Sama
told how the costumes of each player are designed according to the societal
structure of Saud Arabia. It it a revamped version of Abaya
------
Pakistani-Born
US Woman Pleads Guilty To Bitcoin Fraud to Help IS
Roya
Rahmani Appointed as Afghanistan’s New Ambassador to United States
Number
of Women in Public Enterprises Lags behind Men in Turkey
Female
Professional Athletes in Iran Lack Sponsors, Government Support
5
Rights Saudi Women Acquired In a Year
UAE
Bats for Gender Balance at Aqdar World Summit
'Future
of Women Is the Future of All': Iraqis Stand Up Against Crimes Targeting Women
Afghanistan-
U.S. Helps Afghan Women In Financial Sector
UN
Urges End of Violence against Women in Iraq
Former
Bigg Boss Contestant Sara Khan Trolled For Her Burqa Remark, Issues an Apology
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: http://www.newageislam.com/islam,-women-and-feminism/new-age-islam-news-bureau/women-ride-horses,-play-sports-and-make-history-in-saudi-arabia/d/117006
--------
Women
Ride Horses, Play Sports and Make History in Saudi Arabia
November
28, 2018
Long
gone are the times when only men dominated the sports in Saudi Arabia. During
the Mecca championship Saudi women equestrian riders showcased their skills.
These women have been showcasing their talents not only in local tournaments
but also international equestrian events. Same Hussein, leader of Sama El-Khail
team explained more about their presence at the event.
She
talked about how 14 minutes have been allocated to each team so they can
showcase their skills by jumping barriers, picking up wedges and a horse show.
Team of 5 was highlighted throughout the even but not only for their love and
passion of equestrian but also for their unique outfits too.
Sama
told how the costumes of each player is designed according to the societal
structure of Saud Arabia. It it a revamped version of Abaya which is customised
accordingly. These outfits even had a hint of embroidery to make it shine. She
also talked about how the team keeps up with this passion by practicing
extensively which ends up in good competition. This team of 5 were awarded by
the Prince Khaled Al Faisal at the closing ceremony. Winners make a mark on the
sports predominanted with men.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/world/women-ride-horses-play-sports-and-make-history-in-saudi-arabia/
--------
Pakistani-Born
US Woman Pleads Guilty To Bitcoin Fraud to Help IS
November
28, 2018
A
Pakistani-born American woman has acknowledged her role in defrauding numerous
financial institutions in a bitcoin scheme to help the militant Islamic State
(IS) group.
Prosecutors
say Zoobia Shahnaz, a naturalised US citizen living on Long Island, pleaded
guilty in federal court in Central Islip on Monday to providing material
support to a foreign terrorist organisation.
The
27-year-old was charged with laundering bitcoin and wiring money to the IS
group. After quitting her job, she was stopped at Kennedy Airport last year
attempting to fly to Pakistan.
Shahnaz’s
lawyer has said she was trying to help Syrian refugees.
She
faces up to 20 years in prison.
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/11/27/pakistani-born-us-woman-pleads-guilty-to-bitcoin-fraud-to-help-is/
--------
Roya
Rahmani Appointed as Afghanistan’s New Ambassador to United States
Nov
24 2018
President
Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has appointed Roya Rahmani as the new ambassador of
Afghanistan to United States, it has been reported.
According
to reports, Rahmani was previously serving as the Ambassador of Afghanistan to
Indonesia and has recently been appointed as the Afghan Ambassador to U.S.
This
comes as the former Afghan Ambassador to the United States Dr. Hamdullah Mohib
resigned from his position nearly three months ago and assumed charge as
National Security Adviser.
The
former National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar had earlier stepped down
from his position.
In
the meantime, reports indicate that President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani had earlier
proposed to his senior adviser for UN affairs Farkhunda Zahra Naderi to assume
charge as the new Ambassador of Afghanistan in United States.
However,
the offer was reportedly rejected by Naderi who announced her resignation as
senior presidential adviser in Kabul today.
https://www.khaama.com/roya-rahmani-appointed-as-afghanistans-new-ambassador-to-united-states-02805/
--------
Number
of Women in Public Enterprises Lags behind Men in Turkey
November
28, 2018
Turkey
strides toward the inclusion of more women in the workforce through
government-sponsored initiatives, but the number of women remain far below men
in state-owned public enterprises known as KİTs.
Figures
compiled by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) show that 90.3 percent of the
staff in those enterprises, ranging from a natural gas company to a major tea
producer, are men. This means roughly only one out of 10 staff members is a woman.
Figures presented in a Finance Ministry report from 2017 highlighted the need
to increase the number of women in public enterprises, especially when compared
to public institutions, like the civil service and bureaucracy, which have
managed to raise the number of women.
In
the past decade, the country sold most KİTs, which were conceived in the early
years of the Republic of Turkey, as a way to boost the economy. A number of
companies with strategic value still remain under state ownership though. The
number of personnel employed by those enterprises was reduced to 101,306 from
about 200,000 in 2000 and a quarter of them are older employees.
Striving
to break male domination in the country's workforce, Turkey has managed to
significantly boost its female employment rate to 34.7 percent, a substantial
increase compared to figures more than a decade ago. The increase is partly the
result of incentives by the government for working women, especially mothers
who often choose caring for their children over full-time jobs. Gender equality
and affirmative action for women are high on the agenda of the government. In
his party's manifesto ahead of the last elections, President Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan pledged to end "every tradition of the age of ignorance targeting
women."
The
Family and Social Justice Ministry already works to empower women with projects
to improve gender equality for women, who have lagged behind men in every
field, courtesy of a patriarchal mindset. In recent years, the government
rolled out a series of incentives for working women, from longer maternity
leaves to financial support for daycare needs, as well as payments to
grandparents caring for their grandchildren with working parents.
The
government set the bar higher to increase the employment rate to at least 41
percent in the near future and decrease illegal labor by women to at least 30
percent. As for female entrepreneurs, the government plans to extend loans to
more women willing to set up their own business. Women are already provided up
to TL 50,000 ($9,549) for loans.
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2018/11/28/number-of-women-in-public-enterprises-lags-behind-men
--------
Female
Professional Athletes in Iran Lack Sponsors, Government Support
27
November 2018
Female
professional athletes in Iran are not supported by sponsors or the government,
and are not paid according to their contracts.
Mahshid
Ashtari, one of the top players on the Iranian Women’s National Ping Pong, has
not been able to change her racket for six months and must go through the
championship games in Finland with a secondhand racket.
She
noted lack of support from sponsors as the main problem of female professional
athletes and said, "It is difficult for women to attract sponsors,
especially if the athlete takes action on her own."
Mahshid
Ashtiari added, "The representative of Butterfly is a sponsor who does not
support very well in Iran. I called its representative in Iran and told them
that my situation is different from the rest, I am the top player in Iran. Now
I'm having trouble even for my racket which is the most important thing, let
alone the rest of the issues. Each racket is close to one million toumans, and
for us, who play professionally, it must be changed at least every two
months."
Fatemeh
Amel, the goalkeeper of the women's futsal team in Razavi Khorasan Province
said, "We still do not have a sponsor. All of the players are native and
have a lot of pressure on them. No player has ever received any money."
The
women's futsal team in Razavi Khorasan does not have any specific time and
place for training. The disorganized management leads to the failure of many
players who have jobs or are studying to participate in the training.
Therefore, the wage of the player who is employed is reduced and this is
irreparable. If practices are held in the afternoons at a specific time and
place so that all players can take part, the training can be held in an
organized manner. But unfortunately, there is no system for planning and
providing these facilities to female professional athletes in the country. (The
state-run ISNA news agency – November 26, 2018)
https://women.ncr-iran.org/iran-women-news/5600-female-professional-athletes-in-iran-lack-sponsors-government-support
--------
5
Rights Saudi Women Acquired In a Year
By
Fatma El-Bakry
Nov.
27, 2018
CAIRO
- 27 November 2018: Since coming to office, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman has taken several procedures to boost women's position in the Saudi
society. Such decisions enabled women to regain most of their stolen rights.
Recently,
the kingdom has witnessed a great advancement in women rights which started by
giving women the right to drive and allowing them to work as drivers on
different applications inside the kingdom.
Additionally,
Saudi females have been granted the right to attend matches in stadiums since
January and are now able to join the army and General Intelligence.
Furthermore,
in September, the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques gave an order to draft a
law against sexual harassment.
Thanks
to Bin Salman, Saudi females have become decisions makers, as they started
participating in the academic, social and political life and took part in the
municipality elections as voters and elects in August 2018.
Needless
to say, Saudi women play an influential role in developing the kingdom, being members
in the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, participants in different
international and regional delegations of the kingdom and diplomats who
represent Saudi Arabia abroad.
“There
is no difference between men and women in Islam; they are the same.Almost half
the habitants of Saudi Arabia are women.Women pay the same sum of money that
men pay; thus they should get the same rights,” the crown prince said in one of
his interviews.
He
also assured “I support Saudi Arabia; Saudi females are almost half of the
inhabitants so I support them.”
Bin
Salman also said that women are not obliged to travel with a custodian as long
as she is safe.
http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/2/61108/5-rights-Saudi-women-acquired-in-a-year
--------
UAE
Bats for Gender Balance at Aqdar World Summit
Nov
27, 2018
Abu
Dhabi: UAE’s Minister of Community Development Hessabint Essa Buhumaid on
Tuesday said that her government focuses on the balance between the two genders
rather than on the equality, as the “balance is deeper and more comprehensive.”
Speaking
on “Gender Parity: the Mean for a Balanced Society,” during Aqdar World Summit,
Buhumaid said, “The directives of the UAE government focus on the balance
between the two genders rather than on the equality, as the balance is deeper
and more comprehensive.”
It
was the second day of the second edition of Aqdar World Summit held under the
theme “Role of Human Empowerment in Developing Stable Societies: Sustainable
Development” at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in Abu Dhabi.
“Gender
balance is the equal distribution of opportunities and resources between women
and men. It is one of the important issues in the UAE Vision 2021, which seeks
to raise the level of women’s participation in society, especially in the economic
sphere, by giving them equal opportunities with men in all fields to contribute
to the process of comprehensive and sustainable development while taking into
consideration their different needs,” she said.
She
further stressed that the concept of balance is not a new one for the UAE. “It
is part of the culture of the people of this region for thousands of years and
it is a tangible value rooted in the country’s culture before even the union,”
she added. Buhumaid also talked about the equal rights provided to women in the
Constitution of the UAE.
“The
Constitution of the United Arab Emirates stipulates that women shall enjoy full
rights as of men and includes provisions that affirm the principle of social
equality and the full right of women to education, work, and jobs, same as men.
The Constitution enshrines all that is stated by Islam regarding women’s rights
in regards to inheritance and ownership, which was the case before the
establishment of the Union,” she stated.
She
also added that the leadership of the Gulf nation has been keen to establish
women’s economic institutions such as the Emirates Businesswomen Councils and
the Businesswomen’s Councils in each emirate.
“According
to 3-year reports, we have 12,000 women entrepreneurs in the UAE who own over
22,000 projects, with investments exceeding 45 billion dirham. Emirati
businesswomen make up about 21 per cent of all businesswomen in the GCC, and it
is the highest percentage,” she said.
Buhumaid
further stated that statistics reflect that women hold about 66 per cent of
government jobs in the country and about 37.5 per cent in the banking sector.
Also, there are about 11,000 investment projects run by businesswomen, worth
over $ 4 billion.
“Furthermore,
women in the UAE are at the forefront of the board of directors, and are
expected to be ranked first in the world very soon in light of the rise of the
female component and leadership in many fields,” the minister asserted.
The
activities of the second day of the Summit also featured a youth circle called
“The Impact of Economic Growth on Youth and Finding the Decent Job” which was
attended by guests from the Ministry of Economy Youth Council.
Also,
a number of workshops were organised parallel to the conference sessions
including a workshop under the title “99 Dialogues with the Soul” presented by
Saud Mohamed Hasan Mohamed AlHammadi, Acting Head, Department of Preaching and
Counseling, and Abdulla Mohammad Ahmad Al Ansari, Director of Community
Research, Awareness and Public Relations in Erada Center for Treatment and
Rehab.
Another
workshop “My Journey: Back to Life after Addiction” was coordinated by Ali
Hassan Al Marzooqi, Health and Research Department Director of National Rehab
Center, where he hosted a recovering addict and showcased the reasons for his
falling for addiction and the challenges that faced him as an addict, as well
as how successful the program was and how it helped him to get back to life.
Held
on the sidelines of the conference, the exhibition hosted more than 50
exhibitors from the both private and government sectors from the region and the
world. Visitors and participating delegates were introduced to the latest
projects and solutions in the field of sustainable development and human
empowerment.
https://www.siasat.com/news/uae-bats-gender-balance-aqdar-world-summit-1438495/
--------
'Future
of Women Is the Future of All': Iraqis Stand Up Against Crimes Targeting Women
27
November, 2018
"Raise
your voices! Where are your voices? Raise your voices against killings of
women, raise your voices for women!" exclaimed the scores of women and men
at a demonstration in central Baghdad this month.
Activists
gathered near the al-Mutanabbi Statue in downtown Baghdad on November 16,
calling for the end to violence against women. Hundreds of others in the area
joined the activists, reinforcing their outcry for women and freedoms of women.
Every
year up to hundreds of women in Iraq are killed by men belonging to tribes.
They accuse women of immorality and they proudly claim to possess them and
their honour, while impeding them from any decision in life or free movement.
The
protests were planned by the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI),
with demonstrators holding large red banners stating that tribal killings of
women should be treated in the same way as the Anti-Terrorism Act. Activists
said that these unjustified killings destroyed the woman’s family life and
endangered her children for the rest of their lives.
"Every
tribe man who takes a woman’s right to life must be punished - not defended or
protected by the state," said activist and founder of OWFI, Inar Mohammed.
"The
state is collaborating with tribes in the killings of women under the guise of
dishonour to society. We are here today against these tribal killings, against
child marriages and against all violence women endure."
Inar
Mohammad, together with her fellow friends and OWFI activists, are responsible
for many shelters and safe spaces for women suffering from domestic violence or
who receive death threats from families or tribes. The headquarter of the
organisation is in the capital Baghdad and they also have four others branches
in the country. The organisation was found in June 2003, three months after the
beginning of the US invasion of Iraq.
Female
activists felt the urgent need to challenge the growing patriarchal, tribal,
and religious institutions gaining ground in Iraq. It then grew to combat all
kind of violence and the rise of the extremist terrorist and misogynistic
groups like the so-called Islamic State [IS] group.
Writer
and activist, Ahlam al-Ubaidi, stands with a young girl during the
demonstration. Grasping her shoulders, she starts to cry: "Can you see
this girl? She is just 12-years-old. Can you imagine her marrying a man of 24?
Double of her age? For us this is more than a crime, it is the rape of
childhood, and is already a killing."
Ahlam
has been an active participant in all women’s rights demonstrations and other
civil society protests at Maydan Tahrir - a main gathering point which
symbolises freedom in central Baghdad - since 2010. Although she has been
threatened and insulted many times, it has not stopped her from
protesting.
"I
will continue to protest and cry until this country changes," she says.
At
the same demonstration in Baghdad, activists from Erbil are also taking part.
"We came from Erbil because this is one the most important demonstrations
for all of Iraq," activist Kareem Bootane told The New Arab. "How can
we rebuild Iraq if women continue to be killed?"
Lawyer
Mohammad Ju’a has been working on women’s cases for 12 years but highlights his
frustration at being unable to protect or help them.
According
to the Iraq’s Penal Code, law 409, number 111 of 1969, a rapist can avoid
punishment by marrying his victim. On most occasions, the victim’s family
accept this decision to "save the family’s honour."
"Crimes
of honour are something crazy," Mohammad begins. "It is a crime and
there is no honour in a crime. One of my
clients committed suicide in Basra because she was raped, and her family wanted
her to marry the rapist. Many other women like her in Iraq have no choice. We
must fight for the future of Iraq by changing this law where a rapist or killer
is protected, not the victim."
In
the last few months many women have been victims of honour killings or public
shaming. This has increased even more since last May’s election campaign,
resulting in an outcry and demonstrations.
Journalist
Joumana Mumtaz denounced the public shaming cases against women, many of whom
were then killed.
"I
told the story of Tara Fares, a very famous Instagram star, six months
ago," Joumana tells The New Arab. "I wanted to raise awareness about
her case. She was risking her life and occasionally threatened only because she
wanted to live her life as she wished. She was killed in September. Just being
a woman in Iraq is enough of a reason to be killed."
The
Baghdad protests clearly show how more and more Iraqis are condemning the
ongoing violence against women, showing their support and taking the time to
listen.
"In
the end, the future of women is the future of all," Mohammad concluded.
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2018/11/27/iraqis-raise-their-voices-for-womens-rights
--------
Afghanistan-
U.S. Helps Afghan Women In Financial Sector
11/28/2018
One
hundred and two young Afghan women graduated on Tuesday from USAID's Promote:
Women in the Economy (WIE) Microfinance Institute Training (MFI) program.
According
to the agency's statement, the women are part of the program's second
apprenticeship session, which now includes 177 graduates. Implemented by the
Afghanistan Microfinance Association (AMA), the program equips women with
technical and managerial skills needed to secure jobs in the banking and
microfinance sectors.
Operating
in Kabul, Herat, and Balkh since November 2016, AMA has placed trainees in the
First Microfinance Bank of Afghanistan, the Afghan Rural Finance Company, the
Foundation for International Community Assistance in Afghanistan, OXUS
Afghanistan, Mutahid, Hand in Hand, and Exchangerzone. Fifty-four of the women
have transitioned to full-time jobs.
'An
important step towards improving access to finance for women-owned businesses
and self-employed women is increasing the number of women in mid- and
senior-level positions in banking and microfinance, including commercial
lending. Increasing the number of women in the financial sector, particularly
in decision-making and lending roles will make it easier for other women to
obtain financial services,' said Susan DeCamp, Gender Office Director for USAID
Afghanistan.
The
Executive Director for AMA, Najibullah Samim said, 'In addition to increasing
the number of women employees in the financial sector, the program provides
opportunities to member MFIs to hire trained and dedicated women employees that
will help them to provide better financial services to women entrepreneurs.'
USAID's
Promote: Women's Empowerment is the umbrella program that consists of four
components: Women's Leadership Development, Women in Government, Women in the
Economy, and Musharikat or civil society advocacy. This five year program
(2015-2020) has already assisted over 50,000 young women across the country,
the statement added
Promote:
Women in the Economy assists businesses that are women-owned or those employing
women to increase income growth, and provide business sustainability. It also
supports Afghan women in finding new or better jobs through career counseling
and workplace skills development.
https://menafn.com/1097755933/Afghanistan-US-helps-Afghan-women-in-financial-sector
--------
UN
Urges End of Violence against Women in Iraq
28
November, 2018
On
the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, UNICEF has
called for the end for violence against women and girls in Iraq. The call comes
amid estimates indicating that the fate of 2000 Yazidi women and girls is still
unknown after being kidnapped by ISIS during its control over Sinjar province
in Nineveh late 2014.
Despite
the exceptional and unprecedented disaster experienced by Yazidi women, the challenges
that faced other Iraqi women were not easier, mainly those caused by long wars
and violence that dominated the country over the past decade, and their
consequences on the life of women, including continuous insecurity, poverty,
and losses of husbands, sons, and family providers.
A
UNICEF report talked about unofficial figures indicating that hundreds of
thousands of women in the country are widowed, along with many cases of
violence against women in houses and streets. According to the report, in Iraq,
women and girls from different backgrounds remain at risk of violence, in their
homes, at school and in public spaces.
The
report also highlights a recent joint survey by the Government of Iraq and
UNICEF, showing that 37% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 in Iraq think
that violence towards women is acceptable. It also mentions a new UNFPA study
that shows that 63% of Gender Based Violence incidents in the country are
perpetrated by a family member.
The
report cites Peter Hawkins, UNICEF representative in Iraq, who said:
"Violence towards women and girls is a violation of human rights and has a
devastating impact on their health, well-being, and their futures. It can never
be justified. Women and girls make up half of the population in Iraq and they
have a right to live free from fear and violence and be free to fulfill their
fullest potential."
The
report also quotes Dr. Oluremi Sognuro, UNFPA representative to Iraq, who said:
“Ending violence against women and girls is not a choice, it is rather a
long-term commitment and should become part and parcel of Iraqi society through
joint efforts from all of us."
According
to the report, in areas of displacement and return, threats and risks of
violence against women and girls are higher particularly sexual violence and
exploitation, harassment and child marriage. In Iraq, girls as young as 12
years old are being married off.
"The
fate of more than 2,000 Yazidi women and girls kidnapped by ISIS is still
unknown," said Nazik Barakat, a Yazidi activist. On the International Day
for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which coincided on Monday, the
Emma Association for Human Development organized many events and activities as
part of the 16-day anti-violence campaign. Nazik Barakat, the Sinjar born activist,
told Asharq Al-Awsat that "a group of Yazidi girls from a refugee camp in
Zakho district, Dahuk province, Kurdistan, participated in various events on
the occasion."
According
to Barakat, activities included "raising slogans calling for the end of
violence and gender equality, and a play on gender-based violence in the
presence of the camp administration and staff from the Norwegian People's Aid,
the organization's partner in this program."
Some
Yazidi girls wore orange to symbolize freedom and cheered "Life is sweet
in the color of women". "The activities of the first day ended with a
march inside the camp amidst the cheers of participants denouncing violence
against women, and calling for respect and empowerment," she said. The
Yazidi activist expected that the activities on this international day will run
for more than two weeks in the province of Dohuk, and the rest of the Yazidi
regions.
On
the other hand, the Supreme Judicial Council issued Monday, October's
statistics of divorce and marriage cases in Iraq. It showed that the number of
marriages in all over Iraq amounted to 10,866, while external divorces and
separation under a court decision hit 4130 and 1611 cases respectively.
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1481536/un-urges-end-violence-against-women-iraq
--------
Former
Bigg Boss Contestant Sara Khan Trolled For Her Burqa Remark, Issues an Apology
November
27, 2018
Popular
TV actress and former Bigg Boss contestant Sara Khan is controversy's favourite
child. Be it her wedding fiasco on TV, her nude video going viral or her recent
comment on burqa, she always manages to grab eyeballs. Sara, who was recently
in news for going nude for the poster of her song Black Heart, has recently
posted a video apologising for hurting the sentiments of Muslim community.
In
the video she says, "There is a video that has gone viral where I am seen
commenting on Islam and burqa. I didn't mean it in that way. My way of saying
it and the words used were wrong, and I am nobody and speak against any religion.
I would like to apologise to all the Muslims, who were hurt because of
me."
The
actress posted the video with a note that said, "Apologies to all the
Muslims for what I said I don't know what was I thinking. Extremely
sorry."
Recently,
while addressing the media with Rakhi Sawant, Sara Khan had commented on Burqa
and said, "Just because in Muslim community it is said that girls should
do purdah, why don't they say that men should cover their eyes. I am Muslim
myself, and I have only one complain towards those people who keep ranting
about burqa. Shame on them as to why are they seeing that thing. Why should we
be in purdah."
https://www.indiatoday.in/television/celebrity/story/former-bigg-boss-contestant-sara-khan-trolled-for-her-burqa-remark-issues-an-apology-1397277-2018-11-27
--------
URL: http://www.newageislam.com/islam,-women-and-feminism/new-age-islam-news-bureau/women-ride-horses,-play-sports-and-make-history-in-saudi-arabia/d/117006
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