Faculty of Sharia and Law at Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), in cooperation with Center for Women’s Studies at the university and Hemaya Center for Human Rights, held a seminar under the title: “Women’s Rights and Protection between Sharia and Law”.
Opening Session
In his speech at the opening session, Dr. Taiseer Ibrahim, Dean of Faculty of Sharia and Law, indicated that seminar comes under the commitments of the faculty towards community issues that concern women in all social, legal, and Islamic areas. He clarified that the Islamic religion gave women the greatest and fairest place among all legislation and laws.
He added that Islam equated men and women in terms of assignment, punishment, responsibility, and all rights, and provided special and exceptional provisions such as taking care protecting them, which are not given to men.
Counselor Osama Saad, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hemaya Center for Human Rights, pointed out that Palestinian women presented distinguished models and demonstrated significant determination, and that they are an essential component of society. He explained that Palestinian law is ahead of women’s justice over some laws in developed countries and equals them with men in rights and duties.
Counselor Saad stated that the Labor Law equaled men and women in holding jobs and assuming high positions, and the Civil Service Law gave them positive specification, while the Elections Law obligated each list to have a quota for women at a considerable rate, In addition to the Personal Status Law which raises the age of child custody.
Dr. Somaya Saimeh, Director of the Women’s Studies Center, stressed the keenness of the Islamic University to deepen Islamic culture and raise the level of legislative and legal awareness. She indicated that the center aims to increase awareness and publicize women and gender issues, enhance academic capabilities and programs in Palestine, promote scientific research and employ it in serving its issues in society, as well as networking with specialized centers locally, nationally and globally, and entering into academic and research partnerships.
First Session
The first scientific session was chaired by Dr. Raja Abu Mazyad – a faculty member in Press and Media Department at the Faculty of Arts, entitled: “Women’s Political and Civil Rights in Sharia and Law”, in which the following topics were addressed:
- “The political rights of women in Sharia” by Dr. Manal Alashi.
- “Women’s political rights in law” by Dr. Ahmed Abu Darabi.
- “Women’s civil rights in Sharia” by Dr. Eman Baraka.
- “Women’s civil rights in law” by Hemaya Center.
Second Session
The second scientific session was chaired by Dr. Nermin Odwan, Director General of Women’s Police, entitled: “The Role of Official and Public Institutions in Protecting Women’s Rights”, in which the following topics were addressed:
- “The role of human rights organizations in confronting violations of Israeli occupation against women” by Hemaya Center.
- “The role of Legislative Council in protecting women’s rights” by Ms. Huda Naim.
- “The means of protecting women in Islamic Sharia” by Dr. Yasser Fojo.
