Several articles out of Jordan:
A Jordanian woman was killed by her father after she gave birth in the hospital. He killed her because she was a widow, and therefore shouldn't have been pregnant. Yes, honor killings still happen.
A Bangladeshi woman is accusing her boss of rape, at a garment plant in Jordan. He is claiming that she's lying, and a company director said it's a plot to send jobs to America.
Some female Nobel Laureates are asking the president of South Africa to appoint a different chief justice of the Constitutional Court. They say his current pick would be bad for women, citing his rulings in rape cases.
It's very disturbing to see how many parts of the world still don't see women as equals. And I specifically mean that in regards to rape. Even in the United States, there is a stigma attached to rape, and women who have been raped may feel like they did something wrong.
If I am robbed and beaten up while walking home, everyone is on my side, and I can talk about it. But if a women is raped while walking home, she may be too ashamed to mention it. And if she does, some people will blame her for not taking better precautions or for wearing the wrong clothes. In some countries she could even face death from an honor killing, because she had sex before marriage - even though it's rape! At some point, men must realize that their honor is not tied to a woman's sexuality. Maybe then women will be equal to men.
Showing posts with label jordan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jordan. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Protests Protests Protests! Update I
Yahoo!'s Mideast protests at a glance.
Bahrain is in a world of hurt. More protesters were attacked and injured, overwhelming the hospital. So far, over 200 people have been injured and President Obama has been speaking to the Bahraini king. The king has appointed the Crown Prince as a kind of mediator with the protesters, and he has issued his own statement. There was also a pro-government rally.
Protests in Libya are getting very bloody with over 40 protesters dead, and there are reports that 2 policemen were hung.
Protests in Yemen are on their 9th straight day, and 4 more people are dead. Journalists are also being attacked. Protesters in Ta'iz were attacked with a grenade.
Jordanians have been protesting for 7 days straight. The 2,000 protesters were followed by some pro-government supporters.
Egyptians held a celebration protest. It's been a week since Mubarak left.
Oman is generally considered the safest country in the Middle East. When I visited, I found the Omanis very polite and nice. So it makes sense that when they held a protest today, it was a polite one. Really. Read the article.
Bahrain is in a world of hurt. More protesters were attacked and injured, overwhelming the hospital. So far, over 200 people have been injured and President Obama has been speaking to the Bahraini king. The king has appointed the Crown Prince as a kind of mediator with the protesters, and he has issued his own statement. There was also a pro-government rally.
Protests in Libya are getting very bloody with over 40 protesters dead, and there are reports that 2 policemen were hung.
Protests in Yemen are on their 9th straight day, and 4 more people are dead. Journalists are also being attacked. Protesters in Ta'iz were attacked with a grenade.
Jordanians have been protesting for 7 days straight. The 2,000 protesters were followed by some pro-government supporters.
Egyptians held a celebration protest. It's been a week since Mubarak left.
Oman is generally considered the safest country in the Middle East. When I visited, I found the Omanis very polite and nice. So it makes sense that when they held a protest today, it was a polite one. Really. Read the article.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Protests Protests Protests!
Things are heating up across the Middle East, and the latest is in Bahrain. Protesters are trying to take over the main square, just like the Egyptians did. Two people have already died in these protests. Funerals were held Tuesday and sparked even more protests. Several policemen have been arrested for the deaths. These protests are continuing today.
Protests in Jordan have included Bedouin, who want their land back. And the government recently decided to allow protests or rallies without government permission.
In Saudi Arabia some activists are trying to form a political party.
Protests have started in Libya as well, and several activists have been arrested. Protesters are calling for their own Day of Anger and numerous people have been injured. More on the protests.
Activists have called for protests in Syria. One of them was arrested and just released. And a female teen-aged blogger in Syria, held for over a year, has been convicted of spying for the US.
What's also interesting is what isn't mentioned online. For instance, the Gulf Times in Qatar has articles on Egypt, Tunisia, and even Yemen, but nothing about Bahrain. Whereas the Gulf Daily News in Bahrain does cover some of the protests. So does the Kuwait Times.
Protests in Jordan have included Bedouin, who want their land back. And the government recently decided to allow protests or rallies without government permission.
In Saudi Arabia some activists are trying to form a political party.
Protests have started in Libya as well, and several activists have been arrested. Protesters are calling for their own Day of Anger and numerous people have been injured. More on the protests.
Activists have called for protests in Syria. One of them was arrested and just released. And a female teen-aged blogger in Syria, held for over a year, has been convicted of spying for the US.
What's also interesting is what isn't mentioned online. For instance, the Gulf Times in Qatar has articles on Egypt, Tunisia, and even Yemen, but nothing about Bahrain. Whereas the Gulf Daily News in Bahrain does cover some of the protests. So does the Kuwait Times.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Jordanian Protests
Yes, even Jordan is having protests against the government. Jordan is a constitutional monarchy, which means they have a king and a prime minister with parliament. So far there don't seem to be any immolations happening there.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Russia Recognizes Palestine
President Medvedev said that Russia would continue to support a Palestinian state, the same as the Soviet Union did in 1988. Israeli is downplaying the matter. Medvedev met with the king of Jordan after trying to visit Israel. Also, apparently Lebanon put a resolution condemning Israeli settlements before the UN Security Council. And since the US is trying to support Hariri, they may have a hard time vetoing it. Will Spain be the next country to recognize Palestine?
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Human Rights for Workers
There is a big problem in parts of the Middle East, in regards to workers' rights. This is generally a problem for workers from Southeast Asia. There are large numbers of Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, and others in the Middle East, especially in the Gulf states. And they are often mistreated.
Human Rights Watch is looking into cases involving maids from Sri Lanka working in Jordan, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. In these case the women either had nails pounded into their bodies, or were forced to swallow nails.
Another maid in Saudi Arabia was convicted of murdering a baby in her charge. She says the baby choked on his food and she could not save him. And considering how little regard is given to people from Southeast Asia, it would not surprise me if the baby's family wanted her life because their baby died.
This is a major problem, and I have seen it myself, in the Gulf. For some reason, people from Southeast Asia are seen as menials, and often expendable. They are the equivalent of illegal Mexicans working in the US, who cannot go to the police, except that in the Middle East they generally are not illegal. Just mistreated.
Human Rights Watch is looking into cases involving maids from Sri Lanka working in Jordan, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. In these case the women either had nails pounded into their bodies, or were forced to swallow nails.
Another maid in Saudi Arabia was convicted of murdering a baby in her charge. She says the baby choked on his food and she could not save him. And considering how little regard is given to people from Southeast Asia, it would not surprise me if the baby's family wanted her life because their baby died.
This is a major problem, and I have seen it myself, in the Gulf. For some reason, people from Southeast Asia are seen as menials, and often expendable. They are the equivalent of illegal Mexicans working in the US, who cannot go to the police, except that in the Middle East they generally are not illegal. Just mistreated.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Women's News November 9, 2010
Women in Jordan are running for office. Unfortunately, they rarely succeed. Currently, a quota system is in place so that there are at least a few women in the parliament. Some women are pressured by their family or tribe not to run for office. And even if they do run, most do not get enough votes to win a seat in parliament. Women have made some strides, in employment positions, but Jordan is one of those countries where women are still murdered as part of "honor killings," and in many ways, women are still dependent upon their husbands.
As many as 2 million Yemeni children don't go to school - and most of them are girls. Yemen is a very poor country, so many children face malnutrition, and have to work as well. Human rights organizations are worried about a possible increase in child-trafficking too. There is also a very large urban-rural divide in Yemen. In rural areas, only 13% of girls go to school, compared to 69% for boys.
The First Lady of Turkey wears a headscarf. You may remember that being a point of contention when her husband was first elected. Now she has gone on record as saying that girls should not be forced to wear headscarves at a young age; they should decide once they are old enough to understand the situation. I am very glad to hear her say that, because that is something that has been bothering me for a while. From what I understand about Islam, girls do not start wearing a headscarf, or covering up, until they reach puberty. So why do some countries force 3-year-old girls to cover themselves? If that is a tribal law that has become a national law, surely you could fight that on the basis of Islamic law?
As many as 2 million Yemeni children don't go to school - and most of them are girls. Yemen is a very poor country, so many children face malnutrition, and have to work as well. Human rights organizations are worried about a possible increase in child-trafficking too. There is also a very large urban-rural divide in Yemen. In rural areas, only 13% of girls go to school, compared to 69% for boys.
The First Lady of Turkey wears a headscarf. You may remember that being a point of contention when her husband was first elected. Now she has gone on record as saying that girls should not be forced to wear headscarves at a young age; they should decide once they are old enough to understand the situation. I am very glad to hear her say that, because that is something that has been bothering me for a while. From what I understand about Islam, girls do not start wearing a headscarf, or covering up, until they reach puberty. So why do some countries force 3-year-old girls to cover themselves? If that is a tribal law that has become a national law, surely you could fight that on the basis of Islamic law?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Discoveries Galore!
Panorama (a BBC investigative show) says that $23 billion (yes billion!) is missing in Iraq. Stolen, lost, missing, etc. $23 BILLION. But we can't discuss it, because of a gag order in the US. How dare we discuss that missing money and who may have absconded with it! It probably breaks national security or something.
A cave in Jordan may be the oldest Christian church ever found. They're still discussing the issue.
And some Iraqi antiquities, confiscated in the US, are on their way home to Baghdad. The looting of antiquities was a big problem. Loss of life is the worst tragedy, but after the big stuff like that, the loss of history in Iraq is really appalling.
A cave in Jordan may be the oldest Christian church ever found. They're still discussing the issue.
And some Iraqi antiquities, confiscated in the US, are on their way home to Baghdad. The looting of antiquities was a big problem. Loss of life is the worst tragedy, but after the big stuff like that, the loss of history in Iraq is really appalling.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Russian Middle East
President Putin of Russia has been visiting the Middle East. Yesterday he was in Saudi Arabia, and today he's in Jordan. Can you say "cold war redux?" With the US on one side and Russia on the other?
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