Issue 6 MIDDLE EASTERN WOMEN & SOCIETY ORGANIZATION MEWSO aims to defend and protect women from violence both at home and in the wider community.

MEWSO wishes everyone a very

NEWS Olive & Social Activity Club Syrian Seamstresses Send Help Home (OSAC) A group of Syrian women in have set up their own factory to produce (Supported by Barnet Council) clothes for families over the border in . In total, 30 Syrian women work Location: Trinity Church Centre at this clothes factory, tucked away in a quiet corner of the Turkish border Time: Every Wednesday 11:00- town of Reyhanli. Everything they produce is sent across the border into 12:00 pm Syria. On average, they produce more than 70 pieces of clothing a day. The project was initially set up with the help of an individual British- Pakistani aid worker, but it now has the financial backing of several Yoga-Pilates charities. That support means all of the women, some of whom are widows, (supported by FreeSport) earn salaries and can support their families. Every Wednesdays for women only at Trinity Church Centre Daesh executes its first female citizen Time: 11:00am Starting January 13nd, 2016

English Speaking Sessions (New roand-2016) Trinity Church, Nether Street N12 7NN Time: Wednesdays, 11-12:00pm Contact Us Middle Eastern Women & Society Ruqia Hassan wrote about life under Daesh in Iraq and Syria. She was an undercover media activist and has become the first woman working as a Organisation “citizen journalist” to be executed by Islamic State jihadists, according to 86 Durham Rd. London N7 7DU reports. Ruqia Hassan, who wrote under the pseudonym Nissan Ibrahim, 07958145666 wrote updates about life in Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant- [email protected] controlled on . www.mewso.org Obesity “biggest threat to women’s health” in England

MEWSO Obesity is the biggest threat to women's health and the health of future generations, warns England's chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies. Her @MewsOrg annual report, which focuses on women this year, said tackling obesity should be a national priority to avert a "growing health catastrophe.”

Rebuilding Life

Issue 6

YOUR SAY UPCOMING EVENTS This is a new section to our newspaper where we would like our Music from Egypt & Sunday-Oxford Maqam @ Brunei Gallery readers to submit opinion pieces on issues MEWSO works on, such as MARSM is proud to present a captivating musical showcase in the heart domestic violence, psychology, of London - a celebration of Egypt’s and Sudan’s most vibrant and emotional abuse, etc. inspiring artists! Join us on a journey from traditional folklore to alternative rock, retro-pop to roots and more! *Disclaimer: The views expressed in the The showcase includes 5 exciting events featuring Dina El Wedidi article are of individual authors and are (Egypt), Alsarah (Sudan/NY), Egyptian Project (Egypt), Rasha (Sudan), not necessarily supported or endorsed by MEWSO. Cairokee (Egypt) and Oxford Maqam (Egypt/UK). Tarof Full details of the program: www.marsm.co.uk When: 8pm, 22 January 2016 The psychology of “TAROF” Where: Brunei Gallery, SOAS By: Parizad Bathai

Tarof does not translate well into Book Launch: Burning Country- in Revolution and English but for many Iranians and may War be for many other citizens of the Middle East it is a way of interaction between Join author and media commentator Robin Yassin-Kassab in people. Being away from my own conversation with Malu Halassa to launch Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War, his new title co-authored by Leila Al-Shami. culture for many decades I have now the fortune or misfortune of being an Free, [email protected] observer of the words/behaviours and When: 7pm, 27 January 2016 the way people deal with each other, Where: mosaic rooms and being a psychotherapist I have an annoying habit to psychologise everything. By this I mean looking behind all the deeds and actions and words and see what the underlying feelings are. Everything that we do and say in social arena is about our image and the way we want to come across.

For the rest of the article please go to our website: www.mewso.org. = “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure to Counselling placement @ MEWSo women, on equal terms with men and without any discrimination, MEWSO is seeking a female counselor who the opportunity to represent their Governments at the is able to speak either Kurdish or Arabic. We provide monthly supervision, whereby international level and to participate in the work of international students will meet with a supervisor who is organizations.” a member of BACP.If you are interested, please contact our office via email at: [email protected] or by phone at -Article 8 of the Convention on the Elimination of All 07958145666. Forms of Discrimination against Women

Rebuilding Life