Vadodara Residents Oppose Allotment of Flat to Muslim Woman In Hindu Area Under Gujarat Govt Scheme
New
Age Islam News Bureau
16 June 2024
• Vadodara Residents Oppose Allotment of Flat to
Muslim Woman In Hindu Area Under Gujarat Govt Scheme
• Turkey’s Judicial Reform Package Restricts Women’s
Right To Choose Surname
• US Woman, Sandra Hemme, Found Innocent After 43
Years In Prison For Murder
• Pak Women Rowers Honoured By Karachi Boat Club
• Selangor Cops Rescue 17 Indonesian Women Trafficking
Victims
• Empowering Women in Nuclear field: WiN-Pakistan
Holds Successful Seminar
• UAE: Rights Of Non-Muslim Women Seeking Divorce From
Husband Explained
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
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Vadodara Residents Oppose Allotment of Flat to Muslim
Woman In Hindu Area Under Gujarat Govt Scheme
JUNE 15, 202
Demanding cancellation of allotment of the flat to
her, over 50 residents of Motnath Residency staged a protest near the society's
main gate on Friday (Representational image via AP)
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Several residents of a housing complex built by the
Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) under a Gujarat government scheme have
been staging protests against the allotment of a flat to a Muslim woman, saying
the locality is meant only for Hindus.
Demanding cancellation of the flat allotment, the
residents warned of intensifying their agitation and taking up the matter to
the state government and the Centre.
The woman beneficiary said although she was allotted
the house six years back, she could not move into it due to the opposition by
other residents.
While the residents claim that houses can not be
allotted to members of the minority communities because Harni area, where the
complex is located, is a locality of Hindu inhabitants and falls under the
Disturbed Areas Act that bans the sale of property by members of one religious
community to those from another community without the prior approval of the district
collector in the declared as “disturbed areas”.
Municipal Commissioner of Vadodara, Dilip Rana, said
he has received a representation from the residents of Motnath Residency in
Harni area and an appropriate decision will be taken after studying all the
relevant documents.
“I have just received a representation from the
residents. I will check all the documents and then make an appropriate
decision. We have a provision, under which Hindus and Muslims are given flats
in their respective areas. This applies only to those housing projects which
are situated in disturbed areas. We have to check if this society falls in that
category,” he said.
Motnath Residency, which has nearly 460 flats, is the
VMC’s housing project for the low income group families under the state
government’s MukhyamantriAwas Yojana.
Residents have been staging protests and writing
letters to different authorities after a Muslim woman, who currently lives in
another area, was allotted a house in 2018.
“Though I was allotted the house way back in 2018, I
could not move in because of the opposition by other residents. Even today,
there is no solution in sight. I currently live at another place with my son,”
said the woman.
Demanding cancellation of allotment of the flat to
her, over 50 residents of Motnath Residency staged a protest near the society’s
main gate on Friday too.
“Despite the fact that the entire area falls under the
Disturbed Areas Act, one flat in this society, having 12 towers, has been
allocated to a Muslim woman. We don’t know how this allotment was made. We all
purchased flats in this society thinking that we will be able to live
peacefully because of the enforcement of that law,” said Jitendra Parmar, one
of the agitating residents.
“We are not against anyone. We just want her to be
allotted a house in her area so that everyone can live peacefully. Despite our
protest, her flat was not transferred to another scheme by the VMC. If the
allotment is not cancelled, we will intensify our stir and stage protest in
Gandhinagar and Delhi,” said Parmar.
“This is a Hindu area and there is a provision which
says that minorities should not be allotted flats in Hindu areas. However,
since a flat has been allotted to a person from a minority community, other
residents have been protesting for the last several years and gave a memorandum
to the authorities in the past too. However, the VMC is not cancelling the
allotment,” said the resident who does not wish to be identified.
“VMC had earlier announced that minorities will be
allotted houses in their areas like Tandalja and Akota. If our demand is not
met, we will stage protests outside offices and residences of corporators, MLAs
and MPs. We will gherao chief minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar if the
issue is not resolved,” he said.
The Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable
Property and the Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from
Premises in Disturbed Areas Act, 1991, commonly referred to as the Disturbed
Areas Act, is aimed at preventing distress sale of properties in
communally-sensitive areas.
Under this Act, permission of the district collector
is mandatory for the sale or transfer of property in the areas notified as
‘disturbed’ to ensure that the sale was not out of any distress or compulsion,
and to see that the seller had received a fair price.
Source: News18.Com
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Turkey’s judicial reform package restricts women’s
right to choose surname
16/06/2024
The Turkish government is facing a backlash for its
proposal on the 9th Judicial Reform Package, which will restrict women’s right
to use their maiden names after marriage, disregarding a Constitutional Court
ruling. The proposal, included in the reform package expected to reach the
parliament next week, undermines previously secured legal rights and gender
equality, say women’s rights advocates.
On 22 February 2023, the Constitutional Court ruled
against a regulation in the Civil Code that required women to take their
husband’s surnames upon marriage unless they applied to use their maiden name
alongside it. The court deemed this rule unconstitutional and mandated the
parliament to enact a new law within nine months to ensure gender equality in
surname rights. Despite this directive, the parliament has yet to implement the
required changes and has instead included a similar regulation in the new
reform package.
SevdaÇelikÖzbingöl, a spokesperson of the pro-Kurdish
Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party’s Legal Commission, criticised the
proposed changes, stating, “This right should be legally recognised, yet today
it is being overlooked. The old law is being presented as new, with no
adjustments made after the annulment decision. We reject this attitude of
stripping legally earned rights through such regulations.” Özbingöl went on to
warn of broader implications, pointing to recent decisions such as Turkey’s
withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention as evidence of a trend towards policies
that undermine women’s rights.
Özbingöl called for more progressive, democratic and
egalitarian legal reforms that support women’s empowerment both as citizens and
as individuals. “We need regulations that go over and above old laws, meet
societal needs, and strengthen women both as citizens and as individuals. But
the recent legal changes reveal a politically driven approach that disregards
women,” she said. She urged societal resistance and solidarity among women to
oppose these regressive measures, highlighting the importance of recognising
the political nature of women’s rights issues.
The battle over surname rights, culminating in
Constitutional Court ruling for reform, highlights a recurring pattern under
the Justice and Development Party (AKP)-Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
dominated legislature. Rather than enacting the required changes, the
legislature tries to introduce a more restrictive legal framework that will be
difficult to contest. This pattern underscores a critical aspect of Turkish
governance, where the ruling elites do not recognise the notion of vested
rights, believing that rights can only be granted by the state itself.
Source: Medyanews.Net
https://medyanews.net/turkeys-judicial-reform-package-restricts-womens-right-to-choose-surname/
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US Woman, Sandra Hemme, Found Innocent After 43 Years
In Prison For Murder
Jun 16, 2024
NEW DELHI: A Missouri judge overturned the conviction
of Sandra Hemme, a woman who has been in prison for 43 years for a murder her
attorneys argue was committed by a now-discredited police officer.
Judge Ryan Horsman ruled that Hemme had established
evidence of actual innocence and must be released within 30 days unless prosecutors
decide to retry her. The judge cited ineffective trial counsel and the failure
of prosecutors to disclose evidence that would have helped Hemme's case.
Hemme's attorneys from the New York-based Innocence
Project claim that this is the longest time a woman has been wrongfully
imprisoned. They have filed a motion seeking her immediate release and have
vowed to continue their efforts to dismiss the charges and reunite Hemme with
her family.
When Hemme was first questioned about the death of
31-year-old library worker Patricia Jeschke, she was heavily sedated and
restrained, according to her lawyers. They allege that authorities ignored
Hemme's inconsistent statements and suppressed evidence implicating Michael
Holman, a then-police officer who tried to use the victim's credit card.
The judge noted that "no evidence whatsoever
outside of Hemme's unreliable statements connects her to the crime," while
"the evidence directly ties Holman to this crime and murder scene."
The case began on November 13, 1980, when Jeschke's
mother discovered her daughter's body in her apartment. Hemme, who had a
history of hospitalizations for mental health issues, became a suspect nearly
two weeks later.
During interrogations, Hemme was being treated with
antipsychotic drugs that caused involuntary muscle spasms and made it difficult
for her to comprehend the questions. Despite the inconsistencies in her
statements, Hemme eventually pleaded guilty to capital murder in exchange for avoiding
the death penalty. However, her plea was later thrown out on appeal, and she
was convicted again in 1985 after a one-day trial in which jurors were not
informed of the coercive nature of her interrogations.
Larry Harman, who helped Hemme get her initial guilty
plea overturned and later became a judge, believed in her innocence and said,
"the system failed her at every opportunity."
Source: Times Of India
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Pak women rowers honoured by Karachi Boat Club
June 16, 2024
On a memorable evening at the Karachi Boat Club (KBC),
an event was held to honor the athletes who represented Pakistan at the 63rd
Grand Moscow Regatta. This celebration marked a significant milestone in the
burgeoning collaboration between Pakistani and Russian rowing communities.
The event was graced by the esteemed Consul General of
Russia, Andrey ViktorovichFedorov, whose support has been pivotal in fostering
this international partnership. In his speech, Consul General Fedorov
highlighted the importance of strengthening ties between the two nations and
expressed his excitement for future collaborations in the world of rowing.
Maryam Meraj, a representative of the KBC, warmly
welcomed the guests and shared the achievements of the club’s athletes. The club's
Amateur Women’s Quadruple Scull, comprising Nehan Asad, Mariam Yousuf Ali,
Aaleen Hussain, and Manahil Hussain, earned a commendable second place, while
the Masters Men Coxless Pair, with Danish Iftikhar and Imran Khan, finished
sixth overall. Their performances brought pride to both the Karachi Boat Club
and Pakistan.
Nadeem Kazmi, President of the Karachi Boat Club,
expressed deep gratitude to Consul General Fedorov for his unwavering support.
He emphasized the success of the partnership and the bright future it holds for
both rowing organizations. The evening concluded with a medal presentation
ceremony and a token of appreciation for the Consul General, acknowledging his
contributions to this fruitful collaboration.
This event not only celebrated the achievements of
Pakistani athletes but also underscored the potential for deeper sporting ties
between Pakistan and Russia. As the partnership grows, it promises to open new
avenues for athletic excellence and international camaraderie.
The six-member squad returned on June 5 after the
event where they faced competitors from seven countries including Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan in the women quad event, Cuba, hosts Russia, Belarus,
and Serbia.
The rowers participated in the seniors, Under 23, Under
19, students, club teams, and para rowing categories, with race events of men
and women singles, pairs, quads, fours, and eights.
The regatta was featuring 2,222 rowers.
The Pakistani girls who won the silver medal included
Syeda Manahil Hussain, Aaleen Hussain, Mariam Yousuf Ali and Nehan Asad.
Among men’s events Muhammad Danish Iftikhar and Imran
Khan represented Pakistan.
Source: Tribune.Com.Pk
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2471893/pak-women-rowers-honoured-by-karachi-boat-club
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SelangorCops Rescue 17 Indonesian Women Trafficking
Victims
15-06- 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: Police rescued 17 Indonesian women who
were suspected to be victims of human trafficking in a raid on a maid service
company’s dormitory in Shah Alam, Selangor, yesterday.
All the victims were rescued under Section 44(1) of
the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act
2007, said Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) D3 ATIPSOM unit
assistant head SAC SoffianSantong.
Sofian said the raid was carried out after receiving
information about the existence of forced labour against the victims who were
given jobs as domestic helpers but some were exploited with no pay.
“A preliminary investigation found that all these
victims worked between six months and two years with employers and some victims
complained that they never received any salary,” he said today.
Soffian said three men, aged between 31 and 40 who
acted as employers and supervisors to send the maids to work, were also
arrested in the raid and will be investigated under Section 12 of the ATIPSOM
Act 2007.
Source: Thesun.My
https://thesun.my/local-news/cops-rescue-17-indonesian-women-trafficking-victims-IO12582291
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Empowering Women in Nuclear field: WiN-Pakistan holds
successful seminar
June 15, 2024
Dubai: Women in Nuclear Pakistan Chapter
(WiN-Pakistan) took a significant step towards empowering women in the nuclear
field with their recent seminar on “Knowledge Sharing with Women in Nuclear
Safety and Security.”
Held on June 13th, 2024 in Islamabad, the day-long
event brought together around 100 female officers and a distinguished guest, D.
Ansar Parvez, former Chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.
The seminar aimed to create a platform for knowledge
exchange and raise awareness about nuclear safety and security. Young women
interested in pursuing careers in this critical field gained valuable insights
from senior female leaders who shared their experiences during the plenary
session.
President Win- Pakistan Chapter, Dr Shazia Fatima
highlighted the activities of chapter carried out nationally and
internationally. She appreciated the support of Pakistan Nuclear Society,
Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority and Pakistan Science Foundation in this
regard.
The technical session delved deeper into topics like
professional development opportunities, fostering gender inclusion within
organisations, the crucial role women play in safety assessments, and the
future landscape of nuclear safety and security, highlighting the vast
opportunities it presents for women.
WiN-Pakistan, a chapter of the global Women in Nuclear
(WiN) organisation, actively promotes gender diversity and works towards
closing the gap in the nuclear sector. Pakistan’s participation in WiN began in
1992, and the formal establishment of the WiN-Pakistan chapter in July 2023
marked a significant milestone. Within a short span, the chapter has garnered
recognition both nationally and internationally.
Source: Gulfnews.Com
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UAE: Rights of non-Muslim women seeking divorce from
husband explained
by Ashish Mehta
16 Jun 2024
Question: I am a working woman who earns more than my
husband. We are non-Muslims and have two children from the marriage. If I seek
a divorce from my husband, what are my rights regarding alimony and child support
if we decide to stay in the UAE?
Answer: In the UAE, a non-Muslim individual may apply
the provisions of Federal Decree Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status
(the ‘UAE Personal Status Law for Non-Muslims’) about personal matters.
A non-Muslim individual is also allowed to apply the
provisions of personal laws of his or her home country before a personal status
court, which has jurisdiction in the UAE to handle personal matters. This is
according to Article 1(1) of the UAE Personal Status Law for Non-Muslims, which
states:
"The provisions of this decree-law shall apply to
non-Muslims who are citizens of the UAE, and to non-Muslim foreigners residing
in the state, unless any of them adheres to the application of the law of their
home country, with regards to the articles of marriage, divorce, inheritance,
wills, and proof of parentage, without prejudice to the provisions of Articles
(12), (13), (15), (16), and (17) of the Federal Law No. 5 of 1985."
The rights and obligations are equal between men and
women as per Article 4 of the UAE Personal Law for non-Muslims regarding
witnesses, inheritance, right to request divorce and joint custody.
Both the husband and wife may have joint custody of
the child/children once the divorce is granted by a personal status court in
the UAE. The law states:
"The application of the provisions of this Decree
Law shall take into account equality between women and men in terms of rights
and duties, and this shall apply in any way, particularly in respect of:
- Joint custody: that a woman and a man shall have an
equal right to assume joint custody of the minor child until the latter reaches
the age of (18) eighteen years, after which the child shall have the freedom of
choice.”
Additionally, a woman may file for alimony, maintenance
and custody of her child/children. The court, however, may decide the alimony
and maintenance of a woman to be paid by her ex-husband based on factors such
as the number of years of marriage, age of the wife, financial stability of
both husband and wife; if reasons for divorce are due to negligence or
commission of any acts by a husband; financial loss incurred by any of the
party to the case; reasons such as a wife such is not interested in taking care
of children, etc.
The husband – as the father of the child/children – is
obligated to pay the expenses related to custody of the child/children to his
ex-wife. The law states:
“The father shall be liable for the expenses and costs
of the mother's custody of the children during joint custody, for a temporary
period not exceeding two years in accordance with the findings of the
accounting expert's report.”
Maintenance to a wife may be stopped if she marries
another man or, in the event, the custody of children ends for a valid reason.
Further, a wife may also request a personal status court in the UAE to revise
the amount of maintenance according to changing circumstances.
A non-Muslim individual may also apply the provisions
of his/her home country’s personal laws instead of the provisions of the UAE
Personal Status Law for Non-Muslims for matters related to divorce, maintenance
of wife and custody/maintenance of children.
Based on the aforementioned provisions of law, you may
consider whether to apply the provisions of UAE Personal Status Law for Non-Muslims
or the personal laws of your home country, whichever is more beneficial to you.
Source: Khaleej Times
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/vadodara-muslim-woman-hindu-gujarat/d/132519