Male Attitude Towards Sex Offence Bill Criticized , Kenya

The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) yesterday said they supported the Sexual Offences Bill, but cautioned against it being adopted wholesale. CIPK secretary-general, Sheikh Mohammad Dor, said while they want harsh laws against rapists, they would not want to see a society of perpetual war between sexes." We do not want the legalization of homosexuality and a law that would destroy marriages, especially where conjugal rights are concerned," Dor sated. He, however, called on MPs to support their female counterparts to ensure a harsh law was passed against rapists." I do not see why male legislators fear the passing of such a law. I am sure some of them have been affected in one way or another by rapists," Dor pointed out. More >>>

Chinese Food for Muslims , Malaysia

The face of Mohd Adam Mah Abdullah – more fondly known as Pak Adam – is the branding logo for a café with a unique concept. It serves Chinese food prepared by Muslim chefs that is suitable for Muslim customers. Kafe Pak Adam, which is managed by Jasa FrozenFood, has been in operation for the past six months. It has cultivated a strong Muslim customer-base who have become regulars. “Malaysian food has always been a fusion of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisines,” said Y.C. Cheah of Jasa Frozen Food.  “It has become acceptable for Muslims to consume Chinese food,” he said.  “Hence, we created a concept cafe where Muslim customers are able to enjoy Chinese food without having to worry that it might not be suitable for their consumption.”  More >>>

04-29-06 (Source: thestar.com)

Compulsory Citizenship Test Welcomed , Australia

Muslim leader has welcomed a federal government proposal to introduce compulsory citizenship tests for Australian migrants. Under the proposal by immigration parliamentary secretary Andrew Robb, prospective immigrants would have to take a test to demonstrate their English language skills and knowledge of Australia's values, customs, laws and history. Muslim leader Mustapha Kara-Ali, a member of the prime minister's hand-picked Muslim community reference group, said a basic level of language skills and understanding of Australian culture could be a useful tool for new citizens. More >>>

04-28-06 (Source: smh.com.au)

Muslimah Pioneers Boxing in Traditional Muslim Town , Palestine/Israel

Riham Agabaria has a left hook that will knock your socks off. Sparring in her hometown in northern Israel, the shy 15-year-old lets loose a strike that brushes back the traditional Muslim headdress of her opponent - younger sister Fatma, who is forced to flee to the restroom to rearrange her hijab. "I recommend every girl try boxing," said Riham, panting from behind a light-blue head scarf after a two-hour workout. "It gives you confidence and teaches you how to protect yourself." With their unusual hobby, Riham and her 13-year-old sister have sparked a debate within their own traditional society. Influenced by their more liberal Jewish neighbours, Israeli Arab women have been encouraged to push the boundaries. More>>>

04-28-06 (Source: Canada.com)

Prayer Time an Issue for Muslim Astronauts , Malaysia

Malaysian scientists are working on computer software to help future Muslim astronauts know when to pray, and how to face Mecca at 17,000 mph. With plans to send a Muslim astronaut to the International Space Station next year, about 150 scientists and scholars met at a conference outside Kuala Lumpur to establish proper behavior for an orbiting Muslim, The Telegraph reported. Among other issues is how to maintain the kneeling prayer posture in weightlessness, eating halal -- Islamically permissible -- food and proper washing. A computer program called "Muslims in Space" is being developed to factor in the station's 17,000 mph velocity, which constantly changes the station's orientation in relation to Mecca. More >>>

04-27-06 (Source: upi.com)

Muslim Athlete Covers Up Without Cramping Style , U.S.

The design of most modern sportswear puts many Muslim women athletes in a curious bind: adhere to their faith and have their motions hampered or compromise their beliefs in the name of athletic performance? The Qur`an requires women to cover everything except their faces, hands, and feet, says Tayyibah Taylor, editor-in-chief of Azizah Magazine, a publication geared toward Muslim-American women. "The idea is that your modesty in dress and behavior is a passport to public space," Taylor said. "It makes the statement that a Muslim woman's body is not a part of the public conversation." Designed through a partnership between Nike and the United Nations, the uniforms permit the women athletes to dig, spike, and set while covering their bodies and heads in a way that remains true to their faith. More >>>

04-27-06 (Source: nationalgeographic.com)

Muslim Activist Top of Her Class , Canada

"In my world-issues class, one of the first things we were taught is the definition of an issue," says 17-year-old Khadija Uddin. "An issue is complex, with no definite answers or easy solutions." "It can be slightly depressing if you dwell on this," Uddin admits. Undeterred, the Regent Park youth left her class inspired to become even more active in her community. This year, after giving a speech on religious freedom to the class at Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute, where she attends school, Uddin, with encouragement from her teachers, founded a Muslim women's group, which focuses on social justice issues. "We made a list of 10 issues, and we've decided to do one action for each," Uddin explains.  More >>>

04-27-06 (Source: eye.net)

S.O.S. Children's Village , U.S.

Protection from abduction, abuse, exploitation, and neglect.  The right not to be hungry or cold. The right to practice one's own religion. SOS Children's Villages - USA mission is to build families for children in need, with a respect for their cultural and religious traditions, help them shape their own futures, and share in the development of their communities. SOS Children's Villages are proud member of SOS Kinderdorf International, operating in more than 130 countries with an established track record of over 50 years of caring for the world's most vulnerable children. We are recipients of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize in 2002, and have been nominated 14 times for the Nobel Peace Prize. More >>>

04-26-06 (Source: democracyinaction.org)

A Culture of Rape , U.S.

In a rehash of some of the oldest blame-the-victim nonsense, Naomi Schaefer Riley declared that, although sexual assault is bad ('natch), many women are bringing it on themselves by "engaging in behavior that is 'moronic'. "Upon learning that DNA evidence links the rapist to the victim -- to a prior sexual assault, Schaefer Riley's ultimate conclusion is not that American culture and law needs to find real solutions for punishing serial rapists or, more importantly, preventing men from perpetrating such criminal behavior in the first place. Rather, she declares that this brutal attack should serve as a cautionary tale for women, who should "use a little more common sense" lest they go out and get themselves raped. More >>>

04-26-06 (Source: alternet.org)

Misyar Marriages Enrage Women , Dubai

An Islamic tribunal's ruling that allows Sunni Muslim men to marry without having to live with or financially support their wives has enraged Gulf women's rights activists who say that Islamic marriage is unfair enough already. The Mecca-based Islamic Jurisprudence Assembly announced that so-called Misyar marriage - from the colloquial Gulf Arabic word for visitor - was permitted, drawing the ire of women in the region. Kuwaiti activist Rula Dashti said that the move, which skirts around strict Islamic rules on extramarital sexual relationships and relieves men of almost all responsibility for their wives, "destroys the fundamentals of a family".
"The rights which would be abandoned by a woman [in this kind of marriage] are essential to build a stable family," said Dashti, who also heads the Kuwait Economic Society. More >>>

04-25-06 (Source: metimes.com)