'Strength of the Hijab' statue set to be unveiled in UK to celebrate women who wear Hijab
Smethwick (UK): A unique and striking sculpture titled 'Strength of the Hijab' is poised to adorn the streets of Smethwick later this year, making a global statement in celebration of women who choose to wear hijabs. This monumental work of art, believed to be the first of its kind worldwide, not only pays tribute to these women but also symbolizes their right to love and respect, regardless of their attire
Designed by artist Luke Perry, the 'Strength of the Hijab' stands an impressive five meters tall, weighing approximately one tonne. It is inscribed with a powerful message: 'It is a woman's right to be loved and respected whatever she chooses to wear,' encapsulating the core message and purpose of the sculpture.
The installation of this extraordinary artwork is scheduled for either October or early November near Brasshouse Lane. The initiative for this project comes from Legacy West Midlands, a registered charity dedicated to celebrating the rich heritage of post-war migrant communities in Birmingham.
Luke Perry, the creative mind behind this exceptional creation, shared his insights with the BBC, explaining, "The Strength of the Hijab is a piece which represents women who wear hijabs of the Islamic faith, and it's really there because it's such an underrepresented part of our community, but such an important one." Perry stressed the importance of visibility and inclusivity in our society.
This endeavor follows Perry's previous work, the 'Black British History is British History' sculpture, co-designed with Canaan Brown and installed in Winson Green in May. The previous sculpture faced defacement shortly after its installation. Nevertheless, Perry remains steadfast in his commitment to represent all facets of the UK's diverse community.
While acknowledging that 'Strength of the Hijab' may spark controversy, Perry firmly believes in the importance of unity and representation. Despite potential controversy, the initial response to the sculpture has been overwhelmingly positive, she added.
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Rupee hits record intra-day low in early trade, falls 12 paise to 92.37 against US dollar
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee slumped 12 paise to its record low of 92.37 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday as global crude oil prices showed no signs of easing amid the ongoing West Asian conflict.
A stronger greenback, heavy FII selling and weak sentiments in the domestic equity markets further weighed on the rupee, according to forex traders.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the local unit opened at 92.33 and slipped further to hit its record intra-day low of 92.37 against the US dollar, down 12 paise from its previous close.
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The rupee touched a fresh intra-day low of 92.36 on Thursday and closed the session 24 paise down at its lowest level of 92.25 against the US dollar.
"Oil prices remained elevated after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is closed permanently till the resolution of the crisis. The dollar index also rose, European and Asian currencies all fell against the dollar," Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said.
The rupee has remained vulnerable and in the absence of the RBI could have reached 93.00 levels, he added.
The dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.04 per cent higher at 99.77.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 4.99 per cent at USD 96.57 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the Sensex plunged 560.06 points, or 0.74 per cent, to 75,474.36, while the Nifty tanked 184.45 points, or 0.78 per cent, to 23,454.70.
Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 7,049.87 crore on a net basis on Thursday, according to exchange data.
Meanwhile, retail inflation moved up to 3.21 per cent in February compared to 2.74 per cent in the preceding month, driven mainly by higher food prices, government data released on Thursday showed.
