Fundamentalisms

Uganda: Homophobia, Africa and Evangelical Neocolonialism

In her urgent call to action concerning “the wind of state homophobia [that] has swept over the African continent”—particularly its most “draconian” manifestation in Uganda’s anti-homophobia Bill—Cesnabmihilo Aken’ova remarks, “One cannot but wonder where the new bill is coming from.” In addressing this question, we need to pay attention to external as well as internal forces. Not surprisingly, we find lurking behind homophobic panics and public morality crusades, in Africa as elsewhere, a complicated mix of neocolonial, economic, and domestic policing agendas, writes Rosalind P. Petchesky*

Aceh: Public Caning of Accused Adulterers Deplored as Un-Islamic

A human rights activist on Thursday slammed the humiliating punishment meted out to a teacher in Aceh Barat and the married woman he was suspected of having an affair with after the pair were marched through a village naked, tied to a pole and then brutally beaten. “To parade people around naked is not sanctioned in Islam,” said Zulfikar Muhammad, an activist from a coalition of human rights organizations in the staunchly Muslim province.

Royaume Uni : Engager la responsabilité d’Amnesty International

Le Réseau international de solidarité Femmes sous lois musulmanes (WLUML), exprime sa solidarité à Gita Sahgal, une alliée de longue date, active dans diverses organisations, collectifs et mouvements engagés dans le combat pour le respect des droits humains universels. WLUML a appris qu'elle a, à maintes reprises, demandé des explications sur l’association d’Amnesty International à l'organisation "Cageprisoners", dirigée par Moazzam Begg, autour de la campagne judiciaire du Contre-Terrorisme. Le 07 février 2010, Sahgal était suspendue de sa fonction de Chef de la Division Genre d'Amnesty International. Vous pouvez agir en signant la Pétition globale en soutien à Gita Sahgal qui compte maintenant plus de 1800 signatures.

Malaysia: Open letter by FORUM-ASIA regarding lawsuit against SIS

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned over a lawsuit filed against Sisters in Islam (SIS), a group of women human rights defenders advocating for women’s rights in Malaysia. We received information that on 22 March 2010, the Malaysian Assembly of Mosque Youths (MAMY) filed a lawsuit against SIS through its lawyer, Mr. Sahlan Saruddin. The MAMY is questioning the use of the word “Islam” in the website and publications of SIS. It claims that “Islam” is a word controlled and limited by the Registrar of Companies and can only be used after obtaining permission from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) and related government agencies which deal with Islamic affairs. The MAMY also claims that SIS only uses the word “Islam” to attract people’s attention and its use of this word causes confusion to the public. The letter to Prime Minister’s Office is attached.

UPDATE: Malaysia: Kartika’s caning sentence commuted to community service

In a Press Statement issued by Sisters in Islam (SIS), the Malaysian women's group, one of the most well-known nongovernment groups in this Muslim-majority country, registered their happiness with the decision by Sultan of Pahang, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, to commute Kartika’s caning sentence to community service. According to Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno's father, Kartika received a letter dated March 26 from the Pahang state Islamic and Malay Culture Council on Wednesday, informing her the Pahang Sultan had decided to spare her the caning. Kartika, a former part-time model, was sentenced in July last year to six strokes of the cane and a fine RM5,000 for drinking beer in December 2007 at a beach resort, in violation of 'Sharia' laws. Meanwhile, The Malaysian Assembly of Mosque Youth (MAMY) is seeking an order from the High Court to prevent SIS Forum (Malaysia) from using “Sisters In Islam” as its name and identity because of its criticism of the application of these laws.

UPDATE: Indonesia: Cancellation of 4th ILGA-Asia Conference

The 4th ILGA ASIA conference was to take place in Surabaya, Indonesia from the 26th to the 28th of March 2010, however, due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances, the conference had to be cut short. ILGA is the only worldwide federation campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) rights and was established in 1978. The aim of ILGA is to work for the equality of LGBTI people and their liberation from all forms of discrimination. It seeks to achieve this aim through the worldwide cooperation and mutual support of its members. Update on: Indonesia: LGBT Activism Under Attack in Surabaya

Indonésie: L’annulation de la 4ème Conférence d’ILGA-Asie régionale

La 4ème Conférence d’ILGA-Asie qui devait se tenir à Surabaya en Indonésie entre le 26 et le 28 mars a malheureusement due être écourtée à la suite de déplorables incidents. ILGA est la seule fédération internationale à faire campagne pour les droits des lesbiennes, gays, bisexuel(le)s, transsexuel(le)s et intersexué(e)s (LGBTI). Créée en 1978, elle œuvre à obtenir l’égalité pour les personnes LGBTI et l’arrêt de toute forme de discriminations. La coopération internationale et le soutien mutuel de tous les membres doivent permettre à ILGA d’atteindre ces objectifs.

Algérie: Des femmes ont décidé d’enlever leur «voile» après l’avoir porté des années

Le débat sur le voile n’a jamais été tranché. Pourtant, beaucoup de femmes ont déjà pris parti. D’autres ont même changé de camp après l’avoir longtemps porté. Faisant preuve de courage pour certaines, de témérité et d’insolence pour d’autres, elles ont décidé d’ôter cet habit à connotation religieuse. Elles témoignent.

UPDATE: United Kingdom: Hold Amnesty International Accountable

On Friday 9th April, 2010 Amnesty International announced Gita Sahgal's departure from Amnesty International. You can read her statement in full here. On 29 March 2010, the initiators of “The Global Petition: Restoring The Integrity of Human Rights” responded to Amnesty International's letter in which Claudio Cordone, Interim Secretary General of Amnesty International (AI), stated "Moazzam Begg and others in his group Cageprisoners also hold other views which they have clearly stated, for example on whether one should talk to the Taleban or on the role of jihad in self-defence. Are such views antithetical to human rights? Our answer is no, even if we may disagree with them...". Reiterating the imperative today for the public accountability of an organization such as Amnesty International, the initiators of the Global Petition set out why they believe that AI's attitude to defensive jihad raises very serious concerns: "The call for ‘defensive jihad’ is a thread running through many fundamentalist and specifically ‘salafi-jihadi’ texts. It is mentioned by Abdullah Azzam, mentor of Osama bin Laden, and founder of Lashkar e Tayyaba. It is the argument of ‘defensive jihad’ that the Taleban uses to legitimise its anti human rights actions such as the beheading of dissidents, including members of minority communities, and the public lashing of women..."

Russie: Une des kamikazes était une adolescente

Son visage paraîtrait innocent, avec ses lèvres boudeuses, ses joues roses, l'air juvénile, si les clichés où elle apparaît ne la montraient brandissant crânement un pistolet ou une grenade : à 17 ans, elle fut probablement l'une des deux kamikazes du métro de Moscou. "Il a été établi à quasiment 100 % que c'est bien elle qui a commis l'acte terroriste", a indiqué, vendredi 2 avril, à l'agence Interfax une source des forces de l'ordre au Daguestan, région pauvre et reculée du Caucase du Nord, dont la jeune fille était originaire.