Fundamentalisms

UPDATE: Egypt: Open All Judicial Positions to Women

The Egyptian government should act to end discrimination against women in judicial positions in all courts, Human Rights Watch said today. The Supreme Judicial Council on February 22, 2010, overruled a vote taken on February 15 by an administrative court, known as the Council of State, to bar women from its judicial positions. Despite this important ruling, women are still barred from serving as judges in other state bodies, including criminal courts, Human Rights Watch said. Update on Egypt: Women judges barred from influential court

Iran: Shameful Performance Stuns the UN Human Rights Council

As the review of Iran’s human record under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process concluded at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Iranian government demonstrated its utter lack of respect for internationally accepted norms by simultaneously accepting and rejecting recommendations of UN members with regard to addressing the critical situation of human rights in Iran, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

Egypt: Women judges barred from influential court

Judges voted on Monday to bar women from ruling in an influential court which advises Egypt's government, official media reported, in a move slammed by human rights activists. The Council of State's association voted by an overwhelming majority against appointing women as judges in the council, Egypt's MENA news agency said. "Three-hundred and eighty judges took part in the general assembly and voted, with 334 rejecting the appointment of females to judicial posts and 42 agreeing, with four abstentions."

Gaza: Female Journalists Face Worse Than Discrimination

Female journalists worldwide complain about discrimination on the grounds of gender. However, their colleagues in Gaza also face death threats, the dangers of working in a war zone and the struggle for daily necessities as the Israeli siege on Gaza drags on. Last year a shadowy group in Gaza calling itself 'Swords of Islam' threatened to slit the throats of female journalists who appeared on TV with their heads uncovered, calling them "shameless and immoral." The Hamas authorities took the threat seriously enough to offer the women protection. However, the Hamas security forces have themselves on occasion been part of the many problems that Gaza’s small number of female journalists face.

Afghanistan/UN: Any agreement with Taliban must include women’s rights

The Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women said Friday that “any agreement reached with the Taliban in Afghanistan should include a clear commitment to respect and protect women’s human rights.” The Committee urged the Afghan government and its international allies “to ensure that women representatives are included in the upcoming peace and development dialogues and negotiations with the Taliban,”

Indonesia: Anti-Pornography Law Raises Fears for Minorities

The recent arrest of six people in Indonesia over a nightclub show is raising concerns among minority groups and secularists about a new anti-pornography law. In late 2008, Indonesia's parliament passed a broad law aimed at stamping out what many politicians saw as an epidemic of pornography. Pushed by Islamic conservatives, the law outlawed anything - from books to paintings to some bodily movements - considered capable of raising feelings of lust.

Malaysia: Hearing set for Anwar Ibrahim 'Sodomy II' trial

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed in his bid to get a stay of his sodomy trial and the hearing proper is now set to begin on Wednesday. In rejecting the stay application on Tuesday, High Court judge Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah said there were no special circumstances to warrant a stay of the sodomy trial. “I find that there is no special circumstances in the law of proceedings (shown by Anwar) to grant a stay. The trial will proceed,” he said in his ruling in a packed courtroom.

Vatican: Pope condemns gay equality laws ahead of first UK visit

Pope Benedict XVI has condemned British equality legislation for running contrary to "natural law" as he confirmed his first visit to the UK later this year.

Yemen: Empower Women to Counter Extremism, Say Activists

Although women are the most vulnerable to extremists in Yemen, their voices are the least likely to be heard and their role in fighting terrorism is restricted by social and legal status, say human rights activists. On Thursday, Sisters Against Violent Extremism (SAVE Yemen) brought together a group of women representing human rights groups, academic institutions, the press, and university students to discuss how Yemeni women can be involved in the fight against extremism and terrorism.

Tunisie: Solidarité avec les militants de la Centrale syndicale tunisienne (UGET)

Le 22 janvier 2010, Ameni Rezgallah et Hanen Dhahiri ont été kidnappées. Les deux militantes de l’UGETavaient été condamnées, le 21 décembre 2009, par le tribunal de première instance de Manouba à 6 mois de prison pour entrave à la liberté de travail, 6 mois de prison pour dégradation du bien d’autrui et à 9,6 dinars d’amende pour tapage. Ces accusations de droit commun sont l’habillage que les autorités tunisiennes ont présenté en guise d’unique réponse pour les revendications légitimes des étudiantes et à leur mouvement de protestation qui a duré 28 jours.