Tag: Women

Coptic woman elected for first time

February 25, 2014 Egypt Copts, Egypt, Women

A Coptic Christian woman has been chosen to lead a political party in Egypt for the first time. Hala Shukrallah, 59, was elected to take over from Mohamed El Baradei (former head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog) as head of the Dostour (‘Constitution’) Party on Feb. 21. A number of . . . Read More

Photo exhibition by Sinai slaves

February 24, 2014 Ethiopia, Human rights, London, Sinai, Women

Three Ethiopian women kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Sinai desert have used photography to portray their ordeals. Zenebech Zeleke, a Christian, said: “There are many ways to tell my story to other people, to tell about these types of journeys, and if we can do it using photography, . . . Read More

Boko Haram targets Christian girls

November 19, 2013 Nigeria Boko Haram, Kidnapping, Nigeria, Quran, Women

Boko Haram is abducting Christian women, converting them to Islam on pain of death and then forcing them to marry its fighters, reports Reuters. Reuters tells the story of 19-year-old Christian Hajja, who was abducted by the Islamist group in July and was then forced to work as their slave. . . . Read More

U.S. tags Boko Haram as terrorists

November 14, 2013 Nigeria Ansaru, Boko Haram, Children, Nigeria, Women

The United States has made official what Nigeria’s churches have long asserted: Boko Haram is a terrorist organisation. The state department announced on Thursday it has designated Boko Haram a “foreign terrorist organisation”, and as “specially designated global terrorists”. The Islamist insurgent group “is responsible for thousands of deaths in northeast . . . Read More

Eighty executed in North Korea

November 13, 2013 North Korea Bibles, North Korea, Prisons, South Korea, Women

Around 80 people were killed in public executions across a number of cities in North Korea earlier this month, a South Korean newspaper reports. In one city, eight victims were mostly charged with watching or illegally trafficking South Korean videos, being involved in prostitution or being in possession of a Bible. . . . Read More

‘Epidemic’ of sexual violence in Egypt

July 4, 2013 Egypt Egypt, Women

In the midst of the political demonstrations in Egypt, violent attacks have been carried out against at least 91 women in the past week. According to Human Rights Watch, many of these extended acts of aggressions are pre-meditated assaults by groups of men.

Goodluck Jonathan’s amnesty gamble

April 23, 2013 Nigeria Abuja, Adamawa, Bauchi, Boko Haram, Borno, Christian Association of Nigeria, Gombe, Goodluck Jonathan, Jama'atu Nasril Islam, Kano, Lagos, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Pentecostals, Sultan of Sokoto, West Africa, Women, Yobe

A month ago, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said he would not negotiate with the militant Islamic sect Boko Haram because they were “ghosts,” faceless adversaries who would not step forward. That was then. This Wednesday, the President is scheduled to formally inaugurate a committee to explore amnesty for Boko Haram . . . Read More

Rimsha leaves Pakistan jail, reunited with family, government says

September 7, 2012 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Children, Islamabad, Mumtaz Qadri, Paul Bhatti, Prophet Muhammad, Punjab, Quran, Rimsha Masih, Salmaan Taseer, Shahbaz Bhatti, Women

Under heavy security, Rimsha Masih, the teenage Christian Pakistani girl accused of blasphemy, was whisked out of jail Saturdy to a waiting helicopter that government officials said took her to rejoin her family.The Pakistani news agency Dawn reported Rimsha, left Adiala Jail wering a green shirt and pants, and entered an armored . . . Read More

Teen accused of blasphemy will leave jail, but can’t go home, lawyer says

August 30, 2012 Pakistan Blasphemy, Children, Islamabad, Pakistan, Punjab, Quran, Rimsha Masih, Women

Rimsha Masih is likely to be cleared of the blasphemy charge against her, but never will be able to return home, her lawyer says. Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, who has taken up the defense of the young Christian girl whose case has renewed international debate about Pakistan’s notorious anti-blasphemy laws, said . . . Read More

Police in Pakistan decline to prosecute rape suspects

June 12, 2012 Pakistan Kidnapping, Narowal, Pakistan, Rape, Women

Police have refused to arrest Muslims accused of causing the miscarriage of twin girls by beating their mother, even though a judge cancelled the suspects’ interim bails, according to the woman’s husband. Officers in Punjab Province’s Narowal district are biased in siding with Muslims accused of causing the miscarriage and . . . Read More

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