The news that 49 people, including 19 police officers, have gone on trial in Afghanistan over the killing of a young woman is a step in the right direction, not only for the rule of law in Afghanistan, but for gender relations. Too often in that country, crimes against women have gone unpunished or been dealt with between families in an ad hoc and unsatisfactory way.
Initially, that appeared to be the trajectory of this case as well. The killing of Farkhunda, a 27-year old Quranic scholar, shocked both the country and the wider world. She was murdered in a frenzied attack by a mob in March, which was filmed and subsequently circulated, after she was falsely accused of burning a copy of the Quran.
But such was the brutality of the killing – and the injustice of the accusations levelled at the victim – that the Farkhunda case became a symbol of the need for change. Protests erupted across Afghanistan, with many of those protesting painting their own faces red to reflect the brutal way Farkhunda was killed. In a telling break from tradition, women’s rights activists carried her coffin to the cemetery.
The case has become a touchstone for the wider restrictions and violence against women in traditional parts of Afghan society. The police were heavily criticised for standing by and letting the mob deal with Farkhunda. Even the country’s first lady, Lebanese-born Rula Ghani, has said the case made many face “the ugliness brought on by the violence against women”.
If this really is happening and real change came about, it would be very welcome. It is especially positive that the cry for justice for Farkhunda is being led by Afghans themselves, rather than imposed by foreign NGOs. The anger has bubbled up from within Afghan society itself.
For the development to be carried forward, however, it will need to be watched and encouraged. The Afghans have started the process. They need the world’s support as they go down the path of change.
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How Voiss turns words to speech
The device has a screen reader or software that monitors what happens on the screen
The screen reader sends the text to the speech synthesiser
This converts to audio whatever it receives from screen reader, so the person can hear what is happening on the screen
A VOISS computer costs between $200 and $250 depending on memory card capacity that ranges from 32GB to 128GB
The speech synthesisers VOISS develops are free
Subsequent computer versions will include improvements such as wireless keyboards
Arabic voice in affordable talking computer to be added next year to English, Portuguese, and Spanish synthesiser
Partnerships planned during Expo 2020 Dubai to add more languages
At least 2.2 billion people globally have a vision impairment or blindness
More than 90 per cent live in developing countries
The Long-term aim of VOISS to reach the technology to people in poor countries with workshops that teach them to build their own device
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Forced%20Deportations
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Violence%20
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.