American Bedu

‘The Eyes Have It’: How Saudi Women ‘Speak’

‘The Eyes Have It’: How Saudi Women ‘Speak’

AMERICAN BEDU: ‘The eyes are windows to the soul’ and if you have any doubt about the range of expression they are capable of just spend some time with Saudi women

 Crossroads Arabia

Epidemic: More Than Half of Saudi Women ‘Overweight’

Epidemic: More Than Half of Saudi Women ‘Overweight’

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Add a diet rich in fats and sugars to a lifestyle that actively discourages exercise and you end up with a catastrophic situation that’s only getting worse.

 James M. Dorsey

‘Cultural’ Symbol: Hijab Dispute Nears End

‘Cultural’ Symbol: Hijab Dispute Nears End

JAMES M. DORSEY: It has been a running sore between FIFA, football’s world governing body, and women’s football teams throughout the Islamic world.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

The Nobel Women: Changing the World Masterclass

The Nobel Women: Changing the World Masterclass

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: I am sure her award will have detractors who claim that it is a conspiracy to “westernise” Muslim women…

 Common Ground News Service

Egyptian divorcées: The Challenges they Face

Egyptian divorcées: The Challenges they Face

RASHA DEWEDAR, CGNEWS: Marginalised and often rejected by their communities divorced women have waited a long time to see the issues they face portrayed fairly in the media.

 Lucy Emmerson

Egypt’s ‘Culture of Harassment’ Must Stop

Egypt’s ‘Culture of Harassment’ Must Stop

LUCY EMMERSON: If you fight back you’re advised to ‘calm down’. The daily harassment of half of Egypt’s population is, however, a serious problem.

 Tabsir

Karman’s Prize: A Better Image for Muslim Women

Karman’s Prize: A Better Image for Muslim Women

DANIEL M. VARISCO: The award of the Nobel to Tawwakul Karman represents many positive developments not least a shift in the view of Muslim women

 Common Ground News Service

The Women Changing Lebanon Through Football

The Women Changing Lebanon Through Football

JUUL PETERSEN, CGNEWS: Young women throughout Lebanon are benefitting hugely from an initiative to set up sports clubs throughout the country

 Crossroads Arabia

Saudi Elections: What Exactly Was the Point?

Saudi Elections: What Exactly Was the Point?

CROSSROADS ARABIA: This was the election before ‘the Big One’ – the 2015 Municipal Elections where women can vote and stand for office. So was it a damp squib, as some have suggested?

 The View From Fez

The Joy of Learning for Atlas Mountain Girls

The Joy of Learning for Atlas Mountain Girls

DEREK WORKMAN, VIEW FROM FEZ: An initiative to provide for the education of a group of young girls in the High Atlas has had an unexpected impact.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

There’s Something About The Mary Initiative

There’s Something About The Mary Initiative

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: It’s one of those ideas that is so good and so simple you marvel at why no-one has thought of it before. All hail The Mary Initiative!

 Crossroads Arabia

A Surprise Announcement But Is it Enough?

A Surprise Announcement But Is it Enough?

CROSSROADS ARABIA: King Abdullah’s announcement seemed to catch everyone by surprise. It’s clearly a very welcome step but will women in the Kingdom be satisfied with what they’ve been granted?

 American Bedu

How Arranged Marriage Works in Saudi Arabia

How Arranged Marriage Works in Saudi Arabia

AMERICAN BEDU: It’s a myth grooms and brides have no say in their choice of partner. Not so. In fact the process can involve many members of each party’s family.

 Common Ground News Service

The Palestinian Women Who Dared to Dream

The Palestinian Women Who Dared to Dream

NORA MURAD, CGNEWS: How do you encourage women afflicted by a ‘can’t do’ mentality to build a park? By challenging them with one simple word: ‘Dream’

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

“Mirror, Mirror, Who’s The Fairest of Them All?”

“Mirror, Mirror, Who’s The Fairest of Them All?”

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Any culture that automatically brands ‘darkness’ as ‘ugly’ makes me angry. Unfortunately that culture is all too prevalent among the Asian community.

 Common Ground News Service

Constitution: Major Boon for Women and Berbers

Constitution: Major Boon for Women and Berbers

FATIMA SADIQI, CGNEWS: The new Moroccan constitution provides great hope for two oft overlooked communities in Morocco – women and Berbers.

 The View From Fez

‘Liquid Gold’ Threatened by Hollywood Stars’

‘Liquid Gold’ Threatened by Hollywood Stars’

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The many properties and benefits of Morocco’s Argan Oil have been known for a very long time but they’ve suddenly come to the attention of film stars and other celebrities. Good news?

 David Roberts

Emirati Women: As Portrayed in Western Media

Emirati Women: As Portrayed in Western Media

DAVID ROBERTS: It’s always interesting to see how Western media choose to represent women from the Middle East. A slideshow published on U.S website ‘Salon’ featuring Emirati women is instructive.

 Crossroads Arabia

Consultancy Opportunity for Saudi Mutawa

Consultancy Opportunity for Saudi Mutawa

CROSSROADS ARABIA: If the French and Belgian police need some help enforcing their niqab ban they should turn to the masters in female oppression.

 Common Ground News Service

Illiterate Women Teach Me an Invaluable Lesson

Illiterate Women Teach Me an Invaluable Lesson

LAMA TABET: I had to teach groups of poor Lebanese women how to manage household budgets. Everything was going fine until one group presented me with a major problem.