#JusticeforNoor was trending last week on Twitter in Pakistan, after Noor Mukadam, 27, was stabbed and beheaded in an upscale district of Islamabad. The week prior, #JusticeforQuratulain had been the top hashtag after the mother of four was tortured to death by her husband in Hyderabad. And earlier this month, it was #JusticeforSaima, who was shot dead after her husband opened fire on her and her children in Peshawar.
“Every week we have a new hashtag trending – each new bone-chilling story temporarily sparks nationwide fury until we move on to the next major headline with no actionable results for improvement,” British-Pakistani author Hira Ali tells The National. “These are only the ones we know about, but not every victim has a 'media mouthpiece' to amplify her voice and garner support.”
Last week, Ali’s second book, Her Allies: A Practical Toolkit to Help Men Lead Through Advocacy, which urges men to champion gender equality through meaningful actions, was published by London's Neem Tree Press. Her book launch was hosted by the British Transport Police, and featured a keynote speech by Ziauddin Yousafzai, Malala Yousafzai’s father.
Ali lived in Karachi and Dubai before relocating to London, and recognises that her book release is timely amid the alarming number of femicide cases in Pakistan. “I am grateful that my book is being considered topical and important, but to be honest, the reason why it's topical makes me uncomfortable,” she says. “The tragic incidents that trigger and necessitate the need for such books are very depressing because it shouldn't take women to be abducted, beheaded, murdered and brutally raped for us to get a wake-up call and start having such conversations.”
These crimes against women have occurred just as a new domestic violence bill that would impose strict punishments to perpetrators of domestic violence has been proposed in Pakistan. It is currently facing resistance from the country’s Council of Islamic Ideology, which serves to advise policymakers on whether or not proposed laws are “repugnant” to the faith.
Following Mukadam’s murder, Fatima Bhutto, author of six books including The Runaways, wrote on Twitter: “The domestic violence bill should be passed immediately and without a moment's delay. A council of true Islamic ideology would have no objection to preventing violence towards women and punishing those who inflict harm on them.”
Proponents of the new bill emphasise that protecting and ensuring the safety of women is a theme that’s ingrained in the egalitarian message of Islam. “We have had parties opposing the domestic violence bill using religion as an excuse when in reality our Prophet [Mohammed] himself was the greatest defender of women's rights, and a legendary example of compassion, gentleness and kindness,” explains Ali.
Mira Sethi, Pakistani actress and author of Are You Enjoying, which released in April, says that Pakistani women are reeling from the trauma of these horrific recent cases. “The domestic violence bill provided a faint glimmer of hope, but the prime minister quashed any such hope by referring the bill to a council of 12 unelected men – a body that in the past has said that men can ‘lightly beat’ their wives, will now vet a domestic abuse bill. This is the irony of modern-day Pakistan,” she tells The National.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan came under fire recently for stating that rape cases are high in the nation because women wear “very few clothes”, perpetuating a culture that justifies gendered violence on the basis of a woman’s clothing. He was also criticised for failing to make any public comment after news broke of Mukadam’s murder, instead using social media to promote a tree plantation drive.
“Pakistani women are angry, exhausted and at the mercy of a State that continues to look away,” says Sethi.
Details about the three recent cases, including statements from those close to the victims, as well as updates from the police and courts, are being discussed and debated on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. Some social media users are victim-blaming the women who lost their lives to the men that they knew and trusted. They are reprimanding women for visiting male friends unchaperoned and warning fathers about the dangers of giving their daughters too much freedom. Others have said the gendered violence cases against wives are private, marital matters.
Ali says such patriarchal responses are prevalent not only in Pakistan but across the globe – even in the UK, where British woman Sarah Everard was murdered by a policeman earlier this year. “The truth is, victim-blaming is a global pandemic; misogyny is not limited to any faith or culture but is a universal challenge,” she says.
“It's the 21st century and we are still arguing and debating on whether or not men have the inherent right to abuse women,” continues Ali, who believes that the allyship of men is critical in redressing deeply rooted misogynistic mindsets. “Although rape and murders are at the extreme end of the gender violence spectrum, they do not happen in isolation. They all begin with an attitude – attitudes and perceptions that we have of women, which shape and mould our society and culture.”
Gender-based violence in Pakistan is often provoked by warped notions of “honour”, wherein male family members might murder a female because she disobeyed them, thereby challenging their patriarchal standing and family reputation. The State of Human Rights in Pakistan reported 430 cases of “honour killings” in 2020, however author Awais Khan says the real number is likely much higher. His second book, No Honour, releases globally on Thursday, August 19, and although it’s a work of fiction, Khan says that it was inspired by “all-too-common, real-life events in Pakistan”.
“The fact that honour killings are taking place in this day and age is utterly horrifying. It’s a criminal practice that goes on unchecked, and I felt it was important to write a story that showed how unsafe a place Pakistan still is for women,” he tells The National.
While Khan is aware that by exposing these issues he is susceptible to backlash, he believes it is his duty to shine a light on them through his work, nonetheless. “Pakistan is steeped in toxic patriarchy, and if writers won’t share such stories and attempt to rectify these social attitudes, then who will? You need only open the newspaper to see the horror that is inflicted by men on women in Pakistan every single day,” he says.
“I believe that men actively need to use whatever influence they have to make this country a safer place for women. They need to do more, and they can start by speaking up against gendered violence.”
Read more about the coronavirus
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The five pillars of Islam
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
More on Quran memorisation:
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Results
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EElite%20men%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Amare%20Hailemichael%20Samson%20(ERI)%202%3A07%3A10%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Leornard%20Barsoton%20(KEN)%202%3A09%3A37%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Ilham%20Ozbilan%20(TUR)%202%3A10%3A16%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Gideon%20Chepkonga%20(KEN)%202%3A11%3A17%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Isaac%20Timoi%20(KEN)%202%3A11%3A34%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EElite%20women%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Brigid%20Kosgei%20(KEN)%202%3A19%3A15%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Hawi%20Feysa%20Gejia%20(ETH)%202%3A24%3A03%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Sintayehu%20Dessi%20(ETH)%202%3A25%3A36%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Aurelia%20Kiptui%20(KEN)%202%3A28%3A59%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Emily%20Kipchumba%20(KEN)%202%3A29%3A52%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Signs%20of%20%20%20%20%20%20%20heat%20stroke
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20loss%20of%20sodium%20chloride%20in%20our%20sweat%20can%20lead%20to%20confusion%20and%20an%20altered%20mental%20status%20and%20slurred%20speech%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBody%20temperature%20above%2039%C2%B0C%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHot%2C%20dry%20and%20red%20or%20damp%20skin%20can%20indicate%20heatstroke%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EA%20faster%20pulse%20than%20usual%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDizziness%2C%20nausea%20and%20headaches%20are%20also%20signs%20of%20overheating%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIn%20extreme%20cases%2C%20victims%20can%20lose%20consciousness%20and%20require%20immediate%20medical%20attention%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
Pieces of Her
Stars: Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, David Wenham, Omari Hardwick
Director: Minkie Spiro
Rating:2/5
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
MATCH DETAILS
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum (14), Oxlade-Chamberlain (52)
Genk 1
Samatta (40)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
More coverage from the Future Forum
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
THURSDAY FIXTURES
4.15pm: Italy v Spain (Group A)
5.30pm: Egypt v Mexico (Group B)
6.45pm: UAE v Japan (Group A)
8pm: Iran v Russia (Group B)
THREE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Nayla%20Al%20Khaja%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Jefferson%20Hall%2C%20Faten%20Ahmed%2C%20Noura%20Alabed%2C%20Saud%20Alzarooni%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
