Thinking Out Loud

Violence against Women and the Role of Media

Press, the fourth estate of democracy, has to maintain a balance between good reporting and accountability. Journalists are expected to maintain a standard of neutrality, objectivity but not sans sensitivity. In an era of paid news, media sometimes become agents of propaganda. With electronic media entering the scene, our living rooms were flooded with 24 hours entertainment and news channels. Nothing escapes the gaze of media. While electronic media is a manifestation of th…

Situating Muslim Women

The question of women and Islam has attracted a lot of interest in academics. Concerns like how one understands the situation of women in a more patriarchal religion like Islam have taken centre in many debates. But sadly the experience of Muslim women is often seen as same with Muslim men or other women. Either gender over determines or community over determines the Muslim women’s question. Whatever work is done on Muslim women, religion is seen as dominating every aspect. …

An Unfinished Revolution for Egypt

The Jasmine Revolution or Arab Spring which spread over the entire Arab world in December, 2010 brought sweeping changes in the region. Authoritarian Regimes were toppled by people’s intervention in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen. It also led to historic massive protests in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait etc. In Egypt, the most populous and powerful Arab nation, the uprising in 2011 which made Tahrir Square the symbol of protest brought an end to the autocratic rule of Hosn…

Juvenile Delinquency: A failing society?

The 16 December gang rape verdict which led go of a juvenile convict with a light sentence of 3 years in a remand home raised a number of questions. While increasing cases of juvenile delinquency has been a concern for the society at large, the Jurists find themselves at a crossroad with regard to available solutions to this crisis. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 was brought in compliance with the United Nation’s Child Rights Convention of 1…