· March, 2009

Stories about Women & Gender from March, 2009

Egypt: New Fatwa on Divorce

The Middle East Blog reports on the latest fatwa (religious edict) from Egypt saying: “According to an Egyptian Sheikh, neighbours now have have the right to demand the divorce of a couple if they believe them to have irreconcilable differences.”

Dubai: Dress Appropriately and Behave!

“Dubai Executive Council issued a new law prohibiting inappropriate behaviour in public places of the emirate. Such behaviour is nudity, kissing, wearing “disrespectful” clothes and even holding hands. I do respect and welcome Dubai's attempt to protecting its identity and cultural values from any western influence, but could something like...

Trinidad & Tobago: Lack of Clear Vision

  16 March 2009

“Trinidad is so small that we can’t find criminals. We can’t find missing children. We can’t find a functional government or a serious opposition”: Attillah Springer is convinced that we are macoing but not seeing.

Malawi: Female Candidates and the Politics of Regionalism

  16 March 2009

With two months to go before Malawians vote in presidential and parliamentary elections on May 19th, 2009, the soup du jour has evolved around two developments, the first one being the recent arrest and release on bail of former president Dr. Bakili Muluzi. The second development is the unusual visit to the country by former presidents of Ghana and Mozambique who are attempting, unjustifiably, according to the blog Chingwe's Hole, to prevent what they fear might be a potential violent conflict in the run up to the elections and possibly in the aftermath.

Armenia: International Women's Day action sparks virginity debate

  16 March 2009

Although couples now marry at a later age than before, some traditions have been slow to change in Christian Armenia. One custom, for example, expects women -- but not men -- to remain virgins until their wedding night. However, a recent rally to mark International Women’s Day after which red apples were buried, a symbol of the bride losing her virginity, has prompted intense discussion in the Armenian blogosphere.

Saudi Arabia: Forty Lashes for a 75-year-old Woman for ‘Mingling’ with Men

A 75-year-old Syrian woman was sentenced to 40 lashes, four months imprisonment and deportation from Saudi Arabia, for having two unrelated men in her house. The two men were also charged with ‘mingling' with an unrelated woman and sentenced to prison and lashes, sparking criticism for the country's judiciary and the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. Saudi Arabia's bloggers speak up.

Brazil: On the Vatican's condemnation of raped-child's abortion

  12 March 2009

A 9-year-old girl several times raped and made pregnant by her stepfather was guaranteed the right to have an abortion legally in Brazil. After the operation, the Roman Catholic Church excommunicated the mother, the doctor and the whole medical team responsible for the operation. This has sparkled a great debate in Brazil: What is the Church's role in society?

New Citizen Media Projects Foster Rising Voices in Ivory Coast, Liberia, China, Mongolia, and Yemen

  12 March 2009

Of the 270 project proposals we received from activists, bloggers, and NGO's all wanting to use citizen media tools to bring new communities - long ignored by both traditional and new media - to the conversational web, the following five are most representative of the innovation, purpose and goodwill that Rising Voices aims to support. Please join me in welcoming our new Rising Voices grantees.

Iran: No Cake for Iranian Women on their Day

Although the Iranian government does not recognize the International Women's Day and has banned women activists from organizing gatherings and demonstrations to commemorate the day for the previous 30 years, Iranian bloggers and women activists remembered the 8th of March, honouring women in Iran and the rest of the world.

Egypt: The Influential Role of Women in History

Egyptian blogger Lasto Adri [Ar] posts excerpts from a book entitled The Modern Women's Movement: The Story of Arab Women in the Land of Egypt, where she highlights the influential and integral role played by women in their communities in history and how that changed in 222BC.

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