Anti-Muslim Speeches Despite Complaints; EC Did Not Act Against BJP Leaders Including Prime Minister: CPI (M)

New Age Islam News Bureau

20 May 2024

  

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury. | @SitaramYechury / X

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·         Anti-Muslim Speeches Despite Complaints; EC Did Not Act Against BJP Leadersincluding Prime Minister: CPI (M)

·         Iran’s President, Foreign Minister and Others Found Dead at Helicopter Crash Site, State Media Says

·         Libya's Fatwa House Declares Jihad on Russia's 'Africa Corps'

·         Biden Tells Morehouse Graduates That Scenes in Gaza from The Israel-Hamas War Break His Heart, Too

·         Two-State Solution Will Solve the Issue of Palestine: Chinese Envoy toSaudi Arabia

 

India

·         4 ISIS Terrorists Hailing from Sri Lanka Arrested at Ahmedabad Airport

·         Development is Key, not 'Hindu-Muslim' Politics, Says Uttarakhand CM Dhami

·         Muslims In Ayodhya Say 'Mandir-Masjid' A Non-Issue, Want Development

·         Social engineering between MVA and Muslims successful, says Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh

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Mideast

·         Islamic Republic Outlets Endow Raisi’s Death with Religious, Mystical Meanings

·         Kurdish Islamist Leader Slams Iraq's "Politicized" Judiciary

·         "Raeisi Was an Example of a Brave Muslim Leader": Yemen's National Salvation Government

·         What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran’s president?

·         How Will Iranian President Raisi's Death Impact the Islamic Republic and The Middle East?

·         New agreement needed after Sunni infighting stalled Iraqi parliament speaker election: lawmaker

·         EU Red Sea mission says it defended 120 ships from Houthi attacks

·         10 years on, thousands forgotten in Syria desert camp

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Africa

·         Uganda Muslim Supreme Council shift Martyrs’ Day commemoration

·         Obi Visits Victims of Kano Mosque Attack

·         Peter Obi pays visit to victims of Kano Mosque attack

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North America

·         Despite Polls, Biden Aides Insist Gaza Campus Protests Will Not Hurt Reelection Bid

·         How a NYC Courtroom Became the Mecca for Members of the MAGA Cult

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Arab World

·         Saudi Arabia leads offers to help Iran after crash of helicopter carrying President Raisi

·         Deal signed to advance Saudi cultural preservation, scientific research

·         Makkah Route Initiative streamlines pilgrimage journey using AI

·         Saudi Arabia: ‘Mecca Road’ Initiative expanded in Indonesia

·         Abu Mazen to Sunni lawmakers: you betrayed your community

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Europe

·         Acton Mosque and Palestine Mission in Hammersmith Daubed with Red Paint

·         Civilian killed as Ukrainian drone strikes minibus – governor

·         Georgian president vetoes controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill

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South Asia

·         No One Excluded as Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Belongs to All Afghans,Deputy PMMawlavi Kabir

·         Devastating floods in Ghor risk collapse of Minaret of Jam

·         Torkham crossing reopens between Afghanistan and Pakistan after four-day closure

·         Russia shows interest in importing Afghanistan’s agricultural products

·         Australian FM's Visit: Trade, Rohingya, regional security to get priority

·         Dhaka seeks Delhi's support in rescuing 'missing' AL lawmaker

·         Kyrgyz Capital: Bangladeshis Stay Indoors for Fear of Mob Attacks

·         Another Bangladeshi, Babar Ali, on Mt Everest

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Southeast Asia

·         Ulu Tiram Attacker Buried Separately After Johor Fatwa Committee Decision

·         Pahang govt to send 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Palestine

·         Gov’t condemns threats made against MPs - Fahmi Fadzil

·         Mohamad Hasan: Death of Iran's president, foreign minister a great loss to Islamic leadership, country's people

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Pakistan

·         Pakistan To Observe One Day Of Mourning On Iranian President Raisi'sDemise

·         Army Chief, Turkish FM express satisfaction over Pak-Turkiye historic relations

·         Pakistan, Turkiye decide to take volume of bilateral trade to $5b

·         No unilateral legislation on Digital Media Authority’s establishment: Attaullah

·         PM approves deployment of Motorway Police in Gilgit Baltistan

·         Journalists to launch protest against locking of Quetta Press Club

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:     https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/anti-muslim-ec-pm-bjp/d/132353

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Anti-Muslim Speeches Despite Complaints; EC Did Not Act Against BJP Leadersincluding Prime Minister: CPI (M)

 

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury. | @SitaramYechury / X

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20-05-24

The Election Commission has failed to act against Bhartiya Janata Party leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for inciting hatred against Muslims despite several complaints, Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said in a letter to the poll panel on Sunday.

Yechury, in a letter addressed to the chief election commissioner, alleged that several BJP leaders had violated the Model Code of Conduct during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, adding that a series of his party’s previous complaints to the poll regulator about it had not been heeded.

The code is a set of rules that all parties, candidates and governments are mandated to follow in the run-up to an election. It sets guardrails for speeches, rallies and other aspects of poll campaigning.

“Their [BJP leaders’] resort to blatant lies and fabrication, fear mongering and overtly communal appeals were highlighted in these complaints,” the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader said. “Sadly, in none of these complaints has the ECI [Election Commission] punished the culprits.”

Referring to one of the complaints to the Election Commission against Modi’s speeches in April, Yechury said that the poll regulator had “after a lapse of many days” sent a letter to BJP President JP Nadda, in a departure from precedent.

The complaint pertained to Modi’s speech at an election rally in Rajasthan on April 21, during whichthe prime minister had claimed that the Congress plans to distribute citizens’ private wealth among “infiltrators” and “those who have more children” if voted to power, a dog-whistle reference to Muslims.

Modi was purportedly referring to remarks that Congress leader Manmohan Singh had made on December 9, 2006, when he addressed a meeting of the National Development Council. Singh, the prime minister at the time, had said that the country’s priorities were to uplift the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, minorities and women and children.

The Election Commission sent a notice in connection with the prime minister’s speeches to Nadda on April 25.

However, Yechury, in the letter, said that the poll regulator’s notice to the Hindutva party had no impact as seen by repeated poll code violations by the prime minister and other BJP leaders in subsequent campaign speeches.

His letter also took note of Modi’s speech at Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki on Friday. Yechury alleged that the prime minister had said: “If SP [Samajwadi Party] and Congress come to power, Ram Lalla [Hindu deity Ram] will be in a tent again and they will run a bulldozer on Ram temple [in Ayodhya].”

The Ram temple was inaugurated in a ceremony led by Modi on January 22.

The temple is being built on the site of the Babri mosque, which was demolished by Hindutva extremists on December 6, 1992, because they believed that it stood on the spot where the Hindu deity Ram was born. The incident had triggered communal riots across the country.

On Sunday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader also cited Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath’s remarks at a rally in Bihar’s Saran district on May 17.

Adityanath had said that “the Congress and RJD [Rashtriya Janata Dal] are trying to rob SCs [Scheduled Castes], STs [Scheduled Tribes] and OBCs [Other Backward Classes] of quotas and divert those to Muslims,” Yechury alleged.

However, the Congress manifesto makes no mention of giving reservations on the basis on religion. There are 14 states and Union territories where Muslim communities are included in the Other Backward Class list, based on social and economic backwardness.

Gujarat, where Modi was chief minister for 12 years, also lists Muslim communities among OBCs.

In his letter to the Election Commission, Yechury also cited Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s remarks at an election meeting in Bihar’s Siwan district on May 18. Sarma had said that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance would put an end to “this business of marrying four times” and that it “will shut down shops [in a reference to madrasas] that produce mullas [Muslim clergy]”.

Urging action against Modi, Adityanath and Sarma, Yechury also asked the Election Commission to act on the earlier complaints by the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

“We had through our earlier complaints warned the [Election] Commission that if it fails to take decisive action in cases where the offenders are those in high positions of power, the impartiality of the ECI will be in question and its credibility compromised,” he added.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), in another complaint to the Election Commission on April 13, had listed instances where Modi had made references to the Ram temple in Ayodhya and labelled the Opposition as “opponents of the temple” and being against Ram.

Source: scroll.in

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Iran’s President, Foreign Minister and Others Found Dead at Helicopter Crash Site, State Media Says

 

Iran's president, foreign minister and others found dead at helicopter crash site, says state media

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May 19, 2024

DUBAI: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreign minister and others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash Monday after an hourslong search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest, state media reported. Raisi was 63.

The crash comes as the Middle East remains unsettled by the Israel-Hamas war, during which Raisi under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel just last month. Under Raisi, Iran enriched uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels, further escalating tensions with the West as Tehran also supplied bomb-carrying drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine and armed militia groups across the region.

Meanwhile, Iran has faced years of mass protests against its Shiite theocracy over its ailing economy and women’s rights – making the moment that much more sensitive for Tehran and the future of the country.

State TV gave no immediate cause for the crash in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. Among the dead was Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, 60.

Raisi was traveling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. State TV said what it called a “hard landing” happened near Jolfa, a city on the border with the nation of Azerbaijan, some 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Later, state TV put it farther east near the village of Uzi, but details remained contradictory.

With Raisi were Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and other officials and bodyguards, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. One local government official used the word “crash,” but others referred to either a “hard landing” or an “incident.”

Early Monday morning, Turkish authorities released what they described as drone footage showing what appeared to be a fire in the wilderness that they “suspected to be wreckage of helicopter.” The coordinates listed in the footage put the fire some 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of the Azerbaijan-Iranian border on the side of a steep mountain.

Footage released by the IRNA early Monday showed what the agency described as the crash site, across a steep valley in a green mountain range. Soldiers speaking in the local Azeri language said: “There it is, we found it.”

Shortly after, state TV in an on-screen scrolling text said: “There is no sign of live from people on board.” It did not elaborate, but the semiofficial Tasnim news agency showed rescuers using a small drone to fly over the site, with them speaking among themselves saying the same thing.

Religious leaders had urged the public to pray. State TV aired images of hundreds of the faithful, some with their hands outstretched in supplication, praying at Imam Reza Shrine in the city of Mashhad, one of Shiite Islam’s holiest sites, as well as in Qom and other locations across the country. State television’s main channel aired the prayers nonstop.

In Tehran, a group of men kneeling on the side of the street clasped strands of prayer beads and watched a video of Raisi praying, some of them visibly weeping.

“If anything happens to him we’ll be heartbroken,” said one of the men, Mehdi Seyedi. ”May the prayers work and may he return to the arms of the nation safe and sound.”

IRNA called the area a “forest” and the region is known to be mountainous as well. State TV aired images of SUVs racing through a wooded area and said they were being hampered by poor weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind. Rescuers could be seen walking in the fog and mist.

Khamenei himself also urged the public to pray.

“We hope that God the Almighty returns the dear president and his colleagues in full health to the arms of the nation,” Khamenei said, drawing an “amen” from the worshipers he was addressing.

However, the supreme leader also stressed the business of Iran’s government would continue no matter what. Under the Iranian constitution, Iran’s vice first president takes over if the president dies with Khamenei’s assent, and a new presidential election would be called within 50 days. First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber already had begun receiving calls from officials and foreign governments in Raisi’s absence, state media reported.

Raisi, 63, a hard-liner who formerly led the country’s judiciary, is viewed as a protégé of Khamenei and some analysts have suggested he could replace the 85-year-old leader after Khamenei’s death or resignation.Raisi had been on the border with Azerbaijan early Sunday to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. The dam is the third one that the two nations built on the Aras River. The visit came despite chilly relations between the two nations, including over a gun attack on Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Tehran in 2023, and Azerbaijan’s diplomatic relations with Israel, which Iran’s Shiite theocracy views as its main enemy in the region.

Iran flies a variety of helicopters in the country, but international sanctions make it difficult to obtain parts for them. Its military air fleet also largely dates back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. IRNA published images it described as Raisi taking off in what resembled a Bell helicopter, with a blue-and-white paint scheme previously seen in published photographs.

Raisi won Iran’s 2021 presidential election, a vote that saw the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history. Raisi is sanctioned by the US in part over his involvement in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988 at the end of the bloody Iran-Iraq war.

Under Raisi, Iran now enriches uranium at nearly weapons-grade levels and hampers international inspections. Iran has armed Russia in its war on Ukraine, as well as launched a massive drone-and-missile attack on Israel amid its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It also has continued arming proxy groups in the Mideast, like Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, mass protests in the country have raged for years. The most recent involved the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who had been earlier detained over allegedly not wearing a hijab, or headscarf, to the liking of authorities. The monthslong security crackdown that followed the demonstrations killed more than 500 people and saw over 22,000 detained.

In March, a United Nations investigative panel found that Iran was responsible for the “physical violence” that led to Amini’s death.

Source: arabnews.com

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Libya's Fatwa House Declares Jihad on Russia's 'Africa Corps'

 

 20/05/2024

The Libyan Fatwa House has issued a fatwa declaring jihad against Russian forces, specifically the "Africa Corps," stating that it is a religious duty for the people of Libya, particularly the revolutionary brigades.

In a statement, the Council for Sharia Research and Studies of Fatwa House expressed its concern over the Russian intervention in Libya, noting the arrival of Russian troops and weapons in preparation for the entry of the so-called Africa Corps into Libya and neighbouring countries.

The Council asserted that the armed Russian presence on Libyan soil constitutes an occupation and "invasion by an aggressive infidel state."

It urged those with financial means, weapons, or decision-making power to support the revolutionary brigades in expelling the occupiers and those who brought them.

However, it emphasized that the defensive jihad against Russian forces does not imply falling under the control of another occupier, whether it be the US, the European Union, or any other state. "Fighting the occupiers should not result in replacing one occupier with another," the Council explains.

The statement also highlighted the Western countries' position—led by the US—of the Russian presence and their apparent cooperation with Libyans to resist it, deeming it deceptive and untrustworthy, as it is "merely an exchange of roles."

The Council emphasized the importance of seeking assistance under the Sharia regulations, whether from Muslims or others. The primary condition is that the ultimate authority and decision-making power should rest with the inhabitants of the region, especially those who oppose external influence or collaboration.

Source: libyaobserver.ly

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Biden Tells Morehouse Graduates That Scenes In Gaza From The Israel-Hamas War Break His Heart, Too

 

US President Joe Biden at the Morehouse College (AP)

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May 20, 2024

ATLANTA: President Joe Biden on Sunday offered his most direct recognition of US students’ anguish over the Israel-Hamas war, telling graduates of historically Black Morehouse College that he heard their voices of protest and that scenes from the conflict in Gaza break his heart, too.

“I support peaceful nonviolent protest,” he told students at the all-male college, some of whom wore Palestinian scarves known as keffiyehs around their shoulders on top of their black graduation gowns. “Your voices should be heard, and I promise you I hear them.”

Biden said there’s a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, “that’s why I’ve called for an immediate ceasefire to stop the fighting” and bring home hostages still being held by Hamas after its militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7. The president’s comments came near the end of a commencement address in which he also reflected on American democracy and his role in safeguarding it.

“It’s one of the hardest, most complicated problems in the world,” Biden said. “There’s nothing easy about it. I know it angers and frustrates many of you, including my family. But most of all I know it breaks your heart. It breaks mine as well.”

To date, Biden had limited his public comments around the protests on US college campuses to upholding the right to peaceful protest.

The speech — and a separate one he gave later Sunday in Detroit — are part of a burst of outreach to Black constituents by the Democratic president, whose support among these voters has softened since their strong backing helped put him in the Oval Office.

Biden spent much of the approximately 30-minute speech focused on the problems at home. He condemned Donald Trump’s rhetoric on immigrants and noted that the class of 2024 entered college during the COVID-19 pandemic and following the murder of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a Minneapolis police officer. Biden said it was natural for them, and others, to wonder whether the democracy “you hear about actually works for you.”

“If Black men are being killed in the street. What is democracy?” he asked. “The trail of broken promises that still leave Black communities behind. What is democracy? If you have to be 10 times better than anyone else to get a fair shot.”

Anti-war protests have roiled America’s college campuses. Columbia University canceled its main commencement ceremony. At Morehouse, the announcement that Biden would be the commencement speaker drew some backlash among the faculty and those who oppose the president’s handling of the war. Some Morehouse alumni circulated an online letter condemning administrators for inviting Biden and solicited signatures to pressure Morehouse President David Thomas to rescind it.

The letter claimed that Biden’s approach to Israel amounted to support of genocide in Gaza and was out of step with the pacifism expressed by Martin Luther King Jr., Morehouse’s most famous graduate.

The Hamas attack on southern Israel killed 1,200 people. Israel’s offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health officials in the territory.

In the end, there were no disruptions of Morehouse’s commencement while applause for Biden mostly was subdued. At least seven graduates and one faculty member sat with their backs turned during Biden’s address, and another student draped himself in a Palestinian flag. Protesters near the ceremony carried signs that said “Free Palestine,” “Save the Children” and ”Ceasefire Now” as police on bikes kept watch.

On stage behind the president as he spoke, academics unfurled a Congolese flag. The African country has been mired in a civil war, and many racial justice advocates have called for greater attention to the conflict as well as American help in ending the violence.

During his speech, valedictorian DeAngelo Jeremiah Fletcher, of Chicago, said it was his duty to speak on the war in Gaza and recognize that both Palestinians and Israelis have suffered. He called for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.”

Graduate Kingsley John said, “the temperature on campus was expected given we had the president of the United States come and speak.” John said he stood “in solidarity” with his classmates and that Biden “seemed to be reflective and open to hear the feedback.”

Morehouse awarded Biden an honorary doctor of laws degree. After accepting the honor, he joked that, “I’m not going home” as chants of “four more years” broke out in the audience. Biden then flew to Detroit to address thousands attending the local NAACP chapter’s annual Freedom Fund dinner.

Georgia and Michigan are among a handful of states that will help decide November’s expected rematch between Biden and Trump. Biden narrowly won Georgia and Michigan in 2020 and he needs strong Black voter turnout in Atlanta and Detroit if he hopes to repeat in November.

Biden spent part of the past week reaching out to Black constituents. He highlighted key moments in the Civil Rights Movement, from the 70th anniversary of the landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education that outlawed racial segregation in public schools to the Little Rock Nine, who helped integrate a public school in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. He also met with members of the “Divine Nine” Black fraternities and sororities.

At the NAACP dinner, Biden told a largely Black crowd that numbered into the thousands that Trump wants to pardon those who were convicted of crimes during the insurrection at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and calls them “patriots.” He suggested that Trump would not have been so kind had they been people of color.

“Let me ask you, what do you think he would’ve done on Jan. 6 if Black Americans had stormed the Capitol?” Biden asked. “What do you think? I can only imagine.”

The speech gave Biden a chance to reach thousands of people in Wayne County, which historically has voted overwhelmingly Democratic but has shown signs of resistance to his reelection bid.

The county also holds one of the largest Arab American populations in the nation, predominantly in the city of Dearborn. Leaders there were at the forefront of an “uncommitted” effort that received over 100,000 votes in the state’s Democratic primary and spread across the country.

A protest rally and march against Biden’s visit took place in Dearborn in the afternoon.

In Detroit, guests at the NAACP dinner were met by over 200 pro-Palestinian protesters outside the entrance to the convention center. They waved Palestinian flags, held signs calling for a ceasefire and chanted “free, free Palestine.”

“Until Joe Biden listens to his key constituents, he’s risking handing the presidency to Donald Trump,” said Lexi Zeidan, a protest leader who help spearhead a protest effort that resulted in over 100,000 people voting “uncommitted” in February’s Democratic primary.

Source: arabnews.com

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Two-State Solution Will Solve the Issue of Palestine: Chinese Envoy to Saudi Arabia

 

Chang Hua expressed strong support for the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign state of Palestine. (Supplied)

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May 19, 2024

RIYADH: The newly appointed Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Chang Hua, said that the issue of Palestine must be resolved.

Speaking at his residence in Riyadh, Hua expressed strong support for the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign state of Palestine.

“This is a basic solution to solve all the problems in the Middle East,” the envoy said.

The seven-month war in Gaza has killed more than 35,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

“As a former ambassador to Iran and currently an ambassador to the Kingdom, I am honored to personally participate in establishing a mechanism — a joint Chinese-Saudi-Iranian committee. I will make more efforts to advance the mechanism to achieve further results.”

The resumption of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran was established on March 10, 2023 in a deal brokered by China.

“China, as an important party to the Beijing Agreement, will continue to push Saudi-Iranian relations to progress continuously. We restore it to make joint efforts with Saudi Arabia in creating beneficial conditions to advance the implementation of the Beijing Agreement and enhance tripartite dealings.”

The ambassador added: “I think this mechanism could be a model for peace in the Middle East. In fact, in 2021, the minister of foreign affairs visited Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkiye on a tour in this region, and presented peace proposals to me within five points. We are still continuing this talk and we want to enhance stability and security in this region.”

Hua has decades of experience in the Middle East, having served as an ambassador in Yemen, Iran, and the UAE.

Addressing the relations between the two countries, the envoy said: “China and Saudi Arabia enjoy a comprehensive strategic partnership. In politics, the two sides have exchanged firm support on issues related to the other side’s core interests and major concerns.

“China views Saudi Arabia as an important power in a multipolar world, and places the development of relations with Saudi Arabia as a priority in its overall foreign policy, especially within its diplomacy in the Middle East.

“In addition, China and the Kingdom pursue an independent foreign policy. It calls on the two countries to preserve the international order based on the ‘United Nations Charter’ and international law. In the United Nations, the G20, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other international platforms and international and regional hot issues, China and Saudi Arabia have long maintained constant communication and close coordination, and we have worked together to promote global peace and stability and achieve development and prosperity.”

In December 2022, the first China-Arab Summit was held in Riyadh. “They (both sides) continue to work collectively to build the Chinese-Arab community with all its potential toward a new era. The Arab-Chinese summit is the first to amplify the driving force for the development of Chinese-Arab relations, but it is the forum in the new phase.”

The 10th session of the China-Arab Cooperation Ministerial Forum will be held soon. The Chinese side is prepared to work together with the Arab side to continue fostering the spirit of Arab friendship, strengthening and enriching China-Arab cooperation, thereby advancing the interests of the Chinese-Arab community at an elevated level for the future.

Source: arabnews.com

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India

 

4 ISIS Terrorists Hailing from Sri Lanka Arrested at Ahmedabad Airport

By HT News Desk

May 20, 2024

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested four ISIS terrorists, all of whom are Sri Lankan nationals, at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.

The Gujarat ATS has taken the suspects to an undisclosed location for intensive questioning, reported TV9 Gujarati. The precise motive and intention behind their presence at the Ahmedabad airport is not clear.

Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India's general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now!

Security has been heightened across the airport.

The arrests were made ahead of the arrival of three IPL teams at the Ahmedabad airport for the qualifier and eliminator games.

Source: hindustantimes.com

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Development is Key, Not 'Hindu-Muslim' Politics, Says Uttarakhand CM Dhami

May 20, 2024

By Krishna Kripa

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recently highlighted that for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), development remains the paramount issue in the ongoing Lok Sabha election. He refuted claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was engaging in divisive politics, stating that the Prime Minister was merely responding to the opposition's provocations regarding personal law and Muslim reservations. In a conversation with -Bhasha, Dhami expressed confidence in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) securing 400 seats, attributing this optimism to the visible work accomplished under the Prime Minister's leadership.

Dhami addressed questions on the BJP's focus on Hindu-Muslim discourse, clarifying that while development is their main agenda, it is also essential to counter misinformation spread by opposition parties. He criticized the Congress party's manifesto for promoting appeasement and contrasted it with the BJP's commitment to implementing a Uniform Civil Code. The Chief Minister accused opposition parties of neglecting national unity and indulging in politics of appeasement.

In his campaign efforts across Delhi, Dhami claimed a sweeping victory for the BJP, both in Uttarakhand and the national capital, citing widespread support for Modi's leadership. He also took a jab at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of surpassing Congress in terms of corruption and criticizing his handling of allegations against AAP MP Swati Maliwal as indicative of an anti-women stance.

Furthermore, Dhami addressed recent controversies surrounding forest fires in Uttarakhand and challenges during the Chardham Yatra. He suggested that these issues were exaggerated by certain media sections, assuring that measures were being taken to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience despite initial registration hiccups.

The Chief Minister's statements reflect a broader strategy by the BJP to focus on developmental achievements while also navigating the complex socio-political landscape shaped by opposition parties' narratives. As Uttarakhand and Delhi prepare for elections, Dhami's remarks underscore the BJP's confidence in their governance record and their critique of opposition strategies.

Source: oneindia.com

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Muslims in Ayodhya say 'mandir-masjid' a non-issue, want development

May 19, 2024

As Ayodhya gears up to vote for the first time after the Ram temple consecration, Muslim voters in the pilgrim town say "mandir-masjid" (temple-mosque) is not an issue for them and employment and development are their primary concerns. Some, including Iqbal Ansari, who was a litigant in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, give the BJP "due credit" for the development of Ayodhya while others feel much needs to be done to ensure that the gains percolate to all parts of the temple town.

"When elections come, political leaders start remembering God, irrespective of their party. But people want health and education facilities and security," Ansari told PTI.

"The BJP has done good work in Ayodhya and hence it should get the due credit. The BJP has an edge here. Though I do not have much interest in elections, I will definitely cast my vote on polling day," he said.

Ansari said workers of political parties have been coming to his house to seek his vote and the BJP was the first to approach him.

Ansari had earlier said that the BJP brought an end to the Ram temple issue.

The 55-year-old found a mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at a poll rally in Haryana's Gohana on Saturday.

Hitting out at the Congress for giving the January 22 Ram temple consecration ceremony a miss, Modi had said, "They have so much hatred towards Lord Ram that they rejected the invitation (for consecration ceremony)."

Whereas Ansari, who fought against the Ram Mandir in court, attended the ceremony, the prime minister had said.

Ashfaq Hussain, a builder and government contractor associated with the BJP, asserted that Muslim women are with the party.

"The (Muslim) women have given a thumbs up (to the BJP) on the issue of triple talaq. Their response towards the BJP has been positive vis-a-vis triple talaq and the law and order situation in the state. A significant number of Muslims have got houses under the PM Awas Yojana in the Rudauli assembly segment of the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat."

Bablu Khan, a local resident, feels that the "stream of development is flowing in Ayodhya".

The people of Ayodhya are satisfied and sitting Faizabad BJP MP Lallu Singh will return for a third term.

Not everyone agrees.

Mohammad Aamir, 25, said people are not interested in "mandir-masjid" and want jobs.

"We want jobs. The issue of 'mandir-masjid' will not run households. I am not saying this because I am a Muslim, I am saying this as a jobless person. 'Mandir-masjid' should not be an (election) issue," he said.

He added that he will vote for a party that gives priority to public interest.

Fareed Salmani, the lone Muslim candidate in the poll fray in Ayodhya,  ..

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

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https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/uttar-pradesh/muslims-in-ayodhya-say-mandir-masjid-a-non-issue-want-development/articleshow/110252474.cms

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Social engineering between MVA and Muslims successful, says Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh

May 18, 2024

MUMBAI: Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh on Saturday said that the 'social engineering' experiment between Muslims and MahavikasAghadi (MVA) for the Lok Sabha elections has proven successful and will ensure the victory of MVA candidates in Mumbai and Maharashtra. The SP workers will be fully active in the next two days to boost voter turnout on May 20, Shaikh added.

Shaikh said that the entire Muslim community is firmly supporting the INDIA Alliance and MVA candidates in the Lok Sabha election. “We are part of the INDIA Alliance. SP workers are actively campaigning for MVA candidates. I, along with SP workers, visited Shiv Sena (UBT) shakhas in the Byculla area. Both Shiv Sainiks and Muslim leaders also chalked out and executed the campaign strategy for Arvind Sawant, the Sena (UBT) candidate from South Mumbai,” said Shaikh.

The MVA is looking to prevent the division of minority votes by Muslim candidates put up by the AIMIM and VBA in Mumbai. While the AIMIM has not fielded any candidate in South Mumbai, the VBA has fielded Afzal Shabir Ali Dawoodani from South Mumbai. Also Shuaib Khatib, who is trustee of the Jama Masjid in the city, took a plunge into active politics by filing his nomination for Mumbai South on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket. “The SP has significant presence in some seats like South, North Central and North East. So this attempt to integrate SP’s Muslim workers with Sena (UBT) will help the MVA prevent division of Muslim votes,” said a political observer.

Shaikh further highlighted the remarkable integration and success of social engineering between the Muslim community and the Shiv Sainiks in Mumbai. “This unprecedented experiment initiated by SP has yielded tremendous results. SP workers and Muslim youth will continue their efforts to mobilise the maximum number of voters on May 20,” added Shaikh.

SP workers actively campaigned for Congress candidate Varsha Gaikwad from Mumbai North Central. They were prominently involved in campaigning in Chandivali, Asalfa, Bandra, and Kurla areas. “I participated in Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's roadshow in Bandra. I also organised the 'Minority Youth Conclave' in Bandra (West) under the aegis of my Ahtesaab Foundation. Varsha Gaikwad, the Congress candidate from Mumbai North Central, and Anil Desai, the Sena (UBT) candidate from Mumbai South Central, interacted with the youth,” he added.

In the Bhiwandi Lok Sabha constituency, SP activists campaigned extensively for Suresh Mhatre, alias Balyamama, the candidate of the NCP led by Sharad Pawar. “A conference was convened with Maulanas in Bhiwandi. Muslim women carried out 'door to door' campaigning for him. Also, I urged our party workers to vigorously campaign for Congress candidate Chhatrapati Shrimant Shahu Maharaj from Kolhapur Lok Sabha constituency,” he added.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/social-engineering-between-mva-and-muslims-successful-says-samajwadi-party-mla-rais-shaikh/articleshow/110236507.cms

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Mideast

 

Islamic Republic outlets endow Raisi’s death with religious, mystical meanings

By OHAD MERLIN

MAY 20, 2024

Since the official announcement of the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, numerous spontaneous instances of celebration and sarcasm have been expressed by Persian and Arabic-speaking users and outlets in the Middle East and abroad. However, in the meantime, outlets loyal or belonging to the Islamic Republic regime have been notedly attempting to endow Raisi's death with a mystical dimension and grant religious meaning to his passing.

The death of Raisi was announced this morning at the Imam Reza Holy Shrine in Mashhad, where crowds could be heard crying and grieving following the news of the crash. During the announcement, Raisi was described as a President who both began and ended his term officially on the same date, May 20th, also the birthdate of the Imam buried in the shrine, a significant religious leader in Shi’a Islam.

Imam Ali Reza (Ali Al-Rida in Arabic) was the eighth Imam of the Shi’a sect of Islam who lived around the 8th and 9th centuries. According to Shi’a Islam, the Imam is a holy leader with prophetic and superhuman qualities, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and his successor Ali, who is supposed to lead the entire Islamic nation. According to some traditions, Imam Reza was poisoned by the Sunni Caliph Al-Mamoun.

Raisi was given the title “servant of the Reza shrine” during his lifetime due to his service and maintenance of the shrine. As part of the narrative building of Raisi as a martyr related to Imam Reza, many photographs of the late President wearing ordinary clothes and cleaning the holy site began circulating virally to show his piousness.

The connection made between the traditional Shi’i religious leader and Iranian President Raisi is further propagated by the viral hashtag #Servant_of_Reza, alongside others such as “the martyr of servitude.” These are meant to further cement the mystical and mythological aura surrounding the President’s death.

More on the religious aspect of his death, as a eulogy for Raisi, the official account of the former Iranian President quoted uranic verses lauding and commending Ibrahim, the Islamic prophet corresponding with the Biblical Abraham, which read “Peace be upon Ibrahim; Thus do We reward the doers of good; He is one of our faithful servants,” adding a black flag as a sign of mourning.

Other pictures of Raisi holding a Quran book on the stage of the UN General Assembly also circulated widely to portray his devotedness, in addition to caricatures supposedly depicting Raisi’s arrival in heaven and encounter with Iranian and Shi’i iconic leaders such as Qassem Soleimani, Khomeini, and Imam Ali.

Implying Israeli and Azeri involvement

Other regime supporters started to point accusing fingers at Israel and sometimes Azerbaijan, which Raisi visited prior to his death, or the West as a whole.

Already yesterday, Amr Abd Al-Sater Mahmoud, a presenter on Saudi 24 channel and a former member of parliament in Iraq, claimed that "(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu shot down Raisi's helicopter and burned everyone who was there with him." Mahmoud, who describes himself as an expert on international affairs, also linked the helicopter crash to the visit of US Defense Secretary Sullivan to Israel, and even to tensions between Netanyahu and Minister Benny Gantz.

Ahmed Ghadiri, an Iranian writer and journalist, also deemed Israel and Azerbaijan accountable for the death of Raisi, commenting: “The crash of the helicopter carrying government officials makes the accident a strong possibility of assassination and sabotage, and the crash of the president's personal helicopter among the three helicopters makes the mentioned possibility almost certain. That is when there was a meeting with the Zionist regime of Azerbaijan before the incident.”

One user named “Ansar Allah [the Houthi movement] in Persian” quoted the so-called ‘axis of resistance’ adding: "If the Zionist regime was involved in this incident - the entire region will burn."

In the same context, another conspiratorial user added: “Do you believe it was just an accident? Even though Aliyev (President of Azerbaijan) and the Republic of Azerbaijan are Zionists? The dirty nature of Israel, Zionism, and the West has become clear through their recent crimes. That's suspicious, sir. Suspicious.”

Likewise, a blogger named Agha Ebrahim declared: “After about 6 hours of monitoring the virtual space in today's timeline and checking Zionist accounts, I declare: Today's incident was definitely done to assassinate Mr. Raisi, and Ilham Aliyev cooperated with the Zionists in this incident. God knows when the security system will announce this.”

Source: jpost.com

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https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-801844#google_vignette

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Kurdish Islamist leader slams Iraq's "politicized" judiciary

2024-05-19

Shafaq News/ Irfan Abdul Aziz, the leader of Iraq's Kurdistan Islamic Movement (KIM), criticized the Iraqi judiciary on Sunday, claiming a lack of independence and accusing the federal court of using rulings as "political tools" against the Kurdistan Region.

Speaking in Erbil during the KIM's 38th-anniversary celebration, Abdul Aziz expressed regret for the unaddressed calls for reform since 2009. "We emphasized reform as a long-term solution, but internal political divisions have led to despair among citizens and weakened the Kurdistan Region," he stated.

He blamed the region's current struggles, including a paralyzed parliament, on these internal rifts. "This dysfunction has emboldened Baghdad to interfere and the federal court to issue rulings that many see as politically motivated," Abdul Aziz argued. "Only through unity can we overcome these challenges."

"We were the first Islamic armed force to fight alongside Kurdish national forces," he said, as he recounted meetings with prominent Kurdish leaders Masoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani who "supported KIM's role in filling a perceived ideological gap within the Kurdish movement."

"Our collective efforts abroad were crucial in advocating for the Kurdish cause," Abdul Aziz said.

Source: shafaq.com

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https://shafaq.com/en/Kurdistan/Kurdish-Islamist-leader-slams-Iraq-s-politicized-judiciary

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"Raeisi Was an Example of a Brave Muslim Leader": Yemen's National Salvation Government

May 20, 2024

TEHRAN, May 20 (MNA) – Yemen's National Salvation Government and its officials offered their condolences to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the government, and the Iranian people over the martyrdom of Iran's president Ebrahim Raeisi.

In a condolence message announced by Zeifollah Al-Shami, the information minister of Yemen's National Salvation Government, Yemen extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to the Leader, government, and nation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as to all the oppressed people of the world for this tragedy.

In a separate message, the Chairman of the Supreme Political Council of Yemen, Mahdi Al-Mashat, expressed his condolences on the martyrdom of President Raeisi and his companions.

He added that martyr Raeisi was an example of a brave Muslim leader who was loyal to the issues of the Islamic Ummah and eager to achieve their ideals.

Also, the senior member of Yemen’s Supreme Political Council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, condoled the martyrdom of Iranian President Raeisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian as well as their accompanying delegation to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian people.

He added that Iranians will remain in the way of their martyrs and the sincere leaders who are loyal to the nation.

A helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raeisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian crashed in a dense forest area in East Azarbaijan on Sunday.

The helicopter's passengers, including Ebrahim Raeisi, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's East Azerbaijan Province Governor Malek Rahmati, and Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution to East Azarbaijan Province, along with several other people were martyred in the incident.

Source: en.mehrnews.com

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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/215400/Raeisi-was-an-example-of-a-brave-Muslim-leader

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What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran’s president?

May 19, 2024

 BEIRUT: The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran’s president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.

Details remained scant in the hours after the incident, and it was unclear if Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the other officials had survived.

Here’s what we know so far.

WHO WAS ON BOARD THE HELICOPTER AND WHERE WERE THEY GOING?

The helicopter was carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and other officials and bodyguards, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. Raisi was returning from a trip to Iran’s border with Azerbaijan earlier Sunday to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, the news agency said.

WHERE AND HOW DID THE HELICOPTER GO DOWN?

The helicopter apparently crashed or made an emergency landing in the Dizmar forest between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, near its border with Azerbaijan, under circumstances that remain unclear. Initially, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the helicopter “was forced to make a hard landing due to the bad weather and fog.”

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE SEARCH OPERATIONS?

Iranian officials have said the mountainous, forested terrain and heavy fog impeded search-and-rescue operations. The president of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Pir-Hossein Koulivand, said 40 search teams were on the ground in the area despite “challenging weather conditions.” The search is being done by teams on the ground, as “the weather conditions have made it impossible to conduct aerial searches” via drones, Koulivand said, according to IRNA.

IF RAISI DIED IN THE CRASH, HOW MIGHT THIS IMPACT IRAN?

Raisi is seen as a protégé to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a potential successor for his position within the country’s Shiite theocracy. Under the Iranian constitution, if he died, the country’s first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, would become president. Khamenei has publicly assured Iranians that there would be “no disruption to the operations of the country” as a result of the crash.

WHAT HAS THE INTERNATIONAL REACTION BEEN?

Countries including Russia, Iraq and Qatar have made formal statements of concern about Raisi’s fate and offered to assist in the search operations.

Azerbaijani President Aliyev said he was “deeply concerned” to hear of the incident, and affirmed that Azerbaijan was ready to provide any support necessary. Relations between the two countries have been chilly due to Azerbaijan’s diplomatic relations with Israel, Iran’s regional arch-enemy.

There was no immediate official reaction from Israel. Last month, following an Israeli strike on an Iranian consular building in Damascus that killed two Iranian generals, Tehran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. They were mostly shot down and tensions have apparently since subsided.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2513276/middle-east

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How Will Iranian President Raisi's Death Impact The Islamic Republic And The Middle East?

MAY 21, 2024

The helicopter crash on Sunday that claimed the lives of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has thrown the Islamic Republic into a period of uncertainty.

With the loss of top political figures, Iran finds itself grappling with internal and geopolitical challenges on multiple fronts, especially in the wake of regional tension owing to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Raisi’s death comes at a critical juncture for Iran, already grappling with a political transition compounded by the aging Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Raisi, widely seen as a loyalist to 85-year-old Khamenei, was speculated as a potential successor to the supreme leader.

However, his untimely death clears a thorny path for Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, amid growing calls for a hereditary succession, a move opposed by many clerics. “In the country’s hydra-headed leadership where power is spread in often opaque ways between clerics, politicians and army, it is the supreme leader, and not the president, that is ultimately decisive,” The Guardian wrote.

Beyond internal power struggles, Iran faces escalating tensions with regional adversaries, particularly Israel. “Israel’s war against Hamas and the subsequent humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded in Gaza over the last seven months has inflamed global opinion and sent tensions soaring across the Middle East,” according to CNN analysis.

The recent exchange of direct strikes between Iran and Israel has heightened concerns of a wider conflict. Last month, Iran launched an unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel, following an Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus. Although direct strikes between the two have ceased, proxy conflicts persist, with Iran-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah continuing to engage Israeli forces.

The death of Raisi also amplifies concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and its strained relations with the West. Iran’s enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade levels has drawn international condemnation and heightened fears of nuclear proliferation. Iran’s alleged support for armed groups in conflict zones beyond the Middle East, such as in Ukraine, further complicates its international standing.

According to The Associated Press, Iran’s influence extends beyond the Middle East and its rivalry with Israel. Western countries and arch-foe Israel have long suspected Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons in the guise of a peaceful atomic program in what they see as a threat to non-proliferation everywhere. Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed power in the Middle East. However, it has never acknowledged having such weapons. Iran has also emerged as a key ally of Russia amid the Ukraine war.

WHAT NEXT FOR IRAN

Now seven months into a new conflict in Gaza, Israel and Iran have engaged in a shadow war of covert operations and cyberattacks for years, Notably, the exchange of fire last month marked their first direct military confrontation. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups has involved other Iranian allies, with each attack and counterattack posing a threat to escalate into a broader conflict in West Asia. The regional experts fear that this volatile situation could get worse by Sunday’s fatal crash.

On Monday, Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations said the Islamic country plans to “resolutely pursue its foreign policy agenda” under Supreme Leader Khamenei. “Without a doubt, the path of Iran’s foreign policy will continue with strength and power, under the guidance of the Supreme Leader,” the council was quoted as saying by a state media outlet. “With their active presence in foreign policy arenas,” the president and his top diplomat “did what they could to realize the national interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement said.

Source: news18.com

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https://www.news18.com/world/how-will-iranian-president-raisis-death-impact-the-islamic-republic-and-the-middle-east-8897042.html

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New agreement needed after Sunni infighting stalled Iraqi parliament speaker election: lawmaker

2024-05-19

Shafaq News/ A member of Iraq's State Forces Alliance, led by Ammar al-Hakim, has thrown cold water on hopes for a swift resolution to the parliamentary deadlock, saying there are no plans for a near-term session to elect a new speaker amid ongoing disagreements between major Sunni actors.

In a statement to Shafaq News Agency, Lawmaker Ali Nehmeh said "intensity of the Sunni-Sunni conflict" precludes holding a new session.

He added that "no progress can be made without a new agreement among all political parties" following the disruptions that marred the previous session.

Yesterday, Iraq's lawmakers failed to elect a speaker as neither of the two main candidates secured a majority during a tense session of parliament.

Nehmeh stressed that al-Mandalawi's status as a speaker is not a political maneuver. "Neither the alliance nor Mr. al-Mandalawi himself desires this situation," he stated. "The sole reason for the impasse is the ongoing Sunni infighting, which threatens to extend al-Mandalawi's term until the end of the parliamentary session."

It is the latest in a series of failed attempts to replace the former head of parliament who was dismissed in November, with political bickering and divisions between key Sunni parties derailing every effort so far.

The parliament's media office announced that 137 lawmakers chose Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, the oldest MP, while 158 picked Salem al-Issawi.

However, candidates require at least 165 votes to win.

The largely ceremonial role of president traditionally goes to a Kurd, that of prime minister to a Shiite, while the speaker of parliament is usually Sunni. But parliament is dominated by a coalition of pro-Iran Shiite parties, reflecting the country's largest religious group.

The new speaker will replace Mohammad al-Halboosi, the influential politician dismissed by Iraq's top court in November after a lawmaker accused him of forging a resignation letter.

Al-Halboosi had been the country's highest-ranking Sunni official since he first became a speaker in 2018.

The new speaker's stint will not last long with the general election due in 2025.

Source: shafaq.com

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https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq/New-agreement-needed-after-Sunni-infighting-stalled-Iraqi-parliament-speaker-election-lawmaker

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EU Red Sea mission says it defended 120 ships from Houthi attacks

May 19, 2024

AL-MUKALLA, Yemen: The EU mission in the Red Sea, known as EUNAVFOR Aspides, said on Sunday that it had protected over 100 ships while sailing the critical trade channel and shot down more than a dozen Houthi missiles and drones in the last three months.

In a post on X marking three months since the start of its operation, the EU mission, which is now made up of five naval units and 1,000 personnel from 19 contributing nations, said that its forces had destroyed 12 drones, one drone boat, and four ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis from areas under their control in Yemen, as well as provided protection to 120 commercial ships since February.

“Great day for Freedom of Navigation, as 3 months have passed since the launch of ASPIDES. Three months of multiple challenges and great achievements. ASPIDES continues its mission in full compliance with international law, to ensure maritime security and seaborne trade,” EUNAVFOR Aspides said.

On Feb. 19, the EU announced the commencement of EUNAVFOR Aspides, a military operation in the Red Sea to defend international marine traffic against Houthi attacks.

At the same time, the Philippines Department of Migrant Workers said on Sunday that 23 of its citizens who were aboard the oil ship assaulted by Houthi militia in the Red Sea on Saturday were safe.

“The DMW is closely coordinating with international maritime authorities, shipping companies, and local manning agencies on the status of ships with Filipino seafarers traversing high-risk areas and war-like zones in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,” the DMW said in a statement carried by the official Philippine News Agency.

For seven months, the Houthis have launched hundreds of ballistic missiles, drones, and drone boats against commercial and navy ships along international commerce lanes off Yemen, including the Red Sea.

The Houthis claim that their strikes are intended to push Israel to cease the war in Gaza and allow humanitarian supplies into the Palestinian territory.

Three civilian sailors, including two Filipinos, were killed in March after the Houthis launched a missile at their ship in the Red Sea.

Many international shipping companies directed their ships to avoid the Red Sea and other passages off Yemen, opting for longer and more costly routes through Africa.

Meanwhile, Yemen human rights activists have said that a man held by the Houthis during the last seven years died as a result of abuse in Houthi imprisonment, making him the latest victim of torture within Houthis detention facilities.

On Saturday, the Houthis told the family of Najeed Hassan Farea in Taiz through the Yemen Red Crescent that their son had died in their custody, but they did not explain how.

The Houthis abducted Farea in February 2017 after storming his village and home in the Al-Taziya district, preventing him from contacting his family and denying them information about where he was being detained.

Eshraq Al-Maqtari, a human rights activist in Taiz who reached Farea’s family, told Arab News that the Houthis cruelly tortured the man and that his family was stunned to hear of his death after years of information blackout since his detention.

“He was denied the right to communicate, to know his fate, and the right to healthcare, which appears to have caused his death,” she said, adding that since the start of the year, there have been three verified cases of prisoner fatalities as a result of torture in Houthi captivity.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2513266/middle-east

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10 years on, thousands forgotten in Syria desert camp

 May 19, 2024

BEIRUT: In a no-man’s land on Syria’s border with Iraq and Jordan, thousands are stranded in an isolated camp, unable to return home after fleeing the regime and militants years ago.

When police defector Khaled arrived at Rukban, he had hoped to be back home within weeks — but eight years on, he is still stuck in the remote desert camp, sealed off from the rest of the country.

Damascus rarely lets aid in and neighboring countries have closed their borders to the area, which is protected from Syrian forces by a nearby US-led coalition base’s de-confliction zone.

“We are trapped between three countries,” said Khaled, 50, who only gave his first name due to security concerns.

“We can’t leave for (other areas of) Syria because we are wanted by the regime, and we can’t flee to Jordan or Iraq” because the borders are sealed, he added.

The camp was established in 2014, at the height of Syria’s ongoing war, as desperate people fled Daesh and regime bombardment in hopes of crossing into Jordan.

At its peak, it housed more than 100,000 people, but numbers have dwindled, especially after Jordan largely sealed its side of the border in 2016.

Many people have since returned to regime-held areas to escape hunger, poverty and a lack of medical care. The UN has also facilitated voluntary returns with the help of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

The last UN humanitarian convoy reached the camp in 2019, and the body described conditions there as “desperate” at the time.

Today, only about 8,000 residents remain, living in mud-brick houses, with food and basic supplies smuggled in at high prices.

Residents say even those meager supplies risk running dry as regime checkpoints blocked smuggling routes to the camp about a month ago.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2513261/middle-east

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Africa

 

Uganda Muslim Supreme Council shift Martyrs’ Day comemoration

May 18, 2024

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council-UMSC has changed the dates on which the faithful will remember the Muslim martyrs.

Previously, Muslims marked the day on June 1, two days before Christians hold their festival in honor of the 45 young Christian converts killed in Namugongo during the reign of Kabaka Mwanga II.

Prof Badru Kateregga, the Chairperson of the Development Committee of the martyrs’ site, noted that the day has been changed to June 10, effective this year. He was addressing journalists at his residence in Bunga Kampala.

Kateregga explained that this change aims to distinguish between the Christian festival and the Muslim commemoration event, ensuring that followers are not confused about Christian practices regarding the concept of martyrs.

“In Islam, we commemorate martyrs but do not celebrate them. With the events previously held on the same days as those of Christians, one could easily lose focus, and that is why we have changed the dates. it is to avoid confusion with the celebration of other martyrs,” said Kateregga.

Prof Kateregga, who has been championing research and promotion of Muslim martyrs for years, notes that a program designed by UMSC indicates that the commemoration will start with prayers for the Muslim Martyrs at the Shuhadah Mosque in Namugongo on June 8, 2024.

“This event is meant to create awareness about the many Muslims who were martyred in this country. We shall follow the trail of the Muslim Martyrs before concluding with an event at the national mosque on June 10th that will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC),” he added.

Historical records indicate that around 1874/75 during the reign of Kabaka Mukaabya Walugembe Muteesa I, Muslim converts became the first individuals in Buganda to be executed due to their newly found foreign religious beliefs.

It is reported that approximately 80 to 100 of these converts were killed in Namugongo, a circumstance reminiscent of the later execution of Christians on June 3, 1886.

But, Namugongo had been designated as a site for executing capital punishment for royals and court officials, a practice established since the reign of King Kyabaggu, the 25th king of Buganda in 1760. The grounds had also been utilized during the reigns of Kings Jjunju, Ssemakokiro, Kamaanya, Suuna II, and Muteesa I.

There has been an ongoing debate within the Islamic community regarding the commemoration of martyrs.

However, Dr. Ziyad Swallah Lubanga, Director of Sharia at UMSC, asserts that Islam unequivocally acknowledges martyrs, a tradition established since the time of Prophet Muhammad.

“During the Battle of Badr, fourteen Muslims were martyred. Over the 23 years of Prophet Muhammad’s mission, at least 230 Muslim martyrs were documented,” he clarified.

Citing Quran 3:169, Dr. Lubanga emphasized Islam’s reverence for those who perish defending their faith: “And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.”

He further noted that Islam recognizes various categories of martyrs beyond those who die for their faith, urging anyone who disputes this to seek knowledge from those more informed on the subject. He also emphasized that it is the responsibility of Muslims to document those who have died in service to their faith and to educate others about them.

Regarding the redevelopment of the Martyrs Memorial Mosque at Namugongo, the Sharia director expressed no objections, highlighting his visit with the Mufti to Medina last year, where they visited the cemetery of Muslim martyrs. He noted that a mosque had been constructed there for visitors to pray for the martyrs.

Kateregga explained that besides those who were killed at Namugongo, numerous other Muslim martyrs deserve prayers, such as those who were killed in incidents like the 1979 attacks. He noted ongoing research into this matter.

Kateregga was referring to the 67 Muslims who were killed when gunmen attacked two villages in Sheema district, southwestern Uganda, during the chaotic aftermath of Amin’s downfall in April 1979. The victims of this attack were murdered and their bodies were disposed of in the Rwizi River. Furthermore, nine mosques were destroyed, and numerous Muslim homes and crops were also burned down during this tragic period.

Meanwhile, the UMSC is currently seeking 31 billion shillings to enhance its site at Namugongo with a new and improved memorial mosque to replace the current dilapidated one. Muslims are awaiting government compensation for squatters who illegally annexed five out of six acres of their land in the same area.

Source: independent.co.ug

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https://www.independent.co.ug/uganda-muslim-supreme-council-shift-martyrs-day-comemoration/

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Obi Visits Victims Of Kano Mosque Attack

May 20, 2024

 Peter Obi, the presiden­tial candidate of the La­bour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, on Sunday visited victims of Kano mosque attack.

Obi, who arrived Kano, on Sunday, went straight from the Malam Aminu Kano International Air­port to the Murtala Mu­hammad Specialist Hos­pital, where some of the victims are receiving treatment.

Speaking, he said, “This is very horrific and re­mains very condemnable. It’s sad this can happen in our nation today. Nobody can say why this young boy can do a thing like this to his own family mem­bers and the society.

“We remain in solidar­ity condemning such act at the people. My reason for coming here is to show that solidarity and support in their care in one way or the other and the hospital management in what they are doing and again con­demn this senseless act of violent killing.”

He therefore condoled with the government and the people of Kano and urged all Nigerians to stand together to fight such senseless act.

It would be recalled that a family dispute over the sharing of inheritance led to grief and death of many in the quiet commu­nity of Larabar-Albasawa on the outskirts of Geza­wa, headquarters of Geza­wa LGA of Kano State.

The arsonist, Shafiu Abubakar, was said to have set a mosque on fire while worshipers were observing the early morning (Subh) prayer around 5:30a.m.

The accused sprayed the mosque area with pe­troleum, locked the door and set it on fire trapping about 40 worshipers in­side.

Source: independent.ng

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Peter Obi pays visit to victims of Kano mosque attack

May 20, 2024

Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, on Sunday, visited victims of arson at a mosque in Gadan village, Gezawa Local Government area of Kano state.

Obi who visited the victims on their hospital bed at the Murtala Specialist Hospital in Kano, described the attack as a senseless act.

“This is very horrific and remains very condemnable. It’s sad this can happen in our nation today. Nobody can say why this young boy can do a thing like this to his own family members and the society,” he said.

“We remain in solidarity condemning such act at the people. My reason for coming here is to show that solidarity and support in their care in one way or the other and the hospital management in what they are doing and again condemn this senseless act of violent killing.

“We therefore condoled with the government and the good people of Kano as well urged all as a country to stand together in fighting such a senseless act,” Obi stated.

The Chief Medical Director, Dr. Husseini Muhammad said a total of 23 victims were received in the hospital out which 15 have passed away while eight were remaining and receiving medical treatment.

Muhammad commended the LP Presidential Candidate for the visit which according to him signifies the unity and oneness of the country.

However, seven of the patients were seen in Surgical Ward C while one was in critical condition in Mother ICU of the hospital.

Source: hallmarknews.com

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North America

 

Despite polls, Biden aides insist Gaza campus protests will not hurt reelection bid

May 19, 2024

WASHINGTON: Several top White House aides say they are confident protests across US college campuses against Israel’s offensive in Gaza will not translate into significantly fewer votes for Joe Biden in November’s election, despite polls showing many Democrats are deeply unhappy about the US president’s policy on the war.

The White House optimism on the issue, which is shared by many in the Biden campaign, runs contrary to dire warnings from some Democratic strategists and youth organizers who warn misjudging the situation could cost Biden dearly in a tight race with Republican rival Donald Trump.

Several aides told Reuters they are advising Biden to remain above the fray, rather than directly engage with the relatively small groups of protesters on college campuses, arguing their numbers are too insignificant to harm the president’s reelection campaign.

Faced with a choice between Biden and Trump in November, many officials remain confident even Democrats who oppose US policy will choose Biden. Reuters interviewed nearly a dozen top White House officials in recent days, but only two expressed concern about the impact of the protests and Biden’s handling of the issue.

The issue returns to the spotlight Sunday, when Biden makes the commencement address at Morehouse College, over some objections by students and faculty, and a warning from the college’s president that the ceremony will stop if there are protests.

Most officials Reuters spoke to said they believe housing costs and inflation were the issues top of mind for young voters, not the war in Gaza, pointing to a recent Harvard poll that ranks Israel/Palestine 15th on a list of issues, after taxes, gun violence and jobs. Several aides refer to the protesters as “activists” rather than students.

Asked for comment on the issue, White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said Biden understands this is a painful moment for many communities and is listening. He has said too many civilians have died in the “heartbreaking” conflict and that more must be done to prevent the loss of innocent lives, Bates added.

Biden and Trump are nearly tied in national polls, and Trump has the edge in the battleground states that will decide the election, multiple recent polls show. On economic issues like inflation, Trump scores higher with voters overall than Biden.

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found Democrats deeply divided over Biden’s handling of both the war in Gaza and the US campus protests against it, with 44 percent of registered Democrats disapproving of Biden’s handling of the crisis, and 51 percent of his handling of the protests.

Young voters still favor Biden, but support has dropped significantly since 2020, polls show. A Reuters/Ipsos poll in March showed Americans aged 18-29 favored Biden over Trump by just 3 percentage points — 29 percent to 26 percent — with the rest favoring another candidate or unsure if anyone would get their vote.

Two White House officials Reuters spoke to emphasized Biden’s support among young voters is not where it was in 2020 and said they worry the administration is not taking the drop seriously enough.

With over 35,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since war began in October, US support for Israel’s government could weigh heavily on the presidential election in November, they said.

“There is almost a level of defiance when it comes to some of the president’s closest advisers on this issue,” said a senior White House official with direct knowledge of the matter, who did not wish to be named. “They think the best approach is to simply steer clear and let it pass.”

BIDEN SPEAKS CAUTIOUSLY

Protests over Israel’s war in Gaza have broken out at more than 60 colleges and universities this year, disrupted Biden’s events around the country, pushed Democrats in key battleground states to vote “uncommitted” and divided the Democratic party.

Biden, who is known for saying what he thinks, even when it’s not politically beneficial, has been cautious on the issue of protests over Gaza. He spoke in early May on the importance of following the law, while defending free speech and later on addressed the threat of antisemitism on college campuses.

Both times, he mostly avoided the issue that has sparked the protests — how young Americans feel about his support for Israel. But he also said bluntly that protests will not change his Middle East policy.

Groups organizing the protests say that a recent halt to some weapons to Israel was too little too late, and are planning fresh demonstrations, though the summer break may quieten action on campuses.

Michele Weindling, political director of the climate-focused youth group the Sunrise Movement, said “young people are incredibly disillusioned, they are angry at the way the president has treated this conflict.”

“A huge risk right now is that young voters will completely stay out of the electoral system this November, or deliberately vote against Biden out of anger,” Weindling said.

That has the potential to cost Biden dearly, given 61 percent of the more than half of Americans aged 18 to 29 that voted in the 2020 general election voted Democratic, a Tufts University research group found. The youth turnout was up 11 points from 2016.

GAZA NOT A TOP ISSUE

Republicans both overwhelmingly disapprove of the protests and Biden’s handling of the war, a Reuters/Ipsos poll published this week shows. Some Republicans have called for him to send National Guard troops on to campuses.

But until a day before Biden delivered his first speech on the protests on May 2, he remained unsure he needed to address the issue, two officials said. Biden asked his team to put together “something rudimentary,” so he could edit and change it, which he did that evening, one of the officials said.

He did not make the final decision to speak until the morning, after violence broke out on the UCLA campus, the official added.

The Harvard youth poll showing Israel/Gaza is low on youth concerns is being circulated at internal meetings at the campaign and the White House and is in line with private data the White House has seen, the first official said.

The president doesn’t speak about every issue in the news, on purpose, another White House official said. It “doesn’t always happen, no matter what kind of news it is, whether it’s the news of the day or the week or the month,” he said.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2512831/world

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How a NYC Courtroom Became the Mecca for Members of the MAGA Cult

05/19/24

For many of the world’s major religions, a pilgrimage to one of their faith’s holy sites is essential. Every year, millions of Muslims flock to Mecca, devout Catholics travel to any number of places with a religious significance to them (from Lourdes to Vatican City), and Jews visit Jerusalem. Until very recently, there was no such place for any of the religious factions in the US. For one of them, that has now changed.

Adherents of the MAGA cult, especially those angling for the vice presidency, a cabinet position, or just a bunch of campaign cash, are making the journey to a Manhattan courthouse to pledge allegiance to their idol… Donald Trump.

What began as a trickle early last week had become a stream by Thursday, and there is no telling who will show up in New York City on Monday to do Trump’s bidding.

As pilgrimages go, this one is fairly convenient. Amtrak’s Acela runs multiple times a day and can make the trip from Washington, DC, in about three hours. And for those to whom that mode of transportation is too “green” (after all, denying the existence of climate change is one of the tenets of their faith), there are also plenty of flights available.

Once outside the courthouse, the only ritual required of them is to help Saint Donald circumvent a gag order that bars him from attacking the presiding judge’s daughter.

Oh, and proclaiming that all of the stuff the moral leader of the GOP has been accused of is some sort of conspiracy.

On second thought, they probably should also not mention that, at the heart of the trial, is the sexual tryst Trump had with a porn star while his third wife was pregnant and then tried to cover up with a huge hush money payment.

That stuff doesn’t really matter. What’s important is repeating that this is all a just a big witch hunt (ironically, previous North American pilgrims were not at the receiving end of those) that prevents Trump from campaigning, which is something that the former president keeps emphasizing during the rallies and speeches he does at least a couple of times weekly while the trial has been ongoing.

Well, at least according to Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), who made the trip on Thursday, being in the courtroom gives Trump ample time to pray… like a true martyr.

However, adherents to the MAGA cult who want to participate in this particular pilgrimage and are hoping to score a plum job in a second Trump administration will need to hurry.

While the other religious sites have been around for centuries, the trial is wrapping up… and there are only so many more opportunities to levy unfounded accusations against the judge, his family, and President Joe Biden. Or, in the case of Fox News, try to expose more jurors.

Of course, there is a chance that a MAGA acolyte made his or her way onto the jury, which would assure a mistrial… and then we can do it all over again.

Source: whowhatwhy.org

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https://whowhatwhy.org/justice/courts/how-a-nyc-courtroom-became-the-mecca-for-members-of-the-maga-cult/

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Arab World

 

Saudi Arabia leads offers to help Iran after crash of helicopter carrying President Raisi

May 19, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia expressed its support for Iran and said it was ready to provide any assistance required after a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed on Sunday.

The Foreign Ministry said the Kingdom was following reports about the crash with “great concern.”

Meanwhile, the Iraqi government said in a statement it had instructed its interior ministry, the Red Crescent and other relevant bodies to offer help to neighboring Iran in the search mission.

Iranian search and rescue teams were scouring a fog-shrouded mountainside after the helicopter carrying the president and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian went missing in an “accident” on Sunday, state media said.

Fears grew for Raisi after contact was lost with the helicopter carrying him in East Azerbaijan province, reports said.

Raisi was visiting the province where he inaugurated a dam project together with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, on the border between the two countries.

“Today, after bidding a friendly farewell to the (visiting) President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, we were profoundly troubled by the news of a helicopter carrying the top delegation crash-landing in Iran,” Aliyev said.

“Our prayers to Allah Almighty are with President Ebrahim Raisi and the accompanying delegation. As a neighbor, friend, and brotherly country, the Republic of Azerbaijan stands ready to offer any assistance needed,” he added.

Qatar said it is ready to provide “all forms of support” for Iran’s search efforts after the helicopter crash.

The UAE foreign ministry said in a statement that the country stands by Iran and is ready to provide support in efforts to find the helicopter carrying Raisi.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said it was following developments in Sunday’s Iran helicopter accident with sadness and hoping for the president’s wellbeing, adding that action had been taken to provide all kinds of support to search and rescue activities.

The European Union said it had activated its “rapid response mapping service” to help Iran search for the helicopter.

Russia also said it is ready to extend help to Iran in connection with the crash.

“Russia is ready to extend all necessary help in the search for the missing helicopter and the investigation of the reasons for the incident,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2513131/saudi-arabia

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Deal signed to advance Saudi cultural preservation, scientific research

May 19, 2024

RIYADH: The King Fahd National Library and King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries signed a deal covering scientific programs, studies, research and cultural exchange on Sunday.

Prince Khalid bin Talal bin Badr Al-Saud, secretary-general of the library, and Fahd Al-Wahbi, secretary-general of the complex, signed the three-year memorandum of understanding covering the cooperation.

The deal aims to foster ties between the library and complex by supporting scientific research to preserve endowment libraries and valuable manuscripts, developing professional skills and enhancing the role of both parties in realizing the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The two parties, which have a mutual interest in preserving culture through technology, will enhance the safeguarding of heritage, including manuscripts.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2513101/saudi-arabia

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Makkah Route Initiative streamlines pilgrimage journey using AI

May 19, 2024

RIYADH: The Makkah Route Initiative has adopted an AI-enhanced approach to streamline services for pilgrims arriving from various countries for this Hajj season, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Uing technology and digital solutions, the initiative simplifies the pilgrimage journey, particularly through expedited entry procedures into Saudi Arabia via dedicated lounges at pilgrims’ home country airports.

The initiative employs advanced digital technology to provide the best services to pilgrims while also ensuring the highest level of comfort throughout their journey.

Services include the issuing of electronic Hajj visas, biometric data collection, completion of passport procedures in specialized lounges at departure airports, ensuring health requirements are met, and efficient luggage tagging and sorting. After arrival in the Kingdom, pathways are assigned, and partner agencies ensure hassle-free delivery of pilgrims’ luggage to their accommodation.

Chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council President Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi praised the program for simplifying procedures for pilgrims, both in their home countries and on arrival.

He said that the initiative had made the Hajj journey easier, simpler and faster, and thanked the Saudi government and the Kingdom’s leadership for their commitment to serving pilgrims with the highest technological standards.

SPA accompanied pilgrims benefiting from the initiative at Islamabad’s airport, observing the proficient work of Saudi personnel involved in the project.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2513056/saudi-arabia

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Saudi Arabia: ‘Mecca Road’ Initiative expanded in Indonesia

May 19, 2024

Cairo: Muslims in Indonesia, planning to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia next month, have this year a wider access to a package of Saudi facilities offered to the faithful from seven countries.

Besides Jakarta, the scheme, officially known as the “Mecca Road” Initiative, has been introduced to the Indonesian cities of Surabaya and Solo.

At the Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, the pilgrims are received at designated halls by Saudi highly qualified male and female personnel who speak the Indonesian language and distribute them to advanced 12 counters linked to the initiative to process their departure procedures, according to the Saudi news agency SPA.

The first “Mecca Road” flight took off from Juanda Airport on May 12. Each flight has about 300 pilgrims aboard.

 This year, the time-saving facilities are offered at 11 airports in Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and Cote d’Ivoire.

High-quality transport services

In 2018, the Saudi Interior Ministry relaunched the “Mecca Route” that kicked off on a trial basis in 2017.

The initiative aims at offering high-quality transport services to pilgrims of those countries en their route to Saudi Arabia. The facilities include issuance of electronic visas at home, finalising passport procedures as well as tagging and sorting out luggage at the departure airports.

On arrival in Saudi Arabia, those pilgrims head directly to their residences in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina while their luggage are delivered right to their residences.

The Saudi Interior Ministry is implementing the initiative in cooperation with the kingdom’s ministries of foreign affairs, health, Hajj and Media as well as the Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation, the Zakat, Tax and Customs, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority and the government-run Guests of God Service Programme.

 Hajj rites in and around Mecca are expected to begin on June 14, depending on the sighting of the new moon.

More than 2 million Muslims from across the globe are expected to attend upcoming Hajj amid maximum preparations from the agencies concerned in the kingdom.

Hajj is one of Islam’s five obligatory duties. Muslims, who can physically and financially afford Hajj, have to perform it at least once in a lifetime.

Source: gulfnews.com

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https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-mecca-road-initiative-expanded-in-indonesia-1.102703986

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Abu Mazen to Sunni lawmakers: you betrayed your community

2024-05-19

Shafaq News/ Ahmed Abdullah al-Jubouri, known as "Abu Mazen," the Secretary-General of the National Masses Party, on Sunday criticized Sunni members of the Iraqi parliament, holding them responsible for the failure to elect a new speaker and accusing them of prioritizing "personal ambitions over the public good."

In a statement, al-Jubouri said, "while everyone else took responsibility and voted freely, Sunni lawmakers failed to represent their community. They allowed discord to prevail over harmony, thwarted efforts to heal divisions and restore proper representation, and betrayed their community by prioritizing their own ambitions over the public interest."

He continued, "the unfortunate events in parliament on Saturday night, where lawmakers turned the people's platform into a boxing ring, are clear evidence of bad intentions and the falsehood of their claims to care about the legitimate rights of the Sunni governorates. This leads to public despair over unity and acceptance of fragmentation and division."

Addressing Sunni lawmakers, al-Jubouri said, "You have sent the worst messages and used the ugliest means. You disrespected the heritage and name of your community, the sanctity of parliament, and the name of Iraq. You demand the entitlements of your community, yet you are the first to hinder them. You claim to represent them, but you are in one place while the community is in another, suffering from your betrayal."

He also urged the State Administration Coalition, saying, "Positions are not exclusive to individuals or parties; they are an entitlement of the community, squandered by complex entanglements and individual ambitions. This is unacceptable under any circumstances and must be resolved without delay. The community does not belong to anyone, and Iraq awaits our unity instead of division."

The Iraqi parliament adjourned its session to elect a new speaker on Saturday evening until further notice after failing to hold a decisive third round to favor either candidate: Salem al-Issawi of al-Siyada (Sovereignty) bloc or Mahmoud al-Mashhadani supported by Takadom (Progress) Party.

The scene mirrored the session on January 3, 2024, with leaked footage showing verbal altercations and physical clashes among lawmakers, repeating a scenario from five months ago involving members of the Progress Party led by Mohammed al-Halboosi.

Source: shafaq.com

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https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Abu-Mazen-to-Sunni-lawmakers-you-betrayed-your-community

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Europe

 

Acton Mosque and Palestine Mission in Hammersmith daubed with red paint

May 17, 2024

The man suspected of a series of what police have described as anti-Muslim incidents across west London has been named as 61-year-old Jonathan Katan from Ealing.

He was arrested last November on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage in connection with the daubing of red paint on number of buildings including the Acton Mosque and the Palestinian Mission in Hammersmith.

A campaign of vandalism was waged between 16 October and 18 November. There was also damage to the PistaHoney patisserie and café by the junction with Grove Road in Acton. The Syrian-owned establishment was hit on Monday 23 October.

Three days later, on Thursday 26 October, red paint was daubed on the iron gate of Acton Central Mosque on Oldham Terrace. The same venue was attacked again in a similar manner on Saturday 4 and Monday 6 November. Similar attacks were also reported at another Mosque in the area, the Masjid Ezzeitouna in East Acton with the last incident taking place on 5 November between the two attacks at the Acton Central Mosque. An Imam at the Mosque has also had his car tyres slashed and car damaged.

Katan has now been charged with 11 related counts of racially aggravated criminal damage and one count of a racially aggravated section 5 Public Order Act offence and one count of racially aggravated section 4a Public Order Act offence.

He is due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Friday, 17 May.

Detective Superintendent Figo Forouzan, who leads the investigation, said, “These charges have come as a result of diligent police work by officers who have gathered evidence while providing support and reassurance to those affected."

Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, in charge of policing in West Area which covers Hammersmith, said, “Officers have worked incredibly hard with the Crown Prosecution Service and communities in both boroughs of Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham to get an arrest and a charge in this case.

"This demonstrates how seriously we take allegations of hate crime against any of our communities.

“While criminal proceedings are now active, I ask the community to refrain from speculating on this case, particularly on social media, to avoid any risk of prejudice.”

Source: hammersmithtoday.co.uk

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https://www.hammersmithtoday.co.uk/#pages/shared:common:eacrim203

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Civilian killed as Ukrainian drone strikes minibus – governor

19 May, 2024

One person has been killed and “many” others wounded in a Ukrainian drone strike on a minibus carrying civilians in Russia’s Kherson Region, Governor Vladimir Saldo said on Sunday.

The attack took place in the village of Radensk on Sunday morning, Saldo wrote on Telegram. The UAV targeted a vehicle with workers on their way to harvest strawberries, he added.

“The explosion killed one person. There are many wounded, who are receiving necessary medical assistance,” the governor said.

Russian regions have seen several attacks on buses by Ukrainian drones since the start of this month.

On May 6, seven people were killed and dozens wounded after UAVs targeted two minibuses carrying farmers near the village of Beryozovka in Belgorod Region.

Two days earlier, two people were injured when a drone struck a bus in the village of Voznesenka, also in Belgorod Region.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Sunday that “a number of attempts by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks” on Russian territory with the use of US-supplied ATACMS missiles and drones were prevented overnight.

Nine ATACMS were shot down by air defenses over Crimea, while a total of 57 drones were intercepted in the Krasnodar Region, the ministry said. Three UAVs were destroyed in Belgorod Region, it added.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/russia/597841-kherson-drone-minibus-ukraine/

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Georgian president vetoes controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill

19 May, 2024

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has vetoed the government’s divisive “foreign agents” bill, arguing that, if signed into law, it would undermine the country’s aspiration to join the EU.

The Transparency of Foreign Influence Act, which sparked weeks of street protests and clashes with police in the capital Tbilisi, was passed by Georgia’s parliament on Tuesday.

The legislation would require NGOs, media outlets, and individuals receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad, to register as entities “promoting the interests of a foreign power” and disclose their donors. Failure to comply would be punishable by a fine of up to $9,500.

The critics have labeled the bill “a Russian law,” comparing it to legislation that was passed in 2012 in Russia and has since been significantly expanded. They argue that, if passed into law, the bill would be used to crack down on the opposition.

In a video address posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Zourabichvili said the bill contradicts the Georgian constitution and “all European standards,” serving as “an obstacle to our European path.”

“This veto is legally sound and will be delivered to the parliament today,” she continued, arguing that “this law is not subject to any changes or improvements, making it an easy veto.”

The presidential veto is seen as largely symbolic, as parliament is controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which is expected to overrule it.

The bill, which has been widely criticized by US and EU officials, was first announced in March 2023, but the government was forced to back down after large-scale protests erupted in the capital.

The riots occurred again last month when the government said it would proceed with the legislation despite pressure from the opposition.

The White House has threatened Georgian officials with sanctions for “undermining the democracy,” while the EU said Tbilisi could lose its candidacy status that was granted in December. Brussels is also reportedly considering a reversal of the visa liberalization for Georgians.

“The adoption of this law negatively impacts Georgia’s progress on the EU path. The choice on the way forward is in Georgia’s hands,” the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said this week.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has previously defended the bill, arguing that it is needed to ensure more transparency, and does not violate EU standards. He invited protesters on Friday to delegate representatives who would join a public discussion with him on the matter.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/russia/597835-georgian-president-vetoes-controversial-law/

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South Asia

 

No One Excluded as Islamic Emirate OfAfghanistanBelongs To All Afghans,Deputy PMMawlavi Kabir

May 20, 2024

KABUL: The Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs Mawlavi Abdul Kabir said that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as a real servant of the people, has always been committed to providing better services and facilities for all Afghans without any discrimination. Mawlavi Kabir made the remarks in a meeting a number of scholars and elders of Paktika and Paktia provinces, Arg said in a statement Sunday. Addressing the meeting, the deputy PM said that every citizen can share their problems and recommendations with the officials of the Islamic Emirate as they are committed to addressing the challenges facing the people across the country, according to the statement. Sharing the challenges relating to the provinces, the elders said that Paktika and Paktia are the two undeveloped provinces and necessary attention should be paid by the leadership of the Islamic Emirate in the implementation and resumption of development projects in the fields of education, health and transportation, the statement added. Also, Mawlavi Kabir stated that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan pays attention to the education sector as a significant part of the society and efforts are underway to provide better services to the people of Afghanistan and expand education to remote areas of the country. The Kabul Times

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/no-one-excluded-as-iea-belongs-to-all-afghans-mawlavi-kabir/

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Devastating floods in Ghor risk collapse of Minaret of Jam

May 19, 2024

Following the devastating floods in Ghor province, concerns have increased over the potential collapse of the “Minaret of Jam,” an 800-year-old structure and the oldest mud-brick minaret in the world.

Local sources in Ghor province report that recent floods have submerged the Minaret of Jam and nearly destroyed its protective walls.

According to sources, water has now surrounded this historic minaret. Meanwhile, concerns about the destruction of this historical monument have risen among Afghan citizens and cultural enthusiasts.

Some social media users have expressed their worries about the collapse of these ancient structures, adding that no institution claims responsibility for their protection.

The Minaret of Jam in Ghor province, built approximately 800 years ago by the Ghurids, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is recognized as the oldest mud-brick minaret in the world.

For several years, UNESCO has urged the Afghan government to build significant protective walls to prevent the minaret’s destruction, but these requests have been ignored.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/devastating-floods-in-ghor-risk-collapse-of-minaret-of-jam/

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Torkham crossing reopens between Afghanistan and Pakistan after four-day closure

May 20, 2024

Officials in Nangarhar province announced the reopening of the Torkham crossing to passenger traffic after four days.

The Taliban Commission at the Torkham Crossing stated today, Monday, May 20, that the Torkham Crossing, temporarily closed to passengers and patients last Saturday, has been reopened.

The Torkham crossing was closed last Friday due to the three-day relocation of Pakistani border offices to a new building.

It should be noted that only freight vehicles were allowed to pass during these three days.

Meanwhile, there have been recent clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces that have led to heavy destruction in the Dand-e-Patan district, with shops in the market and residential houses being damaged during intense fighting on Friday night.

Reports indicate that at least five Taliban members and three civilians have been killed in the clashes so far.

The clashes erupted reportedly due to the construction of a checkpoint by Pakistani forces at the zero point. However, official comments from both sides are yet to be made regarding the primary cause of the confrontation.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/torkham-crossing-reopens-between-afghanistan-and-pakistan-after-four-day-closure/

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Russia shows interest in importing Afghanistan’s agricultural products

May 19, 2024

Alexey Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, has announced that Moscow is interested in importing agricultural products from Afghanistan into its markets.

TASS news agency reported that the Russian Prime Minister made these remarks on Friday, May 17, during the sidelines of the “Kazan” meeting.

He called for increased exports from Afghanistan to Russia and mentioned the development of relations between the two countries in the areas of transportation and supply.

According to the Russian Prime Minister, exports of grapes and dried fruits to Russia began last year, and Moscow’s markets are interested in Afghanistan’s products.

The 15th International Economic Forum of Russia and the Islamic World is scheduled to be held today, Sunday, May 19, in the city of Kazan, Tatarstan.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan announced that in the Russia-Islamic World meeting, discussions were held about Afghanistan and Russia’s economic capacities, exports and imports between the two countries, investment in Afghanistan’s mining sector, and increasing trade between Afghanistan and Russia.

According to reports, a high-ranking delegation from the country has also traveled to the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, to participate in the 15th International Economic Forum of Russia and the Islamic World.

It is worth noting that this forum is held to strengthen trade and economic relations, scientific and technical cooperation, and social and cultural ties between the regions of Russia and the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and to promote the development of Islamic financial institutions.

Source: khaama.com

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Australian FM's Visit: Trade, Rohingya, regional security to get priority

May 20, 2024

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is scheduled to pay an official visit to Bangladesh on May 21-22 to strengthen bilateral relationship with Bangladesh and find ways to boost cooperation for regional peace, prosperity, and security.

Issues related to the promotion of trade and investment, sustainable and renewable energy production, Rohingya crisis, maritime security, technology transfer and free and open Indo-Pacific region are likely to be discussed during her visit, officials said here on Sunday.

Penny Wong is likely to have a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apart from holding a bilateral meeting with her Bangladesh counterpart Hasan Mahmud, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB.

A small delegation including Deputy Secretary of South and Southeast Asia Group and Head of the Office of Southeast Asia, in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Michelle Chan will accompany the Australian foreign minister, he said.

The Australian minister is likely to visit the Rohingya camp during her visit to see the situation there.

Bangladesh seeks Australia's support in keeping the Rohingya issue alive globally with a view to the ultimate repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals sheltered in Bangladesh.

Australia has a commitment to continue the humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas and support Bangladesh in their repatriation effort.

The forthcoming visit by the Australian foreign minister demonstrates the country's growing interest in Bangladesh, an Australian diplomat told UNB.

Australia recently sent a defence advisor to its High Commission in Dhaka, and, reciprocally, they welcomed a defence advisor from Bangladesh in Australia.

From Australia's perspective, the defence adviser is a symbol of their "intention and willingness" to cooperate on defence matters.

The two countries are scheduled to hold the 5th Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Australia next month, said an official.

The 4th FOC was held in Dhaka in March last year.

The two-way trade now stands at around US$ 4 billion, reflecting Bangladesh's significant economic growth and its highly complementary commercial strengths.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/australian-fms-visit-trade-rohingya-regional-security-get-priority-3614126

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Dhaka seeks Delhi's support in rescuing 'missing' AL lawmaker

May 20, 2024

Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and Deputy High Commission in Kolkata are in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs, India regarding the reported missing of Awami League MP Anwarul Azim Anar.

"The Deputy High Commission in Kolkata has sent a formal communication to the MEA Branch Secretariat in Kolkata on May 19, seeking the support of the MEA for locating and rescuing the MP," a senior official told UNB.

The Deputy High Commission in Kolkata is aware of the issue and they have been working closely with the law enforcement authorities of West Bengal since Saturday, he said.

Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi has also been following up with the MEA in New Delhi, said the official.

Anwarul Azim Anar, lawmaker from Jhenidah-4 (Kaliganj upazila), has been missing since at least May 14, having gone on a medical trip to India on May 11.

"His whereabouts are still unknown. Family members and party activists could not reach him after May 14 (Tuesday)," Anar's personal assistant, Abdur Rauf said.

He also said Anar went to India for medical treatment on May 11. He maintained contact with his family members till May 14. Since then, all communication with him has been lost. His WhatsApp number is also unreachable.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/dhaka-seeks-delhis-support-rescuing-missing-al-lawmaker-3614041

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Kyrgyz Capital: Bangladeshis stay indoors for fear of mob attacks

May 20, 2024

Out of fear, foreign students, including Bangladeshis, are mostly staying indoors in Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan even though the situation, following attacks on foreigners, has largely been stable since Saturday night.

"The situation is now stable. A good number of police personnel have been deployed. We have been, however, instructed to stay indoors," Samia Kabir, a Bangladeshi medical student in Bishkek, told The Daily Star yesterday.

The Bangladeshi students are trying to come home on charter flights amid a tense situation after mob attacks on international students since the evening of May 17, said a representative of Bangladeshi students there.

The tension boiled over after videos of a fight between Kyrgyz students and medical students from Egypt on May 13 were shared online.

According to the Kyrgyz health ministry, 29 people were injured. According to the police, four citizens of Egypt were detained over a brawl in a hostel on May 13. A criminal case was initiated, reported Kyrgyz media.

Around 3,000 police personnel have been deployed, they said.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh expressed concerns over the mob attacks on South Asian students, said Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud during a discussion organised by Overseas Correspondents Association Bangladesh (OCAB) at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.

He said Bangladesh ambassador in Uzbekistan will go to Kyrgyzstan to address the challenges the Bangladeshi students are facing. He said Bangladeshi students came under attack, but none faced major injuries.

"We are closely monitoring the situation through our embassy in Uzbekistan, concurrently accredited to the Kyrgyz Republic. The embassy is in constant communication with our students, as well as with the Kyrgyz government officials," according to a foreign ministry statement.

It said through the embassy, the Bangladesh government is coordinating with Kyrgyzstan ministries of foreign affairs and internal affairs to ensure the safety and security of the students.

Jerit Islam, a representative of the Bangladeshi students in Bishkek, said the Bangladeshi students were planning to return home after their semester final exams by late June, but the exams are yet to be completed. They will sit for the exams online after returning home on charter flights.

"We have also talked to our embassy in Uzbekistan. They said they would support us by communicating with the civil aviation authorities of Kyrgyzstan," he told this correspondent.

"It won't be safe if we plan to fly home individually," Jerit added.

Asked how the students were getting food and other supplies as they are staying indoors, Samia said the university authorities were making deliveries.

Besides, locals were also helping the international students, she said.

"Some male students are going out, and there was no problem since Saturday night," she said.

There are around 60,000 foreign students, including 1,000 Bangladeshis, studying in Kyrgyz medical universities, which have easy admission procedures and comparatively low cost.

There are also migrant workers from the South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/kyrgyz-capital-bangladeshis-stay-indoors-fear-mob-attacks-3613911

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Another Bangladeshi, Babar Ali, on Mt Everest

May 20, 2024

On Sunday morning, Liakat Ali and Lutfun Nahar's home in Burischar of Chattogram's Hathazari upazila was filled with utter elation as their son Babar Ali, a doctor and already a source of immense pride for the family, became the newest Bangladeshi to summit the Mount Everest.

Yesterday, at 8:30am local time (8:45am Bangladesh time), Babar summited the 8,849 metre peak, the highest in the world. He is the first Bangladeshi to do so in the last 11 years.

Sitting in the middle of a living room with showcases stacked top to bottom with crests and trophies as proof of their son's many achievements in life, Liakat Ali and Lutfun Nahar were the perfect image of two proud parents.

"Babar was a bit restless and adventurous as a child, but he was always very talented. He couldn't sit down and study for long, he'd get up and walk around a bit and then come back to the table," said the beaming father, recalling his son's early days.

"He was a brilliant student but had no aim in his early academic life. So, he became a doctor as per our wishes," said Lutfun Nahar.

Babar completed his MBBS degree from Chattogram Medical College, going on to achieve an MPh degree from Chittagong Medical University, followed by Postgraduate Training from Dhaka's Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

Throughout his time as a student, he never missed an opportunity to explore the country.

"He was especially fond of visiting the Chattogram Hill Tracts, or places with a waterbody that he could visit on a boat," said Liakat Ali. "This is how his passion for climbing grew."

In fact, Babar is a prolific climber, having summited 11 peaks in the Himalayas in Nepal and India since 2014. In 2022, he climbed Ama Dablam, a mountain that is considered especially difficult as it involves technical challenges like ice climbing, rock climbing, and high-altitude mountaineering.

He started his Mount Everest adventure on April 1, and reached the base camp on April 10, according to a press release issued by his organisation, Vertical Dreamers.

To acclimatise to the extreme conditions, Babar went up to Everest Camp II on April 26 and then returned to the base, and sat tight for the right weather to begin the real journey.

The time finally came on May 14 and he began his journey, reaching Camp II later the same day, Camp III on May 17, and Camp IV the day after.

Babar started the final stretch of his journey in the early hours of May 19. He climbed the rest of the way to the peak, known as the Death Zone, between midnight and dawn, and thus became the latest Bangladeshi to summit the Everest.

His father mirrored the reaction of the rest of the country to this news.

"Our happiness knows no bounds. We are worried as well, but the happiness far outweighs that. What Babar has done is a matter of great pride for the nation."

Turning his focus, Babar Ali now looks to create history, setting his course towards Mount Lhotse, the fourth-highest peak in the world. He will begin his summit attempt once he has made his way back to Camp IV. If successful, he would become the first Bangladeshi to summit this peak.

As of 7:30pm yesterday, he had reached Camp IV.

Before him, Musa Ibrahim (2010), MA Muhit (2011), Nishat Majumder (2012), and Wasfia Nazreen (2012) successfully summited Mount Everest. Mohammed Khaled Hossain had also summited Mount Everest in 2013 but passed away during his descent.

Source: thedailystar.net

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Southeast Asia

 

Ulu TiramAttacker Buried Separately After Johor Fatwa Committee Decision

May 20, 2024

The suspect involved in last Friday’s attack on the Ulu Tiram police station has been buried well away from other graves at a cemetery, following instructions from the Johor fatwa committee.

According to Harian Metro, the decision came following a special committee meeting chaired by Johor mufti Yahya Ahmad to discuss the deaths of the police personnel and how to handle the burial of the 21-year-old suspect who was shot dead.

Source: malaysiakini.com

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https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/706119

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Pahang govt to send 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Palestine

20 May 2024

KLANG, May 20 — The Pahang government will send 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza, Palestine to ease the burden of the people in the conflict-stricken country.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the essential items including food items in retort packaging, blankets and medicines which will be sent by sea from Port Klang on June 1 and is expected to arrive in Port Said, Egypt on July 4.

He said the mission to deliver humanitarian aid, in collaboration with Ops Ihsan, was the result of the collection of donations through the Pahang4Palestine fund which was first mobilised during the Pahang4Palestine Solidarity gathering in Kuantan on Oct 28 last year.

“As of today, the total amount of donations collected through the Pahang4Palestine fund is RM1.6 million and we are converting the money into essential goods to be sent to the Palestinian people.

“I promise that every cent donated through the fund will reach Gaza, that is the guarantee of the state government, and we have a special committee to look after every donation received to make sure it is not used arbitrarily,” he said at a press conference when launching the mission here today.

Wan Rosdy expressed his confidence that the essentials would reach the Palestinian people safely as the state government also received the cooperation of Wisma Putra, apart from a similar commitment given by the Egyptian Embassy in Malaysia.

At the same time, he also strongly condemned the cruel actions of the Zionist regime in the massacre carried out against the Palestinian people, which has claimed more than 35,000 lives, mostly children, women and the elderly. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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Gov’t condemns threats made against MPs - Fahmi Fadzil

19-05- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: The Unity Government condemns the actions of those who try to intimidate and threaten the safety of MPs in the country.

Unity Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said such shameful actions should not be directed at any MP, whether they are backbenchers or from the Opposition.

“I express my regret as such a matter should not be done to any MP elected by the people.

“They have a right to voice their views and this applies to both government and opposition MPs, don’t threaten them because they are the voice of the people,” he said after launching the National Month Expression at the capital today.

The Communications Minister was responding to a death threat received by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok when she received an A4 sized paper containing the death threat and two bullets in a letter left in her residence’s mailbox yesterday.

Teresa posted on Facebook that she has lodged a police report regarding the death threat at the Petaling police station.

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local_news/gov-t-condemns-threats-made-against-mps-fahmi-fadzil-OB12469160

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Mohamad Hasan: Death of Iran's president, foreign minister a great loss to Islamic leadership, country's people

20 May 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian in the helicopter crash on Sunday is a great loss to the world of Islamic leadership and the people of Iran, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He expressed sorrow over the news of the demise of Raisi, Amirabdollahian and other passengers in the helicopter crash that occurred in the mountainous region of northwestern Iran.

Mohamad said the last time he met Amirabdollahian was during the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Ministerial-Level Open Debate in New York in January and had a telephone conversation with him at the end of April.

“The deceased was a visionary in his efforts to strengthen Malaysia-Iran bilateral relations in various areas of mutual interest.

“Truly this is a great loss to the world of Islamic leadership and the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said in a post on X.

“My prayers are that their souls be showered with His mercy and be placed among the believers and the righteous,” he added.

Raisi was reported to be on his way back from a dam inauguration ceremony on the border between Iran and Azerbaijan when the helicopter he was in crashed while attempting to land in the Varzaqan region.

Along with Raisi and Amirabdollahian, the Governor of East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rahmati, the head of the Friday prayer in Tabriz, Hojjatoleslam Al Hashem and several other individuals were also reported to be in the helicopter. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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Pakistan

 

Pakistan to observe one day of mourning on Iranian President Raisi's demise

May 20, 2024

Following the confirmation by the Iranian government of President Raisi's demise in a helicopter crash, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday announced that a day of mourning will be observed in the country as a mark of respect for President Raisi and his companions.

Taking to social media platform X, PM Shehbaz said: "Pakistan will observe a day of mourning and the flag will fly at half mast as a mark of respect for President Raisi and his companions and in solidarity with Brotherly Iran."

The premier also extended condolences to the Iranian people terming the fatal accident as a "terrible loss" for the neighbouring nation.

"The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage," the prime minister noted.

Shehbaz's remarks come as Iran's Vice President Mohsen Mansouri Monday confirmed Raisi's death in a statement on social media and on state television.

President Raisi, Foreign MinisterAmirabdollahian and other high officials were returning after attending an inauguration ceremony of a dam on Iran’s border with the Republic of Azerbaijan when the chopper crashed while flying through a mountainous terrain amid heavy fog in the Varzaqan region of the country's East Azerbaijan province on Sunday afternoon.

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), East Azarbaijan Province’s Governor Malek Rahmati, and Mehdi Mousavi, the head of Raisi’s guard team were on board the crashed aircraft as well.

A large-scale search and rescue operation in the fog-shrouded mountain area of East Azerbaijan province was launched and the search teams located the wreckage on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari has also expressed "profound shock and sorrow" over the tragic accident.

"Pakistan mourns the loss of a great friend [...] may Allah Almighty bless his soul and grant patience and strength to his family and the people of Iran in this time of irreparable loss," read a statement issued by the President House.

The statement also said that the Iranian president "will be dearly missed and fondly remembered in Iran, Pakistan, and the Islamic World for his efforts to enhance relations with regional and Islamic countries.

Stressing that the deceased Iranian head of state "had a special place for Pakistan and its people," Zardari recalled his commitment to strengthen bilateral relations between the neighbouring countries.

"President Raisi will be dearly missed and fondly remembered in Iran, Pakistan, and the Islamic World " the statement added while highlighting his the Iranian head of state's support for Muslims especially the the Palestinian and Kashmiri people.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also expressed sorrow and conveyed condolences over the fatal crash.

"I express my heartfelt condolences to the government and citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran [...] every Pakistani is saddened by this tragic incident and shares the grief of his Iranian brothers and sisters equally," Bilawal said in a statement.

It is pertinent to know that Islamabad and Iran had held productive discussions and agreed to advance bilateral cooperation in multiple domains including in trade, connectivity, energy and people-to-people contacts during President Raisi's three-day visit to Pakistan in April.

During his three-day visit to the country, the Iranian president held meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, Speaker of National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and the chief ministers and governors of Sindh and Punjab.

The head of state visited Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation, comprising the foreign minister and other members of the cabinet, senior officials and a large business delegation.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1191147-pakistan-to-observe-one-day-of-mourning-on-iranian-president-raisis-demise

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Army Chief, Turkish FM express satisfaction over Pak-Turkiye historic relations

May 20, 2024

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir in Rawalpindi today and discussed matters of mutual interest.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over the bilateral relations  rooted in historic, cultural, and religious bonds.

The visiting dignitary commended the Pakistan Army's role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/20-05-2024/caoas-turkish-fm-express-satisfaction-over-pak-turkiye-historic-relations

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Pakistan, Turkiye decide to take volume of bilateral trade to $5b

May 20, 2024

Pakistan and Turkiye have decided to take the volume of their bilateral trade to five billion dollars.  

The understanding came at delegation level talks between the two countries in Islamabad on Monday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar represented the Pakistani delegation while the Turkish side was led by its Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Later addressing a joint news conference along with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar said the two countries are also planning to hold the next session of Pakistan Turkiye High Level Strategic Cooperation Council in the near future.

He said this Council meeting will carry out a comprehensive review of the ongoing cooperation as well as bilateral strategic economic framework.

The Deputy Prime Minister said there is also a history of Pakistan-Turkiye collaboration in defence related projects. We are working on various joint ventures and continue to support each other to defend our territorial sovereignty and in the fight against terrorism.

He said the two countries have always supported each other on core issues and assisted during natural calamities.

Expressing his gratitude to Turkiye for its firm and consistent support to the oppressed people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Ishaq Dar said Pakistan will continue to support the legitimate struggle of the people of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan and Turkiye are two countries but one nation. He said the heart to heart relationship between our two peoples exist prior to the establishment of Pakistan. 

In his remarks, the Turkish Foreign Minister said Pakistan is our strategic partner and our cooperation supports the regional peace and stability. He said this is an unshakeable friendship and brotherhood rooted in history. He said Turkiye stands by Pakistan in their fight against terrorism.

Describing his meeting with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as fruitful, the Turkish Foreign Minister said the two sides have taken a principle decision to strengthen their relations not only in trade, but also in defense, investment, banking, science and technology.

The two Foreign Ministers voiced serious concerns over the situation in Gaza. They called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and provision of humanitarian relief to the Palestinian people.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/20-05-2024/pakistan-turkiye-vow-to-broaden-bilateral-ties-in-all-areas-of-mutual-interest

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No unilateral legislation on Digital Media Authority’s establishment: Attaullah

May 20, 2024

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said the government has no intention of unilateral legislation regarding the establishment of Digital Media Authority.

During a meeting with a delegation of National Press Club Islamabad, he said all journalist organizations and press clubs will be taken into confidence on matter.

The Information Minister said health insurance scheme for journalists will soon be started.

He said necessary steps will be taken for the construction of permanent building of the National Press Club and the improvement of the existing one.

He assured to ensure provision of annual grant for the National Press Club.

The Press Club delegation apprised the Information Minister about the problems faced by the journalist community.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/20-05-2024/no-unilateral-legislation-on-digital-media-authoritys-establishment-attaullah

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PM approves deployment of Motorway Police in Gilgit Baltistan

May 17, 2024

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has approved deployment of National Highways and Motorway Police in Gilgit Baltistan to improve traffic flow on the Karakoram Highway.

Prime Minister approved this on the request of the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan to prevent accidents on the Karakoram highway.   

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/17-05-2024/pm-approves-deployment-of-motorway-police-in-gilgit-baltistan

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Journalists to launch protest against locking of Quetta Press Club

May 20, 2024

QUETTA: The Balochistan Union of Journalists and Quetta Press Club (QPC) on Sunday decided to launch a country-wide protest campaign against the locking of press club by the district administration and police.

Police and local administration locked the gates of QPC on Saturday to stop Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) members from holding a seminar.

The BYC members in protest laid siege to the press club for hours and entered the building after breaking the locks and held their seminar in Hall 1 of the press club which was booked for the event.

A joint meeting of the executive committees of Balochistan Union of Journalists and QPC, presided over by their presidents, Khalil Ahmed and Abdul Khaliq Rind, respectively, was held on Sunday evening.

Plan to stage walkout from Balochistan Assembly today

The meeting, also attended by senior journalists, discussed the situation developed on Saturday.

It condemned the action of local administration and police terming it a gross violation of Article 19 of the Constitution which ensures the right of expression for every citizen and freedom of press.

The meeting expressed serious concern and anger over the locking of QPC and decided to launch protests in all press clubs of the country to condemn the unconstitutional steps of the local administration and police.

The meeting decided that Quetta journalists would walk out of the Balochistan Assembly proceedings on Monday in protest against the Saturday’s incident and would hand over a four-point demands to the government.

“If the government failed to accept and implement the four-point demands, a black day will be observed on May 21 and protests would launched across the country,” the two presidents announced.

They said that black flags would be hoisted on all press clubs of the country.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1834570/journalists-to-launch-protest-against-locking-of-quetta-press-club

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