Latest news with #Zaidan
CairoScene
21-06-2025
- General
- CairoScene
The Saudi School Amplifying the Voices of the Down Syndrome Community
Saut Society is doing more than transforming lives for individuals with Down Syndrome- it's redefining inclusion in Saudi Arabia. In many societies, the path for individuals with Down Syndrome has been marked by quiet assumptions. Limiting beliefs about their capabilities have pushed the community to the sidelines, creating scant opportunities for them to pursue the same opportunities and independence afforded to others. In Saudi Arabia, however, a new narrative is taking shape, one that amplifies the collective voice of the Down Syndrome community in order to pave the way for full societal integration. This shift in perception is largely propelled by Saut Society, an active national organisation focused on empowering individuals with Down Syndrome from infancy to adulthood. Central to their mission is Saut, a school dedicated exclusively to students with Down Syndrome that serves as a hub of innovation, self-expression, and unity. Originally established in 1987 as a small-scale preschool, its inception was driven by a vital need for early intervention. Over the years the institution expanded to offer comprehensive support through all stages of life, and in 2010, the school was formally integrated under Saut Society sole management. To hear first hand how this new narrative is being crafted, I spoke with Saut Society's CEO Zaina Zaidan on her vision for empowering individuals with Down Syndrome, the strategic initiatives behind Saut's success, and the future of inclusion in Saudi Arabia. When it comes to defining what it means to 'give a voice' to the Down Syndrome community, Saut's goal is, and always has been, to empower individuals to fully showcase their abilities. A pivotal aspect of this mission is ensuring active self-representation. Students are consistently encouraged to participate in social life, work, and government-related discussions, thereby serving as ambassadors for the broader Down Syndrome community. 'Our students actively participate in all sorts of events and official positions. For them, it means they're seen, they're heard, and they're truly contributing to everyday life and important conversations,' Zaidan says. To achieve this, Saut Society employs a unique 'third curriculum', which is built on Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and age-based placement. 'Everything they learn is specifically tailored for each student,' Zaidan explains. 'It allows for each student to have the full effect of the program by accommodating their needs.' Additionally, students are deliberately placed with peers their own age. 'The idea is that learning alongside other kids their age, even with their personalised plans, genuinely helps their social skills and overall independence.' Beyond academics and therapy, the core of their empowerment lies in real-world participation. Throughout the day, students engage in practical activities like going to the supermarket to buy ingredients for their own meals or cleaning out their bags. 'That's key to helping them express themselves, communicate, and become independent,' Zaidan says. 'Our students are always out there. They're not just attendees; they're present and participating, often representing Saut itself. They're fully immersed in society.' The school often welcomes visitors such as athletes, artists, and high-profile figures like Her Excellency Raisa Hukouka Al-Insan. 'These interactions are vital for them to witness progress and feel connected to the wider community.' This commitment to real-world integration and community connection extends into Saut Society's fundraising efforts. Among these, one of Saut's most unique and popular initiatives is its annual Garga'an celebration fundraiser. This event is an alternative to Halloween, where kids trick-or-treat in the middle of Ramadan. Children from across Riyadh rent tables to sell a range of products such as food or crafts, and are endearingly named 'Little Merchants'. The funds collected from both the table rentals and visitor entry fees directly support Saut's programs for individuals with Down Syndrome. This celebration is so popular that, as Zaidan shares, "People actually book their tables way in advance, and sometimes moms even get a little competitive over them! It's truly a wonderful way for people across Riyadh to come together, celebrate, and actively support our educational efforts." Saut Society's program has sparked a profound shift in the conversation surrounding Down Syndrome across Saudi society. 'What really drives the change is when people see these success stories firsthand,' Zaidan shares. 'We have three students working at Saut as secretaries and PE teachers - they really are our true ambassadors!"
The Journal
04-06-2025
- General
- The Journal
Trial date set for men charged with firearms offences in case linked to Carlow shooter
TWO YOUNG MEN who were charged last year for a number of firearms offences alongside Carlow shooter Evan Fitzgerald are set to go on trial later this month. Shane Kinsella, with an address at Tynock, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, and Daniel Quinn Burke of 1 Allendale Lawns, Baltinglas, Wicklow, appeared before Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court this afternoon. The men, both aged 21, were charged with four firearms offences in March 2024 along with Evan Fitzgerald – the young man who fatally injured himself with a shotgun in Fairgreen Shopping Centre on Sunday. All three faced four charges: two charges in relation to possession of weapons and two charges in relation to the possession of ammunition under the Firearms Act. The three men have been remanded on bail since March 2024. During a hearing for Kinsella and Quinn Burke in relation to the charges this afternoon at Naas Discrict Court, Judge Desmond Zaidan withdrew the charges against Evan Fitzgerald whose death he described as 'a suicide'. Zaidan said that the withdrawl of the charges against Fitzgerald was done under the direction of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Charges are dismissed as a matter of course if a person facing charges has died. Kinsella and Quinn Burke will face trial for the firearms offences at Naas District Court on 18 June. The pair were charged with possession of .45 calibre M1911A1 semi-automatic pistol, as well as a 7.62mm G3 assault rifle and a range of ammunition. 'Hiding behind my court' During the proceedings, Judge Zaidan said that he 'wished to clarify' recent reporting on the bail conditions of Evan Fitzgerald, who used a legally-owned shotgun to carry out the shooting in Fairgreen Shopping Centre on Sunday. He had no prior convictions or known links to serious crime, which meant there were no grounds to oppose bail when he was charged with firearms and explosives offences last year, the court heard. Fitzgerlad's bail conditions were also relaxed after a period of months because he had so closely complied with all of the conditions initially imposed on him. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said yesterday that a review of bail laws is already underway, but added that there are 'constitutional limits' on reforms around bail in Ireland . Advertisement Addressing press reporters in the court, Judge Zaidan delivered a prolonged address from bench, during which he stressed that gardaí had consented to granting bail for Evan Fitzgerald and the other accused men last year. 'I don't want anyone hiding behind my order,' Zaidan said. 'Gardaí consented to bail – no judge in Ireland can go behind that. Once gardaí consent to bail, bail must be granted.' 'That's the way it was dealt with on 4 March 2024. There has been some sensational headlines about objecting to bail recently,' the judge said. Zaidan later described news coverage of Evan Fitzgerald's bail as 'embarrassing', and said that he had received multiple phone calls from acquaintances asking him about it. 'You can see as a human being where I'm coming from. The gardaí consented – amen - which means my role was done,' he said. He then formally gave effect to the next sitting of Naas circuit court on 18 June, where Shane Kinsella and Daniel Quinn Burke will face th efirearms charges. USB stick During the proceedings, solicitor Tim Kennelly revealed that a USB stick had been duct-taped to his client Shane Kinsella's bedroom window on Sunday, the same day that Evan Fitzgerald shot himself in Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow. Kennelly said that the USB stick was stuck to the window in a sealed bag. He explained that a capital letter 'E' was written out in duct dape above the USB stick on the same window. Detective Garda Brian Foran told the court that the USB stick had been retrieved by gardaí as part of investigations into the Carlow shooting on Sunday. Kennelly said that Shane Kinsella had not been able to see the contents of the USB stick, and argued that he was entitled to see it. Garda Foran said that gardaí in Carlow were 'dealing with this', and said that he did not wish to comment on the USB stick. Judge Zaidan told Foran: 'it exists, they're entitled to it', and ordered that the defence be allowed access to the content of the USB stick. Separately, gardaí confirmed that a postmortem of the body of Evan Fitzgerald had concluded today. A spokesperson said the results will not be released 'for operational reasons' – as is standard procedure in major garda investigations. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Shafaq News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq releases +19,000 inmates under amended Amnesty Law
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council announced, on Tuesday, the release of more than 19,000 prisoners as part of the country's amended General Amnesty Law. The announcement followed a high-level meeting chaired by President of Supreme Judicial Council Faiq Zaidan, who met with senior judicial figures to assess the implementation of Amendment No. 27 (2016) to the Law. According to the Council, the review covered the period between January 21 and April 30, 2025, during which 19,381 individuals—including both detainees and convicted prisoners—were released from prisons and detention centers across Iraq. The total number of people eligible under the law—including those sentenced in absentia, on bail, or facing arrest or summons warrants—has reached 93,597, the Council added. Chief Justice Zaidan called for broader meetings among the judicial committees responsible for enforcing the amnesty, emphasizing the need to resolve legal discrepancies and ensure consistent application of the law across all provinces.
