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Saudi Arabia may review ban on girls' school sports

King Abdullah pushes cautious social reforms improving women's rights in the face of conservative resistance

Algeria: voices for democratic transition cannot be silenced

In the six weeks since the citizens Barakat movement for a free and democratic Algeria was founded it has moved from cyberspace onto the streets. Ahead of this week's election, the voices calling for democratic transition are being heard. Pro-democracy activist Louiza Chennoub spoke to Karima Bennoune

Iran says woman sentenced to stoning given "leave" from prison

DUBAI, March 18 (Reuters) - An Iranian woman sentenced to die by stoning for adultery and later given a 10-year jail term instead has been allowed to leave prison, the judiciary said, in a new twist to a case that has triggered years of criticism of Iran's rights record.

A judiciary spokesman told Reuters that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani had been given "a leave" from prison several weeks ago for good behaviour. He said, without elaborating, that the decision was a sign of "our religion's leniency towards women".

Statement On the prevention of celebrating the International Women Day

The Sudanese civil society organizations conventionally celebrate the International Women Day on the 8th of March every year through many events to commemorate and promote the role of the Sudanese women in the society by organizing activities that demonstrate the various issues which reflect women`s contributions to improving their conditions and achieving social and gender justice from their different positions.

This year, after the extensive arrangements carried out by more than 30 organizations, including the formation of committees and designing the programmes and activities which had been planned to be held at the Nubian Club on that day, and which included following-up the procedures of getting police and security permissions a long with the early preparations for the entre details of the celebration which reflected the solidarity among women and the power of collective action, and depicted the organizational skills of each organizing group.

Fed up with Iran's draconian dress code, women flout the rules - report

Friday 7th March 2014, Emma Batha - LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - After Iranian film actress Marzieh Vafamehr appeared with her head uncovered in My Tehran for Sale, an Australian film critical of her home country, she was sentenced to three months in jail and a hefty fine.

When Iran banned lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh from flying to Italy to receive a human rights prize, she sent a video-taped acceptance speech and was promptly fined for not wearing a hijab in the recording.

The actress and lawyer are among hundreds of thousands of girls and women who have fallen foul of Iran’s strict dress code. More than 30,000 have been arrested over the last decade for violating the law, according to a report published on Friday which calls for an end to forced hijab. Some of those detained were as young as 12 years old.

Sultan of Brunei threatens his citizens following online criticism of Sharia law plan

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiam, who is worth $20 billion, ominously said people will be sorry they criticized the plan once Sharia law is in place.

Bahrain: Continued Use Of Politicized Judiciary By The Authority To Keep Activist Zainab Al-Khawaja Behind Bars

UPDATE:

Zainab Al-Khawaja was released from prison on 16 February 2014. She still has many open cases against her, and is scheduled for her next court hearing on 19 February 2014.

No One is Safe: Abuses of Women in Iraq's Criminal Justice System

Main Findings

[Trigger warning: details of sexual assault and torture]

This report documents abuses to which the criminal justice system subjects women during arrest, interrogation, trial, and imprisonment. Between December 2012 and April 2013, Human Rights Watch interviewed 27 women and 7 girls, Sunni and Shia; their families and lawyers; medical service providers in women’s prisons; civil society representatives; foreign embassy and United Nations staff in Baghdad; Justice, Interior, Defense, and Human Rights ministry officials, and two deputyprime ministers. We also reviewed court documents, lawyers’ case files, and government decisions and reports.

Iran: 'Jila Baniyaghoob | Prisoner Of Conscience In Iran'

In September, Iranian President Rouhani granted amnesty to 12 political prisoners as he made his way to an annual session of the United Nations General Assembly. But former Evin prison inmate and 2009 IWMF Courage in Journalism Awardee, Jila Baniyaghoob, cautions this isolated act does not signify democratic momentum.

Kenya : Arrestation Et Passage À Tabac De Sept Défenseur-e-s Des Droits Humains, Dont Mme Ruth Mumbi

Source: FLD

16/10/2013

Dans la matinée du 15 octobre 2013, la police kényanne a arrêté sept membres de Bunge la Mwananchi car ils sont soupçonnés d'avoir participé à un rassemblement illégal, alors qu'ils-elles protestaient contre l'augmentation de 16% de la taxe sur les biens courants.

Les personnes arrêtées sont Mme Ruth Mumbi et messieurs Francis Sakwa, John Koome, Winfred Olal, Chris Michael, Frederick Odhiambo et John Korir, l'actuel président de Bunge la Mwananchi.

Les manifestants ont été passés à tabac sur les lieux du rassemblement et placés en détention pendant près de quatre heures, avant d'être libérés sans charge.

Ruth Mumbi milite au sein de la communauté ; elle est fondatrice et actuelle coordinatrice nationale de Bunge la Wamama (le Parlement des femmes), une section féministe du mouvement Bunge la Mwananchi (le Parlement du peuple). Les deux groupes mènent des campagnes et plaident au sujet des questions liées à la justice sociale. Ruth Mumbi était aussi finaliste du Prix Front Line Defenders 2013 pour les défenseur-ses des droits humains en danger.