Sarah Gamal: First Arab Woman Basketball Referee at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Hijab-wearing referee to become first Arab and African woman to officiate 3×3 games at Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Both the 32-year-old and 3×3 will make their debuts at the Olympic Games with Gamal becoming the first Arab and African woman to officiate a 3×3 basketball game at the Olympics.

The Egyptian proudly wears a black hijab and is the first hijab-wearing basketball referee for FIBA at an international level.

The headscarf worn by many Muslim women is allowed to be worn by players under certain conditions since FIBA changed its rules in 2017.

Gamal will follow in the footsteps of Moroccan referee Chahinaz Boussetta as a fellow Arab, who refereed five-on-five basketball at Rio 2016.

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Egyptian Basketball referee Sarah Gamal gestures while holding a ball during a match in the country’s northern city of Alexandria, on April 17, 2021. (AFP) / pix: thearabweekly.com

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EGYPT

First Female Saudi Officers Guarding the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah : March 2020

The 113-strong all-female batch of military-trained officers stationed at the Prophet’s Mosque was created six months ago.

It is part of the homeland security branch of Saudi Arabia’s Special Security Forces.

The officers work round the clock in four teams of nearly 18 members each.

Women have also played their part in creating legislation and opening businesses and have taken a leading role in private-sector investment.

Saudi Arabia now has its first female professional racing driver, female ambassadors, female judges, and award-winning female filmmakers.

Female police officers joined the ranks of Makkah’s security force for the first time during last summer’s Hajj season, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

source/content : arabnews.com

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Dozens of female officers are currently deployed both in Makkah and Madinah, where they are providing security and managing worshippers at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque. (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah) / pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Dr. Tawhida Abdel-Rahman – First Female Doctor Working in the Government, Egyptian Health Ministry : 1933

Dr. Tawhida Abdel-Rahman was one of the first six girls, sent to England from Egypt to study medicine in 1922 based on King Fouad’s decision.

On her return she was appointed in ‘Kitchener Charitable Hospital – The General Hospital in Shubra, Government Health Ministry – making her the First Female Doctor working for the Egyptian Government Health Ministry.

She passed away in 1974.

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Tawhida Abdel-Rahman – Photo courtesy by Facebook page /pix: egypttoday.com

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EGYPT

Saudi Arabia – Celebrates ‘National Cultural Awards ‘- 32 Honoured : April 2021

The National Culture Awards Ceremony kicked off with a bang in Riyadh, honoring 32 Saudi cultural figures in 14 categories.

Sponsored by the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman over 14 categories were awarded in cultural pioneering, youth cultural, cultural institutions, film, music, fashion, national heritage, literature, theater and performing arts, visual art, architecture and design, culinary arts, publishing, and translation.

14 cultural awards winners:

  • The Cultural Pioneer of the Year Award: H.E. Shaikh Mohammed Nasser Alaboudy
  • Youth Cultural Award: Winning first place is Shahad Saeed Amin for her films including “Lady of the Sea” and “Scales” that Saudi Arabia’s film authority nominated for best international film in the Academy Awards.
  • Cultural Institutions Award: First place in the private sector track is King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), First place in the Non-Profit sector track is Saudi Heritage Preservation Society, and winning first place in the Social responsibility track is the Ketabi Lak Application.
  • Film Award: In first place is Shahad Saeed Amin
  • Fashion Award: In first place Lomar, in second place Yousef Mohammed Akbar,and in third place Arwa Abdullah Alammari
  • Music Award: In first place Zaina Emad Swelleh,in second place Akram Ibrahim Almattar, and in third place Reem Fahad Altamimi.
  • National Heritage Award: In first place Abdulaziz Abdullah Aldakheel, in second place Dr. Hisham Ali Mortada ,and in third place Torathuna Social Responsibility Company.
  • Literature Award: In first place is Abdulaziz Saleh Alsagabi, in second place Magbool Moussa Alalawi, and in third place Amal Saleh Alharbi.
  • Theater and Performing Arts Award: In first place Sami Abdullatif Algamaan and in second place Yasser Yahya Madkhli.
  • Visual Arts Award: in first place Lolowah Abdulrazzaq Alhomoud ,in second place Danah Abdulrahim Awratani, and in third place Ahmad Sami Angawi.
  • Architecture and Design Award: A winner was not selected as the submissions did not meet the requirements. 
  • Culinary Arts Award: In first place Rakan Ibrahim Aloraifi, in second place ZADK Culinary Academy, and in third place Norah Abdulwahab Albadran
  • Publishing Award: In first place was Obeikan Publishing and Translation, second place Kadi and Ramadi for Publishing and Distribution, and in third place Dar Athar for Publishing and Distribution.
  • Translation Award: In first place Abdallah Mohammed Idris, in second place Sultan Nasser Almujaiwel, and in third place Bander Mohammed Alharbi.

source/content : arabnews.com

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Sheikh Muhammad bin Nasser Al-Aboudi was given the Cultural Personality of the Year award. (Supplied) / pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Ramla Ali – First British Female Muslim Boxing Champion

Ramla Ali (aka) Ramla Said Ahmed Ali

Somali-British. English Professional Boxer, Model, Author and Racial Equality Activist.

First/s :

  • First Muslim Woman Boxer to win English National Titles in 2016
  • Somalia’s First ever Boxing Representative for Tokyo 2020 Olympics
  • First Female Somali Boxer in history to compete professionally
  • First male or female to win the African Boxing Title and International Gold medals whilst representing Somalia
  • First Boxer in history to have represented Somalia in Women’s World Championships, New Delhi, India

Winner : a few listed below :

  • As an amateur – Won Novice National Championship, England (2015)
  • England Boxing Elite Championship (2016)
  • African Zone Featherweight Title (2019)
  • etc..

Social Activist:

  • Launched a club ‘ The Sister’s Club’, UK (2018)

Model:

  • Front covers of British Vogue, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Guardian Observer, Wonderland, ELLE, The Square Mile, The Week, Swiss Style, Puss Puss Magazine etc..

Brand Ambassador:

  • Pantene nominated her as its newest Ambassador and Face of their Hair Care Brand (2019)

Book:

  • ‘Not Without A Fight’

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pix: olympicchannel.com/en

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UNITED KINGDOM / SOMALIAN-BRITISH

UNESCO Competion to Rebuild Iraq’s Al-Nouri Mosque, Mosul – Won by Egyptian Architectural Design : April 2021

The “Courtyards Dialogue” design submitted by eight Egyptian architects has won the UNESCO competition to rebuild the historic Al-Nouri mosque complex mostly destroyed in Iraqi Mosul.

The Egyptian design was selected by an international jury from among 123 entries in the global competition as part of the UNESCO’s project to rehabilitate the ancient city of Mosul, the UN wrote on its website.

The winners of the competition are Salah El Din Hareedy, Khaled El-Deeb, Sherif Ebrahim, Tarek Ali Mohamed, Noha Ryan, Hager Abdel Ghani, Mahmoud Saad Gamal and Yousra El-Baha, the UN said.

Winners at the competition, the Egyptian team, has been awarded the contract for the complex as well as $50,000 prize.

source/content : egypttoday.com

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The winning design “Courtyards Dialogue” – Supplied/UNESCO/©Salah El Din Samir Hareedy and team / pix: egypttoday.com

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EGYPT

Naima Lamcharki Wins Best Actress at Malmo International Arab Film Fest : April 2021

Moroccan actress Naima Lamcharki won the best actress award at Sweden’s 11th annual Malmo International Arab Film Festival (MAFF). 

In the film “L’Automne des Pommiers” (Autumn of the Apple Trees), directed by Moroccan director Mohamed Mouftakir, Lamcharki plays the role of a wisdom-filled grandmother, filling a crucial role in the film’s unique dynamic. 

Along with the Malmo International Arab Film Festival, the film won awards at the Moroccan Film Festival of Tangier. Namely, the prize for the Best Picture 2020, the Critics Prize 2020, and the Prize for the Federation of Cineclubs 2020.

Naima Lamcharki has accomplished many other great feats throughout her career as an actress. Starring in films like The Garden of Eden (1998) and Bad Faith (2006), her career in the international film industry dates back to 1958. 

Two years ago, Moroccan actress Fatima Atif won the best actress award at the ninth edition of the Malmo Arab Film Festival for her role in the film “The Healer”, where the director was Moroccan.

source/content: www.moroccoworldnews.com

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pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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MOROCCO

UAE’s First ever Female Astronaut, Noura Al-Matroushi : April 2021

A woman has made history in the United Arab Emirates as the country’s first female astronaut.

Noura Al-Matrooshi is one of two new astronauts in the UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid (MBR) Space Centre astronaut program, UAE vice president and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced on Twitter .

She was chosen with Mohammed Al-Mulla, two of over 4,000 candidates who applied to the program, Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, said.

In 2019, Maj. Hazzaa al-Mansoori became the UAE’s first astronaut in space, spending an eight-day mission aboard the International Space Station.

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UAE’s first female astronaut Noura al-Matroushi.   | Photo Credit: Twitter@MBRSpaceCentre

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Samira Ghannoum – First Winner of Arab Descent in ‘Bake Off Brasil’ Competition, Sao Paulo

Samira Ghannoum – First Muslim woman of Arab descent to have won this competition

A Lebanese Brazilian Muslim woman who won the first series of  Bake Off Brasil in 2015 is now a well-known figure all over the country. Samira Ghannoum won the competition over 13 weeks watched by millions in 20 countries across Latin America.

As a winner of Bake Off Brasil, she published her first cookbook in partnership with the programme.

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Samira Ghannoum on the set of “Bake Off Brazil” [Middle East Monitor] / pix: middleeastmonitor.com

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BRAZIL / LEBANESE BRAZILIAN / SOUTH AMERICAN ARAB

Lyna Khoudri – Award Winning Actress

Lyna Khoudri. Film and Television Actor.

Awards:

  • Orizzonti Award for Best Actress, 74th Venice International Film Festival
  • Cesar Award – Most Promising Actress (2020) for her role in Papicha

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pix: instagram.com

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FRANCE / FRENCH-ALGERIAN