Friday Links | January 14, 2011

• Muslim women in Uganda are pushing for condom use to prevent HIV infection.

• Divorced single mothers in Malaysia may receive advance alimony payments if their husbands fail to pay.

• U.S. Secretary of State declares that a dress code should not be enforced on Muslim women during her visit to the Gulf.

• Azerbaijan un-banned the hijab.

• The Sydney Morning Herald examines female Australian converts.

• The U.S. urges Iran to release Nasrin Sotoudeh.

• Muslim women in Uttar Pradesh, India,  converged in Lucknow to demand codification of the Muslim Personal Law, which they say is being “misinterpreted to the disadvantage of women”.

• “Stereotypes can be frustrating for Muslim women.” You don’t say!

• Helsinki will no longer allow specific women-only times in city swimming pools. 
• Middle East Online reports that a survey carried out by SingleMuslim.com shows that Muslim women  increasingly prefer to marry closer to home.

• A young Muslim women in Fiji shakes up traditional mentalities about what a woman’s place is.

• In Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently embarked on advocacy drive to increase political participation of women who practice purdah (seclusion).

• On how religious coercion threatens women in Tunisia.

• In Brooklyn, N.Y., women-only karate training provides opportunities to learn.

• On racism and sexism in Muslim dating ads.

• Al-Shabaab has banned women from holding jobs in Kismayo, Somalia.

• Saudi women may sue male guardians who keep them forever single.

• A Muslim woman has translated the Qur’an into Hungarian.

If you see any news about Muslim women that we’ve missed this week, feel free to post links in the comments!