Women's Rights

Egypt Criminalizes Sexual Harassment

Landmark law punishes sexual predators for the first time, in one of the worst countries in the world for women's rights.

Women's Day Highlights Conflicting Stances in Iran

Is gender equality in Iran an issue or not? That depends on who you ask.

Lebanon Makes Domestic Violence a Criminal Offense

Lebanon passes a law making domestic violence a criminal offense, days after man sentenced to death over killing his wife.

Iran Calls Obama 'Two-Faced' On Saudi Rights

Tehran slams Obama's 'hypocrisy' for not raising Saudi human rights breaches during visit last week, accuses US and Israel of 'terror.'

Employers Prejudiced Against Hareidi Men, Arabs, Working Mothers

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission survey reveals gender, religious discrimination. But is it due to change?

Ministerial Bill Claims 'Separate But Equal is Not Equal'

Ministers Limor Livnat and Tzipi Livni propose bill to hold ministers responsible for women's rights in their respective departments.

Imprisoned Saudi Princesses Give Emotional Plea for Help

Princesses allegedly locked in a Jeddah palace say royal family is starving them, call on world leaders to stop 'gender apartheid.'

Sexual Harassment Video Sparks Controversy in Cairo

Viral video shows woman fleeing from baying mob at Cairo University, as law school dean implies victim partially to blame.

Israel Ranked as Best Country for Women in Middle East

World Economic Forum poll puts Israel way ahead of its Muslim neighbors in terms of women's basic rights and freedoms.

Is the Saudi King Holding His Daughters Against Their Will?

UN receives complaints about Saudi princesses being held against their will, but it could be a while before anything is done.

Saudi Schools Ban Females Who Don't Wear a Face Veil

Education departments in Saudi Arabia ban females who do not wear a face veil from entering girls’ schools.

Senior Hamas Official Campaigns Against 'Honor Killings'

In surprising move, high-ranking Hamas official calls for Palestinian Arabs guilty of promiscuity to marry - not die.

Women's Rights Advance in Morocco

MPs in Morocco vote to ban antiquated loophole allowing men guilty of sexual assault to evade jail time if they marry their victims.

MK Feiglin: 'Married? You're a Sucker!'

Likud MK wants to revolutionize Knesset committee structure, establish a unified Committee for the Family.

Saudi Arabia Gets First Female Newspaper Editor

The English-language Saudi Gazette appoints woman as its editor, a step forward in a country where women are repressed.

Exposé: 4,100 Children of Divorce Forced into 'Contact Centers'

Proportion of parents, mostly dads, who see their children under these humiliating conditions is 10-20 times that in the US.

First Female Police Chief in Afghanistan

A landmark move for women: Afghanistan appoints its first-ever female police chief.

Survey: Egypt Overtaking Saudis As Most Conservative

Survey of 7 Arab countries: Saudis think women should cover all but eyes in public, yet half for women choosing clothes.

First Female Lawyer in Saudi Arabia

Royal decree allows first female Saudi lawyer. She wears a full face covering, raising doubts of change amid poor Saudi rights record.

Fathers' Activist Suing Haaretz over 'Defamation' by Feminist MK

MK Orly Abekasis alleged that father's rights activists sent her a picture of a gun. Haaretz, which quoted her, is being sued.

MK Tells Fellow Feminists: Equality Costs

Dep. Min. Gila Gamliel was shocked to find feminist MKs oppose equality when it comes to custody in divorce.

Two Saudi Women Detained for Driving

Saudi activists say that police have detained two women in Riyadh caught breaking an official ban on females driving.

Report: Top NGOs Failing Middle Eastern Women

NGO Monitor report finds Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are failing to advocate women's rights in the region.

Islamists Oppose Women's Rights: 'Freedom Only in Islam'

Hizb ut-Tahrir continues extensive campaign in Judea, Samaria against 'Western values'; 13 year-old speaker condemns women who report abuse.

Saudi Cleric: Women Driving Ban Protects Against Evil

The grand mufti of Saudi Arabia says the country's long-standing ban on women driving protects society from "evil".

Israel to Receive Gender Equality Prize From European Parliament

European Parliament to give Israel prize as the leading Middle East nation in gender equality at Women in Parliaments conference.

Egypt: Women's Rights Worst in Arab World

Study finds Egypt beats Iraq for worst women's rights in Arab world; 99.3% Egyptian women sexually harassed.

Hamas Lawmaker Blamed Over ‘Honor Killing'

Hamas lawmaker allegedly coerced PA man into taking his daughter’s life.

Bennett Introduces Laws to Advance Women in the Workplace

Economy Minister Naftali Bennett has revealed plans to strengthen and encourage the integration of women at work.

Ariel: If We Don’t get Rights – Don’t Tax Us

Minister accuses opponents of Judea and Samaria women’s rights bill of hypocrisy.

Fears PM will Boycott Judea and Samaria Women's Rights Bill

Netanyahu may avoid vote on a bill for women’s rights in Judea and Samaria. MK Struk urges: ‘Don’t give in to the extreme left.’

Saar: Don't Vote for 'Female Challenged' Parties

Interior Minister Gideon Saar urged Israelis not to vote for parties that were not running women in upcoming municipal elections

MK Struk: Do Politics Trump Human Rights?

MK Struk hopes left-wing MKs will join her in extending women’s rights to Judea and Samaria.

Women Burn ‘Flag of Islam’ in Paris

Arab women burn ‘flag of Islam’ in France to protest against gender oppression in the Muslim world.

Law Would Require Women on Rabbinical Judge Appointment Panel

Under a law proposed by MKs from Yesh Atid and Bayit Yehudi, the Rabbinate's Dayanim Committee would include four women.

Israel Celebrates 'Family Day' – Sort Of

Israeli feminists abolished Mother's Day and added a holiday that most do not realize has communist origins.

Archives Reveal: Likud MK, Not Rabbi, was ‘Anti Women’

It was a Likud MK, not Rabbi Ben-Dahan, who proposed cancelling the Knesset committee on women’s affairs.

Likud Entering 'Panic Mode' Over Bayit Yehudi Gains

The Likud renewed and amplified one of its main claims against Bayit Yehudi – that the party did not believe in women's rights

Bane of Militant Feminists, MK Yulia Berkovich, Leaving Kadima

Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich leaving Kadima, will announce Sunday where she is headed.

Knesset in Last-Minute Legislation for Battered Women

Bill grants NIS 8,000 to 10,000 bonus for women who stay in battered women's shelters, in what critics see as anti-family legislation.

Iran Bars Women from Public Live Screening of Euro

Iran, where Ahmadinejad has said women are highly respected, bars them from watching public live screenings of Euro.

Ramallah Women’s Lib Revolt: Men Barred from Café

Ramallah Arab women, fed up with men-only cafes, have opened one of their own. No males allowed, except for the chef – for the time being.

Documentary on Father's Rights Causes Change

False claims of child abuse, sexual molestation or domestic violence by wives are being debated in the Knesset due to this film.

America's Legal Rejection of Neutrality in Religious Matters