Gaza’s women journalists threatened
A statement sent to a TV station said their throats would be cut “from vein to vein”.
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| Journalists in Gaza have been protesting for the past week |
Women journalists in Gaza have received death threats from a fanatical Islamic group calling itself the Swords of Truth.
It is a shadowy organisation responsible for several attacks on internet cafes; now it is targeting female broadcasters whom it accuses of being shameless and immoral.
In a statement sent to the government-run Palestine TV last week, the extremists said they would “cut throats from vein to vein” if women journalists did not cover their hair.
Staff at the channel, along with colleagues from other media,have been demonstrating over the past week, demanding action from the government.
Although female broadcasters have said they will keep on working, they are now taking precautions.
However, in the increasingly anarchic society of Gaza, many fear there will be a long-term impact on working women.
Shiulie Ghosh is joined from Gaza by Lana Shaheen, the head of English programming at Palestine TV and an on-air correspondent for Jordanian television, and Lama Hourani, from the Palestinian Working Women Society for Development.
The Kumari of Nepal
The living goddesses of Kathmandu are worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. They wear silks and jewels, and their feet never touch the earth. They are revered as earth-bound deities but they are just little girls.
The Kumari, as they are known, live secluded, lonely lives and rarely see other people.
Last year the Supreme Court in Nepal ordered an inquiry into whether the children are being exploited. So far, nothing has changed.
Everywoman went to Kathmandu to meet the child goddesses.
Women and (Un) Equal Pay
Last week Everywoman investigated the poor wages of Egyptian textile workers, mostly women, who have gone on strike because they are so badly paid. But low pay for women is a global problem.
In America for example, the law states quite clearly that wages cannot be unequal because of race, religion, or gender. But the reality is that on average, women in the US earn 20 to 30 per cent less then their male counterparts. And now a Supreme Court ruling will make it harder to sue for discrimination, because complaints have to be filed within 180 days.
This week Everywoman was saddened to hear that the father of the Director of A Day in the Life of Women of Iraq was kidnapped and killed by an un-named group. We extend our condolences to her and her family.
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This episode of Everywoman aired from 08 June 2007