Pune Institute Cancels Media Award for Kashmiri Journalist, Safina Nabi, Jury Refuses to Attend Event in Protest
New Age
Islam News Bureau
19 October 2023
·
Pune
Institute Cancels Media Award for Kashmiri Journalist, Safina Nabi, Jury
Refuses to Attend Event in Protest
·
Birmingham
Club Aims To Get Muslim Women Into Archery
·
Forgetting
Afghan Women’s Suffering Is A Profound Tragedy: Powerful Women’s Movement in
Afghanistan
·
Limitations
on Afghan Women Harms 20-year Gains: Lord Ahmad, UK Minister
·
Police Hunt
For Masked Man Sexually Assaulting Muslim Women On London Buses
·
Hijab Of Muslim
Woman; More Than A Headscarf
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/pune-media-award-kashmir-safina-nabi/d/130934
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Pune Institute Cancels Media Award for
Kashmiri Journalist, Safina Nabi, Jury Refuses to Attend Event in Protest
Courtesy
Safina Nabi
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October 18, 2023
New Delhi: Kashmiri journalist Safina
Nabi, who was selected for a media award instituted by the journalism school
run by the Pune-based Maharashtra Institute of Technology-World Peace
University (MIT-WPU), got a rude shock as her award was cancelled on the eve of
the award presentation ceremony, which was held in the institute’s premises
today. The award was cancelled by the university’s management in the face of
right-wing political pressure, The Wire has learned. The institute authorities
were tight-lipped about the incident.
Nabi’s report, ‘The half widows of
Kashmir’, appearing in Scroll, had been chosen the winner in the category of
‘journalism that promoted empathy, understanding and inclusivity in society’.
It brought out the longstanding plight of the ‘half widows’ of Kashmir who continue
to be denied their property rights decades after the disappearance of their
husbands. The reporting for the story was aided by the Pulitzer Centre on
Crisis Reporting.
Her story had been unanimously chosen
from dozens of entries by a seven-member jury comprising three members from the
institute and four external members, namely Sunanda Mehta, resident editor of
The Indian Express, Pune edition, Sandeep Adhwaryu, cartoonist at The Times of
India, Sanjeev Ratna Singh, head of the media school at Bennett University and
M.K. Venu, founding editor of The Wire.
Nabi had been informed that she had won
the award in a phone call from the director, Department of Media &
Communication at MIT-WPU Dhiraj Singh, as well as an email from him, on October
11.
The email Safina Nabi received.
Nabi told The Wire that the institute
had made arrangements for her to travel for the award ceremony, and she was
supposed to leave on October 17 for Pune. However, on the afternoon of October
16, she received a call from an unknown faculty member who said the award had
been cancelled and so she should no longer travel to Pune.
“Everything was in place and for a week
they kept reaching out for travel arrangements etc,” she said. “I was supposed
to travel on the 17th of October and on the 16th of October around 2 o’clock in
the afternoon I received a call on the other side of the phone was a woman who
introduced herself as one of the faculty members of the university. She
mentioned that they are canceling my award and I am not supposed to travel now.
When I asked for the reasons she mentioned that there is a lot of political
pressure that they are facing for awarding me. She also said it would be highly
risky for me to travel or be present at the venue.”
Thinking that this was some sort of a
prank call, Nabi then reached out to Rajeesh Kumar who is an assistant
professor at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism to check about
the authenticity, as he had been her single point of contact till then. “To my
surprise, he was clueless and requested to be given some time to cross-check,”
she said. “He called me back sometime and confirmed that they were actually
canceling my award and he was sorry. I requested they put all of this over
email and give me the reasons as to why are they doing so. After this Dhiraj
Singh called me who mentioned the same thing and didn’t agree to put anything
over email. They were just calling me and giving me the reason that there is a
lot of political pressure on the university not to felicitate me.”
Nabi then reached out to the jury, who
too had not been told about the cancellation.
On learning about the cancellation of
Nabi’s award, which was publicly announced by the institute in a press
statement last Saturday, the jury members refused to attend the event where
they were to participate in a discussion on “media and democracy”.
Jury members say they were “shocked” to
hear about the award being cancelled. “Three jury members were in Pune to
attend the event and participate in a discussion (Sunanda, Sandeep and I). On
learning of the cancellation, we discussed amongst ourselves and decided that
the best statement to make would be to not attend the event,” Venu told The
Wire.
“Kashmiri journalists are being
subjected to altogether different level of censorship and harassment which is
totally unconscionable. That too led to my decision not to attend the event,”
Venu added.
Source: thewire.in
https://thewire.in/media/pune-institute-cancels-award-for-kashmiri-journalist-jury-refuses-to-attend-event-in-protest
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Birmingham Club Aims To Get Muslim Women
Into Archery
Fazeelat
Sharif joined the club with her daughter
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Audrey Dias
October 18, 2023
An archery club has been set up in a bid
to get more Muslim women to take part in the sport.
Crescent Archers, based in Birmingham,
is attracting beginners of all ages.
The news comes as a report published
this year by the Muslimah Sports Association (MSA), found 97% of women surveyed
wanted more involvement in sport and 37% were not involved in any.
Jamila Bi, who set up Crescent a year
ago, said there had been a "phenomenal" response to it.
"It has been really, really
positive," she said.
"We have had women, who are in
their 60s, take part, which is absolutely fantastic.
"We have seen bonds form between
relations, father and son, mother and daughter and it has become a really
family-orientated sport.
"It is good for not only their
physical but their mental wellbeing as well, it has improved their
concentration levels, it has brought self-esteem, it has brought confidence
up."
Fazeelat Sharif wanted a way to spend
time with her daughter - and archery has done the trick.
"She actually liked it and then I
got involved and then we started to compete with each other and just have
fun," she said.
The group has been supported by Archery
GB and the Commonwealth Games Legacy programme, as well as local team Andalus
Archers.
Andalus and the Crescent club came
together for a session to raise money to support people affected by the
Moroccan earthquake, in September.
Riaz Mohammed, from Andalus, said they
provide kit for people to take part and qualified coaches to help people
develop.
"It doesn't matter if you're young
or old, if you're strong or not, whether you are abled or disabled, it is a
sport everyone can participate in," he said.
"That has shone out by the numbers
of people attending and the diversity of people attending as well."
Source: bbc.com
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-67147599
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Forgetting Afghan Women’s Suffering Is A
Profound Tragedy: Powerful Women’s Movement in Afghanistan
Fidel Rahmati
October 18, 2023
The Powerful Women’s Movement in
Afghanistan (PWMA) stresses the importance of seeking justice for survivors of
the Herat tragedy and the Balkh explosion. They want to ensure that Afghan
women’s problematic situation is not overlooked.
Through the issuance of a statement,
this movement has emphasised that the Taliban administration has marginalized
human rights and women’s rights, restricting them with “violent” tools and
decrees, which have pushed half of society to the margins.
It is worth noting that the forces of
the Taliban authorities arrested NedaParwani, one of the women protestors,
along with her child and husband approximately a month ago in Kabul. About ten
days later, Julia Parsi, a senior member of the “Spontaneous Women’s Protest
Movement of Afghanistan,” was also detained along with her child by these
forces in Kabul.
In the statement issued by the Powerful
Women’s Movement of Afghanistan, they state that “alongside seeking justice for
the survivors of the Herat earthquake and the suicide attack in Balkh, this
movement emphasizes that forgetting the dire situation of women is a deeper and
more painful tragedy that leads society towards decline.”
On the other hand, MunisaMubariz, a
women’s rights activist, says that the recent conflicts between Israel and
Hamas have drawn the attention of the global community and caused Julia Parsi
and Nida Parwani to be overshadowed and forgotten in the interim government’s
prisons.
Ms Mubariz further states to Khaama
Press News Agency, “While the international community, especially the United
States, has turned its back on Afghanistan and is not paying attention to its
human rights situation, the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflicts have diverted
attention from the violation of women’s rights by the Taliban.”
The Taliban administration has
consistently suppressed street protests by women, and women activists have
previously experienced imprisonment in the interim government’s prisons.
The Powerful Women’s Movement of
Afghanistan has called on the United Nations to seriously follow the cases of
NedaParwani and Julia Parsi and break the silence for the freedom of these
imprisoned women.
Despite nearly a month since these two
women’s rights activists were detained, the Taliban administration has not
provided any information regarding the reason for their detention and their
whereabouts.
The interim government believes that
Afghan women’s rights are ensured within the framework of Islamic laws and sees
no need for demands for rights.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/forgetting-afghan-womens-suffering-is-a-profound-tragedy-pwma/
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Limitations on Afghan Women Harms
20-year Gains: Lord Ahmad, UK Minister
Fatima Adib
October 18, 2023
The foreign affairs committee of the UK
parliament arranged a meeting on the county’s policies vis-a-vis Afghanistan.
Lord Ahmad, UK’s Minister of State for
the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, who was also speaking at the meeting
said that women and girls’ rights have had setbacks in Afghanistan after the
withdrawal of foreign troops from the country.
Lord Ahmad said that ongoing limitations
on Afghan women and girls will damage the gains of the past two decades in
Afghanistan.
“And I think many of the gains that we
were able to achieve, particularly on the rights of minorities, on the rights
of women and girls and the progress we saw in education -- those are real
setbacks on what we had achieved and that has been reflected and evidenced by
what we have seen in the subsequent… I think it is deep regret for many who
operated that NATO team,” said Lord Ahmad, UK’s Minister of State for the
Middle East, North Africa, South Asia.
The British official also criticized the
Afghan caretaker government’s policies against Afghan women and girls.
“The Taliban’s philosophy is nothing to
do with Islam, it is a draconian subversive philosophy which is against
different people and different communities and as we know against women and
girls, ” said Lord Ahmad, UK’s Minister of State for the Middle East, North
Africa, South Asia.
Lord Ahmad further added that UK has
provided the Afghan people with over a half million pounds in the first 18
months of the Islamic Emirate rule over Afghanistan.
“We provided over half a million pounds
in that first 18 months… to reach 50 percent Afghan women with our humanitarian
assistance,” said Lord Ahmad, UK’s Minister of State for the Middle East, North
Africa, South Asia.
Earlier, UK’s defense minister, in his
interview with the Daily Mail on the first anniversary of the Islamic Emirate,
said that the UK had come with correct goals to Afghanistan and added that the
UK had done much for Afghanistan’s security, economic development, education
and other sectors while arguing that the goals had failed.
He had also said that UK’s mission in
Afghanistan failed with the loss of hundreds of its soldiers.
Source: tolonews.com
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185610
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Police hunt for masked man sexually
assaulting Muslim women on London buses
Barney Davis
October 19, 2023
Police have issued photos of a masked
man they want to identify after more than ten Muslim women were sexually
assaulted on buses across west London.
Scotland Yard said a suspect targets
Muslim women choosing to sit next to them on the bus before launching into the
sex attack. Police say he never says a word to the victim before or after the
sexual assault.
In two images released on Thursday the
masked man looks directly into the camera with police hoping the public will recognise
his face or clothing.
The spree of attacks came between
February 2022 and September this year occurring largely in the afternoons and
evenings on the bus network around Ealing, Hammersmith, Westminster and
Hounslow areas.
For many of the offences, the suspect or
the victim have boarded the bus at Westfield Shepherds Bush, Ealing Broadway,
or Acton High Street.
Det Sgt Matthew Brown, said: “We are
aware of social media posts regarding this individual and appreciate the
concern that these incidents will cause. We would like to assure the community
that we are doing all that we can to identify and locate the suspect.
“While his face is covered in the
images, we are hoping that anyone who knows him will recognise him or his
clothing and get in touch.
“Similarly, if you believe that you may
have been targeted by this man, but have not yet spoken with police, please do
get in touch – at the very least so that we can know that you are okay and are
being supported.”
Source: independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/man-london-buses-muslim-attacks-b2432295.html
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Hijab Of Muslim Woman; More Than A
Headscarf
October 18, 2023
TEHRAN – In Islam, women and men are
required to dress modestly. Islam enjoins specifically on women to cover their
head with a piece of clothing called veil or Hijab in the presence of men
outside of the immediate family, also known as Mahram.
The hijab has always been a topic for
debate, or sometimes, a discreetly avoided subject.
The hijab is a concept. Yes, the biggest
representation of the word is a fabric that covers the hair and neck area of a
Muslim woman – but it's surprisingly so much more than that.
Hijab encourages modesty, both
physically and spiritually. When a woman covers her head as per Allah’s
command, it is her way of showing her belief in Allah and accepting all his
commands. It makes the connection between the Almighty and that woman stronger.
“And tell the believing women to lower
their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments1 except
what normally appears.2 Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not
reveal their hidden adornments except to their husbands, their fathers, their
fathers-in-law, their sons, their stepsons, their brothers, their brothers’
sons or sisters’ sons, their fellow women, those bondwomen in their possession,
male attendants with no desire, or children who are still unaware of women’s
nakedness. Let them not stomp their feet, drawing attention to their hidden
adornments. Turn to Allah in repentance all together, O believers, so that you
may be successful.” [Holy Quran, 24:31]
The hijab represents a woman’s
submission to her Creator and her connection with the faith. Wearing the hijab
is a commandment from God, and refers to anything that conceals. The hijab is
not limited to physical clothing, it's also about your behaviour and the way
you conduct yourself.
The hijab is a test for Muslim women. It
is clear from the Quran and the Hadiths that hijab is a religious obligation, which
a woman has to undertake.
First and foremost, dressing modestly
and wearing the headscarf allows you to please Allah, as you are fulfilling the
commandment set by Allah for women.
One allegation often thrown at the way
Muslim women dress is that it hides them, allowing them to be ignored by
society. This is simply not true.
The hijab in every way is helpful to
women morally, socially and psychologically as it gives them protection
completely. The hijab is not new to this world. There was a hijab in every
religion as the people changed the commands of God with time by their own
choice and for their own profit, they have also erased the rule of hijab as
well. If we go through history, we come across the rules of hijab everywhere in
its own way.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly underlined the importance of the
issue of hijab. He has emphasized that not only does hijab not mean the
isolation of women, but it is also something that brings security and dignity for
women. “Islam has obligated women to observe modest dressing (hijab). Hijab is
a means of providing security: by observing hijab, Muslim women provide
security both for themselves and for Muslim men. Wherever hijab is taken away
from women, wherever they push women towards bareness and nudity, security is
taken away primarily from women and secondarily from men and the youth. To
preserve a healthy and secure environment wherein women can pursue their tasks
and men can carry out their responsibilities, Islam has set hijab as an
obligation: hijab is an outstanding obligation by Islam and its advantages are
as I described.” (March 10, 1997)
A Muslim woman respects the rules and
laws of the Quran and her dear prophets and follows wholeheartedly the rules of
hijab. The woman who loves the Quran never feels hijab as a burden in her life
and feels proud of her hijab. In Islam hijab comes under law so it remains
until today but in other religions, it almost vanished as it is not under any
law.
“Hijab gives women freedom and identity.
In spite of the senseless and superficial propaganda campaigns launched by
materialistic people, hijab does not shackle women. By ignoring hijab and
failing to cover what Allah the Exalted has asked them to cover, women
undermine their own dignity and value. Hijab brings about dignity. It makes
women more valuable. It increases women's dignity and respect. Therefore, it is
necessary to appreciate hijab and to be thankful to Islam for emphasizing
hijab. Hijab is among the blessings of God,” Ayatollah Khamenei noted. (May 12,
2012)
Source: tehrantimes.com
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/490271/Hijab-of-Muslim-woman-More-than-a-headscarf
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/pune-media-award-kashmir-safina-nabi/d/130934