What our artists have achieved this year in Italy is actually another victory added to their record of achievements. Their excellent performance in the Ravenna international ceremony in Italy, is a sure sign that proves that Yemeni songs are in constant progress and steady development. Our artists have showed that they are distinguished and that Yemeni songs have their presence on the international level. 

Our country was represented by a good number of artists under the Seera Group. These artists are: Mohammed Ghallab, Saleh Abdulbaqi, Hamood Al-Gonaid, Abdulrahman Al-Amdi, Hana Omar, Omar Bagabeer, Wahib Al-Nowahi and Marwan Al-Haidari, all of them were chaired by Dr. Nezar Ghanem and Abdullilah Salam. There were also two dancers, Kaseer and Zabida. 

It is undoubtedly known that these artists have performed their roles in a way that all could not help but be impressed by that exquisite performance. They have managed to form a very nice and sublime picture of Yemen, in all of Italy and in all the different towns visited by these bands. Despite the fact that this was the first time the Yemeni song was introduced to the Italians in this international ceremony, held in Europe each year, we were amazed to realize the great approval of the Yemeni bands whose artists attracted the attention of all the whole audience. It was very clear from the first time our singers participated on June 26, 99 in Bagnacavallo, one of the superbs of Ravenna, and on the stage of the Golden Theater. The Yemeni bands inaugurated its first artistic activities in a way which resulted in the theater being crowded with people. The whole audience was cheering the Yemeni artists and was determined not to miss one Yemeni song. This has actually given our artists a strong push to do their best and excel themselves in these activities. 

As it is generally believed, Italians are distinguished from other European people for their sensitive sense and their admiration for other cultures which they host and interact with. This is actually what has been felt by the Yemeni artists in the evening ceremony at the Golden Theater. On that day they presented some of Sanaa'ni, Lahji, Hadrami songs and religious chants - "Al-Moshaha", with the smell of the Yemeni scent which spread all over the stage as well as in the whole theater. Smelling this, the audience was very delighted and awe-inspired that they can not help but admire the august and magnificent performance of these artists. The bands finished their performance by giving a show of the wedding practices in Yemen. This has moved and overwhelmed Italians tremendously. What has really happened after the artists finished their performance is indeed of the most thrilling and unforgettable things in our artists lives. The whole audience was waiting in crowds to shake hands with these artists and to congratulate them for their grand performance. 
 
The same thing happened in almost all the towns of Italy, including Brafina, Rome, Feirona, Genoa, Milano, Audien and Napoli which was their last post. Therefore, our artists could made strategic dimensions for the Yemeni songs to make the world acquainted with them. Their success is best seen when we see different countries such as Austria, Italy, Spain, France offer invitations for our artists to participate in the coming international ceremonies. 

To sum it up, our artists, Ambassadors of the Yemeni Art as called by the Italian audience, have given a marvelous picture of Yemen in the outside world. We wish that this picture will never be distorted if these admirers come here to have a down to earth experience. It is worth mentioning to say that media in Italy has also played a vital role in making the Yemeni activities common to all the people of Italy. Certainly, these artists have left a cultural and civilized touch which will memorably be engraved in the imagination of the people of Italy.

By: Saleh Abdulbaqi 
Cultural Editor

Ahlam Al-khawlani & 
Abdu Al-Hakeem Hashim 
Yemen Times 

Since the first days of Islam, woman has been given the freedom that she had been deprived of in the pre-Islamic period. She has stood by man in wars, where she worked as a cupbearer and a nurse while even fighting alongside him. In the course of time, as education become accessible to everybody, she got educated to hold high ranking positions in society. Now, woman is recognized as an active member that has proved her success in various fields such as teaching, medicine, engineering, journalism. The introduction above breaks the ice for a number of interviews I have had with women working as stewardesses to know what do they think about their career, how the people and their male colleagues perceive them and what the problems they face are. 

Wafa Assaid Saleh 
I have chosen this career because it is the best in the world. I don't care what the people say about us and I am not bound to please them. They envy us, unlike our colleagues who respect us. We, like other women in their careers, have our own problems. One of the problems we face is the passengers misunderstanding of the nature of our work. I am not married or engaged at the moment. I prefer my life-long partner to be educated and broad-minded. 

Saniah Anwar 
I have chosen this work because I want to represent my country in the world. I don't pay any attention to what others say about us. We live in a male-chauvinist society that regards women as the second sex. I work with respectable stewards and stewardesses and we respect each other. Many girls like this job because it enables them to know about many other countries. Regarding the problems we meet, they are few. The main one is the passengers' complaints about everything. 

Noor Sinan 
I always wanted to travel to see the world and to know more about the traditions and cultures of nations. Air-hosting is like the other jobs. Unfortunately, people are unable or unwilling to understand this. All the stewards and stewardesses respect themselves and each other and this is enough for us. Girls are preferred for this position because of their grace and flexibility. This, of course, is not enough. Besides this, they should be educated, in order to know how to deal with the passengers. One of our problems is the way people look at us. They don't want to give us the chance to represent our country. 

Waheedah 
It has been always my hope to represent my country. There are two different attitudes towards us. One of them reflects the opinion of the educated sector in our society. The other reflects the opinion of the ignorant. We don't care about what they say. We are confident and know what we are doing. When I get married, I hope that I will be able to strike a balance between my duty as a wife and my job as a stewardess. If it happens and I get proposals, I will think of a sincere and faithful person. As far as air-hosting is concerned, it needs talented people because it is not an easy job. The most outstanding problem we face is the passengers' disdain for safety measures. 

Naeemah Qahwi 
I have chosen this work because I like traveling to see the features of the other countries. The people's attitude towards stewardesses differ from one social sector to another. Regarding my colleagues, they all respect each other. One of the problems we face is the teasing of passengers. I am married. My husband is a businessman and he respects my career very much. 

Majid Saleh 
Many people think that the most suitable work for women includes temptation and attraction. This is why they see women' s availability in the work place as a necessity. Although I respect all the stewardesses, I don't want my fiancŽe or relative to be a stewardess. I am an Eastern man who believes that woman must be in a position that is consistent with our culture and traditions. If I fall in love with a stewardess, I will persuade her to give it up. There are different attitudes towards stewardesses. Personally, I believe that the most suitable place for woman is home. 

Mohammed Al-Aleemy 
Air-hosting attracts not only women, but men also. As a steward, I respect all my colleagues. In my opinion, air-hosting is not different from the other kinds of jobs and woman has to prove herself in this field. I have no objection to marring a stewardess. If I marry a stewardess, I will not ask her to stop. On the contrary, I will encourage her to go on. This might be objected to by many people who look at the work of the stewardess as something against our culture and traditions but I shouldn't let them take charge of my own attitude. 

Ossamah Ali Ahmad Al-Jaawy 
I will not allow my fiance to work as a stewardess. Marrying a stewardess can never be a successful marriage. A successful marriage needs a wife whose only concern is her home! 

Dr. Azza Mohammed Abdo Ghanem 
Professor of Psychology 

Shahwar Hegazi presented a paper (The Child Welfare Association in Cairo) in Istanbul 1997 in a conference on Women in which she said that in 586 A.D. some of the top clergy in Europe met to discuss the issue of women and whether they could be considered as equal human beings to man. It was happily decided that they were human beings, second class citizens created to serve men. Islam came 60 years later to give women rights they had never envisaged. 

In a previous paper I had promised to clarify some misconceptions. I must warn you that my knowledge is tantamount to a drop of rainwater in a huge lake. But let us share that drop. Amongst the most important rights given to women by Islam - that might interest our foreign friends who should get to know the social milieu they are in - are some of the following issues. All I ask is that you read with an open mind and forget your line of reference that you are familiar with. 

Equality in origin: 
"O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord who created you from a single soul and from this created its mate and from both spread a multitude of men and women" Surat Al Nisa - Women V.I 
Equal right to work: 
"And their Lord hath answered them: I will not waste the work, or let it be lost whether of male or female; you proceed one from another." Surat Al-Imran - The Family of Imran V.195. 
Women have equal rights to work or take a job provided they are decently dressed and not in seclusion with a man to incur temptation. But even if she works, she is not responsible to support the family it is her prerogative. 

Right to Education and learning: 
Women participated in education circles and discussion groups throughout the life of the Prophet (P) e.g. Asma bint Omais, Fatma bint Qais and Aisha bint Abubaker retold the Prophets Hadith for many years. 

Right to inheritance: 
It is half that of the male only in the case of parents death. 
"Allah charged you concerning the inheritance of your children, to the male the portion of 2 females" Surat Al-Nisa - Women V.II. 
But in other cases it is not necessarily so. Females remain the males' responsibility even after getting their share. Before Islam no woman could inherit from relatives, but rather women were inherited like other possessions. The issue of inheritance needs an article of its own. 

Right to business management and financial transactions: 
These rights became available to women, they could buy and sell, own a business in their name and make goods for sale. 

Rights to a dowry and financial support: 
This is stipulated in the marriage contact so that there will be no argument. This money and gold becomes her insurance in times of need. In addition anything that the husband gives her during the time of living together, she gets to keep. 

Rights to choose or accept a husband: 
A girl must be asked for her consent by her father of alive or next of kin if father is dead. 

Right to give testimony and act as witness: 
"And call to witness from among your men two, or one man and two women". 
Surat Al Baqarah - The cow V282. 
Some use this as a sign of inequality, but in fact in matters of great delicacy and intimacy such as childbirth, breast feeding maternity etc. a man's testimony is not accepted and only a woman's. In murder issues and violent acts it is feared that a woman's emotional bias might interfere. But more important than the gender issue is the security of the trait of justice and fairness in the witness. 

Right to be protected from slander and accusation: 
False accusations were punishable, and whoever accuses a woman say of adultery has to prove that and provide 4 witnesses. 
Islam stressed the independence of women in civil rights, and warned against gender envy: 
"And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others. Unto men a fortune from that which they have earned and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned." 
Surat Al Nisa - Women V. 32. 
Women in the first stages of Islam, were given the right to protect in safe custody () those who begged for protection e.g. Um Hani - the sister of Khalifa Ali bin Abi Taleb - protected a non-believer from Ali's wrath and the Prophet (P) supported her. 

Amongst the first political rights of women was the swearing of allegiance of the leader () which both men and women performed. The Prophet (P) accepted it by words from women and shaking hands in addition of men. 
Consultation and discussion () was one of the basic rules of legislation. It is the duty of both males and females. The Prophet (P), Abubaker, Othman and Omar invited guidance from women e.g. Omer ibn Alkhattab consulted Aisha the Prophet's widow as to the maximum period of separation from spouse, and he decided according to her advice to make 4 months the upper limit for male expeditions. 

It is also a woman's right to give () Shariah explanations if she is knowledgeable in juris prudence. 
Women are not allowed to become heads of states or Khalifas, however they are eligible and acceptable in all other positions below that. This is partly because the head of state must lead all in prayers and fights () etc. duties from which women are exempt and have not asked for equality. Thus women can be ministers, heads of offices, ambassadors etc. It has been said that the Prophet (P) said "No people who let a woman rule them will succeed". But it was explained that this was a specific text referring to the case of Buran, a queen in Persia. Besides it does refer to the head of state and not other general leadership positions of lower magnitude. 

In acting as judges in law matters, there are different interpretations. The sects Al Shafey, Alhanbaly and Shiah do not allow females as judges. Al hanafy accepts them in minor issues but not say in crimes or murders. Al maliky accepts female judges in all matters. These multi sectorial interpretations are quite prominent in many issues and to me they represent the epitomy of democracy. 
Performing prayers in the mosque is not obligatory in order to avoid inconvenience for mothers and children, but it is complemented. In all other issues prayers, zakat, fasting and pilgrimage men and women are equal. 

There are many other issues that non-believers sometimes throw as sources of doubt of the equality issue. Amongst these are the rules of marriage, divorce, polygamy, the wearing of the veil, and dominance by men (). They are vital issues and In Sha Allah will be attempted in a future article to clear some of the extant misconceptions.