stay with men in such conditions,” he added. Another
Pakistani devotee, however, said men usually do not allow women to come with an
all-male delegation because of the purdah (veil) system prevailing in many Pakistani
communities.
Source:TimesOfIndia
--------
Audio
Leak Reveals...: Pakistan Religious
Affairs Minister Joined Panel To Fail Woman Officer
January
30, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
The appointment of Director and Director General of Haj in the Federal Ministry
of Religious Affairs became a mystery as both times in the written exam and
interview of DG Haj, the female candidate of Audit and Account Group was not
only successful but also got the first position.
Religious
Affairs Minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor is against the appointment of a female
officer and has joined the interview panel to block appointment of a female
officer.
The
process of appointment of Director General and Director of Haj in Ministry of
Religious Affairs could not be completed even after almost two months. Tests
and interviews started in September for the posts that fell vacant on November
30. Twenty grade 20 officers appeared for the written exam for the post of DG
Haj.
Officer
Saima Saba of Audit and Accounts Group was declared successful with 71 marks
and Amjad Khan of Officer Management Group was declared successful with 61
marks.
According
to the documents received by Geo News, the Prime Minister’s Office was told
about the successful candidates but the ministry sought permission to retake
the exam as a female candidate stood first in the process but the Establishment
Division rejected the demand.
Reportedly,
the minister, according to the sources of the Ministry of Religious Affairs,
joined the interview panel and failed both the candidates. He reportedly
confused the female officer during the 48-minute interview.
Saima
Saba, the candidate who got record marks, was rejected by giving zero marks.
The
alleged audio of Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Abdul Shakoor and the
female candidate came to light.
In
this regard, Minister for Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor said that the
female officer committed an illegal act by recording the interview and an
inquiry will be conducted in this regard.
He
said that Islam is a religion that honors women, so how he or any other person
can have any prejudice against a woman.
Source:TheNews
--------
National
Bonds, Arab Women Authority to empower Arab women on their financial journey
January
30, 2023
DUBAI
- National Bonds has signed an agreement with the Arab Women Authority, the
leading NGO aimed at empowering Arab women across the MENA region, to equip
women with valuable financial management skills and savings tools.
The
partnership will see the two organisations join forces to empower women and
support their role in societal and economic development and enhance their
skills, particularly in the areas of investment, savings, and financial
literacy.
A
Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Rehab Lootah, Deputy Group Chief
Executive Officer at National Bonds, and Mohammed Al-Dulaimi, Secretary-General
from Arab Women Authority, today.
Through
this partnership, National Bonds and Arab Women Authority aim to inspire a
strong savings culture in the region and strengthen cooperation between
government agencies and national companies to support the progress of Arab
women.
The
two organisations will create a joint committee to host forums and events aimed
at encouraging women to invest and save and to improve their skills and
financial literacy. They will also plan mutual visits and participation in
national and regional events and exchange experiences to support micro-income
generating projects for women, with the goal of providing job opportunities and
reducing unemployment.
Speaking
about the partnership, Lootah said, "We are honoured to partner with the
Arab Women Authority, who are doing incredible work, as we aim to target all
women across the Arab world with this partnership. Moreover, we want to inspire
and encourage more women across the region to embrace a fruitful savings
journey to increase their financial gain."
Expressing
optimism on the benefits of the MoU, Al-Dulaimi commented, "Through this
MoU, we want to give every Arab woman the opportunity to enhance her financial
literacy and begin saving for their future. The partnership also focuses on
creating investment and employment opportunities for women, especially among
female entrepreneurs and businesses to help increase their contribution and
role in the growth of the economy.”
Source:Zawya
--------
Females
‘just getting started’ in esports, says Saudi federation official
January
30, 2023
RIYADH:
Female participation in esports is only set to increase in the coming years,
ReaamAlkhudairi, from the Saudi Esports Federation has said.
In
the Kingdom alone, approximately six million people played games in 2020, with
nearly half of the new players in Saudi Arabia being women.
The
esports scene has traditionally been dominated by men, and it remains as such,
but has seen a substantial shift in attitude and mindset for the better in
Saudi Arabia, Alkhudairi said, adding that more changes will take place as
Vision 2030 continues.
Saudi
Arabia's gaming sector is thriving, and especially its esports scene, and
experiencing more opportunities for women as well, she said.
Esports
are an exciting and challenging endeavor, and Saudi Esports Federation is
dedicated to encouraging and supporting youths and adults alike to take part,
Alkhudairi said.
The
Saudi Esports Federation is also seeking to improve the skills of females in
esports as part of its mission, she added, citing the example of Najd Fahd, who
is now recognized as the first Saudi Arabian female to win first place in FIFA
20 and who was also awarded Best Female Player of 2021 by the Saudi Esports
Federation Awards (SEF Awards).
Source:
Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2241251/sport
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Hall
says would have ‘strong think’ about joining potential LIV women’s golf tour
29
January ,2023
2022
Aramco Saudi Ladies International winner Georgia Hall would have to have a “strong
think” about whether she would join a potential LIV ladies golf association.
The
Saudi-backed organization has been recruiting scores of top men’s golfers from
the ranks of the PGA, which has in return suspended LIV golfers from its own
events.
Although
LIV CEO Greg Norman has previously spoken of his ambition to set up a ladies
tour, Hall suggested that it is not something she has been preoccupied with.
“I
haven’t heard much talk about the women, so it’s something I haven’t even
thought about to be honest,” she told reporters during a press event at Riyadh
Golf Club on Sunday.
“I
know what happened with the men and I know they’ve had some really successful
events and a lot of great players have moved over to LIV.”
“That’s
something I would have to have a strong think about when, or even if, that
happens.”
The
upstart LIV tour was established in 2022 and has lured players away from the
PGA with large sums of money, less intensive schedules, and a different format
which sees players all tee off from different holes at the same time.
Hall
is in Saudi Arabia to play this year’s Aramco Saudi Ladies International. The
26-year-old praised organizers Golf Saudi for raising the prize fund to match
the men’s equivalent: The PIF Saudi International.
“Massive
credit to Golf Saudi for raising the prize fund and equaling the men,” Hall
said.
“I
think that’s a massive step for the European Tour, for women’s golf, and
hopefully that will raise the bar for other companies to do the same.”
The
26-year-old sportswoman won by five strokes for a score of 11 under at the 2022
tournament in King Abdullah Economic City, beating Johanna Gustavsson and
KristýnaNapoleaová.
She
took home a $1 million prize for the European Tour event. This year, the prize
has been raised to $5 million to match the men’s PIF Saudi International, on
the Asian Tour.
Hall
sees strong competition at this year’s tournament, which takes place from
February 16 to 19.
World
ladies number one Lydia Ko, who won in 2021, will be taking part in the Aramco
International next month.
“We
have a very, very strong field this year,” Hall told reporters, “So I think it
will be a little bit harder for me to defend.”
The
Aramco Saudi Ladies International was the first-ever ladies golf tournament to
be held in Saudi Arabia when it began in 2020.
Source:
Al Arabiya
--------
IFC,
Al Tadamun Microfinance partner to support women’s small projects in Egypt
January
30, 2023
EGYPTSME
Egypt
- The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has signed an agreement with the
Al Tadamun Microfinance Foundation in Egypt, to help the institution digitize
and expand its services, and support women’s small projects.
Under
this agreement, the IFC will assist the Al Tadamun Foundation, which aims to
support Egyptian women entrepreneurs who own small projects, by designing and
piloting a programme that targets projects and companies run by women and
employing one to three employees, which is an important sector in Egypt that
receives few services from banks or other formal financial institutions.
The
International Finance Corporation will also help the Al Tadamun Foundation
develop a five-year action plan to direct expansion and digitization efforts,
in terms of customer service, products and channels of communication with
customers, which helps the Foundation support a greater number of women.
Achieving
financial inclusion, especially microfinance for women, is of great importance
in Egypt in particular, where many women are considered the sole breadwinners
for the family. Financial inclusion empowers them, by helping them to save,
create businesses and establish projects, and support local communities.
Mona
Zulfiqar, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Al Tadamun Microfinance
Foundation, said: “Microfinance has proven to be a very effective tool to
support those who are financially deserving. We are excited to continue our
long-term relationship with the International Finance Corporation, and we are keen
to complete the successes of that partnership to serve more clients and expand.
The scope of our activities will eventually contribute to improving the lives
of women nationwide.”
“Women
have always struggled to obtain the financing they need to establish and
develop their own project, despite the significant role of these projects in
economic and social growth,” said Sheikh Omar Sylla, Regional Director for
North Africa and the Horn of Africa at the International Finance Corporation.
It is based on a long-term partnership with the Solidarity Foundation, which
reflects the commitment of the International Finance Corporation to provide
aspects of support and assistance to micro-enterprises and businesses, helping
them to achieve the desired success and fully exploit their potential.”
It
is worth noting that for more than 10 years, the International Finance
Corporation has provided advisory services to Al Tadamun Microfinance
Foundation to help it reach Egyptian women across Egypt and achieve more
sustainability.
Since
its inception in 1996, the Al Tadamun Foundation has achieved great success as
it contributed to improving the living conditions of about two million women by
providing the necessary financing to help them expand the scope of their
micro-enterprises.
This
project is financed by the World Bank Group’s Micro, Small, and Medium
Enterprises Financing Facility, a joint initiative that promotes sustainable
job creation and private sector-led economic growth. The governments of the
United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland support the fund’s efforts.
The
value of the investments of the International Finance Corporation’s development
portfolio in supporting the private sector in Egypt amounts to about $1.4bn, in
addition to advisory programmes worth $32m, in key areas such as financing
climate activities, industries, infrastructure, renewable energy, health care,
and achieving gender equality.
Source:
Zawya
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