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Insight Bulletin
For People Who
Who Want
Wantto
toKnow
Know COPY
REGISTERED AT THE G.P.O. AS A NEWSPAPER • Fourtieth EDITION • NOVEMBER 2018 FREE
The Struggle for Hijab
Continues in Malawi
M
uslim female teachers
and female students
continue facing hurdles in
their working places and
learning institutions as Episcopal
Conference of Malawi (ECM) and
Malawi Council of Churches (MCC)
have declared that hijabs are not
allowed to teachers and their
students in all Christian schools in
the country.
Recently Chichiri secondary school
behaved in the similar manner by
denying some pupils from attending
classes because of wearing
headscarves. The issue ended when
the school was served with a stopping
order by relevant authorities.
Last year in July government
requested the Christian Schools
Association running government
aided schools to allow Muslim
female teachers and students put
on headscarves.
According to a statement signed by
ECM Chairman Reverend Thomas
Msusa says government and
Muslims have no mandate on the
dressing code in their Christian
schools (Primary, Secondary &
University) and Muslim Women
should not be allowed to put on any
head gear.
to page 4>>
Thirty E ighth Edition AUGUST 2018 For People who want to know 1
Contents
Why are Muslim Girls Denied Education Because of Headscarf? 3
Malawi Government Commends Islamic Organizations 6
Islamic Relief Leads Religious Leaders and NGO’s to Mitigate Climate Change 7
Israel Delays Palestinian Village Khan al-Ahmar Demolition Order 8
Early Childhood Marriages in Malawi 10
What are Sukuk Bonds and are They Different from Typical Bonds 12
What is Islamic Insurance (Takaful)? 14
6 8 10
Editorial PUBLISHER
Insight Bulletin, is a monthly
publication which analyzes and
promotes good governance, and
policies that will further the creation of
views of the editorial staff. Letters
must include writers’ full names and
addresses, and may be edited for
clarity.
ULAMA COUNCIL OF MALAWI an absolute free society in Malawi. It is
a news leader in opinion and analysis Main Editorial Office
MANAGING EDITOR
on Malawi’s socio-political, religious 1 Floor, Globe Chambers, Masauko
st
Abdullah .O. Mdala
and economic development.
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2 For People who want to know T h i r t y E i g h th Ed it io n A U G U S T 2 0 1 8
Editor’s Note
Why are Muslim Girls Denied
Education Because of Headscarf?
teachers. The community further blamed some people in
the authority of double standards. This meant that teachers
remained at the school until further discussions between
the two parties were exhausted.
This is not the first time the issue of headscarf has come
on spot light in Malawi. Local residents from Mangochi
requested the removal of two civil servants that included
Muwake who was accused of chasing Muslim teachers who
wear Hijab in schools in his area of control despite the fact
that the region is predominantly Muslim and championing
the teaching of Bible Knowledge instead of Religious
knowledge with double shifts in primary schools hindering
the madrassah lessons that are always conducted in the
afternoon.
As if the above is not enough, I remember in Zomba, a
standard 8 pupil was denied access to education just as
the Chichiri Secondary has done in the month of October
denying some girls from entering into the class just
because of wearing a headscarf. The question one would
ask is that can a teacher fail to teach just because one of
the pupils is putting on a headscarf?
The country moved from one party rule to democracy
in 1994 .The coming of democracy to Malawi removed
T
several restrictions that were there during the one party
he tendency of denying many Muslim girls and even system including the wearing of Hijab, selective selection
those women working in either public or private
of learners into secondary schools and universities and
institutions to put on the religious headscarf is very
many other restrictions.
worrying.
A “Grant-Aided School” is run in collaboration between the
It started at Queen Elizabeth Hospital with students from
Ministry of Education and the Proprietor, or owner, of the
College of Medicine who were being denied dressing of such school. In most cases, they are Faith based organisations
a gear until the matter came to an end when government from the Muslim and Christian communities.
accepted that those interested should dress headscarf
which is white in clour just like their uniform. What surprises Muslims is that the implementation of
condition of Grant - Aided School agreement is selective; It
I wonder why, Mama Khadija Girls Academy which is one is always the Muslims who are victims in the end.
of the private schools owned by Muslims in the country
operating under Grant Aided Schools (GAS) Government Under this agreement, the Malawi Government and people
decided to transfer its teachers elsewhere claiming that the of Malawi regardless of the faith, through the Ministry of
school has violated conditions governing the agreement in Education, provide the basic teachers and pay for their
the Government Grand Aided Schools because its pupils salaries. In addition, some other salaries are provided for
were wearing religious headscarf. secretaries, cooks, maintenance staff, etc. Educational
resources such as textbooks are obtained collaboratively
Surprising with the decision, the local community took an with the Ministry. For this reason there is no point of denying
injunction against government’s decision of transferring any girl from wearing a headscarf.
Thirty E ighth Edition AUGUST 2018 For People who want to know 3
EDUCATION From page 1
Thirty E ighth Edition AUGUST 2018 For People who want to know 5
EDUCATION
Malawi government commends Islamic organizations as I get assited from my donors
who are doing this for the sake of
pleasing their Ceator and not that they
need anything from us, however we
needed to pray for them so that such
developments continue benefiting our
nation.”
Speaking during the official handover
ceremony of the school blocks and
other facilities to the government
officials, Sherifa Mia Islamic Relief
Country Representative said education
plays a very big role in the social
economic development of any society.
She therefore thought of bringing such
M
development to this area in order to
alawi government has Malawi Sheikh Idriss Muhammad said impact the community.
commended Islamic that was one way of guaranteeing that
organizations for the education is accessible to everyone. Speaking on behalf of government
continued support in the MAM Chair further said that his Zomba District Commissioner (DC)
education sector. The remarks were association and many other Islamic applauded Muslims for having
made by Zomba District Commissioner organizations have now taken heed brought such structures in his District.
Emmanuel Bambe during the in constructing learning institutions “Government appreciates your support
handover ceremony of school blocks across the country. especially in the education sector,
for Malemia Full primary school on government cannot do it alone, it is a
30th October 2018 in Zomba. Sheikh Muhammad said; “my collective responsibility, and therefore
administration will continue to we needed to work together for the
With funding from Charity week from support education in Malawi as long development of this country”.
the UK Islamic relief Malawi has
implemented the construction of Two
blocks of four classrooms, a library, a
staff room, feeding shelter, and a solar
power water system. Earlier in the
week before Islamic Relief handed over
these facilities, Muslim Association of
Malawi also opened a Praying house
(Masjid) and a two classroom block
in the same Traditional Authority of
Malemia. The Association constructed
these structures with funding from
Dubai Charity Organization of United
Arab Emirates.
Addressing the audience, The
Chairman of Muslim Association of
The Association constructed these structures with funding from
Dubai Charity Organization from United Arab Emirates.
6 For People who want to know T h i r t y E i g h th Ed it io n A U G U S T 2 0 1 8
Governance
Islamic Relief leads religious leaders
and NGO’s to mitigate climate change
I
slamic Relief Malawi has called on
people in the country to intensify
the fight against climate change.
Country representative for Islamic
Relief Malawi Sherifa Mia made the call
during a Talanoa dialogue for climate
change ambition in Blantyre. The
action on climate change workshop
was organized in order to find ways of
mitigating effects of climate change
as one of the activities that has
been championed by Humanitarian
Academy for Development (HAD) with
funding from KIT Foundation under
Islamic Relief UK.
Mia says Talanoa means traditional
story telling aimed at mitigating and climate change, activists, and change there is need to take everyone
effects of climate change. youth groups.” on board.
Mia further said that the dialogue Mia also said that holding discussions Gawa asked government and
was organized to solicit views on on climate change can help to stakeholders to create strategies that
climate change which will be shared mitigate its effects in the country.
during the forthcoming UN framework can get rid of climate change.
convention on climate change in In her remarks representative of
Apart from presentations from
December in Poland., “for this reason Wildlife Environmental society of
Malawi WESM Dr Tiwonge Gawa Sheikhs, participants discussed how
we deliberately selected targeted
groups from different societies like commended Islamic Relief Malawi for climate change has affected their
religious leaders, non-governmental organizing such a dialogue saying for communities as well as finding
organizations working on environment Malawi to combat effects of climate solutions to mitigate the same.
Gawa asked
government and
stakeholders to
create strategies
that can get rid of
climate change.
Thirty E ighth Edition AUGUST 2018 For People who want to know 7
FOCUS ON PALESTINE
Israel delays Palestinian village
Khan al-Ahmar demolition order
I
srael has announced it was our policy and it will be implemented,” few months.
putting on hold the demolition of a Netanyahu told reporters.
Palestinian Bedouin village in the Netanyahu’s remarks came a day
occupied West Bank for a “short, “I don’t intend to postpone it until after sources in the prime minister’s
fixed period of time”. further notice contrary to what has office told Israeli daily Haaretz that the
been reported, but [make it happen] evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar will be
In a statement made by Israeli Prime within a short, fixed period of time. delayed until further notice.
Minister Benjamin Netenyahu on The duration we will give to evacuate
Sunday following a meeting with US In a statement released by the office
it in consent will be decided by the
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, earlier on Sunday read: “The intention
cabinet.”
he said Khan al-Ahmar will soon be [of the postponement] is to give a
“evacuated”. Khan al-Ahmar, located northeast of chance to the negotiations and the
occupied East Jerusalem, has been offers we received from different
“This is the decision of the court, this is under threat of demolition for the past bodies, including in recent days.”
8 For People who want to know T h i r t y E i g h th Ed it io n A U G U S T 2 0 1 8
Focus on Palestine
last month, under the pretext that it 100 days.
had been built without a permit.
Walid Assaf, head of the commission
But Palestinians say building permits against the wall and settlements, said
are impossible to obtain, in contrast on Saturday residents of the village
to the rapid expansion of Jewish-only are fighting to cancel the demolition
Israeli settlements, which are illegal order entirely, not just to freeze the
under international law. order, local media reported.
The village’s location between two Last week, Israeli forces entered
major Israeli settlements, Maale Khan al-Ahmar with heavy equipment
Adumim and Kfar Adumim, has
and at least three bulldozers,
been a thorn in the side of the Israeli
levelling ground in preparation for
government, which wants to expand
its demolition. Several activtsts were
the two in order to build a ring of
injured and were briefly detained after
settlements around East Jerusalem.
resisting Israeli soldiers who were at
Palestinian leaders see East the scene.
Jerusalem as their capital of a future
Palestinian state. The Israeli government plans to
relocate those displaced to either the
Khan al-Ahmar’s destruction would vicinity of a sewage treatment facility
also enable the Israeli government to near the Dead Sea or about 12km away
effectively bisect the West Bank. from their homes, near the village of
Rights advocates had said the forcible Abu Dis, which is near a landfill.
transfer of the village’s 180 residents
would violate international law
regarding occupied territory. Khan al-Ahmar,
On Wednesday, the International located northeast
Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor
warned that Israel’s planned
of occupied East
The fate of Khan al-Ahmar has
captured international attention for “evacuation by force” of the village Jerusalem, has
could constitute a war crime. Israel
its years-long legal battle with Israeli
is a signatory of the Rome Statute
been under threat
authorities over its survival.
of the ICC but it has not ratified the of demolition
agreement.
Israeli authorities set October 1 as the
deadline for the residents to dismantle
for the past few
Residents and activists had been
their homes after the demolition was protesting against the planned months.
given a green light by an Israeli court demolition of the village for more than
Thirty E ighth Edition AUGUST 2018 For People who want to know 9
SOCIETY
Early Childhood Marriages in Malawi
M
alawi is one of the countries those norms are shaped mostly by Region of Africa as they escalate high
that has been leading in early cultural beliefs. population growth, maternal mortality,
child marriages in the past illiteracy and other indicators of
years, however tremendous He hailed UN Women Regional Office
and all its partner institutions for poverty in Africa,” she noted.
efforts have been put in place in order
to curb such marriages. choosing Malawi to host the sub
Kalilani highlighted the tremendous
continental conference highlighting
This month, Malawi hosted several efforts that Government is doing
that the country is making
other African countries at Mount Soche tremendous efforts in curbing early in curbing the rate of early child
in Blantyre where Minister of Local child marriages by putting in place marriages.
Government and Rural Development by-laws and policies against child
Kondwani Nankhumwa said that “Currently, over 46 per cent of girls are
marriages.
Malawi has registered progress married off at the age of 18. This is a
towards ending early child marriages lesser percentage when compared
during the opening of the four day to 2015 which was about 50 per cent.
conference which was organized One key driving force for the reduction
by the United Nations (UN) under the is political will from President who is
theme Dialogue with traditional &
one of the three Head of States among
cultural leaders on child marriages.
the nine global Champions who have
The Minister further said the country is committed to end child marriages
one of the model countries that have and violence against women,” the
enacted legislation on prohibiting Minister explained.
marriage before the age of 18.
During his contribution, Sheikh Ahmad
Nankhumwa also pointed out that as a
country, there was need to strengthen Chienda from Islamic Information
the law by extending the age of the Bureau asked the participants to
child to 18 thereby prohibiting any ponder on decreasing environments
marriage before that age. accommodating early child marriages
like the availability of rest houses in
“Most Malawians approximately 85
per cent of the population live in rural residential areas, reducing or closing
areas and as such there is need for us up loopholes that are excercebating to
to engage with culture custodians as under-age girls patronizing drinking
front liners in challenging the negative joints across the country among
harmful cultural practices that foster others
an environment of child marriages,”
Nankhumwa observed. The four day meeting was mainly
focusing on traditional leaders
However, the Minister commended the Minister of Gender, Children, Disability
engagement of traditional leaders in and Social Welfare Dr Jean Kalilani involvement in formulating policies
the fight against early child marriages said child marriages have a huge that will assist in curbing the rate of
considering that many interventions bearing on the development agenda early marriages and female genital
are driven by traditional leaders and of nations in the East and Southern mutilation (FGM) in Africa.
“Currently, over 46 per cent of girls are married off at the age of 18. This is
a lesser percentage when compared to 2015 which was about 50 per cent.
10 For People who want to know T h i r t y E i g h th Ed it io n A U G U S T 2 0 1 8Thirty E ighth Edition AUGUST 2018 For People who want to know 11
ECONOMics
What are sukuk bonds and are they
different from typical bonds?
C
urrently, discussions Sukuk is one mode of financing. to return the money borrowed from
about sukuk bonds and Meanwhile, many established players an investor after an agreed period of
Islamic Finance are on the on the international capital markets time, and to pay a return, typically in
increase. Here in Malawi, the are issuing sukuks in order to excel the form of interest, during and/or at
Government has just approved the in their businesses but how do these
the end of the life of that obligation.
Introduction of Islamic Banking in the bonds work?
Hence, the main facets of a bond
country. A bond is an obligation by an Issuer issue are the credit worthiness of the
12 For People who want to know T h i r t y E i g h th Ed it io n A U G U S T 2 0 1 8ECONOMics
borrower and the issuer of the bond, in -compliant. This concept would be other words, the buyer of a sukuk bond
repaying back the loan and servicing readily understood by ethical investors is indirectly buying an asset that has
it as agreed. who would not consider investments value rather than entering into a loan
that finance activities which are not
Essentially, a sukuk bond is not obligation with the issuer of a typical
aligned to their creed, belief, or opinion.
much different, but its structure has debt instrument.
to adhere to the rules established by A sukuk has a secondary market in
It is therefore suggested that, the
Sharia (Islamic principles). the same way as a typical bond has
and investors may buy, hold, or sell asset backing the sukuk is critical.
Without entering into the convolutions
the sukuk after this has been issued Consequently, the value of sukuk is
of Islamic Finance, and focusing on
in the primary market. Hence, liquidity linked to the increase in value and
sukuk bonds, if a borrower decides to
considerations are also relevant for productivity of real assets and not
borrow money directly from investors
sukuk bonds. That said, the price of the with profit on money and inflation
in terms of the Islamic perspective of
sukuk is linked to the value and credit
finance, the issuer has to avoid paying dynamics. Perhaps, focusing more on
Understanding covered bonds or collateralised loan
obligations may help us understand sukuk bonds.
Whereas a typical bond indicates a debt obligation
between the investor (the lender) and the issuer (the
borrower), a sukuk indicates the ownership of an asset
backing that obligation. Obviously, the asset backing the
sukuk would be Sharia -compliant.
interest because this is tantamount the economic value added created
dynamics of the assets backing the
to Riba (interest), or the generation of through the financing of real assets
sukuk. If the asset backing the sukuk
money from money. would help societies to increase
increases in value, the value of the
Understanding covered bonds or sukuk increases commensurately. In productivity and real economic wealth
collateralised loan obligations may a typical bond structure, the interest sustainably and over the long term.
help us understand sukuk bonds. received on a bond (Riba in terms of Importantly, the number of investors
Whereas a typical bond indicates Islamic Finance) forms part of the
in the Islamic world cannot be ignored
a debt obligation between the overall return received on the bond.
and therefore Sharia compliant
investor (the lender) and the issuer With a typical bond, the interest rate
vehicles capable of attracting their
(the borrower), a sukuk indicates dynamics also contribute to the return
the ownership of an asset backing on the bond if changes in interest wealth are increasingly relevant. The
that obligation. Obviously, the asset rates cause the value of the bond in sukuk is a good starting point for
backing the sukuk would be Sharia the secondary market to change. In issuers to tap into this reality.
Thirty E ighth Edition AUGUST 2018 For People who want to know 13ECONOMics
What is Islamic Insurance (Takaful)?
A
ll human activities are subject Takaful is commonly referred to as and co-operation, encompassing the
to risk of loss from unforeseen Islamic insurance; this is due to elements of shared responsibility,
events. To alleviate this burden the apparent similarity between the joint indemnity, common interest and
to individuals, what we now contract of kafalah (guarantee) and solidarity.
call insurance has existed since at that of insurance.
least 215 BC. This concept has been In takaful, the policyholders are
practiced in various forms for over However, takaful is founded on the joint investors with the insurance
1400 years. It originates from the cooperative principle and on the
Arabic word Kafalah, which means vendor (the takaful operator), who
principle
“guaranteeing each other” or “joint acts as a mudarib – a manager
guarantee”. The concept is in line with or an entrepreneurial agent for the
the principles of compensation policyholders. The policyholders
and shared responsibilities share in the investment
among the community.
pool’s profits as well as
Takaful originated within its losses. A positive
the ancient Arab tribes return on policies is not
as a pooled liability that obliged legally guaranteed, as any
those who committed offences
fixed profit guarantee would be akin
against members of a different
tribe to pay compensation to the to receiving interest and offend the
victims or their heirs. This principle prohibition against riba.
later extended to many walks of
life, including sea trade, in which For some time conventional insurance
participants contributed to a fund was considered to be incompatible
to cover anyone in a group who with the Shari’ah that prohibit
suffered mishaps on sea voyages. excessive uncertainty in dealings
In modern-day conventional and investment in interest-bearing
insurance, the insurance assets; both are inherent factors in
vendor (the insurance conventional insurance business.
company) sells policies
and invests the proceeds However, takaful complies with
for the profit of its the Shari’ah (which outlines the
shareholders, who are not principles of compensation and
necessarily policyholders. There is of separation between the funds shared responsibilities among
therefore a clear disjunction between and operations of shareholders, thus
the community) and has been
policyholders and shareholders. passing the ownership of the Takaful
approved by Muslim scholars. There
Payouts to policyholders may vary (Insurance) fund and operations to the
depending on financial performance, is now general, health and family (life)
policyholders. Muslim jurists conclude
but a minimum positive return is that insurance in Islam should be takaful plans available for the Muslim
always contractually guaranteed. based on principles of mutuality communities.
In takaful, the policyholders are joint investors with the insurance
vendor (the takaful operator), who acts as a mudarib – a manager or an
entrepreneurial agent for the policyholders.
14 For People who want to know T h i r t y E i g h th Ed it io n A U G U S T 2 0 1 8Thirty E ighth Edition AUGUST 2018 For People who want to know 15
16 For People who want to know T h i r t y E i g h th Ed it io n A U G U S T 2 0 1 8
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