Friday Links — February 19, 2010

• Daily Nation profiles the gender issues that a Muslim woman man has been living with since he was born.

• Islam Online gives us the story of a Parisian niqabi whose life will be affected by the burqa ban.

• On the difficulty and danger that female Gazan journalists face.

• Parveen Abidi believes that the All-India Muslim Women’s Personal Law Board isn’t taking Muslim women’s concerns or needs seriously.

• Two Emirati Women Scale Mount Kilimanjaro!

• The Buffalo News remembers Aasiya Zubair Hassan. So does The Guardian.

• The Arab Women Organization has announced several grants for young researchers in women’s studies.

• Global Voices Online exposes the fake hymen hoax and the firing of a Radio Netherlands reporter.

• Mideast Youth has an article about niqab–by a woman who wears one!

• Gulf News covers the lingerie boycott in Saudi Arabia. So does The Los Angeles Times.

• A Turkish mosque is currently being designed by a team of female architects, and keeps the needs of women and the differently-abled in mind.

• According to a U.N. body, any agreement made with the Taliban must be mindful of women’s rights.

• Hijabis rock, according to Remona Aly for The Guardian.

• During U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit in Saudi Arabia, no one talked about women’s rights.

• Today’s Zaman reveals that much of Turkey’s cultural history is the work of wealthy Ottoman women.

• PressTV reports that a Saudi poet has been murdered for expressing support for non-Wahhabi sects of Islam. May Allah give her peace and justice. Also, can anyone find Arab sources for this?

• An Emirati designer is changing the face of Arabic fashion by creating abayas based on trousers rather than the traditional dress.

• The new Turkish member of the European anti-torture committee says she will bring a gender perspective to the activities of the committee, which monitors detention and imprisonment conditions.

• Hijabtrendz interviews Houston-based fashion photographer/paparazzi Nicole Queen.

• Gülsüm Tatar is the first female boxer to represent Turkey at the Olympics.

• Omani women have an exciting new career option in geosciences.

• Spain is Europe’s newest spot for headscarf debates, following the alleged threats against a Muslim women who stopped wearing her headscarf. Via Islam in Europe.

• Today’s Zaman reports that Medine Memi, the teenager killed by her father and brother, repeatedly sought police help and received none. May Allah give her peace and justice.

• In Belgium, Fatima Zibouh is now on the board of the Center for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism.

• In Egypt, judges voted to bar women from ruling in an influential court which advises the government. More from The National and Bikya Masr.

• Fátima Hamed has been chosen as the second in command of the UDCE, an Islamic party in Ceuta.

• The Spirit of Things interviews Mona Eltahawy.

• Mariam Darwish is the first Emirati woman to work in a car maintenance shop.

• Sveriges Radio International highlights a shelter for men suffering from honor-related violence. Via Islam in Europe.

• Malaysia publicly caned three women and four men for adultery. More from The New York Times.

• Fatemeh Karroubi, the wife of one of Iran’s opposition leaders, accused Iran’s Supreme Leader of allowing violence and abuses to crush opposition supporters, including the alleged beating of her son during last week’s protests.

• At The Huffington Post, Elie Mikhael Nasrallah blames Arab women for not being more interested in politics. Constructive.

• The Guardian highlights a U.K. doctor who is one of only a handful of doctors trained to treat and “reverse” female genital cutting.

• Transsexual women in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, will participate in a beauty contest.

• The New York Times reports that Iraqi women are seeing more political influence.

• “Hijab Gate“: the political jokes write themselves. More from The Guardian.

• Arab News interviews artist Hanan Al-Faisal.

• More coverage of Iran’s first female Olympic skier.

• The Christian Science Monitor tells us why the West Bank won’t crown a Miss Palestine.

• The Iranian film Women in Shroud was the first Iranian film nominated for a Cinema for Peace award.

• A West Bank taxi company will soon have women-only cabs.

• Another university class does the “Veil for a Day” experiment.

• An increasing number of female law graduates in Saudi Arabia are facing difficulties securing training at Saudi law firms.

• A Canadian woman received $25,000 in damages after her employer made racist remarks to her.

• BankMuscat is offering key support to female development programs.

• The French government is planning to stipulate new immigrants to sign a contract recognizing that the face-veil is banned in the country.

• Six women in Saudi Arabia face lashes because they are all married to the same man. Arab News has the latest.

• A ballet performance in Tunisia highlights a history of strong Muslim women.

• The Jewish Journal writes about why burqa bans are contradictory to women’s rights.

• The New York Times reports that about 1,200 Iranians signed a statement against a bill that would further curb women’s rights.

• Deepak Chopra writes for BeliefNet about a practical approach to discussing honor killing.

• Brunei highlights women’s role in the country’s development.

As always, if there’s news about Muslim women that we haven’t included, feel free to include a link in the comments!