Friday Links — October 3, 2008

• Children at an Ohio mosque were sprayed with chemical irritant by unknown assailants. More at Daily Kos. Thea Lim writes about the lack of outrage in mainstream media, and the local police say there “isn’t evidence that this is a hate crime.” WHAT?!

• Karen Estes writes a thought-provoking post about what “hijab” has become.

• Afghanistan’s most prominent policewoman, Malalai Kakar, has been murdered. May Allah give her peace and justice. More from Asharq Alawsat, The Independent, AKI, and the BBC.

• Homa Khaleeli writes about the Jewel of Madina controversy and its effects in the U.K.

• A western man’s view of how local Moroccan women live. Via Global Voices Online.

• Forty newborn babies died of infection in a hospital in Ankara, Turkey. May Allah give them and their parents peace.

• A Muslim woman who wears the headscarf in Norway wants to become a policewoman, but has been barred from doing so because of the scarf. Via The Hijablog. The same news outlet follows up: headscarves are allowed with uniforms!

• SISTERS editor Na’ima B. Roberts writes for Times Online about living as a Muslim in the U.K. Via Islamify.

• The female head of Kyrgyzstan’s Central Election Commission has resigned because she has received threats from the president’s son. Via Global Voices Online.

• Al Arabiya reports that a Syrian preacher, who in the past has condemned Western women for “flaunt[ing] their sexuality, has a daughter who is an erotic dancer. More from The Huffington Post and the Daily Mail. Oh, the judgmental irony.

• A woman in Paris was denied entry to a bank because she wore a headscarf.

• Marwa Rakha writes a two part series on sexual harassment in Egypt for the American Chronicle.
  

• Global Politician looks at women in the new Iraq.

• In Denmark, a woman’s brothers were arrested for threatening to kill her and her boyfriend.

• Iranian designers have new rules to follow on the catwalk. Via The Hijablog.

• The Independent highlights forced marriages in the U.K.

• Kawthar from MidEast Youth looks at child marriages in Islam.

• This will make you never want to wear glass bangles again.

• Maytha from KABOBfest reflects on what Ramadan is.

• Alina Zaria writes a poignant poem for ArabComment about an honor killing.

• Gloria Steinem sits down with Suheir Hammad to talk about life, love, and Sarah Palin. Aside: Hammad looks gorgeous here, mashallah. I dig what she’s doing with the headscarf/hat combo.

• Nourah Al-Khereiji wants to stop female preachers disseminating misinformation at mosques.

• IslamOnline hosted an online Islamic fashion show in Second Life. Via The Hijablog.

• A man in Pakistan killed his wife over “a domestic issue.” The story doesn’t say whether this man has been arrested or not. The title of the story? “Man kills wife.” (sad sigh)

• Elements of Curiosity discusses the Egyptian lollipop cartoons.

• The Hijablog wonders where the magazine Jumanah went.

• The Muslim Family Safety Project educates British Muslims about domestic violence issues.

• Muslim mothers in India ban together against terrorism.

• The Daily News reviews Dr. Amina Wadud’s book Inside the Gender Jihad: Women’s Reform in Islam.
  

• Saudi Arabia’s religious police have ordered shopkeepers to put away all their glittery Eid abayas.

Al Jazeera profiles two women who are refusing to stay silent about their rapes:

• Orientalista puts a human face on the fear of honor killings by telling her friend’s story: part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4. Via Global Online Voices.

• Police in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will not release the name of a woman who stole her brother’s car and went joyriding.

• A man beats his wife until she is brain dead. May Allah give her justice.

• Al-Qaeda has used 24 children as suicide bombers in the last two years, reports AKI.

• Women who wear face veils in Canada will have to swear a special oath in order to vote in elections. More from the CBC.

• A high court in Bangladesh rejects Sheikh Hasina’s petition for bail.

• Two sisters were murdered in the U.K.; the man who is accused of murdering them is being held without bail. Anglo-Libyan speaks about a community’s grief after the murders.

• Nesrine Malik writes about her experiences and thoughts with Ramadan and fasting.

• In Bahrain, artificial insemination gains in popularity and contributes to a baby boom.

• Arlington, Mass., celebrates “Arlington Town Day” by allowing passersby to wear an Iraqi abaya for a few seconds. (rolling eyes)

• The Sydney Morning Herald gives us some more reductive coverage on female Iraqi suicide bombers.

• A Karachi bank puts forth a gender-biased dress code.

• Rafia Zakaria writes about the rate of violence against women in Pakistan for the Daily Times.
  

• The Liverpool Daily Post profiles a mother and daughter who have converted to Islam.

• An Egyptian game show gives away homes to couples that haven’t been able to marry because they couldn’t afford homes.

• The achievements of female Arab directors are highlighted at the Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi.

• MuslimMatters gives information on signing a petition to persuade the U.S. government to treat Dr. Aafia Siddiqui humanely in prison.

• Payvand News reports that Iranian women are increasingly opting for Caesarian sections instead of natural childbirth.

• On Saudi abaya fashions: color, glitter, and prints, oh, my!

• Subtopian Subversive Sushi Blag discusses why we can’t afford to ignore honor killings.

• Many teachers in U.K. schools want the headscarf banned from school. Via Progressive Muslima News.

• An Italian Muslim fashion label will soon make its debut online. Via The Hijablog.

• I had another link for this, but I can’t find it anymore and the BBC does a better job of explaining a Saudi sheikh’s opinion on why women who wear niqab should only show one eye.