Afghanistan
Afghan rights activist Aziza Rahimzada has been nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize – an award previously won by Malala Yousafzai – and, like her Pakistani counterpart, hopes to spread her message of universal education and fundamental rights for Afghanistan’s youth.
Australia
A man attacked a 21-year-old Muslim woman outside the State Library of Victoria. The man then reportedly held a knife at a Muslim boy, 16, who tried to intervene. Although the police launched an investigation, a police spokesperson was quoted as saying, “We do not believe the offender tried to pull off the victim’s hijab,” adding that investigators did not believe a weapon was used.
India
The Supreme Court of India has expressed concern over Muslim women facing arbitrary divorces and bigamy. Justices have said this is an issue of gender discrimination that has been neglected, but that must be addressed.
Iraq
A recent survey published by the Iraqi Women’s Journalists Forum (IWJF) found that eight in 10 women in Iraq have suffered some form of sexual harassment.
Malta
A niqab ban has been proposed in Malta and the Muslim community has called on legislators to vote against it as this would violate the rights of Muslim women. Earlier this month, civil liberties minister Helena Dalli was quoted saying that the burqa and the niqab “are not garments that one would associate with this community, so a clearer ban on face coverings should carry no impact on the vast majority of Muslims in any way.”
Morocco
Morocco’s National Council for Human Rights has recommended that men and women should have an equal share in inheritance. This recommendation has caused a lot of controversy.
Saudi Arabia
It has been reported that more and more Saudis are opting for the “misyar” marriage due to unaffordable living expenses. The misyar is a type of marriage contract with the stipulation that the couple give up certain rights of a normal marriage, such as living together and the wife’s right to housing and living expenses.
Sweden
In 2007 Iman Aldebe was commissioned to create the hijab hat that now forms part of the official Swedish police uniform for those female Muslim officers who choose to wear it. Aldebe explains how, in the past, many Muslim women in Sweden felt that they could not apply for jobs that imposed regulations regarding dress. The result was that their career options could be limited. Her designs seek to address this gap.
U.K.
Sara Khan is determined to protect young Muslim women from the lure of extremism through Inspire, a women’s rights organisation that is at the forefront of the British government’s ideological campaign against ISIS.
US
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