Turkish Rights Groups Protest Ban On Muslim Women Wearing Hijab In India
20
February 2022
• Turkish Rights Groups Protest Ban On Muslim Women
Wearing Hijab In India
• Pakistan: Right-Wing Party Opposes Aurat March,
Threatens To Stop It
• ‘The Taliban Want Revenge’: Afghanistan’s Female
Judges In Exile In Australia
• Women To Play Greater Role In Knowledge-Based
Economy
• Karnataka Government Taking Sides In Hijab Row, Muslim
Girls May Become Targets: Expert
• Madurai Police Arrest BJP Booth Agent, Who Objected
To Muslim Women Coming To Vote Wearing A Hijab
• Muslim Woman Felt 'Neglected And Let Down' When
Looking For A Local Football Team To Join In Liverpool
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/turkish-rights-groups-hijab-india/d/126410
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Turkish Rights Groups Protest Ban On Muslim Women
Wearing Hijab In India
Turkish rights groups held a
protest in Istanbul against a headscarf ban in the Indian state of Karnataka.
(Photo: aa.com)
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Abidin Mutlu Bozdağ
20.02.2022
Turkish rights groups on Saturday held a protest in
Istanbul against a headscarf ban in the Indian state of Karnataka.
Organized by the Free Thought and Educational Rights
Society (Ozgurder) and Association for Human Rights and Solidarity for the
Oppressed (Mazlumder), the demonstration took place around the Indian Consulate
General after Muslim girls were barred from classes in some Indian colleges for
wearing hijab.
Addressing the protest, Ozgurder chair Ridvan Kaya
said the ban was the culmination of anti-Muslim tendencies and Indian
nationalism, emboldened in recent years.
The hijab row started when female Muslim students were
barred last month from attending their classes at a government college in the
Udupi district of the southwestern Karnataka province as they were wearing
hijab.
Source: AA.Com
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Pakistan: Right-Wing Party Opposes Aurat March,
Threatens To Stop It
Aurat March, Representative
Photo
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19 February, 2022
Islamabad [Pakistan], February 19 (ANI): Pakistan’s
prominent right-wing political party has warned of stopping the annual Aurat
March held across the country on International Women’s Day, celebrated on March
8.
Aurat March, which was first held in the city of
Karachi in 2018, is now organized every year to celebrate International Women’s
Day. The march highlight the issues women face in Pakistan, the Dawn newspaper
reported.
“If any attempts are made for obscenity on March 8 in
Islamabad, we will condemn it,” warned Abdul Majeed Hazarvi, the chief of
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl’s (JUI-F) Islamabad wing.
Aurat March has been subjected to criticism in the
country. Last year, petitions were filed in several courts, asking for a ban on
the march. However, these petitions were dismissed.
As the annual Aurat March continues to be targeted in
the country, Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony,
Noorul Haq Qadri has urged the Imran Khan government not to allow any
organization or individual to raise “anti-Islam slogans” during the march.
Qadri asked Khan to mark ‘International Hijab Day’ on
March 8, the International Women’s Day to highlight issues of religious
freedom, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.
Source: The Print
https://theprint.in/world/pakistan-right-wing-party-opposes-aurat-march-threatens-to-stop-it/838310/
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‘The Taliban want revenge’: Afghanistan’s female
judges in exile in Australia
Ilya Gridnef
19 Feb 2022
It was the toughest decision these judges ever made.
To flee Afghanistan, the country they love and spent years working to rebuild.
To leave behind the familiarity of family and friends for new, unknown lives on
the other side of the world.
In mid-August, amid the chaos of the US armed forces’
abrupt pullout from Afghanistan, female judges and prosecutors faced a perilous
future.
“At 10am I was at work in Kabul. At 11am I got a phone
call: ‘The Taliban are in control. They are looking for you, go home and
hide,’” said Farah Altaf Atahee, who fled with her husband and three children.
The Guardian met Atahee and other female judges in
mid-December in Athens, where they had been evacuated from Afghanistan and were
awaiting relocation to new homes.
As she recounted the events of the day the Taliban
seized power in Kabul, Atahee fought back tears. She said she realised that
thousands of recently released prisoners, including Taliban leaders and heroin
traffickers, the violent criminals she had sent to jail, wanted revenge on her
and other judicial officers.
“Everything we worked for, everything we had, gone,”
she said, from the Melissa office, an Athens-based NGO supporting refugees. “My
home, my family, my work, my life, my savings, all gone, in less than an hour.”
Thirty-one-year-old Mahtab Fazl tells a similar story.
She escaped Afghanistan’s Herat city with her husband and two young boys, but
fears still for the family they were forced to leave behind.
“Because of my job as a judge, every day they are
facing risks, they’re in danger,” she said. “We need to get them out of
Afghanistan.”
Australia has committed to taking in some of these
women and their families as part of its humanitarian pledges to support Afghan
allies and vulnerable people. But the seemingly generous offer for help is
increasingly looking inadequate.
A Department of Home Affairs spokesman said female
judges would be processed as part of an “agreement of 3,000 places allocated to
Afghan nationals within its 13,750-humanitarian visa quota” for 2021-22.
A Senate inquiry report tabled earlier this month on
the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and its response to the fall of Kabul to the
Taliban, labelled Australia’s actions as “dishonourable”. The inquiry found
former Afghan interpreters for the Australian military, and other colleagues
left behind, were at a high risk of brutal reprisals.
The Australian immigration minister, Alex Hawke, has
announced 15,000 places, over four years, for Afghans through its humanitarian
and family visa program. Again, though, that figure, which at first glance
looked generous, appears to be repackaging of old commitments to humanitarian
visas that predated the Taliban seizing power in Kabul. Some critics go further
– they say the number of visas the government is now offering vulnerable
Afghans is actually lower than previously allocated.
Portrait of an Afghan women, one of 12 judges
evacuated from Kabul to Australia in January. Photographed by Alana Holmberg
for The Guardian on 17 February 2022.
The judges had jailed high-profile terrorists, drug
barons and violent criminals. Photograph: Alana Holmberg/Oculi for The Guardian
Solicitor Sarah Dale, director of the Sydney-based
Refugee Advice and Casework Service, said Australia could offer 20,000
additional humanitarian visas that were “easily manageable” as pandemic travel
restrictions have freed up resources in the system.
“After 20 years of military engagement, of commitments
to the people of Afghanistan, why are we not offering more to those left
behind?” she said. “We’ve turned our back on our moral obligations to do more.”
Dale said the government’s announcement of 5,000
places in the family stream over four years was less than what was granted
previously.
“The 10,000 humanitarian visas, over four years, must
not include those already evacuated, as it would leave fewer additional
places,” she said.
The London-based International Bar Association (IBA)
Human Rights Institute had dedicated years supporting Afghanistan to
professionalise its legal fraternity. Director Baroness Helena Kennedy, QC,
said judicial officers faced potentially deadly reprisals.
Australian citizens and visa holders prepare to board
the Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III aircraft, as Australian
Army infantry personnel provide security and assist with cargo, at Hamid Karzai
International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2021
She said the IBA was still negotiating with the
Australian government to add five more judges and their families to Australia’s
resettlement quota, in fulfilment of an original agreement to accept 20 judges
and their families.
Another judge, whom the Guardian has chosen not to
name because she fears retribution for family still in Afghanistan, said her
four children, mother and husband are now in a Melbourne hotel waiting to find
a home of their own.
“We spend every day hoping Afghanistan goes back to
normal, and hoping we can go back one day,” she said. “Afghanistan is our home,
all we can do is hope it gets better,” she said.
Source: The Guardian
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Women to play greater role in knowledge-based economy
by Rohma Sadaqat
Sat 19 Feb 2022,
Women need to play a greater role as the world shifts
to a knowledge-based economy, and have their achievements in STEM highlighted
to inspire the next generation of young female leaders, experts said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the recent Women in
Science Young Talents Awards at Expo 2020 Dubai, which recognised the
achievements of 14 Arab female scientists from the Mena region, experts
highlighted the need for more women pursuing careers in STEM fields. Since its
inception in the region in 2010, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young
Talents programme has awarded more than 160 female scientists and 11 laureates
from the Mena region.
Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for
Advanced Technology, noted that L’Oréal and UNESCO have been great advocates
for the contributions women are making to the STEM sector. “By recognising and
rewarding the vital role female scientists play in advancing knowledge in so
many fields, they are not only inspiring new generations of young women to
pursue careers in science and research but fostering a more inclusive, more
representative scientific community.”
She added that the 14 scientists being honored at this
year’s event are a reflection of both the breadth of talent in the Middle East
and the increasing opportunities for women here to apply it. “As we move to a
knowledge-based economy, a world where science and technology are increasingly
front and center, it is essential the whole of humanity is able to play a role
in shaping it.”
According to the UNESCO Science Report published in
June 2021, although the number of women in scientific careers is increasing,
reaching just over 33 per cent of researchers worldwide, this evolution is
still too slow.
Halima Alnaqbi, one of the scientists from the UAE who
was honoured at the awards, agrees with the statement, and pointed out that
more than half of graduates from Arab league scientific and engineering
institutions are female – a figure significantly higher than in other countries,
demonstrating Arab women’s passion for science.
“However, we continue to see a shortage of female
graduates entering the workforce,” said Alnaqbi, who was recognised for her
research on enhancing the existing organ transplantation system to include Arab
ethnic groups.
“This issue could be due to a lack of adequate
mentorship following graduation and a general lack of examples of inspirational
female scientists,” she observed. “That is why, it is important to celebrate
women in STEM and highlight the achievements of exceptional female role models
to encourage more females to pursue careers in STEM.”
Alnaqbi also noted that while much progress has been
made in eradicating poverty, true sustainable development requires gender
equality. Women and girls make up half of the world’s population and they are
increasingly seen as more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than men,
because they lack access to information, technology, and decision-making, and
have heavier workloads.
“It is also important to address girls’ education, as
129 million girls worldwide are currently out of school,” she revealed.
“Inequality is reduced when girls are educated. It helps build more stable,
resilient societies where everyone, including boys and men, can reach their
full potential. For example, women have had an outsized role in caring for the
nation’s health during the pandemic. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus,
nurses have been on the front lines, the vast majority being female nurses who
work in hospitals.”
“Gender and specialisation diversity in any team is
particularly important since it encourages innovation,” she added. “Diversity
fosters more creativity and a broader comprehension of the subject matter.
Therefore, women bring unique views to research and scientific discussions,
which enhances creativity and encourages the search for new information which
ultimately leads to better decision-making and greater success.”
Dr. Ghada Dushaq, another UAE scientist who was
honoured at the event for her research on discovering novel materials and
structures across photonics to enhance the speed, capacity, and accuracy of
conventional technologies, also shared her thoughts on achieving gender
equality.
“Innovative and groundbreaking scientific ideas
require the talents of both women and men,” she said. “Achieving gender
equality in science will create balanced, holistic approach to leadership and
better educated children in future generations.”
Thanks to the support of the UAE leadership and the
UAE government’s efforts in empowering women with knowledge and education, she
said that the nation will continue to play an integral role in the development
of young talent, and driving the prosperity forward to the next 50 years.
“The current statistics hold great promise for woman
in UAE to play a key role in the domains of education, health, labor market,
and investments,” she said. “I believe that a diverse workforce is an
innovative workforce; men and women have different experiences and backgrounds,
and thus incorporating people who think differently can promote groundbreaking
ideas that push organizations forward. Additionally, several studies showed
that soft skills and emotional intelligence may prove a key competitive
advantage for women in business. Furthermore, women signify vast economic power
and offer important consumer insight.”
Source: khaleej times
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/women-to-play-greater-role-in-knowledge-based-economy
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Karnataka government taking sides in hijab row, Muslim
girls may become targets: Expert
20th February 2022
By Donna Eva
BENGALURU: With the hijab issue continuing to make
headlines, concerns have been raised over how the controversy has played out as
well as the long-term effects of the situation on those involved and on
education as a whole.
Education expert Dr Niranjanaradhya V P shares his
thoughts on the current situation and how it might affect the future of the
girls.
It’s really uncalled for and not an issue that had to
be raised, especially given the kind of crisis we have after closing down
institutions for nearly two years.
It’s not only a learning crisis, but has also affected
the psycho-social and emotional issues of students. We had just started a
recovery process, and it is unfortunate that this issue has been created now.
What is the reason for it to have come up so suddenly
now? Why was this issue not addressed at the time of formulating rules on
uniforms?
I want to point out is that these girls have not
refused to wear the uniform, they only asked for scarves or hijabs of the same
colour. Previously, there wasn’t any kind of uniform code in junior colleges or
PU colleges, though there are codes specifically for schools that have Classes
11 and 12.
It seems like the issue is being raised now in an
intentional, deliberate manner to suit political interests, especially during
election season.
The problem does not stem from this or that. Education
is very important and we have a responsibility to ensure that all children,
irrespective of their affiliations, get equitable and quality education.
There is no compromise on that. As individuals, we are
given the constitutional right to practice our religion. That should not be a
stricture in the way of providing education.
It is not possible in a diverse country like India.
Diversity is an accepted constitutional value. When that is the case, raising
concerns on the practices of a certain community is completely unconstitutional.
It not only affects them, but it will take over their
lives. Immediate effects are the loss of education, currently with their board
exams and their future entry into educational institutions and performance as
well.
In the long term, I am concerned that they may be
targeted in all senses. I find it very unfortunate that these girls will face a
lot of issues, vulnerability being the biggest of them. Support from other
communities, especially from their peers, and not just their own, will go a long
way. In addition, long-term counselling is important as well.
The court should have ordered maintenance of status
quo as the current decision comes off as uninformed and has made the situation
worse.
The government’s handling of the situation shows that
they are taking a side in the issue, particularly the insensitive phrasing of
the Government Order of February 5 which comes off as final.
There will definitely be a clear division among
students. Education is a tool for socialisation. However, this is at stake,
especially as hatred, infighting, attacks and suspicious attitudes may become
more common.
We have tried our level best to cherish constitutional
values, but that may take a back seat with more and more violence as well as
segregation occurring in these institutions.
The purpose of education is to rise above all these
things. But, in doing so, it has not been mentioned anywhere that they must be
given up.
Source: New Indian Express
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Madurai police arrest BJP booth agent, who objected to
Muslim women coming to vote wearing a hijab
19th February 2022
By Shobana Radhakrishnan
MADURAI/TIRUPPUR: A BJP booth agent was arrested in
ward 8 of Melur municipality for trying to get a Muslim woman to remove her
hijab to cross-check with the voter's list, despite the polling officials
clarifying that she was already verified by them.
The district police registered a case against the
booth agent, R Girirajan, for acting in a way that could entice communal riots
and hurt religious sentiments. Girirajan was remanded to judicial custody till
March 4 by Melur Judicial Magistrate.
Tension prevailed in the municipality as one of the
Muslim women wearing a hijab and mask at the Al Amin High School was asked to
remove the hijab, claiming that the particular voter did not match with the
photo in the voter's list. Though police personnel deployed for the security
intervened and explained to Girirajan that the photo in the voter's list was
taken years ago for many of them and there could be significant differences,
the agent disagreed and shouted inside the polling booth that bogus votes were
being polled.
This disrupted the polling for 15 minutes, however,
following the altercation, he was sent out of the polling booth. A report in
this regard has also been sent to the Collector S Aneesh Sekhar.
Following the complaints from different party cadres,
alleging that bogus votes were being polled in ward 17 of Thirumangalam, the
polling was suspended by 4 pm and the election officials recommended for
re-election in the ward.
A voter P Malliga from ward 1 of Palamedu was shocked
to find out that her vote was already polled. She complained to the polling
personnel and they assured to take action against the one who polled the bogus
vote after verifying the CCTV footage. Meanwhile, Malliga was also allowed to
cast her vote after proper scrutiny. Similar complaints were made from the
corporation limit as well.
Meanwhile in Tiruppur, polling was temporarily stopped
due to a protest as a female local official allegedly asked a Muslim voter to
remove her hijab while voting in Dharapuram. Sources said she was told to
remove it to confirm her identity, and this resulted in an argument since women
who had arrived earlier were not asked to remove their hijabs.
Source: New Indian Express
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Muslim Woman Felt 'Neglected And Let Down' When
Looking For A Local Football Team To Join In Liverpool
By Liam Thorp
19 FEB 2022
A football-mad Muslim woman said she felt 'neglected
and let down' by her local football association when looking for a team to
join.
Hilaal Ali is a qualified football coach from Toxteth
who has been coaching for four years in her local community.
Hilaal, who recently graduated with a degree in
Football Coaching and Management, contacted the Liverpool County Football
Association, to enquire about a competitive team she could join in the city.
The 22-year-old told the ECHO: "My email address
was taken down by the person who answered my phone call, and he agreed to send
me a list of teams.
"I waited a few minutes whilst continuing to
check my email to see whether he had sent it to me.
"I finally accepted that he was not going to send
anything across. My gut instincts were right, I did not receive anything, I
thought maybe he didn’t take my name down properly, so I took this as human
error.
"I called the Liverpool County FA again the
following Monday, explaining to the guy who answered the phone that his
colleague had agreed to send me a list of local women's teams, but he never
did. The second guy said he would send over a list of teams instead but the
same situation occurred again.
Source: Liverpoolecho
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/muslim-woman-felt-neglected-down-23123088
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/turkish-rights-groups-hijab-india/d/126410