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
------
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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