Anneke’s traveling this week and next, so I’ll be writing up the lists of links. My apologies in advance for lists that will be shorter and less comprehensive than usual (and many thanks to Anneke who sent most of these links to me despite how hectic things are!)
The murder of Shaima Alawadi, an Iraqi-American woman who died last Saturday after having been brutally beaten in her California home four days earlier, was a major news topic. A note left near where she was beaten read, “go back to your country, you terrorist.” The case is being widely referred to (but not yet officially labeled as) a hate crime, and has caused fear among immigrant communities in the area. May she rest in peace.
In an interview by Sabahi, Dr. Hawa Abdi talks about the war in Somalia, the work of her organisation, and her hopes for the country’s future.
The hunger strike of Palestinian Hana Shalabi, protesting against an Israeli policy of administrative detention under which she is imprisoned without charge, has reached 40 days. She continues to maintain it despite severe health consequences and heavy pressure from prison authorities to end the strike. Al-Akhbar has an interview with members of Shalabi’s family.
The LA Times profiles two young women involved in protests against the government in Syria.
Religious scholars in India rule that women should have the right to divorce their husbands “in case of a serious breach of agreement or if a wife is unwilling to live with her husband.”
A woman in North Darfur tried to protect her daughter from rape, and was killed when the attackers threw rocks at her. May God give her peace.
Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan, is calling for more education for girls. At the same time, some of the women members of an Afghan government peace council say they are not being “included in major decisions,” and worry that women in Afghanistan are losing some of the gains they had made.
Mehrezia Labidi writes about the many ways that women are involved in rebuilding Tunisia after the revolution.
Fifteen Kurdish women were killed by security forces in Turkey last Saturday.
At the Insight Dubai Conference last week, Arab women from 30 countries talked about how to “bring about change.”
A report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan states that there were 943 women killed in “honour”-related violence in Pakistan in 2011, including 93 minors. May God grant them peace and justice.