Muslim Artist Mahbuba Maqsoodi, First Female Artist Ever Be Chosen For The Special Christmas Stamp, Makes History In Germany
New Age Islam News Bureau
01 December 2024
• Muslim Artist Mahbuba Maqsoodi, First Female Artist Ever Be Chosen For The Special Christmas Stamp, Makes History In Germany
• "Trying To Make Bangladesh Part Of India": MunniSahaBangladesh Woman Journalist Mobbed In Dhaka
• Bringing ‘Pateh’ To The World: Sara Qashghai’s Artistic Reinterpretation Of Iranian Needlework
• Afghan Women Arrested For Begging ‘Raped And Tortured’ By Taliban
• Iran Urges Expulsion Of Israel From UN Women’s Commission
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-mahbuba-maqsoodi-female-germany/d/133882
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Muslim Artist Mahbuba Maqsoodi, First Female Artist Ever Be Chosen For The Special Christmas Stamp,Makes History In Germany
Christoph Strack
01-12-2024
We meet Mahbuba Maqsoodi in her Munich studio, sitting among sketches and colourful mock-up drawings. One of this year's special Christmas postage stamps issued in Germany features one of her artworks. "I'm happy. I feel honoured.," she told DW.
Maqsoodi says that while making art, she "always tries to stimulate ideas and encourage the viewer towards contemplation, and also reflection, to move them. In this case, with respect to the subject of birth. It would be nice if this stamp made people think about this heavenly light again."
She was unaware that she is the first female artist ever be chosen for the special Christmas stamp — and that it is also the first contemporary artwork to be featured.
In fact, since the German postal service Deutsche Post began issuing Christmas stamps in 1969, they have never printed an image by a living contemporary artist, nor an artwork by a woman. So this is a milestone in both respects.
Mahbuba Maqsoodi, now 67, was born in the western Afghan city of Herat. As an adult, she worked there as a secondary school teacher. Her sister Afifa ran the city's largest girls' school — and was shot dead on the street by an Islamist in 1979.
Following the killing, Maqsoodi quickly left the country with her husband, Fazl Maqsoodi. She moved to Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in Russia, where she had received an art scholarship. After graduating, it was impossible for Maqsoodi to return home to Afghanistan due to the civil war.
The Maqsoodis and their two young sons arrived in Munich in 1994 as refugees, and were quickly granted asylum. They have long been German citizens, "But my foundation is Afghanistan — the early years," she says. "That was instilled in me."
In Munich, Maqsoodi's artistry was discovered by experts working in glass workshops. They encouraged her to start designing stained glass windows for churches. That eventually led to her shaping one of the most spectacular modern art projects in German ecclesiastical spaces in recent years, at the Tholey Benedictine Abbey, in the federal state of Saarland.
The 13th-century abbey is Germany's oldest monastery. Once dark and sooty, its monks undertook a 15-year-long renovation, and it is once again shining.
The abbey church's most important elements are its stained glass windows, which characterize the interior space. Three were designed by Germany's world-famous artist, Gerhard Richter and Maqsoodi designed 29 of them.
Her colors now dominate the nave of the church. This outstanding glass artist's work was practically unknown in Germany before the project, even though she had already produced commissioned window designs in the US — in Tennessee, Texas and Nebraska — and for a church in Austria.
Following the completion of the Tholey Abbey church windows, Maqsoodi has become better known in Germany and has been engaged to complete stained glass windows for other churches and church institutions.
Maqsoodi is Muslim — and an avowed humanist. She paints for all people, regardless of their religious beliefs. For her, the "Christmas window" of the Tholey Abbey church series — now just five years old — is an image of "heavenly light." It is this window that was chosen for the special Christmas stamp. "The path of interpretation is free. That's the beauty of any artwork," she says.
Germany's Federal Ministry of Finance has been the official issuer of stamps in this country since 1995. The Protestant Church alternates annually with the Catholic Church in proposing a motif to the Ministry. Two years ago, it contacted Maqsoodi to ask if it could recommend the Tholey "Christmas window" as a motif.
Following her approval, the massive image of the window which is more than four meters tall, was reduced to the stamp size by graphic designers Susanne Wustmann and Dieter Ziegenfeuter, whose practice is based in Dortmund.
Maqsoodi's typically powerful colors and the image's dynamic scene are clearly visible in the tiny stamp format. She was certain the large design would translate well to the smaller format because she always considers different vantage points while working: "So that you can view a work up close and also from far away — and it is still effective."
Over the past ten years, the special Christmas stamp has had a circulation of between 2 to 4 million. "It would be great if this stamp would encourage people to become re-engaged with this heavenly light," says the artist. "And perhaps they will also visit Tholey and experience the complete cycle of artworks, to see the windows in all their glory, and be touched by them."
Maqsoodi hopes her own life and work will also be an inspiration to young artists who have recently come to Germany, including those from crisis regions. "Art is my language and medium — which is why I have never given up hope," she says. "Carrying several cultures within you, and being open to them, is a wonderful asset."
Source: Www.dw.Com
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https://www.dw.com/en/muslim-artist-mahbuba-maqsoodi-makes-history-in-germany/a-70923075
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"Trying To Make Bangladesh Part Of India": MunniSahaBangladesh Woman Journalist Mobbed In Dhaka
by:Saikat Kumar Bose
Dec 01, 2024
Bangladesh journalist Munni Saha was heckled by a mob in Dhaka
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Kolkata:A mob surrounded senior Bangladesh journalist MunniSaha in Dhaka last night and accused her of spreading misinformation and "doing everything to make Bangladesh a part of India". Ms Saha was heckled as she kept saying, "This is also my country". Eventually, a police team came and took her into custody.
According to reports in Bangladesh media, Ms Saha was wanted in a case linked to a student's death during the anti-reservation protests in the neighbouring country that led to its former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster. Police said Ms Saha was rescued from Dhaka's Kawran Bazar area, where a mob had surrounded her.
Rezaul Karim Mallik, a senior officer of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star Newspaper, "People handed her over to the police. She suffered a panic attack. We have released her after considering her health condition and the fact that she is a woman journalist." Ms Saha has been asked to seek bail from court and comply with police summons in the future.
In a video that has now gone viral, Ms Saha is seen surrounded by a mob. A voice is heard accusing her of misguiding people regarding the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles mutiny that claimed 57 lives. "You are doing everything you can to make this country a part of India. The blood of students is on your hands," the journalist is told as she nods in denial.
"How can you be a citizen of this country and harm this country," she is told. Ms Saha responds, "How have I harmed? This is also my country."
The 55-year-old journalist is the former news head of Bengali channel ATN News. After the Sheikh Hasina administration was toppled, she and several other journalists were charged with crimes against humanity.
The heckling of Ms Saha comes amid concerns over the condition of minority Hindus in Bangladesh after the regime change. A Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested in Dhaka last week after a Hindu community's protest demanding legal protection and a ministry for minority affairs. The Hindu priest, who was earlier associated with ISKCON, faces a sedition case, allegedly for his remarks on the targeting of Hindus.
ISKCON has now said that two more monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, have been arrested after they met Chinmoy Krishna Das. The vice-president of ISKCON Kolkata also said that rioters had vandalised the ISKCON centre in Bangladesh.
Following Hasina's ouster, an interim government helmed by Grameen Bank founder and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has taken charge. Over the past few months, multiple reports of minority Hindus being targeted in Bangladesh have emerged.
In the aftermath of the priest's arrest, India expressed concern over the rise of "extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation" in Bangladesh.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that India has consistently raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with the Bangladesh government. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has urged the interim government in Bangladesh to take steps to protect minorities.
Source: Www.Ndtv.Com
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Bringing ‘Pateh’ to the world: Sara Qashghai’s artistic reinterpretation of Iranian needlework
Omid Memarian
1 December 2024
Sara Qashghai, photographed with one of her intricate Pateh pieces, 2024. Photo courtesy of the artist.
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Sara Qashghai’s work with Pateh, a traditional Iranian needlework art, offers a fresh and contemporary interpretation of a centuries-old craft. Pateh, distinct to the city of Kerman in southeastern Iran, is a form of embroidery where wool, silk, and sometimes gold threads stitch intricate designs, often of flowers, birds, and vibrant patterns.
Yet, through her mastery of seven distinct sewing techniques, Qashghai transcends traditional motifs, weaving not just images but complex narratives that convey emotions and stories with remarkable depth. By pushing the boundaries of this ancient art form, Sara elevates Patehinto a medium for sophisticated storytelling, communicating her feelings, reflections, and powerful social messages in a way that feels both intimate and universally resonant.
This art dates back centuries and has roots in the Persian Safavid era, with the earliest known examples from 1868. It has long been a way for the people of Kerman to bring the colors of nature into their homes, compensating for the lack of greenery in the arid desert landscape.
Despite its rich history, Pateh has declined in recent years due to economic challenges. Qashghai’s work marks a powerful return to the art’s original depth and complexity. She carefully selects materials and uses seven distinct stitching techniques, some of which have been overshadowed in the industry. As she says, “I use the threads to speak in a way that aligns with the theme. Each stitching technique and color carries its own meaning.”
Qashghai’s journey into Pateh began after studying historical preservation and fine arts. She completed her bachelor’s in historic preservation and pursued her higher education in painting. Qashghai worked as a restorer of antique wooden objects for over a decade, but eight years ago, she shifted her focus to Pateh. Her work gained recognition when the Aran Gallery in Tehran began showcasing her pieces. Since then, she has exhibited widely, including in prestigious Los Angeles and San Diego galleries. Her work is featured at the Advocartsy Gallery in Los Angeles and the Mingei Museum in San Diego. Her exhibitions abroad highlight her commitment to elevating Pateh on the global art stage while staying true to its cultural roots.
Through her collaboration with local artisans, Qashghai expresses her emotions and social concerns through thread, combining personal narratives with traditional techniques. She reflects on how her work brings Pateh back into the global art scene.
In an interview with Global Voices, Qashghai discusses her unique artistic journey, which blends creativity with cultural preservation.
Source: Globalvoices.org
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Afghan women arrested for begging ‘raped and tortured’ by Taliban
GerganaKrasteva
November 30, 2024
Afghan women detained by the Taliban for begging have spoken of rapes, beatings and forced labor.
After regaining power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Islamist group declared a war on women and girls, systematically violating all aspects of their rights.
While in prison, they claim they were subjected to sexual abuse, torture and forced labour, and witnessed children being beaten and abused, according to a report by Zan Times.
PUL-E ALAM, AFGHANISTAN -- JANUARY 17: An Afghan woman begs for money from passing cars in the snow, with a child huddled beside her, on the Kabul road south to Pul-e Alam, Afghanistan, on January 17, 2022. The UN World Food Program warns that 98% of Afghans are not getting enough to eat, due to a severe drought, the onset of winter, and the collapse of the economy and and freezing of Afghan and donor funds after the Taliban takeover of the country in August, 2021. The UN has made an emergency appeal for $5.5 billion to feed the hungry and forestall further economic collapse. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)
An Afghan woman begs for money from passing cars in the snow, with a child huddled beside her, on the Kabul road south to Pul-e Alam (Picture: Getty)
A mother-of-three told the media outlet that was forced to move to Kabul and beg on the streets for food when her husband, who was in the national army, disappeared after the tumultuous takeover in the summer of 2021.
She claims that she spent three days and nights in a Taliban jail. Initially, she was made to cook, clean and do laundry for the men working there.
She was then told she had to be biometrically tested and fingerprinted and when she resisted she was beaten until she was unconscious. She says that she was then raped.
‘I wondered who would feed them if I weren’t here. Who can I complain to? No one will care, and I’m afraid they’d arrest me again if I spoke up. For my life and my children’s safety, I can’t say anything.’
The victim also said that she and two other women were raped while in detention, and that the attacks caused her severe psychological trauma and depression.
According to Taliban officials, more than 50,000 people have already been ’rounded up’ for begging in Kabul alone since the law was introduced at the end of May.
Source: Metro.co.uk
https://metro.co.uk/2024/11/30/afghan-women-arrested-begging-raped-tortured-taliban-22096672/
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Iran urges expulsion of Israel from UN women’s commission
November 30, 2024
TEHRAN – Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, KazemGharibabadi, has demanded Israel's expulsion from the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW).
In identical letters to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN Economic and Social Council President Bob Rae, UNCSW Chair Abdulaziz M. Alwasil, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, Gharibabadi condemned Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
Gharibabadi declared, “The presence of the criminal Zionist regime…which has turned Gaza into a slaughterhouse for civilians…in the UN Commission on the Status of Women…is an end to the credibility of international institutions.” He cited the UN's report showing that nearly 70% of the over 44,000 deaths in Gaza were women and children, mostly in attacks on residential buildings.
He detailed the horrific toll on children, stating, “The child-killing Zionist regime kills a child in Gaza every 10 minutes. More than 17,000 Palestinian children have been martyred…and more than 255,000 Palestinian children in Gaza have lost their fathers or mothers.” He further highlighted the devastating impact on Lebanese women, including increased miscarriages and maternal deaths due to the bombings.
Gharibabadi asserted, “It is no longer a secret to anyone that the Zionist regime has violated the fundamental rules of international law…in Gaza and Lebanon on a very large scale,” citing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. He condemned the “U.S. and certain Western governments’ support” for these actions.
He concluded: “It is absolutely clear that the Zionist regime…should never be allowed…to have a seat in or rejoin human rights institutions, including the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.”
Source: Tehran Times.Com
https://tehrantimes.com/news/506946/Iran-urges-expulsion-of-Israel-from-UN-women-s-commission
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-mahbuba-maqsoodi-female-germany/d/133882