Around the World in 5
Around the World in 5 is an ongoing series that highlights news related to women in five countries, updated every week. This week's post covers February 10 - February 17.
Germany
Lupita Nyong'o has made history as the first black woman to lead the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival, one of the top five film festivals globally. The Berlinale, an annual showcase event, had never before appointed a black jury head in its seventy-four-year history, according to organizers who informed the AFP news agency last year. Nyong'o will oversee the announcement of the Golden Bear and Silver Bear winners. Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Sundance, and Toronto, the top five international film festivals, have faced criticism for their lack of diversity among juries.
Read more here.
Iran
According to local media reports on Saturday, Iranian authorities summoned an activist who opposes the mandatory wearing of the Muslim veil to serve a nearly four-year prison sentence. Sepideh Rashno, 29, was detained for over a month in July 2022 following a dispute with another woman who alleged that Rashno removed her veil on a bus.
Judicial officials informed Rashno that she must prepare to enter prison soon to begin serving a sentence of three years and eleven months, as reported by the reformist daily Sazandegi. However, the execution of the verdict has been suspended until March 10.
Afghanistan
According to a United Nations report released on Friday, the Taliban's imposition of dress codes for women and their requirement for women to be accompanied by a male guardian are severely constraining Afghan women's freedom. These restrictions are hindering their ability to move freely and access education, employment, healthcare, and other fundamental rights.
Many Afghan women are refraining from leaving their homes independently due to Taliban decrees implemented since the group took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. The Taliban's insistence on specific attire, such as the burqa, and the necessity of being accompanied by a mahram have significantly restricted women's mobility.
While the presence of a mahram may grant women permission to engage in public activities, it simultaneously limits their autonomy and freedom of movement, as outlined in the report.
Israel
Leah Goldstein, a renowned female cyclist, had her invitation to speak at an international women's event rescinded due to her past service in the Israeli military. Initially invited by INSPIRE to the March 8 event in August, Goldstein was informed last month that she would no longer be welcome, as reported by The Times of Israel.
Goldstein's service in the Israeli military more than 30 years ago became a point of contention for a "small but growing and extremely vocal group," ultimately leading to the cancellation of her invitation.
The decision to revoke the invite coincided with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. INSPIRE stated that it faced pressure from Goldstein's critics to ascertain her stance on the war. Goldstein expressed her disbelief, considering it "ridiculous" that she would be required to provide such opinions to the group.
United States of America
Authorities revealed on Friday that a financially troubled former owner of a funeral home left a deceased woman's body in a hearse for two years at a house where police discovered the cremated remains of at least 30 individuals, highlighting the lack of oversight in Colorado's funeral industry.
The disturbing find occurred on February 6 during the court-ordered eviction of a house rented by Miles Harford, the 33-year-old proprietor of Apollo Funeral and Cremation Services in Littleton, a Denver suburb. The funeral home had been closed since September 2022.
"Mr. Harford appears to have encountered financial difficulties in his business. There were instances when he couldn't complete cremations to provide remains to families for services," stated Denver Police Cmdr. Matt Clark on Friday. He added that at times, Harford might have given family members the ashes of someone else instead of their loved ones' remains.