Amarnath Yatra, A Shining Example Of Hindu-Muslim Bonhomie: Local Muslims Keep Kashmiriyat, Spirit Of Brotherhood Alive
New Age
Islam News Bureau
06 July 20123
Representational
Image/File Photo
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India
• UCC: Majoritarian Morality Must Not
Supersede Minority Rights, Muslim Law Board Tells Law Commission
• 4 Barge Into Muslim Man's House In
Agra, Sexually Assault Girl, Attack Family
• Gujarat: Man held for 'raping' girl,
police call it 'love jihad' case
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Europe
• British Army Apologises For
Anti-Islamic Bias
• UK Muslim MPs Abstain From Voting On
Pro-Israel Parliamentary Bill
• Two Terrorists Arrested In The
Netherlands Tied To German Islamic State Case
• Data giant used by banks to check on
politicians wrongly linked mosque to terrorism
• Daventry schoolchildren's 'wonderful
time' at mosque visit
• Birmingham brothers plotted to join
Islamic State from their bedroom, court told
• Plans to improve Sunderland mosque,
including adding a minaret
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Mideast
• Israeli actions violating sanctity of
Al-Aqsa Mosque 'unacceptable:' Turkish foreign minister
• Islamic bloc calls for art, media
productions to combat Islamophobia
• Israeli Academic Being Held By Shia Militia
In Iraq, Netanyahu's Office Says
• International group calls Muslim
scholars to condemn Quran burnings at Friday sermons
• Islamic Resistance Factions Announce
Exclusion of Turkey from 'Final Opportunity', Target Base in Duhok
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North America
• Shipwreck that killed Pakistani
migrants ‘a preventable tragedy’: Washington Post
• US legislator attacked outside Muslim
prayer service details harrowing incident
• US Muslim group urges Biden, Swedish
premier to condemn Quran burning in Sweden
• Islamic State Group Funds Terror Along
DRC-Uganda Border
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Arab World
• President of General Presidency for
Affairs of Two Holy Mosques Launches Digital Programs at Grand Mosque Library
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Pakistan
• Pakistan To Observe
Yaum-e-Taqaddus-e-Quran TomorrowTo Lodge Protest Against Desecration Of Holy
Quran In Sweden
• PM Commends Contribution Of
Pakistani-American Doctors To Healthcare, US Ties
• Hearing of Imran Khan’s plea against
IHC CJ adjourned
• Pakistan wants to benefit more from
Turkey’s development in science, tech: Baligh
• Joint session to discuss desecration
of Holy Quran in Sweden
• PM lauds resilience of APPNA to build
Pak-US relations
• Major martyred during gun battle with
terrorists in Khyber district: ISPR
--------
Africa
• Al-Sunni Discusses With UN Official
Ways To Enhance Support For Libyan Institutions
• Gambia: MoH Lays Foundation for New
Mosque At Its Brusubi Complex
--------
South Asia
• UN Invite Islamic Emirate Officials to
the Upcoming Meeting: UNAMA
• IEA Request to Participate in the
Upcoming Meeting of SCO in Kazakhstan
• UK looks to deepen trade ties with
Bangladesh
• Armed forces always stand by people:
PM
--------
Southeast Asia
• Bar Pans Dr Mahathir For Selectively
Interpreting Constitution To Badmouth Multiracialism, Calls For Harmony Bill To
Preserve Unity
• Hearing of Hindu mum Loh Siew Hong’s
bid to get leave to appeal rescheduled to Sept 26
• Provisions in Federal Constitution
reflect importance of race, diversity, says RaisYatim
• Dr Zaliha: Four out of five teenagers
in Malaysia not physically active
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/amarnath-yatra-hindu-muslim-kashmiriyat/d/130150
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Amarnath Yatra, A Shining Example Of
Hindu-Muslim Bonhomie: Local Muslims Keep Kashmiriyat, Spirit Of Brotherhood
Alive
Representational
Image/File Photo
-----
05.07.23
The annual Amarnath Yatra to the holy
cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas has been a shining example of
Hindu-Muslim bonhomie as the local population has not only welcomed, but
assisted the hundreds and thousands of Shiva devotees in their arduous journey
of faith.
The support of the local Muslims has
been instrumental for a smooth conduct of the pilgrimage year after year,
irrespective of the political atmosphere or security scenario in the rest of
Jammu and Kashmir.
The Muslims put up tents for the Yatris
to stay, provide palanquins and pony services for those devotees who cannot
undertake the difficult trek to the 3,888-metre-high cave shrine housing a
naturally formed ice-lingam -- the edifice of Lord Shiva. And they are also the
first responders in case of any emergency.
The services have more to do with
keeping the traditional communal harmony alive than the economic aspects.
"The necessary arrangements and
other things that we need are taken care of by our Muslim brothers. From
cleanliness to the 'Prasad', pony, palkis -- all the help is rendered by local
Muslims. This brotherhood is an example for the world. I have not witnessed a
better example of brotherhood than this anywhere else and I travel across
India," Sadhu Nagaraj, here for the Yatra, said.
A local who works as a caretaker for the
belongings of the pilgrims said they provide their services for free because of
the age-old brotherhood.
"We come here for the yatris. We
keep their bags, cameras, mobile phones here and take care of those for free.
This is our brotherhood. We are keeping Kashmiriyat alive," he said.
Expressing satisfaction over the support
of the Muslims, a pilgrim said the locals have left no stone unturned to make
the yatra successful.
"The locals have provided a huge
support. They have left no stone unturned. If we seek one item from them, they
provide two," the yatri said.
For the locals, the yatra is also an
opportunity to earn their livelihood.
"We come here when the yatra
starts. We earn our livelihood for the month by carrying the bags of the yatris
up to the holy cave and back. The yatris cannot carry the heavy bags, so we
carry those for them," a man who carries the pilgrims' bags on his
shoulders for a to-and-fro mountainous journey of about 25 kilometres said.
"We carry the pilgrims, especially
the older ones, on palkis. We carry them on our shoulders. It also provides us
an opportunity to earn our livelihood," another local service provider who
carries the yatris on palanquins said.
For many locals, the yatra symbolises Hindu-Muslim
unity.
"We Muslims help the Hindu
community members. It symbolises our unity," one of them said.
Another appealed to Hindus across the
country to come for the yatra, saying there is no danger or trouble in Kashmir.
"We are ready to welcome you and
lend you every help," he added.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/amarnath-yatra-local-muslims-keep-kashmiriyat-spirit-of-brotherhood-alive/cid/1950027
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French Muslims Are Mistreated For Being
Descendants Of Colonized Populations, Says Expert
Photo: aa.com
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05.07.2023
Muslims in France are mistreated for
being descendants of the colonized populations, according to an expert.
Francois Burgat, the research head at the
French National Center for Scientific Research, told Anadolu: "This
component (the Muslim community) of the French nation has been subject to
particular stigmatization for decades."
"There are two burning sides in
France: those who set fire to public goods these days, such as buses and
schools, and those who for decades have been setting fire to the political
space. They are both condemnable."
He said the problem stems from religious
rivalry between Muslim and Christian dogmas.
"In my opinion, Muslims are
mistreated in France mainly because they are the descendants of the colonized
populations," he said.
"The fourth generation of those
descendants have finally the capacity to strongly claim their citizen rights
and express the will to take part in making history of France's relations with
their ancestors' countries," he said.
The expert further said that French
citizens of non-Muslim African origins are being excluded in the same way.
"All those who voice support for
minority rights are being discredited as Islamists if they are Muslim, and as
racialists if they are non-Muslim Africans," he further said.
Provocations multiplied in three years
particularly when President Emmanuel Macron noticed that he needed to compete
with the far-right to be reelected.
Asked about possible solutions to quell
the current furor, Burgat said that institutions controlling law enforcement
units could be strengthened.
"The area of work is far broader
than that: the 'France of diversity' must see its legitimacy and rights
restored, or even established...," he said.
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/french-muslims-are-mistreated-for-being-descendants-of-colonized-populations-says-expert/2937873
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Israeli Colonizers Profane Al-Aqsa
Mosque Under Israeli Occupation Forces Protection
Photo: (Al Jazeera)
-----
6
July, 2023
Israeli colonizers stormed Thursday
morning, July 6, 2023, the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque under high protection
by Israeli occupation forces IOF.
The Islamic Endowments Department in
Jerusalem confirmed that extremist settlers led by a former Israeli minister,
Moshe Feiglin, performed provocative Talmudic rituals, and rabbis gave them
explanations about the alleged temple.
Israeli forces reportedly secured the
road from the Chain Gate to the Moroccan Gate to facilitate the extremist
settlers’ storming into the mosque.
As well, Israeli special forces have
been deployed in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa and at its gates to secure the
extremists’ incursions.
Semi-daily, Israeli settlers storm
Al-Aqsa and provocatively perform Talmudic rituals under the protection of
Israeli occupation forces, aiming to impose a temporal and spatial division in
the holy site, which the Muslim Palestinians reject and decry.
Earlier in June, media sources revealed
a new Israeli proposed plan aiming at dividing Al-Aqsa Mosque between Jews and
Muslims.
In June 2023, around 4000 Israeli
settlers stormed the mosque and performed Talmudic provocative rituals in its
squares, according to Palestinian figures.
Source: daysofpalestine.ps
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https://daysofpalestine.ps/israeli-colonizers-profanes-al-aqsa-mosque-under-iof-protection/
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UN Human Rights Council To Hold Urgent
Debate On Recent Desecration Of Muslim Holy Book
Photo: aa.com
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05.07.2023
The UN Human Rights Council has said
that it will hold an urgent debate on the recent desecration of the Muslim holy
book, the Quran, in Sweden.
The urgent debate will be held on July
11 in Geneva, the council said in a statement, adding that the "alarming
rise in premeditated and public acts of religious hatred as manifested by
recurrent desecration of the Holy Quran in some European and other
countries," will be discussed.
The urgent debate has been scheduled in
response to an official request by Pakistan on behalf of member states of the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), including those that are members of
the Human Rights Council, according to the statement.
This will be the Human Rights Council's
9th urgent debate since its inception in 2006.
In a statement on behalf of OIC,
Pakistan’s Ambassador Khalil Hashmi said: "We see this urgent debate and
its outcome as an opportunity to demonstrate this Council's unity, mutual
respect and understanding and to reach consensus on a forward-looking
text."
"We count on the Council members to
support the holding of this debate and lend support to an outcome that charts a
clear path to address acts and advocacy of hatred that constitutes incitement
to discrimination, hostility or violence, that the world confronts today,"
Hashmi said.
Last week, a 37-year-old man of Iraqi
origin, SalwanMomika, under police protection, burned a copy of the Muslim holy
book in front of a Stockholm mosque.
The act was deliberately timed to
coincide with Eid al-Adha, a significant Islamic religious festival observed by
Muslims worldwide.
The incident has sparked widespread
condemnation from several countries, including Türkiye, with the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation calling for collective measures to prevent such acts.
Source: aa.com.tr
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Saudi Arabia installs fragrance sprayers
on streets used by pilgrims heading to Prophet’s Mosque
The devices,
installed by the Medina Development Authority, have also been launched in a
seating area near stores on the northern side of the mosque.
Image
Credit: SPA
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July 06, 2023
Cairo: Authorities in the Saudi holy city of
Medina have introduced smart devices that will spray fragrance into the air on
streets used by pilgrims heading to the Prophet’s Mosque, Islam’s second
holiest site.
The devices, installed by the Medina
Development Authority, have also been launched in a seating area near stores on
the northern side of the mosque, the Saudi news agency SPA reported.
The move is part of a series of
initiatives and “humanising cities” projects carried out by the Medina
Development Authority to serve worshippers and visitors going to the Prophet’s
Mosque as part of its efforts to boost the landscape around the holy site, the
agency added.
The projects implemented in the central
area are based on using temperature-lowering materials and methods such as
lining roads with trees, allocating seating spaces, and coating sidewalks and
pedestrianised areas with non-heating marble as well as barring unauthorised
vehicles from entry to keep temperatures low.
In the same vein, pathways are provided
to facilitate the movement of pedestrians directly from hotels to the Prophet’s
Mosque courtyards.
Moreover, there are more than 245
umbrellas spread over the northern, southern and western courtyards of the
mosque in daylight, fitted with spray fans to cool temperatures, provide a
healthy and safe environment for the worshippers, and protect them from the
sun.
Medina is famed for the Prophet’s
Mosque, which houses Al Rawda Al Sharifa where the tomb of the Prophet Mohammad
(Peace Be Upon Him) is located.
After performing the annual Hajj
pilgrimage in and around Mecca, many overseas pilgrims would flock to Medina to
pray at the Prophet’s Mosque.
The Medina mayoralty has recently said
it has mobilised more than 9,900 workers to ensure high-quality services and
comfort for the faithful visiting the city.
Source: gulfnews.com
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https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-installs-fragrance-sprayers-on-streets-used-by-pilgrims-heading-to-prophets-mosque-1.96798211
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India
UCC: Majoritarian Morality Must Not
Supersede Minority Rights, Muslim Law Board Tells Law Commission
06-07-23
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board
on Wednesday wrote to the Law Commission on attempts to implement a Uniform
Civil Code in the country, saying that “majoritarian morality” must not
supersede religious freedom and rights of minority communities.
A Uniform Civil Code involves a common
set of laws governing marriage, divorce, succession and adoption for all
Indians. Currently, different religious communities are governed by their own
codes of personal law.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has
claimed that the aim of such uniformity is to ensure equality and justice for
women in particular, who are often denied their rights in marriage, divorce and
inheritance under patriarchal personal laws, .
On June 14, the Law Commission sought
views on the matter from citizens and religious groups. Less than two weeks
later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India needed a common civil code
as the country could not run with the dual system of “separate laws for
separate communities”.
In a statement on Wednesday, the All
India Muslim Personal Law Board demanded that tribals and religious minorities
be kept out of the purview of such a statute.
“Mere projection of uniformity is not a
valid ground for uprooting the established systems of laws governing personal
matters of different religious communities when even the established general
and supposedly uniform laws are not entirely uniform in nature,” the statement
said.
The Muslim organisation noted that the
21st Law Commission had concluded that a Uniform Civil Code was neither
necessary nor desirable. Within a short span, it is surprising to see the 22nd
Law Commission again seeking public opinion “without there being any blueprint
as to what the commission intends to do”, the statement said.
Even as matter is purely legal, it has
been fodder for politics and media-driven propaganda, the organisation said.
“Personal relationships of Muslims,
guided by their personal laws, are directly derived from the holy Quran and
Islamic laws and this aspect is linked with their identity,” the statement
continued. “Muslims in India will not be agreeable to lose this identity of
which there is space within the constitutional framework of our country.”
Islamic organisation Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind
has also opposed the proposal saying it is against the right to religious
freedom guaranteed by the Constitution.
On Wednesday, the BJP’s southern ally,
the All India Anna DravidaMunnetraKazhagam, too reiterated its opposition to a
Uniform Civil Code. “The AIADMK will urge the government to not bring any
amendments to the Constitution that will adversely affect the religious rights
of minorities in India,” party chief K Palaniswami told reporters.
Source: scroll.in
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https://scroll.in/latest/1052147/ucc-majoritarian-morality-must-not-supersede-minority-rights-muslim-law-board-tells-law-commission
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4 Barge Into Muslim Man's House In Agra,
Sexually Assault Girl, Attack Family
Jul 6, 2023
AGRA: Four men allegedly barged into the
house of a Muslim family and sexually assaulted an 18-year-old girl at a locality
under Trans Yamuna police station in Agra on Tuesday evening. The other members
of the family were also attacked when they tried to resist the assaulters. A
video of the purported incident went viral on social media Wednesday.
"An FIR has been registered against
the four accused. The matter is being investigated. Efforts are on to nab the
absconding accused," said deputy commissioner of police Suraj Kumar Rai.
According to the house owner (name
withheld), who works in a transport company, "They targeted my teenage
daughter. She was molested and her clothes were torn. When we objected, the
four men, including Vishal Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Sheelu and Chotu, attacked us.
A few others stood guard outside our house."
"All the attackers are in the age
group 20 to 30 years. They vandalized our house and also pelted stones on our
house. My daughter was hit with a brick in the head and she fell unconscious.
My two sons also suffered injuries. Our vehicles were damaged," he added.
The girl's brother said, "When neighbours gathered outside our house, the
attackers went away, but not before threatening to kill us. Their attack on us
went on for over 30 minutes. No one came to our rescue. We were targeted for
being the only Muslim family in the locality."
Police have registered an FIR against
the accused under IPC section 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt,
assault or wrongful restraint), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with
intent to outrage her modesty), 354 B (assault or use of criminal force to woman
with intent to disrobe), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504
(intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal
intimidation), 427 (mischief causing damage), 336 (act endangering life or
personal safety of others) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide).
"The injured have been sent for
medical examination. The accused are on the run. Two of them are siblings and
the others are their relatives," said Trans Yamuna SHO Anand Prakash.
(The victim's identity has not been
revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court's directives on cases
related to sexual assault)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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Gujarat: Man held for 'raping' girl,
police call it 'love jihad' case
05.07.23
A 37-year-old Muslim man has been
arrested by Navsari police in Gujarat for allegedly raping and blackmailing a
girl for nearly five years, an official said on Wednesday.
Asim Nizam Shaikh, the accused, was
arrested on Tuesday from Vasai near Mumbai "in a case of love jihad",
police said in a statement here.
Shaikh allegedly raped the girl for the
first time five years ago when she was 16, and recorded a video which he used
to blackmail her, police said.
"Love jihad" is a term used by
the right-wing activists to refer to an alleged conspiracy to convert Hindu
girls to Islam by marrying them.
To save himself from getting caught,
Shaikh, who is married and has children, forced the victim to marry his
accomplice Ronak Patel, police said.
Patel, who was behind bars in a case of
murder, came out on parole recently and was yet to be apprehended.
On the victim's complaint, a First
Information Report was registered against the duo under the Protection of
Children from Sexual Offences Act, sections 376(2)(n) and 506(2) of the Indian
Penal Code which deal with rape and criminal intimidation, and the Information
Technology Act at Khergam police station on June 23.
"Shaikh and Patel went underground
after the FIR was registered. We then learnt that Shaikh had reached Mumbai
from Jaipur and was staying at a hotel in Vasai. We nabbed him from Vasai on
Tuesday and brought him here. A POCSO court here remanded Shaikh in nine-day
police custody," said Navsari district Superintendent of Police Rushikesh
Upadhyay.
Shaikh, a resident of Khergam, allegedly
blackmailed the girl and her family for five years by using the videos he had
recorded. He even broke her engagement by sending the videos to her fiance, the
SP said.
Navsari police said in their statement
that Shaikh was a bootlegger and had 18 cases related to prohibition, assault
and illegal money-lending registered against. His father Nizam and three
brothers also face criminal cases, said the statement.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/gujarat-man-held-for-raping-and-blackmailing-girl-for-five-years-police-call-it-love-jihad-case/cid/1950036
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Europe
BRITISH ARMY APOLOGISES FOR ANTI-ISLAMIC
BIAS
5th Jul 2023
Following an employment tribunal claim,
the British Army has apologised to a former soldier for anti-Islamic bias
within his unit and for a culturally insensitive attitude in the chain of
command.
EbrimaBayo brought a claim of religious
discrimination against the Army following his treatment while on deployment in
Cyprus. After his claim was initially dismissed on jurisdictional grounds, he
successfully appealed to the EAT, resulting in the claim being remitted and the
claimant succeeding on the jurisdictional issues in the remitted proceedings.
The Army ultimately conceded parts of the claim. It settled the claim for a
confidential amount and with a formal apology.
Nathan Roberts represented the claimant
in the EAT and in the remitted tribunal proceedings. He was instructed by Emma
Norton at the Centre for Military Justice. The case was supported and funded by
the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Coverage of the case includes:
Source: matrixlaw.co.uk
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https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/news/british-army-apologises-for-anti-islamic-bias/
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UK Muslim MPs Abstain From Voting On
Pro-Israel Parliamentary Bill
5th July 2023
Fourteen Muslim MPs did not vote against
a parliamentary bill which will see public bodies fined if they support boycott
campaigns against Israel.
Tory MP Saqib Bhatti backed The Economic
Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill on Monday night, while Labour
MPs Naz Shah, Tulip Siddiq, Afzal Khan, Rushanara Ali, RosenaAllin-Khan, Yasmin
Qureshi, Shabana Mahmood, Imran Hussain, Zarah Sultana, Tahir Ali, RupaHuq and
Mohammad Yasin either abstained from voting under instructions from Labour
leader Keir Starmer or had other reasons for not recording a vote.
Tory MP Rehman Chishti also did not
record a vote.
The only Muslim MPs to oppose the bill
were Labour’s Apasana Begum and SNP MP AnumQaisar.
Apsana Begum said: “The bill states that
public’s bodies, including local councils and universities making procurement
or investment decisions, must not allow that decision to be influenced by
political or moral disapproval of foreign state conduct.
“It is opposed by trade unions and a
wide range of civil society organisations and is yet another attack on our
democratic freedoms. Had legislation such as this been in effect in the 1980s
it would have made it unlawful to refuse to source goods from Apartheid South
Africa.
“I support the rights of public bodies
to make investment decisions informed by ethical considerations. This can
include, for example, decisions not to invest in climate-destroying fossil fuel
companies or in the arms industry, or to take account of breaches of
international law or human rights abuses such as torture, genocide, unlawful
occupations, forced evictions, unlawful military invasions, war crimes, and
other crimes against humanity.
“I believe that we all have a
responsibility to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and speak out against
injustice wherever it may be without exception.”
During the parliamentary debate Imran
Hussain MP criticised the bill but still did not record a vote against it,
presumably in the hope that the Tories would amend it.
He said: “Let me be absolutely clear
that the Bill before this House, which should be rejected, is not just bad and
unworkable but fundamentally flawed and dangerous. Hon. Members across the
House have rightly stated that it does not just prevent public bodies such as
local councils involving themselves in foreign policy — as the Government
innocently declare — but meddles in the autonomy of local government pension
schemes to make the best investment decisions, and swings a wrecking ball
through the UK’s obligation to respect international law and countless United
Nations resolutions…
“As pointed out by hon. Members across
the House, the Bill directly contradicts decades of established UK foreign
policy on illegal Israeli settlements built on occupied land. It is astounding
that it has to be repeated in this Chamber time and again that settlements in
the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. Why
does the Bill not recognise that international position?
“Instead of introducing legislation to
Parliament that provides cover to the Netanyahu Government’s illegal annexation
of Palestinian territory, Ministers must decide whether they agree with the
established position of the rest of the international community that the
settlements and the Israeli Government’s repeated disregard for international
law are illegal. As hon. Members have stated, the Bill as it currently stands
is in direct contravention of not just international law but United Nations
resolutions.”
On Monday the government won the vote by
268 top 70 with 308 votes not recorded.
If it eventually becomes law, the bill
will ban public bodies such as local councils from imposing economic sanctions
on countries that are not sanctioned by the Westminster government, singling
out Israel as particularly worthy of protection.
Michael Gove, the communities secretary,
said during the Commons debate: “[The bill] affirms the important principle
that UK foreign policy is a matter for the UK government. It ensures local
authorities focus their efforts on serving residents, not directing their
resources inefficiently. And critically it protects minorities, especially
Jewish communities, against campaigns that harm community cohesion and fuel
antisemitism.”
Specifically on BDS, he said: “We are
talking in concrete terms about a campaign that exists, and has been in
operation now for nearly 20 years, based on a premise that seeks to
delegitimise the state of Israel. The campaign also leads directly, as I shall
point out, to antisemitic incidents and a loss of community cohesion.”
Gove has long been a critic of the
boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, which campaigns for organisations
to cut economic ties with Israel in protest over its treatment of Palestinians.
Ministers have criticised two councils – Leicester and Lancaster, both of which
have Labour as the largest party – for boycotting Israeli goods.
Supporting the bill last month, The
President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews President Marie van der Zyl
said: “We are pleased to support the Government’s endeavours in the Economic
Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill which will directly hinder
the unnecessary and inappropriate targeting of Israel by local authorities and
other public institutions.
“We appreciate how the Government is
working to prevent these organisations from setting their own foreign policy,
which all too often creates a deeply divisive local situation as well as being
deeply unsettling to local Jewish communities.”
Source: 5pillarsuk.com
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Two Terrorists Arrested In The
Netherlands Tied To German Islamic State Case
6 JULY 2023
A 29-year-old man from Tajikistan and
his 31-year-old wife from Kyrgyzstan residing in the Netherlands were arrested
on suspicion of terrorism on Thursday, the Public Prosecution Service
announced. The woman was arrested in Breda, and the man was arrested in
Eindhoven.
The two individuals have been living in
the Netherlands since 2022 and are now under suspicion for preparatory actions
related to a terrorist crime. The man is also suspected of being a member of
the terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS).
The couple was located by the National
Criminal Investigation Department following an official report from the General
Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD). Investigations brought to light
suspicions that the man was an ISIS member tasked with orchestrating an attack.
Although the plans were still in their early stages, the gravity of the
suspicions prompted the Public Prosecution Service to step in.
Both suspects are scheduled to appear on
Friday before the examining magistrate in Rotterdam. They have been placed
under restrictions, limiting their contact to their attorney.
The investigation was conducted in
collaboration with the German investigative authorities, as the man had
established connections with people at various locations in North
Rhine-Westphalia. Seven suspects were arrested in Germany in relation to this
investigation on Thursday, the German Office of the Federal Prosecutor
announced on its website.
Source: nltimes.nl
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://nltimes.nl/2023/07/06/two-terrorism-arrests-netherlands-tied-german-islamic-state-case
--------
Data giant used by banks to check on
politicians wrongly linked mosque to terrorism
5 July 2023
A data giant behind checks on
politicians that can lead to bank account closures wrongly claimed a mosque was
linked to terrorism.
World-Check Risk Intelligence is used by
major banks to search for regulatory red flags ranging from terrorism, crime or
political exposure but has faced a string of lawsuits over its database.
In 2017 it had to pay £10,000 in damages
plus legal costs after Finsbury Park Mosque in north London was wrongly linked
to terror activities.
The erroneous finding prompted HSBC to
close the mosque’s account and other banks declined to take it on.
The service is part of the data giant
Refinitiv, which was sold to London Stock Exchange two years ago and is now
facing fresh scrutiny over its role in helping banks assess politically exposed
persons (PEP).
Politicians and others classed as a PEP
– from British political leaders to the rulers of regimes in Africa and the
Middle East – are subject to enhanced checks by banks to ensure they are
complying with the law.
Nigel Farage claimed last week that his
bank accounts were closed “without explanation” and other high street lenders
refused to allow him to transfer his funds to them. Since then other prominent
Brexiteers have claimed their accounts were shut over their political views.
Politically exposed people
World-Check helps financial institutions
with regulatory requirements, and passes information they hold on normal
savers, potential terrorists and fraudulent and politically exposed people to
banks.
The service is intended to stop banks
being used to launder the proceeds of crime or be associated with corrupt or
criminal business people and practices. If a person is on a sanctions list
worldwide, they will also be on the database.
How the service is used will vary by
individual banks but if a saver has faced adverse media or is suspected of a
serious offence they could appear on the database.
World-Check is only an information
provider and it is up to a bank’s compliance team to decide how to act or shut
an account.
The database does not reveal which High
Street banks use its services but the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) has
previously said it was “by far the most commonly used database service for
screening clients in this way”.
High Court filings show that Refinitiv
has faced at least five lawsuits since 2018 relating to data protection and
libel and slander.
During a hearing for the case against
World-Check six years ago, Sara Mansoori, representing the company that ran
Finsbury Park Mosque, said it placed it in the “terrorism” category. “This was
wrong,” she told Richard Parkes QC, the deputy High Court judge.
“The profile referred to press reports and
allegations from many years ago, long before the mosque was reorganised and the
claimant company was established.”
‘False allegation’
She said World-Check had admitted its
report “made the false allegation that there were grounds to suspect that the
claimant had continued connections to terrorism”.
The same year, the data provider had to
pay damages to Maajid Nawaz, the founder of Quilliam, the anti-extremism think
tank, after he had placed him in a terrorism category.
Toby Young, from the Free Speech Union,
said the whole banking system needed overhauling to protect free speech.
“The root of the problem is that the
people who compile these risk databases, as well as the banks, are
pathologically risk averse. The only way to stop them closing accounts out of
an abundance of caution is to increase the cost of over-interpreting the rules.
“That means building free-speech
protections into the whole banking system, forcing the agencies and the banks
to be more transparent and making it easier for wronged customers to seek
compensation through the regulators or the courts.”
‘Computer-says-no culture’
Greg Smith, the Tory MP for Buckingham,
said that banks needed to be open about their searches and ensure they were not
using systems “riddled with errors”.
“We need a robust system to identify
genuine risks, not a database that is blindly followed and clearly riddled with
errors.
“Banks need to put in place much better
systems, bringing in human review of evidence, not just a computer-says-no
culture.”
Refinitiv said data was gathered using
the criteria set by government agencies and was aggregated from publicly
available information and reputable media sources.
A spokesman said it did “not draw any
conclusions on an individual or make any financial decisions”, adding: “Our
data is continuously assessed to ensure it remains up to date and we have
multiple fields and secondary identifiers to minimise false positives with
manual human fact checking and verification.”
Source: telegraph.co.uk
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/05/banks-political-check-provider-behind-accounts-row/
--------
Daventry schoolchildren's 'wonderful
time' at mosque visit
5th Jul 2023
The children were able to ask the Imam
questions about the religion of Islam, while being able to look around the
mosque.
Pupils were also shown the Islamic holy
book The Quran and listened to the Imam read in Arabic.
The children were keen to share their
experience with other pupils at school.
Source: daventryexpress.co.uk
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/news/daventry-schoolchildrens-wonderful-time-at-mosque-visit-4208630
--------
Birmingham brothers plotted to join Islamic
State from their bedroom, court told
5 JUL 2023
A pair of brothers plotted to join
terrorist group Islamic State from their Birmingham bedroom, a court heard.
Muhammad Abdul Haleem Heyder Khan, aged 21, and younger sibling Muhammad Hamzah
Heyder Khan, 18, became 'radicalised' during the course of 2022 and bought
clothes and equipment to travel to Afghanistan, it was alleged.
A jury was told the brothers used
encrypted messaging app Telegram and had material on their phones promoting
Jihad, encouraging people to 'shed' the blood of non-believers and expressing
threats to former Prime Minister David Cameron.
The brothers, both of St. Josephs Road,
Ward End, went on trial at Birmingham Crown Court today denying a single count
of preparation of terrorist acts. Prosecutor Harpeet Sandhu said: "Until
November 2 these two brothers lived with their parents and other siblings at an
address in Ward End, here in Birmingham at St. Josephs Road.
"Over the course of 2022 these two
brothers became increasingly radicalised. They had prepared to travel to
Afghanistan so they could join and support terrorist activity. They intended to
be part of a terrorist organisation know as Islamic State Khorasan Province
(ISKP)."
He explained that Khorasan was an
historic term for a region which included modern Afghanistan and that ISKP was
a 'regional branch' of Islamic State (IS). Mr Sandhu told the court IS became
'prescribed' by the Home Secretary in 2014 as an organisation that commits or
participates in acts of terrorism, with ISKP publicly declaring their
allegiance to IS a year later.
Mr Sandhu added: "The defendants
prepared for joining in and supporting terrorist activity including the
purchasing of clothing and equipment, conducting research into how they might
travel to Afghanistan, including obtaining travel documents, and their
preparations included completing application forms to join Islamic State."
The court was told both defendants,
referred to as Haleem and Hamzah, were arrested 'in the bedroom they shared' at
their home in Ward End on November 2 last year with police seizing a number of
electronic devices which 'revealed what they were up to'. Mr Sandhu stated that
the brothers used the Telegram messaging app which 'might be used by those who
wish to keep their communication hidden from others'.
He explained its 'secret chat function'
featured end to end encryption which prevented other people from reading their
messages. The prosecutor told the jury that messages, images, videos and other
files could be sent on the app using a 'self destruct function' that
automatically deleted the content after a certain period of time.
He told the jury that a lot of the
material in the case has been recovered from cloud storage accounts. One image
found on Haleem's phone showed the former spokesman of Islamic State wearing a
body vest and holding a gun. Another file included a list of equipment
'possibly for a survival trek'.
A further image said the blood of a
'kafir' (Non-believer) was 'halal for you so shed it'. Another stated the blood
of a disbeliever was 'equal to the blood of a dog'. Continuing through the
content Mr Sandhu drew the jury's attention to an 'IS propaganda video'
promoting Jihad. He added: "In the most basic translation it means combat.
Those who are members of IS considered themselves engaged in Jihad so they may
form a self-contained Islamic State."
Source: birminghammail.co.uk
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-brothers-plotted-join-islamic-27260728
--------
Plans to improve Sunderland mosque,
including adding a minaret
5th Jul 2023,
Sunderland City Council’s planning
department has received an application for the Hendon Jama Mosque Islamic
Society in Salisbury Street.
According to a covering letter submitted
to council planning officials, the terraced property has been operating as a
mosque since the site was bought in the 1980s.
The site was originally two separate
properties which were later joined together, with new plans aiming to “increase
internal spaces to allow for more worshippers”.
Fresh plans for the site include a
proposed two-storey rear extension, a single-storey rear/side extension and a
‘minaret’, or tower structure, on the front corner of the building.
The addition of the minaret aims to
provide a “symbolic identity and a reflection of the Muslim community who are
living [in] local surroundings”.
The covering letter continues: “In our
proposal we tried to maintain the original characteristics of the building
all-around in our design, except white rendering and curtain glazing [sic]
which may add a little touch of modern look [to] our proposal without
disturbing any existing height, form, and type of its original building”.
Those behind the scheme also said that
using “curtain glazing at the back facade of the property” would help “save
energy and contribute to reducing carbon emissions as much [as] possible”.
A decision on the planning application
will be made once a period of council consultation has concluded.
Information on Sunderland City Council’s
website suggests a decision is expected by August 28, 2023.
Source: sunderlandecho.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/politics/council/plans-to-improve-sunderland-mosque-including-adding-a-minaret-4208073
--------
Mideast
Israeli actions violating sanctity of
Al-Aqsa Mosque 'unacceptable:' Turkish foreign minister
05.07.2023
Israel's actions violating the sanctity
of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque or Haram al Sharif are "unacceptable,"
said Türkiye’s foreign minister on Wednesday.
"Unilateral acts by Israel in the
occupied Palestinian territories to perpetuate the occupation and to alter the
character of … East Jerusalem continue unabated,” HakanFidan said at a
ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Baku, Azerbaijan's
capital.
NAM is a forum of 120 countries that are
not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. After the United
Nations, it is the largest grouping of states worldwide.
"Extremists’ provocations on the
Israeli side against the status of and sanctity of Haram al Sharif are at an
unacceptable level. I know that the Non-Aligned Movement is also very sensitive
on this issue," he said.
"We must all support a force for a
sovereign, independent and contiguous state of Palestine based on the lines of
1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital and living side by side with
Israel," he added.
He stressed this was the only policy to
establish peace in the Middle East region.
The world will be a safer and fairer
place, if Palestine takes a dignified place in the international community as a
sovereign and an equal member, he added.
For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the
world's third-holiest site. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, saying it was
the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where
al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire
city in 1980, in a move never recognized by the international community.
Israeli forces and fanatical Jewish
settlers frequently carry out raids at Al-Aqsa Mosque to provoke Palestinians,
and recent years have seen the incursions grow larger and more brazen.
'Türkiye working for justice through
diplomacy in Ukraine war'
Fidan stressed that Türkiye's efforts to
advocate peace in the Ukraine war is a very "telling example."
Türkiye has been working on achieving
justice through diplomatic negotiations since the beginning of the war, he
said.
"Most importantly, with the Black
Sea Grain Initiative, we brought together Ukraine, Russia and the UN and
averted a global food crisis. Türkiye is committed to keeping this initiative
alive, and we count on your support for it."
He added that Türkiye prioritizes the
peaceful resolution of conflicts by actively engaging in initiatives such as
peace mediation and believes that effective multilateralism is important in
addressing global injustices.
Fidan highlighted that there is a need
to reform and restructure the United Nations Security Council to ensure fair
representation and enhanced effectiveness.
"Only then can it be able to
address issues that matter to all humanity, not a few members of an exclusive
club. That is the reason why President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan's motto, 'the
world is bigger than five' resonates all around the world."
Erdogan has frequently criticized the
structure of the UN Security Council, as it is dominated by five permanent
members, made up of mostly Western countries, with Islamic countries and the
developing world severely underrepresented.
'NAM important to advocate peaceful
resolution of disputes'
Fidan said that NAM has been
"instrumental" in decolonization, disarmament and the fight against
racism.
"Today, more than 60 years after
its inception, NAM maintains its relevance. It is an important platform to
advocate effective multilateralism and peaceful resolution of disputes."
"Members of NAM make substantial
contributions to the debate on how to achieve a better global order. This
includes the reform of the UN, improving global health architectures,
countering terrorism and achieving the sustainable development goals."
He added that Azerbaijan has assumed the
chairmanship of the bloc, which is a challenging responsibility considering the
group's extensive membership, coupled with the global pandemic and numerous
ongoing armed conflicts.
'Especially attacks on Islam has almost
become epidemic in Europe'
Fidan said that Türkiye actively
promotes the strengthening of effective multilateralism through various
initiatives aimed at addressing global challenges, including the zero waste
project, which focuses on preserving the planet.
"This year the project initiated by
the first lady, her excellency Emine Erdogan, evolved UN policy thanks to the
support of your nations."
He added that 2023 is the centennial of
the Turkish Republic and the Turkish War of Independence has been an
inspiration to many countries.
"Now, under the leadership of
President Erdogan, we are stepping into the second century of the Turkish
Republic."
"In this new era, we will be
actively addressing global problems, ranging from terrorism and armed conflicts
to racism and climate change. Not everyone acts the same way. When faced with
problems of great magnitude, some prefer turning a blind eye to road causes and
choose blaming others."
Highlighting that hatred targeting
Muslims, people of African and Asian origins, Jews and immigrants has reached
unprecedented levels, Fidan added: "Especially attacks on Islam has almost
become an epidemic in Europe."
Referring to last week's burning of a
copy of the Quran in front of a mosque in Stockholm, Sweden, which drew
widespread outrage, Fidan said: "Burning the Quran, on the very first day
of Eid al-Adha and allowing it to happen under the disguise of freedom of
expression is a blatant insult to billions [of people]. However, this rather
grim picture should not discourage us."
Source: aa.com.tr
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/israeli-actions-violating-sanctity-of-al-aqsa-mosque-unacceptable-turkish-foreign-minister/2937929
--------
Islamic bloc calls for art, media
productions to combat Islamophobia
05.07.2023
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) has called on member states to sponsor art and media productions with a
view to combating Islamophobia and insults against religious symbols.
The move aims “to clarify and strengthen
the tolerant principles of Islam calling for coexistence, tolerance and respect
for the other and renouncing violence, intolerance and hatred,” Information
Department Director Wajdi Ali Sindi told an emergency meeting of the OIC States
Broadcasting Union (OSBU).
The meeting discussed mechanisms of
confronting desecration of religious sanctities in the media in the wake of
last week’s burning of Islam’s holy book, the Quran, in Sweden.
Sindi said the OIC is working with its
partners “to enhance understanding of the responsible use of freedom of
expression in the media, and to establish national mechanisms to hold
accountable the media that continue to feed hate speech and intolerance, and implementing
the OIC media strategy to combat Islamophobia.”
Last week, a person identified as
SalwanMomika burned a copy of the Quran under police protection in front of
Stockholm Mosque.
The criminal act triggered widespread
condemnations across the Arab and Muslim countries amid calls for Sweden to put
an end of such acts against Islamic symbols.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/islamic-bloc-calls-for-art-media-productions-to-combat-islamophobia/2937833#:~:text=Move%20follows%20last%20week's%20burning,book%2C%20the%20Quran%2C%20in%20Sweden&text=The%20Organization%20of%20Islamic%20Cooperation,and%20insults%20against%20religious%20symbols.
---------
Israeli academic being held by Shia
militia in Iraq, Netanyahu's office says
5
July 2023
An Israeli academic who went missing in
Iraq earlier this year is alive and being held there by the Iranian-backed
Kataeb Hezbollah militia, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
office.
The researcher was identified as
Elizabeth Tsurkov, a fellow at New Lines Institute and a doctoral student at
Princeton University's Department of Politics. There were no details about her
specific whereabouts or further details about her condition.
Tsurkov frequently made contact with
local Arab sources, journalists and researchers across Iraq and Syria and was
part of a group promoting female journalists and analysts and their work in the
region.
The New York Times reported that Kataeb
Hezbollah detained Tsurkov after she left a cafe in Baghdad in late March,
citing her family and people with knowledge of her case.
"Elizabeth Tsurkov is still alive
and we hold Iraq responsible for her safety and well-being," Netanyahu's
office said in a statement.
The statement added that the issue was
being "dealt with by the relevant authorities in Israel".
New Lines Institute said that their last
contact with Tsurkov was on 19 March, when the researcher had informed the
think tank that she wanted to return to Princeton University to complete her
doctoral dissertation.
The institute added that Tsurkov also
held Russian nationality.
"Just over a week later we learned
from our sources that a pro-Iranian militia had kidnapped her in Baghdad, where
she had been doing research. We have not heard from her since," it said in
a statement.
Netanyahu's office said that she
"visited Iraq on her Russian passport, at her own initiative pursuant to
work on her doctorate and academic research on behalf of Princeton University
in the US".
New Lines further called on the United
States to intervene in the issue.
"She works with a Washington think
tank, writes for an American magazine and studies at Princeton University. She
deserves America's every effort to bring her to safety," the organisation
said in a statement.
Middle East Eye reached out to Princeton
University for comment, but had not received a response by time of publication.
Source: middleeasteye.net
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https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-academic-being-held-shia-militia-iraq-says-netanyahus-office
--------
International group calls Muslim
scholars to condemn Quran burnings at Friday sermons
05.07.2023
An association of Muslim scholars on Wednesday
made a call for weekly mosque sermons to condemn a recent Quran burning in
Sweden and discuss the preservation of sacred sites in Palestine.
"This hateful and provocative
criminal act contradicts all values, morals, and the principles of tolerance
and respect for religious sanctities of others," said a statement by the
International Union of Muslim Scholars, based in Qatar's capital Doha.
It also called attention to a recent
incident in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli settlers ripped up the Muslim
holy book and vandalized a mosque in the town of Urif.
"Prior to that, there were
offensive cartoons, thus all our sanctities have been violated without an
effective response from governments and people," it added.
In response to these incidents, the
statement urged scholars to raise awareness, spread knowledge, and protect the
sanctities of Islam.
It called upon Muslim scholars to
dedicate the Friday on sermon July 7 to "condemn these heinous acts and
despicable crimes, and express our unequivocal rejection of any action that
targets our great sanctities, emphasizing the importance of the Holy Quran in
the lives of all Muslims and the rest of our sanctities."
The governments of Muslim countries
should "take practical measures" against such acts, including
"fair diplomatic and economic boycotts," it said.
They should also collaborate with human
rights organizations to enact laws criminalizing religious defamation, then
present measures to the UN to prevent "aggression against religions, as it
undermines international security and peace."
The statement also called on minority
Muslim populations to hold "peaceful civilized demonstrations, resort to
the judiciary, and cooperate with institutions that collaborate with justice
and fairness" on the matter.
Last week, a 37-year-old man of Iraqi
origin, SalwanMomika, under police protection, burned a copy of the Muslim holy
book in front of a Stockholm mosque.
The act was deliberately timed to
coincide with Eid al-Adha, a significant Islamic religious festival observed by
Muslims worldwide.
The incident has sparked widespread
condemnation from several countries, including Türkiye, with the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation calling for collective measures to prevent such acts.
*Writing by EsraTekin in Istanbul
Source: aa.com.tr
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/international-group-calls-muslim-scholars-to-condemn-quran-burnings-at-friday-sermons/2937967
--------
Islamic Resistance Factions Announce
Exclusion of Turkey from 'Final Opportunity', Target Base in Duhok
2023-07-05
Shafaq News/ In a striking move on
Wednesday, Islamic Resistance factions declared that Turkey would be exempted
from their self-proclaimed 'final opportunity', concurrently announcing an
assault on a Turkish base located in Duhok, within the Kurdistan region.
The official spokesperson for the
'Brigades of the Free Iraqis', Abu Mohammed, Saudi Arabia's , "The final
opportunity that was declared by the Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee,
and to which we have pledged our commitment after the guidance of the Honorable
Secretary-General, does not include the Turkish occupation whatsoever."
Abu Mohammed added, "In the Islamic
Resistance Brigades of Free Iraqis, we wanted to clarify that through actions,
not words, in a time where talk is abundant, but action is scarce."
He heralded the success of his faction's
targeting of the "Turkish occupation base in Duhok (Batifa)," at
exactly a few minutes before two o'clock (01:55) following an intensive
intelligence effort.
Two weeks prior, the entity known as the
'Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee' had granted the government of Prime
Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani a 'final opportunity' to curtail American
violations and warned Washington of an 'appropriate response' should it carry
out its threat to target one of the 'faction leaders'.
Source: shafaq.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq-News/Islamic-Resistance-Factions-Announce-Exclusion-of-Turkey-from-Final-Opportunity-Target-Base-in-Duhok
---------
North America
Shipwreck that killed Pakistani migrants
‘a preventable tragedy’: Washington Post
July 6, 2023
WASHINGTON: The deadliest Mediterranean
shipwreck in years that killed hundreds of Pakistani migrants was a
preventable tragedy, according to a Washington Post report published on
Wednesday.
The 38-page report, based on boat-logs,
and interviews with survivors and government officials, also casts doubt on a
claim by Greek officials that their coast guards failed to rescue the
passengers because they refused to accept their help.
The Post reported that the boat —
Adriana — sank near the deepest point of the Mediterranean. More than 600
people may have drowned. The boat travelled at least 34 miles in its last 15
hours, averaging 2.2mph.
Haseeb Ur Rehman, a motorcycle mechanic
from Azad Kashmir, told the Post that the boat faced “repeated engine failure”
on the last day.
Report casts doubt on Greek officials’
claim that passengers refused to take their help
He said the engine stopped working for
about five hours on June 11 and again for a period on the night of June 12.
Rehman, who survived by climbing onto the overturned hull, said the sounds and
memories of that night “will haunt me for as long I live”.
Another Pakistani passenger, Mehtab Ali,
posted on TikTok that two private vessels tried to help but failed. The second
ship — the Faithful Warrior — “created waves that [our] boat could not
withstand”.
Those who could have rescued the boat,
particularly the Greek coast guards, “knew the boat could sink. Boarding it
didn’t feel like a choice”, experts the Post consulted said. This contradicts
the Greek claim that they never felt the boat could have sunk.
Contrary to the coast guard account that
the boat was making steady progress and determined to get to Italy, the experts
noted the boat’s speed fluctuated dramatically while circling back on its
route.
“European law allows authorities to
board and search a flagless vessel like the Adriana if there are reasonable
grounds to suspect migrant smuggling,” the report points out.
International maritime law experts
told the Post that “the legal responsibility to rescue people in distress holds
no matter their intent or immigration status”.
The Greek coast guard defended its
decision not to intervene earlier by emphasising that the Adriana rejected
help. The point is repeated five times in the official statement.
The report notes that the passengers may
have rejected the help offer out of fear.
“Greek authorities have a reputation for
aggressively pushing migrant boats out of the search-and-rescue area they are
responsible for,” the report adds.
The Post reported that passengers
contacted an activist, NawalSoufi, seeking “immediate help” and he alerted
Italian, Greek and Maltese officials.
The paper also provided physicists and
oceanographers with its estimates of the Adriana’s speed and direction, the
known coordinates of the boat, and weather data from the Faithful Warrior, the
Lucky Sailor, the ships that contacted the sinking boat. It also shared with
them the data from another ship involved after the capsizing, the Mayan Queen
IV.
The experts concluded that the boat’s directional
shift towards the southeast during at least two points in its journey — after
its interaction with the Lucky Sailor and in the last hour before its capsizing
— was consistent with engine problems, as the boat appeared to be drifting in
the direction implied by local currents and winds.
The Greek coast guard declined to
respond to detailed questions about the Post’s findings, citing an ongoing
investigation.
Source: dawn.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1763190/shipwreck-that-killed-pakistani-migrants-a-preventable-tragedy-washington-post
--------
US legislator attacked outside Muslim
prayer service details harrowing incident
06 July ,2023
A US’ Connecticut state legislator who was
attacked last month as she left a Muslim prayer service made her first public
comments about the incident on Wednesday, saying she sustained multiple
physical injuries from what she described as an attempted sexual assault and
violent physical assault.
Rep. Mayram Khan, who was with her
children and sister outside a downtown Hartford arena taking pictures when the
attack occurred, said in a written statement that she was grateful to the
“courageous men who came to my aid” and chased down her assailant until police
arrived.
“Their courage and tenacity in those
moments helped to save my life, the lives of my children and many other Muslim
women and children that were still inside the XL Center,” said Khan, referring
to the roughly 4,000 other people who attended the service marking Eid al-Adha,
the end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage by Muslims to Mecca.
Khan, who said she is “on a long journey
of physical and emotional healing,” said she remains concerned about “the lack
of security at one of the largest Muslim gatherings on the day of Eid in
Hartford.”
Farhan Memon, the chair of the
Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said at the
time that the man made obscene remarks, grabbed Khan, hit her and threw her to
the ground.
Khan, a Democrat from Windsor, is
scheduled to appear Thursday at a news conference at the Legislative Office
Building to discuss the incident. The Associated Press doesn’t generally
identify people who report attempted sexual assaults unless they publicly identify
themselves.
The suspect, Andrey Desmond, 30, was
held in lieu of $250,000 bond at his arraignment last week on charges including
misdemeanor assault, unlawful restraint, breach of peace and interfering with
police. Authorities have said he could still face additional charges.
An email was sent seeking comment from
Desmond’s public defender but there was no immediate response.
A police report said Desmond allegedly
made lewd comments to Khan and tried to kiss her. When the legislator attempted
to pull away, Desmond slapped her across the face and let go of her neck,
causing her to fall to the ground, suffering minor injuries, according to the
report.
Khan told police she does not know
Desmond.
Source: english.alarabiya.net
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2023/07/06/US-legislator-attacked-outside-Muslim-prayer-service-details-harrowing-incident
--------
US Muslim group urges Biden, Swedish premier
to condemn Quran burning in Sweden
05.07.2023
A leading Muslim group in the US urged
President Joe Biden and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to condemn the
Quran burning in Sweden.
The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) said it encouraged Biden and Kristersson "to clearly
disavow anti-Muslim bigotry and condemn a Quran burning that took place in
Sweden last week".
The Swedish prime minister is meeting
Wednesday with the US president at the White House.
"We join Muslim civic
organizations, faith leaders and nations around the world in condemning the
hateful burning" of the Quran, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad
said in a statement. "We encourage the Swedish prime minister to clearly
disavow such anti-Muslim extremism during his visit to the White House today,
and we encourage President Biden to do the same.”
He said the US' largest Muslim civil
rights organization stands in solidarity with the Muslim community in Sweden
and "the broader European Muslim community as they confront the persistent
threat of xenophobia, racism and anti-Muslim bigotry."
On the first day of Eid Al-Adha last
week, someone identified as SalwanMomika, burned the Quran under police
protection in front of the Stockholm Mosque.
The criminal act triggered widespread
condemnations across Arab and Muslim countries amid calls for Sweden to put an
end to acts against Islamic symbols.
Source: aa.com.tr
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Islamic State Group Funds Terror Along
DRC-Uganda Border
Jul 5, 2023
New reporting shows how the Islamic State
group has funded the Allied Democratic Forces for at least four years, leading
to an escalating scale of brutality.
The report by a United Nations panel of
experts outlines the latest evolution of the relationship between one of the
deadliest terrorist groups in central Africa and the Islamic State group, which
seeks to expand its footprint on the continent after losing ground in the
Middle East.
The Allied Democratic Forces, which are
based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is accused of attacking a
dormitory in western Uganda in mid-June, leaving 41 dead. Attackers set fire to
the building, shot wildly and then used machetes to hack survivors to death. It
was the deadliest attack in Uganda in more than a decade.
“I keep on hearing the voices of those
students begging for their lives,” one witness told the BBC. “I’ve not been
able to eat because I keep on replaying the cries of the children.”
Formed in 1995, the Allied Democratic
Forces in 2018 publicly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, which
dubbed it the Islamic State Central African Republic (ISCAP) and claimed credit
for some of the group’s attacks in western Uganda and the eastern DRC.
Since 2017, the Kivu Security Tracker
reports 999 incidents involving the Allied Democratic Forces in eastern DRC
provinces bordering Uganda and Rwanda. As of October 2020, the Islamic State
group had claimed credit for 72 attacks inside the DRC, with 65% of those
directly related to verified Allied Democratic Forces attacks.
According to the tracker, a large number
of attacks have taken place across the border from Uganda’s Kasese province
where the June school shooting happened.
According to the U.N. report, the
Islamic State group has funded the Allied Democratic Forces since 2019 through
a web of financial mechanisms running through Kenya, Somalia, South Africa and
Uganda. The report also notes that the Allied Democratic Forces has sent
fighters beyond their base in North Kivu and Ituri in an attempt to expand
their operations in the region — possibly as far as the DRC capital, Kinshasa.
“It should be noted that (their)
objective is to carry out acts of terror that make big publicity,” DRC
government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya told a news briefing after the release
of the U.N. report.
The Allied Democratic Forces’ turn
toward the Islamic State group was more pragmatic than ideological: A group
member opposed to the turn told analysts that the hope was that the Islamic
State group would be “splashing them with dollars and weapons and ammunition,”
according to a 2021 report by the George Washington University’s Program on
Extremism.
Allied Democratic Forces has reportedly
killed thousands of civilians and hundreds of Soldiers and displaced hundreds
of thousands of others in the DRC over the past decade. Since 2019, Allied
Democratic Forces’ activities have received prominent appearance in Islamic
State group media.
“It is evident that the Islamic State is
leveraging these activities to demonstrate that it remains a relevant and
active movement with a broad transnational reach, despite its loss of
territorial control across Syria and Iraq,” the Program on Extremism analysts
wrote in their report, “The Islamic State in Congo.”
The U.N. report also found connections
between Allied Democratic Forces and the Ahlu Sunnah WalJama’a militia in
Mozambique, which has also declared allegiance to Islamic State.
With formal Islamic State affiliates and
pro-Islamic State groups dotted across Africa, the potential for cross-border
collaboration and the movement of greater numbers of foreign fighters may
threaten regional stability, according to the report.
Source: adf-magazine.com
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https://adf-magazine.com/2023/07/islamic-state-group-funds-terror-along-drc-uganda-border/
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Arab World
President of General Presidency for
Affairs of Two Holy Mosques Launches Digital Programs at Grand Mosque Library
05 Jul, 2023
General President of the General
Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque Sheikh Dr.
Abdulrahman Al-Sudais has inaugurated several digital programs at the Grand
Mosque Library aimed at developing the library services and making information
available to visitors in modern and innovative ways.
These programs cover the information
management system, which makes it easier to search and inquire about resources
available at the library, the smart digital portal, which provides access to
all information online, the MEDAD cloud platform, which enables booking and
using resources easily and quickly, and the digital repository, which keeps and
displays resources in high-quality digital images.
The programs also cover the smart
shelving and inventory device, which organizes and develops the management of
information, and the digitization of the scholarly treasures of the Grand
Mosque, which includes rare audio recordings of scholars' speeches, lessons and
recitations.
Al-Sudais urged people to make use of
these programs to enjoy the contents of the library, which includes rare
manuscripts, valuable books, scholarly articles, audio tapes and other
resources that serve researchers, students and visitors.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
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http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/bee60eb1cd6245009d2fbd046240962e
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Pakistan
PakistanTo Observe Yaum-e-Taqaddus-e-Quran
TomorrowTo Lodge Protest Against Desecration Of Holy Quran In Sweden
July 06, 2023
Yaum-e-Taqaddus-e-Quran will be observed
tomorrow across the country to lodge protest against desecration of Holy Quran
in Sweden.
The day was announced during a meeting
held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz
Sharif.
In this regard, peaceful protest
demonstrations will be staged all over the country during which people
belonging to different walks of life will take part to express their resentment
over the desecration of holy Quran in Sweden
Ulema belonging to different schools of
thoughts will throw light on the sanctity of the holy Quran during their
sermons of Juma prayers.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/06-07-2023/nation-to-observe-yaum-e-taqaddus-e-quran-tomorrow
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PM commends contribution of
Pakistani-American doctors to healthcare, US ties
July 6, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
lauded the dedication and strength demonstrated by the Association of Pakistani
Physicians of North America (APPNA) in their efforts to serve Pakistan and
foster stronger Pakistan-US relations.
In a tweet, he expressed gratitude for
APPNA’s prompt assistance during flood response and Covid-19 management in
Pakistan.
Founded in 1977 and headquartered in
Westmont, Illinois, APPNA is the largest medical organization of Pakistanis
living in the US. It is one of the largest medical associations there.
Furthermore, the prime minister extended
his congratulations to Dr. Arshad Rehan, the president of the association, and
the entire Pakistani-American physician community on the occasion of their 46th
Annual Convention.
He emphasised that the nation takes great
pride in its remarkable professional and humanitarian accomplishments.
Source: pakistantoday.com.pk
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Hearing of Imran Khan’s plea against IHC
CJ adjourned
July 5, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Issuing notices to the
parties to former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s petition against
him, Chief Justice (CJ) Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Aamer Farooq said on
Wednesday that the registrar’s objections to the petition would persist, and
that no number would be marked on it.
He made it clear that the court did not
want to set a wrong precedent.
The CJ remarked that the services of a
senior lawyer would be hired to assist the court in the case, if deemed
necessary. “Right now, the court is issuing a notice to the Election Commission
of Pakistan (ECP) to assist the court,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, counsel for
Imran said he had been directed by his client to peruse the case. “If you
insist, the court will issue notices to the parties,” Justice Aamer said,
adding, “We have given a detailed opinion in Azam Swati’s case.”
Later the court adjourned hearing of the
case.
Two days ago on Monday, PTI chairman had
expressed no-confidence in the Islamabad High Court chief justice.
The development came just a day before
the latter was going to decide the fate of former prime minister in Toshakhana
case.
Justice Aamer had on June 23 reserved
his decision on Imran’s petition challenging the Toshakhana trial proceedings.
Source: pakistantoday.com.pk
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https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/07/05/hearing-of-imran-khans-plea-against-ihc-cj-adjourned/
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Pakistan wants to benefit more from
Turkey’s development in science, tech: Baligh
June 28, 2023
LAHORE: Punjab Governor Muhammad
Balighur Rehman said that Pakistan and Turkiye have deep fraternal and historical
relations and both countries have always supported each other at all
international forums.
“Pakistan wants to benefit more from
Turkey’s development in science and technology sector as there is a need for
increasing bilateral trade between the two brotherly countries,” Punjab
Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman stated while talking to Turkish Ambassador to
Pakistan, Dr Mehmet Pachachi.
Turkish Ambassador Dr Mehmet Pachachi
called on Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman at Governor House Lahore and ways
to enhance bilateral cooperation between Turkiye and Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, the governor
stressed there should be exchange of delegations of experts in different fields
so that both the countries can benefit from each other’s skills and
experiences. On this occasion, he congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his
re-election as the President of Turkey and expressed his best wishes. He said
that the re-election of Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a proof of Turkish people’s
trust in his leadership. Balighur Rehman along with the Turkiye Ambassador went
around different parts of the historic building of the Governor’s House.
On this occasion, the Ambassador of
Turkiye specially thanked Pakistan for helping the earthquake victims. He said
that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited Turkey in
this difficult time. The Turkish Ambassador said that Turkish companies are
investing in Pakistan in the transport sector. He said that investment in
various sectors, especially education, agriculture, technology and tourism,
will be further enhanced in Pakistan. He said that the exchange program of
students and teachers in the higher education sector is being improved.
Governor’s Message on Eidul Azha
Meanwhile, Governor Muhammad Balighur
Rehman said in his message on the occasion of Eidul Azha that Sunnah Ibrahimi
(AS) teaches us the importance of sacrifice and how to attain the pleasure of
Allah through it. Indeed, only with the help and will of Allah Almighty, we can
succeed in this world and the hereafter. Sacrificing what is dear to one, and
to include one’s family, neighbors,
loved ones, needy and poor people in one’s happiness is the lesson of this day,
adding he said that it should be a daily routine not only on Eid. Today, we
have to pledge that we will put aside our personal and regional differences and
show collective thinking to make our country safer and stronger. May Allah
accept this good deed of every Muslim who sacrifices animals following Sunnah Ibrahimi
(AS), and make us all like the one who shares happiness, shares love and
obtains from hatred. (Ameen)
Source: pakistantoday.com.pk
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https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/06/28/pakistan-wants-to-benefit-more-from-turkeys-development-in-science-tech-baligh/
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Joint session to discuss desecration of
Holy Quran in Sweden
July 06, 2023
The Joint Session of the Parliament will
resume on Thursday at three in the afternoon at the Parliament House in
Islamabad.
Earlier, the session was adjourned to
meet again on Monday at five in the evening.
A debate on recent incident of
desecration of Holy Quran in Sweden will be held in the session, and a strategy
will also be formulated on the issue.
The Joint Sitting will also likely to
adopt a resolution to condemn desecration of the Holy Quran.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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PM lauds resilience of APPNA to build
Pak-US relations
July 06, 2023
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
has admired the resilience of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani
Descent of North America (APPNA) commitment and resilience to serve Pakistan
and to build Pak-US relations.
In a tweet on Thursday, he said we are
grateful for APPNA's timely support for flood response and COVID-19 management
in Pakistan. He said we are proud of your professional and humanitarian
achievements.
The Prime Minister congratulated APPNA
President Dr. Arshad Rehan and the family of Pakistani-American physicians.
He also congratulated the Association of
Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America on its 46th Annual Convention.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/06-07-2023/pm-lauds-pakistani-american-physicians-to-support-flood-victims
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Major martyred during gun battle with
terrorists in Khyber district: ISPR
July 6, 2023
A Pakistan Army major was martyred
during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber tribal district’s
Shakhas area, the military’s media affairs wing said on Thursday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations
(ISPR) said that security forces had conducted an IBO last night after
receiving reports about the presence of terrorists.
The ISPR said that while security forces
were trying to establish “blocking positions to cut [off] the escape routes of
[the] terrorists”, a party of terrorists was spotted by Major Mian Abdullah
Shah — who was “leading the operation from the front”.
It said that the 33-year-old major, a
resident of Kohat, embraced martyrdom as a result of a heavy exchange of fire.
“Three terrorists and their facilitators
were apprehended. Sanitisation of the area is being carried out to eliminate
the terrorists present in the area,” the ISPR said.
“Security forces of Pakistan are
determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our
soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” it added.
The incident comes three days after an
army major and a soldier were martyred in an exchange of fire with terrorists
in Kech district of Balochistan, hours after the martyrdom of four security
personnel in simultaneous attacks on three checkpoints in Sherani district.
A day earlier, three soldiers were
martyred and as many civilians were critically injured in a suicide attack in
the general area of Miran Shah in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan
district.
Source: dawn.com
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Africa
Al-Sunni discusses with UN official ways
to enhance support for Libyan institutions
Libya's Permanent Representative to the
United Nations, Taher Al-Sunni, met with the Executive Director of the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Ghada Wali, during her recent visit to New
York.
During the meeting, issues of common
interest were discussed, and recent reports and figures were reviewed to
determine the effective substantive support that can be provided to
institutions in Libya and to provide the necessary technical assistance for
capacity-building programmes.
The two sides expressed their aspiration
to enhance their cooperation in the near future.
Source: libyaobserver.ly
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Gambia: MoH Lays Foundation for New
Mosque At Its Brusubi Complex
5 JULY 2023
The Minister of Health, Dr
AhmadouLaminSamateh, recently laid the foundation stone for the construction of
a mosque within the new complex of the Ministry of Health in Bijilo.
The event commenced with the recitation
of the Holy Quran by elders in the community.
The project, contracted to Daru Salaam Construction
Company, was financed to the tune of 35,000 Euros sponsored by Direct Aid.
However, the site where the foundation
stone of the new mosque will be laid, according to health officials, would
accommodate the National Food and Drug Quality Lab, Structures for the National
Health Insurance Authority and the new Ministry of Health complex.
Speaking at the ceremony,
AbdellatifOurahou, director of Direct Aid, described the event as another
milestone in the partnership between the Ministry and Direct Aid.
"It is a partnership which covers
many subjects, namely operating clinics, running hospitals and free eye
surgical camps," he said.
The Direct Aid boss thus expressed
optimism that the new mosque would serve the community and employees of the
ministry.
He equally thanked the ministry for
giving his NGO an opportunity to support the people of The Gambia.
For his part, Dr AhmadouLaminSamateh,
minister of Health, expressed delight to have presided over the event, saying
it "signals another important partnership" with his ministry.
"But it goes further to emphasise
the fact that we have good people who are always willing to help the health
sector bearing in mind that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. And that
other socio-economic development cannot take place if people are not
healthy," he noted.
The move, he added, was another step
that humbled them further that they had partners and who had a lot of
confidence in them and the leadership of the country. "Because if they do
not have confidence in us they wouldn't do what they are doing today," he
said.
Minister Samateh reiterated that Direct
Aid and the Gambia Government have been great partners, saying the NGO had been
supporting the people of The Gambia in many ways.
"The building of a mosque in our
facility goes further to support the faith of the people who are going to be
working here and by extension the community, " he said
He thanked Direct Aid for the foresight
and the wonderful gesture, as well as their partners, such as the World Bank.
Source: allafrica.com
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South Asia
UN Invite Islamic Emirate Officials to
the Upcoming Meeting: UNAMA
2023-07-06
KABUL (BNA) In a meeting at Arg the head
of UNAMA’s political office in Kabul, Scott Smith informed about holding a big
meeting similar to the Doha by the UN before the end of 2023.
He said the leaders of the Islamic
Emirate will be invited to participate in the meeting, according to a statement
released by Arg.
Mr.Smith assured the continuation of the
world’s humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and said that security has been
strengthened in Afghanistan and effective work has been done to strengthen the
economy.
He stressed mutual understanding between
Afghanistan and the world and said that UNAMA is making efforts to create
understanding and reduce the gap between Afghanistan and the world and will
continue its mission in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Mawlavi Zakir, the head of
the acting Prime Minister’s office, said that the Islamic Emirate seeks
understanding and interaction with the international community and has kept the
door of dialogue open.
Zakir said that the existing
restrictions on Afghanistan’s banking system should end soon, adding Afghans
have been directly affected economically.
The international community should
contribute to the implementation of development and basic projects in
Afghanistan along with the completion of previous incomplete projects, he
added.
He reminded saying that humanitarian
issues should not be tied to political issues and the developments in
Afghanistan should not be overlooked.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://bakhtarnews.af/en/un-invite-islamic-emirate-officials-to-the-upcoming-meeting-unama/
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IEA Request to Participate in the
Upcoming Meeting of SCO in Kazakhstan
2023-07-05
KABUL (BNA) The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Afghanistan has praised the recent statement of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) which called Afghanistan a free, united, free of war and
drugs, and participants urged for the continuation of humanitarian aid and
facilities for the return of refugees.
The Foreign Ministry of the Islamic
Emirate of Afghanistan welcomes the holding of such meetings in order to create
better coordination and to ensure the security of the region and the
development of cooperation, a statement said by the Ministry.
As far Afghanistan has a supervisory
membership as its inalienable right, and non-attendance in such meetings is a
hitch to coordination. Broadly to prevent insecurity and prohibit drug
trafficking, humanitarian assistance, implementation of infrastructure
projects, Facilitation, cooperation, and mutual confidence for the economic
connection of the region, demanded to participate in the next meeting.
The Islamic Emirate hails the part of
the declaration that supports a free, united, war- and drug-free Afghanistan
and reminds of the continuation of humanitarian aid and facilities for the
return of refugees, and is ready for any cooperation in this regard, the
Ministry statement further said.
In the Islamic Emirate, there is a
representative of every language, generation, and position. The concern of the
member states in this respect can be discussed with a real understanding of the
facts, the statement added.
The Islamic Emirate highlights that the
circumstances for the participation of the Afghanistan government in the
upcoming meeting of the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which
is scheduled to be held in Kazakhstan, will be favorable.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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UK looks to deepen trade ties with
Bangladesh
Jul 6, 2023
The United Kingdom is committed to
working with Bangladesh closely to deepen trade and investment ties between the
two countries, said UK Minister for International Trade Nigel Huddleston.
He arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday,
demonstrating his country's strong ambition to work with Bangladesh to achieve
an enhanced trade and investment relationship.
In a statement, the UK High Commission
in Dhaka said the UK is committed to working with Bangladesh to create a trade
and investment relationship that will create jobs and grow both economies.
The total trade in goods and services
between the UK and Bangladesh reached a record 4.7 billion pounds at the end of
2022.
In the statement, Huddleston said,
"The UK has a strong and enduring relationship with Bangladesh, and our
trade with the country has grown significantly over the past year.
"My first visit here demonstrates
the UK's strong ambition to work with Bangladesh to achieve an enhanced trade
and investment relationship. I look forward to working with the government of
Bangladesh on increasing mutual prosperity by addressing barriers to market
access and trade."
Yesterday, Huddleston met with Salman F
Rahman, private industry and investment adviser to the prime minister.
They discussed ways to deepen trade and
investment ties between the two countries, according to a press release
released by the office of the adviser.
Huddleston is scheduled to meet Commerce
Minister Tipu Munshi to discuss the UK's Developing Countries Trading Scheme
(DCTS), a preferential trade facility, which came into force last month and
makes it easier for Bangladesh to trade with the UK.
Bangladeshi exporters now benefit from
simpler and more generous Rules of Origin, which means that they are able to
produce goods using components from many more countries and still export the
finished products with zero tariffs to the UK.
Huddleston is expected to meet Mahbub
Ali, state minister for civil aviation and tourism, and discuss the UK's offer
to help Bangladesh realise its ambition of becoming the next aviation hub in
South Asia, according to the statement from the British high commission.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/uk-looks-deepen-trade-ties-bangladesh-3362111
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Armed forces always stand by people: PM
Thu Jul 6, 2023
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday
said members of the armed forces always stand by the people at home and abroad
alongside discharging their professional duties.
The premier said this while addressing a
programme marking the 48th founding anniversary of President Guard Regiment
(PGR) at its headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment, reports BSS.
The PM appreciated the members of the
PGR for professionalism, dedication and dutifulness.
Earlier, the premier went around
different tables and exchanged pleasantries with the PGR members after arriving
at the venue.
She handed over gifts to the family
members of the PGR personnel who lost their lives and sustained severe injuries
while on duty, reports UNB.
PM's Security Affairs Adviser Major
General (rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin
Ahmed and President's Military Secretary Major General SM Salahuddin Islam were
on the dais.
PGR Commander Brigadier General Mohammad
Khaled Kamal delivered the welcome speech.
'BRAIN DRAIN HARD TO STOP'
At a question-answer session at
parliament yesterday, the premier said stopping "brain drain" in this
era of globalisation is a difficult task but her government has kept it at a
"controlled level".
She said this in reply to a query from
Awami League MP Habibur Rahman from Sylhet-3.
In a scripted answer, the PM said that
due to the development of the country's information and communication
technology sector, along with the high-speed internet connection, people are
now working comfortably.
She said the creation of massive
employment in all sectors and the establishment of new universities are
preventing brain drain from Bangladesh.
Pointing that the prevention of brain
drain is important to continue the momentum of rapid development and
modernisation of Bangladesh, Hasina said skilled and innovative people usually
go abroad due to lack of desired facilities and infrastructural environment
here.
"As a result, the progress and
economic growth of the country is disrupted. Quality of education in higher
education institutions, environment, global acceptance, education as well as
job and permanent residence opportunities along with citizenship are one of the
drivers of brain drain."
The PM also said the government is aware
of this and is making efforts to prevent it by creating a favourable
environment.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/food-hoarders-can-be-jailed-life-3362201
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Southeast Asia
Bar pans Dr Mahathir for selectively
interpreting Constitution to badmouth multiracialism, calls for Harmony Bill to
preserve unity
By Kenneth Tee
Thursday, 06 Jul 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — The Malaysian Bar
has today condemned former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his
remarks that it was unconstitutional to promote a multiracial Malaysia.
Denouncing the remark as unacceptable,
Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah also likened Dr Mahathir’s controversial
statement to a mockery of the cherished principle of the rule of law and deeply
disheartening since it served no other purpose than to incite racial sentiments
among the populace.
“The former PM unjustifiably referred to
the rule of law in order to support his vitriolic statement.
“When the phrase ‘rule of law’ is
deliberately misused and linked to the Federal Constitution without basis for
political agenda, it is a travesty and a complete disservice to the Federal
Constitution and to our country.
“Constitutional values and aspirations
of the country need to be internalised for the greater good of all, not by
selective and misleading interpretation of our Federal Constitution for
political reasons and self-interest,” she said in a statement.
Noting this was not the first time Dr
Mahathir has attempted to recklessly stir the hornet’s nest when touching on
the issue of multi-ethnicity in our country, Cheah said there was no
restriction under the supreme law of the Constitution for others to profess and
practise their respective faiths.
“The Malaysian Bar continues to
emphasise that there is no such thing as ‘others' or ‘outsiders’ in our Federal
Constitution. The fanning of hateful sentiments by our former PM incites
hostility towards groups unreasonably deemed as ‘outsiders’ or ‘others’, of
which there is absolutely no basis.
“Mutual respect and holding each of us
to that value has carried and held us together since the Federal Constitution
was put in place by the framers of the Federal Constitution, having considered
the diversity of our nation,” she said.
While some attempts have been made to
derail the true narrative of the Federal Constitution, Cheah said it has rarely
been used so blatantly in Dr Mahathir’s case.
To that end, Cheah said it was therefore
timely for the Bar to reiterate its call for the enactment of national harmony
laws to promote unity, integration and interfaith harmony in the country.
The proposed Bills — namely the Racial
and Religious Hate Crimes Bill, the National Harmony and Reconciliation Bill,
and the National Harmony and Reconciliation Commission Bill — which would see
it replace the Sedition Act aims to achieve the balance of upholding freedom of
speech while maintaining public security.
“Malaysia is made up of diverse races
and faiths, and instead of politicians resorting to hateful speech and hurling
accusatory remarks to score political points, more efforts should be channelled
towards promoting constructive debate and dialogue between the various groups
to foster greater open-mindedness and to embrace our diversity, and recognise
that that is what strengthens the nation,” she said.
Dr Mahathir triggered a firestorm on
July 3 when he falsely claimed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was
purportedly beholden to the DAP even though the party only had four ministers
in the Cabinet.
He claimed that promoting a multi-ethnic
Malaysia is unconstitutional, and alleged that the Federal Constitution is
steeped in “Malayness”.
The nonagenarian further claimed in the
series of tweets that the DAP had a “manifesto” to turn the country into a
multi-ethnic secular one without a religion of the federation, and that the
Anwar administration would collapse if the party’s 40 MPs chose to withdraw
their support for the PKR president.
His remark was slammed by many in the
government as baseless, including Anwar and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
Source: malaymail.com
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Hearing of Hindu mum Loh Siew Hong’s bid
to get leave to appeal rescheduled to Sept 26
Thursday, 06 Jul 2023
PUTRAJAYA, July 6 — The hearing of
single mother Loh Siew Hong’s application to get leave from the Federal Court
to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision in allowing the Perlis Islamic
Religion and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs) to intervene in her divorce
proceedings, has been rescheduled to September 26.
One of her lawyer, J. Gunamalar, told
Bernama that the application was fixed for hearing today, but they requested
the matter to be heard on another date as the lead counsel was not able to make
it today.
A case management was instead held
before Court of Appeal deputy registrar RasidahRoslee who fixed the new hearing
date.
Gunamalar and MAIPs’s lawyer Danial
Farhan Zainul Rijal attended the case management which was conducted online.
Danial Farhan said the deputy registrar
also set September 11 for another case management.
Loh, 36, applied for leave to appeal in
March this year against the Court of Appeal’s decision in allowing MAIPs to be
the second respondent in the divorce petition between her and her ex-husband,
Muhammad NagahswaranMuniandy, involving the custody order given to her over her
three children.
In the divorce petition, Loh has been
granted sole custody, care and control over the children, a pair of 15-year-old
twin girls and an 11-year-old boy.
On February 7, this year, the Court of
Appeal ruled that based on the reading of two provisions — Order 15 Rule 6 of
the Rules of Court 2012 and Section 96 of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce)
Act 1976 — it would confer MAIPs a legal right to intervene.
On June 15, 2022, the High Court
dismissed MAIPs’ application to intervene in the divorce petition between Loh
and Muhammad Nagahswaran, who converted to Islam with their three children, to
amend the sole custody granted to Loh to enable him to provide Islamic
education and training as well as zakat to the children.
MAIPs filed the application to intervene
on March 7, last year to enable the religious authority to have the locus
standi (legal standing) to apply to vary the terms of the custody order granted
to Loh.
Loh has also filed a judicial review
application to challenge her children’s conversion to Islam which she claimed
was done by her ex-husband without her consent.
She, however, lost her case in the High
Court and her appeal is pending before the Court of Appeal. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Provisions in Federal Constitution
reflect importance of race, diversity, says RaisYatim
Thursday, 06 Jul 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 —There are several
provisions in the Federal Constitution that in its implementation reflect
diversity and importance of the races in this country, said former Dewan Negara
president Tan Sri RaisYatim.
He said that among the provisions that
reflect racial diversity is Article 8 which states that all individuals are
entitled to the equal protection of the law and it is intended to promote
racial diversity.
“Under Article 8, all of them regardless
of whether they are Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazan, Murut, Orang Ulu, or
Dayak are equal before the law,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.
He also said Article 153 provides for
the special rights of the Malays and the Orang Asli population of any state,
Sabah and Sarawak as well as the interests of other communities.
Therefore, he emphasised that it
wouldn’t be right for any party to say that the Federal Constitution places no
value on racial diversity as claimed by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir
Mohamad.
So it is sufficient to demonstrate that
there are constitutional rights in the Malaysian Constitution, therefore there
is a diversity of interests for all races. It is inaccurate to simply state
that our Constitution does not recognise racial diversity and the importance of
community diversity,” he said.
He was commenting on Dr Mahathir’s
statement which claimed that efforts to promote a multi-ethnic country were
against the Federal Constitution.
Rais also said that according to Article
11, every individual in this country has the right to practise their own
religion in peace, while Article 12 mentions the importance of education
without discrimination based on religion, race, descent or place of birth.
“Everyone has the right to profess and
practise their religion, so Article 11 is also an example of how racial
diversity is recognised through religion,” he said.
Meanwhile, constitutional expert Prof
Datuk Wan Ahmad Fauzi Wan Husain said if promoting a multi-racial country shows
that Malaysians are of multiple ethnicities but supports the identities given
in the constitutional rights, therefore it is not in conflict with the Federal
Constitution.
He said the identities include
assimilating a godly life, being loyal to the King and Country, speaking Malay
and writing Jawi, practising decency and discipline based on Malaysian local
values, and upholding the supremacy of the Constitution.
“... others are accommodations in the
acceptance of Islam as the Federal and State religion, Malay custom and Native
custom within the framework of the Constitution as a source of legislation in
the determination of local custom,” he said.
Wan Ahmad Fauzi, who is an associate
professor at International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation,
International Islamic University Malaysia (ISTAC-IIUM) said that efforts to
promote Malaysia must prioritise national identity as enshrined in the
Constitution.
He explained that Article 3 of the
Federal Constitution recognises Islam as the religion of the Federation and it
is the Federal doctrine that establishes the criteria for accepting the
diversity of ethnic cultural heritage in this country as Malaysia’s national
culture.
“There are two levels here. The first is
the cultural diversity that is to be promoted as the official or national
culture; its value and form should not be interpreted as compromising Islam’s
position as the Federal religion.
“Secondly, cultural customs, including
specific local ethnic beliefs that contradict Islamic teachings can be
practised by them but cannot be elevated as the cultural identity and beliefs
of the Malaysian people or nation,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Dr Zaliha: Four out of five teenagers in
Malaysia not physically active
Thursday, 06 Jul 2023
PUTRAJAYA, July 6 — Four out of five
teenagers in the country are physically inactive, said Health Minister Dr
Zaliha Mustafa.
In addition, two out of three teenagers
practice fitness activities at a sedentary level, she said in the SuaraMenteri
slot broadcast in conjunction with the Health Promotion in Learning
Institutions (Hepili) Programme 2023 virtual assembly today.
“More and more of our teenagers are not
active. So, why wait, let’s start now. Exercise every day. Only 30 minutes,
five times a week. Easy, isn’t it?” she said.
Dr Zaliha, in the virtual assembly
themed ‘We want to live healthy’, said that despite being a busy person, it did
not stop her from doing daily exercise to take care of her health.
Also giving speeches were Communications
and Digital Minister FahmiFadzil, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and
Education Minister FadhlinaSidek.
In his speech, Fahmi encouraged the
public to do stretching known as X-break, which is a physical activity
performed within three to five minutes after sitting for a long time, which is
more than two hours.
Meanwhile, Yeoh said that at a young age
an individual needs to be active to build endurance and character, while
Fadhlina said hot weather is not an excuse not to do exercise as it can be done
indoors and in closed areas.
The virtual assembly was attended by
approximately 548,000 participants from all over the country. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/amarnath-yatra-hindu-muslim-kashmiriyat/d/130150