May 2011

Zambia: Young Women, Harmful Cultural Practices

Publication Date: 
December 2, 2010
Source: 
World YWCA

Some cultural practices are progressive. Others are harmful to women and girls and they perpetuate abuse. These practices relegate women to inferior positions with respect to property, inheritance, marriage and decision making. In most cases, culture is used as an excuse to continue various forms of abuse that promote sexual, physical and psychological harm.

Armenia: Court Limits Mother's Rights over Religion - Appeal Granted

Publication Date: 
May 17, 2011
Source: 
JW-Media


YEREVAN, Armenia—After a court decision jeopardized a mother’s parental rights with her young son, Margarit Hovhannisyan one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, appealed the ruling with Armenia’s Cassation Court. Her efforts paid off on April 1, 2011, when the Cassation Court, unanimously granted her request.

On November 10, 2010, the Court of Appeal upheld a trial court ruling which restricted Ms. Hovhannisyan’s parental rights and limited her access to her young son solely because she was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Cassation Court declared that the rulings of the lower courts were unlawful and ordered a new trial.

United Kingdom: Muslim women fighting extremism

Publication Date: 
April 30, 2011
Source: 
The Guardian
‘To say that Muslim women are oppressed or don’t contribute is so patronising’ . . . Sara Khan. Photo: Graham Turner


Tehmina Kazi wears modest western dress and believes in plurality and diversity within her faith, . For her pains, she has been labelled a whore, admonished for not wearing the hijab and accused, inaccurately, of wearing short skirts by people she has never met, writing online.

When she defended after he said evolution was compatible with Islam, she had to go to police after receiving threats of her own.

Bangladesh: Women Defy Islamic Clergy

Publication Date: 
April 28, 2011
Source: 
IPS


DHAKA, Apr 28, 2011 (IPS) - Bangladeshi women are pushing government to implement the recently approved National Women Development Policy (NWDP) 2011, which has met with strong resistance from Islamic clergy.

Leaders and activists of the Jatiya Mahila Sangstha (National Women’s Organisation) recently held rallies and formed human chains across major cities demanding the policy’s immediate enforcement.