Sex bans during the world cup.

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

For months, the World Cup has been in the “top News”. All the newspapers were preoccupied with the preparation and the latest updates of Football. Every small detail, in this huge event, was studied deeply and profoundly. The private sexual life of players was not an exception.

Despite how awkward it may seem, some team managers banned their players from having sex during the world cup.

“We will not be looking for sex or having sex at the World Cup just to have it, we are going to go after what we came for, a competition that gives us the opportunity to rise above and do something really great,” declared Mexican national team coach Miguel Herrera.

Brazilian manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, who in 2002 imposed a sexual ban over his player, allowed his players to have sex during the 2014 world cup “but no acrobatic stuff.”

Therefore, the question is “how does sex affect athletic performance?

In 2000, the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine published a study titled   “Does Sex the Night Before Competition Decrease Performance?” that ended up concluding that sexual activities had no detrimental influence on physiological capability. However, no clear decision was made regarding  the psychological impact of sex over the players.

The researchers insisted also that a lot depends on the individual: "The performance of some people will improve with sex the night before competition and the performance of others will be hindered”.

Deciding whether to allow or ban sex may be a turning point for the players’ performance. Let us hope that the coaches are taking good decisions for the sake of their teams.

PS: Here’s The List Of Which Of The 32 World Cup Teams That Can And Can’t Have Sex.

Rihab

Read More

New Form of Apartheid on Facebook!

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

The internet users woke up today to find many urgent invitations to report a page: עד שהנערים חוזרים - בכל שעה במחבל יורים (Until the boys are back, every hour we shoot a terrorist). What is it about?

This page encourages people to execute Palestinians – called “terrorists” by the page owners and admins – until 3 Israeli boys get home:  Naftali Frankel, Eyal Yifrah (both 16) and Gilad Shaer (19). By posting pictures of their targets, the page pushes its fans to settle things the archaic way: an eye for an eye.

The shameful page, liked by almost 18 971 people driven by hatred and revenge, is being reported and criticized by many Facebook users who considered it: a “despicable murdering scum”, an “absolutely despicable Neo-Nazi behavior”, a “vile Facebook page”, a sign of “apartheid, genocide, occupation”, etc.

Until now, despite all the efforts to report the page, Facebook hasn’t found that it “violates (its) community standards” and therefore have declined all reports by users as demonstrated in the picture below:

Facebook has a long history in shutting down pages related to the Palestinian resistance. In 2011, the Third Intifada Facebook page was closed down because “after the publicity of the page, more comments deteriorated to direct calls for violence”, according to one of Facebook’s manager. But the current form of clear online apartheid that points fingers to accurate targets, by posting their names, faces and addresses doesn't seem to bother or worry Facebook nor its managers about its reprehensible consequences.

Pascal Asmar.

Read More

Great Respect For Japanese Fans!

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

Just after their team lost its first game in World Cup 2014, Japanese fans helped cleaning up the stadium.

Losing the game did not prevent them from reflecting their beautiful culture and from showing respect for their hosts. 

This act was amazing and it reflected the modesty of the Japanese.

Yes, they lost the game but they won the respect of the world!

I will not be a dreamer and wish to see Lebanese people doing the same in a foreigner stadium; I will be satisfied if they only avoid throwing rubbish in their own streets.

Rihab

Read More

How does it feel to be raped?

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

While watching this, I could not stop my tears from falling. My stomach begun to ache, my heartbeats went very fast and for a second I felt what she suffered there.

This video left me out of words. I could not believe that something like this happened.

How was it possible to rape a woman in the middle of Al Tahrir Square? How was it possible to rip off her clothes and assault her without anyone noticing?

I can imagine this moment when they first begun violating her. The shock, the denial, and the fear.I bet she cried loud and cruelly. She asked for help. She knew they would not spare a tiny part of her body. She knew they would rape her until death, and I know that she wished death.

What worlds can describe what happened to this woman?  Cruelty? Inhumanity? Brutality? What kind of judgments against the criminals can the needed justice give to this victim? A rule of life sentence? An execution?

It is not the first sexual harassment that happens at Al Tahrir Square and if no serious security plan is launched, it will not be the last. We all know that what this woman has lost is irretrievable. No sentence can compensate her harm! We should not only ask for justice for it is not the answer.  

To watch the Video click here.

Rihab

Read More

A Topless Lady killed Putin!

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

"An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind."

Mahatma Gandhi

On June 5, a member of the Femen organisation stabbed a Wax figure of the Russian president in a Paris museum. It is not the first time that Femen shows a great tendency to violence and unprecedented contempt of law.

Despite my respect to Femen cause, I cannot agree on their attitude and behavior. Violence should not be solved by practicing more violence!

 Photo credits: Vocativ

Read More

Stealing the World Cup!!!!

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

Money buys everything, even the organization of the 2022 World Cup!

On June 1st, The Sunday Times alleged that Mohamed Bin Hammam, the former Qatari vice president of FIFA, has paid millions to ensure support for Qatar’s bid to host the World Cup in 2022.

The decision to award this huge event to Qatar was largely condemned from the start. Situated in the Gulf, Qatar has extreme weather conditions. The summer heat may be unbearable for both, players and fans, and FIFA is taking into consideration the possibility of rescheduling 2022 World Cup to cooler season.

In addition, Qatar was accused of abusing the Nepalese nationals  involved in the World Cup preparations.

“The extent of the risks faced by migrant construction workers building the infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been laid bare by official documents revealing that 185 Nepalese men died last year alone.” Reported The Guardian.

One week ago, Qatar's decision to preserve its culture by imposing a special outfit on its visitors made me wonder if FIFA will regret Qatar’s nomination and consider a change.

Well yes, I would love to attend the World Cup in one of the Arab countries but I cannot turn my eyes away from the huge human costs. I already have my serious problems with the football game and the large amounts of money spent on it. I hope FIFA will not give me more reasons to question the integrity of this game.

I doubt Qatar can host the World Cup. Until now, it didn’t show its intention of  accepting  the culture and the diversity of  its visitors. Besides, it is violating the rights of its workers and paying money so the world would disregard its slips.

For the sake of this game, FIFA should preserve some dignity and call for an investigation to clarify all these buzzes. When rumors are raised about illegal bargains and enormous bribes, we should ask ourselves what Qatar is trying to hide.

Rihab

Your opinion counts, share it with us.

Read More

Is Chatting Haram?

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

Please, try to read this without laughing.

“Sheikh Abdullah al-Mutlaq, a member of the Saudi Committee of Senior Scholars, said that chatting online through social networks falls under the forbidden khulwa“(Reported Al Arabia).

Sheikh al-Mutlaq urged women to avoid chatting with men because the devil will be present between the two of them.

This fatwa is one of many that consider that chatting between men and women is haram. Islamic Saudi clerics are worried that any correspondence over the internet may lead to seduction.

Photo credits: Al Arabia

Every now and then, a Saudi cleric amazes us with a new fatwa. As stupid and unacceptable these fatawa are, I cannot but be stunned by the great amount of time some members of the Saudi committee are sacrificing to develop the Islamic Sharia. As if banning a woman from driving, forcing her to wear Hijab, forbidding any unrelated/unmarried man or woman to be alone in public, and other unjustified laws that violate the basics rights of any human being are not enough.

"Whenever a man is alone with a woman the Devil makes a third."

“لَا يَخْلُوَنَّ رَجُلٌ بِامْرَأَةٍ ، لَيْسَ مِنْهَا بِسَبِيلٍ ، فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ ثَالِثُهُمَا”

The reactions of Saudi internet users regarding Sheikh al-Multaq’s statement were very different and reflected the raising new spirit in the kingdom. Although some admired him and agreed on this statement, others mocked him and asked: “why they just ban women altogether?” (Reported Al Arabia).

Relying on people’s trust and their unquestionable faith, religious figures have been ruling Saudi Arabs and sequestering them between robust walls of unbreakable rules. Despite all the efforts to maintain these walls firm and abiding, they will not eternally resist the wind of change.

Rihab

Read More

France bans Hijab in Football games!

“Reflect your respect”, a campaign launched by Qatar, urges people to dress “modestly” in public by covering themselves from shoulders to knees, and forbidding women from wearing leggings.

The campaign uses Twitter and Instagram to spread its message all over the world. It will start officially on June 20, 2014.

Nasser Al Maliki, the centre’s public relations chief, proclaimed that this campaign would help preserving Qatar’s traditions and protecting its children from the foreigner's immodest behaviour.

Mr Nasser’s statement gives you the impression that their children do not watch TV and do not use the internet. Seriously, what kind of danger exposed knees or shoulders may form?

It is not the first time gulf countries use the Sharia law as the main source of their legislations. Even in Dubai, one of the most visited cities in the world, leaflets forbidding people form dressing immodestly are handed out in some places.

Qatar will be hosting the world cup in 2022; it will witness a huge mixture of cultures and I am wondering how they are planning to enforce this “modest” dress code on the huge number of tourists attending the event. Imagine if France decided in 1998 to preserve its culture by imposing an outfit on its visitors! 

Would any Qatari woman accept to put down her Hijab so she can blend in with French people? Would any Qatari man accept to wear shorts in order to protect the French culture?

In addition, I cannot see how Qatar is planning to forbid people from wearing light clothes when the temperature reaches 40 degrees. Are they also planning to forbid football fans from celebrating in the streets?

I am not against Qatar’s intention to preserve its culture but that does not mean that the country can force its culture on others. No one should forbid men or women from wearing the Shayla and the Abayha and no one should forbid them from wearing shorts.

 “If you are in Qatar, you are one of us. Help us preserve Qatar’s culture and values, please dress modestly in public places.”

Dear Qatar, we do respect your culture, but how about respecting ours?

Rihab 

Read More

The Iranian Sinful Kiss

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

It is that simple “you kiss someone on the cheek and the next day you face a call to be publicly flogged.”

That is what happened with Iranian actress Leila Hatami when she gave Giles Jacob, Cannes festival president, a perk on the cheek.  Leila Hatami is the star of the Oscar-winning movie “A Separation” directed by Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi.

Leila Hatami was condemned for “representing a bad image of Iranian women”. In addition to that, Hizbullah’s students (a group related to Iran’s revolutionary guards) called Ms. Hatami to be sued and to be flogged for kissing a strange man.

 “We, the undersigned, who are a group of student Muslim brothers and sisters, ask the cultural and media branch of the judiciary to prosecute Leyla Hatami for her sinful act of kissing a strange man in public, which according to article 638 of Islamic Criminal Justice carries a prison sentence. Furthermore, the action of this film star has hurt the religious sentiments of the proud and martyrs breeding nation of Iran and as such we also demand the punishment of flogging for her as stipulated in the law", reported The Telegraph.

According to the Iranian Sharia, women are not supposed to have physical contact with an unrelated man and they are supposed to wear Hijab and to hide their hair.  During the Cannes festival, Ms. Hatami did violate both rules!

I am not defending Ms. Hatami because she is a woman; I just want to tell you that things like this still happen in the world: a woman may be flogged for kissing a man or for showing her hair. What is happening in Iran is unacceptable, and it is an unjustified violation for human’s rights. I consider Ms. Hatami lucky because her position as a movie star will give her case a wider media attention. These same acts of iniquity are targeting a huge number of Iranian citizens. A serious intervention is required; Ms. Hatami’s case may be a great opportunity to get the world’s true attention of what is happening in Iran.

Rihab

Read More

Bravo Coca cola!

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

عندما تشاهدون هذه الدعاية، قد تدمع عيونكم حزناً على هؤلاء العمال، قد تحزنوا على قدرهم وحياتهم، لكن المؤكد هو انكم ستعجبون ببادرة الكوكاكولا الإنسانية وبلفتتها الجميلة بأفراح هؤلاء العمال ،وقد يذهبوا بعضكم أبعد بتقديره للكوكاكولا فيقرر أنه منذ اليوم سوف تصبح مشروبه المفضل....

هنيئاً لك كوكاكولا فقد خلقت بمبادرتك "الإنسانية " تلك سوقاً استهلاكياً جديداً، لكنك هذه المرة لم تكتف بإغراء الجمهور ،هذه المرة أستغليت فقرهم ، ضعفهم، حاجتهم لبصيص أمل....

انتزعت من جيوبهم 1$ سعر دقيقة وعلبة كوكاكولا، اقنعتهم أنك تهدينهم صوت احبائهم ولم تخبريهم أنهم بهذه الطريقة يدفعون ثمناً أكبر مقابل ما لا يحتاجونه، لم تخبريهم أنه غداً يوم يتوقف عرضك الكريم هذا ستكسبين مستهلكين جدد ما كانوا ليحتاجوا كوكاكولا لولا ذكاء موظفيك....

هنيئاً لك بال-1$ !

Rihab

Read More

Do you wear your Hijab?

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

A huge number of women all around the world are the victims of injustice, of social and moral constraints and of religious systems. They are either living in a jail or used in marketing!

In Iran, it is illegal for a woman to be in public without wearing the Hijab. This rule in clothing is not only forced by "the morality police but also out of consideration for family, and the fear of being questioning by others". 

Masih Alinejad, an Iranian Journalist who left Iran in 2009 to pursue her studies in UK started a campaign "Stealthy Freedoms of Iranian women" by posting her photo driving a car without wearing The Hijab.

The Facebook page owned by MS. Alinejab shares the photos of Iranian women without wearing Hijab in public places "I was sure that most Iranian women who don’t believe in the forced Hijab have enjoyed freedom in secret, so I asked them if they wished to share this moment of stealth freedom."

The Photos shared on facebook were captioned by expressions that show a great need for freedom and reflect the deep sufferings of these women.

"Blowing of the wind through their hair is my nation's girls dream"

"After a few years of being away from my nation, I stepped on its vast plains again; not stealthily though. Hoping for the day when all my nation’s women can taste freedom with their whole bodies and souls"

"It is not easy at all to be called a whore just because you do not wear Hijab! and then even get beaten and be given a detention!
It is not easy to have to experience all the good feelings stealthily."

Being with or against Hijab is not the question!

Everyone should have the right to decide what to wear, nothing should be legislated or enforced on women. The freedom of choice is a sacred right and it should not be questioned. 

Read More

This is why we need to bring back our girls…

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

The kidnapping of 276 Nigerian girls from their school by Boko Haram movement has raised voices around the globe demanding governments and presidents to react. Actresses and actors that were gathered in Cannes waved banners requesting to “Bring Back Our Girls”.

As we express our solidarity, we also need to point out that this isn’t the matter of 276 girls only: it’s about millions of women and girls getting the worst treatments on daily basis: domestic violence, kidnapping, rape, underage and forced marriage, etc. The latest case in Soudan is about a pregnant Christian woman sentenced to death for “apostasy”.

The freedom of choice, the right to be educated and the liberty of faith are fundamental rights that are being denied to many human beings, mostly women. Why? Because smart, educated, free girls are scary, check this: 

What’s So Scary About Smart Girls?

Pascale Asmar

Read More

KSA: Keep calm the change is coming!

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

Shortly after KSA had criticized Norway‘s human right, Raif Badawi the founder of “Free Saudi Liberals" a website that discussed religion in the KSA was sentenced to 10 years jail , 1000 lashes and a fine of 1 million riyals ($266,600).

His website included critical articles of senior religious figures such as Saudi Arabia's grand mufti, according to Human Rights Watch. Raif Badawi was accused first by apostasy a crime which lead to death sentence. Later on, he was cleared of this charge and accused of "insulting Islam" .

In April, KSA went further by introducing “a series of new laws which define atheists as terrorists, according to Human Rights Watch” and “clamped down on all forms of political dissent and protests that could harm public order”.

I do not want to favor atheism over religion, but the way KSA saw by the first a danger that may tear down the great kingdom seems very logical to me. A country built on the power of religion and the illusion of some expired rules cannot stand for a long time while the wind of change is blowing in its corridors. These humble acts of revolution are a great evidence of a will of change and a desire to end a long life of dictatorship.

We live in a time when criticizing a prophet (with all my respect) is considered more dangerous than violating disastrously  human rights. I wonder if a day will come when Humanity is more evaluated than religion!

Rihab 

Read More

F*** the World Cup

I don't have any personal problem with Football.

I appreciate this game, the players and the fans. But when 2000 residents are evacuated from their homes in Brasil for the World Cup, when some children sleep on the streets and people get beaten, I can't but say "F*** the World Cup".

This world is already overwhelmed with inequality, racism,  injustice... So please if you are a Football fan think deeply about all the consequences some poor people are facing just to let us enjoy this "big party".

Just because I am not one of them, that does not mean I can sit and watch!

Credit: I am watching the world

Rihab

Read More

When Saudi Arabia teaches Norway human rights lessons...

Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>

During the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which is currently held in Geneva, Saudi Arabia and Russia have criticized Norway over its human rights record. 

According to The Independent, KSA accused Norway "of failing to protect its Muslim citizens and not doing enough to counter criticism of the prophet Mohammed and it also expressed concern at increasing cases of domestic violence, rape crimes and inequality in riches. Russia meanwhile called for Norway to clamp down on expressions of religious intolerance and  and criticized the country’s child welfare system. They also recommended that Norway improve its correctional facilities for those applying for asylum status". 

Halden Prison-Norway

Ironically, KSA is a country where the public practice of any form of religion other than Islam is illegal, check the Humans Right Watch report  for year 2013 and Russia is a country that imprisoned three young women from the feminist punk band Pussy Riot for two years in very hard conditions over a 40-second political stunt in a Moscow cathedral that criticized Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church’s close relationship with the Kremlin among their many other acts (also detailed in the HRW report). When freed, the Pussy Riot members said that prison was time of 'endless humiliations'.

                                
 Saudi women driving campaign poster                     Pussy Riot members at trial                        

I am not in a position to defend Norway nor to attack KSA and Russia. I'm just pointing to the paradox (as described by the Norwegian Foreign Minister) in which "countries which do not support fundamental human rights have influence on the council".

Countries are like humans, some are rude, shameless and hypocrite beyond any level. 

Abir Lebbos

Read More