Middle East Press on OIC Initiative for Muslim Women Empowerment and Fight against Extremism in France: New Age Islam's Selection, 20 October 2020
By New Age Islam Edit
Bureau
20 October
2020
• New OIC Initiative Aims To Empower Women in
the Muslim World
By Maha Akeel
• Israeli-Arab Lawmakers Reject Normalization
Deal with Emirates
By Afif Abu Much
• How France Can Boost Its Fight against
Extremism
By Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib
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New OIC Initiative Aims To Empower Women in The
Muslim World
By Maha Akeel
October 19,
2020
The
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is about to launch its own
independent organization for women — a landmark achievement in its efforts to
empower women in the Muslim world.
In August,
OIC Secretary-General Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen announced that the ratification
quorum of the Statute of the OIC’s Women Development Organization (WDO) had
been attained and thus entered into force, paving the way for this nascent
specialized organization to start its activities and play a central role in
promoting the OIC’s role in empowering women and advancing their status. This
week, the first meeting of the WDO’s council will be held to discuss the
structure and internal regulations.
The WDO was
established by virtue of a resolution adopted by the OIC Council of Foreign
Ministers in 2009 as an international specialized organization based in Cairo.
The statute of the organization was adopted in 2010. Since then, great efforts
have been exerted by the OIC and Egypt, the host country of the WDO’s
headquarters, to mobilize the ratification process, but world events during
this period hampered the momentum. Nevertheless, the support and enthusiasm for
establishing the organization was evident, as member states voiced the need for
it in order to address common challenges in protecting and promoting women’s
rights, which are recognized by Islam, and enhancing their cooperation and
exchange of experiences toward advancing women’s status in society.
The WDO
will work on developing the plans, programs and projects that are necessary to
implement the policies, orientations and decisions of the OIC in the area of
women’s development, welfare and empowerment in its member states. It is
mandated to organize events, workshops, courses and training for
capacity-building, as well as to carry out studies to enhance the role of women
in society and ensure their full rights.
During an
informal consultative ministerial meeting on women’s empowerment in the Muslim
world, held last year in Cairo, the participants identified some of the topics
the WDO will focus on once it commences its operations. Four main themes were
highlighted: The role of women in combating extremism, women’s leadership and
decision-making, protecting women against all forms of violence, and women’s
economic empowerment and financial inclusion.
Contemporary
societies are facing a real challenge in combating extremism, and involving
women in the measures and strategies developed at all stages is important.
Terrorist organizations are increasingly interested in recruiting women for
various reasons, and women are motivated or forced to join them for
ideological, social, political or economic reasons. Since the reasons and
motives are not the same, a single strategy cannot be applied in all countries,
but rather the specificity of each region should be taken into account, as well
as its political, social and cultural diversity.
On the
other hand, there are some measures and policies on which all states concerned
can agree on — in particular, the need to raise awareness about the existence
of women’s terrorism and the possibility of women’s extremism, which may be
comparable to or even more radical than that of men. In addition, there is a
need to expand the circle of those concerned with countering extremism,
especially women, by enabling them to play a proactive role in preventing and
addressing the signs and indications that can appear in their children and
social surroundings. There is also a need to involve women in the design,
implementation and evaluation of all policies, laws, procedures, programs,
plans, measures and researches pertaining to combating extremism and terrorism
in all countries, whether Islamic or not.
On the
issue of women in decision-making positions, although much progress has been
achieved in the OIC member states on this front, more efforts are required to
advance equal opportunities, promote gender justice, strengthen women’s role in
national development, and engage the youth. The marginalization and
discrimination of women, as well as the failure to integrate them into the
decision-making process, constitute some of the main obstacles facing women,
preventing them from having an effective role in the developmental process of
their societies.
As for
protecting women against violence, unfortunately women and girls continue to
suffer from abuse, domestic violence and human trafficking, particularly in
conflict zones and under occupation, as well as being subjected to harmful
practices in some countries, such as child marriage, female genital mutilation
and honor killing. Their suffering is mostly in silence due to societal
pressures, economic conditions and a lack of access to protection and legal
recourse or means of support. The role of religious leaders, judges and
security personnel is important in these matters. With regards to economic
empowerment, partnerships between the public sector, civil society
organizations, the private sector, universities, research centers and the media
are key to achieving women’s economic empowerment and involvement in the
financial field.
Clearly,
much is expected of this new OIC organization as it aims to address the
challenges and obstacles facing women and help them reach their full potential
in the Muslim world and live in dignity. The coronavirus disease crisis has
compounded the social and economic burden on women and threatens to erode
whatever gains had been made even in basic rights such as education. However,
in order for this nascent organization to succeed in its objectives, it needs
to be provided with the necessary resources, capacities and, most importantly,
political will.
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Maha Akeel is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah.
Twitter: @MahaAkeel1
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1751186
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Israeli-Arab Lawmakers Reject Normalization
Deal With Emirates
By Afif Abu Much
Oct 19,
2020
The Knesset
approved Oct. 15 the normalization agreement with the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) with an overwhelming majority. In the final vote, 80 Knesset members
voted in support of the agreement, 13 opposed it — all of them from the Arab
Joint List — and 27 chose to absent themselves from the plenum. Now that the
Knesset has approved the agreement, it will return to the Cabinet for its final
approval. It will go into effect once the UAE ratifies it.
One thing
that stuck out in the Knesset vote was the unanimous opposition to the
agreement by all members of the Joint List who were present in the plenum.
Chairman Ayman Odeh was absent due to his infection with the coronavirus, while
Knesset member Jabar Asakla missed the vote because he was recovering from
surgery. Nevertheless, the party’s public statements before the vote — linking
their consent to progress on the Palestinian front — clarified well ahead that
they were going to reject the deal. The irony is that their opposition happened
just as Israeli-Arab soccer player Dia Saba made history by playing in the
opening minutes of the game for Al-Nasr Dubai. Saba would never have been
signed by the team were it not for the normalization agreement.
This raises
an important question. Does the Joint List’s opposition to the normalization
agreement with the Emirates really represent Arab attitudes toward it? The
answer, I believe, is a resounding no.
Although
the agreement put an end to Israeli plans to annex Palestinian territory and
opened Al-Aqsa Mosque to all Muslims arriving via the UAE — something that
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu avoids mentioning — I already noted in a
previous article that opinions in the Arab public are divided on the issue.
Some Israeli Arabs oppose normalization without first resolving the Palestinian
issue out of fear that it will perpetuate the occupation and stop the creation
of a Palestinian state in the foreseeable future. But there is also a significant
number of Israeli Arabs who support the agreement, believing that it will
afford them an opportunity to build bridges and establish ties with the Arab
world, something that has been denied them until now because of their Israeli
citizenship and passports.
In a
conversation with Al-Monitor, Knesset member Sondos Saleh of the Joint List
explained her opposition to the agreement. She told Al-Monitor, “We are part of
the Palestinian people, so we will not support any agreement that would harm
the Palestinians, even if it is called a ‘peace agreement.’ I’m here to stay.
The Palestinians are here to stay. They aren’t afraid, and they haven’t given
up, even after expulsions, oppression and years of violent occupation and
military rule. One day the occupation will be over, and peace will come.”
Obviously,
the Israeli right would not miss this chance to attack the Joint List for its
opposition to the agreement. Likud Knesset member Sharren Haskel told them,
“When you vote against [the agreement], you are voting against security and
stability in the State of Israel, and against economic growth for Israel’s
Jewish and Arab citizens.”
Then there
was the reaction by the Derech Eretz faction, made up of Knesset members Zvi
Hauser and Yoaz Hendel, who prevented after the last elections Blue and White
Chairman Benny Gantz from forming a minority government with the Joint List.
They tweeted, “The members of the Joint List are not opposed to a peace
agreement with the UAE. They are opposed to a peace agreement with Israel.”
Obviously,
the attack from the government benches is hypocritical, and not really
motivated by the desire to preserve and advance the agreement with the
Emirates. In effect, it is all part of the political exploitation of the vote
to attack any future partnership between the Joint List and the anti-Netanyahu
camp. It is also part of a larger campaign to delegitimize the Arab vote. After
all, in the distant past, more than a few Knesset members from the Likud and
other Jewish parties voted against the peace agreement with Egypt, and three
Knesset members from the defunct right-wing Moledet party even voted against
the peace treaty with Jordan.
Why, then,
is it so difficult for Israelis to accept the Joint List’s opposition to the
normalization agreement?
Ambassador
Daniel Carmon — who also served in Israel’s mission to the United Nations — is
familiar with the Israeli-Arab diplomatic arena. Now retired, he is an astound
supporter of the UAE agreement, and also of Israeli-Jewish cooperation in the
Knesset. Carmon told Al-Monitor, “I was disappointed by the Joint List’s vote
against this important agreement with the UAE. Their vote sends a political
message that they oppose a process that is absolutely vital to all citizens of
Israel, in that it brings Jewish and Arab societies closer together. I do not
believe that their vote reflects the real state of mind in the Israeli-Arab
street. It just furthers the argument that there is no chance for any political
partnership with the Arab parties. Support for this agreement in no way means
foregoing a solution to the Palestinian issue. Taken together with the
agreements with Egypt and Jordan, and the enormous economic potential it
entails, it frees us from the deadlock of the past — and that is a good thing.”
Along with
the 13 no-votes from the Joint List, there were 27 Knesset members who were
absent from the plenum at the time of the vote. The most prominent of these was
former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon. He boycotted the vote, claiming that the
full scope of the agreement was not shared with the members of Knesset. Isn’t
this a vote against the agreement? And if so, why is no one condemning or
attacking them? Why is everyone reserving their anger for the Knesset members
from the Joint List?
Knesset
member Said al-Harumi from the Joint List told Al-Monitor, “There were 80
Knesset members who supported the agreement, 13 who opposed it and 27 who were
absent. But the press doesn’t talk about the 27 who walked out before the vote,
even if some of them had already addressed the plenum about it. They preferred
not to support the agreement, and they expressed that by leaving, which is a
form of taking a position."
Harumi also
refers specifically to the vote of the Joint List. "It is worth
remembering that the agreement presented to the Knesset was just an outline and
not the real agreement with all of its addenda, which is being kept secret.
Since what was released is an agreement based on President Donald Trump’s
vision for the Middle East, and that vision is based on the 'deal of the
century.' What it means is perpetuating Jerusalem’s status as the capital of
Israel and continuing the occupation in those sites sacred to Muslims and
Christians, along with the transfer of the Triangle. That is why we cannot
support this agreement," he concluded.
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/10/israel-uae-us-palestinians-donald-trump-ayman-odeh-jerusalem.html
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How France Can Boost Its Fight against
Extremism
By Dr. Dania Koleilat
Khatib
October 19,
2020
The
gruesome murder of teacher Samuel Paty in Paris on Friday has contributed to
the demonization of the Muslim community in France. Muslims inside and outside
France have denounced the act. Tareq Oubrou, the imam of a Bordeaux mosque,
told France Inter radio: “Every day that passes without incident we give
thanks.” He added: “We are between hammer and anvil. It attacks the Republic,
society, peace and the very essence of religion, which is about togetherness.”
Despite the
condemnations by Muslim leaders and public figures, who realize how harmful
such acts of terrorism are to the community at large, it is important to
analyze what drives this behavior, which basically contributes to the
stigmatizing and marginalization of Muslims.
Attacks
like this one and the shootings at the office of the satirical magazine Charlie
Hebdo in 2015 are the worst enemies of Muslim communities in the West.
Right-wing politicians use them to stigmatize all Muslims, which puts them on
the defensive, increases resentment at their presence and adds to their
feelings of estrangement from society at large. The French system is
particularly fertile ground for this dynamic because of the constitutional
principle of “laicite” (secularism). This is why the hijab is banned in public
schools.
Nevertheless,
this does not mean that communities do not have rights. The French constitution
gives the right to blaspheme, but at the same time it protects the right of
individuals to practice their faith. In short, you can insult Islam but you
cannot insult Muslims. In 2008, the famous French actress Brigitte Bardot was
fined €15,000 ($17,650) for accusing the Muslim community of destroying the
country and “imposing its acts.”
When I see
the Muslim community in France struggling to get accepted in a hard-core
secular society, I cannot help but think of the essay “Anti-Semite and Jew,”
written by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and published in the late 1940s.
In it, Sartre described the ordeals of the Jewish community in France. His
conclusion was that Jews should not shy away from the system; rather they
should be a part of it. Today, Jews are well integrated into French society
without losing their identity.
Muslims are
now on the same journey and experiencing the same struggles as they seek to reach
a state of integration without assimilation. Muslims should have a strategy —
they need to follow the advice of Sartre and use the system to claim their
rights and garner acceptance. They need to contribute to public life and use
the legal system to defend their right to practice their religion, as well as
to compel others to respect them.
In the wake
of Friday’s attack, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo retweeted a picture that showed a
message from Lea, a six-year-old, which says that if you don’t like a drawing
someone drew, you don’t kill him, you just draw a nicer one. This message, as
simple as it sounds, carries a lot of wisdom. In fact, it is similar to the
complex reflections of Sartre. Muslims need to draw a nice picture of Islam: A
picture in a French frame.
The Muslim
community needs a strategy to break the vicious cycle of discrimination
creating resentment and isolation, which in turn creates a fertile ground for
extremist ideology. The key to breaking this cycle is the feeling of belonging.
Muslims in France should feel that they belong to the system because they are
French and because they are accepted by the system as Muslim.
First and
foremost, Muslim community leaders should work with the authorities to boost
Muslim participation in public life. A 2018 study published in Foreign Affairs
magazine provided evidence that feelings of national pride and belonging are
fueled by political representation. The feeling of not being represented — or,
worse, not being accepted — makes Muslim immigrants feel like they do not
belong to the larger community. As research on group behavior suggests, such
sentiments leave people reluctant to make any effort to be integrated. They
will also tend to look for alternative sources of belonging, resulting in
further group polarization. Resorting to extremism and rejecting their new
society is one way to affirm an identity, and it is also an expression of
revenge on an environment that is rejecting them.
Muslim
participation in public life should go hand in hand with fighting Islamophobia.
So there should be a collective effort by the Muslim community to fight
Islamophobia using France’s legal framework, which denounces racism and
discrimination. It should also look for allies in the wider French society and
raise awareness that Islamophobia causes polarization, leading to extremism.
Such an endeavor should not be portrayed as an exclusively Muslim project but
as a French one that will ensure Muslims can enjoy their rights as French
citizens, meaning they can enjoy liberty, equality and fraternity.
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Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in
US-Arab relations with a focus on lobbying. She is the co-founder of the
Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building (RCCP), a Lebanese NGO
focused on Track II. She is also an affiliated scholar with the Issam Fares
Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American
University of Beirut.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1751211
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