Iraq on Sunday sentenced 19 Russian women to life in prison for joining the Islamic State group, the latest in a series of heavy verdicts against foreign women linked to the jihadists.

The head of Baghdad’s Central Criminal Court, which deals with terrorism cases, said the women were found guilty of “joining and supporting IS“, according to an AFP journalist at the hearing. Six women from Azerbaijan and four from Tajikistan were also condemned to life in prison Sunday on the same charge.

The women, who have the right to appeal against the sentences, entered the court one-by-one dressed in black headscarves and pink blouses, most of them accompanied by their children. They addressed the court through a translator, a Russian-language professor at Baghdad University hired by their embassy for the trial.

“We will contact the parents to inform them of the verdict,” a Russian diplomat at the hearing told AFP.

IS took over nearly one third of Iraq in a blistering 2014 offensive, seizing control of the country’s second largest city, Mosul, among others. Baghdad declared military victory over the jihadists in December, after expelling them from all urban centres.

It has detained at least 560 women and 600 children identified as jihadists or relatives of suspected IS fighters, and is wasting no time in putting them on trial.

Most of the women on trial on Sunday claimed they were tricked into going to Iraq.

“I did not know we were in Iraq,” said one of the accused. “I went with my husband and my children to Turkey to live there, and then I suddenly discovered that I was actually in Iraq.”

Experts estimate that Iraq is holding 20,000 people in jail over suspected IS membership. There is no official figure.

Iraqi courts have sentenced to death a total of more than 300 people, including dozens of foreigners, for belonging to IS, judicial sources said earlier this month.

Iraq’s anti-terrorism law empowers courts to convict people who are believed to have helped jihadists even if they are not accused of carrying out attacks.</s>A court in Baghdad sentenced 19 Russian women to life in prison for joining Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters in the country.

A Central Criminal Court ruling determined on Sunday the Russian women were guilty of "joining and supporting" ISIL, AFP news agency reported.

The women, many accompanied by their children, addressed the court through a translator - a Russian -language professor at Baghdad University hired by the Russian embassy.

A Russian diplomat at the hearing said the families of the women will be contacted and "informed of the verdict".

Another six women from Azerbaijan and four from Tajikistan were also given life sentences.

Most of the women on trial claimed to have been misled into making the trip to Iraq.

"I did not know we were in Iraq … I went with my husband and my children to Turkey to live there and then I suddenly discovered I was actually in Iraq," one of the accused said on Sunday.

ISIL fighters surprised Iraqi forces with a lightning-quick offensive in 2014 and captured about one-third of the country, including the second-largest city Mosul, among others.

Since declaring victory over ISIL in late 2017, Iraqi authorities have arrested more than 560 women and 600 children identified as either as members of the group or relatives of fighters.

Earlier this month, an Iraqi court sentenced French national Djamila Boutoutaou to life imprisonment for joining the armed group.

Boutoutaou told authorities at the time she travelled with her husband thinking they would go on a holiday, but soon realised once in Turkey that her "husband was a jihadist".

Her husband was later killed in a military operation near Mosul along with their son. Boutoutaou subsequently surrendered to Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Iraq.

Experts estimate Iraq has detained more than 20,000 people over suspected ties to the group and has sentenced more than 300 people to death so far. Twelve ISIL widows were given the death penalty in February.

Iraq's anti-terrorism laws empower courts to convict people who are believed to have helped ISIL, even if they were not directly involved in fighting.</s>A court in Iraq has sentenced 19 Russian women to life in prison for joining the Islamic State terrorist group.

The Central Criminal Court in Baghdad, which deals with terrorism cases, also sentenced six women from Azerbaijan and four from Tajikistan to life in prison on Sunday on the same charge.

Most of the defendants told the court they had been brought to Iraq against their will from Turkey by IS fighters.

Earlier this month, the Russian Foreign Ministry said between 50 and 70 "Russian-speaking women" were being held in Iraq, along with more than 100 of their children.

IS took over nearly one third of Iraq in a blistering 2014 offensive, seizing control of the country's second largest city, Mosul, among others.

Baghdad declared military victory over the jihadists in December, after expelling them from all urban centers.

Experts estimate that Iraq is holding 20,000 people in jail over suspected IS membership. There is no official figure.

Iraqi courts have sentenced to death a total of more than 300 people, including dozens of foreigners, for belonging to IS.</s>Ten women were given death sentences in an Iraqi court on Sunday for their participation in the Islamic State. Six are from Azerbaijan, and four are from Tajikistan. Nineteen Russian women were sentenced to life in prison; dozens more are awaiting trial. The children of the Russian women are expected to be taken back to Russia. Most of the women likely followed their militant husbands into Iraq, and they may appeal their verdicts. Nine more women were arrested in Qayara on Sunday.

At least 10 people were killed, and four were wounded in recent violence:

In Baghdad, a senior Shi’ite militiaman died in a hospital after being shot while driving through Bayaa district; Qasim al-Zubaidi, was head of the militia finance office. Later, another senior militia leader was unharmed after an attempt on his life. An election candidate was killed in a shooting in Mashtal. A sticky bomb wounded a driver in Bab al-Sham.

Four militants were killed in Mosul.
• Five Foreign Women Condemned to Death in Iraqi Court; Four Killed in Iraq – April 26th, 2018</s>A relevant ruling has been issued by the Central Criminal Court of Iraq, according to the media.

READ MORE: Taliban, Daesh Conduct Attacks in Afghanistan, Leading to 17 Victims — Reports

On April 17, three women, including two Russian citizens and one French national, were sentenced to life in prison over their membership in the notorious terror group.</s>Tuulikki Abraham

 

 LÜDERITZ – Woman in Lüderitz were empowered during the 3rd Annual Mayoral Woman Empowerment Conference held at a Lüderitz hotel on Thursday night.

“My office is of the opinion that the need for women’s empowerment agenda has to be based on what women want. Therefore, I encourage all women here tonight to build on the positives and comparative advantages obtained from this gathering. I pray and urge all women to participate with the sole intent to shape their [lives as] drivers [of] environments; be it at home, respective workplaces, worshipping places and political get-togethers,” stated Lüderitz Mayor Mukapuli.

The annual conference was held under the theme “Our Woman our Treasure”. Mukapuli explained the importance of the Annual Mayoral Women’s Conference as a platform purposefully designed to provide space for the exchange of experiences, common challenges, successful strategies, economic advocacy – thus the importance of the chosen topics. She further said she hopes that this event will produce specific and tangible deliverables that would give women power for more voices and choices. She also believed and trusts that the success of this noteworthy event would be judged and attributed based on women’s future actionable outcomes.

“It is important to note that while significant progress has been made in promoting women’s empowerment nationally, in terms of conventions and frameworks, we must take into account that there is still a huge gap pertaining to laws and policies around women’s related matters. It is, therefore, imperative that people in power recognise the strategic and multi-dimensional role of women in society and to start treating women in order to penetrate sectors that have been identified as growth sectors such as tourism, construction and maritime where women have minimal participation and this can only be achieved if women get the required support, training and mentoring,” said Mukapuli.

Mukapuli urged all women to move with unity of purpose across the political, religious, health and business segment on matters that concerned them.

Charity Nkalamo, a nurse at Lüderitz State Hospital, business owner Bridget Dundee, Group Service Manager at FNB of Namibia Erica Shasha Mulondo and Optometrist Linea Shaetonhodi were the successful women who addressed this year’s third Mayoral Women’s Empowerment Conference.

In her speech, Shaetonhodi stated that an event such as this one does not only promote tourism and development, but helps to connect people culturally, socially and build networks, which is vital in the business fraternity.

 Shaetonhodi stated that men are still seen as the traditional profile of a successful entrepreneur, despite a great deal of legislation surrounding women’s rights in multiple Africa countries and a push to support women in business, women still face societal constraints that hinder their business potential.

“I think in the cases where entrepreneurial ambition is still encouraged, the best way is for the women to follow their dreams and pay a deaf ear to naysayers. Turn your passion into power, find something you love doing and it will power your success helping you stay positive and persistent,” said Shaetonhodi.</s>Baku. 31 October. REPORT.AZ/ Last year, only a man aged 18, as well 36 women at the same age got divorced in Azerbaijan.

According to information, Azerbaijani men commonly get divorced at ages of 30-34 (2366 people), women 25-29 (2836 people). Most divorces occurr in the first 5 years of marriage. Thus, 1635 men at the ages of 25-29 ended their marriages in the period of 5 years. Women, mainly, at the ages of 20-24 (1675 people) ended their marriages in the first 5 years of marriage.

Last year, one man under 18, 3 women at the same age, also, 10 men, 140 women at 19 years, 587 men, 2037 women at 20-24 years, 2262 men at 25-29 years, 2159 women at 30-34 years, 1699 men, 1391 women at 35-39 years, 1103 men , 904 women at 40-44 years, 921 men, 743 women at 45-49 years, 689 men, 469 women at 50-54 years, 402 men, 283 women at 55-59 years, 327 men, 167 women at 60 years and over got divorced.

Totally, 12764 divorces were registered in the country last year. 4911 of them divorced up to 5 years of marriage, 3487 in 5-9 years, 2498 in 10-19 years, 1868 in 20 years and over.</s>What do a massage therapist, clothing designer and vegetarian chef have in common? They were all at the Working Women Expo from on Saturday.

The event, which was free and open to the public, was the second annual Working Women Expo hosted by the student organization, Women Who Empower.

Andrea Morris, the president of Women Who Empower, organized the event to continue the organization’s mission.

“Women Who Empower believes in empowering women personally, academically and professionally,” Morris, a senior english education and journalism major, said. “[The Working Women Expo] is specifically geared towards professional development and expansion. We wanted to provide a platform for all students, but specifically women, to come and network and grow professionally.”

Taylor Baker, the vice president of Women Who Empower, helped organize the event as a way for women to support other women.

“Female students should be particularly interested [in the Working Women Expo] because we should always be looking to encourage other women, and it also allows them to see that women can be successful with hard work,” Baker, a junior psychology and pre-med double major, said.

In addition to students, vendors of all types were present at the Working Women Expo.

Monet Marzette, the brain behind Mo’VEGGIES. By running a vegetarian blog based in Chicago Marzette said she aims to defeat the stigma that meat-less, nutritious food can’t taste good. Marzette hopes to educate and encourage others to incorporate more vegetarian and/or vegan meals into their current dietary habits.

The Working Women Expo provided her with a way to get her business “out on people’s radars” and provide a ndew perspective to womenas she sold nachos at the event.

“It’s important to attend events like the Working Women’s Expo to encourage and uplift women who are working towards achieving their goals,” Marzette said. “I’d much rather spend my time motivating my fellow women rather than competing against them. We’ll get nowhere or not advance as women if we continue to think and act like that.”

Vendors’ booths were set up across the Michel Student Center Ballroom, many offering services on-site.

“A lot of people walk away either buying something, making a new professional connection or learning tips that can help better professionally brand themselves,” Morris said.

Christopher Watson, a junior interactive media major, attended the event to support his mother’s custom screenprinting business, G’s Creative Creations. At an expo catered towards women, he was one of few male students who attended.

“The women made me feel comfortable enough to have conversations with,” Watson said. “It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and to observe new products and businesses.”

For anyone who could not attend this year’s expo, Women Who Empower has plans to continue the event annually.

“We plan on expanding the expo even more than we did this year,” Morris said.

The Working Women Expo provided both students and vendors the opportunity to network and better their brands in an empowering setting.

“It was amazing to stand in a room with like-minded women who grind and shine,” Marzette said.</s>A friend of mine whose mother died recently was going through her parents’ memorabilia and unearthed a Western Union telegram from 1954 that her father sent her mother just before they married. Here’s what it said:

Darling, I shall be waiting for you at eight. With a lifetime of expectancy. My heart will be coming with you down the aisle. May God be with us tonight as we pray we will always be with Him. Thank you for becoming my wife. My love forever yours, Henry

Several days after I’d read this note, I came across this miserable tripe on Facebook: “Chivalry is harmful to both men and women,” relays the woman in the video. “because it reinforces this idea that women need to be helped or saved by a stronger man. And it takes away a woman’s agency.”

The video is part of an "Unpopular Opinion" series on Facebook, a concept that in theory I’d support. But there’s nothing unpopular about a video that sells the same tired message feminists have sold for years and subsequently became the status quo: that men and women are “equal” and should therefore be treated the same as men.

Women can open their own doors, pull out their own chairs and take care of themselves, women have argued for years. “I’m strong enough to do all these things,” notes the woman in the video, who identifies herself as Emily Panic, as she flexes her arm muscles to viewers.

“And what’s the deal with guys giving up their seats on the subway?” she adds. “If you do give me your seat, and I take it, I don’t have to talk to you. Please don’t talk to me, okay? I got like 20 podcasts loaded on my iPod that I would rather listen to than you. That’s not meant to be mean. I just don’t want to talk to you.”

The stark contrast of the Western Union telegram and this video depicting modern gender relations speaks volumes.

If there’s one common theme in the media today about the relationship between women and men, it’s the claim that there are no good (read: marriageable) men left. Well, gee, I wonder why that is?

It’s clear as day why that is. The relentless message from women and society that men have nothing special to offer—that not only is their income unnecessary, so is their chivalrous behavior—has built a wall between the sexes the size of Mount Everest.

Funny thing, though, the equality meme hasn’t translated to women paying for their own dinner or asking men to marry them. Why is that? Could it be that deep down, women know something’s lost when men and women are viewed as the same? Could it be there was something special about men being men and women being women?

In the days when men were chivalrous, women held a different kind of power than they do today. Feminine power is far more potent than the power a woman gleans in the marketplace. But women don’t access it. And they reject masculinity as well. Today’s universities are in fact offering programs specifically designed to quash male nature.

And still women wonder why there are no more Henrys. Mature, respectful, marriage-minded men like him have vanished. Can we blame them?

Fortunately, as I wrote back in 2012, women have the power to turn it all around—because they are the relationship navigators. Men only changed because women did. That’s because men are born to please women. Modern woman don’t know this, for they’ve been conditioned to think of men as oppressors. But it’s true.

Any woman who wants what Henry and his wife had—and who wouldn’t?—can have it. It will take time because women have made a real mess of things. Nevertheless, they can begin by rejecting the narrative in this video. Instead, embrace chivalry. Praise chivalry. Praise men, for God’s sake!

And then watch what happens.</s>As Iraq Tries To Deal With Remnants Of ISIS, Wives Of Fighters Sentenced To Life In Prison

An Iraqi court this weekend sentenced more than a dozen women — some with their children in hand — to life in prison because they were married to ISIS fighters. Many of the women are foreigners from Russia.
The Central Criminal Court in Baghdad, Iraq, sentences nineteen Russian women, six Azerbaijani women, and four Tajikistani women to life in prison for membership to ISIL.