Much of the news involving Muslim women last week was focused on the female involvement in the current wars in Iraq and Syria. The Guardian featured an item on ISIS targeting the predominantly Somali community in the US heartland for female recruitment. Another article focuses on the social media presence of female ISIS supporters. Meanwhile, it has been reported that one of the two Austrian girls, who left to Syria to join the rebels, has been killed. One French Algerian family shares the story of how their 14-year-old daughter left to Syria in June this year. In France, six have been arrested for actively recruiting women to join the Islamic State in Syria.
Between 2003 and 2010 Turkey has seen a 1,400% increase in the number of murdered women; the vast majority are victims of domestic violence.
Among Syrian refugees in Jordan, early marriages are common and the brides are now younger than ever, but many marriages are unhappy, violent and even lead to divorce.
The East African shares the story of one Somali woman, who was sexually exploited by African peacekeepers in Mogadishu.
Due to the recent fighting in Iraq, the number of orphans and widows is rising fast.
Chinese police have detained Ilnur Hesen, the sister of a prominent USA-based Uyghur activist.
One widow in Gaza explains how she and her late husband were both recruited as spies for Israel.
IPS features a report on how Niger’s traditional leaders are promoting maternal health through what is called the School for Husbands.
Despite harassment and threats, Afghan female cyclists are determined to continue training hard and encouraging other young women and girls to take up cycling.
The BBC features the trailer of Just to Let You Know That I’m Alive, a documentary that shares the stories of multiple Sahrawi women and their experiences during the decennia long resistance struggle.
In Turkey protests to further legalize the headscarf in public schools resumed.
Aliyah Al Farid, a Saudi business woman, has been fined for driving herself to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Afghanistan’s only female graffiti artist Shamsia Hassani has been shortlisted for the Artraker Award.
Activists in Senegal are pushing for more lenient abortion laws, as dangerous secret abortions are said to be on the rise.
This is the third year in a row that women are making up the vast majority of hajj pilgrims in Uganda, despite the fact that numbers have been dwindling due to increased poverty.
A Muslim academic in Ireland has called on the Irish Catholic schools to allow students to wear the hijab and argues that the uniform should be altered, causing a quite a stir.
The international basketball’s governing body FIBA has announced that it will allow players to don religious headwear, such as the hijab and the turban, for a test period of two years.
An Afghan court has upheld the death sentences of five men for gang raping four women earlier this year.