Anti-Muslim Hatred at 'Epidemic' Proportions: Leading UN Expert on Freedom of Religion
New
Age Islam News Bureau
06
March 2021
UN freedom of religion special rapporteur says
widespread negative representations of Islam target Muslims since 9/11
------
•
Landmark Moment in Modern Religious History, Pope Francis Met Top Shiite Cleric
Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani in Iraq
•
Islamic Teachings Turned Gang War Fiefdom, Manenberg, South Africa, Into Peace
Zone
•
Following Kashmir Situation Very Closely: US
•
Kashmir Youth Activists Hold Conference to Revive Sufism and Promote Peace and
Coexistence in the Union Territory
•
Afghan Women Play 'Crucial' Role in Taliban Talks, Politician And Negotiator
Fawzia Koofi Tells WION
•
US Lawmakers Eye Legislation to Boost Uighur Refugee Status
•
Iran Blasts IAEA Passivity in Face of Israel’s N. Threats
Europe
•
Anti-Muslim Hatred at 'Epidemic' Proportions: Leading UN Expert on Freedom of
Religion Said
•
Turkey, EU mark 10th year of Civil Society Dialogue
•
Turkey, Turkish Cyprus sign financial cooperation pact
•
Three terror plots foiled in Britain during pandemic, say police
•
Five More Jehovah's Witnesses Accused Of Extremism In Russia
--------
Arab World
•
Landmark Moment in Modern Religious History, Pope Francis Met Top Shiite Cleric
Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani in Iraq
•
Muslim Council of Elders on Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq
•
Explosions in north Syria near Turkish border: State TV
•
Saudi Arabia intercepts another two explosive Houthi drones, totaling 8 in 24
hours
•
Saudi Arabia: Child, civilian injured due to debris from latest Houthi drone
attacks
•
Arab Coalition intercepts six explosive drones fired at Saudi's Khamis Mushait
•
Belgium to repatriate children and some mothers held in Syria
•
Reports of sanctions on Lebanon central bank chief are ‘untrue’: State
Department
--------
Africa
•
Islamic Teachings Turned Gang War Fiefdom, Manenberg, South Africa, Into Peace
Zone
•
Libya's Prime Minister-designate names large unity Cabinet
•
At least 20 killed by suicide car bomb near restaurant in Somalia capital
•
Mogadishu attack leaves at least 10 dead, over 30 wounded
--------
North America
•
Following Kashmir Situation Very Closely: US
•
Accused Terrorist Found With Makeshift ISIS Flag In His Jail Cell: Prosecutors
•
Biden inducts third Pakistani-American into his team
•
US still waiting for Iran weeks after Biden voiced interest in direct talks
•
US puts 'onus' for ending Tigray suffering on Ethiopia
•
Colombia learning Turkish model on protecting migrants
•
Security tight at U.S. Capitol after terror threat
--------
India
•
Kashmir Youth Activists Hold Conference to Revive Sufism and Promote Peace and
Coexistence in the Union Territory
•
Man Hammers To Death Wife, Two Daughters in UP's Bulandshahr
•
People Offer Friday Prayers in Srinagar Mosque Carrying Photos Of Detained
Mirwaiz, Demand His Release
•
Gujarat Govt to Enact Strict Law to Deal with Love Jihad: Jadeja
•
NIA probes Jamaat-e-Islami’s Jammu and Kashmir chapter
•
Hyderabad: Islamic preacher Ilyas Sharfuddin booked for alleged hate video
•
West Bengal Polls: Mamata Gives Tickets to 42 Muslim Candidates
•
BJP Candidate in Malappuram Promises Quality ‘Halal Beef’ If Elected
--------
South Asia
•
Afghan Women Play 'Crucial' Role in Taliban Talks, Politician And Negotiator
Fawzia Koofi Tells WION
•
UN Security Council: Taliban continues to patronize Central Asian Jihadists
•
President Ghani: Pakistan must choose a right path
•
Taliban just seeking prisoner release, foreign troop exit: ex-U.S. security
adviser
•
Dhaka Catholics mark Lent with prayer, sacrifice, solidarity
•
3 HuJI militants remanded in Dhaka
--------
Southeast Asia
•
US Lawmakers Eye Legislation to Boost Uighur Refugee Status
•
Malaysian authorities urged to take death threats against trans Muslim
entrepreneur seriously
--------
Mideast
•
Iran Blasts IAEA Passivity in Face of Israel’s N. Threats
•
Ireland's foreign minister to meet Iran's Rouhani on nuclear deal
•
Iran’s Top Diplomat Says Will Soon Present ‘Concrete Plan of Action’ On Nuclear
Deal
•
India seeks to start full operations at Iran’s Chabahar port by May end
•
Iran casts long shadow over Pentagon nominee's Senate hearing
•
UN condemns up to 23 killings in Iran’s border area with Pakistan over fuel
smuggling
•
UN rights office calls on Iran to restore internet in disrupted areas
•
Yemeni intelligence agency details terror activities of Qaeda leaders,
operatives in Ma’rib
•
Turkey deals heavy blow to Daesh terrorists in February
--------
Pakistan
•
Pak PM Imran Khan Threatens Party Lawmakers Ahead Of Vote Of Confidence
•
Pak's Army, ISI chiefs meet PM Khan after he suffers key defeat in Senate
polls; Oppn cries foul
•
Pakistan urges close monitoring of India’s state terrorism in Kashmir targeting
women
•
COAS visits exercise area in Cholistan, lauds troop performance
•
Swat college to probe harassment charge against staffers
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/anti-muslim-hatred-epidemic-proportions/d/124476
--------
Anti-Muslim
Hatred at 'Epidemic' Proportions: Leading UN Expert On Freedom Of Religion Said
UN freedom of religion special rapporteur says
widespread negative representations of Islam target Muslims since 9/11
------
Peter
Kenny
04.03.2021
GENEVA
In
response to security threats due to horrific acts purportedly carried out in
the name of Islam, some states have responded by adopting measures that
disproportionately target Muslims, the leading UN expert on freedom of religion
said Thursday.
Ahmed
Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, in a
report to the Human Rights Council, referred to widespread negative
representations of Islam, fear of Muslims generally, and security and
counterterrorism policies.
He
said these have served to perpetuate, validate, and normalize discrimination,
hostility, and violence towards Muslim individuals and communities.
"Islamophobia
builds imaginary constructs around Muslims that are used to justify
state-sponsored discrimination, hostility, and violence against Muslims with
stark consequences for the enjoyment of human rights including freedom of
religion or belief," said Shaheed, also a former foreign minister of the
Maldives.
The
UN expert said that following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US in 2001 and
"other horrific acts of terrorism purportedly carried out in the name of
Islam," institutional suspicion of Muslims and those perceived to be
Muslim have escalated to "epidemic proportions."
"In
such climates of exclusion, fear, and distrust, Muslims report that they often
feel stigma, shame, and a sense that they are 'suspect communities' that are
being forced to bear collective responsibility for the actions of a small
minority," he said, without naming specific countries.
The
report cites European surveys in 2018 and 2019 showing that 37% of the
population held unfavourable views of Muslims.
In
2017, some 30% of Americans surveyed viewed Muslims in a negative light.
Shaheed
said Islamophobic discrimination in both the public and private sphere often
makes it difficult for Muslims to practice their religion.
Disproportionate
restrictions on Muslims' ability to manifest their beliefs, the securitization
of religious communities, limits on access to citizenship, socioeconomic
exclusion, and pervasive stigmatization of Muslim communities are among the
pressing concerns noted in the report.
In
Muslim minority states, he added, Muslims are frequently targeted based on
visible "Muslim" characteristics, such as their names, skin color,
and clothing, including religious attire like headscarves.
Shaheed
also said Islamophobic discrimination and hostility could often show where
"Muslim women may face a 'triple penalty' as women, minority ethnic and
Muslim."
He
noted: "Harmful stereotypes and tropes about Muslims and Islam are
chronically reinforced by mainstream media, powerful politicians, influencers
of popular culture and in academic discourse."
The
report emphasized that critiques of Islam should never be conflated with
Islamophobia, adding that international human rights law protects individuals,
not religions.
"The
criticism of Islam's ideas, leaders, symbols, or practices is not Islamophobic
per se; unless it is accompanied by hatred or bias towards Muslims in
general," Shaheed said.
"I
strongly encourage states to take all necessary measures to combat direct and
indirect forms of discrimination against Muslims and prohibit any advocacy of
religious hatred that constitutes incitement to violence," the UN expert
added.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/anti-muslim-hatred-at-epidemic-proportions-un-expert/2164891
--------
Landmark
Moment in Modern Religious History, Pope Francis Met Top Shiite Cleric Grand
Ayatollah Ali Sistani in Iraq
This grab from the official Iraqiya TV footage
shows Pope Francis (C) arriving to meet Iraq's top Shiite cleric Grand
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and is welcomed by his son Mohammad Reza Sistani (R)
Photograph:( AFP )
-----
Mar
06, 2021
In
a landmark moment in modern religious history, Pope Francis met top Shiite
cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani in Iraq on Saturday. The two leaders met at
the latter's home in the shrine city of Najaf. The meeting came on the second
day of first-ever papal visit to Iraq.
When
Pope Francis landed at the Najaf airport, posters had been set up featuring a
famous saying by Ali, the fourth caliph and the Prophet Mohammed's relative,
who is buried in the holy city.
"People
are of two kinds, either your brothers in faith or your equals in
humanity," read the banners.
A
convoy of cars took the Pope into the Old City. Extremely tight security
measures were in place.
No
press were allowed inside the meeting as the 90-year-old grand ayatollah is
highly reclusive and almost never seen in public.
The
visit is one of the highlights of Francis's four-day trip to war-scarred Iraq,
where Sistani has played a key role in tamping down tensions in recent decades.
It
took months of careful negotiations between Najaf and the Vatican to secure the
one-on-one meeting.
"We
feel proud of what this visit represents and we thank those who made it
possible," said Mohamed Ali Bahr al-Ulum, a senior cleric in Najaf.
'High
moral authority'
Pope
Francis, a strong proponent of interfaith efforts, has met top Sunni clerics in
several Muslim-majority countries, including Bangladesh, Morocco, Turkey and
the United Arab Emirates.
Sistani,
meanwhile, is followed by most of the world's 200 million Shiites -- a minority
among Muslims but the majority in Iraq -- and is a national figure for Iraqis.
"Ali
Sistani is a religious leader with a high moral authority," said Cardinal
Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, the head of the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue and a specialist in Islamic studies.
Sistani
began his religious studies at the age of five, climbing through the ranks of
Shiite clergy to grand ayatollah in the 1990s.
While
Saddam Hussein was in power, he languished under house arrest for years, but
emerged after the US-led invasion toppled the repressive regime in 2003 to play
an unprecedented public role.
In
2019, he stood with Iraqi protesters demanding better public services and
rejecting external interference in Iraq's domestic affairs.
https://www.wionews.com/world/historic-moment-pope-francis-meets-top-shiite-religious-leader-grand-ayatollah-ali-sistani-in-iraq-368394
--------
Islamic
Teachings Turned Gang War Fiefdom, Manenberg, South Africa, Into Peace Zone
A team of Islamic scholars in South Africa has
been on a mission for the past three years to bring peace to Manenberg and
other areas of Cape Town with gang and drug problems.
-----
By
Mohammed Hussain Ahmed
5th
March 2021
Cape
Town: Manenberg is a town known for its incessant gang wars, drug dealings, and
other crimes. But as per a BBC report an Islamic scholar Shaikh Maqdam Ishaque
Salek is turning this place into a peace zone during his “Mehfil-e-Zikar” every
Thursday for the last three years.
About
100 to 400 people attend this Mehfil-e-Zikar every week. But according to Shaik
Salek, the significant thing is that as soon as the congregation starts the
incessant firing of the ganglords stops.
According
to a report, the population of Manenberg is mixed or “colored” people. Colored
is the term used by the past apartheid Government of the whites in South Africa
to describe the non-whites and non-blacks population of Indians, Pakistanis,
Malays, and other Asians.
Manenberg
is overpopulated
Manenberg
is a thickly populated area with many civic issues which needed to be
redressed. Its overpopulation needs better housing and civic amenities.
The
colored population of Menenberg is 52 thousand with Christians forming the
majority. Poverty and unemployment are the main reasons for crime and gang wars
here.
Most
of those holding Mehfil-e-Zikar is Malays or Malaysian Muslims who are living
in this area since generations. In Zikar, this community repeats the names of
Allah in a distinctly soulful way. After the Zikar, the congregation is served
with hot meal.
Rate
of crime decreased due to Mehfil-e-Zikar
According
to BBC report, Manenberg was declared a “Red Zone” in 2015. However, since the
commencement of Mehfil-e-Zikar, the rate of crime decreased in many areas of
the town.
Many
ganglords respect Mehfil-e-Zikar and ensure peace throughout the congregation.
Noticing
the peace during the past three years, the Local police has awarded the
organisers of the congregation with “Peace Award”.
Christians
too attend this congregation and Christian religious leaders are invited to
address this congregation.
The
topic of discourse by the Muslim scholars is mostly social subjects like peace,
love and respect of familial ties.
Shaikh
Salek said due to the Zikar of Allah, peace is returning to Menenberg. “We
wishs to conduct this congregation every day but due to the financial
constraints we cannot do so. However, we are trying to bring peace and harmony
between various communities of the town. We would try to end the menace of
drugs and crime in cooperation with the local government agencies,” said Shaikh
Salek.
https://www.siasat.com/islamic-teachings-turned-gang-war-fiefdom-into-peace-zone-2102884/
--------
Following
Kashmir situation very closely: US
Anwar
Iqbal
March
6, 2021
WASHINGTON:
The United States has assured the international community that it’s following
the developments in Jammu and Kashmir very closely and continues to support
direct talks between India and Pakistan on the issue.
The
Kashmir issue has been raised regularly in the daily news briefings of the US
State Department since the Biden administration came to power on Jan 20.
Journalists, including those in the American media, seem eager to know how the
new administration intends to deal with the age-old dispute between South
Asia’s two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan.
At
the Thursday afternoon news briefing, a journalist reminded State Department
spokesman Ned Price that India and Pakistan renewed their pledge to maintain
peace along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir late last month. Since then,
both have avoided violations of a ceasefire agreement they signed in 2003 but
peace remains tenuous.
“What
the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is going to do to ensure that the
ceasefire maintains?” the journalist asked.
“It
is true that we have continued to follow very closely developments in Jammu and
Kashmir. Our policy towards the region has not changed,” Mr Price replied.
“We
call on all parties to reduce tensions along the Line of Control by returning
to the 2003 ceasefire commitments. We condemn terrorists who seek to infiltrate
across the Line of Control.”
Explaining
how Washington would ensure both sides respect the ceasefire agreement, Mr
Price said: “We continue to support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan
on Kashmir and other areas of concern.”
The
journalist then pointed out that the emphasis on direct talks between India and
Pakistan has had a negative impact on Kashmiri leaders who feel voiceless in
the process. “Is the United States going to do anything to actually engage, not
just Indian and Pakistani officials, but Kashmiri leaders as well?” the
journalist asked.
“I
don’t have anything for you on that. If there’s anything we can add, we will,”
the US official replied.
At
a similar briefing on Wednesday, Mr Price used the term “union territory”
while referring to India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, but it emphasised at the
same time that Washington’s Kashmir policy remained unchanged.
The
United States has consistently recognised Jammu and Kashmir as an area disputed
between India and Pakistan, urging both to resolve this issue through bilateral
talks. But last month, while welcoming the resumption of high-speed internet in
the occupied valley, a State Department tweet referred to the disputed
territory as “India’s Jammu & Kashmir”.
Islamabad
responded promptly to the omission, reminding Washington that the tweet was
“inconsistent” with the disputed status of the region.
Also,
on Thursday, a report by a US government-funded think-tank, Freedom House,
regretted India’s fall from the ranks of free nations after the country’s
status was downgraded to “partly free”.
“Under
(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, India appears to have abandoned its potential
to serve as a global democratic leader, elevating narrow Hindu nationalist
interests at the expense of its founding values of inclusion and equal rights
for all,” warned the Freedom in the World 2021 report.
Reviewing
the global situation in 2021, the report regretted “the fall of India from the
upper ranks of free nations” which, it warned, “could have a particularly
damaging impact on global democratic standards”.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1610934/following-kashmir-situation-very-closely-us
--------
Kashmir
Youth Activists Hold Conference To Revive Sufism And Promote Peace And
Coexistence In The Union Territory
6th
March 2021
By
Hitesh Tikoo
Jammu,
March 5: Young activists from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday
held a conference to revive Sufism and promote peace and coexistence in the
Union Territory.
The
event which took place in North Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, was conducted by
Jammu and Kashmir Youth Development Forum (JKYDF), an organisation comprising
young activists from Kashmir. Hundreds of people from all sections of the
society attended the event, including writers, journalists, scholars, lawyers
and several other Kashmiri activists.
One
of the scholars in the audience said, “People of Kashmir, whether Muslims,
Pandits and Sikhs or of any other religion, believe in coexistence. This was
the reason that Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs would visit Muslim shrines, and
similarly Muslims would throng shrines like Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in
Ganderbal.”
The
JKYDF plans to reach out to the people at Muslim shrines, and are expected to
cover several Hindu and Sikh places of worship as well, calling it a need and a
subsequent attempt to re-establish a common syncretic society, where Hindus,
Muslims, Sikhs and all others can again thrive, just as it was before the
advent of Pakistan’s proxy war in Kashmir.
Speaking
on the occasion, JKYDF Chairman, Farooq Ganderbali said, “We plan to hold such
conferences in other parts of Kashmir in the coming months. Like today’s
conference, we will rope in Sufi preachers in future conferences as our aim is
to reach out to as many people as possible, especially youth, with the message
of peace and coexistence.”
Peace
in Jammu and Kashmir has been a top priority for successive Indian governments,
however, Pakistan’s repeated attempts to disturb peace efforts have kept both
the countries at loggerheads since decades.
Last
week, in a ceasefire agreement, the armies of India and Pakistan both announced
that they would stop the cross border firing from February 24 midnight in order
to bring peace along the border areas. The announcement was made by the Defence
Ministry.
“Both
sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease
firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from
midnight 24-25 Feb 2021,” the ministry said in a statement.
https://www.siasat.com/kashmir-youth-activists-hold-conference-to-revive-sufism-2104141/
--------
Afghan
women play 'crucial' role in Taliban talks, politician and negotiator Fawzia
Koofi tells WION
Mar
05, 2021
Three
female media workers were shot and killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday in what
appeared to be the latest targeted killing to rock the country.
The
murders came as the US special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad returned
to Kabul this week for meetings with Afghan leaders, in a bid to revive a
flagging peace process as a deadline for US troop withdrawal draws closer.
The
United States and the Taliban reached a peace deal in February, but many Afghan
women worry that it does not include adequate safeguards for their rights.
They
fear a US troop withdrawal, the winding down of international engagement and
the re-emergence of the Taliban in politics could destroy hard-won gains women
have made since 200, from education to
freedom of movement.
Lawmaker
Fawzia Koofi, a vocal critic of the Taliban, survived an assassination attempt
in August, shortly before she flew to Doha to take part in peace talks.
Koofi
is one of five women on the 21-member team announced by the government to hold
historic talks with the Islamist terrorist group that once banished women from
public life. She became the country's first female deputy of the lower house of
parliament.
In
an exclusive interview with WION's executive editor-in-chief Palki Sharma
Upadhyaya, Koofi talks about the latest wave of violence in Afghanistan amid
the withdrawal of the US troops from the country.
''Unfortunately,
Afghanistan has been in a war for 40 years. Some of us have grown up during the
war. Women of the country have been the main victim,'' Koofi said.
''At
the end of the day, no one takes responsibility. By silencing women, they think
they can get more power,'' she added.
On
being questioned regarding the negotiation with the Taliban, Koofi said ''it is
an extremely challenging job for any woman as the Taliban does not recognise
equal rights for them.''
However,
she added that ''We try to demonstrate power and now negotiate real business
with them.''
Koofi
said that although ''Its a very stressful, difficult task, the aim to end the
war keeps me going.''
Women
have made huge strides in the conservative country since a ban during Taliban
rule of 1996 to 2001 from school, work, politics and going outside without a
male relative.
Women
occupy a particularly precarious place, as they face cultural barriers and
hostility - not just from conservative family members, but also hardline
Islamist groups - for pursuing financial independence and greater equality.
When
the Afghan government has announced a new council to safeguard women's rights
and interests, amid fears peace talks with the Taliban could lead to the loss
of hard-won gains, politician and negotiator Koofi, who has been involved in
the peace process, said the council would help drive gender equality.
In
her interview with WION, Koofi said ''Issue of women rights was on Taliban's
agenda during their negotiation in the peace deal even though their
interpretation is very different.''
Koofi
added she hopes to preserve the rights of the people.
Even
an assassination attempt failed to deter Koofi. She shared her inspiring story
during the interview.
Koofi
is the 19th out of 23 children in her family. She said during the interview
that ''my mother has gone through so much as a woman that didn't want another
girl to suffer.''
''Our
lives, what we experience is also a product of war,'' she added.
Koofi
was left out to die in the sun in one of the attempts to kill her.
On
being questioned about her inspiration to join politics, Koofi said that it is
in her blood since she comes from a political background.
''I
come from a political family. My father was a member of parliament, he was
killed.''
Koofi
experienced injustice and discrimination as a woman when Taliban was in power.
This gave her the motivation and determination to change things.
''We
have laws to protect women now. There are more women in the peace negotiation
and are now unavoidable.''
Koofi
said that she gets a chance she will definitely run for the presidency in
Afghanistan.
Talking
about the meaning of International Women's Day for Afghan women, Koofi said
that ''Afghan women have demonstrated resilience, strength and never give up
attitude but there are still a lot of women’s issues which are off the radar.
https://www.wionews.com/world/afghan-women-play-crucial-role-in-taliban-talks-politician-and-negotiator-fawzia-koofi-tells-wion-368325
--------
US
lawmakers eye legislation to boost Uighur refugee status
March
6, 2021
WASHINGTON:
A bipartisan pair of US congressmen are writing a bill that would expedite
refugee applications from Uighurs, the first such legislative effort to support
immigration of the largely Muslim ethnic group facing persecution in China.
The
Florida congressmen, Democrat Ted Deutch and Republican Mario Diaz-Balart, aim
to introduce the Uighur Human Rights Protection Act as soon as next week, which
if passed would raise Uighurs’ applications to “Priority 2” in the US refugee
system.
It
is unclear how much Republican backing the bill will get, but its drafters say
they believe they have the support of moderate Republicans in Congress who are
eager to confront China.
The
upgrade would allow applicants to forego a UN referral and apply directly as
refugees to the US government, reducing concerns that Beijing could be notified
by a third country and seek their deportation back to China.
In
recent years, China has successfully sought the return of Uighurs from
countries on its periphery despite criticism from human rights groups and other
governments that they could be subjected to further persecution.
Deutch
told Reuters in an email that the effort was “a continuation of the best
traditions of US foreign policy and humanitarianism”.
According
to a draft of the bill, it would apply to Uighurs in China, and also those “not
firmly resettled in third countries”, such as Turkey, where thousands of
Uighurs now reside after having left China.
UN
experts and human rights groups estimate that more than one million Uighurs and
other Muslim minorities have been detained in harsh conditions in China’s
Xinjiang region as part of what Beijing calls a vocational training campaign to
combat terrorism.
China
denies abuses, but the US under the Trump Administration declared that Beijing
was perpetrating a genocide, a designation upheld by President Joe Biden’s
administration.
Omer
Kanat, the executive director of the Washington-based Uighur Human Rights
Project, welcomed the bill, noting that Uighurs were “very hesitant” to apply
through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
“If
they apply through UNHCR, it has to inform the government of the state that
they are in, and if they have strong relations with China, they fear these
governments will inform the Chinese authorities,” Kanat said.
Biden
plans to raise the refugee cap for the current fiscal year to 62,500, a sharp
increase from the 15,000 set by former president Donald Trump, Reuters reported
in February, but has not yet taken that step.
His
refugee proposal sent to Congress mentioned Uighurs as a group that could be
prioritised.
“It
encourages the administration to do it, and if they don’t do it, we have the
ability to do it ourselves in Congress,” said a House aide who helped draft the
bill.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2021/03/06/us-lawmakers-eye-legislation-to-boost-uighur-refugee-status/
--------
Iran
Blasts IAEA Passivity in Face of Israel’s N. Threats
2021-March-6
Israel
enjoys more preferential advantages compared to the nuclear-armed states
because the latter are NPT members and have special commitments, while Israel
is out of it, is free of any commitments, and enjoys all the advantages of the
Agency which are relevant to the NPT, Qaribabadi said on Friday.
He
said that all regional countries are members of the NPT and have committed
themselves to accept the IAEA’s safeguards, adding, “Developing a secret
nuclear weapon program by the Zionist regime is a serious persisting threat not
only to the security and stability of the region and the world, but also for
the effectiveness of NPT and the Agency’s safeguards.”
“Needless
to mention, the Zionist regime is not a member of any of the other disarmament
and WMD non-proliferation treaties,” the envoy noted, adding, “the nuclear
capabilities of the Zionist regime and its threats have been put on the agenda
of the UN General Assembly while the IAEA has issued several resolutions in
this regard.”
“But
the Zionist regime has neglected the international community by ignoring the
NPT, avoiding to join it, and refusing to put its facilities and nuclear
activities under IAEA’s safeguards inspections,” Qaribabadi stated.
He
warned that such conditions have emboldened Israel to ridicule the IAEA
authority and the mission for preventing deviation of materials and nuclear
activities.
“Most
importantly, it has been so emboldened that it distorts realities and
criticizes some of the NPT members, while they are committed but it is not,”
the diplomat added.
He
termed it ironic that the IAEA, its secretariat, Board of Governors, and
general conferences all focus on NPT members, while ignoring the materials and
the activities of the Zionist regime in the volatile West Asian region is a
chronic strategic mistake.
“In
such a condition, what is the advantage of being a NPT member and implementing
the safeguards? How can the global community see the IAEA as a serious,
professional, impartial partner while the comprehensive safeguards regime is
not applied to its members identically and justly and it doesn’t even seriously
discuss the necessity of verification and inspections of Israel’s nuclear
activities? Does the silence about the Israeli nuclear deal not send a message
to the NPT members that membership means accepting the strongest verification
and monitoring systems and staying out of it means freedom of any commitments
and even receiving bonuses?” he asked the IAEA.
The
seasonal meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors started on Monday and finished
on Friday.
In
relevant remarks in February, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif
deplored the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and the US, and the UN nuclear
watchdog for keeping mum about Israel’s effort to enhance its lethal nuclear
facilities, and warned against Tel Aviv’s measure to expand Dimona, the only
nuclear bomb factory in the region.
“Israel
is expanding Dimona, the region's only nuclear bomb factory, Zarif wrote on his
Twitter page on Saturday in an ironic address to the US president Joe Biden,
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, UK Prime
Minister Boris Johnson, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“Gravely
concerned? Concerned? A little? Care to comment? I thought so,” he went on to
write.
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/13991216000372/Iran-Blass-IAEA-Passiviy-in-Face-f-Israel%E2%80%99s-N-Threas
--------
Europe
Turkey,
EU mark 10th year of Civil Society Dialogue
Nazli
Yuzbasioglu
05.03.2021
Co-financed
by Turkey and the EU and implemented by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the Civil
Society Program provides a platform in which civil society groups from both
sides share information and experience with each other and have the chance to
forge lasting dialogue.
The
10th anniversary of the program, funded under the Instrument for Pre-accession
Assistance (IPA), will be celebrated next Tuesday through an online program
including a panel, exhibition, and concert.
The
event, titled "10 Years of Dialogue," boasts a variety of speakers
including Deputy Foreign Minister and Director of EU Affairs Faruk Kaymakci,
Head of the Delegation of the EU to Turkey Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, and other
top officials along with journalists.
Panels
will feature stories from benefactors about projects carried out since the
start of the program.
The
online event will have a virtual exhibit showing photos of projects related to
the dialogue program, and pianist Gulsin Onay will perform in a brief concert.
The
Civil Society Dialogue program brings together civil society bodies in both
Turkey and the EU, and it brings EU norms along with good practice examples to
Turkey, which is a candidate for EU accession.
As
part of the program, nearly €50 million ($60 million) in funds has been
allocated to about 400 projects and more than 650 partnerships aimed at
dialogue.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkey-eu-mark-10th-year-of-civil-society-dialogue/2165964
--------
Turkey,
Turkish Cyprus sign financial cooperation pact
Abdullah
Yasin Guler, Muhammet Ikbal Arslan
04.03.2021
Turkey
and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) signed a financial
cooperation agreement Wednesday.
The
signing ceremony for the Turkey-TRNC 2021 Economic and Monetary Cooperation
Agreement was held after Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay received TRNC Prime
Minister Ersan Saner and his commission.
Oktay
said the agreement is a significant outcome of the close contact maintained
with the TRNC.
"Our
main goal in this agreement is investments. Our aim is to contribute to the
formation of a self-sufficient TRNC economy by strengthening the areas with a
high multiplier effect in the TRNC. With this agreement, we allocate 2.5
billion liras ($336.83 million) of new resources to the TRNC this year. We
anticipate total support of 3.25 billion liras ($437.88 million) with the
amount transferred from last year," he said during a joint press
conference following the meeting.
Underlining
that solidarity, sincerity and brotherhood comprise the basis of the agreement,
Oktay said: "In many fields, we will provide support which is sustainable
and which transforms the aspects that hamper and hinder the society in the
TRNC, and we have already determined these fields. The 2021 Turkey-TRNC
Economic and Monetary Cooperation Agreement, with its investment-oriented
structure, consists of actions that will strengthen the current infrastructure
in especially transportation, communication, trade, industry and youth and sports
as well as the field of local administrations. In the coming days, our Trade
Minister Ruhsar Pekcan will pay a working visit to the TRNC to clarify the
factors that we can turn into opportunities."
The
agreement covers investments in infrastructure in the field of health, main
road projects and the establishment of a new industrial zone in the TRNC as
well as providing support for the industrial zone.
Cooperation
on electronic access to government for reducing bureaucracy and a data center
project, cooperation in distance education programming, strengthening local
administrations as well as youth, sports, tourism and cultural projects are
also among the topics included in the agreement.
"We,
as the mother country and guarantor country, will continue to do our best for
the Turkish Cypriots to continue living in peace, tranquility and prosperity
and looking at the future with confidence," Oktay said.
Success
of development move
Reminding
that it is extremely crucial to eliminate the artificial obstacles unrightfully
placed before the TRNC in the international field, Oktay said "the success
of the development move is our ultimate goal."
He
said they do not accept when prejudices forestall the truth in the conscience
of the international community.
Oktay
said the Greek side of the island has never taken any concrete steps relevant
to the solution of the Cyprus issue, while “the TRNC was left alone with
embargoes and ignoring, simply abandoned to its fate even in an issue like the
fight against COVID."
“The
EU has managed to send the TRNC a small amount of vaccines, which is not even
worth mentioning. We, as the mother and guarantor country, certainly did not
stand by this, and we will not. This week, we are sending 20,000 doses of
COVID-19 vaccine to the TRNC. Thus, our total vaccine aid reaches 100,000
doses," he said.
"Our
approach to the unofficial 5+UN meeting, which will take place at the end of
April, is also clear. The only way to find a solution is the two-state model,
sovereign equality. The European Union, which is the reason why the Cyprus
issue has become almost gangrenous, expects to take part at the negotiation
table in Geneva. We do not see that the European Union as a party has much to
contribute to this process, and we share the same opinion as the TRNC on this
issue," Oktay said.
"With
our belief in the national cause, we will continue the struggle for rights and
equity until the legitimate rights of the Turkish Cypriots are acknowledged and
the political equality of our brothers on the island is settled," he
added.
Oktay
emphasized that the unjust embargoes imposed on the TRNC will not be put up
with.
"Turkey
and the TRNC will win together, succeed together and walk together," he
said.
"Hereby,
with Mr. Saner, we declare to the whole world once again: Our unity of ideas is
intact. We will not give up on our decision to revive the Maras region. We will
not back down from our will for a solution with two sovereign states.
Regardless of the conditions, we will continue to stand by the TRNC and stand shoulder
to shoulder with the Turkish Cypriots. Those who expect the contrary are doomed
to be disappointed as always."
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkey-turkish-cyprus-sign-financial-cooperation-pact/2164021
--------
Three
terror plots foiled in Britain during pandemic, say police
4
Mar 2021
Three
terror plots have been foiled during the coronavirus pandemic in the UK,
counter-terrorism chiefs revealed, despite a drop in arrests during the period.
Two
Islamist plots and one rightwing terror plot were thwarted, bringing the total
number of foiled attacks since March 2017 to 28, said the counter-terrorism
policing network.
The
revelation was made as official figures from the Home Office showed the number
of arrests for terrorism-related activity fell by 34% in 2020, the lowest level
in nine years, although this was pinned on an overall reduction in crime during
the pandemic.
The
statistics also reveal that one in five people behind bars for terrorism
offences in Britain last year were rightwing extremists, the highest proportion
since records began, while a rise in arrests was only recorded for the
under-18s category.
Dean
Haydon, a deputy assistant commissioner and senior national coordinator for
counter-terrorism policing, said: “These statistics tell me two things.
Firstly, that despite facing unprecedented challenges brought about by the
pandemic, counter-terrorism policing continued to keep the public safe by
making 185 arrests across more than 800 live investigations – stopping three
possible terror attacks in the process.
“And
secondly, that while the rest of us have been focused on protecting ourselves
and our families from this terrible disease, terrorists have not stopped
planning attacks or radicalising vulnerable people online.”
Since
March 2017, counter-terrorism police and UK intelligence services have stopped
28 attacks; 18 were Islamist related, nine were classed as rightwing terrorism,
and one was labelled “left, anarchist or single-issue terrorism”.
The
number of arrests for terrorism-related activity fell from 282 to 185 in the
year to December, the lowest since 2011.
Haydon
said it was “worrying” that children under 18 were the only age category where
an increase was recorded – rising from 11 to 17 cases. That is a total of 10%
of all arrests, a rise from 4% in the previous 12 months.
The
number of white people arrested was 89, compared with 63 people of Asian
appearance and 15 people of black appearance, the report said.
There
were 209 prisoners in 2020 of whom 42 were classed as holding “extreme
rightwing” views, up from 18% the previous year.
While
75% of prisoners were classed as having Islamist extremist views, the number of
inmates recorded as holding this ideology fell from 177 to 156 in the 12-month
period.
In
all 31 convicted terrorists were released from jail as well as 11 suspects who
had been held in custody but not sentenced in the year to September, according
to the data. Figures to December are not yet available.
Of
the 185 arrested in 2020, 56 (30%) led to a charge, 48 of which were terrorism
related. And 73 suspects (39%) were released on bail or released under
investigation, meaning they were not subject to any restrictions while police
inquiries continued.
A
further 13 (7%) faced other action such as a caution or being recalled to
prison, while 40 suspects (22%) were released without charge.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/04/three-terror-plots-foiled-in-britain-during-pandemic-say-police?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2069039_
--------
Five
More Jehovah's Witnesses Accused Of Extremism In Russia
March
04, 2021
Five
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia's Komi Republic have been accused of organizing
and taking part in the activities of an extremist group amid a continued
crackdown on the religious group, which has been banned in the country since
2017.
Russia's
Investigative Committee said on March 4 that a court in the city of Syktyvkar
ordered one suspect in the case to be placed in pretrial detention. Two
Jehovah's Witnesses were placed under house arrest and another two were ordered
not to leave the city while an investigation in the case takes place.
Jehovah's
Witnesses said a day earlier that police searched at least 14 homes of members
of their congregation in Syktyvkar.
The
announcement came days after a court in Russia's Republic of Khakassia
sentenced two Jehovah’s Witnesses -- 69-year-old Valentina Baranovskaya and her
son Roman Baranovsky -- to two and six years in prison respectively.
The
United States has condemned Russia's continued crackdown on Jehovah's Witnesses
and other peaceful religious minorities.
For
decades, the Jehovah's Witnesses have been viewed with suspicion in Russia,
where the dominant Orthodox Church is championed by President Vladimir Putin.
The
Christian group is known for door-to-door preaching, close Bible study,
rejection of military service, and not celebrating national and religious
holidays or birthdays.
Since
the faith was outlawed in Russia, many Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned
in Russia and the Russia-annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea on the Black
Sea.
According
to the group, dozens of Jehovah's Witnesses have either been convicted of
extremism or are in pretrial detention.
In
September 2019, Washington banned two high-ranking regional officers from Russia's
Investigative Committee from entering the United States over the alleged
torture of seven detainees who were Jehovah's Witnesses.
The
Moscow-based Memorial Human Rights Center has recognized dozens of Jehovah’s
Witnesses who've been charged with or convicted of extremism as political
prisoners.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-jehovah-witnesses-extremism-charges-kimi/31133652.html?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2069039_
--------
Arab World
Muslim
Council of Elders on Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq
Mar
06, 2021
BAGHDAD:
The statement reads, “Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq serves as a great opportunity
to promote peace and is a message of solidarity with victims of violence in the
region and around the world. After years of destruction and war, we believe
that the historic visit will help heal the wounds of the Iraqi people, while
offering hope for a brighter future for Iraq and the region, one which will be
filled with tolerance and coexistence.”The Council’s statement continues with,
“Pope Francis’ insistence on conducting the visit, despite the many challenges,
is a reflection of his complete faith in human fraternity as well as his
willingness to uphold equality in the face of hatred, sectarianism and
conflict.”The statement concludes saying, “Pope Francis’ continued efforts in
promoting peace are consistent with the Muslim Council Elders’ vision and goals
of spreading peace, coexistence and communal respect while countering hate and
extremism.”The Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Dr. Sultan Al
Remeithi says, “Pope Francis’ various visits in the Muslim world have only
served to strengthen dialogue and friendship between East and West. The same
could be said of the of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar
and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, who has tirelessly travelled the
globe for the same noble purpose. Both these great men and religious symbols
would go on to meet in the United Arab Emirates in February 2019 to sign the
Human Fraternity Document.”––Vatican News
http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/muslim-council-of-elders-on-pope-francis-visit-to-iraq/58388/2
--------
Explosions
in north Syria near Turkish border: State TV
Tuqa
Khalid
05
March ,2021
Explosions
were heard in northern Syria near the towns of al-Bab and Jarablus, close to
the Turkish border, state-run Ikhbariya TV reported on Friday.
The
blasts hit local oil refineries in the area, which is controlled by Turkey and
allied rebel groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said missile strikes
caused the blasts and at least one person was killed and 10 others injured.
The
White Helmets rescue workers, known officially as Syria Civil Defence, said
rocket shelling caused a fire in Jarablus and shared footage of flames and
black smoke rising around the cameraman.
There
was no official Turkish comment on the incident so far.
Earlier,
Syrian state news agency SANA reported Turkish forces and allied fighters
shelled houses in Aleppo’s northern countryside.
Turkish
forces and their Syrian insurgent allies seized territory in the region in an
offensive in 2019 against the Kurdish YPG militia which holds swathes of north
and east Syria.
Turkey
regards the YPG as a terrorist group tied to the PKK inside its own borders.
The
YPG forms the military backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance
which defeated ISIS in northeast Syria with the help of US air power.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/03/05/Explosions-in-north-Syria-near-Turkish-border-State-TV
--------
Saudi
Arabia intercepts another two explosive Houthi drones, totaling 8 in 24 hours
06
March ,2021
Tuqa
Khalid
The
Arab Coalition intercepted two explosive-laden drones launched by Yemen’s
Houthis towards Saudi Arabia’s Jazan and Khamis Mushait, raising the number of
such drone attacks to eight over the past 24 hours.
The
Houthi’s explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were the latest in a
series of escalated cross-border aerial attacks on the Kingdom by the
Iran-backed militia in Yemen. This week’s attacks have injured at least seven
civilians, according the Saudi authorities.
Debris
from intercepting six explosive drones injured ten-year-old child and a Saudi
civilian who was wounded while driving his car, the civil defense said earlier
on Friday.
Saudi
Arabia said on Thursday the Houthis launched a ballistic missile towards the
southern Jazan region. On Tuesday, a Houthi military projectile fell in Jazan,
injuring at least five civilians.
The
attacks on Jazan came days after the Coalition said it had thwarted a ballistic
missile attack by the Houthis on the Saudi capital Riyadh and destroyed six
armed drones launched towards cities in the Kingdom’s south.
Riyadh
had also said a Houthi drone attack caused a fire in a civilian aircraft at an
airport in Abha mid-February.
Coalition
Spokesperson Colonel Turki al-Maliki said: “The Houthi militia deliberately
escalates hostile and terrorist targeting of civilians and civilian objects
systematically using ballistic missiles… Those actions constitute war crimes.”
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/03/06/Saudi-Arabia-intercepts-another-two-explosive-Houthi-drones-totaling-8-in-24-hours
--------
Saudi
Arabia: Child, civilian injured due to debris from latest Houthi drone attacks
Tuqa
Khalid
05
March ,2021
Saudi
Arabia’s civil defense said on Friday a child and a civilian were injured due
to the debris of the latest drone attacks on the Kingdom’s Khamis Mushait and
Ahad Rafidah by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia.
The
debris of intercepting the Houthi’s explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAV) launched by the Houthis towards the Kingdom fell into residential areas
in the provinces of Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafidah, the General Directorate of
Saudi Civil Defense said in a statement.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
A
ten-year-old child was injured and was treated by the Saudi Red Crescent, and a
Saudi civilian was also wounded while driving his car, was taken to the
hospital and is in stable condition, the authorities said.
The
Arab Coalition said it intercepted and destroyed six explosive-laden UAVs
launched by the Houthis towards Saudi Arabia on Friday.
The
Arab Coalition has reported in recent weeks increased aerial attacks launched
by Houthis in Yemen towards civilian areas in the Kingdom.
Saudi
Arabia said on Thursday the Houthis launched a ballistic missile towards the
southern Jazan region. On Tuesday, a Houthi military projectile fell in Jazan,
injuring at least five civilians.
The
attacks on Jazan came days after the Coalition said it had thwarted a ballistic
missile attack by the Houthis on the Saudi capital Riyadh and destroyed six
armed drones launched towards cities in the Kingdom’s south.
Riyadh
had also said a Houthi drone attack caused a fire in a civilian aircraft at an
airport in Abha mid-February.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/03/05/Saudi-Arabia-Child-civilian-injured-due-to-debris-from-latest-Houthi-drone-attack
--------
Arab
Coalition intercepts six explosive drones fired at Saudi's Khamis Mushait
05
March ,2021
Joanne
Serrieh
The
Arab Coalition said it had destroyed six explosive drones fired towards Saudi
Arabia on Friday, with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia claiming to have
launched an attack into southern Saudi Arabia at dawn.
The
Houthis fired the intercepted drones towards Khamis Mushait near the Yemen
border in attacks at dawn and during the morning, the Coalition said in a
statement carried by state news agency SPA. The six drones were intercepted and
destroyed.
Yemen’s
Houthi movement regularly launches drones and missiles into Saudi Arabia, many
of which Riyadh says it intercepts.
On
Thursday, the Coalition destroyed a ballistic missile launched into the
Kingdom's Jazan region, injuring at least five civilians.
Some
attacks have previously hit Abha International Airport which is about 120
kilometer (75 miles) from the border with Yemen.
In
February, the Houthis claimed an attack on the Abha airport which caused a
civilian plane to catch fire. The militia said the airport was a military
target, according to AFP.
On
Tuesday, the US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on two Houthi
military leaders.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/03/05/Arab-Coalition-intercepts-second-explosive-drone-fired-at-Saudi-s-Khamis-Mushait
--------
Belgium
to repatriate children and some mothers held in Syria
05
March ,2021
Belgium
will repatriate children detained in a Syrian refugee camp to meet a 2019 court
order, along with some mothers on a case by case basis, Belgian Prime Minister
Alexander de Croo said on Thursday.
Like
the United States, Europe has repeatedly said it is ready to take custody of
some minors whose families went to fight for ISIS in Syria, fearing the camps
may breed a new generation of militants.
But
governments are still reluctant as there is little sympathy for militants'
families in Europe after the trauma of militant attacks on the continent over
the past decade.
A
Brussels court ordered the Belgian government in December 2019 to help bring to
Belgium 10 children who were born in Syria to ISIS fighters of Belgian
nationality, but Belgium has so far not taken them back.
The
children are in the Al-Hol refugee camp in northeastern Syria which is under
Kurdish control.
"The
reality is that the situation in the camp has seriously deteriorated",
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told the Belgian parliament on Thursday.
Around
20 Belgian minors and 11 other women are in the smaller camp of Roj, near the
Iraqi border.
Speaking
of the risk of seeing the children in the camps becoming radicalized, De Croo
said Belgium should do everything to get them out of the camps.
"The
National Council of Security yesterday confirmed the process of repatriation of
the children, the age limit being set at 12 years old," he said.
There
are also 13 Belgian mothers in the camp - nine convicted and four subject to
international arrest warrants. Bringing them back to Belgium will be decided on
a case-by-base basis, with the only criteria being national security. It was
not clear if they were related to the children being brought to Belgium.
"If
they distanced themselves from (ISIS), they could be repatriated," De Croo
said.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/03/05/Syria-crisis-Belgium-to-repatriate-children-and-some-mothers-held-in-Syria
--------
Reports
of sanctions on Lebanon central bank chief are ‘untrue’: State Department
Joseph
Haboush
05
March ,2021
The
US State Department Friday denied reports that Washington was looking to
sanction Lebanon’s central bank chief Riad Salameh.
“We
have seen reports about possible sanctions of Riad Salameh. They are untrue,” a
State Department spokesperson told Al Arabiya English.
Bloomberg
first reported that the US was considering sanctions against Salameh over the
alleged embezzlement of public funds.
The
report surprised several former and current US officials as Salameh has been
seen as a key partner in enforcing US economic sanctions against clients using
Lebanese banks.
Following
the State Department denial, Salameh released a statement saying he would sue
Bloomberg for the report.
Salameh
is one of the world's longest-serving central bank governors.
A
former Merrill Lynch banker, Salameh was appointed to his current role in 1993.
But
he has been faced with criticism in Lebanon after the local currency tumbled to
record lows and depositors became unable to access their money in Lebanese
banks.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/03/05/US-foreign-policy-Reports-of-sanctions-on-Lebanon-central-bank-chief-are-untrue-State-Department
--------
Africa
Libya's
Prime Minister-designate names large unity Cabinet
06
March ,2021
Libya's
designated prime minister Abdelhamid Dbeibeh has proposed a large unity cabinet
with 35 members, his office said on Friday, ahead of a planned parliament
meeting on Monday to debate ratifying his government.
The
Cabinet list has been subject to intense negotiation among Libya's warring
factions and powerful regional and political leaders, but an official said
talks continued over whether to reduce the number of ministers.
Two
slightly different versions of the list shown to Reuters by Libyan officials
named a former culture minister, Lamia Bosidera, as foreign minister and Khaled
Mazen as interior minister.
Dbeibeh
would act as defence minister according to the lists. The names also include
two deputy prime ministers from the east and west of Libya.
Dbeibeh
was selected via a U.N. talks process in Geneva early last month to head an
interim unity government to oversee the run-up to a planned election at the end
of this year.
Libya
has been split for years between the Government of National Accord (GNA) in
Tripoli and Khalifa Haftar's eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA).
The
divided parliament aims to meet on Monday in the frontline city of Sirte, held
by the LNA. However, some western-based members of parliament have cast doubt
on attending, citing the presence of Russian mercenaries there.
A
LNA source said the mercenaries had pulled back from the frontlines and the
airport. The main coast road across the frontline at Sirte has not yet opened,
though some members of parliament had said they expected it would be on
Saturday.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/north-africa/2021/03/06/Libya-s-Prime-Minister-designate-names-large-unity-Cabinet-
--------
At
least 20 killed by suicide car bomb near restaurant in Somalia capital
05
March ,2021
At
least 20 people were killed and 30 wounded by a suicide car bomb just outside a
restaurant near the port in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu late on Friday, an
emergency services official said.
The
blast sent plumes of smoke into the sky and triggered gunfire, witnesses and
state-owned media reported.
“So
far we have carried 20 dead people and 30 injured from the blast scene,” Dr.
Abdulkadir Aden, founder of AAMIN Ambulance services told Reuters.
The
blast occurred at the Luul Yemeni restaurant near the port, witnesses said.
“A
speeding car exploded at Luul Yemeni restaurant. I was going to the restaurant
but ran back when the blast shook and covered the area with smoke,” resident
Ahmed Abdullahi, who lives near the site, told Reuters.
Somalia’s
state-controlled Radio Mogadishu reported there was also destruction of
property and that police had cordoned off the area.
No
one claimed responsibility for the blast.
Islamist
group al Shabaab frequently carries out such bombings in Somalia and elsewhere
as part of its campaign to topple the Horn of African country’s central
government and establish its own rule based on its strict interpretation of
Islamic sharia law.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2021/03/06/Terrorism-At-least-20-killed-by-suicide-car-bomb-near-restaurant-in-Somalia-capital
--------
Mogadishu
attack leaves at least 10 dead, over 30 wounded
06
March 2021
A
car packed with explosives rammed into a popular restaurant in Somalia's
capital on Friday night, and police said at least 10 people were killed and
more than 30 wounded.
Police
spokesman Sadiq Ali Adan blamed the attack on the local al-Shabab extremist
group, which is linked to al-Qaida and often targets Mogadishu with bombings.
The
Luul Yamani restaurant also was attacked last year.
At
least one building near the restaurant collapsed after the blast, and people
were feared to be trapped in the rubble.
The
blast occurred at dinner time when the restaurant was full.
Security
in Mogadishu had been especially heavy, with thousands of government forces
deployed in anticipation of a planned demonstration on Saturday by an alliance of
opposition leaders over the country's delayed national election.
The
demonstration was later postponed.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/03/06/646654/Wounded-hospital-after-deadly-Mogadishu-attack
--------
North America
Accused
terrorist found with makeshift ISIS flag in his jail cell: prosecutors
By
NOAH GOLDBERG
MAR
04, 2021
A
Brooklynite who served as a sniper for ISIS was caught in his jail cell with a
homemade flag that resembled the terrorist organization’s logo, federal
prosecutors said Wednesday.
Ruslan
Asainov, 44, charged in 2019 with working for the Islamic State and trying to
recruit others to join the fight as well, was caught in his cell at Manhattan’s
Metropolitan Correctional Center with a small item that he had fashioned to
look like the ISIS flag, the feds said Wednesday in papers in his Brooklyn
Federal Court case.
The
incident occurred on Sep. 17, 2020, but was just disclosed as part of the
discovery process in the case.
Prosecutors
turned over to Asainov’s defense attorney video footage of them raiding the
cell and discovering the flag, though the video is not publicly available.
While
prosecutors will not bring new charges based on the flag, it will help
strengthen their case connecting Asainov to ISIS.
Asainov
did not show up to a Thursday video hearing in his case, likely because he does
not recognize the sovereignty of the United States justice system.
“The
defendant has stated directly to the court in a prior appearance … that he
considers himself a citizen of the Islamic State,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney
Saritha Komatireddy. “He does not consider any legal system legitimate —
including the U.S. legal system — other than Sharia law.”
Asainov,
originally from Kazakhstan, lived in Brooklyn for 15 years until 2013, when he
traveled to Turkey and joined ISIS, according to federal prosecutors.
He
corresponded with a confidential informant in 2015, asking for nearly $3,000 so
he could buy a rifle scope, according to the feds.
He
sent photos of himself holding a gun to the informant.
In
another note to an associate, Asainov called ISIS “the worst terrorist
organization in the world that has ever existed” and said he wanted to die on
the battlefield.
He
has been held in jail since his extradition to the United States in 2019.
Asainov’s
lawyer, Susan Kellman, declined to comment on the case, but told Judge Nicholas
Garaufis on Thursday that her client refuses to speak with her despite numerous
phone calls and letters to him in jail.
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-accused-isis-flag-sniper-nyc-20210304-cvzyaouesrd7tmuqx3oqp7c44e-story.html?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2069039_
--------
Biden
inducts third Pakistani-American into his team
March
6, 2021
WASHINGTON:
US President Joe Biden has inducted a third Pakistani-American, Dilawar Syed,
into his team, says a White House media statement.
Mr
Syed will serve as the deputy administrator of the Small Business
Administration (SBA), if confirmed by the US Senate. Confirming his nomination
on Twitter, Mr Syed said he was “deeply humbled & honored” and will “put my
heart and soul into helping small businesses everywhere” as the “grit of small
businesses” made America strong.
On
Tuesday, President Joe Biden was forced to withdraw the nomination of Neera
Tanden as his budget chief at her request after it became obvious that the
Senate would not confirm her.
Mr
Syed holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and
earned a BA in Economics and Computer Science from The University of Texas at
Austin. He immigrated to the US from Pakistan as a freshman student to attend
The College of Wooster in Ohio, the White House statement said.
Mr
Syed currently serves as the president and chief executive officer of Lumiata,
a firm that focuses on “reducing healthcare costs and improving patient
outcomes”. He was previously the president at Freshworks, scaling the software
company’s products to thousands of small and medium-scale businesses.
The
White House statement noted that Mr Syed had a history of furthering civic
efforts “at the federal, state, and local level focusing on economic growth and
entrepreneurship”.
He
also served on President Obama’s White House Commission on Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and chaired the White House Initiative on AAPIs’
Economic Growth Committee.
President
Biden has already taken two Pakistani Americans, Salman Ahmed and Ali Zaidi
into his team. Mr Ahmed is a national security and foreign policy adviser who
is now the director of policy planning in the Biden administration. Mr Zaidi is
a lawyer and political adviser who joined the administration as the first
deputy White House National Climate Adviser.
Before
joining the Biden administration, Mr Ahmed was chief of staff of the US Mission
to the United Nations and senior policy adviser to the US Permanent
Representative to the United Nations.
Mr
Zaidi, who played a key role in drafting and implementing the Obama
administration’s climate action plan, works directly under former Secretary of
State John Kerry who is now Mr Biden’s special envoy for climate. He also
helped negotiate the Paris Climate Agreement.
President
Biden has also inducted two women from the Indian-occupied Kashmir into his
team.
Sameera
Fazili is the deputy director of the National Economic Council (NEC) and Aisha
Shah is a partnership manager at the White House Digital Strategy team.
Uzra
Zeya, another Indian Muslim, has been appointed Undersecretary of State for
arms control, democracy and human rights.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1610962/biden-inducts-third-pakistani-american-into-his-team
--------
US
still waiting for Iran weeks after Biden voiced interest in direct talks
Joseph
Haboush
05
March ,2021
The
United States is still waiting for Iran to accept its offer to negotiate the
now-defunct nuclear deal, weeks after Washington and US President Joe Biden
expressed willingness to sit down with officials from Tehran.
“What
we have said, and the offer that we have put on the table, together with our
European partners still stands. It’s been a couple of weeks now that we
indicated our willingness to accept an invitation on the part of the EU to
engage in direct diplomacy,” State Department Spokesman Ned Price told Al
Arabiya English.
“On
our part, it would be clear-eyed, principled direct diplomacy with Iran, in the
context of the P5+1. That’s where believe these issues need to … be discussed
if we are to make progress in a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA
commitment,” he added during the phone call with reporters.
The
JCPOA, an acronym for the 2015 nuclear deal, has been the center of focus
between renewed efforts by the US to re-engage Iran after former President
Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018.
Asked
for comment on claims by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani that the Trump-era
sanctions cost Iran's economy around $200 billion, Price remained tight-lipped.
Price’s
comments come after Iran’s top diplomat, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said he would
soon present a constructive plan of action on the nuclear deal.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/03/05/Iran-nuclear-deal-US-still-waiting-for-Iran-weeks-after-Biden-voiced-interest-in-direct-talks
--------
US
puts 'onus' for ending Tigray suffering on Ethiopia
Michael
Hernandez
04.03.2021
WASHINGTON
The
"onus" for tamping down the humanitarian suffering in Ethiopia's
restive Tigray region lays squarely with the government, the US said on
Thursday.
Linda
Thomas-Greenfield, Washington’s UN envoy, continued to voice alarm at the
situation while addressing reporters at the UN's New York headquarters, saying
it "has had, and will continue to have, devastating consequences for
thousands of innocent people," and threatens regional stability.
"We
urge the Ethiopian government to support an immediate end to the fighting in
Tigray, and to that end the prompt withdrawal of Eritrean forces and Amhara
regional forces from Tigray are essential steps. And we urge the broader region
to work fast and together toward a peaceful solution," she added.
The
Tigray region has been the scene of fighting since November when Ethiopian
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced military operations against the Tigray
People's Liberation Front (TPLF), who he accused of attacking federal army
camps.
Government
troops took control of the regional capital, Mekele, in late November, but the
TPLF vowed to fight, and clashes have persisted in the Horn of Africa country,
hampering efforts to deliver humanitarian aid.
UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said earlier on Thursday
her office received information about ongoing fighting across the region,
particularly in the center of Tigray region, as well as incidents of looting by
"various armed actors."
Bachelet's
office said it has information about the killing of eight protestors by
security forces on Feb. 9-10 in Adigrat, Mekelle, Shire and Wukro.
More
than 136 cases of rape have also been reported in hospitals in Mekelle, Ayder,
Adigrat and Wukro in eastern Tigray region between December and January, said
the office.
Thomas-Greenfield
said the US has deployed a disaster assistance response team to Ethiopia to
bolster the humanitarian response, "and our hope is that others will join
us in this urgent, necessary life-saving effort."
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-puts-onus-for-ending-tigray-suffering-on-ethiopia/2165245
--------
Colombia
learning Turkish model on protecting migrants
Daniel
Salgar Antolínez and Santiago Serna Duque
04.03.2021
BOGOTA,
Colombia
During
the last five years, the arrival of more than 1.7 million Venezuelans made
Colombia the second largest recipient of forcibly displaced people in the
world, after Turkey with approximately 4 million Syrians.
The
exoduses affect the demographic and socioeconomic realities of Turkey and
Colombia which share another phenomenon: extensive borders with the presence of
illegal armed groups.
To
host civilians fleeing the war in Syria, Turkey implemented a temporary
protection mechanism that provides stability and access to rights and services.
The
model is a benchmark for the Temporary Protection Statute for Venezuelan
Migrants that Colombia officially implemented March 1.
Ankara
and Bogota are urged to work together to offer responses to migratory dynamics
that seem to have no end.
Why
temporary protection and not shelter?
More
than a receiver, Colombia has been characterized as an ejector of migrants. The
armed conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has left
262,000 people dead in six decades and almost 8 million displaced from 1985 to
Dec. 31, 2019, according to the Single Registry of Victims (RUV).
Without
a robust reception structure and shaken by internal violence that seems
entrenched, in the last five years Colombia began to host an unprecedented
number of Venezuelans who left their country for various reasons. With several
setbacks, it designed a migration policy that aims to align with international
standards and good practices.
Due
to its location between Asia, Africa, and Europe, Turkey instead witnessed
great human mobilizations throughout history.
In
recent years, it received refugees from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Somalia;
and others from the Middle East and the Caucasus. When the civil war broke out
in Syria in 2011, Turkey already had an idea about migration.
However,
facing the magnitude of the Syrian exodus, Turkey adjusted policies and since
2014 has implemented the temporary protection status for the vulnerable
population. Due to a reservation made by Turkey to the 1951 Geneva Convention,
the country can only grant refugee status to those from Europe and the
temporary protection model emerged as a lifeline for millions of Syrians who
were adrift.
Despite
the frequent talk of the “Syrian refugee” crisis in Turkey, Syrians are under
temporary protection and not refugee status. Also, “refugee camps” have been
centers for migrants under temporary protection, where they are given free
access to health services, education, labor market and social assistance, among
others. Some centers have closed as Syrians integrate or decide to return to
their country.
Colombia,
unlike Turkey, could grant refugee status to Venezuelans. So why does the
government opt for temporary protection?
Victor
Bautista, secretary of the border in the Colombian department of Norte de
Santander, points out that it is because of the need to speed up the management
of mass migration.
In
general terms, the shelter is studied according to the particular conditions of
each person and the processing of an application takes a long time.
It
is a long and expensive process not only for Colombia but for developed
countries such as Germany.
On
the other hand, the protection statute gives them the possibility of residing
in Colombia for up to 10 years and having a closer relationship with state
institutions.
In
addition, applying the refugee status would be inconsistent with the reality of
the Colombian-Venezuelan border where many come and go daily, the so-called
pendular migration. The figure of refugee implies the principle of
non-refoulment, so one cannot return to their country because his life is in
danger because of a specific cause.
Bautista
explains that in Venezuela there is not a warlike situation like in Syria, but
a complex mix of poverty, lack of job opportunities and access to health,
education, food security as well as some cases of political persecution.
It
is difficult to determine how many people are stating each reason and it would
be unwise to assume that they are all stating the same reason.
"The
Protection Statute includes the generality of the problem and offers
Venezuelans stability in Colombia," said Bautista. “What is convenient for
all of us is that they find stability, integrate into the communities, and be
productive, not that they are in a constant rambling on the roads facing all
kinds of needs.”
Keys
to orderly, safe entry of migrants
International
experiences on migration show the main success factor is guaranteeing safety,
reception and identification for those who arrive in another country.
To
learn about these mechanisms, Bautista was, in 2017, with a delegation from the
Colombian government on the Turkish-Syrian border. He recalls that in the
Turkish city of Gaziantep they saw Syrians always enter through regular border
crossings and obey established processes to obtain protection and benefits.
“In
Colombia, as President Ivan Duque said, we must also understand that it is
inconvenient to enter through unofficial border crossings because, in that way,
they will not have the Temporary Protection Statute. We invite you to enter
through the door, not through the window,” he said.
Along
the 2,200-kilometer (1,367-mile) border with Venezuela, state control and
registration capacity are precarious.
This
allows Venezuelans to cross daily through unofficial crossings, the so-called
trails, which are invisible to the state and expose themselves to illegal armed
groups.
Along
the 911-kilometer (566-mile) border between Turkey and Syria, there are walls,
security fences and an infrastructure that prevents the irregular passage of
people.
These
barriers are not there to undermine the rights of Syrians and keep them out. On
the contrary, they are intended to guarantee a safe, orderly migration,
following established routes. With a strong state presence and clear migration
policies, Turkey combined its fight against terror groups such as Daesh/ISIS
and the PKK along the border area.
Ankara’s
Ambassador to Bogota Ece Ozturk Cil reiterated the importance of investing in
infrastructure and having registration systems to attend to migration, in
addition to improving cooperation with the international community and
promoting labor insertion of migrants.
“While
many countries turn a blind eye and hide behind barbed wire and walls, we have
opened our doors to millions of Syrians. We provide a wide range of services,
including free health care and education, vocational training, and social
services. We have spent more than $40 billion for the well-being of Syrians. We
fully respect the principle of non-refoulment by virtue of our international
and national obligations,” she said.
In
the Turkish case, Cil explains that the state also provides “comprehensive aid”
to camps on the Syrian side of the border, in areas controlled by Turkey. In
addition, the voluntary repatriation of Syrians is carried out in cooperation
with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and
non-governmental organizations. A total of "399,087 Syrians have
voluntarily returned to the regions that our country has cleared of terrorism
in Syria.
Cil
pointed out that the Turkish biometric registration system allows each migrant
to be granted an identity card, with which they can obtain services and the
temporary protection regime. This process involves the migration agency, local
authorities, local communities and civil society.
Under
this registration system, Turkey has developed policies that allow it to
effectively serve the migrant population. “We know that there are more than 1
million Syrian school-age children in Turkey. Thanks to our efforts, around
643,000 of them attend school. We increased the school enrollment rate from 30%
in 2014 to 61% in 2018. While the overall school enrollment rate is 1% for
young adult immigrants (age 18-25), this rate is five times higher in Turkey
(5%),” said the ambassador.
Furthermore,
Cil highlighted that the cost of treating Syrians outside of temporary
accommodation centers is covered in state hospitals. “Families can be moved to
Temporary Health Centers created exclusively for them. The number of Syrian
children born in Turkey in the last nine years exceeds 500,000, more than two million
Syrians benefit from hospital treatment and nearly 1.8 million surgeries have
been performed. The legal basis for granting work permits was implemented in
2016 and today more than 120,000 Syrians have received this kind of
authorization,” she said.
Looking
at the Turkish example, many expectations are generated about how the Temporary
Protection Statute will work in Colombia, particularly in border areas such as
Norte de Santander, which supports the greatest rigor of migration.
Bautista
points out that big changes could happen with the statute. For example, each
migrant who accesses an emergency area in a hospital will pay an average of 1.8
million Colombian pesos ($505), but if they were affiliated with the health
system, it would cost around 800,000 pesos ($224), because they would have a
medical history with disease control and prevention.
From
Gaziantep to Norte de Santander
The
dynamics of migration in Colombia could reach or even surpass the Turkish case.
That is why the exchange of experiences and cooperation is now more important
than ever. As Bautista points out, Gaziantep has already been thought of as a
model for migration management on the Norte de Santander border.
“Gaziantep
has been serving migrants for longer, so it is a benchmark in integration
processes and economies of positive impact. It also has a dynamic of important
cross-border relations. Many Turks have families or activities in provinces in
Syrian territory. The same happens between Norte de Santander and the
Venezuelan state of Táchira,” said Bautista.
In
addition, Norte de Santander has been a pioneer in the transitory care centers
that emerged in the framework of the coronavirus pandemic. The department has
two of these spaces in addition to those that operate in Yopal (Casanare) and
Maicao (La Guajira). "We would like them to work as well as the ones we
saw in Gaziantep," said Bautista.
Progress
has already been made on this path. Cil said that since 2017 there has been
close cooperation and that year a visit to Gaziantep by a delegation from the
Colombian government took place.
In
2018, experts from the Turkish Emergency and Disaster Department (AFAD) visited
Cucuta to share with the Joint Strategic Center for Migration Analysis (CECAM)
their experience on the creation of the biometric database system.
The
Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TİKA) also completed several
production and technology projects, particularly in Cucuta and La Guajira.
“Migration
management is one of the key areas in which we can continue to develop our
bilateral relations. Colombia can count on Turkey as a permanent ally in
migration matters,” said Cil.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/colombia-learning-turkish-model-on-protecting-migrants/2165053
--------
Security
tight at U.S. Capitol after terror threat
5
March 2021
Security
was tight on Thursday at the U.S. Capitol, the scene of a deadly siege in
January, after police warned that a U.S. militia group might try to attack it
again to mark a key date on the calendar connected to the baseless QAnon
conspiracy theory.
A
bulletin issued earlier this week by the Department of Homeland Security and
the FBI said an unidentified group of "militia violent extremists"
discussed plans in February to "take control of the U.S. Capitol and
remove Democratic lawmakers on or about March 4th.”
March
4th is the day when adherents to the QAnon theory believe that former President
Donald Trump, who was defeated by President Joe Biden in the November 3rd
election, would be sworn in for a second term in office. Up until 1933, March
4th was the date of the inauguration.
House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose chamber canceled its afternoon session after the
warning, still appeared at the Capitol Thursday for her weekly press
conference, dismissing any significance the date may hold.
“The
silliness of this being inauguration day falls into the realm of… let’s not
waste our time on it.”
Still,
Capitol police have asked the Pentagon to extend the presence of the National
Guard, who have been there since the insurrection, for at least another two
months.
[HOUSE
SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI:] “We should have them here as long as they are needed.”
There
are currently about 5,200 National Guard troops around the building.
The
Senate remained open Thursday with Biden’s coronavirus relief package on the
docket.
Long-term
security improvements to the Capitol are being drafted, funding for which
Congress would have to approve.
White
House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that the FBI and DHS both warned
that the threat (quote), “did not begin or end on January 6th” and that Biden’s
national security team has been vigilant… in part because we are witnessing a
year-long trend of false narratives fueling violence.”
Federal
prosecutors have charged more than 300 people for involvement in the January
6th attack. Those arrested include members of armed militia groups such as the
Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters.
https://nz.finance.yahoo.com/finance/video/security-tight-u-capitol-terror-213112870.html?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2069039_
--------
India
Man
Hammers To Death Wife, Two Daughters in UP's Bulandshahr
By
Srawan Shukla
March
3, 2021
Lucknow:
A dejected man hammered to death his wife and two daughters while the third
daughter has been admitted with serious head injuries in the hospital in
Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh.
The
incident was reported from Majra Ambedkar Nagar in Shikarpur Dehat village of
Bulandshahr district. A man bludgeoned to death with a hammer his wife two
daughter while the third daughter is battling for life in the hospital. After
committing the crime, man escaped from the village.
Neighbours
came to know about the triple murder when the injured daughter gained
consciousness and shouted for help. When villagers peeped inside the house they
were shocked to find entire family in a pool of blood which was splattered all
over the room.
The
police was called in and the girl was rushed to a hospital. While she has
survived the attack by her own father, her condition was stated to be serious
due to head injuries. Bodies of the woman and her two daughters were sent for
the post mortem examination.
The
police said that all of them were beaten with a hammer by the man till they
died. Dog squad and Forensic team have been called at the crime scene to find
some clues which led to the triple murder.
A
case has been registered and the police are waiting to record girl’s statement
to ascertain what led the father to kill his wife and two daughters. Villagers
told the police that the man often used to beat his wife and three daughters
without any reason.
The
police said that the man has been identified as Syed Mental (60) who hammered
to death his wife Safeela (50), and daughters Rajia (20) and Shabana (15) while
the third daughter Sultana (18) is admitted in hospital where her condition is
stable.
Cops
added that Syed was mentally unsound and it was due to this that villagers had
added the word Mental to his name. He had suspicion that his wife was having an
affair with someone. He has two married sons also who were living in the same
house in separate portions due to their father's unsound mind and violent
behaviour. His wife and daughters were working as labourers to run the family.
Syed
is on the run and the police have formed teams to arrest him.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/man-hammers-to-death-wife-two-daughters-in-ups-bulandshahr
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People
Offer Friday Prayers In Srinagar Mosque Carrying Photos Of Detained Mirwaiz,
Demand His Release
March
6, 2021
People
offered Friday prayers in Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid today carrying photos of
detained Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and demanded his immediate release.
A
group of youth indulged in pelting stones at security forces outside the mosque
in the downtown.
Devotees
were expecting the Mirwaiz to give sermons in the mosque after the Friday
prayers as a word had spread on Thursday that the chief priest was no longer
under detection.
The
Mirwaiz is among several of leaders — both separatists and mainstream — who
were taken into custody or placed under house arrest as the Centre revoked
Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution on 5
August 2019.
While
most leaders have been released Mirwaiz continues to be under detention.
The
moderate Hurriyat Conference on Friday claimed that the Jammu and Kashmir
authorities have gone back on their decision to release the Mirwaiz from
detention.
On
Thursday, a close aide of Mirwaiz had claimed that curbs on the movement of the
Mirwaiz had been lifted. The administration, however, neither confirmed nor
denied it.
“Hurriyat
Conference expresses strong resentment and regret that after announcing the
release of it’s chairman and Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Umar Farooq from a 20-month-long
house detention since August 2019, government authorities went back on their
decision,” a Hurriyat spokesperson said.
https://www.thestatesman.com/india/people-offer-friday-prayers-srinagar-mosque-carrying-photos-detained-mirwaiz-demand-release-1502955780.html
--------
Gujarat
Govt to Enact Strict Law To Deal With Love Jihad: Jadeja
Mar
6, 2021
Gandhinagar:
Minister of state for home Pradipsinh Jadeja said in the Gujarat assembly on
Friday that after the remarkable victory for his party in the local body polls,
the BJP is now in power in 90% of Gujarat’s geographical area. He was speaking
on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address in the assembly. The minister
also spoke about Aisha, who committed suicide at the Sabarmati riverfront. “The
girl lived in my constituency. Her father stays at Vatva. I called and spoke to
him. I also spoke to police officers and asked them to take strictest possible
action against the culprits,” said Jadeja. Commenting on stringent laws being
enforced, he said, “Whether it is Aisha or Asha, the government will enact
strict laws to deal with love jihad and check crimes against women.”
Jadeja
said the people have been repeatedly endorsing the BJP’s development plank, and
have been rejecting the Congress party’s policy of appeasement. He said the
discerning voters of Gujarat have given a sharp rebuff to the Congress’ attempt
to incite youth and disturb peace in the guise of reservation stir in 2015. “If
this trend continues, it will be difficult for the Congress to survive in
Gujarat,” he said.
Commenting
on renaming of the world’s largest cricket stadium after PM Narendra Modi,
Jadeja said the cricket stadium is only a part of the proposed 215-acre Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave. “The Congress neglected Sardar Patel. It was
under the leadership of PM Modi that the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel
was built. Today more people visit the Statue of Unity than the Taj Mahal,” he
said.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/govt-to-enact-strict-law-to-deal-with-love-jihad-jadeja/articleshow/81356588.cms
--------
NIA
probes Jamaat-e-Islami’s Jammu and Kashmir chapter
By
Neeraj Chauhan
MAR
06, 2021
The
National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched an investigation against the
Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Jammu & Kashmir, and its office-bearers on
allegations that they support terror activities in the Valley in association
with the Hizbul Mujahideen and other terror outfits at the behest of Pakistan,
people familiar with the matter said.
In
its first FIR registered against JeI, J&K a few weeks ago, the central
anti-terror probe agency invoked terror charges on specific information that
the organisation was funding and supporting anti-India activities with an
ultimate goal of secession of J&K from India, the people cited above added.
The
Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) banned JeI after the Pulwama terror attack
in 2019, in which 40 Indian troopers were killed and which brought India and
Pakistan to the brink of war. Over 100 JeI, J&K members, including its
chief Abdul Hameed Fayaz were arrested by the J&K Police at that time. Fayaz
continues to be behind bars.
An
NIA officer, who asked not to be named, said they will “examine the funding of
Jamaat-e-Islami [J&K] over the years, its properties, its links with
separatist leaders and terror outfits – particularly Hizbul Mujahideen, since
several members of the Hizb’s cadre at some point were JeI members”.
JeI,
J&K is intrinsically linked with United Jehad Council (based in Pakistan)
which is the “umbrella organisation” of all major terrorist outfits, he added.
When
JeI, J&K was banned under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) on
February 28, 2019, the Centre said: “JeI [J&K] stands for securing right of
self-determination/independence from Indian dominion. However, its militant
wing headed by Mohammad Yousuf Shah alias Syed Shah-ud-Din (formerly Ruken JeI)
stands for merger of J&K with Pakistan. In order to achieve its goal, JeI
is operating through Kashmir Centre at Lahore, for giving International
publicity drive to the ongoing movement where one Mohammad Sofi alias Safi
(Ruken JeI) having clandestinely exfiltrated is co-ordinating the activities of
JeI related militant groups as well.”
The
government added: “At the international level, its activists like Ghulam Nabi
Fai, Executive Director, Kashmir American Council USA and Syed Nazir Geelani
(London based) are spearheading the anti-Indian campaign aimed at secession of
the Jammu & Kashmir from Union of India. These people and their
organizations issue press statement about baseless alleged human rights
violations in order to malign the Indian forces combating terrorism in Jammu
& Kashmir.”
The
Jamaat-e-Islami came into existence in 1941, spearheaded by Moulana Abul Alla
Madoodi and with its headquarters at Lahore. After Partition, JeI Hindi
separated from this body and established its headquarters in Rampur, Uttar
Pradesh.
A
branch was established in Jammu & Kashmir in 1945 and Pir Saad-ud-Din as
its Amir (chief).
The
Jamaat-e-Islami was formed in 1941, with its headquarters in Lahore, under the
leadership of Moulana Abul Alla Madoodi. After the partition, the outfit was
split into three separate independent organisations based in India, Pakistan
and Bangladesh, each.
According
to Indian agencies, the JeI has maintained that J&K is a disputed
territory.
JeI
Hind, headquartered at Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur, advocates for the righteous way
for peace and abiding well-being.
“The
aims and objectives of the party at the time of its inception were to propagate
Islamic teachings and creation of an Islamic State with life based on Shariat.
However, after the accession of Jammu & Kashmir with India, JeI, J&K
started to follow the instructions and directions imparted by JeI of Pakistan
and began to question the accession of the J&K with Union of India,”
according to a ministry of home affairs document seen by HT.
The
document added that the Hizbul Mujahideen, constituted in 1989, is the military
wing of JeI, J&K.
“With
the aforesaid political ideology, this militant outfit has been indulging in
acts of armed violence for more than two decades now and is the biggest
subversive group spearheading the current secessionist movement in the valley,
with Pak/POK support in terms of arms training, supply of arms and ammunition
and guidance. Both JeI and Hizb-ul-Mujahedeen (HM) are currently engaged in
increasing their influence through vicious means including merger of smaller
militant groups with it,” the document added.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nia-probes-jamaat-e-islami-s-j-k-chapter-101614973701557.html
--------
Hyderabad:
Islamic preacher Ilyas Sharfuddin booked for alleged hate video
6th
March 2021
By
SM Bilal
Hyderabad:
The Hussainialam police have registered a suo-moto case against Islamic
preacher Ilyas Sharfuddin for allegedly making and circulating provocative
statement over social media.
According
to the sources Y.K.Prasad, Sub-Inspector of police Hussainilam police station
has filed a complaint with the same police station alleging that Iliyas
Sharfuddin has posted a video on social media abetting the public to eat cow.
The
FIR registered under IPC sections 153(A), 295(A) and 505(2) says 2.37 minutes
duration video posted on the face book account Ilyas sharfuddin slave-of-Allah
is aimed at promoting disharmony, enmity or feelings of a particular religion,
though abetting to eat cow is prohibited under “The Telangana Prohibition of
Cow Slaughter and Animal Preservation Act-1977”.
He
allegedly offended the feelings of Hindus which is likely to promote communal
commotion between the communities says the FIR.
The
complainant sub-inspector also alleged that with an intention of malicious he
insulted the religious beliefs of class of people and he also did the act with
deliberate malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of other
class and promoted the feeling of enmity hatred by circulating the video
containing the feeling of enmity and hatred.
https://www.siasat.com/hyderabad-islamic-preacher-ilyas-sharfuddin-booked-for-alleged-hate-video-2104027/
--------
West
Bengal polls: Mamata gives tickets to 42 Muslim candidates
5th
March 2021
Kolkata:
Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has given tickets to as many as 42
Muslim candidates out of the 291 seats in which the ruling formation has
fielded its candidates for the forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal,
to be held in eight phases from March 27 to April 29.
The
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has repeatedly attacked the Banerjee-led Trinamool
Congress for its ‘appeasement’ politics in the past.
Besides
giving importance to candidates from the minority community, Banerjee has also
given tickets to 50 women candidates, 79 SC nominees and 17 ST candidates.
Retired
IPS officer and former top cop Humayun Kabir has been fielded from West
Midnapore’s Debra constituency, while Siddikullah Chowdhury will be contesting
from Monteswar in East Burdwan on a Trinamool ticket.
“I’m
confident about Trinamool’s win. I joined the party from the police force to
save the democratic fabric of Bengal,” Kabir said.
On
the other hand, a section Trinamool activists staged an agitation at Bhangar in
Kolkata’s adjoining South 24 Parganas district as local Trinamool old gun and
ex-MLA Arabul Islam was not given a ticket to contest the Assembly polls.
Arabul also broke down in tears in public after the list of candidates was
announced on Friday.
Md
Rezaul Karim will contest from Bhangar on a Trinamool ticket.
“It
seems that the party does not need me any more. I have always been with the
Trinamool Congress, but that need is now over. I have always tried to stand by
the people of Bhangar. Now I will only do what they will ask me to do,” Arabul
said.
His
supporters even set things on fire in the locality and put up road blockades.
Arabul himself ransacked his own party office in the area.
Similar
incidents took place elsewhere too, with dissenting Trinamool activists taking
out protest rallies in different districts as soon as the party released its
candidates’ list for the high-voltage Assembly polls.
One
such agitation took place in Amdanga where two-time legislator from the seat,
Rafikul Ahmed, was not considered for a ticket. Instead, the ticket was given
to an outsider, the agitators claimed.
Meanwhile,
Banerjee said that as many as 23-24 existing Trinamool legislators were dropped
from the candidates’ list owing to their age-related issues and other reasons.
Announcements
for the remaining three constituencies in Darjeeling have been put on hold as
they would be contested by Trinamool allies.
https://www.siasat.com/trinamool-gives-tickets-to-42-muslim-candidates-2103934/
--------
BJP
candidate in Malappuram promises quality ‘halal beef’ if elected
By
Sruthi Vibhavari
6th
March 2021
Malappuram:
While the central government pushes for nationwide ban and cow vigilantes lynch
people for consuming beef, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the
by-election to Kerala’s Malappuram promised quality ‘halal beef’ for the people
if they elect him.
“I
will ensure quality beef and standard abattoirs in my constituency. In Kerala,
there is no ban on beef so that question (of ban) doesn’t arise here. My
opponents are citing beef ban just to portray my party in bad light,” N
Sreeprakash said.
He
will represent BJP in Malappuram by-election, a Muslim-dominated constituency.
The
central government announced a nationwide ban on cow slaughter in May 2017. In
fact, a day before Sreeparakash made his remarks, Chhattisgarh chief minister
Raman Singh proposed the death sentence for cow killers.
Beef
consumption, however, is still legal in Kerala, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh,
Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. Earlier, BJP had been called
out several times when it did not impose a beef ban in states like Goa and
Arunachal Pradesh during respective elections.
Malappuram
is recording a stiff contest between Muslim League’s PK Kunahlikutty, CPM’s MB
Faisal and Sreeprakash of the BJP.
https://www.siasat.com/bjp-candidate-in-malappuram-promises-quality-halal-beef-if-elected-2104461/
--------
South Asia
UN
Security Council: Taliban continues to patronize Central Asian Jihadists
March
6, 2021
By
Uran Botobekov
On
February 3, 2021, the UN Security Council published its twenty-seventh report
on threats and challenges of global terrorist organizations such as ISIS and al
Qaeda as well as and associated groups around the globe. The report drew a
clear picture of proximity between Central Asian Salafi-Jihadi groups with the
Taliban and al Qaeda, although they currently abstain from publicizing their
mutually beneficial relationships.
The
UN’s monitoring team stated that “the security situation in Central Asia is
influenced by developments in Afghanistan” and “success in the peace process
(meaning Doha accord) would have a positive impact on five post-Soviet
nations”. In part, this is related to the fact that Uzbek Islamist groups have
taken shelter in Afghanistan since the late 90s and are participating in the
Taliban-led insurgency.
During
this time, Central Asian Jihadi groups swore allegiance (bayat) to both the
Taliban and alQaeda, joined the global jihad, and in 1999-2000 made several
efforts to attack the densely populated Fergana Valley, sandwiched between
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Despite
the Doha agreement with the U.S, the report of the UN Security Council
monitoring team confirms that the Taliban still maintain close ties to Uzbek
and Tajik Salafi-Jihadi movements. It may be recalled that according to the
Doha accord, the Taliban was expected to sever ties with al Qaeda and other
Muhajireen (foreign fighters) armed groups and ensure Afghan soil is not used
for attacks on US interests. While on the other hand, Taliban leaders insist
they do not have ties with any foreign armed group.
The
UN monitoring group found little evidence of significant changes in relations
between al Qaeda and the Taliban, and, accordingly, both maintain close ties to
its’ Central Asian subsidiaries. The report further notes that the «alQaeda
assesses that its future in Afghanistan depends upon its close ties to the
Taliban, as well as the success of Taliban military operations in the country».
The
authors of the new UN report predicted that “success in the Afghan peace
process would have a positive impact on Central Asia». Further, analysts of the
UN monitoring body turned their emphasis on the activities of the Islamic
Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), one of the veterans of the Central Asian
Salafi-jihad groups created in the Uzbek city of Namangan in the mid-1990s by
the famous radical Islamist Tahir Yuldash. The UN Security Council’s monitoring
team estimates that the IMU’s Afghan wing “consists of up to 700 people,
including family members and approximately 70 Central Asians who left the
Islamic State’s Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) and joined IMU.”
The
monitoring team’s report also highlighted the long-standing and strong links of
two other Uzbek jihadist groups – Katibat Imam al-Bukhari (KIB) and the Islamic
Jihad Group (IJG) – with the Taliban, who plays the role of ideological and
military mentor for them. The report also noted that the “KIB has approximately
150 fighters, mostly in Badghis Province,” while “IJG has approximately 100
fighters active in the northern Afghan provinces of Kunduz and Faryab under
Taliban shelter and control”.
The
UN Security Council’s monitoring team revealed some sort of conspiracy in the
Taliban’s relations with Central Asian Salafi-Jihadi groups after the
conclusion of the US-Taliban agreement.”The Taliban, which continues to deny
the presence of foreign terrorist fighters in Afghanistan, has forbidden these
[Uzbek and Tajik] groups from launching independent operations against the
Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF), and this has resulted in a
reduction of their income”, the Monitoring team notes.
According
to the UN monitoring team’s analysts, “the position of these groups has been
further complicated by the killing of the IMU leader, Abdulaziz Yuldash, in
Ghormach district, Faryab Province.” It should be pointed out that the leader
of the Uzbek militant group was killed during a special operation by the Afghan
National Directorate of Security (NDS) Special Forces in the northern province
of Faryab against the Taliban in November 2020.After neutralizing him, the
Afghan Ministry of Defense stated that “Abdulaziz Yuldash had been involved in
terrorist attacks and killing of Afghans in the northern provinces”. Abdulaziz
was the son of IMU founder and fabled Uzbek militant commander Tahir Yuldash
who fought alongside the Taliban and had a close relationship with al Qaeda’s
leader Osama bin Laden. Tahir Yuldash was killed by a U.S. drone strike on
August 27, 2009, in Pakistan’s South Waziristan region, after which his two
sons, Mohammad and Abdulaziz, continued their father’s Jihadi legacy.
However,
it must be stressed that the relationships between the Taliban and the Islamic
Movement of Uzbekistan have not always been cloudless. The IMU was hit hard by
the Taliban in late 2015 as punishment for its “betrayal” of the Taliban and al
Qaeda when the then-leader of IMU Usman Ghazi, Tahir Yuldash’s successor and
his son-in-law, announced his allegiance (bayat) to the ISIS leader Abu Bakr
al-Baghdadi. As punishment for this betrayal, in late 2015 the Taliban killed
Usman Ghazi and more than 100 IMU members at a base in Zabul Province.
After
the physical liquidation of the pro-ISIS “traitors”, most of the Uzbek
jihadists of IMU in Badakhshan,Faryab, Jowzjan, Helmand and Zabul returned to
the Taliban’s fold.In its eleventh report, dated May 27, 2020, the UN Security
Council’s Monitoring Team on Taliban Sanctions stated that “the IMU has not
demonstrated any independent operational activity for some years and remains
under the command and financial control of the Taliban” (see UN report, para.
85).Abdulaziz Yuldash’s charisma, decisive character and the glorious name of
his slain father helped him gather scattered IMU members around him and restore
loyalty to the Taliban and al Qaeda again. But amid the rise of other Central
Asian militant groups, the IMU is unable to regain its former glory as of the
most powerful insurgent movements with a long history of Jihad.
So,
the report of the UN Security Council’s Monitoring Team clearly illustrated
that the IMU considers Afghanistan as its permanent safe haven, relying on its
long-standing and strong relationship with the Taliban leadership. Taliban’s
recent ban on Central Asian Islamist groups from conducting independent Jihadi
operations against Afghan government forces is intended to disguise their
presence in Afghanistan. Following the signing of the Doha Peace Agreement with
Washington, the Taliban also banned Central Asian Salafi-Jihadi groups from
posting photos, videos, and other information on social media indicating their
close ties to the Taliban and al Qaeda.
For
example, in April 2020, following the Doha deal, the leader of the KIB’s Syrian
wing Abu Yusuf Muhajir was forced to delete his poem congratulating the Taliban
on its “victory over the US aggressors” in Afghanistan from his Telegram
channel. Also in July 2020, after clear discontent and pressure of the Taliban,
Abu Yusuf removed his second post on joint successful military operations of
Uzbek jihadists with the Taliban against the Afghan army from his Telegram
page.
Uzbek
jihadists of the KIB have pledged allegiance (bayat) to the Taliban and
jealously considered themselves, in comparison with other Central Asian groups,
the most loyal allies of the Taliban. Indeed, the coat of arms and the official
name of the group “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan – Katibat Imam al-Bukhari”
were taken over from the Taliban. In its reports, the UN Security Council’s
Monitoring team constantly emphasized that KIB, a splinter of the former
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, “participates actively in hostilities against
Afghan government forces under the leadership of the Taliban.”In that way, KIB
portrays itself as part of the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”, the official
name of Afghanistan in 1996-2001 under the Taliban regime.
The
UN Security Council’s report also stated that Central Asian groups IMU, KIB and
IJG have faced financial difficulties due to the Taliban’s ban on independent
attacks and raids on the territory controlled by the Afghan government.”The
Taliban, which continues to deny the presence of foreign terrorist fighters in
Afghanistan, has forbidden these [Central Asian] groups from launching
independent operations against ANDSF, and this has resulted in a reduction of
their income” the report reads.
According
to the UN’s monitoring team, “financial support from Uzbek groups in the Syrian
Arab Republic to their Afghan branches has declined.”This happened “because of
the feud between HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) and HAD (Hurras al-Din) over the
leadership in Idlib Province and control over foreign terrorist fighters,
including Central Asians”, the report said.
The
UN’s monitoring team also detailed an incident with the former KTJ leader Abu
Saloh al-Uzbeki, who suffered because of his staunch loyalty to al Qaeda.We
analyzed in detail the causes and consequences of the scandal around him, which
alarmed the Salafi circles of the post-Soviet countries leading Jihad in Syria
and Afghanistan.”The KTJ founder Abu Saloh, who had initiated online propaganda
in favour of HAD, was detained by HTS and accused of stealing money belonging
to HTS fighters,” the report reads.The fate of the famous ideologue of global
jihad Abu Saloh, who challenged the powerful HTS, is still unknown. But his
supporters on social media daily spread his religious audio and video messages
inspiring the Fergana Valley’s youth to holly jihad.
Conclusion
Thus,
the UN Security Council’s latest report once again refutes the Taliban’s
assertion that al Qaeda and its Central Asian Salafi-Jihadi subsidiaries are
not present in Afghanistan. Today, the Taliban, which gives the appearance of
compliance with the Doha deal, is trying to put “diplomatic pressure” on the US
that its military forces to leave the country by May 1.In unison with the
Taliban, the Central Asian jihadists on their Telegram pages “threaten” the
West that after the expiration of the “peace accord” the whole world will turn
upside down for the enemies of Allah in Afghanistan.
The
Biden administration is facing an extraordinarily tough challenge, which poses
a question of how to achieve a real severing of ties between al Qaeda and the
Taliban, as stipulated in the Doha Agreement?
It
is common knowledge that bayat (pledge of allegiance) in Islam has a deep
sacred Quranic value, the meaning of which boils down to giving an oath of
allegiance to Allah Almighty and His prophet Muhammad. Therefore, from an
Islamic perspective, it is difficult to achieve the abolition of the al Qaeda’s
bayat to the Taliban, and to sever their ties with the help of external
pressure from their infidel “common enemies”.
The
Taliban signed the Doha Agreement pursuing only two goals: to achieve the
withdrawal of the U.S. military troop from the country and to restore the
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, with its emir, Mullah Haibatullah Akhunzadaas
the leader. Consequently, the Taliban pretend to be extending an olive branch
to the US with one hand, while with the other covering and defending al Qaeda
and Central Asian Salafi-Jihadi groups, keeping up its offensive all across
Afghanistan.
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2021/03/06/un-security-council-taliban-continues-to-patronize-central-asian-jihadists/
--------
President
Ghani: Pakistan must choose a right path
06
Mar 2021
President
Ghani during the inauguration of the third year of the 17th legislative term of
the National Assembly said Pakistan should choose the “right path” and added
that “let’s accept each other as two independent countries”.
He
added that Constitution decides the future leaders of Afghanistan and that the
transfer of power through elections is an uncompromisable principle.
President
Ghani said that “we are ready to talk about a free, transparent and countrywide
election under the management of the international community”.
He
also assured that no decision will be taken in the absence without direct role
and approval of all layers of Afghanistan, he said peace efforts require proper
management and planning.
According
to President Ghani, past experience showed that achieving peace is not a mere
dream, achieving peace requires durability, an end to violence, and insurance
of political, economic, and social stability.
Peace
requires sacrifice Ghani said that he is ready to sacrifice for peace but for a
peace that is not jeopardizing the achievements of the past decades and
People’s interests should be seen as the sacred goal.
Ghani
reiterated that no one could decide on dissolving Afghanistan’s institutions
that are approved in the constitution.
Afghans
demand an end to the 42 years of war and they want peace but not peace of the
graveyard, President Ghani added, that he will not let the efforts for freedom,
democracy, and preservation of the system be wasted.
President
Ghani also condemned the Targeted attacks and called it violence against
Afghanistan’s children and bright future and they are aimed to create fear
among people.
This
comes as the European parliament in a statement condemned Targeted killings of
innocent human rights defenders, civil society activists, journalists, and
continuous violence in Afghanistan.
European
parliament called for an immediate cease of violence and an end to the violence
in the country in order to preserve the fundamental rights and principles of
Afghanistan’s tomorrow.
Chair
of the Delegation for relations with Afghanistan Petras Austrevicius stated,
that “During the last months, we have seen an eruption of violence. It is very
worrisome that this violence targets systematically those who contribute to an
open and free society and who ensure the freedom of speech and media. Women are
very often victims of these targeted attacks.”
“On
behalf of the European Parliament, we condemn in the strongest terms the
targeted assassinations of journalists, human rights defenders, and civil
society representatives,” Austrevicius said.
“The
European Parliament urges all sides to stop the violence and put in place an
immediate and permanent ceasefire. We call all sides to continue the peace
negotiations,” he stated.
EU
parliament “insists that whatever the outcome of peace negotiations will be, a
future constitution must guarantee the fundamental rights and principles of a
free and open society, built upon the political, economic and social
achievements of the people of Afghanistan”.
A
call for a transparent and thorough investigation of targeted killings was also
made in the statement.
https://www.khaama.com/president-ghani-pakistan-must-choose-the-right-path-435355/
--------
Taliban
just seeking prisoner release, foreign troop exit: ex-U.S. security adviser
March
5, 2021
"The
position of the Taliban has been consistent from the beginning of the period in
which the topic of negotiations surfaced. The Taliban has never been willing to
negotiate except on two points. First, how can it secure the release of Taliban
prisoners held by Afghan government forces? Second, the terms of a U.S. exit
from Afghanistan," James P. Farwell tells the Tehran Times.
Farwell
says the Taliban "has never shown serious interest in negotiating about
any other topics."
The
former adviser to the U.S. Special Operations Command also notes that the
Taliban's "position is actually more tenuous than it appears to
believe."
He
adds, "There are many, many stakeholders in Afghanistan and most of them
are anti-Taliban. Without a realistic accord that takes broad stakeholder
interests into account, the Taliban's strategy seems likely to backfire in its
face, miring it in a long-term civil war."
He
also tries to portray the Taliban as the enemy of Iran, while Iran has been
holding talks with the Taliban representatives in Tehran and has been
encouraging intra-Afghan dialogue to settle the decades-long conflict in the
country.
"From
Tehran's viewpoint, it should bear in mind that the Taliban is Sunni and no
friend of Iran. A Taliban-run Afghanistan would likely damage, not help
Iran," he claimed.
"A
Taliban-run Afghanistan would likely damage, not help Iran," he adds.
Contrary
to claims by the former military advisor, Iran has been hosting millions of
Afghan refugees since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and they have
assimilated into the Iranian society and there is no talk of who is Sunni or
Shia.
In
February 2020, the United States reached an agreement with the Taliban and
signed a declaration with the government of Afghanistan to encourage an
intra-Afghan peace process.
However,
analysts firmly believe that the dialogue with the Taliban, which started
during the Trump administration, was primarily aimed at finding a face-saving
exit by the U.S. from Afghanistan.
Analysts
and politicians are asking why the United States, which considered the Taliban
as a terrorist group and rejected talks with them, is now begging them to stop
attacks on foreign forces.
Many
observers believe that the agreement faces serious challenges that would
undercut efforts to end the United States' longest war.
Though
the Vietnam War will continue to haunt Americans and the U.S. lost more than
58,000 troops in the country, its war against the Taliban is the longest of all
U.S. wars overseas.
Analysts
say U.S. negotiations with the Taliban show Washington's hypocrisy.
When
asked if the Taliban are terrorists, why is the U.S. negotiating them, and if
they are not, why did America wage war against them, he just said, "This
is a civil war."
The
American expert says that "there is no reason" that Iran and the U.S.
"should have an adversarial relationship as to Yemen."
On
what fuels the engine of the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan and Pakistan, he
says, "That is too broad a question to answer in a short interview. It
draws upon a combination of Pashtun ad anti-foreigner sentiment, and its
finances have been fueled by drug smuggling."
The
former military advisor also refused to elaborate on the Biden administration's
decision to change policy toward Saudi Arabia, just saying, "The Biden
policy towards Saudi Arabia is evolving. We'll see how it unfolds."
Also, on the release of an intelligence report
by the U.S. that directly implicates Saudi de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman
for killing Jamal Khashoggi and the repercussion of the report on the future
relationship between Washington and Riyad, he said, "The report speaks for
itself."
Some
say the release of the intelligence report on the Khashoggi killing may put the
fate of MBS in disarray.
"It's
not clear in the opaque dynamics of Saudi politics who will succeed the current
king," Farwell says.
Sustainable
peace in Afghanistan, Yemen, and West Asia in general needs comprehensive
cooperation between the U.S. and regional actors, including Iran, but on the
ground, they have mostly adversary relations.
The
former adviser to the U.S. Special Operations Command also sees room for a
common understanding between Iran and the United States on the crisis in Yemen,
saying, "There is no reason that the two should have an adversarial
relationship as to Yemen. That serves no one, least of all the people of
Yemen."
Before
Biden came to power, the U.S. was providing logistical and intelligence reports
for the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
The
war has also taken a heavy toll on the country's infrastructure, destroying
hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN says over 24 million Yemenis are in
dire need of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from extreme
levels of hunger.
In
the early days of the Saudi-led war on Yemen, Iran presented a four-point plan
to then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposing cession of war and formation
of an inclusive government, among other things.
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/458766/Taliban-just-seeking-prisoner-release-foreign-troop-exit-ex-U-S
--------
Dhaka
Catholics mark Lent with prayer, sacrifice, solidarity
by
Sumon Corraya
03/05/2021
Dhaka
(AsiaNews) - In Bangladesh Catholics live Lent with great solemnity, prayers,
sacrifices and good deeds.
“As
a disciple of Christ, I try deeply to realise the meaning of Lent. In this
period every week I attend the Way of the Cross and Sunday Mass, practising
fasting and sacrifices”, said Margarate Gomes, a Catholic nurse who works in a
public hospital.
In
this Muslim-majority country, Christians make up only 0.4 pe cent of the
population.
Gomes
says that she comes from a devoted Catholic family and learnt from her parents
the importance of Lent; for this reason, she lives this time of purification
with great intensity.
“In
childhood, I saw my parents fasting, praying and helping those in need. Now I
do it too and from this I draw spiritual strength,” Gomes explained.
As
a nurse Margarate has the opportunity to bear witness to her faith through love
and care. “I do my best at my work with smiles, helping patients become
stronger,” she noted. “From my sincere service people recognise that I am
Christian”.
Aknon
Rozario also shares his story about Lent. “I like the sermons of priests and I
want to follow their teachings,” said the young man who works as an electrician
in a factory.
“Once
I was too busy playing with my mobile phone instead of praying or talking to my
parents and siblings,” said the 22-year-old, “but now I pray and dedicate time
to my relatives. I was encouraged to do so listening to sermons in church
during Lent.”
Paul
Palma is a retiree. He gave up drinking during Lent. “I earned a lot in my
life,” he explained. “I had a good time. Now I feel that I should do something
for others.”
“
instead of having fun, I like to give. I Give money to needy people who need
treatment. I get pleasure from giving to others and Lent helps me do so,” he
added.
In
this period, with fasting, giving up one meal, thousands of Catholics donate
offerings to the Church, which are used to build new churches for new
worshippers in remote areas. Every year
hundreds of people become Christian.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Dhaka-Catholics-mark-Lent-with-prayer,-sacrifice,-solidarity-52517.html
--------
3
HuJI militants remanded in Dhaka
6th
March 2021
By
Sumi Khan
Dhaka,
March 6 : A Dhaka court on Saturday placed three members of the banned militant
outfit, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B), on a three-day remand.
The
three members include Mainul Islam, the group’s former chief operations coordinator
who had planned a major sabotage in Dhaka. He was arrested in 2015.
The
other two, Sheikh Sohan Swad and Murad Hossain Kabir, were arrested by a team
of Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) from Dhaka’s Saidabad area
on Thursday evening.
Five
litres of acid, a personal vehicle, five mobile phones, a machete, two knives,
10 detonators, 180 bearing iron balls, a scotch tape, three ID cards and some
other harmful items were recovered from the arrested members, CTTC officials
confirmed to IANS on Saturday morning.
The
trio were trying to revive the militant outfit form its Shura (executive)
committee, ensure funds, recruit members, collect arms and ammunitions, ensure
bail for its jailed members and setting up training facilities in Bandarban-Naikhongchari
by taking land on lease.
According
to the CTTC, the organisation was being reorganised in 64 districts under
Mainul’s leadership, full Shura committees were formed, funding was secured,
members were procured, weapons were procured, bomb-making equipment was
procured, and bail arrangements were made for imprisoned members.
Mainul
was working under the direction of another top millitant Abu Saeed, who was
sentenced to life imprisonment in the case of the 2004 Dhaka grenade attack,
and Mehedi Hasan, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2000 attempted
assassination of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A
case has been filed against the three under the anti-terrorism law at Jatrabari
police station in the capital.
https://www.siasat.com/3-huji-militants-remanded-in-dhaka-2104292/
--------
Southeast Asia
Malaysian
authorities urged to take death threats against trans Muslim entrepreneur
seriously
Kate
Ng
March
6, 2021
Threats
against a prominent trans Muslim entrepreneur in Malaysia must be taken
seriously by the authorities and religious leaders, activists have said.
It
comes after Nur Sajat, who owns a cosmetics business, hinted she was
considering converting out of Islam during a livestream on her now-deactivated
Instagram account.
Prior
to the livestream on 1 March, the state of Selangor’s Islamic Religious
Department (JAIS) said it deployed around 122 personnel and enforcement
officers to find and arrest Ms Sajat after she failed to attend a sharia court
hearing.
She
was charged three years ago with the offence of insulting Islam by dressing as
a woman, and was due to appear at the Syariah High Court on 16 February. The
court later issued a warrant of arrest against Ms Sajat, who is believed to
have gone into hiding.
The
mobilisation of a large group of officers to find Ms Sajat has alarmed
activists and members of the public, and labelled a “witch hunt”.
Justice
for Sisters, a trans rights group, said the efforts were “overzealous” and
called on JAIS to end all prosecution against Ms Sajat immediately.
The
group said in a statement: “We are astonished by the financial and human
resources that are being allocated for this search and arrest operation against
Sajat.
“All
these actions by JAIS are extreme and demonstrate their overzealousness in arresting
and detaining Sajat at all costs for merely expressing herself and her gender
identity.”
Ms
Sajat’s suggestion about converting to a different religion also earned her
intense backlash from other Muslims, prompting the former minister for Islamic
affairs to caution against overreacting.
People
took to social media to insult Ms Sajat and make threats of violence against
her, even threatening to kill her for hinting she may convert.
Mujahid
Yusof Rawa told English-language newspaper Free Malaysia Today that Malaysian
Muslims should “not overreact”, adding: “Who are we to judge her? Instead of
punishing her, we should continue to persuade her nicely not to convert to
another religion. That is the proper reaction.”
However,
he chastised Ms Sajat for using the weakness of religious institutions handling
her case “as an excuse to convert”, saying it “is not fair” on Islam.
Sister
in Islam (SIS), an advocacy group for the rights of women within Islam,
condemned the death threats levelled against Ms Sajat and said the LGBTQ
community are “often victims of violence, threats and negative statements by
various parties, including the general public”.
Death
threats are a crime under Section 506 of Malaysia’s Penal Code, warned the
group, and should be taken seriously by the authorities and religious leaders.
“It
is deeply saddening when religious leaders and authorities choose to remain
silent on the issue of death threats like this,” it added. “SIS urges the
public to remain calm, not to spread hatred, not to threaten and not to
encourage acts of violence against Nur Sajat or the transgender community in
general.”
Islam
is the majority religion in Malaysia, which is constitutionally a secular
state. Federal laws criminalise same-sex relations and state religious officials
frequently persecute LGBTQ people.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/malaysia-trans-muslim-nur-sajat-death-threats-b1813031.html
--------
Mideast
Ireland's
foreign minister to meet Iran's Rouhani on nuclear deal
06
March ,2021
Ireland's
Foreign Minister Simon Coveney is to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in
Tehran on Sunday in his role as a U.N. Security Council facilitator of the
nuclear deal agreed in 2015 between Iran and major world powers.
Iran
has so far refused to take part in a meeting brokered by the European Union
between world powers and the United States on reviving its 2015 JCPOA nuclear
deal.
But
European sources this week said that Tehran had given positive signs about
opening informal talks after European powers scrapped plans to criticise Tehran
at the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
Iranian
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is also due to meet Coveney during
the trip, on Friday said Iran would soon present a "constructive"
plan of action.
"Ireland
is a strong supporter of the JCPOA. In our role as facilitator, Ireland is keen
to maintain a close dialogue with all actors, and encourage all parties to
return to full compliance with the agreement," Coveney said in a
statement.
European
Union member Ireland in January took up its seat as one of 15 members of the
United Nations Security Council and the country has been appointed a
facilitator of the 2015 deal for the Security Council.
Tehran
and Washington have emerged from former U.S. President Donald Trump's attempts
to wreck Iran's nuclear deal locked in a standoff over who should move first to
save it. Trump pulled out of the deal in 2018.
Britain,
France and Germany decided to pause the submission of a resolution critical of
Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday to not harm the
prospects for diplomacy after what they said were concessions gained from Iran
to deal with outstanding nuclear issues.
Iran's
nuclear policy is decided by the country's top authority, supreme leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and not the president or the government.
Coveney's
visit comes after his ministry this week announced plans to reopen Ireland's
embassy in Tehran by 2023. The embassy was closed in 2012 as part of budget
cuts.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2021/03/06/Iran-nuclear-deal-Ireland-s-foreign-minister-to-meet-Iran-s-Rouhani-on-nuclear-deal
--------
Iran’s
top diplomat says will soon present ‘concrete plan of action’ on nuclear deal
Tuqa
Khalid
05
March ,2021
Iran
will soon present a “constructive” plan of action on the nuclear deal, the
Foreign Minister said on Friday, after European countries scrapped a plan to
submit a resolution criticizing Tehran at a meeting of the UN's International
Atomic Energy Agency
“As
Iran's FM [foreign minister] and chief nuclear negotiator, I will shortly
present our constructive concrete plan of action—through proper diplomatic
channels,” Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter.
The
nuclear deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, has
been unravelling since former US president Donald Trump pulled the United
States out of the agreement in 2018.
President
Joe Biden’s administration has signaled to Iran its willingness to return to
talks to revive the nuclear deal. He reversed Trump’s determination that all UN
sanctions against Iran had been restored and the State Department eased
stringent restrictions on the domestic travel of Iranian diplomats in New York.
Yet,
Tehran demanded that all Trump-era sanctions on Iran be lifted before taking
any real action to return to the deal.
Iran
said earlier this week it did not consider the time to be “suitable” for an
informal meeting on reviving the deal. However, diplomatic sources told Reuters
on Thursday Tehran has given encouraging signs in recent days about opening
informal talks.
"Things
are moving in the right direction and we have had positive signals this week
and especially in last few days," the source told reporters. "We are
seeing movements we weren't seeing last weekend," he said.
The
US maintained its stance as ready to meet with Iran without being “dogmatic”
about how.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/03/05/Iran-nuclear-deal-Iran-s-top-diplomat-says-will-soon-present-concrete-plan-of-action-on-nuclear-deal
--------
India
seeks to start full operations at Iran’s Chabahar port by May end
05
March ,2021
India
expects to start full-scale operations at Iran’s Chabahar general cargo port it
has built by the end of May, the country’s shipping minister said in a boost
for regional trade.
India
has been developing a part of the port on Iran’s south-eastern coast along the
Gulf of Oman as a way to transport goods to Iran, but also Afghanistan and
central Asian countries, and avoiding rival Pakistan.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
But
US sanctions on Iran slowed down the port’s development and Indian officials
are now counting on a thaw in relations between Washington and Tehran under
President Joe Biden to move forward with near $500 million of investments.
“I
am expecting to visit Iran in April or May for the inauguration of full
operations,” Mansukh Mandaviya, India’s ports and shipping minister, told
Reuters.
India
is developing two terminals at the port including the Shahid Beheshti complex
and under an agreement signed with the Iran, it would run the terminal for 10
years.
Mandaviya
said the port had already commenced operations in a limited way and the growth
potential was evident.
Chabahar
port had handled 123 vessels and 1.8 million tonnes of bulk and general cargoes
from February 2019 to January 2021, he said.
“This
is much higher than our expectations. Imagine the scale of operations and
freight saving once it is fully operational,” he said.
Last
year amid the pandemic, India used the Chabahar port to send 75,000 tonnes of
wheat as humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and 25 tonnes of the pesticide
malathion to Iran to deal with a locust invasion.
The
second batch of 25 tonnes has recently reached Chabahar.
As
part of the agreement with Iran, India would provide six cranes and other
equipment worth $85 million to equip and operationalize the Shahid Beheshti
terminal.
So
far, India has supplied two of these Mobile Harbor Cranes (MHC) and four others
will be delivered over the next few weeks.
“Chabahar
Port has emerged as the connecting point for the region to deliver humanitarian
assistance during the COVID pandemic,” Mandaviya said.
India
also plans to set up an around 600 km railway line from Chabahar port to
Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchestan in Iran close to the
Afghan border, at a cost of $1.6 billion to facilitate the movement of goods to
Afghanistan.
New
Delhi has also proposed inclusion of Chabahar port in the International
North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) -- connecting Mumbai with Moscow, the
minister said, referring to discussions at a virtual summit on Chabahar port on
Thursday.
The
INSTC project, proposed by India, Russia and Iran in 2000, and later supported
by 10 other central Asian countries, envisions a 7,200 km-long multi-mode
network of ship, rail and road for freight transport, aiming to cut carriage
costs by about 30 percent and transit time from 40 days to about 20 days.
https://english.alarabiya.net/business/economy/2021/03/05/India-seeks-to-start-full-operations-at-Iran-s-Chabahar-port-by-May-end
--------
Iran
casts long shadow over Pentagon nominee's Senate hearing
05
March ,2021
President
Joe Biden's nominee to become the Pentagon's top policy adviser faced
relentless Republican criticism on Thursday over his support for the Iran
nuclear deal, in a confirmation hearing that could foreshadow bigger fights
over Biden's national security agenda.
Colin
Kahl, who was a top aide to Biden during the Obama administration, reaffirmed
his views on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, strong defense ties with Israel and
the U.S. military's so-called "triad" of nuclear missiles, submarines
and bombers.
But
Republicans including their most senior member on the Senate Armed Services
Committee, Jim Inhofe, lambasted Kahl over his past remarks about Iran and
social media posts that were sharply critical of Donald Trump's policies as
president.
"How
can you reassure this committee that your hyper-partisan advocacy would not
drive Pentagon decisions?" asked the senator from Oklahoma.
Inhofe
added that if he sounded a little upset, it was because "frankly, I
am."
The
Iran nuclear deal, aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons,
was fiercely opposed by Republicans and some Democrats, and Trump withdrew from
it in 2018. Biden wants to revive the deal, which was agreed by Tehran and six
major powers.
Biden's
bid for diplomacy has been overshadowed in recent weeks by rocket attacks by
Iran-backed militia on U.S. forces in Iraq that have triggered concerns about
escalation.
Kahl
suggested he would favor strong responses to such attacks.
"When
Iran takes actions against our own forces, we should defend ourselves and punch
back," Kahl said.
'PROXY
WAR'
Tensions
in Kahl's confirmation hearing echoed concerns raised on Wednesday, when a
different Senate panel grilled Wendy Sherman over her nomination to be No. 2
official at the State Department. Sherman helped negotiate the 2015 Iran deal,
and so is also likely to lose Republican votes.
During
Thursday's hearing, Kahl defended his concerns about Trump's 2018 pullout from
the Iran deal and the decision to pile pressure on Tehran, including round
after round of economic sanctions. Kahl at the time worried it would encourage
Iran to increase its provocations and accelerate its nuclear program.
"Both
of those things have happened in the last three years. Iran is a lot closer to
the fissile material required for a nuclear weapon than they were at the end of
the Obama administration," Kahl said. "And we've seen more
attacks."
Republican
Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa said she would not support Kahl's nomination and
that members of the U.S. military "deserve someone that will take a
serious outlook to policy."
Democratic
Senator Tim Kaine said Kahl's hearing was being used by critics to re-litigate
the 2015 agreement.
"I
really believe that the controversy over your nomination is essentially a proxy
war," Kaine said. "Republicans didn't like the Iran deal."
Republican
Senator Tom Cotton said Kahl had warned on Twitter of the risk of conflict with
Iran after the Trump administration killed top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani
last year. He said Kahl had spent "the last four years warning about
impending wars that never happened."
He
also pointed to a tweet by Kahl describing Republicans as "the party of
ethnic cleansing" after Trump abruptly ordered a Syria withdrawal in 2019
in a move that many said put at risk America's Kurdish allies.
Kahl
apologized and said the last several years had been "pretty polarizing on
social media."
"I'm
sure there are times that I got swept up in that," he said.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2021/03/05/Iran-casts-long-shadow-over-Pentagon-nominee-s-Senate-hearing
--------
UN
condemns up to 23 killings in Iran’s border area with Pakistan over fuel smuggling
05
March ,2021
At
least a dozen people and possibly up to 23 have been killed in Iran’s
Sistan-Baluchistan province where Revolutionary Guards and security forces have
used lethal force against fuel couriers from ethnic minorities and protesters,
the United Nations said on Friday.
Iran
is investigating an incident in which at least two Iranians were shot dead this
week at the border with Pakistan, and Islamabad has handed over the body of one
of the victims, the Iranian foreign ministry said a week ago.
The
shooting of people carrying fuel across the border led to protests that spread
from the city of Saravan to other areas in the southeastern province of
Sistan-Baluchistan, including the capital, Zahedan.
“The
series of violent events and unrest began on 22 February, when Revolutionary
Guards are alleged to have shot and killed at least 10 fuel couriers, known as
sookhtbar, in Sistan and Baluchistan Province at the border with Pakistan,
after a two-day stand-off triggered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
blocking the road to the city of Saravan,” UN human rights spokesman Rupert
Colville told a news briefing in Geneva.
The
killings had triggered demonstrations in several cities across the province,
during which the revolutionary guard and security forces fired lethal
ammunition at protesters and bystanders, he said.
Colville
said that it has been difficult to verify the death toll due to disruptions of
local mobile data networks, but some unconfirmed reports have estimated that as
many as 23 people may have been killed.
Sistan-Baluchistan’s
population is predominantly Sunni Muslim, while most Iranians are Shiite. Iran
has some of the lowest fuel prices in the world and has been fighting smuggling
to neighboring countries.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2021/03/05/UN-condemns-up-to-23-killings-in-Iran-s-border-area-with-Pakistan-over-fuel-smuggling
--------
UN
rights office calls on Iran to restore internet in disrupted areas
05
March ,2021
The
UN rights office on Friday called on Iranian authorities to restore internet in
areas where it was apparently disrupted after protesters took to the streets
following the killing of at least a dozen people, and possibly up to 23, in
Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province, according to Reuters.
Revolutionary
Guards and security forces have used lethal force against fuel couriers from
ethnic minorities and protesters in the area, the UN said on Friday.
The
killings had triggered demonstrations in several cities across the province,
during which the revolutionary guard and security forces fired lethal
ammunition at protesters and bystanders, UN human rights spokesman Rupert
Colville told a news briefing in Geneva.
He
also said that it has been difficult to verify the death toll due to
disruptions of local mobile data networks, but some unconfirmed reports have
estimated that as many as 23 people may have been killed.
“We
call on the authorities to immediately restore Internet access in areas that
remain disconnected,” he said.
Sistan-Baluchistan’s
population is predominantly Sunni Muslim, while most Iranians are Shia. Iran
has some of the lowest fuel prices in the world and has been fighting smuggling
to neighboring countries.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/03/05/UN-rights-office-calls-on-Iran-to-restore-internet-in-disrupted-areas
--------
Yemeni
intelligence agency details terror activities of Qaeda leaders, operatives in
Ma’rib
06
March 2021
Yemen’s
Security and Intelligence Service has published a report, detailing the
activities of terrorists and senior commanders affiliated with al-Qaeda in the
country’s strategic central province of Ma’rib as Yemeni forces and allied
continue to make territorial gains there.
The
intelligence agency, in the report released on Friday, exposed the hideouts and
whereabouts of the Takfiris in Ma’rib, situated some 120 kilometers (75 miles)
east of the capital Sana’a, the hotels where they hold their meetings as well
as their arms depots and supply warehouses, the Arabic-language al-Masirah
television network reported.
The
report revealed the locations of training and rehabilitation camps belonging to
al-Qaeda terrorists, and shed light on the terrorists’ relations with
Saudi-backed militants loyal to Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi
besides their presence on battle fronts.
The
agency indicated that, by presenting the report, it seeks to inform the public
about the extent of conspiracies being devised against the Yemeni nation, as
well as the amount of support that the terrorists receive from the coalition of
aggression – particularly the United States which claims to be engaged in a war
on terrorism.
The
Yemeni intelligence agency further noted that it will circulate its detailed
report, which includes maps and coordinates, among various local and foreign
media outlets.
Back
on February 23, Yemeni officials said members of the Takfiri al-Qaeda and Daesh
terrorist groups are using Ma’rib province to launch attacks on other regions
in the war-ravaged country, and that the militants are receiving training from
Saudi military officers.
“Al-Qaeda
and Daesh [terrorist] groups have turned Ma’rib into a launching pad for
attacks on entire Yemeni regions. They are under the auspices of a Saudi
officer, and sending car bombs and death squads across the country,” Director
of Yemen’s Presidency Office Ahmed Hamed said at a ceremony in Sana’a at the
time.
He
added, “Those who are now crying foul at the ongoing battle in Ma’rib kept mum
when Sana’a was under threat by [the al-Qaeda-affiliated Salafist] Islah Party,
al-Qaeda and Daesh [terrorists].”
Chairman
of the Comprehensive National Reconciliation and Political Solution Team Yousef
Abdullah al-Fishi also said Yemeni and foreign militants from Islah Party as
well as al-Qaeda and Daesh terror groups have come together in Ma’rib,
displaced locals and usurped their residences.
Over
the past few weeks, Ma’rib has been the scene of large-scale operations by the
Yemeni troops and allied Popular Committees fighters, who are pushing against
Saudi-sponsored pro-Hadi militants.
‘Saudi
friendly fire kills, injures allied Yemeni militants in Ma’rib’
Separately,
scores of Saudi-paid militants have been killed and wounded when the Saudi-led
coalition mistakenly struck their position in Ma’rib.
A
Yemeni military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a senior
commander was among the casualties of the Saudi airstrike on Kassara front.
Anis
Mansour, an activist with Salafist Islah Party, said Saudi warplanes have
bombed pro-Hadi forces over the past few days, but the information has been
concealed in order to maintain the morale of the Hadi loyalists.
Saudi
warplanes conduct over two dozen airstrikes in Ma’rib
Saudi-led
coalition fighter jets launched more than two dozen airstrikes against various
regions in Ma’rib province on Friday.
Yemen’s
official Saba news agency reported that the aircraft carried out 19 air raids
against the Sirwah district.
Another
seven strikes were mounted against the Medghal district, whilst the Majzar
district was pounded on five occasions.
There
were no immediate reports about the extent of damage caused and possible
casualties.
Saudi
Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched the war on Yemen in March
2015 with the goal of bringing the former Riyadh-friendly regime back to power.
The
UN said in December that over 230,000 people have been killed in Yemen since
the onset of the Saudi war.
According
to the world body, 80 percent of Yemen's 30 million people need some form of
aid or protection, and about 13.5 million Yemenis currently face acute food
insecurity.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/03/06/646649/Yemeni-intelligence-agency-details-terror-activities-of-Qaeda-leaders,-operatives-in-Ma%E2%80%99rib
--------
Turkey
deals heavy blow to Daesh terrorists in February
MAR
04, 2021
Turkey
dealt a heavy blow to the Daesh terrorist group in nationwide operations in
February and prevented potential terror attacks.
The
security forces thwarted attacks in many cities, especially in Istanbul, the
capital Ankara and the southern Adana province.
A
total of 165 suspects were detained in operations against Daesh last month, 55
terror group members were remanded and documents, arms and ammunition belonging
to the group were seized, according to information compiled by Anadolu Agency.
Daesh
assassin arrested
An
alleged assassin linked to the Daesh terror group was arrested in the
northwestern Yalova province, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu announced on
Feb. 1.
In
a statement, local police later announced that a total of 14 suspects – 12
Iraqi nationals, one Moroccan and one Turkish national – including the alleged
assassin, had been arrested in the Yalova-based operation, of whom eight had
been remanded in custody and another six suspects were released on bail.
The
suspected assassin, who was identified as A.Y., is also thought to have been in
charge of smuggling militants whose Daesh links have been exposed to and from
Turkey and Europe. The statement said another suspect, identified as A.G., who
had been caught, was thought to be a high-profile member of the terror group.
A.Y.,
according to the statement, was caught while planning to flee Turkey for Iraq.
Authorities
confiscated firearms during the operations, as well as 433 fake passports and
346 fake IDs, along with equipment used to make fake passports and numerous
other documents.
So-called
"deputy education minister" nabbed
A
foreign national Daesh terror suspect was nabbed by Turkish police teams on
Feb. 3 in northwestern Turkey.
The
Jordanian suspect, identified only with initials A.Z.A.A.D., was arrested in an
anti-terror operation in the Sakarya province, according to the Interior
Ministry.
It
noted that the suspect was "the group's so-called deputy education
minister in charge of all educational institutions" in areas Daesh invaded
in Iraq and Syria between 2014-2017.
The
ministry also said the terror suspect brutally murdered people he took prisoner
in the same areas and published footage of the acts on social media.
Finance
chief arrested
A
suspect, who was determined to be the so-called head of "financial
affairs" of the terror group in Syria's Raqqa, was arrested in the
southern Mersin province, the local gendarmerie command said in a statement on
Feb. 17.
He
was nabbed in an operation at his address.
A
mobile phone and digital materials were also seized during the search of his
premises.
Terrorists
wanted with Red, Blue Notices captured
Six
people, including a Libyan and five Russian nationals, attempting to illegally
enter Turkey from Syria, were nabbed by the Turkish security forces near the
border, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Feb. 17.
It
was found that the woman, a Russian national and wanted Daesh terrorist sought
by Interpol with Red Notice, was among those captured.
After
prosecutors' interrogations, one Russian and one Libyan national were taken to
the criminal judge of peace on duty and arrested for "being a member of an
armed terrorist organization", while the other suspects were deported.
Additionally,
French citizen Sarah Talib, who was wanted by Interpol with Red Notice on the
grounds of being a Daesh member, was detained by police teams in Ankara.
Separately,
Turkish security forces caught three New Zealand nationals, including a wanted
Daesh terrorist, near the border with Syria when they were trying to enter the
country illegally, the National Defense Ministry said on Feb. 15.
"Three
New Zealand nationals trying to enter our country illegally from Syria were
caught by our border guards in Hatay's Reyhanlı district," the ministry
said on Twitter.
Among
those captured was a Daesh terrorist, a 26-year-old woman only identified by the
initials S.A. She was wanted by Interpol with Blue Notice, a status issued to
collect additional information about a person's identity, location or
activities in relation to a crime.
Turkey
was one of the first countries to declare Daesh as a terror group in 2013.
The
country has since been attacked by Daesh terrorists multiple times. The terror
group has carried out at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks and four
armed attacks, killing over 300 people and injuring hundreds more.
In
response, Turkey launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad to prevent
further attacks.
https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/turkey-deals-heavy-blow-to-daesh-terrorists-in-february?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2069039_
--------
Pakistan
Pak
PM Imran Khan threatens party lawmakers ahead of Vote of Confidence
Mar
6, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
After suffering a massive setback in the Senate election, Pakistan Prime
Minister Imran Khan, who is set to face a vote of confidence in the National
Assembly has threatened his party lawmakers to follow the party line or face
action.
This
comes after Khan said that he will sit on "Opposition benches" if
lawmakers said they have no confidence in him. "Raise your hand and send
me out of the government and I will go to the opposition," he said adding,
"I will sit on the opposition benches if I lose the vote."
Khan's
party Pakistan -- Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) -- has 157 members in the 342-member
National Assembly. Opposition Pakistan Muslim Leauge-Nawaz and Pakistan
Peoples' Party have 84 and 54 members, respectively.
In
a letter addressed to "All Members of the Parliamentary Party Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaaf in the National Assembly of Pakistan" regarding the
"Vote of Confidence", Khan wrote, "You are required to take part
in the voting on the resolution for a vote of confidence in the Prime Minister
as per the directions of the party."
"The
party head may declare any member to have defected from the political party and
forward a copy of such declaration to the election commission in case he or she
votes or abstains from voting contrary to the direction issued by the party in
the vote of confidence in the Prime Minister under paragraph ii of clause b of
Article 63A of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," he
added.
The
President of Pakistan has summoned the National Assembly on March 6, 2021, at
12.15 pm in the Parliament House, in the country's capital for the purpose of
requiring Khan to obtain the vote of confidence from the National Assembly
under clause 7 of the Article 91 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan.
The
decision to go for a trust vote came after a candidate from Imran Khan's party
lost a crucial Islamabad senate seat to Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader
and former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani by a slim margin of five votes.
Khan
is not the first Pakistani Prime Minister to face a vote of confidence in the
National Assembly.
In
fact, under the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, all prime ministers of Pakistan,
from 1985 to 2008, received a vote of confidence from the National Assembly.
These included the late Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif, Mir Zafarullah Jamali,
Chaudhry Shujaat, Shaukat Aziz, and Yousuf Raza Gilani, reported Geo News.
But
Imran Khan is also the second in the history of Pakistan who has sought for a
'voluntary' vote of confidence.
Muhammad
Khan Junejo was the first prime minister in the parliamentary history of the
country to receive a vote of confidence from the National Assembly, which he
received on March 24, 1985, under General Zia-ul-Haq's Revival of Constitution
of 1973 Order (RCO), reported Geo News.
Under
the RCO, the president appoints the prime minister at their discretion and the
prime minister must obtain a vote of confidence from the National Assembly
within 60 days of their appointment.
Pakistan's
Constitution states that if the president feels that the prime minister has
lost the confidence of the majority of the parliament's members, then he will
direct him to seek a vote of confidence and this vote is taken through an open
ballot.
Imran
Khan, under all circumstances, must have the support of a simple majority of
172 lawmakers in the National Assembly, according to Article 91(7) of the
Constitution. However, since the NA-75 seat lies vacant after its by-election
results were nullified by the Election Commission of Pakistan, he will need the
support of 171, reported The News International.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pak-pm-imran-khan-threatens-party-lawmakers-ahead-of-vote-of-confidence/articleshow/81361118.cms
--------
Pak's
Army, ISI chiefs meet PM Khan after he suffers key defeat in Senate polls; Oppn
cries foul
Mar
5, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
The chiefs of Pakistan Army and powerful spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence
(ISI) met Prime Minister Imran Khan to review national issues, a day after his
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party suffered a humiliating defeat in a
closely-contested Senate election, according to a media report.
Army
chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday met Prime Minister Khan as part of the
interactions between the civilian and military leadership on national issues.
ISI director general Lt Gen Faiz Hameed was also present during the meeting,
the Dawn newspaper reported.
An
official source said the meeting was held to review the “internal and external
situation”. However, no statement was issued by the Prime Minister's Office,
which usually issues press releases on such meetings, the report noted.
According
to the report, people were quick to link the meeting to the latest political
developments in the country following the Senate elections.
Pakistan
Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate and former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani
defeated ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on
Wednesday, in a major blow to Khan, who had personally campaigned for his
Cabinet colleague.
The
defeat of the finance minister in the elections to the upper house prompted
calls for resignation of Khan by the Opposition leaders.
Khan
hit back by announcing to seek a vote of confidence from the National Assembly
on Saturday. Shaikh was defeated by a margin of 5 votes.
Criticising
the meeting between Khan, the Army chief and the ISI chief, Maryam Nawaz, vice
president of the main Oppostion party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said the
military leadership "should not have been seen" with Prime Minister
Khan after the developments in the Senate polls.
She
said that the Prime Minister had called and met the heads of institutions in
the lawns of PM House "on the day he suffered a humiliating defeat (and)
his members expressed a lack of confidence in him and voted against him".
"Is
he not dragging the institutions into politics?" she was quoted as saying
in the report.
She
said that the meeting at this juncture does not send out good visuals.
“Institutions”
should end backing of Prime Minister Khan, if they have not done so far and
should restrict themselves to the constitutional and lawful role, she said.
Addressing
the military leadership, she said, "you should not have been seen sitting
with Imran Khan at any cost a day after he suffered a battering (and) faced the
people's and public representatives' wrath, when he (Imran) was busy in
machinations and rigging."
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/paks-army-isi-chiefs-meet-pm-khan-after-he-suffers-key-defeat-in-senate-polls-oppn-cries-foul/articleshow/81354314.cms
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Pakistan
urges close monitoring of India’s state terrorism in Kashmir targeting women
Mar
6, 2021
Geneva,
March 06 (KMS): Pakistan has called for keeping a close watch on India’s
state-directed “tools of terror” in Jammu and Kashmir where women and girls are
among the primary victims of it’s deadly counter-terrorism measures, saying
their plight must be addressed.
“We
wish to draw attention towards the Occupied Jammu & Kashmir where India has
long employed rape, torture, and killings of Kashmiri women as instruments of
its state terrorism under the cover of draconian security laws,” Ambassador
Khalil Hashmi said in an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on
the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms While
Countering Terrorism, Ms. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, as part of the ongoing session
of the Human Rights Council.
The
Pakistani envoy said since India’s illegal annexation of Jammu and Kashmir
violence against Kashmiri women, girls and families had intensified.
“Body
searches, ill-treatment and molestation of young women during fake ‘CT
(counter-terrorism) operations’ are the tools of state repression to stifle
dissent against India’s demographic engineering of the disputed territory,” he
said.
“Night
raids, arbitrary abduction, detention and enforced disappearance of their male
family members have also exposed Kashmiri women to a heightened level of
physical and psychological torture.”
In
his remarks, Ambassador Khalil backed the Special Rapporteur’s call for
upholding rights of women and girls, especially hailing from Muslim
communities, while states administer laws and policies in the name of counter
terrorism and “violent” extremism.
“Mass
surveillance, ban on wearing Hijab, arbitrary deprivation of citizenship
rights, police harassment, surveillance and efforts by some states to take over
control of religious schools and mosques continue to trample upon fundamental
rights and freedoms of Muslims women and girls,” he said.
Later,
Ambassador Hashmi participated in an other interactive dialogue — this time
with Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed.
In
a report to the 47-member Council, Shaheed said that following the 9/11
terrorist attacks and other horrific acts of terrorism purportedly carried out
in the name of Islam, institutional suspicion of Muslims and those perceived to
be Muslim has escalated to “epidemic” proportions.
“We
thank the Special Rapporteur for his well researched report that further
unpacks the drivers as well as manifestations of growing Islamophobia
worldwide,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding that it revalidates the facts
about the on-going institutionalized bias, pervasive hostility and systemic
discrimination against Muslim communities and individuals.
“The
essentialization of Muslims as cultural ‘others’ lay the ground for laws and
policies, which in turn have led to securitization and perpetuated stereotypes,
tropes and stigmatization of Muslims,” he added.
“We
are particularly alarmed by the complicity of some States, powerful politicians
and officials in promoting, perpetrating or tolerating acts of discrimination,
hatred and in some cases violence against Muslims, both offline and
increasingly through social media platforms,” Ambassador Khalil said.
“Tropes
such as Love Jihad, Corona Jihad, Cow Vigilantism and Termites are just a few
examples of state driven anti-Muslim animus and violence,” he said in an
obvious reference to the language used in India
Ambassador
Khalil underscored the need for countering Islamophobia, saying, “We must
confront the inconvenient truths, acknowledge facts, call out impunity and hold
those accountable who aid and abet anti-Muslim hatred, hostility and violence.”
https://kmsnews.org/news/2021/03/06/pakistan-urges-close-monitoring-of-indias-state-terrorism-in-kashmir-targeting-women/
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COAS
visits exercise area in Cholistan, lauds troop performance
March
6, 2021
KARACHI:
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday visited the
field training area in Cholistan Desert where he was briefed about corps-level
exercise, Zarb-i-Hadeed.
While
appreciating dedication and professionalism of the participating troops, the
army chief expressed complete satisfaction over combat readiness and training
standards of Bahawalpur Corps.
He
said excellent training and commitment enhance the operational capability for
effective response to all threats and challenges, according to a statement
issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The
two-week-long exercise is aimed at enhancing operational preparedness of
formations by creating synergy among infantry, mechanised forces, combat
aviation, surveillance platforms, army air defence and artillery while
operating within defensive operation cycle of a corps.
The
troops and units participating in the exercise displayed great degree of
professionalism and synergy while conducting offensive and defensive maneuvers
in different phases of the exercise.
Later,
the COAS visited logistic installations of Bahawalpur Corps and lauded the
engineering skills and maintenance standards achieved.
Earlier,
Bahawalpur Corps Commander Lieutenant General Khalid Zia received the army
chief on his arrival at the exercise area in the desert.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1610940/coas-visits-exercise-area-in-cholistan-lauds-troop-performance
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Swat
college to probe harassment charge against staffers
March
6, 2021
SWAT:
Government Postgraduate Jahanzeb College Swat Principal Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah
has said an inquiry has been initiated into harassment allegations raised in an
anonymous letter against some the staff members.
He
stated this while presiding over a meeting participated by the teaching staff,
according to a statement issued by the college administration on Friday.
Mr
Shah said college was a prestigious educational institute established during
the former Swat state, providing quality education to students of the region, but
some elements were trying to defame its reputation.
He
said the issue of anonymous letter against some of the staff members was taken
up by social and mainstream media in a wrong way. He said content of the letter
was analysed and an enquiry was already initiated. He said strict legal action
would be taken against those found guilty.
“A
proper anti-harassment cell exists in the college, but this particular issue
was not brought to it,” he regretted.
The
college principal said if unverified news was spread the college administration
had the right to take legal action against those responsible.
The
administration has also asked those who wrote the anonymous letter to meet the
management to convey their grievances. “The administration will resolve their
issues without showing their names,” the statement said.
At
the meeting, the teaching staff of the BS programme said that harassment
allegations in the letter were made against the staff of the intermediate
section, but media attempted to attach the matter to the BS faculty. They asked
the media outlets to refrain from such practice.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1610908/swat-college-to-probe-harassment-charge-against-staffers
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