Islamic women ready to change women's style

The event which took place at the Institute of Islamic Studies in Freetown was organized by the Islamic College,  and the Iranian Cultural Consulate.

The day itself is on the 20^th of Jomadi –Thane 12 of May 2012.

Speaking on the aspect of the Fatima Zahara as a role model for women, the Iranian Cultural Consulate Mohamed Sofla said that celebration is to reflect on the greatness of Fatima.

He noted that to understand Islam, one has to know Fatima as well. He said that Fatima is the role model for Islam and Mary is the role model for Christians.

He described Fatima as the bedrock for salvation and development in humanity. He advised that no Muslim woman will succeed if she fails the acknowledge and practice the legacies of Fatima.

He went on to congratulated all Sierra Leoneans on this day. He described Fatima (SA) as the dearest and best daughter of our Holy Prophet (S) as the Holy Prophet (S) loved her the most.

The Cultural Consul stated further that with Fatima as their model, women can learn to fight injustice and oppression. He noted that “We turn from ourselves to others. She really was, and is still our symbol, our model, our heroine. This is not to deny the spiritual presence and essence of Fatima, who has inspired thousands of artists, poets, writers and artisans.”

Lady Aisah said: “I have never seen anyone whose habit, character and manner of speech were as similar to the Prophet as Fatima.”

Adding, “Fatima is a perfect example of an ideal woman, of what a woman could be and no one has become. Hussein and Zainab, the sister and the brother, who brought such a deep revolution in the history of mankind, gave a sense of honor to freedom, and opposed despotism and oppression.

“Oh, yes! We as Muslim women should spare no effort in trying to understand her dignity and in order to know ourselves and our status in Islam and to make the world better than ever,” he said.

In his address the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sierra Leone Dr. Maliki congratulated all women for the celebration. He lauded the importance of the celebration and urged all women to follow Fatima’s footsteps. He noted that her life time earth was short but did a lot to improve Islam and the women. He said Fatima was four years old when her mother Kadija died and suffered many circumstances. She succeeded because she was herself.

In her statement, Mrs. Nadiatu Bah spoke on the humility of Fatima as a woman. She said that Fatima gave birth to four children and gave them care, courage and mercy. She noted Fatima learnt a lot from her parents and thus applied it in her lifetime. She said Fatima was obedient, content and served as an administrator. She said not is different from Fatima except her way of life.

Another contributor was made by the wife of the Ambassador Mrs. Maliki. She also explained the life history of Fatima which she said women should follow. She said her life was full of wonder.

Meanwhile, the birthday of Fatima coincides with the birthday of Imam Khomeini leader and founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran Revolution but not the same year.

Another speaker was Sheik Tejan Sillah, Dr. Javad Raghavi among others. Distribution of gifts to women climax the celebration.

Cm Ladi Iliya, NASU National President

Comrade Ladi Iliya, NASU President
Bimbola Oyesola
She was married off at an early age of 15 and by 25 years when most women are just considering going into wedlock she had her last child.

That is the story of Comrade Ladi Iliya, the National President of National Union of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the chairperson of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Women Commission.
Though she came into unionism by chance, Comrade Iliya, who recently got re-elected as president of her union for the second time, believed that women can get to the top wherever aspect of life they find themselves in, be it in career, business, labour movement and governance. She speaks more on the challenges of moving up, family and other labour-related issues. Excerpt:
Coming into unionism
For every human being there is a destiny, when I was growing up I had wanted to be a doctor. Unfortunately coming from a muslim background, I was given out in marriage after my primary education at the age of 15. Any other dream vanished then. But I thank God that I married somebody that really believed in me and insisted that I should go back to school, which I did.
At the end of the day, I took up administrative line. When I came into administration newly, I kept on seeing some set of women who kept on getting pregnant and having babies almost on yearly basis. I took it upon myself to investigate what could have been the reason for their action. Subsequently, the women started trusting me and take me as their confidant. Though I was very young, but more privilege to advise them on the right thing to do.
One day while at work, an officer from NASU came and he informed me that the branch wanted me to be the union’s treasurer. Then I did not even know what unionism was about. I asked the officer how he got information about me. I discovered that the women who I had been assisting were the ones who recommended me for the post. However, before my acceptance, I told the officer that I would like to find out what unionism entailed. The rest is history. But not until 1996 that I began to understand what trade unionism was all about. It was that year that I decided to put my interest in trade unionism.
 Success secret
There is nothing like secret. It is about rendering service and people seeing that you are capable of rendering that service. That is it. There is no magic about it. I have worked, I have endured. I have occupied top positions right from when I was young, at the branch level. At the national level, I was a NAC member, I was the national trustee of the union, also served as a treasurer.
Perhaps, through all these, the members may have seen something in me that made them to give me the opportunity to lead the union.
 Challenges
Surprisingly, I have not been able to come across anything that can be termed an impediment. This is because NASU has a unique way of doing things. As it is now, I have seven deputy presidents. These seven deputy presidents, they are in charge of different trade groups. These groups encompasses polytechnics, universities, teaching hospitals and so on and so forth.
The Deputy President is the chairman of his own trade group. Whatever such chairman wants to do in terms of project policy or issue to be discussed has to be brought to the National Administrative Council, to the Finance and General Purpose Committee. We have a guided activities. Nobody can just wake up and do things with fiat irrespective of the position of such in the union. We are being properly guided. For example, after our delegate conference, we have to follow the agenda that has been set and which we have gotten approval for. Likewise, as new things come, we sit down and discuss about it.
The challenge would have been the ability to withstand rigorous things as a woman. But as fate would have it, I have overcome those things.
 Challenges faced by women in union
We have the commission today, because we have seen many, the set back of many women in the system. A look at the political system of the country including Africa as a whole shows that women had never been anywhere near leadership. It is now with all these globalisation, exposure that women are now coming in.
As big as Nigeria is a nation, one can count how many women in leadership. It is a journey that has just started and it will still take time. The trade union movement cannot be a different thing. Within the trade union movement, before now, it is being seen as a power issue. One has to be strong, bang table for ones voice to be heard.
But now, we are into scientific era. Scientifically, you know what is happening in a ministry, you can keep abreast of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention that deals with any issue.
We are now raising the consciousness of women that they should be involved so far as they are also stakeholders and pay their dues as at when due to their union.
Though e understand the fact that our culture also relegate women to the background. In African culture, women are to be seen and not to be heard. No matter position a woman is occupying, you are still seen as woman. We know it’s a big challenge and we are still working on it. However, all those beliefs are changing now and that is why we have the Women Commission, that is why we have the affirmative action, my being the head of the Women Commission automatically make me the vice president of NLC.
Presently, we are replicating the same in NASU. We are importing it into our constitution that any woman that emerges as the chairman of the Women Commission will automatically be the vice president of the union. All these thing we are doing is an effort to bring in women.
Now, we have done our election, but we have discovered there are very few women. Hence, in order to bring in women, we have decided to co-opt some of them, not just as an exco member, but as a national executive members. Those are the issues we have been addressing.
 Women emerging president of Nigeria
As I said earlier, these things are gradual. Sincerely speaking, my eight years as the chairman of Women Commission, I have seen severally in the programmes we run in conjunction with either foreign affiliates when a woman just appear to contest the position of a state chair, state secretary, whereas this was not applicable in the past.
We have had women coming from state branch to NLC, we have gender base officers that are now occupying the position of Deputy General Secretary in most of the affiliates.
These are efforts that are being made and out of it results are coming out. Some of us that have been in the movement cannot say women are not trying.
We are saying women are trying and definitely as times go on we will see more women in the system either in governance or in trade union movement.
 Task ahead
As we are getting off from the conference we are coming up with an agenda. The NAC determines how the agenda will be transformed. For example, there are things that are fundamental, like the issue of salary enhancement, condition of service, the health issue and so many others. All these will be addressed and treated by the NAC and not by me as a person. Ours is not like a politician who will come out with a manifesto and several pledges. We do not do that in NASU, what we do is a collective thing. We agree and apportion responsibility and whatever tools needed for the success of the action plan.
Normally, when we finish election, we go into training of our members. That is the branch officers, secretaries and chairman, state chairmen. We put them through trainings so that they will be abreast of what is expected of them in their new posts, as well as how to handle relationship in their workplace.
In trade union movement, nobody is allowed to be a dictator. Just because you have been privileged to have been elected president does not make one an alpha and omega. In trade union movement, leadership is a call to service.
 Coping as a married woman
It is often said that where there is will, there will be a way. I got married at a very young age. At age 25, I had my last daughter. Right now, I am approaching 50. One can imagine the ages of my children.
I am lucky to have had an husband that believe in what I am doing. I am lucky to have children that at every point they know that am not in, they have to take over responsibility of running the home. Even when their father was not around, they know what to do. They do give me support both at home and outside. For example, they were with me throughout the election to show their support. I have that group o army that knows that when mummy is not at home, she has gone out for something positive. People in their schools often meet them and tell them how they appreciate my contribution in the union. Such comments from outside also have been able to help them more to appreciate what I am doing in the movement.
I have a husband that also knows that my activities go beyond the office and he also gets more encouraged from compliments he gets about me from outside. I am just blessed.
 Relationship with NLC
Well, NLC is NLC and the crisis was caused by people who thought there are goldmine in the NLC and want to be elected into the congress at al cost. Almost one year now after the election in the NLC, nothing has been done.
In NLC, I am representing the women. No matter what, I am representing women there. If I don’t go to the congress, perhaps there is no activity for me to be there.
The truth is even in politics, after election the person that won will call those that have lost out to build together. If we are accusing politicians o doing things wrongly we must be seen doing things the right way. What happened in NLC are things that supposed not to have happened in the labour movement. But because some people have that mischievous intention, they want to have some people out, that is all.
As long as the crisis continues, there will be a division. Like some of us have decided that if the NLC don’t want us, we will definitely take a stand. We have the freedom, the law grants union freedom to do what it feels okay in the circumstance.

 Plans for women
The whole thing is about creating awareness. I can’t go to the bank to borrow funds to empower them. No! The core issue is about awareness. The core issue is a trade union movement, how to train the women so that they can fit in into the system.
Ordinarily, after four years as Women Commission member, the ideal thing is to move forward. A member in the state is expected to have gotten the awareness and boldness to contest with the men in an election at the state council. It is not a permanent body.
This is because as time goes on those structure will be dismantled. It will be dismantled by the time women can fit in into the system. The main target is to create awareness and raise the women sub-consciousness that they are capable.
We do this through educational message, give them information on what is happening at the other side, inspiring them that there is nothing special about positions. We encourage them to know that top posts in union are not limited to men, but women as well can take a shot at them. Those are the main issue.

The network has 1130 membership worldwide and has three
administrators, for Malawi its Evelyn Nyirenda, South Africa its
Connie wa Donnie and in UK its Jamilla Jonathan.

These women use new media such as Face book as their meeting point and
discussion forum, according to Malawi Administrator Evelyn Nyirenda.

Tips for Married Women Mzuzu Chapter recently donated assorted items
worth MK20,000 to orphans at the Ministry of Hope Crisis Nursery.

The donated items which included, feeding bottles, clothes, Likuni
Phala, soap and Bananas were bought using individual contributions
from the group’s membership of more than 20 women.

The orphanage, which is based in the low density suburbs of Chimaliro
in Mzuzu, takes care of babies from day old to 18 months and has a
maximum capacity of 15.

Since inception in 2006, the Nursery has taken care of more than 80
babies and some have been adopted by families in Germany, UK and
Canada.

These women use new media such as Face book as their meeting point and
discussion forum, according to the organization’s Administrator Evelyn
Nyirenda.

Nyirenda told The Daily IIJ that they decided to assist the orphans as
concerned mothers.

Ministry of Hope Crisis Nursery Mzuzu Director Joyce Nyasulu hailed
the women for the donation saying it is becoming rare for the Nursery
to receive donations.

“You will be ambassadors for this Nursery because we miss people like
you to visit us. We take care of babies in their crisis period when
their mother has died or abandoned them. It is a critical period,”
Nyasulu said.

She also said the orphanage does not receive many local donors as it
relies on its American donors.

Tips for Married women member Mrs Norrah Chimwala with one of the Orphans

“We expect at least Malawians to come in full force since these are
they own people,” she said.

Mzuzu married women pose with some of the orphans at the Crisis nursey

Almasjid Mohamad Mosque at Kingtom Bridge

There was drama at the Almasjid Mohamad Mosque at Kingtom Bridge after the Muslim Friday prayer when four police officers stormed the mosque to arrest the bridegroom.

Investigation gathered by this medium, indicate that the officers’ act was a result of a court order given to them. There is a case in court between the bridegroom Paul Alusine Kamara situated at Godrich in the outskirts of Freetown and his wife Mrs. Yeama Kamara.

Yeama and Paul during their wedding 8 years ago

Mrs. Yeama Kamara Speaking to This Press said she got married to Paul eight years ago and they have one child. She said there had been some misunderstanding between them  and she had been undergoing some mistreatment from the man which eventually made her parents take her away from her from her matrimonial home for a year.

The new bride is Isatu Bah now Mrs. Isatu Kamara

She went on to say during her stay with her parents Paul failed to take up his responsibility of the child that is why she said she took him to court to carry out his responsibility. Paul Kamara according to law is supposed to give Le 1,200,000 for the woman to take care of the child needs.

“Five days later, we were in court, he pleaded to the court for some time as he did not have money,”

Mrs. Yeama Kamara said to her surprised she was informed about the second wife her husband is about to take. Upon that information she informed the court for an injunction.

According to Islamic tradition, Islam permits a man to marry up to four wives but if he decides to take a second wife after the first one he has to inform the first wife. This Mrs. Kamara said did not happen and called for the wedding not to proceed.

“We struggled to build the house into which he is trying to take another woman. For a year now our child has not been going to school. I am standing for my right. He should be arrested and detained. It is the law. He has to take care of the child. We both built the house, my business was ruined just for him,” she said.

Information that leaked indicate that Paul Kamara already has 11 children with various women.

One thing that also came out in the Mosque is that Lawyer Mansaray who is the Secretary General of Almasjid Mohamad Mosque blessed the first marriage between Yeama and Paul and was about to bless another marriage for Paul without asking any questions.

Paul Alusine Kamara sneaked out of the Mosque unbeknown to the police officers. He later returned after the police had left and the wedding eventually took place.

This Press was unable to speak to Mr. Kamara due to the crowd. The new bride is Isatu Bah now Mrs. Isatu Kamara.

Participants at the anniversary

Marking the birthday of Hazrat Zeinab (AS) and Iran Nurse’s day, the Cultural Consul of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sierra Leone Mohammed Sofla has called on girls not to waste their time on beautifying themselves outwardly but inwardly. 

“There is no limitation in beauty. Don’t waste your time on minor issues, if you have inner beauty your husbands will love you more,”

The Cultural Consul was speaking to hundreds of women at the Cultural Centre on Howe Street in central Freetown. The Anniversary was organised by the Imam Khomeini Relief foundation.

He went on to say that inner beauty is everlasting while outward beauty would not last.

“If you have outward beauty men will use you and dump you at the end. My sisters focus on the inner beauty.”

He further stated that there is an equal value for all human by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) but he said more power was given to women than men because they are the tools for development in any nation.

“In any society if the women are corrupt that society will never see development. The role of women in society is first. Women are the main keys for development; modesty and dignity are in women.”

He pointed out that one way a woman can build their inner ward beauty is through Hijab. According to the Cultural Consul hijab is a protection from evil and the women should not only put it on but they have to get strong faith in God and the hijab they put on.

The Cultural Consul called on all peace loving people to appreciate the nurse’s as they are the only people that can be close to the sick. He said Zeinab (AS)  who universalized the message of Husain Revolution was born on the 5^th of the month of Jamadial- Awwal of Islamic calendar in the 6^th year of  Hijrah 1627 A.D in Madinah.

“On this happy and auspicious occasion of the birthday anniversary of Zeinab (AS), we extend our heartiest greetings and felicitation to all in Sierra Leone,”

The anniversary climaxed with a presentation of gift to nurse’s in the country as a sign of appreciation for their tireless work in the society.

Secretary of the Cultural Centre gave a manful contribution of Zeinab (AS) and the role of women in today’s society.

“I support the empowerment of women; they have to be empowered,” he said.

Mr. Kaloko was among other prominent personalities like the Inspector General of Police Francis Munu and Defence Minister Paolo Conteh at the forecourt of Parliament marking the International Women’s Day on Thursday 8th March 2012.

He pointed out that he was shocked when he took over as General Manager of NPA only to discover that there were no women managers is that organization. “Now I can boast of three women as Managers at NPA. I have respect for them they are hardworking, dynamic and smart.”

He stated that where there is a woman, human approach to any workforce will definitely change. He also said he can now boast of the first woman civil engineer at NPA who is now overseeing Lungi .

“I don’t think women should be in the kitchen but should be statisticians, economists, I.T. technicians among others.  I know their capabilities. They have self pride and motivation,”

Mr. Kalokoh cited his sisters as examples whom he gave nine hundred dollars to start-up their lives in the United States and today they could stand on their own and have transformed their lives for the better through their hard work, intelligence and skill.

“I do this kind of thing even in the U.S. I respect women for their self respect and dignity in their work,”

He said women should be empowered to stand up on their own in buying and owning their own cars, having big offices, having the right to vote and be voted for among others.

He called on the dominated force which is the men to give women their rightful place in the society as, he said without a woman in development of a nation that nation is heading for doom.

The event which took place at the secretariat of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) brought together female journalists and others scholars.

President of the 50/50 group in Sierra Leone and Secretary General of FOMWASAL Haja Saminatu Kassim who lectured on the perception of the west about Islam and Women, admonished participants on the rights of women as enshrined on the Sierra Leone constitution. She emphasized the search for knowledge as a challenge for female Muslim journalists. She noted that Islam has become the fastest growing religion in the west which is why negative reporting about Islam is predominant by western media.

“The Holy Quran emphasized the importance of women equating themselves to men. The rights of women which had been proclaimed by Islam since the beginning of the faith,” she said.

When asked to explain why women in Hijab are discriminated against in work places and how female  journalists should present a positive impact on the public among others, Haja Kassim noted that in Sierra Leone which is not an Islamic State and governance is done by legislative laws, workers are to abide by the code of conduct of their employers rather than abide by Islamic or other religious laws. She further said that for journalists to create a public impact is through objective and fair reporting on issues.

Secretary General of SLAJ Ishmael Koroma in his speech on the topic Journalists, Islam and development, highlighted what Islam is all about which he described as a system of life and a code of practice that puts man at peace with Allah and his creations.

He further said that the media is the watchdog of democracy pointing out the activities of the governors to the governed and to expose the ills of politicians and public servants. He admonished female Muslim journalists to practice journalism within an Islamic context. He noted that lack of local Islamic media to compete with giant international western media in terms of technology, advancement, training equipments and finance. “There must be an immediate project to train Islamic journalists as part of capacity building to match the modern trend of journalist practice,” he said.

Iran Cultural Consul to Sierra Leone Mohamed Ghezel Sofla in his topic Islam, journalists and development pointed out that in any form of seminar or symposia, the focus must be for the benefit of the country rather than self which he said was the message of the Holy Prophet of Islam.

He said this day’s most people talk without commitment and action which is the plight of humanity. He noted that Islam and Christianity are separable because both religion preached about talking man from darkness to light. “There are different approaches of Islam. I want to encourage the female journalists to choose the one closer to the Holy Quran and Hadith of the Holy Prophet,”

He maintained that selfishness and too much ambition for position is useless but to do the benefit of the majority brings development. “Women very active at home and work places therefore they are more valuable to Allah than men. Muslim countries that restrict women as slaves while the west look at women as a commodity both of whom are extremists and liberalists which Islam condemns. Journalists are likening to a mobile school where people read information daily,” he said.

He recommended the inner beauty of a woman as the most respectable aspect of humanity. He noted that the act of changing attitudes will be the driving force to development. Mr. Sofla admonished the female journalists to plant and hope to harvest in the hereafter.

The girls displaying  placards condemned the rampant rape that is going in that community and called for an end   to it with immediate effect.

The Dwazak community is situated in the west end of Freetown is an eyesore that would make  Kroo Bay look like a paradise.

Despite its huge population, access to basic facilities in that community cannot be easily come attained. The girls called on the authorities to  step in to  address  the situation immediately. “As soon as these rapist  see a girl passing by, the will rush at her, close her mouth and rape her,” one of the girls said.

They further explained that  even when the girls are shouting for help, no one  hears their shouts as the boys will be busy playing loud music that will distract others from hearing.

They pointed out that due to their  vulnerability and their poor status, the men are taking advantage of that. “You cannot get help from a man in this community with him not asking you to sleep with him,” one of the girls said.

The protest began at the UMC Primary School  down to the Chief’s house and the councilor of that community  with their placards.

Elegant women in future empowered by One Family People with support from International Child Development Initiative.  

The group of young girls has been operating for over six years now. They have been serving as a wake up call for other girls in that community and a way of strengthening them for their future.

Some of the banner reads “Don’t force me in to early marriage!” “Make Dwazark friendly for girls and young women”   “stop raping girls and young women in Dwazark” among others.

President of Elegant women in future Lucy Kailwa Pratt said they want to empower young girls because they are being raped almost every day in a broad day. “There is no equality in the community” she pointed out that early marriage is part of the community.

Chief Pa Alimamy Othimo Simoko Dumbuya gave his commitment to the young girls in that community that they will leave no stone unturned to expose those that are perpetrating such abuses. He also encouraged the girls to behave themselves in the community and let them serve as role model in the community.