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Zimbabwe: World YWCA stands in solidarity with Zimbabwean women

"The economic situation has probably hit women hardest, " says a YWCA of Zimbabwe spokesperson.

Suisse: Tollé autour du voile d'une ministre suisse en Iran

Le voile porté par la très féministe ministre suisse des Affaires étrangères Micheline Calmy-Rey durant sa récente visite en Iran a suscité un tollé à Berne où politiques et médias l'accusent d'avoir abandonné la cause des femmes.

Iran: Text of Parvin Ardalan's speech

The following is the English text of the speech of Parvin Ardalan, an Iranian women's rights activist, delivered via video during the ceremony where she was presented with the Olaf Palme Award for her work in the field of human rights.

Turkey: Move to ban ruling Turkish party

Turkey's chief prosecutor has asked the Constitutional Court to ban the governing AK Party, accusing it of anti-secular activities.

France: Blog de Mohamed Sifaoui

Mohamed Sifaoui : Se battre pour la laïcité à la française. Oui ! Avec qui ? et comment ?

Turquie: "Voile et temps modernes"

Kaya Arslan: "C’est surtout depuis quelques années que la question du foulard a suscité des débats passionnés...C’est aussi une conséquence de changements intervenus dans le pays - urbanisation, mobilité sociale, développement des classes moyennes."

Saudi Arabia: Saudi government invites Human Rights Watch to visit

Saudi Arabia, which is strengthening human rights and initiating appropriate reforms and regulations, has invited members of the Human Rights Watch (HRW) on a week-long visit to the Kingdom.

Mondiale: Publication: "Identités nationales d’Etat"

"Identités nationales d’Etat", Numéro hors série du Journal des anthropologues, février 2008.

Malaysia: Essay: "The Threat to Secular Democracy In Malaysia"

Farish A. Noor argues that "Any attack on the very idea of secularism is therefore an attack on the value of universal equality itself..."

Iran: UPDATE: Parvin Ardalan prevented from leaving the country

Iranian feminist and journalist Parvin Ardalan was prevented from leaving Iran on Sunday to travel to Sweden where she was to receive the 2007 Olof Palme Prize in Stockholm.