NEWS & ARTICLES
WOMEN’S RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
Take Action to Defend Rights of Citizens to Assemble in Egypt

WOMEN’S RIGHTS ACTIVISM
Woman Opens Fire on Religious Police Officers in Saudi Arabia
Feminism in the Muslim World
Appeal to Ban Driving with Niqab
Women's Rights Gain Focus in Saudi Arabia
Innovative Prospective to Women in Bahrain

GENDER & POLITICS
Women Resolve to Win Seats in Oman Shura Council
Program to Promote, Support Female Political Candidates in Bahrain

GENDER RIGHTS
French Cabinet Unites to Pass Burka Bill that has Split Country
… and French Parliament Lays Roundwork for Veil Ban
Canadian Girl Finally Leaves Saudi Arabia Kingdom
Government Urged to Immediately Release Detained Egyptian Ahmadis
Sectarian Divisions and an Uncertain Iraqi Future
Child bride Granted Divorce in Saudi Arabia
… and in Yemen, Divisive Views
Girl 12 Granted Forced Marriage Divorce from Husband 80

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
Shadi Sadr and Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh Sentenced to Jail in Absentia
Murder in the Name of Family Honour in Palestine
Assaults on Israeli Human Rights Organisations & BDS victories
Ramallah Conference on Honour Crimes

BOOKS & REPORTS
GENDER RIGHTS
Launch of UK Feminista Newsletter
Islam and Feminism in first issue of Contestations
AWID launches the Young Feminist Wire
Reinterpreting 'qawwam'
Journal of Middle East Women's Studies - Spring 2010 Issue
2010 State of the World's Mothers Report
Arab Guide on Engaging Men & Boys to End Violence Against Women
Arab Human Development Report 2009

NEWS & ARTICLES
WOMEN’S RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
Take Action to Defend Rights of Citizens to Assemble in Egypt
The rights of citizens in Egypt to assemble and express their views are increasingly coming under threat. The government of Egypt has stepped up efforts to clamp down on dissent from political activist and civil society organisations. Political protests are being violently suppressed and a new law threatens the independence of civil society organisations. http://www.wluml.org/node/6287

WOMEN’S RIGHTS ACTIVISM
Woman Opens Fire on Religious Police Officers in Saudi Arabia
In an unprecedented outburst toward Saudi Arabia's religious police, a married woman shot at several officers in a patrol car after she was caught in an "illegal seclusion" with another man in the province of Ha'il on Tuesday. "She shot at the officers to distract them and allow the man to escape instant detention," said Sheik Mutlak al Nabet, a spokesman for the religious police in Ha'il. He added that the unnamed woman's husband has filed an official report, asking for his wife to be punished and stripped of her Saudi nationality. For more information plz follow this link: http://www.wluml.org/node/6319

Feminism in the Muslim World
One of the most contentious issues within Islam today is the role of women in society. Conservatives endorse a narrow reading of Islamic texts to justify restrictions on women's mobility, legal rights and access to the public sphere, including health care, education and the workplace. Extremists among them use violence to impose their views. Moderate Muslims, on the other hand, find plenty within the Qur'an to support a full role and equal rights for women. http://www.wluml.org/node/6250

Appeal to Ban Driving with Niqab
A famous political online community forum is pushing for liberal MPs to submit a question to the Minister of Interior Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah on why women wearing niqabs are allowed to drive without being fined. According to a law passed in 2006, women covering their faces are not allowed to drive cars in Kuwait, but this law has not been put into practice. The posted announcement on the online forum quotes driving safety as the reason for this incentive, and says that since other MPs are submitting questions which demand that the law be practiced and followed thoroughly, this is one of the laws that has been ignored for a while and, it insists: "It is about time that it is put into practice." http://www.wluml.org/node/6245

Women's Rights Gain Focus in Saudi Arabia
After years of stymied efforts, the reform focus in Saudi Arabia is centering on women’s rights. A recent survey by the Researchers Center for Women’s Studies in Riyadh (Markaz Bahithat li Dirasat al-Mar’a) examining Saudi newspapers and websites showed that from mid January to mid February 2010 some 40 percent of articles in print media and 58 percent of articles on websites treated women’s issues. Empowering women has become a priority for local activists and various initiatives are springing up to secure their basic rights. The most recent and ambitious of these efforts is a national campaign, driven by local actors, calling for women’s participation in municipal elections scheduled for autumn 2011. http://www.carnegieendowment.org/arb/?fa=show&article=40786&utm_source=A...

Innovative Prospective to Women in Bahrain
" Women: A New Paradigm" is a project considered as a continuation of the former conference titled “ Advancement of Women, a Humanistic Perspective” which was organized by the Bahrain Women Association for Human Development in November 2007 . This conference provided new dimensions to the role of women in life as ”God’s Caliph on Earth” focusing on her humanistic role and introducing a regenerative understanding for some traditions and misconceptions in relation to the position and role of women in Islamic Societies.  http://www.bahrainws.org/

GENDER & POLITICS
Women Resolve to Win Seats in Oman Shura Council
 Even as no woman was elected in the Shura elections held in May 2007, Omani women have resolved not to give up. After waiting in queue in front of the school premises in 2007 to enroll themselves in the elections, 84 seats were won by men candidates. However, this did not deter the women, instead, they firmed up their determination to dream big with a belief “sky is the limit”. For more information plz follow this link: http://www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?id=518687&news_type=Top&lang=en

Program to Promote, Support Female Political Candidates in Bahrain
 A national programme to support women in this year’s municipal and parliamentary elections in Bahrain was launched here on Wednesday.
Women who met with a poor response in the previous two elections in Bahrain will be promoted through a host of activities, including training programmes, awareness campaigns and partnership deals.
General public will be informed about women’s participation through mobile phone messages, youth forums and networking sites such as facebook.  http://www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?id=518454&news_type=Top&lang=en

GENDER RIGHTS
French Cabinet Unites to Pass Burka Bill that has Split Country
 Rising tension over the burka has led to violent attacks, as the French cabinet yesterday approved a draft law to ban garments "designed to hide the face" in the country. For more information plz follow this link: http://www.wluml.org/node/6316

… and French Parliament Lays Roundwork for Veil Ban
French lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution asserting that face-covering Muslim veils are contrary to the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity on which France is founded. The non-binding resolution, passed 434 to 0, lays the groundwork for a planned law forbidding face-covering veils in public, including in the streets. One lawmaker compared women who fully cover themselves to "phantoms" and "walking coffins." The bill calling for a global ban on such garments goes before parliament in July. A draft text is to be reviewed by the Cabinet on May 19. A similar veil ban is in the works in neighboring Belgium. For more information plz follow this link:  http://www.wluml.org/node/6304

Canadian Girl Finally Leaves Saudi Arabia Kingdom
A dual Indian and Canadian national who complained to the Canadian government that her father was keeping her in Riyadh against her will has finally left the Kingdom. According to the Canadian Embassy, Nazia Quazi, 24, left the Kingdom on Monday. “Quazi, who was given all possible assistance by the Canadian mission, has flown out of Saudi Arabia,” said Sidney Fisher, spokeswoman for the Canadian Embassy in Riyadh. For more information plz follow this link: http://www.wluml.org/node/6299

Government Urged to Immediately Release Detained Egyptian Ahmadis
Emergency Law used to detain citizens for two months because of their religious beliefs: The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today urged the Minister of Interior to release immediately nine Egyptians detained under the Emergency Law for two months because of their affiliation with the Ahmadi confession. The organization called on the Public Prosecutor to order an end to the Supreme State Security Prosecutor’s investigation of all detainees on charges of “contempt of religions” and hold to account those officials responsible for the arrest and interrogation of citizens solely for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of belief and expression. http://www.wluml.org/node/6292

Sectarian Divisions and an Uncertain Iraqi Future
I am back in Baghdad after seven years away, writes Hadani Ditmars who returns to find a broken Baghdad.Since 2003, a million people have died in Iraq in the wake of post-invasion violence.Sectarian wars have torn the country apart, foreign troops have established huge military bases, and politicians who have sworn to crack down on militias have their own private armies. This once secular nation has been scarred by extremism, with terrible consequences for women, gay people and religious minorities. As Government ministries remain feeding troughs for cronyism and sectarian patronage, national reconciliation remains elusive. http://www.wluml.org/node/6291

Child bride Granted Divorce in Saudi Arabia
A girl aged 12 has won a divorce from her 80-year-old husband in Saudi Arabia in a case that may help to introduce a minimum age of marriage in the kingdom for the first time. Update on Saudi Arabia: Rights panel take up child bride case http://www.wluml.org/node/6256

… and in Yemen, Divisive Views
The sad case of Elham Assi, a 13-year old Yemeni girl who died from internal hemorrhaging after being raped by her 23-year-old husband, has certainly sparked conversation in Yemen over the longstanding practice of child marriage. But the conversations -- taking place everywhere from Sanaa kitchens to the parliament building -- aren't exactly what you'd expect. To read the full story follow this link http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/04/30/yemens_child_bride_back...

Girl 12 Granted Forced Marriage Divorce from Husband 80
In a case that could spur the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to set minimum age limits for marriage, a girl who was wed at age 11 to an 80-year-old man has been granted a divorce.
For more information plz follow this link:  http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/12-year-old-saudi-girl-wins-divorce...

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
Shadi Sadr and Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh Sentenced to Jail in Absentia
Iran has sentenced in absentia award-winning women's rights activist Shadi Sadr and another fellow activist to jail and lashes over a protest in 2007, their lawyer told ILNA news agency on Sunday. Former MP Mohsen Armin, who is a senior member of a reformist party whichJJ backs opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, was also arrested in Tehran on Sunday, his daughter told a reformist website. The revolutionary court "has sentenced Shadi Sadr, 35, to six years in jail and 74 lashes for acting against national security and harming public order," lawyer Mohammad Mostafai said. For more updates on Iran Iran: Last two women human rights defenders released from prison on heavy bail http://www.wluml.org/node/6295

Murder in the Name of Family Honour in Palestine
At a landmark conference held recently in Ramallah in the occupied Palestinian territory, delegates were told of documented cases of “honour” crimes where women and girls had been poisoned, strangled, shot and forced to commit suicide by arelatives because their alleged behaviours had tarnished the family “honour”. These behaviours included talking on the phone with a man, being late or the mere rumour or supposition that an illicit behaviour may have happened. For more information plz follow this link: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/MurderInTheNameOfFamilyHonour.a...

Assaults on Israeli Human Rights Organisations & BDS victories
The current wave of assaults on Israeli peace and human rights organizations, intended to silence and restrict us, only convinces us of the importance of our work and of the impact it has on the Israeli establishment, write the Coalition of Women for Peace. The past year has seen many encouraging developments: The BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) movement has been growing and “To ourselves, Arabs and Jews, Palestinians and Israelis, we need to say: We must not lose hope. We will continue this struggle until the Palestinian people are free and justice is done. And to the people of Gaza and all the Palestinian people we say: Do not despair, we will end the occupation!” - Abir Kopty, CWP activist. The CWP 2009 report is attached below. http://www.wluml.org/node/6263

Ramallah Conference on Honour Crimes
At a landmark conference held recently in Ramallah in the occupied Palestinian territory, delegates were told of documented cases of “honour” crimes where women and girls had been poisoned, strangled, shot and forced to commit suicide by arelatives because their alleged behaviours had tarnished the family “honour”. These behaviours included talking on the phone with a man, being late or the mere rumour or supposition that an illicit behaviour may have happened. http://www.wluml.org/node/6269

BOOKS & REPORTS
GENDER RIGHTS
Launch of UK Feminista Newsletter
UK Feminista's states that its mission is to get as many people as possible actively campaigning for a world where women and men live as equals. In the UK alone, 100,000 women are raped every year, women are paid 23% less than men, and just 22% of MPs are women. For too long, the myth has persisted that we live in a 'post-feminist' age - and the struggle for gender equality assumed to be over. But the times they are a-changin'. Feminism is stepping out from the margins and reclaiming its position as one of the most important movements for social justice of our age. http://www.wluml.org/node/6294

Islam and Feminism in first issue of Contestations
The first issue of Contestations, an online peer-review journal dedicated to creating a forum for discussion and debate about women's empowerment and gender justice, has just been released. The first issue contains an article by Hania Sholkamy about Islam and Feminism, as well as responses to Hania's article from Ziba Mir-Hosseini, Islah Jad, Heba Raouf, Mulki el-Sharmani and Mariz Tadros. http://www.wluml.org/node/6276

AWID launches the Young Feminist Wire
Welcome to AWID’s new online portal that brings together young feminists working on gender equality and women’s rights all over the world. The idea is simple: we believe in the powerful opportunities the internet presents for activists today. This Wire is a resource for feminists of all genders and ages, especially young women. http://www.wluml.org/node/6273

Reinterpreting 'qawwam'
Director of the New Delhi-based Centre for Peace and Spirituality, editor of the monthly Al-Risala journal and author of almost two hundred books, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is one of India’s best known Islamic scholars. In this interview with Yoginder Sikand, he talks about issues related to Islam and women. http://www.wluml.org/node/6258

Journal of Middle East Women's Studies - Spring 2010 Issue
JMEWS advances the fields of Middle East Women’s studies, gender studies, and Middle East studies through contributions from multiple disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. It is the official publication of the Association for Middle East Women’s Studies (AMEWS). A subscription to JMEWS in print or combined print/electronic format is a benefit of membership in the Association for Middle East Women’s Studies. To join AMEWS and subscribe to JMEWS, please click here http://inscribe.iupress.org/toc/mew/6/2
 
2010 State of the World's Mothers Report
Direct Link to Full 52-Page Report:
http://www.savethechildren.org/publications/state-of-the-worlds-mothers-...
 
Arab Guide on Engaging Men & Boys to End Violence Against Women
The global aid agency Oxfam Great Britain, along with Lebanese women’s rights organization, KAFA, released a groundbreaking publication that will play a pivotal role in bringing men across the Arab world into the fight to end violence against women.   www.womendialogue.org/sites/default/files/Study.pdf

Arab Human Development Report 2009
Challenges to Human Security in the Arab Countries
http://www.arab-hdr.org/publications/contents/2009/ch4-e.pdf