Middle East

The Constitution of Bahrain

The Islamic Sharia, in so far as it is interpreted and exploited as the principal source of legislation in Bahrain, has a negative impact on women's rights and dignity in the private sphere. With regards to the public sphere, women are entitled to participate in public affairs and enjoy political rights including the rights to vote and to stand for elections.

UPDATE: Saudi Arabia: Court ratifies guilty verdict on 75 year old women

On 25 August the court of Al-Shamli, north of Hail, found Mrs Khamisa Sawadi guilty of the charge of "khilwa" (mingling with two young men to whom she was not immediately related), and the higher court in Riyadh ratified their verdict. One of the two young men who was tried alongside Sawadi may face additional charges for filing a law suit against the religious police. This is in spite of the fact that in May the Court of Cassation refused to ratify the verdict and returned the case to Al-Shamli court with several observations on the previous verdict, including the rejection of her breastfeeding claim and the fact that she is old.

UPDATE: Iran: Human rights lawyer Shadi Sadr released from jail

Women Living Under Muslim Laws is very happy to announce that Shadi Sadr was released from Evin Prison on Tuesday, a little after 11 a.m. She returned home to her family earlier than the 6 p.m. time the court had said she would be released. Shadi’s family was planning to welcome her upon her arrival when they saw her standing at the door. Apparently, Shadi Sadr had arrived several hours earlier so that her friends and family would not have to gather outside the prison.

Iran: Women human rights defender, Shadi Sadr, beaten and arrested

On Friday 17 July 2009, at around 11:30 a.m., our colleague Shadi Sadr was abducted by a group of officers in civilian clothes while she was walking on Keshavarz Boulevard, Tehran, to a mosque for Friday prayers.

Iran: Women human rights defender, Shadi Sadr, beaten and arrested

The Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) international solidarity network is deeply concerned by the violent abduction and detention without charge of human rights lawyer, Ms. Shadi Sadr, by state agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

العـــــــــــــراق حقـــوق النســـــــــاء تحت هجوم : لإحتـــــــــلال، الدستــــــــور والتعصبــــات

Arabie Saoudite : Coups de fouets et prison pour une veuve de 75 ans

Femmes sous lois musulmanes et ses alliés demandent que l’Arabie Saoudite démontre son attachement aux droits humains et libère Khamisa Sawadi, Fahd Al-Anzi et Hadiyan Bin Zein et révoque l’ordre d’expulsion.

Saudi Arabia: Imprisonment and Whipping of 75 year-old Woman

WLUML, and its allies, demand that Saudi Arabia demonstrate its commitment to human rights and release Khamisa Sawadi, Fahd al-Anzi, and Hadiyan bin Zein and revoke the order of deportation.

Iran: Call for immediate release of Alieh Eghdamdoust

Dozens of women’s and human rights groups condemn the recent arrest and imprisonment of Iranian women’s rights activist Alieh Eghdamdoust. She will serve a sentence of three years imprisonment for participating in a lawful and peaceful demonstration in June 2006/1385 in Haft-e Tir Square in Tehran.

Bahreïn: Harcèlement de la défenseuse des droits humains Ghada Jamsheer

Front Line est profondément préoccupée suite à la campagne de harcèlement présumée contre la défenseuse des droits humains Ghada Jamsheer, présidente du Women's Petition Committee (WPC).