SIBF Turns Spotlight On Remarkable Contributions Of Women
Umer Jamshaid Published November 04, 2023 | 06:30 PM
SHARJAH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 04th Nov, 2023) One of the most inspiring modern-day female role models in the region, Egypt’s Reham Aiaad, addressed a packed gathering at the ongoing 42nd annual Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), and took them on a journey through time, highlighting particular personality traits that enabled women throughout history to leave a mark and become a timeless inspiration for others.
“In many ways, life is easier for women today. In the past, women had to fight fiercely to enjoy basic human rights. It is due to the relentless passion of these brave women that I am sitting here on stage today,” Aiaad noted.
Starting from the beginning of time, Aiaad paid homage to Maryam, not only for being the mother of the Prophet Isa but also for the endless support she gave her son. “She is the only one who has a Surah in the Holy Quran; no other woman has that honour.”
After describing the crucial role Sayyida Khadijah, wife of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) played in believing unconditionally in him, Aiaad recounted the lives of other important middle Eastern women such as Queen Hatshepsut and Shajar Al-durr of Egypt and Algeria’s Djamila Abou Hereed, who never gave in to the demands and restrictions of society, despite facing rejection and consistent hardships.
Saluting H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (Mother of the Nation), Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), for establishing the first women's organisation in Abu Dhabi, Aiaad said Her Highness was awarded the Palm Fronds Knight of the Order of Academic Palms, one of the most prestigious French decorations in 2004.
Narrating the life story of Madame Marie Curie, the first woman in history to win the prestigious Nobel Prize twice, Aiaad informed audiences how people objected to Curie winning the coveted prize only because she was a woman. At a dinner hosted by the Royal Institute, Curie was made to sit and watch her husband give the presentation for the project they worked on jointly as the organisers didn’t believe a woman could be on stage. But Curie never gave up. “More than 100 years after her death when BBC magazine asked people to vote for the greatest woman who changed the face of history, she won that vote.”
“Women are mothers, women give life and continuity, women are half of society and I call upon each woman to keep her faith through persistence and belief to translate her dreams into reality and never give up.”
Fun and educational, the 42nd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is hosting exciting activities for family members of all age groups. 1043 Arab and 990 international publishers will showcase over 1.5 million book titles, including 800,000 in Arabic and 700,000 in other languages. The prestigious event is taking place from 1st-12th November in Expo Centre Sharjah.
Recent Stories
SC forms six-member bench to IHC judges'letters
PM to take part in World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh today
Punjab Police officer Riffat Bukhari wins global award
Punjab Police Hero ASP Shehbano Naqvi’s wedding festivities spark joy
TECNO CAMON 30 Series set to launch at a grand fashion show in Karachi
Record growth being witnessed in IT exports due to SIFC’s efforts
Pakistan, Canada agree to enhance cooperation in all fields
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 27 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 27 April 2024
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
More Stories From Middle East
-
UAE announces ‘Zero Bureaucracy Program’ to reduce bureaucracy
3 months ago -
COP28 President-Designate welcomes Transitional Committee agreement to operationalise Loss and Damag ..
6 months ago -
Global Media Congress 2023 to feature Co-Production Majlis as a new networking platform
6 months ago -
Young female athletes shine at Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship
6 months ago -
King of Jordan receives Abdullah bin Zayed and ministers participating in Arab coordination meeting
6 months ago -
Abdullah bin Zayed participates in coordination meeting of Arab foreign ministers, joint meeting wit ..
6 months ago
-
3rd annual conference of Emirates Society of Clinical Microbiology kicks off in Dubai
6 months ago -
SIBF 2023 hosts Nobel laureate to discuss emergence of ‘Afrofuturism’ in global discourse
6 months ago -
ALC announces winners of Kanz Al Jeel Award 2023
6 months ago -
Global assets in spot bitcoin ETFs hit $4.16 billion
6 months ago -
Rescuers struggle to find Nepal quake survivors as deaths reach 157
6 months ago -
MoHRE launches guidebooks for private sector, Emirati professionals to raise awareness on Emiratisat ..
6 months ago