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Islam, Women and Feminism ( 6 March 2024, NewAgeIslam.Com)

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Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia: Malaysia Offers Safe Environment For Palestinians To Pursue Education

New Age Islam News Bureau

06 March 2024

·         Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia: Malaysia Offers Safe Environment For Palestinians To Pursue Education

·         Tabassum Siddiqui: First Muslim Woman In Nepal To Complete Phd From Nepal Sanskrit University

·         Over 100 Female IDPs Kidnapped by Boko Haram Terrorists in Fresh Attack

·         Qatar’s Hosting Of Major Sports Events Breaks Barriers For Sportswomen

·         1,350 Women Volunteers Trained To Help Visitors At Prophet’s Mosque

·         UAE Ranks 5th Globally In ‘Women In Parliament 2023’: IPU Report

·         Iran Subjecting Women To ‘Draconian’ Surveillance On Hijab Rule: Amnesty

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/zarith-sofiah-queen-malaysia-palestinians/d/131860

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Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia: Malaysia Offers Safe Environment For Palestinians To Pursue Education

 

Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia

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05-03- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia said Palestinians in Malaysia can find a safe environment and opportunities for a better future through education, even though some aspects of the conflict may seem insurmountable.

In a royal engagement session with Palestinian students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), the Queen said Malaysia can provide young people with the opportunity to receive education and reside in a safe environment.

“Even though we cannot offer extensive assistance since we are not world leaders and do not formulate policies, as Malaysians residing far from Palestine, we can provide young people like yourselves with the opportunity to pursue education and reside in a safe environment for yourselves, your families and your young children. At least here, we can ensure your safety, God willing.”

“As we know in Islam, knowledge is important, and for all of you to rebuild your country again, you will need knowledge. Those of you aspiring to become engineers, doctors, or any other profession, your dreams are possible and we offer you a safe place here in Malaysia, at UTM and UTHM, as well as in other universities across the country,“ said Her Majesty, who is also UTM chancellor, in a post uploaded on the Facebook page of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.

Accompanying Her Majesty to the event were Che’ Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor who is also UTM pro-chancellor, as well as UTM vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail.

The session was attended by 20 Palestinian students from both universities, each with their own stories of grief and sorrow stemming from the decades-long conflict in their home state.

Both representatives of the Palestinian communities in UTM (Dr Mohamad Darwish) and UTHM (Mohammed A. A. Mansour) shared their thoughts and stories of their experiences with the conflict, as well as expressed their appreciation for the Queen’s compassion and solidarity with Palestine. -Bernama

Source: thesun.my

https://thesun.my/local_news/queen-malaysia-offers-safe-environment-for-palestinians-to-pursue-education-CK12180604

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Tabassum Siddiqui: First Muslim Woman In Nepal To Complete Phd From Nepal Sanskrit University

 

Tabassum Siddiqui

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 Mar 06, 2024

 Bal Krishna Sah

KATHMANDU, MARCH 5"I joined Nepal Sanskrit University in 2016 and finished my degree in architecture in 2023. I am the first Muslim woman in Nepal to complete a PhD degree from Nepal Sanskrit University," said Tabassum Siddiqui.In addition to being the first Muslim woman architect and the first to finish a master's degree in interior design in Nepal, Tabassum Siddiqui is the only other Muslim woman doctorate in Nepal.She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture and a Master's Degree in Interior Design from National College of Arts in Lahore, Pakistan. She is currently the head of the Department of Architecture at

Kantipur International College in Kathmandu, as well as a part-time faculty member at the Institutes of Engineering in Pulchowk and Thapathali."Comparative Study of Hindu and Islamic Architecture in Nepal: Its Influence on Contemporary Nepali Architecture" was the topic of her doctoral dissertation."I have made Hindu and Islamic architecture a subject of study since there is a majority of Hindus in Nepal. There is a lot of potential to strengthen relationships with Islamic majority countries and develop tourism through Nepali architecture," she stated.She shared that she studied Nepalese architecture, architecture, and its history while conducting research programs and attending seminars and conferences. Numerous studies on Buddhist and Nepalese architecture have been conducted in the country, but few have examined Islamic architecture or the buildings that are Islamic in Nepal. But there are not many published works on the subject.Her community is a minority. "Although we make up only 9% of the population, there are many structures with Muslim influences. Thus, this constituted the initial stage of her research," she continued."Up to this point, very little research has been done on the subject of comparing Islamic and Hindu architecture. Thus, I wrote a research paper on the subject and published it before my PhD research.Following that, I enrolled at Nepal Sanskrit University. And then I started my research on this particular topic."In the area of education, Siddiqui's family is on top. According to Tabassum, she enrolled at Nepal Sanskrit University with the intention of writing her own unique history through a comparative analysis of Islamic and Hindu architecture in relation to Hindu Vastu Shastra. She was successful in achieving this goal.On the other hand, her father, Salahuddin A. Siddiqui, had also completed his Ph.D. from Nepal Sanskrit University on the topic "Manu ko Pariwarik Byabastha ra Nepal ma Pariwarik Bibad."Education is a strong suit for Tabasmum's seven-member family. She is the family's eldest daughter. She went to Pakistan to further her education because she had received an excellent education. Mohammad Asif Siddiqui, the elder brother, earned an engineering degree from Malelia and is currently employed in Qatar. Asif's second brother, Aamir Siddiqui, is a doctor. Amir, who holds an MBBS from Bangladesh and an MD from Egypt, previously worked at the Gangalal Cardiac Centre in Kathmandu and is now the Medical Director of Pacific International Hospital in Papua New Guinea. Her younger sister, Dr. Tarannum Siddiqui, is a senior physiotherapist and running her own clinic after completing an MPT from India.Tabassum is currently the president of the Mother Foundation. The organisation's mission is to promote inclusive development and democracy in Nepal, as well as to strengthen international relations through art, architecture, and culture.She stated that, in the future, she hopes to contribute to Nepal's international relations through Nepali artwork."The success of this campaign is dependent on the support of the Nepali government and society. Let us see how much importance and support a Muslim woman will receive from the Hindu majority society," she said.She complained that, despite the fact that Nepal has a Muslim Commission, the Muslim community receives decimal benefits from it. She argued that modernising madrassa education is essential for educational reform in the Nepali Muslim community.

Source: thehimalayantimes.com

https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/tabassum-siddiqui-first-muslim-woman-in-nepal-to-complete-phd-from-nepal-nsu

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Over 100 Female IDPs Kidnapped By Boko Haram Terrorists In Fresh Attack

March 6, 2024

Boko Haram insurgents have allegedly abducted numerous female internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou Ngala in Borno State.

According to Daily Trust, a security source has confirmed the abduction, stating that around 113 individuals were taken.

The incident reportedly occurred last Sunday when the women ventured into the bush to gather firewood for both domestic and commercial purposes.

They were ambushed by the insurgents in the Bula kunte bush in the western part of Ngala town. The insurgents released older individuals and took about 319 young girls and some boys into the Forest.

Three girls managed to escape and recounted their ordeal, revealing that the insurgents had taken them to a bush close to Bukar-mairam village in Chad republic.

After the insurgents fell asleep, the girls escaped and trekked for two days before reaching Ngala.

Most of the abducted IDP girls were from Babban Sansani camp, with others from Zulum and Arabic camps. Economic pressure, driven by the lack of livelihood opportunities and insufficient food supplies in the camps, forced the girls to venture into the bush for firewood.

Security sources emphasized that they had previously warned the IDPs against venturing into certain areas of the bush due to the risk of attacks. However, economic hardship compelled many to take the risk as they lacked alternative means of livelihood.

The abduction in Ngala is one of the largest incidents since the kidnapping of 276 girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in April 2014.

Source: politicsnigeria.com

https://politicsnigeria.com/over-100-female-idps-kidnapped-by-boko-haram-terrorists-in-fresh-attack/

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Qatar’s hosting of major sports events breaks barriers for sportswomen

 06 Mar 2024

Doha, Qatar: Qatar has transformed itself into a sports hub with hosting global tournaments and inspiring young athletes, especially women.

The country’s talented athlete Mariam Farid took the stage on ‘breaking barriers in women’s sports’ during the Web Summit Qatar 2024, which concluded recently.

Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the Summit, Farid remarked on Qatar’s avidity in organising mega sporting events, which creates a positive impact on the youths.

She said: “There’s a huge change and this is normal around the world. There’s increasing growth in focusing on sports and I think we are privileged as women in the country to be supported by the government and its people.”

Qatar's Mariam Farid in action during the women’s 400 metres hurdles heats during the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019, in this file photo.

The Northwestern alumni represented Qatar at the 17th World Athletics Championship in 2019 in Doha.

The communications graduate expressed her delight in being chosen as the ambassador for the World Championship of track and field.

Outlining the key highlights of her session, Farid said “It’s an honour and a privilege actually to be part of Web Summit. It’s very big and not just a platform but you’re bringing the whole world together and Qatar is taking the lead in hosting the biggest events around the world, from the World Cup to Formula One to World championship athletics across all types of fields, technology, and sports.

Farid remarked that being one of the spokespersons at the Summit is an achievement having to represent the country and the region.

“It’s a very big responsibility because I’m not just representing myself but an Arab, Muslim, Qatari, and GCC woman, she said.

To a question about her inspiration to take up sports at a very early age, the athlete said: “My inspiration is what I love what I do and I grew up wanting to be a runner, who does it professionally and even for fun until it went to a bigger stage where I compete internationally.”

“I go around the world and I’ve been competing as one of the first in two World Championships, Asian games, and earned medals in the GCC,” Farid said.

She also lauded women taking a crucial role in not just sports but its administration saying, “Women are highly educated in Qatar. There are a lot of women around Qatar in different fields who are leading. Even if in some entities, they’re not leading, they don’t compete but work alongside men.”

Farid also expressed her optimism in women breaking barriers across the country and region in the years ahead.

“It’s all a matter of time for women wanting to pursue sports. The reach of women in a specific field is there and there’s nothing that is hard to achieve and there’s nothing wrong to dream of,” she added.

Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com

https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/06/03/2024/qatars-hosting-of-major-sports-events-breaks-barriers-for-sportswomen

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1,350 women volunteers trained to help visitors at Prophet’s Mosque

March 05, 2024

RIYADH: The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has trained 1,350 female volunteers to equip them with the skills necessary to provide high-quality services to women who visit the mosques.

Topics covered during training included crowd management, communication with visitors to the mosques, management of volunteer events, and caring for the elderly and people with disabilities.

The authority has also replaced the carpets in Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa at the Prophet’s Mosque in preparation for the holy month of Ramadan, a time that witnesses a significant increase in visitors from around the world.

The new, high-quality carpets are part of a series of improvements in services implemented by the authority to enhance the experience of visitors to the mosque.

Source: arabnews.com

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2471566/saudi-arabia

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UAE ranks 5th globally in ‘Women in Parliament 2023’: IPU report

March 6, 2024

Abu Dhabi : The UAE ranks fifth in the IPU’s latest ‘Women in Parliament 2023’ report, which is based on parliamentary renewals in 66 chambers in 52 countries in 2023.

Rwanda continues to lead the IPU world ranking with women accounting for 61.3% of seats in the Chamber of Deputies, followed by Cuba and Nicaragua with 55.7% and 53.9% respectively, while Andorra, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates have parity,” said the report.

Women made up 27.6% of MPs in those newly elected or appointed chambers, an overall increase of 1.4 percentage points compared with previous polls in the same countries, according to the report.

“The global proportion of MPs who are women has inched up to 26.9%, based on elections and appointments that took place in 2023. This represents an increase of 0.4 percentage points year-on-year, a similar growth rate to 2022. However, the growth is slower than in the preceding years – elections in 2021 and 2020 saw an increase of women MPs of 0.6 percentage points,” indicated the global report.

Gender issues dominated many of the elections amid a backlash against women’s rights in some countries. The report also points out that several prominent women have recently left politics, blaming burnout and threats.

In the Americas, according to the report, women accounted for 42.5% of all MPs elected or appointed in chambers that were renewed in 2023, the highest regional percentage. The region thus maintains its long-held position as the region with the highest representation of women in the world, at 35.1%.

Globally, the share of women Speakers of parliament increased to 23.8% (up 1.1 percentage points). Cambodia and Cote d’Ivoire elected women Speakers for the first time.

Well-designed and implemented quotas continue to be a significant factor in increasing women’s representation. The 43 chambers that had some form of quotas elected 28.8% women MPs on average, versus 23.2% in countries without.

Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest improvement among all regions with an increase of 3.9 percentage points in 2023 elections compared to previous ballots in the same countries. The biggest gains were in Benin, Eswatini and Sierra Leone, enabled by quotas. ( With ANI Inputs )

Source: muslimmirror.com

https://muslimmirror.com/eng/uae-ranks-5th-globally-in-women-in-parliament-2023-ipu-report/

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Iran subjecting women to ‘draconian’ surveillance on hijab rule: Amnesty

06-03- 2024

PARIS: Iranian authorities are subjecting women to widespread surveillance to enforce the obligatory headscarf, even inside cars, and then imposing punishments including the confiscation of vehicles, Amnesty International said on Wednesday.

The Islamic republic’s leadership was in 2022 shaken by mass protests that saw women denounce the dress code but has made clear it has no plan to abandon the obligatory hijab imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Amnesty said in a report, based on testimony from over 40 women inside Iran published ahead of the March 8 International Women’s Day, that women were being targeted with “widespread surveillance” in public spaces and “mass police checks” targeting women drivers.

It said pictures captured by surveillance cameras or reports from plain clothes agents using police app Nazer identify licence plates of vehicles with female drivers or passengers deemed to have violated the rule.

The women then receive text messages ordering them to report to the police and hand over the vehicles as punishment. It said hundreds of thousands of such orders to impound vehicles have been issued.

The cars can then be released in some cases after 15-30 days once “arbitrary” fees are transferred and written pledges obtained to observe compulsory veiling.

“In a sinister attempt to wear down resistance to compulsory veiling... Iran’s authorities are terrorising women and girls by subjecting them to constant surveillance and policing,“ said Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, denouncing “draconian tactics”.

It said authorities have also conducted mass random checks, with police pulling over the women drivers to check if their cars are to be confiscated.

Access to transport, airports and banking services is regularly denied and made conditional upon women wearing a headscarf, Amnesty said.

Those defying the rule face prosecution and in January 2024 a flogging sentence of 74 lashes was implemented against a young woman, Roya Heshmati, for appearing unveiled in public.

Protests erupted in September 2022 following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the hijab rule.

The demonstrations subsided in the face of a crackdown that saw hundreds killed and thousands arrested.

Iran’s parliament in September 2023 passed the “Bill to Support the Culture of Chastity and Hijab” which increases punishments for those deemed to have violated the rule.

It now awaits approval from the Guardians Council supervision body.

Source: thesun.my

https://thesun.my/world/iran-subjecting-women-to-draconian-surveillance-on-hijab-rule-amnesty-MK12184228

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 URL:   https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/zarith-sofiah-queen-malaysia-palestinians/d/131860

 

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