Archaeological Body Starts Survey Of Bhojshala Kamal Maula Mosque Complex In Dhar, MP

New Age Islam News Bureau

22 March 2024

 

Bhojshala complex (File picture)

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·         Archaeological Body Starts Survey Of Bhojshala Kamal Maula Mosque Complex In Dhar, MP

·         Islamic Scholars And Muftis From Various Islamic Traditions At Makkah Meeting Issue Charter For Unity Across Sects

·         Indonesia Arrests Man, Jannes Kilon Diaz, Who Claims To Be A Prophet On A Mission To Abolish Islam

·         Survey Shows Young Americans More Critical Of Israel Than Other Citizens

·         Suicide Bomber Detonated Explosive In First District Of Kandahar City, Heavily Fortified Area, Leaves 21 Dead, 50 Injured

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India

·         MP: 17 Held For Celebrating Pakistan Cricket Win Found Innocent After 6 Years

·         Consolidated Fund To Pay Salaries Of Imams, Muezzins: HC Seeks Delhi Government’s Stand

·         Allahabad HC Declares UP Board Of Madarsa Education Act 2004 As ‘Unconstitutional’

·         ‘Indian Govt Friendly, Foreign Students Need Not Worry’: Afghan Diplomat Visits Gujarat University After Hostel Attack

·         Anti-terror agency files chargesheet against 3 in Islamic State module case

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Arab World

·         Revolution Leader Calls On Yemenis To Come Out In Millions In Solidarity With Palestinians

·         Saudi Arabia, Yemen discuss UN peace roadmap amid Houthi attacks in Red Sea

·         Saudi Arabia condemns terrorist bombing in Afghanistan’s Kandahar

·         Saudi Foreign Minister Participates in Arab Ministerial Consultative Meeting on Gaza

·         GCC Chief emphasizes necessity of ending Palestinian people's suffering from afflictions of racial discrimination

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Southeast Asia

·         Muslims from over 30 countries observe Ramadan at Taipei Grand Mosque

·         Islamophobia trends on the rise across the world

·         Indonesia’s rescue of Rohingya refugees at sea is a reminder of an ordeal that began in Myanmar

·         Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim severely criticizes West for supporting Israel’s genocide of Palestinians

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North America

·         Supreme Court Won't Hear Appeal Of Private School That Wouldn't Let Muslim Students Pray

·         Biden nomination of the first Muslim American to a federal appeals court in peril

·         Blinken says Israeli assault on Gaza’s Rafah would be a ‘mistake’

·         US lawmakers move to bar funds for UN Palestinian agency

·         CAIR-CA Welcomes Governor Newsom’s Statement Calling for an Immediate Ceasefire and Aid to Gaza

·         CAIR-NY Condemns Hostile Environment at Columbia U Created by Suspension of SJP/JVP, Hosting of Anti-Muslim Islamophobic Speaker

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South Asia

·         Islamic State Group Claims Responsibility For Bombing At Afghan Bank And Says It Targeted Taliban

·         Pakistan Should Follow Up on Problems Within Its Own Territory: Mujahid

·         Azerbaijan Embassy Opens in Kabul: Islamic Emirate

·         PM seeks India’s support to import power from Bhutan

·         Deputy Foreign Minister and Chinese Ambassador Discuss Bilateral Relations

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Mideast

·         Nearly 89,000 Gaza Structures Either Destroyed Or Damaged By Israel: UN Data

·         50,000 Worshippers Perform Tarawih Prayers At Al-Aqsa Mosque Despite Israeli Restrictions

·         Senior Hezbollah Security Official Makes Rare Visit To UAE To Discuss Detained Lebanese

·         Leaders of UAE and Jordan discuss Gaza war and bilateral ties

·         Another 61 Jordanians allowed to leave Gaza through Rafah border crossing

·         IDF probes soldiers for mistakenly killing Palestinian convert to Judaism

·         Fasting and mourning: Israeli attacks darken Ramadan in occupied West Bank

·         Israel caught in ‘Gaza quagmire’, Netanyahu at ‘end of line’: Iran FM

·         Israel restricts Palestinians' access to Al-Aqsa Mosque for 2nd Friday of Muslim holy month

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Pakistan

·         Two Martyred As Suicide Bomber Rips Through Convoy In Dera Ismail Khan

·         Zardari pleads presidential immunity in two NAB cases

·         Macroeconomic stability unachievable without another IMF programme: PM Shehbaz

·         We don’t want armed conflict with Afghanistan: Asif

·         Donald Lu’s stance on cipher: PTI demands Asad Majeed record his statement

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Africa

·         Ghana President Caught In Squabble Over Anti-LGBTQ Bill

·         Ramadan: Abdulsalami calls for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians

·         We need more young men to call Adhan - National Mosque

·         Burkina Faso's security forces are killing more civilians. Survivors detailed 1 village's massacre

·         5.5 million Haitians need humanitarian assistance: UN

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Europe

·         Sweden's Pivot: From Recognizing Palestinian Statehood To Backing Israel In Gaza

·         UK, Australia Call For ‘Immediate Cessation Of Fighting’ In Gaza

·         UK Threatens Israel With Arms Embargo Over Access Of Red Cross To Jailed Hamas Militants

·         Attempted arson attack on mosque in western Germany

·         ‘Burning object’ thrown at Israeli embassy in The Hague, suspect arrested

·         Finland to resume funding to UNRWA

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/archaeological-bhojshala-kamal-maula-mosque-mp/d/131978

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Archaeological Body Starts Survey Of Bhojshala Kamal Maula Mosque Complex In Dhar, MP

 

Bhojshala complex (File picture)

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Hemender Sharma

Mar 22, 2024

Archaeological Survey of India has started its survey at the Bhojshala (also known as Kamal Maula Mosque) complex in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar following a court order.

A dozen-strong ASI team reached the complex, situated in the tribal-dominated Dhar district, in the morning along with the district administration officials amid heavy presence of police.

The police will be carrying out a drill while the Archaeological Survey team conducts searches at the site.

Senior police officer Manoj Kumar Singh said, “The survey has begun at the Bhojshala. We have provided all the logistical support that the ASI team needed to conduct it. Adequate security measures were taken for the exercise and there is peace in the town.”

"We had filed a petition in the court in May 2022. The court has issued directives to make full use of latest technology including carbon dating. A five-member team of ASI officials is expected to furnish a report within six weeks," the petitioner seeking the survey of the Bhojshala, Ashish Goel of Hindu Front for Justice, said.

On March 11, the Madhya Pradesh High Court issued directives to the ASI to conduct a 'scientific survey' of the Bhojshala complex within six weeks of the issuance of its order.

The complex, which is the bone of contention between the two communities, is a medieval-era monument that is a temple of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati) according to Hindus, while the Muslims call it 'Kamal Maula Mosque.'

As per an ASI directive issued on April 7, 2003, Hindus have been given the right to worship inside the complex on Tuesdays, whereas the people of the Muslim community could offer Namaz at the site every Friday.

Source: indiatoday.in

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

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bhojshala-complex-madhya-pradesh-dhar-archaeological-survey-of-india-2518010-2024-03-22

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Islamic Scholars And Muftis From Various Islamic Traditions At Makkah Meeting Issue Charter For Unity Across Sects

 

Photo:  Arab News

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March 21, 2024

MAKKAH — At a pivotal conference in Makkah, hosted by the Muslim World League (MWL), leading scholars and muftis from various Islamic traditions convened to tackle sectarian divides, culminating in the "Building Bridges between Islamic Schools of Thought and Sects" Charter. This event, taking place over two days in Ramadan 1445 AH, attracted worldwide participation and was sponsored by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.

This new initiative, an extension of the "Makkah Declaration Charter" signed in 2019, underscores the scholars' dedication to their faith, acknowledging the Oneness of Allah and Muhammad as His Messenger. The charter sets forth a vision of unity, urging Muslims to transcend their differences and collaborate toward shared goals, acknowledging the diversity within the Islamic community but emphasizing the need to concentrate on core principles and laws of Islam.

The charter calls for unity and overcoming sectarian challenges by promoting respect for differences, advocating effective communication and warning against the harmful effects of defamation and misguidance that contribute to division. It confirms the unified identity of Muslims, unified in worship, scripture, prophethood, and direction of prayer, and champions Islam's message as one of universal benefit while urging Muslims to reclaim their civilizational role.

Recognizing the diversity among Islamic sects as part of Allah's divine plan, the charter encourages thoughtful and wise engagement with these differences, aiming for harmony and avoiding divisiveness. It highlights the importance of education and media in promoting Islamic unity and calls for educational initiatives that align with Islamic values and media discourse that fosters brotherhood and cooperation.

To ensure the continuity of this bridging effort, the charter proposes an annual conference to refresh its vision and goals. It suggests forming a coordinating committee to promote dialogue among Islamic schools of thought. This committee is tasked with fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation within the diverse Muslim community.

The document serves as a testament to the scholars' commitment to enhancing Islamic unity, addressing contemporary challenges while honoring the rich diversity within the Muslim Ummah. It also expresses gratitude to Saudi Arabia for its efforts in unifying the Islamic world and its stewardship of the Two Holy Mosques, highlighting the Kingdom's pivotal role in promoting Islamic solidarity.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/641431/SAUDI-ARABIA/Islamic-scholars-at-Makkah-meeting-issue-charter-for-unity-across-sects

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Indonesia Arrests Man, Jannes Kilon Diaz, Who Claims To Be A Prophet On A Mission To Abolish Islam

 

Jannes Kilon Diaz appeared in a video where he claimed to be a prophet with a mission to abolish Islam. (Photo:  Supplied)

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21 Mar 2024

The Indonesian police have arrested a man who claimed to be a prophet with a mission to abolish Islam.

Police in North Sumatra province picked up Jannes Kilon Diaz, 39, after a video of his statement went viral on social media. It sparked protests from Muslim groups.

Andreas Tampubolon, police chief in Tebing Tinggi Regency, said Diaz became a suspect on March 20 after his arrest a day before.

Tampubolon said police have unearthed evidence, such as a pulpit, tripod, robes, and papers containing the narrative read in the video. The police have also seized the cell phone that was used for filming the video, he added.

Diaz is charged under the Law on Electronic Transaction Information for uttering hate speech.

The police, however, have not revealed his religion.

In the video posted on social media, Diaz claimed he was a "prophet."

"I am a prophet who has super telepathic miracles, where my sight, hearing, thoughts, feelings and inner voice are permanently connected to other humans," he claimed.

Diaz claimed he had "received a revelation to abolish Islam."

“After I went through a very long process, this is the time for me to tell the world to dissolve the religion of Islam, according to the instructions of God Almighty," he said.

The video sparked protests from Muslim groups who accused him of blasphemy.

"The problem in Indonesia is that what is always protected is religion, not people or individuals who follow religion," said Bonar TigorNaipospos, deputy head of religious freedom with Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, an advocacy group.

"Therefore, anyone who attacks religion will be subject to a criminal offense," he added.

Andreas Harsono, a researcher with Human Rights Watch said, "Diaz might sound weird but he did not hurt anyone.”

"He only expressed his opinion about what he thought about Islam probably," he said.

"We could disagree with what he said but the government need not interfere. The Indonesian police should release him," Harsono added.

Diaz's motive “is still being investigated," police chief Tampubolon said.

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation, has registered at least 187 cases of blasphemy between 1965 and 2022, according to the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace.

In December last year, Joseph Suryadi, a 39-year-old Christian, was charged with blasphemy for allegedly insulting Islam by comparing Prophet Muhammad with an alleged child rapist.

In August same year, police arrested Muhammad Kace, a Christian YouTuber, after a series of complaints were filed by Muslims accusing him of blasphemy.

He claimed in a video posted on YouTube that Prophet Muhammad was “surrounded by devils and liars.”

Muslims make up 87 percent of Indonesia's estimated population of more than 270 million.

Source: ucanews.com

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https://www.ucanews.com/news/indonesia-arrests-man-on-mission-to-abolish-islam/104521

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Survey Shows Young Americans More Critical Of Israel Than Other Citizens

 

The survey, which took answers from 12,693 people, also showed sharply critical views of Israel among Muslim Americans. / Photo: AP Archive

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March 22, 2024

Young Americans are much more critical than other citizens of how Israel is waging its brutal war in Gaza, with US public opinion overall divided on President Joe Biden's handling of Israel's carnage in the blockaded enclave, a major survey said.

Despite intense, divisive public debate on the war — and extensive discussion in Washington on how it will affect Biden's re-election chances — the survey by the Pew Research Center also found that many Americans are not paying close attention and that 40 percent said they were unsure whether Biden was striking the right balance.

Among Americans between the ages of 18 and 29, 46 percent said that the way Israel is carrying out its response to the October 7 surprise blitz is unacceptable, with only 21 percent saying it was acceptable and the rest responding they were not sure.

Young people's views were nearly flipped among older Americans, with 53 percent of those aged 65 and above supporting Israel's response and 29 percent calling it unacceptable.

Biden, 81, has often described himself as a lifelong supporter of Israel and has staunchly defended its right to respond to the October 7.

The self-proclaimed Zionist president has offered unparalleled military and diplomatic support to Israel but also criticised its leaders for not doing more to protect civilians in besieged Gaza, where the United Nations says famine is imminent.

Muslim Americans

As the US election approaches, much attention has focused on Michigan, a must-win state for Biden in his November rematch against Donald Trump — and where a sizable Muslim and Arab-American community could prove decisive in a close race.

The survey showed that even among fellow Democrats, views on Biden's handling of the war were mixed, with 34 percent saying he was favouring Israel too much, and 29 percent saying he was striking the right balance.

The survey, which took answers from 12,693 people, also showed sharply critical views of Israel among Muslim Americans.

Twenty-one percent of Muslims said that Hamas carried out the October 7 raid in an acceptable way, a view shared by just five percent of the general US population.

Among Jewish Americans, 62 percent approved of how Israel is carrying out the war, higher than the national average, although the Jewish community offered more vocal criticism of Israel than white evangelical Protestants.

Israel has killed at least 31,988 people, mostly women and children, and wounded 74,188 others in its genocide in the blockaded enclave.

The Israeli war has pushed 85 percent of Gaza's population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water and medicine, while 60 percent of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in January issued an interim ruling ordering Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Source: trtworld.com

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

https://www.trtworld.com/us-and-canada/survey-shows-young-americans-more-critical-of-israel-than-other-citizens-17459642

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Suicide Bomber Detonated Explosive In First District Of Kandahar City, Heavily Fortified Area, Leaves 21 Dead, 50 Injured

 

Photo: Afghanistaninternational

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Fidel Rahmati

March 21, 2024

According to sources from Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan, it was claimed that in the explosion on Thursday in the first district of this city, at least 21 people were killed and 50 others were wounded, local media reported.

Taliban members from the police command in Kandahar said the explosion occurred in a heavily fortified area.

They said the suicide bomber passed through inspection checkpoints and detonated explosive materials among Taliban members gathered outside the Kabul Bank branch, awaiting their salaries, as reported by Afghanistan International.

The blast occurred near the police Taliban commander’s headquarters in Kandahar.

Meanwhile, the Taliban Interior Ministry announced that “some citizens” were killed and injured in a suicide bombing outside the Kabul Bank in Kandahar, refraining from providing precise casualty figures.

The ministry stated that the explosion was carried out “by Khawarij/renegades.” The Taliban usually refer to ISIS as “Khawarij/renegades.”

Kandahar residents say the explosion’s force was powerful enough to be heard from afar.

The Taliban police commander in Kandahar confirmed that three people were killed and 12 others were injured in an explosion outside the Kabul Bank in the city’s first security zone. However, some members of this group in the Kandahar police command told media outlets that the casualty count is higher than officially announced.

Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar has also announced that the wounded from this attack have been transferred there and are in need of blood.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for this explosion.

In another separate incident, residents of Kabul, Afghanistan, reported an intense explosion in the city on Thursday, March 21. The sound was heard in various parts of Kabul, with no information yet on casualties or the explosion’s nature. Though Kabul residents cited the fourth district as the location, Taliban authorities have not provided any comment.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/explosion-in-first-district-of-kandahar-city-leaves-21-dead-50-injured/

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 India

MP: 17 Held For Celebrating Pakistan Cricket Win Found Innocent After 6 Years

 21st March 2024

Six years after a group of 17 Muslim men, including two minors, who were wrongly accused of celebrating Pakistan’s victory in a cricket match in June 2017, a Madhya Pradesh court found that the case was fabricated as the complainant and government witnesses said police forced them to make false statements, Article 14 reported.

Interestingly, the court did not hold Madhya Pradesh police accountable for registering a fake case.

What happened?

On June 18, 2017, the Indian national cricket team lost the ICC Champions Trophy final to Pakistan. On the same day, a rumour spread amongst the residents of Mohad village in Madhya Pradesh that some members of the Muslim community distributed sweets and burst crackers to celebrate Pakistan’s victory.

Mohad village, located on the Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra border, has a substantial population of Dalits, Bhil tribals, and Tadvi Bhil Muslims, a subcaste of the Bhils who converted to Islam. A majority of the population work as daily-wage labourers.

Seventeen Muslims, including two minors, were arrested by the MP police. Initially booked under sedition and criminal conspiracy, the police dropped the sedition charge and slapped Section 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc).

Who filed complaint?

Subhash Koli

According to the Article 14 report, police pressed the charges even as the complainant Subhash Koli insisted he did not lodge any complaint.

According to Koli, on June 18, he had gone to release his Muslim friend from police custody. “They asked me, ‘A Hindu has become friends with a Muslim?’ and hit me twice on the back of my head,” Koli said in an interview with Scroll.in. He said he was scared and police made sign a false report.

Three months before the verdict, Koli succumbed to cancer.

Six years of torture, humiliation

In 2017, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had been in power for three years at the Centre. Hindu nationalism was rising at a dangerous speed, and the term “anti-national” was freely used against critics, especially Muslims. The mainstream media was playing the government narrative and spreading fake news against minorities.

The arrested men said they were tortured physically and mentally after their arrest.

During the police custody in Shahpur police station, they alleged, officials kicked them, humiliated them, pulled their beards, and threatened to set it on fire if they protested. They were starved for days.

After two days of police torture, the men were shifted to Khandwa Central Jail, where they were made to clean toilets everyday.

During court hearings, the men would hears “Deshkegaddaronko, golimaro salon ko” (Shoot the traitors) and “Atankwadiyonkophansi do” (Hang the terrorists).”

“For six years we spent Eid on empty stomachs while back home our families ate dry bread,” said one of the men.

Unable to bear the humiliation, 40-year-old Rubab Nawab took his own life inside the jail in 2019. He consumed poison. He is survived by his wife and two children.

His older son, now 18 years old, left school as the family reels under debt. He now works as a daily wage labourer.

“Two policemen entered the house and assaulted him after hearing his (Rubab Nawab’s) name. When both the children started crying, they abused them, saying, ‘Chuphoatankwadikeauladwarnayahi khatam kardunga.’” (Shut up, you son of a terrorist, or else you will be killed.),” Nawab’s wife Zubaida Bai recalled the fateful day when he was nabbed by the cops.

Police refutes torture allegations

Police have refuted the allegations stating that “nothing was reported in the mandatory medical examination before the accused were moved to jail.”

However, another man among those who were arrested claimed, “There was no medical examination conducted.” He said he was playing with his infant daughter when the police came to his house. They threw my child aside and said, “Saale issdeshkanamakkhakargaddarikartahai,” (You live in India but are a traitor).”

Imam neither had a smartphone nor a television at home. “We don’t have money for food. Who can afford to burst crackers and distribute sweets after watching a match on TV,” he said.

Repercussions

Neither did the acquitted men receive any compensation nor did the court pull up the police for framing them in a false case that led to their six-year incarceration.

Out of the 17 arrested, two were minors – MubarikTadvi and Zubair Tadvi, both of whom were 16-year-old at the time of their arrest.

They were acquitted by the juvenile court in 2022. “I used to dream of becoming a police officer. Now I have no such dreams. I have given up education,” Zubair said.

Sikander Tadvi, whose 60-year-old father Mukaddar killed himself in 2021, was anguished that he did not live to see him acquitted. “He didn’t want to live with that tag of terrorist and traitor,” he said. “At least he would have died in peace.”

Nawab’s wife Zubaida Bai said the tag of a ‘traitor’ mentally affected her husband. “He was devastated with day-to-day humiliation and the tag of traitor. He used to cry after returning from the police station and the court,” she was quoted in Article 14.

The BJP used the incident in their favour to attract voters in the name of patriotism ahead of the 2018 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. BJP won and Shivraj Singh Chauhan was elected as its chief minister.

The arrests of 2017 have left an impending scar on the villagers in Mohad, where nobody watches cricket matches now.

Source: siasat.com

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

https://www.siasat.com/mp-17-held-for-celebrating-pakistan-cricket-win-found-innocent-after-6-years-2995672/

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Consolidated Fund To Pay Salaries Of Imams, Muezzins: HC Seeks Delhi Government’s Stand

March 22, 2024

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the Delhi government’s stand in a plea challenging the policy to utilise the consolidated funds of the State to release the salaries/honorariums to imams and muezzins of the Delhi Waqf Board and non-Waqf Board.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora issued notice to the Delhi government and the Delhi Waqf Board while observing that the “matter requires examination”. The high court also impleaded the revenue department of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi as a party in the matter and issued notice to it as well. The plea is now listed on July 22.

Senior Advocate Saurabh Kirpal appearing for the petitioner submitted that the practice adopted by the Delhi government to pay honorarium to a few individuals of a particular religious community contravenes Articles 14, 15, 266 and 282 of the Constitution of India. He pointed out that the expenditure on salaries/honorariums paid to imams and muezzins of non-Waqf Board runs into several crores referring to an RTI application by the state public information officer of the Delhi Waqf Board on this point.

Kirpal submitted that a similar scheme for payment of salaries and honorariums to muezzins was held to be bad in law by the High Court of Calcutta in Bharatiya Janata Party &Anr. v. The State of West Bengal &Ors in 2013.

Meanwhile, senior advocate Sanjoy Ghose appearing for the Waqf Board submitted that the scheme of payment of salaries/ honorariums to imams and muezzins is in accordance with the Constitution of India.

Ghose said that the validity and legality of such a scheme has been upheld by the Supreme Court’s 1993 verdict in All India Imam Organization and Others v. Union of India and Others. He submitted that the Calcutta High Court judgment is distinguishable since in that case, the state government had itself framed a scheme to make direct payment of salaries and honorariums to Imams and Muezzins. He emphasised that in the present case, the payments are being made by the Waqf Board after receipt of a grant in aid from the State of Delhi.

“This court finds that the Calcutta High Court judgment has been passed after taking into account the aforesaid judgment of the Supreme Court,” the bench said.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-hc-government-policy-consolidated-fund-salaries-imams-9227977/

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Allahabad HC declares UP Board of Madarsa Education Act 2004 as ‘unconstitutional’

Mar 22, 2024

Lucknow: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Friday declared the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004, as ‘unconstitutional’ and directed the state government to accommodate students studying in Madarsas in other schools.

A division bench of justice Vivek Chaudhary and justice Subhash Vidyarthi passed the order on a petition filed by one Anshuman Singh Rathore challenging the constitutional validity of the Act and certain provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2012.

The ruling comes months after the state government decided to survey the Islamic education institutions in the state and also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in October 2023 to probe the funding of Madarsas from abroad.

The investigation report recommended action against more than 8,000 madarsas. According to the SIT report, around 80 madarsas in border regions had received foreign funding totalling around ₹100 crores.

In December last year, a division bench raised concerns about potential instances of arbitrary decision-making and the need for transparency in the administration of such educational institutions.

During previous hearings, the high court had raised inquiries directed at both the Union of India and the state government regarding the rationale behind operating the Madarsa Board under the purview of the ninority department instead of the education department of the state.

The Act provides the madarsas to function under the state minority welfare ministry. Hence, a question arises as to whether it is arbitrary for providing the madarsa education to be run under the minority welfare department while all the other education institutions including those belonging to other minority communities like Jains, Sikhs, Christians etc, are run under the education ministry.

Source: hindustantimes.com

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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/allahabad-hc-declares-up-board-of-madarsa-education-act-2004-as-unconstitutional-101711095456381.html

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‘Indian govt friendly, foreign students need not worry’: Afghan diplomat visits Gujarat University after hostel attack

Ritu Sharma

 March 22, 2024

The Consul General of Afghanistan in Mumbai, Zakia Wardak, said on Friday that her country has a great history with India and international students need not worry in the wake of the recent attack faced by foreign students at Gujarat University. “…we don’t have to make this matter big and bring some political issues into it because we don’t have a big complaint at all,” she said.

Wardak is on a visit to Ahmedabad, meeting students from her country, the city police chief and the Gujarat University Vice-Chancellor after the assault on youths at the varsity’s hostel for international students as they offered namaz on the night of March 16. Five foreign students were injured in the attack as a mob of 20-25 entered the hostel premises.

“I am here to tell my students everything is fine. They don’t have to worry about anything because our Indian government is very friendly, they are looking after their safety issues and they will look (into this matter) in the same way,” she said after meeting students at the Gujarat University on Friday morning.

About the incident on March 16, the Consul General said, “I don’t know whatever happened and why it happened. There are no issues with our students. They have spent 4-5 years here. All Indians are like brothers and sisters.”

Speaking about the incident at the hostel, the Ahmedabad police had told The Indian Express earlier that when protesters arrived on the campus on Saturday, “one of the Afghan students slapped one of the locals, who was questioning the security guard about the students offering namaz in the open.” This caused the situation to go out of control and turn violent as the agitators responded by attacking the students and resorting to vandalism.

Wardak further said, “I have told my students that this is their second home as they are studying here. They don’t have to worry about it because we believe in the justice of India and the Indian government. They are friendly. Students have been coming here for the past 20-25 years. There are no issues and they are studying here. Only we don’t want any incident to happen in the future. I want the safety of all international students.”

“I met my students and everything is fine. They are calm now and there is nothing that anyone has to worry about because my students have been here since the last five years. They live here like brothers and sisters with everyone. So we have no bigger concerns that everybody has to worry about,” the Consul General of Afghanistan stated before heading to the police commissioner’s office.

Source: indianexpress.com

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

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/afghan-diplomat-gujarat-university-hostel-attack-9228430/

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Anti-terror agency files chargesheet against 3 in Islamic State module case

Mar 22, 2024

Divyesh Singh

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday filed a chargesheet against three people on charges of hatching a conspiracy to carry out terror attacks, fabrication of explosives and IEDs, and fund-raising for the Islamic State through a Maharashtra-based module.

The accused, identified as Mohammad Rizwan Ashraf of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, Mohammed Arshad Warsi of Dehradun in Uttarakhand and Mohammed Shahnawaz Alam of Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, were actively involved in promoting the anti-India agenda of the proscribed terror outfit, the NIA said in a statement.

During its investigation into the Borivali-Padgha (Maharashtra) Islamic State terror module case, the agency had seized incriminating material related to the manufacturing of explosives and fabrication of IEDs, along with propaganda magazines like 'Voice of Hind', 'Rumiyah', 'Khilafat' and 'Dabiq' published by the Islamic State.

The investigation also revealed that the accused had been sharing digital files related to the fabrication of IEDs with their contacts, the NIA said.

They were also found to be actively raising funds for their terror plans and designs for furtherance of the Islamic State's activities and promotion of its extremist and violent ideology, the agency added.

The NIA found out that the accused had carried out acts preparatory to carrying out terror attacks, including recruitment of vulnerable people into the organisation.

Accused Mohammed Ashraf had taken 'bayath' (pledge of allegiance) from another arrested accused Saquib Nachan alias Amir-e-Hind, the federal agency said. Ashraf, in turn, had given 'bayath' to the other accused, as part of a bigger conspiracy to spread terror among the people, it added.

The chargesheet, filed before an NIA special court in Delhi, has exposed international linkages and involvement of foreign-based handlers of the Islamic State.

The case was registered by the NIA on November 6 last year against one Shahnawaz Alam and others in connection with a conspiracy to carry out terrorist activities at the direction of their Islamic State handlers.

Charges against the accused have been framed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act.

The NIA has been investigating various Islamic State modules active in the country to dismantle nefarious terror networks.

Source: indiatoday.in

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Arab World

 

Revolution leader calls on Yemenis to come out in millions in solidarity with Palestinians

[22/March/2024]

SANA'A March 22. 2024 (Saba) - The revolution leader , Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, called on the Yemeni people to go out in honor of two million people tomorrow, Friday, in the capital, Sana'a, and the provinces, in solidarity with the Palestinians and their just cause.

The Commander said in his speech this evening regarding the latest developments on the Yemeni, Palestinian and regional arena, “I turn to our dear people and call upon them with the call of God Almighty, who says: ‘Go forth, light and heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of God. That is better for you, if you only know.’ And with the call of His Messenger, may God bless him and grant him peace and upon his family, who said: “Whoever does not care about the affairs of Muslims in the morning is not a Muslim, and whoever hears a herald calling out ‘O Muslims’ and does not respond is not a Muslim.”

He added, "And this call, oh Muslims, oh Arabs, this call was called upon you by Al-Aqsa Al-Sharif and those stationed there. More than two million Muslims in Gaza Strip called upon you. Come out tomorrow, people of loyalty, chivalry, faith, honour, steadfastness, and manhood come out, with God’s blessing."

He stressed the continuation of the comprehensive movement in the month of Ramadan, the month of the conquest of Mecca, the month of the Great Battle of Badr, and the Day of Criterion.

He indicated that the weekly outing of the Yemenis amid failure and complete silence is a great honor and an embodiment of their affiliation and faith values.

The revolution leader spoke about the incident in the city of Radaa in Al-Bayda province, which he described as unfortunate and painful for everyone.

He said, "This week, security forces were targeted in the city of Radaa, resulting in the martyrdom of two of them. The reaction of some of the security forces was aggression, barbaric , illegal behavior, and the bombing of a house surrounded by other houses. The tragedy was that some of the residents were martyred and wounded, and their houses were damaged and some of them were demolished."

He expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to all the families of the martyrs, including the owners of citizens’ houses that were damaged and destroyed as a result of illegal behavior by some security forces, adding, “We disavow before God Almighty these transgressions, attacks, and the like.”

He continued, "We immediately directed the relevant official authorities to take action against those involved in the attack and to accelerate the provision of fair and comprehensive compensation to those affected," and there is concern, regret, and pain regarding the individual criminal behavior that occurred, which is illegal and unacceptable.

SayyedAbdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi touched on the urgent measures taken by the Ministry of Interior by moving immediately to implement this, stressing that “the individual transgressions and attacks that occur from a person here or there, affiliated with the security services or others, are transgressions that involve injustice or aggression and do not express us and do not represent us.” From our morals, our religion, and our values.”

He explained that the official authorities are concerned and responsible for constantly striving to prevent these violations, to fully control practical performance and provide immediate redress for any violations or breaches that occur, praising the awareness of the people in Radaa and in Al-Bayda province in general, especially in light of the enemies’ keenness and the efforts they are making to exploit the incident and to raise internal problems.

He praised the position of the people in Radaa, which was conscious, honorable, and responsible, and when they sensed fair measures, they missed the opportunity against enemies and haters... stressing, “Yemeni blood is dear to us, and we will spare no effort to ensure that blood, honor, and property are protected, and our people in Radaa are our families, our sons, our brothers, and we are in pain from what happened there."

He said, "It is nice that the US State Department condemned the unfortunate Radaa incident and inflammatory comments from the Israeli enemy," indicating that the trumpets' movement within the framework of the American and Israeli position regarding Radaa was funded by Saudi Arabia.

Sayyed Leader criticized all the efforts of the enemies regarding what happened in Radaa, stressing that they do not care about the people in Radaa, nor do they care about the Yemeni people, and they sought to exterminate them.

He pointed out that the culture of enemy trumpets was expressed by one of their scholars that there is no objection to exterminating 25 million Yemenis for the sake of another million, explaining that the followers of the culture of extermination do not care about what is happening in Gaza, nor do they care about the massacres that occurred against Yemen over the course of nine years.

He stated that the enemies' mouthpieces justified the crimes against the Yemeni people, some participated , others supported and incited the genocide of the Yemeni people, adding, "When the enemies shed crocodile tears, they do not care about what happens to our people, and all their efforts are to distort Yemen's position towards the oppression of Palestine."

He reiterated that the enemies are trying to discourage the Yemeni people from taking action in the service of the Israeli enemy, pointing out that the enemies employ any incident, problem, injustice or issue to discourage the Yemeni people from taking their great and important stance in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The revolution leader pointed out that the Trumpets’ position on the mercenaries was consistent with the American position , the Israeli incitement, and some of the mercenaries are mouthpieces for the Americans and the Israelis, repeating like a parrot what the American said, but in the local language and Arabic, considering the American Trumpets’ brutal, bloody criminal record is known in all provinces.

The Commander addressed the American mouthpieces, "Where is your role towards Gaza? Compete and take a more honorable position. Take a stand with your intentions, which you claim are sincere intentions. Take a stand with Gaza instead of always seeking to distort or discourage other positions."

He said, "We have the courage to admit the mistakes of those who sin and punish them and get justice from them. Do you have this courage regarding the crimes committed in the occupied provinces? We are more careful about our dear people than the Americans, the Israelis, the coalition, the mouthpieces and agents of the coalition."

He added, "I will leave the response to the Americans and the Israelis to our families, loved ones, and brothers in Radaa in a way that silences them, especially since the American position has no other concern than protecting Israeli crime in Gaza and limiting any movement in support of the Palestinian people."

SayyedAbdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi affirmed that the American is the greatest killer and destroyer in history. He continued, "The American does not have the decency to pretend to be sympathetic towards an issue here or there, and the Yemeni people were killed in genocide crimes by American bombs in various provinces."

The position in support of the Palestinians is considered a position that expresses every free person who has remaining humanity in our country, and does not belong to a specific group, and the position in support of the Palestinian people should not be linked to any problem here or there.

The Leader pointed out that the genocidal war carried out by the Israeli enemy with American partnership is a systematic, studied and approved policy, considering that genocide as a living witness to the ugliness and criminality of the Zionists, who thus represent a danger to all of humanity.

He said, “The Zionists were raised from their childhood on ideas and educational curricula that consolidate hatred and love of killing for every Arab and Muslim.” He pointed out that the genocide supported by America testifies to the moral decadence and humanitarian bankruptcy of a country that has deceived many by claiming that it leads the civilized world.

He stated that the horrific crimes in Gaza reveal America's ugliness and ring the alarm bell about the danger of its practices towards other peoples, and at the same time remind those of the world's population who have forgotten of America's dark past, which was founded on criminality and arrogance.

SayyedAbdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi stressed that the Gaza tragedy is enough to reveal the truth about America and its protégé, “Israel,” which has been sucking blood since its illegitimate birth. It is also considered a scandal to the international community, a trampling of its international laws and norms, and a disgrace to the Muslim community.

He explained that the Zionist enemy is moving in the systematic starvation war in Gaza in two directions, the first is obstructing the entry of aid except rarely, and the second is targeting those it reaches... stressing that the tragic scenes in Gaza are not stories to be told, but rather tragedies and pains that must revive the consciences of those who remain "He has a heart".

He explained that the tragedy in Gaza is a curse on the criminal killers , their supporters, and a disgrace on the foreheads of those who remain silent and onlookers.

He pointed out that the American insists on belittling the starvation war despite warning reports from the United Nations, countries and organizations, stressing that Zionist brutality reveals the claims of Arab normalizers who presented “Israel” as a dove of peace.

The revolution leader described the health situation in Gaza as catastrophic by all standards as a result of the Zionist enemy’s destruction of the health system, indicating that the Israeli enemy is trying to create an environment ready to impose its agents in Gaza Strip and control the situation in a way that serves it.

He praised the awareness and insight of the people of Gaza Strip who decisively refused to deal with the Israeli enemy or its agents, considering the steadfastness of the mujahideen in Gaza Strip to be a sign of God and a source of pride for the Palestinian people in all subsequent generations.

He also confirmed the failure of the enemy to tighten its grip on Gaza or get rid of the Mujahideen, recover its prisoners, and obtain an image of victory. There is a crisis with the Israeli enemy in recruitment, and this indicates the difficulty of the battle with the Mujahideen in Gaza.

He touched on the Israeli enemy’s loss of many dead, wounded, mentally ill, and combat evaders, pointing out that the enemy is trying to compensate for its losses through conscription, but faces rejection from multiple groups of Israelis.

There are those who threaten to leave Palestine, and some choose prison instead of conscription.

The Commander stated that conscription in Israel has become a clear crisis , an internal problem for the enemy, this is one of the results of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their mujahideen.

He reviewed the economic losses that the so-called Israeli Minister of Finance describes as a disaster that is increasing and its ceiling and numbers are rising, and among what affected the Israeli enemy in its economic situation is the disruption of Umm al-Rashrash port, which the enemy calls “Eilat.”

He added, "The enemy is scheduled to lay off half of the workers at the port after it was completely shut down, which affected the economy. The statements of the Israeli enemy express the disappointment and heavy losses for the Israelis, and the Israeli media say that we are in the most dangerous scandal since the founding of the "Army" and the most dangerous failure since the founding of "Israel." ".

He continued, "The enemy's media say that the home front is not prepared for a regional war and that it will be thousands of times more difficult and dangerous than the war in Gaza Strip.

Furthermore,the Israelis are evaluating the effectiveness of their army in confronting thousands of mujahideen in Gaza with very simple capabilities and under a siege that has extended for years."

The leader of the revolution pointed out that there is great value and impact for the steadfastness, steadfastness and bravery of the mujahideen in Gaza and for the steadfastness of the people despite the extent of the suffering and sacrifices, stressing that the current stage is a pivotal, historical and fateful stage, and has its importance and future implications.

He discussed the role of the Lebanon Front, which is directly engaged with the Israeli enemy, and continues to harass the enemy and has a great influence on it, indicating that the Yemen Front carried out operations this week with 18 ballistic and winged missiles and drones.

He presented the operations of the Yemeni armed forces during the current week, the most prominent of which was the one that caused great concern among the enemy, an operation towards Umm al-Rashrash with a developed missile that was able to reach Umm al-Rashrash, bypassing all American and Israeli monitoring and interception techniques.

Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi stated that the developed missile surprised the Israeli enemy and opened a new horizon for the missile force in developing long ranges, noting that the armed forces carried out operations to target Israeli and American ships in the Red and Arab seas, and the armed forces also carried out an additional new operation in the Indian Ocean this week.

He explained that 479 missiles and drones had been launched since the beginning of the operations against the Zionist enemy, indicating that the American enemy, within the framework of its support for the Israeli entity, launched 31 raids and naval bombardments on Yemen this week.

He said, "The total number of raids and naval bombardments carried out by the American-British in support of the Israeli enemy against our country reached 407, and despite the American's use of its capabilities and advanced weapons, it is a failure and is recognized for its failure to deter and prevent our country's operations in support of Palestine."

SayyedAbdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi revealed a clear and tangible development in the Yemeni military capabilities, and the enemy noticed it in the use of ballistic missiles for the first time in the history of targeting ships at sea. He considered the missile that reached Umm al-Rashrash and the targeting of the Indian Ocean developments of very great importance, and there are also Greater, more important and influential developments, God willing, and we leave room for action first and then for words.

He said, "The American and British failure is clear in their inability to protect the ships belonging to the Israeli enemy, and since the Americans and the British participated in supporting the Israeli enemy with the aggression against our country, they have become unable even to protect their ships."

He stated that one of the criteria for the success of the Yemeni Armed Forces is the lack of movement of Israeli, affiliated, American and British ships except in rare cases... pointing out that the enemies carried out major camouflage operations for their ships by publishing new contracts to camouflage that they had sold those ships, and with all the enemies’ camouflage and deception to protect Their ships are exposed and they are amazed at how they could have been discovered.

He added, "The American pretends as if he is bankrupt, sells his ships urgently, deceives by raising the flags of other countries, and provides false information about the ships." He stressed that the enemies, after the military failure, are looking for means of camouflage, and this is clear evidence of the extent of their failure.

He ridiculed the fact that enemies, with their capabilities, resort to camouflage operations that are usually used by the less capable party, stressing that the losses of the Americans and the British are continuing, and prices are continuing to rise, and the food bill alone on board the American ship has now reached two million dollars a month.

He added, "The Israeli enemy has lost some goods and others have increased to a great extent, and it will continue, God willing, more with other steps and measures. The financial cost has become a problem for them, and it is difficult to determine victory and loss in this type of conflict, and the enemies are trying to implicate others in order to reduce the cost for them and this is America's policy in all conflicts and attacks."

The leader of the revolution stated that the shipping costs for enemy ships are rising many times and to high levels, pointing out that the morale of the American Navy on the battleships and warships entrusted with the task of supporting the Israeli enemy is declining.

He said, "An American officer in the US Navy describes the confrontation in the Red Sea as a relentless war and the greatest challenge to the US Navy in modern history," noting that the extent of the impact and effectiveness of the operations of the Yemeni armed forces is a great blessing, victory and divine support.

He pointed out that "every day, the Americans are in constant anxiety on their ships, and when the American sailors say that we are far from our homes, we say to them: Go back to your homes, you are the aggressors, especially since the American army is accustomed to comfort and its members are pampered. As for our mujahideen, they are experienced in enduring difficulties and accustomed to enduring... "Adversity."

Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi stopped at the American path that is constantly moving against Yemen for economic and humanitarian pressure with the aim of stopping its operations in support of the Palestinian people, supported by an American media path that began at a certain pace and is constantly escalating through their mouthpieces.

He stated that the American draws up media policies and provides the headlines, while the mouthpieces of those affiliated with the Yemeni people are moving and the Saudis are financing, which requires the Yemeni people to be fully aware that there is a media path on the part of the American, Israeli and British.

He considered the media path part of the American-British-Zionist battle against Yemen and the Palestinian people, indicating that popular activities are of great importance and part of jihad for the sake of God and the fulfillment of a responsibility, and an obligation of God Almighty.

The leader of the revolution stressed that it is not permissible for any Muslim to be without a stance towards the oppression of the Palestinian people, pointing out that oppressed peoples can boycott American and Israeli goods and products, provide media support, and provide donations.

He said, “The opportunity has come to our dear people, thanks to God Almighty, for a comprehensive stance, and we have not taken the issue of directly recruiting fighters due to the geographic differences.” He explained that Arab countries did not accept opening land corridors for the Mujahideen from Yemen and the armed forces to cross in partnership with the Palestinian people.

He added, "The Arab countries that geographically separate us from Palestine have categorically refused to open land corridors for our mujahideen to cross," stressing that overcoming American and Israeli technologies in monitoring, jamming, and interception means a victory and a major development for Yemeni capabilities.

He reiterated that the Yemeni Armed Forces have plans of great importance in the future for more effective strikes on the enemy. He said, “Anything we can do that is legitimate, we do without hesitation or worry about the enemies’ threats, classifications, and campaigns.”

SayyedAbdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi went on to say, "Our greatest concern is to fear God, work to please Him, and respond to the call of the human conscience in our conscience toward supporting the Palestinian people. At the military level, we will continue to develop military actions and operations more and more, and the options in that regard are more and more."

He identified the American constant method of obstructing any position from within, which is confusion, provoking problems, and imposing priorities that distract people from the greatest responsibilities, indicating that the Yemeni people tried for nine years the attempts of the American and its mouthpieces to distract from massive crimes and the severe siege, but it collided with the rock of Yemeni popular consciousness.

He reminded everyone that the popular position and popular activities are of very great importance along with the military and other positions... pointing to the sense of religious responsibility and the living human conscience that moved millions of Yemenis to go out in 147 squares on the first Friday of the month of Ramadan.

He said, "We saw faith, loyalty, masculinity, dignity, and chivalry in the faces of those who went out to the squares without giving justification for sitting because of their fasting."

The leader of the revolution described the demonstration in 147 squares on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan as honorable and a great and important work, coinciding with the holding of 1,975 evenings and 5,658 seminars, which is an important move that enrages the enemies.

Source: saba.ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3315044.htm

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Saudi Arabia, Yemen discuss UN peace roadmap amid Houthi attacks in Red Sea

IyadNabolsi

21.03.2024

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held talks on Thursday with Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak to discuss a UN roadmap to end the civil war in Yemen.

The discussions also dwelt on efforts to support peace talks between Yemen’s warring rivals to help restore stability to the Arab country, the Saudi official news agency SPA reported.

The UN roadmap includes a commitment from the country’s warring rivals to implement a nationwide cease-fire, pay all public sector salaries, resume oil exports, open roads in Taiz and other parts of Yemen, and further ease restrictions on Sanaa Airport and Al Hudaydah port.

Earlier this week, the Yemeni government suspended the implementation of the UN roadmap, citing Houthi escalation in the Red Sea.

Yemen has been beset by violence and chaos since 2014 when Iran-backed Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa. The crisis escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led military coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi territorial gains.

Since then, tens of thousands of Yemenis are believed to have been killed in the conflict, while 14 million are at risk of starvation, according to the UN.

The Houthis have been targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea owned or operated by Israeli companies or transporting goods to and from Israel in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, where nearly 32,000 people have been killed in a deadly Israeli offensive since last October following a Hamas attack.

Source: aa.com.tr

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Saudi Arabia condemns terrorist bombing in Afghanistan’s Kandahar

March 22, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has condemned the deadly terrorist bombing in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, a foreign ministry statement read early Friday.

A suicide bombing claimed by the Daesh group killed three people on Thursday, said Taliban authorities, while a hospital source put the death toll at 20.

The explosion at around 8:00 am (0330 GMT) targeted a group of people waiting outside the New Kabul Bank branch in central Kandahar city, in the southern province of the same name.

The provincial information department said three people had been killed and 12 were wounded, but a source at a major hospital in the southern city said the toll was much higher.

The foreign ministry reiterated Saudi Arabia’s absolute rejection of these terrorist acts, and its stand with the Afghan people against all forms of violence, extremism, and terrorism.

Saudi Arabia “offered condolences to the families of the victims and the Afghan people, and wished the injured a speedy recovery,” the statement concluded.

The Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL) also issued a statement on Friday denouncing the attack.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi Foreign Minister Participates in Arab Ministerial Consultative Meeting on Gaza

22 Mar, 2024

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participated in an Arab ministerial consultative meeting today in Cairo.

The meeting, which was chaired by Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs SamehShoukry, was also attended by Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Affairs Reem Al-Hashemi, and Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee Secretary and Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein Al-Sheikh.

Participants discussed the urgent need to end the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, achieve an immediate and complete ceasefire, ensure the protection of civilians according to international humanitarian law, and remove all restrictions that prevent the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave.

In addition, the meeting emphasized the importance of taking decisive steps towards the implementation of the two-state solution and recognizing the State of Palestine on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as outlined by relevant international resolutions.

Also attending the meeting were the deputy head of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's mission to the United States of America, Prince Musab bin Mohammed bin Fahd; the director of the General Administration for Arab Countries Affairs, Ambassador Mahmoud Qattan; the advisor to the minister of foreign affairs, Mohammed Al-Yahya; and the advisor at the Foreign Ministry, Dr. Manal Radwan.

Source: alriyadhdaily.com

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GCC Chief emphasizes necessity of ending Palestinian people's suffering from afflictions of racial discrimination

22 Mar 2024

Riyadh: The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi emphasized the necessity for the international community to take the necessary measures to end the suffering of the Palestinian people from the afflictions of Israeli racial discrimination, which is committed on a daily basis against the Palestinian people.

The statement was made on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed on March 21st of each year.

The GCC Secretary-General referred to the tragic situation in the Gaza Strip and the persecution, discrimination, and racial segregation suffered by the Palestinian people, which is based on dominance, imposition of restrictions, deprivation, differentiation, and serious violations of human rights and international law by the Israeli occupying forces.

Albudaiwi affirmed the commitment of the GCC member states to the provisions of the Declaration of Human Rights of the Cooperation Council, which guarantees rights enshrined in their constitutions and national legislation.

He specifically referred to Article 2 of the Declaration, which states that "people are equal in human dignity, rights, and freedoms, and they are equal before the law without discrimination based on origin, sex, religion, language, color, or any other form of discrimination."

He also stated that the leaders of the GCC countries believe in the dignity of human beings and respect for their rights, stressing their commitment to their protection as guaranteed by Islamic law, as well as the principles laid out in the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which all the GCC member states have ratified, has also played a role in shaping the GCC countries' legislative and regulatory frameworks that are aimed at combating racial discrimination, hatred, and prejudice, as well as promoting a culture of tolerance, coexistence, justice, and equality in their societies," Albudaiwi said.

He commended the role played by the GCC countries in the process of achieving lasting peace, which is primarily based on equality and non-discrimination. Additionally, he encouraged the international community to recognize the importance of eliminating all forms of discrimination in taking strict measures to eliminate the causes and conditions that create racial discrimination worldwide.

Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com

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https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/22/03/2024/gcc-chief-emphasizes-necessity-of-ending-palestinian-peoples-suffering-from-afflictions-of-racial-discrimination

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Southeast Asia

 

Muslims from over 30 countries observe Ramadan at Taipei Grand Mosque

2024/03/21

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Muslims in Taipei described the Taipei Grand Mosque as a special place during the month of Ramadan.

During Ramadan, worshippers gather each night at different mosques for iftar - the end of fasting. In Muslim countries, mosques can be found on every street corner, but this is not the case in Taipei.

Taiwanese Muslim Abdullah Cheng (??) told Taiwan News that because of the relatively few places of worship, Muslims will meet people they know during every Ramadan visit to the Taipei mosque. “This is not something I have experienced having lived in many Muslim countries before and it is something special," he said.

Abdullah spoke to Taiwan News on Wednesday (March 20), when about 400 worshippers came to the mosque for iftar. He said this is about the minimum number of worshippers that attend during any iftar, and on weekends the number will be much higher.

During Ramadan, evening prayers at the mosque are led by one of two visiting Imams, who are both named Abdulrahman. Abdulrahman from Myanmar regularly travels to Taiwan for Ramadan, while Abdulrahman from Saudi Arabia was brought to Taiwan this year by the Saudi Arabian office in Taipei.

Cheng Tai-Hsiang (???) is the director of the Taipei Grand Mosque and formerly served as the head of Taiwan’s representative office in Turkey. He told Taiwan News the mosque’s kitchen during Ramadan is fondly referred to as “Taipei-stan.”

This is because worshippers are fortunate to be able to eat Pakistani and Indian foods at iftar, Cheng said. Cooked by a team of volunteers, iftar meals include chicken, beef, and lamb curries, served with rice and salads.

Cheng said people from at least 30 countries gather for iftar at the mosque during Ramadan, making the event one of the most internationally diverse places in Taiwan. “This is a very unique point of Islam in Taiwan,” he said.

“We want the Taiwanese people to know that Islam is a religion of life, and it's a religion of peace,” he said. “We are open in society, and in Taiwan, we don't have Islamophobia: Taiwanese people are friendly to Muslims,” he said.

Abdullah said for many people, Ramadan is something to be enjoyed with their families. However, he said that some of the Taiwanese converts to the religion may be the only Muslims in their group.

“For them having a community like this is especially important,” he said.

For those converts and others, Abdullah is broadcasting seminars on the Muslim prophet Muhammed’s teachings in Chinese on each night of Ramadan. He said finding this kind of information in Chinese can be hard to come by, and that the talks have been well received.

Abdullah said there is one main thing on everyone’s mind during Ramadan: the last year’s Ramadan. “Every time we prepare for a new Ramadan, we feel nostalgic about the previous one,” he said.

“If you're not a Muslim, you might think this a month that we don't look forward to, but actually it's the exact opposite,” he said.

Abdullah said that although the community aspect of Ramadan in Taiwan is important, the main point of Ramadan is to attain “God consciousness,” which he said goes to the core of Muslim people’s identity. “A Muslim by definition means somebody who submits willingly to the will of Almighty God," he said.

“So, in order to do that, you need to have God consciousness,” he said. “That means whatever you're doing, you're aware that God is watching you.”

Source: taiwannews.com.tw

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https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5120022

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Islamophobia trends on the rise across the world

 March 22, 2024

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The international conference themed “Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024” in Baku, Azerbaijan, timed to fall on the eve of Ramadan for the Islamic world and the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, holds significant symbolism.

Azerbaijan remains steadfast in its commitment to combating Islamophobia on the modern front. Last year, the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre and the Center of Analysis of International Relations, in partnership with the G20 Interfaith Dialogue Forum, convened a conference titled “Islamophobia as a Specific Form of Racisms and Discrimination: New Global and Transnational Challenges” in Baku.

Last year’s conference aimed at contributing to the ongoing efforts to combat Islamophobia in all its forms and manifestations, while the recent objective of the conference is not only to raise awareness but also to develop concrete solutions that address the root causes of Islamophobia and foster global solidarity.

Writers in their books say that Islamophobia is a term that is formed by combining two words, Islam and phobia, which can simply be defined as the fear of Islam. Historically speaking, fear of Islam has developed in Europe since the 7th century.

Since Islam emerged in Arabia, the fear of Islam has been frequently referred to as the “orientalist’s” vision of the Arab world. Meanwhile, fear of Islam emerged within most of the Christian population in Europe since immigrants from Muslim countries began arriving in Europe in the early period of the 14th century.

Islamophobia is, thus, a concept that emerged within the context of changing and dynamic cultural, political, and social relations. Similar to xenophobia and anti-Semitism, Islamophobia is historically rooted. Islamophobia is not a brand-new phenomenon, as it is rooted in the 11th to 13th centuries during the European Crusade and in the late 15th century during the dismissal of Muslims (e.g., Arabs and Africans) from Andalucia.

Islamophobia is also rooted in European colonialism, Orientalism, and East-West dichotomy. Western society has been associating Islam with negative images, stereotypes, and sentiments. Orientalism explains how Western cultural, imperial, and academic works have constructed a dehumanizing representation of the Arab world as “exotic and barbarous Orients.”

By interpreting the West as “civilized” and the Arab world as “backward,” Orientalism demonstrates the earliest stigmatization of Muslim identities and produces negative stereotypes of Eastern cultures to justify colonial ambitions.

According to Benn and Jawad (2003), Islamophobia has escalated since Ayatollah Khomeini’s fatwa in 1989, which provoked Muslims to execute Salman Rushdie, the writer of "The Satanic Verses," and since the 9/11 attacks (Dauda, 2020; Nielsen & Allen, 2002).

In line with this, the International Civil Liberties Alliance (ICLA) (2013) explains that Islamophobia was not documented in English until around the 1950s, and they record that Islamophobia became more extensive after the Iranian fatwa against Salman Rushdie due to his book “The Satanic Verses.” Hasan (in ICLA, 2013) also describes that the terminology “Islamophobia” emerged for the first time in the UK in the 1980s amid the Rushdie issue.

The study of Islamophobia started in 1995 in England where Islam was perceived as a threat, similar to Communism and the Nazi, and associated with infiltration, invasion, and domination (Istiyani&Yuliatun, 2016). Bleich (2011) then argues that Islamophobia initially developed in the 1990s to counter harmful actions and rhetoric against Islam and Muslims in the West. Furthermore, Zuquete (2008) and Lee et al. (2009) explained that “Islamophobia” appeared in modern discussion after the report by the Runnymede Trust (1997), titled “Islamophobia: a challenge for us all.” The report reveals that the term “Islamophobia” has been spread due to the resurgence after the Cold War and the 9/11 attack (Dauda, 2020, Vertovec, 2002).

Islamophobia trends

“Regrettably Islamophobia trends across the world are on the rise. We are witnessing the portrayal of Islam as a potential threat, with doubt, discrimination, and open hatred against the Muslims becoming increasingly widespread with each passing day,” Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, noted in his address to the conference participants delivered by Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

As stated in the UN resolution on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, President Aliyev further drew attention to a rise in the instances of discrimination, intolerance, and violence directed against religious communities as the source of concern.

According to the president, it is deplorable that today, Islamophobia has become integrated into the state policies of numerous Western countries that consider themselves to be democratic. These countries account for 80 percent of all the manifestations of Islamophobia that occurred around the world in the last year.

“In some European countries, Islamophobia has skyrocketed and been promoted as an official ideology, with insulting actions, such as the burning of our holy book of Quran and publishing caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad, being presented as the freedom of speech,” President Aliyev stated.

He pointed out that France, along with its traditional neocolonialism policy, is pursuing a policy of open pressure and discrimination, staging various Islamophobia campaigns. Legislative acts and political decisions that exclusively target Muslims, limiting their rights and freedoms, are often disguised as secularism. In this country, mosques, Muslim community centers, and cemeteries are desecrated in one way or another, and Muslim citizens endure oppression.

Meanwhile, the US Council of Muslim Organizations stated that France has continued its efforts to erase visible clothing associated with an individual’s Islamic identity from public spaces.

Most recently, the government banned Muslim students from wearing the abaya, a long, flowing robe-like garment worn by several Muslim women.

“When you walk into a classroom, you should not be able to identify the pupils’ religion just by looking at them," Education Minister Gabriel Attal stated in an interview with TV channel TF1.

Other French ministers also admitted that although the abaya is not a religious garment, students will be targeted based on their assumed religion, thereby further legalizing religious discrimination against French Muslims.

To commemorate the UN’s Second International Day to Combat Islamophobia, the Council has called for the attention of those committed to advancing justice for all people to injustices being perpetrated by the governments of Israel, India, China, and France.

Israel’s decades of occupation and apartheid have arrived at a predictable conclusion: genocide in Gaza. Some states, such as South Africa, have asserted international humanitarian values.

Other states, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, have provided military aid and political comfort to Israel while ignoring the daily stream of videos documenting Gaza’s reduction to rubble and Palestinian civilians crying for food, medicines, or over their dead children.

India’s far-right, anti-Muslim government continues its repression of religious and racial minorities in the nation, particularly Muslims. Moreover, the Chinese government has advanced efforts to “Sinicize” Islam in that nation by erasing mosques and Muslim cemeteries and implementing policies of internment and forced labor for ethnic and religious minorities in the Muslim-majority Xinjiang Province.

Instead of combating these manifestations that insult the feelings of Muslims and holding the perpetrators accountable, the governments of those countries are inflaming Islamophobic sentiments, encouraging the persecution of Muslims and aiming to keep these subjects high on the agenda.

Unfortunately, certain Western institutions that also portray themselves as democratic are engaging in anti-Islamic activities.

President Aliyev has stated that Azerbaijan is also a country that suffers from Islamophobia.

“Among the dire consequences of Armenia’s 30-year-long occupation of our lands was a deliberate destruction and annihilation of our cultural heritage of universal value, including the monuments associated with the Islamic faith,” he stated.

Initial estimates suggested that 65 mosques had been razed to the ground during the occupation. Unfortunately, that number is steadily increasing, as numerous new examples of Armenian vandalism against Islamic heritage continue to emerge.

In the XXI century, there must be no place for Islamophobia, xenophobia, or racism. Associating terrorism and extremism with any civilization or ethnic group is an erroneous approach.

“Using religion for political motives only serves to divide and incite confrontation in the societies. Such manifestations also deprive humankind of the ideals of humanism and universal values, ultimately resulting in inter-civilizational conflicts,” President Aliyev remarked.

Source: antaranews.com

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Indonesia’s rescue of Rohingya refugees at sea is a reminder of an ordeal that began in Myanmar

March 22, 2024

BANGKOK: A dramatic story of survival and rescue off the western coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province has put the spotlight again on the plight of ethnic Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar who make extremely dangerous voyages across the Indian Ocean to seek better lives.

Desperate survivors were pulled to safety from their capsized boat by local fishermen on March 21, 2024, after a yet-unknown number perished.

For Rohingya refugees living in squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh, escaping across the seas might seem like a good option --- but it’s often a deadly one. The UN estimates that as many as one in eight people die or disappear in the attempt.

The UN refugee agency said in January that of 4,500 Rohingyas embarking on sea journeys last year in Southeast Asian waters, 569 were reported dead or missing.

Roots of displacement

Members of the Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority have long been considered by Myanmar’s Buddhist majority to be illegal settlers from Bangladesh, even though many of their families lived in Myanmar for generations. Aside from social discrimination, nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982, effectively rendering them stateless, and have been denied freedom of movement and other basic rights.

In August 2017, Myanmar’s military launched what it called a clearance campaign in northern Rakhine State in response to attacks by a shadowy Rohingya insurgent group. The counterinsurgency action forced about 740,000 Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh and led to accusations that security forces committed mass rapes, killings and burned thousands of homes. International courts are now considering whether the campaign amounted to genocide.

There are now about 1 million Rohingya residing in refugee camps in Bangladesh, including those who fled previous waves of repression.

Most live in large open camps in Cox’s Bazar district, close to the border with Myanmar. There is inadequate water, sanitation, and health care in the overcrowded camps, which are susceptible to fire, flood and outbreaks of disease. There are few opportunities for meaningful work and violent criminal gangs operate unhindered,.

A second major camp set up on the remote island of Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal houses about 30,000 refugees. It was supposed to help ease the overcrowding at Cox’s Bazar, but critics say its housing resembles prison blocks, heightening an already dispiriting dead-end atmosphere, and it is vulnerable to flooding.

An estimated 600,000 Rohingya still live in Myanmar, most in camps for internally displaced people or tightly restricted ghettos.

Escape by sea

Social and economic pressures convince some Rohingya living in camps in Myanmar as well as Bangladesh to embark on the dangerous sea voyage to Malaysia or Indonesia, which have Muslim majority populations.

The suffer from a lack of economic opportunity, as well as unhealthy physical and psychological conditions in the camps. Because the majority of Rohingya refugees are stateless, they have no legal hope of resettlement.

The modest job opportunities they believe await them elsewhere are a strong attraction, and in some cases they can get help from relatives who have already started new lives abroad.

But they are often exploited by human traffickers who charge extortionate amounts — anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars — to make the crossing on ramshackle boats with little concern for safety. In some cases, the traffickers deliver the refugees to confederates who trap them into jobs of virtual slavery.

The voyages can take weeks or even months on vessels without adequate supplies of food, water, and safety equipment.

Some never complete the journey. “In a single deadly incident in November 2023, it is feared that some 200 Rohingya lost their lives when their boat was reported to have sunk in the Andaman Sea,” the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in January.

Destinations

If they are not turned back or lost, the Rohingya refugees usually end up in Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia.

Thailand tries to discourage refugee landings by offering food, fuel and repairs to send the boats on their way, though if the refugees make landfall they are detained.

Malaysia is relatively more welcoming, allowing thousands of Rohingya refugees to disembark over the years. Like Thailand, it is a middle income country and needs low cost labor. Thailand, however, has a bottomless supply of low cost workers from immediate neighbors such as Myanmar and Cambodia, which Malaysia does not, so in Malaysia the Rohingya arrivals can help fill that gap.

Indonesia has for many years welcomed Rohingya refugees, providing them with temporary accommodation and allowing them to register for resettlement in third countries, a process that can take years

In the past year, however, there have been signs of resentment in Aceh, where several hundred refugees have occasionally arrived in a single day, sparking protests about them taking advantage of local resources and other complaints. The negative sentiment has been egged on by apparently coordinated online hate speech campaigns whose origins are unclear.

Funding plea

While crises elsewhere around the world garner more attention, the UN continues to seek funds to ease the burdens of the Rohingya refugees and their hosts in Bangladesh.

The UN last week launched an appeal to member nations to fund a $852.4 million plan to provide “food, shelter, health care, access to drinkable water, protection services, education and livelihood opportunities and skills development” to the Rohingya refugees and the communities where their camps are.

Source: arabnews.com

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Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim severely criticizes West for supporting Israel’s genocide of Palestinians

Mar 22, 2024

Latheef Farook

During his visit to Germany on Monday 11 March 24 Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim criticized Western countries for their lack of action against Israel’s atrocities in Gaza and strongly defended his country’s ties with Hamas fighting to free its people from Israeli occupation and atrocities.

There had been decades of “atrocities, plunder and dispossession of Palestinians”, said Prime Minister Anver who pointed out that Muslim-majority Malaysia has no diplomatic relations with Israel and Malaysians vehemently support the Palestinians’s just struggle for freedom.

Prime Minister Anver was addressing a joint press conference in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who defended Israel’s response to Hamas in Gaza after October 7 attack. Anver said that the conflict between Israel and Palestine did not start on October 7, 2023 and rejected the narrative that ignores the history of the issue.

In response to Germany’s support to Israelfor its on going genocide in Gaza , Ibrahim highlighted the 60 years of Israeli oppression of the Palestinians and stated that “you cannot find a solution by getting so one-sided”

Accusing Western countries of turning blind eye to Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians and suffering of Palestinians in Gaza Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim defended Malaysia’s relations with Hamas. He said “no apologies” for his nation’s historical links with the Palestinian freedom fighters Hamas

Anwar has been one of the most vocal critics in the Muslim world of Israel’s relentless attack on Gaza – an assault which has claimed over 31,000 lives so far besides the total destruction of Gaza.“Where have we thrown our humanity, why this hypocrisy?asked Prime Minister Anver who said Western countries should put an end to their “selective” and “ambivalent” attitude.

“We oppose colonialism, or apartheid, or ethnic cleansing, or dispossession of any country, be it in Ukraine, or in Gaza. We cannot erase 60 years of atrocities, and dispossession, which have resulted in reaction, and anger, from the people,” he said.

Scholz, for his part, reiterated Germany bears a special responsibility for Israel and supports its right to defend itself against Hamas.

Highlighting Prime Minister Anver Ibrahim’s role in championing the Palestinina cause since early days columnists Philip J Heijmans and NilukshiKoswanage of Bloomberge had this to state;

Dealing with the blind western support to Israeli genocide columnist Jeremy Scahill stated in the website “ Intercepted” that the U.S. continues to rush weapons and ammunition to Israel to continue this slaughter.Powerful nations around the world, led by the U.S., are not just supplying weapons and political support for Israel, but also have now joined in the campaign to further restrict vital humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The Biden administration has led the charge to suspend funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in Gaza. Israel has waged a smear campaign against UNRWA, baselessly characterizing the whole organization as a front group for Hamas.

According to reports more than 32 000 have been killed as at first week of March.The vast majority — 70 percent of them — are women and children. More than 66,000 others are injured. And these statistics are likely a dramatic undercount; thousands of people remain missing, many of them are lying dead under the rubble of what was once their homes.

More than 80% of Gaza’s Palestinians are now internally displaced, and are being corralled under threat of bombing into an ever-shrinking killing cage, as the Israelis begin to lay siege to Rafah, along the Egyptian border.

Israel has systematically destroyed Gaza’s universities and schools, its healthcare centers, its archives and libraries. It is engaging in controlled demolitions of entire neighborhoods, blowing up apartment complexes, destroying farms and other agricultural areas. More than 60 percent of Gaza’s homes have been destroyed or significantly damaged. There are reports of mass executions of prisoners and the widespread torture of other Palestinians. And, at every turn, Netanyahu and his henchmen have made clear they intend to continue their campaign indefinitely, even as their military forces face a quagmire in their military battle against the Qassam Brigades and other Palestinian fighters.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice.

Adding to this columnist Donald Earl Collins said Western narcissism and support for genocidal Israel go hand in hand.Delusional beliefs of civilisational superiority help the West claim it is on the right side of history while supporting genocide in Gaza.

“I got in trouble many times for saying you don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist. I make no apologies for that. That’s a reality,” President Joe Biden said in Massachusetts in early December, when the death toll in Gaza already stood at 16,200. “We’ve [Americans] never thought anything is beyond our capacity, from curing cancer this time around to everything we’ve ever done. I really mean it,” he added.

It takes a special kind of narcissism for a world leader to declare himself a 50-year-long adherent to a white supremacist ideology that excuses apartheid, settler-colonialism, and genocide and then to turn to the greatness of the US and all its “possibilities”, as if the US has only been sprinkling pixie dust around the world and not intervening with brutal military and economic power over the past 130 years.

But the US president is not alone in his self-delusion. At the Conservative Friends of Israel gathering in London last month, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak showed unwavering support for Israeli attacks on Gaza and the West Bank. “There is a horrific irony in Israel, of all countries being accused of genocide,” Sunak said, labelling South Africa’s case against Israel “completely unjustified”.

The “horrific irony” is that Israel, as a Western ally, cannot be accused of genocide because it is one of “the good guys”. The “bad guys” can only be non-Western (really, non-white) nations, such as South Africa. Despite the protest of tens of millions people around the world and the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians, the razing of Gaza and other crimes against humanity, the disregard for the ongoing war in Sudan and the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Western leaders still believe Western capitalism and democratic institutions will save the world.Ends 21 March 2024

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attending a press conference in Berlin .

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ,US President Joe Biden,British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Canandian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shamelessly supporting the slaughter of innocent Palestinian civilians.

Source: muslimmirror.com

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North America

 

Supreme Court won't hear appeal of private school that wouldn't let Muslim students pray

March 21, 2024

The country's top court has declined to hear the appeal of a private Calgary school that was found to have discriminated against two Muslim students who were denied prayer space on campus.

The Supreme Court of Canada's ruling Thursday ends a 12-year legal battle to overturn an Alberta Human Rights Commission (HRC) decision that resulted in a $26,000 fine against Webber Academy.

As is the SCC's practice, no reasons were given for the court's refusal to hear the appeal.

In an email to CBC News, Webber Academy president Neil Webber offered a brief comment in reaction to the court's decision.

"The decision is very disappointing, but I want to thank all those who supported us over the 12 years the case has been before Alberta courts," wrote Webber.

The non-denominational school argued that providing prayer space threatened the secular environment.

This argument was advanced despite Webber Academy displaying a Christmas tree every year in the school.

President terminates prayers

The dispute began in 2011.

On Dec. 1 that year, two 14-year-old students enrolled at Webber Academy.

Sarmad Amir and Naman Siddique are practising Sunni Muslims who were in Grades 9 and 10 at the time.

For their first two weeks at the school, different staff members found empty classrooms and office space so the students could perform their prayers.

But 17 days into their enrolment at the school, president Neil Webber learned that the students were praying on campus and contacted their parents to advise them the practice would no longer be allowed.

The parents asked the president to reconsider.

Webber then informed the families that the boys would be allowed to pray on campus only if they didn't bow or kneel so no observer would know prayer was occurring

Alternatively, said Webber, the students could pray off campus.

Webber fined $26,000

The president also informed the two families that the students would not be allowed to attend the school the following year.

The school refused to back down despite written requests from the boys' parents, stating that the school's non-denominational status was an integral part of its character.

In February 2012, the students' parents filed complaints with the Human Rights Commission on their sons' behalf.

The HRC ruled in favour of the two families and awarded the complainants $26,000 in damages.

Webber Academy unsuccessfully appealed to Alberta's superior court and then to the Alberta Court of Appeal. It sent the matter back to the commission to hear the case again in light of the school raising new issues that had not previously been considered by the tribunal or lower courts.

Non-denominational policy 'not affected'

Again, the HRC found in favour of the students.

And again, the school appealed.

The Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta, as it was known then, dismissed Webber Academy's appeal.

Last year, the Alberta Court of Appeal also refused to overturn the human rights finding.

"Webber Academy's non-denominational policy is not affected by providing the students with access to quiet, private space to pray," wrote the Alberta Court of Appeal in its 2023 decision.

"In our view, it cannot reasonably be suggested that Webber Academy is endorsing any religion or religious practice, and should not be seen to be doing so, simply by providing such accommodation."

Source: yahoo.com

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https://ca.news.yahoo.com/supreme-court-refuses-hear-appeal-135459762.html

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Biden nomination of the first Muslim American to a federal appeals court in peril

March 22, 2024

By Frank Thorp V, Sahil Kapur and Kate Santaliz

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden's nomination of Adeel Mangi to be a powerful U.S. circuit court judge is in peril after two Senate Democrats announced they will oppose his nomination.

Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., have said they will oppose Mangi's nomination to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. With Democrats holding only a 51-to-49 majority, Mangi’s lack of Republican support means he doesn’t have the simple majority needed to be confirmed. Mangi would be the first Muslim American to serve as a judge on an appeals court, which has the last word on most federal legal disputes.

“Mr. Mangi’s affiliation with the Alliance of Families for Justice is deeply concerning,” Cortez Masto said in a statement. “This organization has sponsored a fellowship in the name of Kathy Boudin, a member of the domestic terrorist organization Weather Underground, and advocated for the release of individuals convicted of killing police officers. I cannot support this nominee.”

Republicans have criticized Mangi for his involvement in the Rutgers Law School Center for Security, Race, and Rights, condemning its decision to host an event on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that featured as a speaker Sami Al-Arian, who pleaded guilty in 2006 to conspiracy to provide services to Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Republicans on the Judiciary Committee were criticized for their line of questioning during Mangi’s confirmation hearing about Hamas militants’ terrorist attack in Israel, with the White House saying the line of questioning was driven by Islamophobia.

Manchin said he opposes Mangi because, going forward, he will support only judicial nominees who have at least one GOP vote, and currently there are zero who have said they will vote for him.

“I don’t think he has any bipartisan support, and I’ve just come to the conclusion I’m not going to continue to go down this path. I believe so strongly in bipartisanship, I believe so strongly in preserving the filibuster, and here we go down this path, lifetime appointments — I just say, enough’s enough,” Manchin told reporters Thursday, saying he would oppose Mangi’s nomination.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, one of the most moderate Republicans, said she hadn’t looked into Mangi and wasn’t ready to take a position.

Murkowski, who isn’t on the Judiciary Committee, said she will base her decision on various factors, including his “judicial experience.” She added that she hasn’t examined the criticism of him. If she ends up backing him, it could give Mangi a lifeline.

Judiciary Committee ranking member Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has supported many of Biden’s judicial nominees, says he doesn’t see any Republicans voting for Mangi.

“I think they ought to pull this one,” Graham said, “If you look the way I’ve voted, I’ve voted for a high percentage. This is a bridge too far.”

The White House is standing by Mangi, slamming the GOP criticisms as a smear campaign based on his religion. It pointed to the support he has received from the AFL-CIO, the South Asian Bar Association and a GOP-appointed appellate judge.

“President Biden is proud to have nominated Adeel Mangi, whose extraordinary qualifications and integrity are gaining him new backing each day — including from the 7th law enforcement organization to endorse his confirmation, as well as retired circuit Judge Timothy Lewis, who was appointed by President George H.W. Bush. Mr. Mangi, who has lived the American Dream and proven his integrity, is being targeted by a malicious and debunked smear campaign solely because he would make history as the first Muslim to serve as a federal appellate judge,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in an email.

“Senate Democrats should side with the qualities that make America exceptional — which Mr. Mangi embodies — not the hateful forces trying to force America into the past,” he said.

The White House also noted Mangi’s written testimony to the committee that he had “no involvement” when he was asked about the Rutgers Center speaker events featuring controversial people, including one who pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide services to a designated terrorist group.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., spoke on the floor about Mangi’s nomination, saying, “We’re told that any questioning Mr. Mangi’s record is Islamophobia.”

“I hope more Democrats will join us in opposing Mr. Mangi,” McConnell said, and not “fall victim to spurious accusations of bias.”

Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has defended Mangi’s nomination, doing so as recently as Thursday morning in response to McConnell’s criticism.

“Let me say at the outset, I think this man has been treated unfairly by the Republicans on the committee and on the floor," Durbin said Wednesday. "They have made accusations against him which are unfounded, and I’m afraid they reflect that prejudice against his nomination.”

Durbin said he spoke to Cortez Masto about her opposition.

“I’ve talked to the senator, and I understand her concerns," he said. "I hope we can provide her with some information for her to reconsider.”

Source: nbcnews.com

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Blinken says Israeli assault on Gaza’s Rafah would be a ‘mistake’

March 21, 2024

CAIRO: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday a major Israeli ground assault on the southern Gaza town of Rafah would be “a mistake” and unnecessary to defeating Hamas, underscoring the further souring of relations between the United States and Israel.

Blinken, on his sixth urgent Mideast mission since the war began, spoke after huddling with top Arab diplomats in Cairo for discussions over efforts for a ceasefire and over ideas for Gaza’s post-conflict future. He said an “immediate, sustained ceasefire” with the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas was urgently needed and that gaps were narrowing in indirect negotiations that US, Egypt and Qatar have spent weeks mediating.

Arab ministers, along with a Palestinian official, in Cairo briefed Blinken on their vision on the current situation in Gaza and the necessity of a ceasefire followed by a political settlement via the implementation of a two-state solution, a statement from the Egyptian Foreign ministry said.

The Cairo talks gathered Blinken with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as a top official from the Palestine Liberation Organization, the internationally recognized body representing the Palestinian people.

In a joint statement after a meeting earlier in the day, the Arab ministers called for “a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire” and the “opening of all crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip.”

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated in a series of consultative ministerial meetings on the evolving situation in the Palestinian territories, Saudi Press Agency reported. 

Ahead of visiting Israel on Friday, Blinken said he agreed with the ministers to gather experts in the coming days “to identify the urgent, practical and concrete steps that can and should be taken to increase the flow of assistance.”

“Israel needs to do more” on humanitarian aid, Blinken added.

Blinken will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet in Friday. The growing disagreements between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden over the prosecution of the war will likely overshadow the talks — particularly over Netanyahu’s determination to launch a ground assault on Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have sought refuge from devastating Israeli ground and air strikes further north.

Netanyahu has said that without an invasion of Rafah, Israel can’t achieve its goal of destroying Hamas after its deadly Oct. 7 attack and taking of hostages that triggered Israel’s bombardment and offensive in Gaza.

“A major military operation in Rafah would be a mistake, something we don’t support. And, it’s also not necessary to deal with Hamas, which is necessary,” Blinken told a news conference in Cairo. A major offensive would mean more civilian deaths and worsen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, he said, adding that his talks on Rafah in Israel on Friday and next week in Washington will be to share alternative action.

Gaza’s Health Ministry raised the territory’s death toll on Thursday to nearly 32,000 Palestinians since the war began on its soil. Also, UN officials stepped up warnings that famine is “imminent” in northern Gaza.

In an earlier meeting with Blinken, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire and warned against the “dangerous repercussions” of any Israeli offensive in Rafah, according to a statement issued by El-Sisi’s spokesperson.

Both parties had renewed their rejection of the forced displacement of Gazans and agreed on the importance of taking all necessary measures to ensure the arrival of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, the statement said.

Blinken said “gaps are narrowing” in talks over a ceasefire. A day earlier at his tour’s first stop in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Blinken told the Saudi Al-Hadath network that the mediators had worked with Israel to put a “strong proposal” on the table. He said Hamas rejected it, but came back with other demands that the mediators are working on.

Netanyahu’s office said Thursday that the head of the Mossad spy agency will return to Qatar on Friday to meet with the head of the CIA and other key mediators in the talks. The office said Thursday that Qatar’s prime minister and Egypt’s intelligence chief would also join the talks.

The United States is seeking a swift vote on a newly revised and tougher UN resolution demanding “an immediate and sustained ceasefire” to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered. The US deputy ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, said he hoped a vote could take place by the end of the week.

Source: arabnews.com

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US lawmakers move to bar funds for UN Palestinian agency

March 22, 2024

WASHINGTON: US lawmakers moved Thursday toward prohibiting any further funding for the UN’s embattled agency for Palestinians, which Israel has sought to link to Hamas.

President Joe Biden’s administration has already suspended funding for UNRWA after Israel alleged that several of its employees participated in the October 7 attack.

But with the United Nations warning of famine in Gaza, the Biden administration had hoped to resume support after an investigation, believing that only UNRWA has the capacity to feed hungry Gazans.

A $1.2 trillion funding package hammered out by lawmakers early Thursday says US government money — either leftover funds from the current year or in the next fiscal year — “may not be used for a contribution, grant or other payment” for UNRWA.

Lawmakers released the plan to keep the government running ahead of a deadline of midnight on Friday, when three-quarters of the government will run out of funds if a deal is not reached.

Both the Republican-led House and Democratic-led Senate are expected to approve the plan, which would then be sent to Biden for his signature, despite misgivings by a number of lawmakers about some provisions.

House Speaker Mike Johnson trumpeted the section on UNRWA, saying in a statement that the package “halts funding for the United Nations agency which employed terrorists who participated in the October 7 attacks against Israel.”

Representative Ro Khanna, a progressive Democrat, said he would vote no on the legislation, saying it effectively deprived food to starving children.

“The America I believe in must never be indifferent to the man-made starvation of children,” Khanna wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Israel has accused 12 of UNRWA’s roughly 13,000 Gaza employees of participating in the attack, which prompted the Israeli military campaign, and accused the agency of being a front for Hamas, which controls Gaza.

UNRWA said it fired the employees and is now subject to an independent UN investigation.

Israel has long criticized UNRWA, which stands for the UN Relief and World Agency for Palestinian Refugees.

It is a major provider of education as well as food to Palestinian refugees, defined as Palestinians who fled or were expelled around the time of Israel’s 1948 creation, or their descendants.

This week, Israel barred UNRWA’s chief, Philippe Lazzarini, from visiting Gaza, saying he did not go through proper procedures.

The State Department said it provided $121 million to UNRWA in the current fiscal year and that its suspension only affected about $300,000.

Expecting opposition from Republicans to resuming funding, the Biden administration has been reaching out to other countries to make contributions.

Saudi Arabia, which Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited this week, announced Wednesday that it was donating $40 million to UNRWA.

Source: arabnews.com

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CAIR-CA Welcomes Governor Newsom’s Statement Calling for an Immediate Ceasefire and Aid to Gaza

Ibrahim Hooper

March 21, 2024

(SACRAMENTO, CA – 3/21/2024) – The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today welcomed Governor Gavin Newsom’s call for an immediate ceasefire in an open letter to California’s Muslim, Palestinian American, and Arab American communities.

The letter acknowledges the nationwide rise in Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate and highlights California’s deliverance of a humanitarian aid package, which included a field hospital and vital medical supplies for civilians in Gaza. 

Israel’s ongoing violence and indiscriminate bombing in Gaza has killed over 30,000 Palestinian civilians, including over 10,000 children, injured 70,000 civilians, displaced 1.9 million people, destroyed critical infrastructure, and cut off food, water, fuel, and healthcare. The letter addresses the ongoing violence and indiscriminate bombing in Gaza, remarking on the “unacceptable” nature of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.  

In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO HussamAyloush said:  

“CAIR-CA has advocated with state and federal elected officials to call for a ceasefire since the beginning of Israel’s violent military offense five months ago, including with Governor Newsom’s office. We are invigorated to see the Governor ultimately decide to take action and commend him for his commitment to peace and justice amid the heartbreaking violence that has tragically resulted in the death of over 30,000 Palestinians.

“Governor Newsom’s call for an immediate ceasefire embodies an undeniable truth—California will not shy away from standing for justice and human dignity. We hope this decision will stand as a beacon of compassion and moral leadership and compel other officials to do so as well.” 

During a meeting in December 2023 with the Governor, CAIR-CA and its partner organizations outlined several asks of the administration, including supporting a permanent ceasefire and a continued commitment to ensure freedom of speech, particularly in universities, as students engage in rallies.

The meeting was held to ensure that the voices of the Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab communities across California are heard during discussions of the genocide and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. CAIR-CA invited key staff, doctors, lawyers, community leaders, and advocates from across the state who all supported an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unrestricted flow of aid to the people of Gaza. Stories shared in the meeting were highlighted in the Governor’s letter. 

Hate incidents targeting the Muslim and Arab communities have been on the rise across the country since Oct. 7. In its most recent report, CAIR National released data showing it received a total of 3,578 reports of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian bias in the three months following Oct. 7—a staggering 178% increase. These reports include incidents of harassment, workplace discrimination, and bullying of K-12 students from peers, teachers, and administrators.   

CAIR-CA urges all local and national leaders to stand for peace and justice by supporting the?Ceasefire Now Resolution (HR 786). 

CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.?    

Source: cair.com

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CAIR-NY Condemns Hostile Environment at Columbia U Created by Suspension of SJP/JVP, Hosting of Anti-Muslim Islamophobic Speaker

Ismail Allison

March 21, 2024

The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the hostile environment at Columbia University resulting from the suspension of its chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), and the hosting an Islamophobic guestspeaker on campus.

Columbia Business School’s Students Supporting Israel (“SSI”) and Israel Business Association (IBA) are hosting Mosab Hassan Yousef to speak on campus today, March 21.

Yousef has publicly spouted his Islamophobic and racist views for decades. In recent months, Yousef made increasingly inflammatory Islamophobic remarks on his public social media accounts, in an attempt to justify the ongoing genocide in Palestine, in which over 31,000 Palestinians have been murdered.

On December 15, 2023, Yousef posted to his X account, “Never trust anyone who identifies as a Muslim, they may appear as a harmless sheep when they are alone, but when they are in the pack they will begin to show their tusks. I have zero respect for any individual who identifies as a Muslim.”

On December 1, 2023, he posted, “If I were to judge Islam against the main religions on Earth, Islam would calibrate at the bottom rung. Yet Muslims are on a crusade quest to conquer other religions, to convert humanity to the 7th-century mentality.”

CAIR-NY sent a letter calling on Columbia’s administration to protect the safety of its Muslim students. Additionally, CAIR-NY IS continuing to monitor Columbia’s response to an increase of reported anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents on Columbia’s campus.

In a statement, CAIR-NY Legal Fellow Burhan Carroll said:

“This event is the latest example of the Islamophobic environment that Columbia University has allowed to flourish on its campus. Mosab Hassan Yousef has made a career out of slandering Islam and Muslims, and his rhetoric has only grown more heinous as the genocide in Gaza continues. By inviting Yousef, these pro-Israel groups have given up any pretense of basic decency.

“Meanwhile, by unjustly suspending its chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace indefinitely, Columbia’s administration has silenced the very student voices that are needed more than ever to confront such hatred.

“So long as these groups remain suspended, Columbia cannot possibly claim to facilitate free and open discourse on its campus. We call on Columbia to reinstate SJP and JVP immediately and to take action to protect the safety of its Muslim students, especially during this holy month of Ramadan.”

In 2023, CAIR-NY recorded 555 requests for legal assistance in 2023, of which 239 were directly related to Palestinian solidarity representing 43% of its requests.  These numbers continue to rise with CAIR-NY receiving 122+ requests for assistance thus far in 2024 reflecting a continued surge in anti-Muslim incidents in New York.

Source: cair.com

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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ny-condemns-hostile-environment-at-columbia-u-created-by-suspension-of-sjp-jvp-hosting-of-anti-muslim-islamophobic-speaker/

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South Asia

 

Islamic State group claims responsibility for bombing at Afghan bank and says it targeted Taliban

March 22, 2024

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a deadly bombing that targeted people trying to collect their salaries at a bank in southern Afghanistan. The bombing Thursday at a branch of New Kabul Bank in Kandahar city killed three people and wounded 12 others.

All of the victims had gathered there to collect their monthly salaries, said InamullahSamangani, head of the government’s Kandahar Information and Culture Department.

Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesman for the Taliban Interior Ministry, said the target of the attack was civilians and the victims were local people. He said an investigation is continuing.

The Islamic State group’s affiliate, a major Taliban rival, has conducted attacks on schools, hospitals, mosques and Shiite areas throughout Afghanistan.

The militant group said in a statement posted on its news agency, Aamaq, late Thursday that the suicide bomber detonated his explosive belt among Taliban gathered near the bank to receive their salaries.

Kandahar city is a spiritual and political center for Afghanistan’s rulers because the Taliban’s supreme leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, is based there and his decisions on major issues are implemented by authorities in Kabul, the capital.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 during the chaotic departure of U.S. and NATO troops after 20 years. Despite initial promises of a more moderate stance, the Taliban have gradually reimposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah, as they did during their previous rule of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

Source: yahoo.com

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Pakistan Should Follow Up on Problems Within Its Own Territory: Mujahid

March 21, 2024

The Islamic Emirate rejected the claims of Pakistani officials regarding the presence of members of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the country and considers their use of Afghan soil against Pakistan to be baseless.

The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate requests the Pakistani government not to attribute its problems to Afghanistan.

“We do not allow Afghan soil to be used against Pakistan. Pakistan should also be careful in such cases and try to follow up and solve its problems more correctly within its own country,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate.

Three days after Pakistan's attack on parts of Paktika and Khost provinces, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, without naming Afghanistan, says he wants good relations with his neighboring country and emphasizes that the soil of neighboring countries should not be used against Pakistan.

"We can no longer tolerate terrorist activities resulting from cross-border movements, and misuse of border issues is a red line for us. Pakistan wants to live in peace and brotherhood with its neighboring countries," said Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

In the meantime, Pakistan's Defense Minister in an interview with a Pakistani media outlet has warned that if the issue TTP is not addressed by the Islamic Emirate, the Pakistani will defend its country referring to conducting airstrikes again.

Khwaja Muhammad Asif says his country does not want armed action with Kabul, but there will be no doubt about it if necessary.

"God willing, there will be no need for further attacks in Afghanistan, but if terrorists from Afghanistan attack Pakistan, we must act to defend ourselves. We believe that dialogue should be the first step and the use of force should be the last option," He said.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, in response to the recent Pakistani army air strikes on Khost and Paktika provinces, quoted by Geo News, said that Pakistan should maintain good relations with the Afghan government regardless of the rulers of Afghanistan.

" The operation of the 18th March 2024 was not targeted against the people, institutions or the military of Afghanistan. we respect the sovereignty and territorial Integrity of Afghanistan and look forward to working together to find joint Solutions encountering terrorism and preventing any terrorist organization from sabotaging bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan Pakistan," said Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.

Early Monday Morning (March 18th), Pakistani planes bombed parts of the provinces of Paktika and Khost, resulting in the death of eight people, including children and women.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-187927

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Azerbaijan Embassy Opens in Kabul: Islamic Emirate

March 21, 2024

SodabaNazhand

The Islamic Emirate said that Azerbaijan has opened its embassy in Kabul and plans to send its diplomats to this country in the coming days.

The spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate calls on the international community to renew its diplomatic relations with the caretaker government.

"Azerbaijan has started its diplomatic relations with Afghanistan and has activated its embassy. The Islamic Emirate will also activate its embassy in Azerbaijan. This is a new step in diplomatic relations between the two countries and will be beneficial for all," said Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate.

"The countries of the region not only have political and economic competitions among themselves but are also concerned about their internal security because of Afghanistan," said Aziz Maarij, a former Afghan diplomat.

Meanwhile, Ilham Mahmmadov, the Azerbaijani ambassador to Afghanistan, emphasized the expansion of comprehensive political and economic relations in separate meetings with deputy prime minister of the Islamic Emirate in political affairs and the acting Minister of Interior yesterday.

The Arg in a statement stated that during these meetings, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir supported Azerbaijan's position on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

"The Azerbaijani ambassador stated that they have religious, economic, and cultural relations with Afghans and are trying to connect Afghanistan's trade with Europe," said Hassan Haqyar, head of the media directorate of the political deputy PM.

Although the issue of the recognition of the Islamic Emirate remains unclear, the number of the Islamic Emirate's political representations in countries has reached 38, and representatives of the Islamic Emirate also have a diplomatic presence in some countries.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-187929

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PM seeks India’s support to import power from Bhutan

Mar 22, 2024

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday sought assistance from India for importing electricity from Bhutan through its territories.

She made the request when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma called on her at the GonoBhaban.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's speech writer M Nazrul Islam said, "The prime minister has sought support from India to import electricity from Bhutan smoothly."

He said Bangladesh will import electricity from Bhutan and an agreement in this regard will be signed when the Bhutanese king visits on March 25.

Sources said Bangladesh initially plans to import around 1,500MW electricity from Bhutan and that discussion on this issue between the two sides has almost completed.

Hasina also urged the Indian government to withdraw its anti-dumping measures on shipments of jute and jute goods from Bangladesh.

She said India can modernise the Syedpur railway workshop in Nilphamari.

The premier, also the Awami League president, told the envoy that Bangladesh has made unprecedented development because of continuation of democracy in the country.

She mentioned that after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and until 1996, victory in the national elections used to be decided by a "certain quarter".

That is why the AL could not win the 1991 election despite having public support, Hasina said.

"But in 1996, the same quarter bowed to the desire of the mass people. Awami League for the first time won the election that year," she said.

Verma mentioned that four projects were implemented in Bangladesh under the Indian Line of Credit (LOC) last year.

"And two more projects are in the pipeline for implementation." he said.

The high commissioner said his country is committed to taking forward the Bangladesh-India negotiations for Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

He said CEPA would be helpful after Bangladesh's graduation to a developing economy in 2026 from a least developed country.

The diplomat said discussions are going on to prepare a new framework for the LOC to make it project-based.

In the power and energy sector, India expressed its willingness to establish a high-power grid line through Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal for transmission of power easily to any part of the four countries.

Verma conveyed greetings from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Hasina.

He invited the Bangladesh premier to visit India after the national elections there. Hasina accepted the invitation, said Nazrul.

Source: thedailystar.net

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Deputy Foreign Minister and Chinese Ambassador Discuss Bilateral Relations

2024-03-21

KABUL (BNA): MawlaviRahmatul Haq Fuzil, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Zhao Xing, the Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan, in his office on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Fuzil expressed the Islamic Emirate’s desire to strengthen and expand relations with China.

The Deputy Foreign Minister provided detailed information about recent assaults in Afghanistan by Pakistan.

He emphasized that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s policy is one of positive relations with the region and the world at large, and it does not wish to strain relations with any party.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs also highlighted Afghanistan’s economy-oriented policy, stating that their interests necessitate positive relations with the region for regional connectivity and economic development.

The Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan, in response, stated that China views the security and stability of the region as beneficial for all countries, including China. He pledged to continue efforts in this regard. This meeting signifies a mutual commitment to fostering diplomatic relations and regional stability.

Source: bakhtarnews.af

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Mideast

 

Nearly 89,000 Gaza structures either destroyed or damaged by Israel: UN data

 21 March 2024

Satellite images from the United Nations Satellite Center’s analysis show 35 percent of the buildings in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged due to the Israeli bombardment of the besieged Palestinian territory.

The center, known as UNOSAT, conducted an evaluation by utilizing high-resolution satellite images acquired on February 29. These images were then compared with the ones captured prior to and following the commencement of the Israeli campaign of death and destruction in Gaza.

The results revealed that nearly 89,000 buildings had been either damaged or destroyed completely.

“UNOSAT identified 31,198 destroyed structures, 16,908 severely damaged structures and 40,762 moderately damaged structures, for a total of 88,868 structures,” UNOSAT stated in its report.

This signifies a rise of close to 20,000 damaged structures in contrast to the earlier evaluation conducted using images captured in January, which revealed that 30 percent of all buildings had been damaged or demolished, as reported by UNOSAT.

The imagery also revealed that Israel has caused the damage of more than 100,000 residential units.

“These correspond to around 35% of the total structures in the Gaza Strip and a total of 121,400 estimated damaged housing units.”

Out of all of the Gaza Strip, Khan Younis has witnessed the “highest rise in damage,” the report said, and the “highest number of newly destroyed structures.”

“The governorates of Khan Younis and Gaza have experienced the highest rise in damage, with 12,279 new structures damaged in Khan Younis and 2,010 in Gaza.

“Khan Younis City had the highest number of newly destroyed structures, with 6,663 in total.”

Tragedy at hospital

Following four days of siege, Israeli forces on Thursday blew up the main surgical building at Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical complex.

The complex served as a place of refuge for thousands of Palestinians in search of safe haven.

The people inside were ordered by the Israeli military to evacuate before they demolished it.

Early on Thursday morning, Israeli forces warned them that the air force would soon begin bombing the complex, and that they should surrender themselves.

“We warned you, we warned you, we warned you,” an Israeli soldier could be heard saying on a loudspeaker. “Do not make a mistake, do not try us.”

“If you leave the building [without the army’s orders], the soldiers will shoot at you.”

A social media viral video depicts women and children rushing to evacuate, anticipating the forthcoming words by the Israeli military. Men were said to have been escorted by the soldiers.

Israeli forces have also blown up several homes in the vicinity of the hospital, according to Al Jazeera.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/03/21/722267/Gaza-structures-destroyed-damaged-UN-data

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50,000 worshippers perform Tarawih prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque despite Israeli restrictions

Ahmed Asmar

22.03.2024

Around 50,000 Palestinian worshippers performed Tarawih prayers Thursday at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, despite Israeli restrictions.

Tarawih prayers are special night prayers that are performed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

In a brief statement, the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem said nearly 50,000 worshippers attended Tarawih prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque ahead of the second Friday of Ramadan.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA said Israeli forces closed Al-Wad Street in Jerusalem's Old City, hindering access to the mosque.

Israel has restricted Palestinian worshippers’ access to Al-Aqsa Mosque amid growing tensions across the occupied West Bank due to the Israeli army’s ongoing offensive on the Gaza Strip following an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas that has left nearly 32,000 people dead.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.

Source: aa.com.tr

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Senior Hezbollah security official makes rare visit to UAE to discuss detained Lebanese

March 22, 2024

BEIRUT: A senior official with Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group made a rare visit to the United Arab Emirates to discuss the cases of a dozen Lebanese citizens detained in the oil-rich nation over alleged links to the Lebanese group, Hezbollah said Thursday.

The United Arab Emirates, like other Arab gulf countries, considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization and over the years has detained and deported dozens of Lebanese citizens over alleged links to the group.

A Hezbollah statement said Wafik Safa, the head of the group’s Liaison and Coordination Unit, visited the UAE where he met officials involved in the cases of Lebanese detained there. It did not give further details, but said there were hopes of reaching a good outcome.

The UAE gave no official comment on the visit.

Lebanese media outlets reported that Safa’s visit followed mediation by Syrian President Bashar Assad with officials in the UAE. After years of backing the Syrian opposition, the UAE restored relations with Damascus in 2018 and earlier this year the first ambassador for the emirates took office in Damascus.

Hassan Alayan, who heads a committee of Lebanese deported from the UAE, told The Associated Press that there are 12 Lebanese citizens held in the UAE, including three who have not been charged. He said the others are three who were sentenced to life in prison, four who are serving 15-year sentences and two who were sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Alayan, who was deported from the UAE in 2009 with his wife and four children after he had lived there for 27 years, charges against Lebanese in the UAE have ranged from being Hezbollah members to being drug smugglers and money launderers for the Iran-backed group.

“All these charges are fabricated,” Alayan said.

In May of last year, the UAE released 10 Lebanese citizens who were arrested there about two months earlier. The release came after the death earlier in May of a Lebanese man who was detained in the UAE on unknown charges.

Following charges against some Lebanese in the UAE in 2019, Amnesty International said in a statement at the time that the trial of the men “failed to meet international fair trial standards,” as the evidence included confessions that were “extracted under duress, and the defendants were detained incommunicado for months and denied access to lawyers during interrogation and investigation.”

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2480821/middle-east

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Leaders of UAE and Jordan discuss Gaza war and bilateral ties

March 22, 2024

DUBAI: Jordan’s King Abdullah held talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the president of the UAE, on Thursday in Abu Dhabi.

Their discussions included regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the war in Gaza, and ways to enhance the ties between their countries, the Emirates News Agency reported.

Regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Sheikh Mohammed and King Abdullah called for the safe and unimpeded delivery of aid by land, sea and air. They also stressed the urgent need for international efforts to help maintain regional stability and achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians based on the two-state solution.

In terms of bilateral ties, they discussed various aspects of collaboration between their countries, with a particular focus on on development, the economy and politics. They also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close coordination on all matters of mutual concern.

In honor of the visit by King Abdullah and his delegation, Sheikh Mohammed hosted an iftar celebration for them and other high-level officials from both countries.

Source: arabnews.com

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Another 61 Jordanians allowed to leave Gaza through Rafah border crossing

March 21, 2024

AMMAN: Egyptian authorities have authorized an additional 61 Jordanian citizens to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing, officials in Jordan said on Thursday.

Since October, 1,247 Jordanian citizens have registered with authorities that they are in Gaza, and 764 of them have been evacuated from the territory so far.

Sufyan Qudah, a spokesperson for Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, said staff from the country’s embassy in Egypt are stationed at the border crossing to monitor the evacuation process and assist Jordanians by providing essential support, including medical aid, and coordinating travel arrangements for nationals granted permission to leave.

Meanwhile, Jordan’s armed forces completed seven airdrops of humanitarian aid to the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the Jordan News Agency reported. The operations were carried out by the Royal Jordanian Air Force in cooperation with Egypt, the US, Germany and Singapore, which provided the use of planes.

Sources said the airdrops reflected Jordan’s aim of broadening the scope of international collaborations as part of the efforts to deliver greater amounts of critical aid to the people of Gaza. Since the start of the war in October, the country has carried out 53 airdrops of its own, and taken part in 78 joint airdrop operations with other countries.

Source: arabnews.com

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IDF probes soldiers for mistakenly killing Palestinian convert to Judaism

YONAH JEREMY BOB

MARCH 21, 2024

The IDF on Thursday ordered a criminal probe into IDF soldiers who mistakenly killed a Palestinian convert to Judaism near Elazar in the Etzion bloc.

The 63-year-old victim, who the soldiers suspected of being a security risk, was known as David Ben Avraham by Jews who knew him, with his original name being  SaamachZeitoun, reportedly underwent a conversion by rabbis in BnaiBrak and had been arrested, beaten and abused by the Palestinian Authority for his conversion.

According to an IDF statement, the soldiers shot Zeitoun when his conduct raised suspicions.

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However, reports indicated that he did nothing suspicious in particular and that they became suspicious simply from the fact that he got off the bus in a location near where Jews lived and where Palestinians did not typically get off.

They then reportedly checked his belongings and found a kitchen knife in his bag, after which they shot him.

No indications of an attempted attack

Yet, so far, there were no indications that he attempted to attack them or that he was even holding the knife since they had seized the knife and his bag. Some reports said that after they took the knife out of his bag, he dropped his hands down from being raised, but not that he took any aggressive action.

The soldiers will doubtlessly present a different narrative. Still, the initial reports could hold them criminally liable both for performing an unwarranted search and for shooting an elderly man who objectively did not present an immediate danger.

Even if Ben Avraham had been a terrorist, the law does not permit using lethal force where a mere arrest would be easily possible.

Now that Ben Avraham is dead, he cannot be asked why he had a kitchen knife in his bag, but having a knife in a bag for self-defense is not necessarily a crime and is certainly not a capital crime.

The incident joins a series of incidents of wrongful mistaken killings of both Jewish-Israelis and Arab-Israelis, which have taken place since October 7 in which, to date, the prosecution and courts have been extremely lenient on the killers.

Source: jpost.com

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https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-792999

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Fasting and mourning: Israeli attacks darken Ramadan in occupied West Bank

Mar 22, 2024

Normally festive Ramadan nights have become rife with danger in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said hospital director Wisam Bakr, as surging attacks cast a long shadow over the Muslim fasting month.

His hospital in the northern West Bank city of Jenin has been on the front line of the spike in Israeli attacks since the beginning of Israel's war on Gaza.

Instead of breaking the daily Ramadan fast with family and friends, "at night we try not to go outside... because the night is not safe," said Bakr.

"At any hour there may be a raid" by Israeli forces, he said.

Attacks in the occupied West Bank involving Israeli forces or settlers - already rising before the war - has spiked to levels unseen in two decades.

Since October 7, the Jenin Government Hospital has received 44 people killed and 264 people wounded in Israeli raids, said the director Bakr.

Beyond the casualties and damage the frequent military raids have caused, residents of Jenin - a stronghold of Palestinian resistance groups - said the Israeli raids have translated into quiet streets, subdued celebrations and anxiety.

"There are no people" on the streets, said Mohammed Omar, a sweets vendor who has spent his whole life in Jenin refugee camp, one of the West Bank's most crowded and impoverished, and the site of repeated Israeli raids.

'Afraid for my children'

According to Omar, the heavy atmosphere of this year's Ramadan can be felt not just in the immediate aftermath of raids and strikes, but also on relatively quiet days.

"People are staying in their homes, afraid of the bombing, and they don't have money to spend," he said.

Even if they did, they would likely have some trouble getting around, as many streets have been damaged and some rendered impassable by Israeli bulldozers carrying out demolitions.

Israel routinely demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks, arguing that such measures act as a deterrent, while critics say this policy amounts to collective punishment.

Bakr said Israeli raids and fear had taken a toll on the hospital's staff and made for a much more reserved Ramadan.

Their work is high-pressure, with casualties often arriving at night and overwhelming emergency medics.

"Nowadays I hurry up" to get home after the daily fast ends at sunset, "because I'm afraid not only for me, but for my children too," Bakr said.

Last week Israeli forces killed two men inside the hospital, in what the military described as "counterterrorism activity" against "armed suspects".

In footage stored on Bakr's phone, one of the men, Mahmud Abu al Haija, wearing jeans and a black sweater, is gunned down just outside the emergency ward, leaving a bright red streak of blood on the floor as others drag him away.

The man's aunt, Farha Abu al Haija, said that he was "neither a resistance fighter nor a weapon bearer", and that he had run to the hospital seeking safety.

'Ramadan wasn't like this'

Farha Abu al Haija said she usually looks forward to Ramadan, but now her family and others "are missing a member".

"There is sadness, anger, pain."

At least 444 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers across the West Bank since October 7, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Mokhles Turkman was driving home from work on Wednesday, planning to break the fast with his family, when he heard a loud explosion - a strike Israel said had targeted Palestinian militants.

As Turkman, 29, learned that the blast had killed three men, he abandoned his original plans and decided instead to join the funeral procession through the streets of Jenin.

One of those killed was a Palestinian Islamic Jihad "commander", according to the Israeli military, which also accused him of a deadly attack last year that killed an Israeli civilian.

"Ramadan was never like this," Turkman said, as young men fired automatic weapons into the sky and others lowered the three bodies into freshly dug graves.

He said he attended the funeral "to stand with the people".

"We want to stand with their families, let them know that we are all united."

Source: trtworld.com

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https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/fasting-and-mourning-israeli-attacks-darken-ramadan-in-occupied-west-bank-17463134

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Israel caught in ‘Gaza quagmire’, Netanyahu at ‘end of line’: Iran FM

22 March 2024

The Iranian foreign minister says Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has led the regime into a quagmire in the Gaza Strip and now he has reached “the end of the line”.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement on Thursday night.

“It is clear to the world that Netanyahu has reached the end of the line and is only struggling for his survival,” he said.

“As [Leader of the Islamic Revolution] Imam Khamenei stressed, the Israeli regime is stuck in the quagmire of the Gaza war, thanks to the resilience of the Palestinian people and resistance.”

Israel unleashed its US-backed war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out its historic operation in retaliation for the regime’s intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

However, almost six months into the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has failed to achieve its objectives of "destroying Hamas" and finding Israeli captives despite killing more than 32,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 74,188 others.

During the phone call, the top Iranian diplomat briefed Haniyeh on Iran’s latest diplomatic moves regarding the Palestine issue.

He strongly criticized the UN Security Council for its failure to act on the Gaza onslaught, urging international institutions to stop the killing of defenseless Palestinians and immediately send humanitarian aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip.

Haniyeh, for his part, explained the latest political and field developments in Gaza and highlighted the high morale and capability of resistance fighters in the face of the Israeli regime’s war and killing machine.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza, especially in its northern areas, is critical, he said, underlining the need for the international community to send relief supplies to the besieged territory and confront the Israeli regime’s deliberate policy of famine and starvation.

The Hamas chief also detailed the recent political and regional efforts to stop the Israeli genocide in Gaza and exchange Israeli captives with Palestinian abductees held in the regime’s jails.

Hamas conditions for a Gaza ceasefire are based on the legitimate demands of the Palestinian people, but Israel is throwing a wrench in the truce talks, he added.

Haniyeh also emphasized that Netanyahu and the Israeli regime bear responsibility for any failure of the ceasefire negotiations.

Source: presstv.ir

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Israel restricts Palestinians' access to Al-Aqsa Mosque for 2nd Friday of Muslim holy month

 22/03/2024

Israeli authorities barred Palestinians from the West Bank from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem for the second consecutive Friday of the Muslims' holy month of Ramadan.

A large number of Israeli soldiers and police are deployed throughout the city to restrict Muslim faithful access to the mosque, witnesses told Anadolu.

An Anadolu correspondent pointed out that several men and women were refused entry by Israeli forces, claiming they did not obtain the necessary permits.

Palestinian Abdullah Hamayel, 63, told Anadolu that Israeli authorities denied him entry to Jerusalem, claiming that he did not obtain a permit, even though he was carrying his American passport.

Hamayel, originally from the town of Beita, south of Nablus, said, “Jerusalem is more precious to us than anything, but today we were prevented from even praying there.”

Beida Omar, 71, said the Israeli army prevented her from entering Jerusalem because, what the soldiers claimed, she did not follow its instructions to return to the West Bank before the evening prayer last Friday.

“This is untrue. They just want to prevent us from entering Jerusalem. I have a permit, but it is withdrawn,” she said.

Before the start of Ramadan, the Israeli government announced that "during the Fridays throughout the month of Ramadan, people from Judea and Samaria (the Torah name for the West Bank) will be allowed to enter Jerusalem subject to possessing a valid magnetic (security) permit and assessing the security situation."

The army added that only men over the age of 55, women over the age of 50, and children under the age of 10 will be allowed into Jerusalem. However, Israeli soldiers and police are obstructing and preventing Muslims from offering weekly Friday prayers in congregation during the fasting month again.

Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, police have closed all checkpoints around East Jerusalem to residents of the West Bank.

Israel launched its war on Gaza after an Oct. 7 cross-border incursion by Hamas. It has since killed nearly 32,000 Palestinians and pushed the territory to the brink of famine.

Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on the Palestinian enclave, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

The war has pushed 85% of Gaza's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while most of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in an interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.
Source: yenisafak.com

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Pakistan

 

Two martyred as suicide bomber rips through convoy in Dera Ismail Khan

March 22, 2024

 Saleem Shahid

DERA ISMAIL KHAN/QUETTA: Two soldiers were martyred after a suicide bomber struck a military convoy on Tank Road, in the jurisdiction of the Hathala police station, Dera Ismail Khan, on Thursday. Police said the attack also injured at least 22 personnel.

According to a police report, the convoy was on its way to Tank from Dera Ismail Khan when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the convoy, resulting in the martyrdom of two soldiers on the spot and injuries to almost two dozen others.

Following the attack, heavy contingents of police and security forces reached the site and cordoned off the area. The medical teams of Rescue 1122 rushed the dead bodies and injured to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dera Ismail Khan.

Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistan Army, had not issued an official statement about the suicide attack until the filing of this report.

Panjgur operation

Separately, an alleged militant was killed and two were wounded in an intelligence-based operation conducted by the security forces in Panjgur, according to the Pakistan Army’s media wing.

In a statement, the ISPR said on the night between March 20 and 21, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Panjgur district. It said that during the operation, the army effectively “engaged the terrorists’ location and resultantly terrorist Chakar Liaquat was killed, while two terrorists got injured”.

“Weapon and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorist, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities,” the statement said. “Sanitisation operation is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.”

It may be noted that a day earlier a group of eight militants attempted to infiltrate the Gwadar port complex. Their attempt to enter the complex was foiled by the security forces, resulting in the death of all militants and two soldiers.

Source: dawn.com

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Zardari pleads presidential immunity in two NAB cases

 March 22, 2024

Malik Asad

ISLAMABAD: Presi­dent Asif Ali Zardari has filed for immunity under Article 248 of the Cons­titution, aiming to stop the ongoing criminal proceedings against him in the Islamabad Accountability Court pertaining to the Thatta Water Supply Pro­ject and Park Lane cases.

Mr Zardari also intends to extend the immunity claim to two other cases concerning Toshakhana vehicles and fake bank accounts, his lead counsel, Senator Farooq H. Naek, told Dawn on Thursday.

Article 248 of the Constitution safeguards high-ranking officials, in­­cluding the president, from legal proceedings in court for actions taken during their term of office. It states that such officials “shall not be answerable to any court for the exercise of powers and performance of functions of their respective offices” and prohibits any criminal proceedings or arrests during their tenure.

The accountability court has since issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), seeking a response to Mr Zardari’s application for immunity by April 22.

In the Park Lane case, NAB accuses Mr Zardari of misappropriating funds through Parthenon Private Limited and Park Lane Estate Private Limited, among others. NAB alleges that Park Lane received a Rs1.5 billion loan, which later increased to Rs2.8bn, from a joint venture of the National Bank of Pakistan and Summit Bank, and the company later defaulted.

Mr Naek has claimed that NAB overlooked all the financial laws in this reference. He argues that NAB could not have proceeded in this matter without mandatory approval of the reference from the State Bank of Pakistan since it was a case of wilful default.

The Thatta Water Supply reference alleges that the accused illegally awarded different contracts to private contractors. Mr Zardari and Ijaz Khan, Hassan Ally Memon, who headed the committee responsible for the water supply scheme procurements, Omni Group CEO Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed, Menahel Majeed, and nine others are among the accused.

The Toshakhana vehicles reference is related to the payment of three luxury vehicles obtained from Toshakhana. Mr Zardari got two vehicles, while one was given to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Another former premier, Yousuf Raza Gillani, is also among the accused.

The fake bank accounts case has been transferred from an Islamabad accountability court to a banking court in Karachi.

Mr Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, and others face charges related to opening fake bank accounts and engaging in illegal transactions amounting to billions of rupees.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1823054/zardari-pleads-presidential-immunity-in-two-nab-cases

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Macroeconomic stability unachievable without another IMF programme: PM Shehbaz

March 21, 2024

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that macroeconomic stability in the country needed to be advanced further, which he said would not be possible without another bailout programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

A day ago, while announ­c­ing the staff-level agreement (SLA) on the successful completion of an existing short-term facility, the IMF had confirmed that Pakistan was seeking a 24th medium-term bailout package for a permanent push towards longstanding structural reforms.

In its end-of-mission statement, the IMF had said that subject to the approval of its executive board, the staff-level agreement would enable Pakistan to access about $1.1 billion — 828 million special drawing rights (SDR) — by late April.

While addressing a meeting of the Special Investment and Faci­litation Council’s (SIFC) Apex committee today, PM Shehbaz congratulated the finance ministry for closing the SLA with the IMF, and expressed hope that the $1.1bn tranche would arrive next month.

“[However], is this our ultimate achievement? The answer is a big no. We have to bring economic stability at the macro-level and we have to progress it for which it is decided that we cannot survive without another [IMF] agreement.”

The prime minister questioned whether another programme would be able to bring economic stability, increase the growth trajectory and bring prosperity.

He stressed that the newly elected government would have to work towards a medium-term programme which would have the duration of two-to-three years. “And during those years, the government will have to undertake deep rooted structural reforms,” the premier added.

He further said: “To think that the economy will stop bleeding without undertaking those steps is a dream.”

PM Shehbaz gave the example of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), citing the need to reform and digitise the institution.

The prime minister also credited the political parties for their role in the successful negotiations with the IMF.

“When Pakistan came to close to being a brink of bankruptcy, the political parties set aside their differences to work for the country,” he said, adding that the reforms taken up the the interim government helped achieve the successful IMF reviews.

He also expressed his gratitude toward the SIFC, stating that it had helped overcome bureaucratic hurdles without going into details.

The prime minister ended the meeting on emphasising the importance of political parties setting aside their differences to work towards the wellbeing of the country, highlighting that politics should be secondary to the state’s interests.

A press release from the Prime Minister’s Office said the army chief reassured the military’s “fullest support to backstop the economic initiatives of the government” and to ensure the provision of a safe, secure and conducive environment to nurture the country’s true economic potential.

It added that PM Shehbaz urged the federal cabinet to “join hands, keep political differences aside and work as a cohesive team” to keep the momentum of economic stability.

The combined leadership also vowed to ensure the continuation of policies and take tough decisions in the country’s larger interest by setting correct economic priorities.

Next IMF programme

The Fund’s statement had said Pakistan that “expressed interest in a successor medium-term Fund-supported programme with the aim of permanently resolving Pakistan’s fiscal and external sustainability weaknesses, strengthening its economic recovery, and laying the foundations for strong, sustainable, and inclusive growth”.

It said the IMF team reached a SLA with the Pakistani authorities on the second and final review of Pakistan’s stabilisation programme supported by the IMF’s $3 billion standby arrangement approved in July last year.

While doing so, the Fund also laid bare the broader, though well-known, conditionalities of the next programme on which “discussions are expected to start in the coming months”, the statement had added.

As in the past programmes, four central areas would remain under focus for reforms. The top objective of the next medium-term programme — Extended Fund Facility of about 36 to 39 months — would be strengthening public finances, including through gradual fiscal consolidation and broadening the tax base, especially in under-taxed sectors (read real estate, retail and wholesale trade and agriculture) and improving tax administration to improve debt sustainability and create space for higher priority development and social assistance spending to protect the vulnerable.

The second objective of the next programme would be restoring the energy sector’s viability by accelerating cost-reducing reforms, including through improving electricity transmission and distribution, moving captive power demand to the electricity grid, strengthening distribution company governance and management, and undertaking effective anti-theft efforts.

The third key objective would be returning inflation to the target, with a deeper and more transparent flexible foreign exchange market supporting external rebalancing and rebuilding foreign exchange reserves.

The fourth and last critical aim would be promoting private-led activity through the above-mentioned actions as well as the removal of distortionary protection, advancement of reforms on state-owned enterprises to improve the sector’s performance, and the scaling up investment in human capital to make economic growth more resilient and inclusive and enable Pakistan to reach its economic potential.

Source: dawn.com

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We don’t want armed conflict with Afghanistan: Asif

March 21, 2024

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday that Pakistan did not want any armed conflict with Afghanistan, but warned Kabul that Islamabad could block the corridor for its trade with India if it failed to curb anti-Pakistan terrorists operating from there.

In an interview with Voice of America (VoA), Asif highlighted a surge in terror attacks in Pakistan since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. He recalled that during a visit to Kabul last year he had advised Taliban not to let past “favours” from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) tie their hands.

“Force is the last resort. We do not want to have an armed conflict with Afghanistan,” Asif said, while speaking about the airstrikes on alleged terrorist hideouts across the border. He noted that a message needed to be sent that cross-border terrorism had become intolerable.

Pakistan carried out strikes inside the neighbouring country in response to a March 16 terrorist attack in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, in which seven Pakistani soldiers, including two officers, were martyred. the target of the operation was the terrorists, responsible for multiple terrorist attacks in Pakistan.

The minister stressed that Pakistan needed to convey to the rulers in Kabul that the current situation was untenable. “If they [TTP] can harm us, then we’ll be forced to [retaliate],” Asif said.

However, he hoped Afghanistan would rein in the TTP, preventing the need for future military strikes from Pakistan.

Asif questioned the rationale behind providing trade corridor if Afghanistan treated Pakistan as an enemy. He cautioned that Pakistan could block this corridor it provides to Afghanistan for trade with India if Kabul failed to curb anti-Pakistan terrorists on its soil.

Responding to a question, Asif said that Kabul was allowing the TTP to operate against Pakistan to prevent its members from joining the Islamic State’s (IS) local chapter, known as IS-Khorasan.

He referred to IS-KP as a major internal security threat for Afghanistan.

Despite China’s silence on the cross-border fighting, Asif dismissed the notion of lack of public support from Beijing. “It’s not necessary that the world must applaud us.

What is in our interest is enough for us. We are protecting our interest, irrespective of whether someone applauds us or not.”

Source: tribune.com.pk

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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2460041/we-dont-want-armed-conflict-with-afghanistan-asif

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Donald Lu’s stance on cipher: PTI demands Asad Majeed record his statement

 2024-03-22

ISLAMABAD: A day after US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu denied US involvement in ex-prime minister Imran Khan’s ouster from office, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday demanded the then Pakistan’s ambassador Asad Majeed to record his statement in response to the US diplomat’s “lie” before a US Congressional panel.

Speaking at a presser here, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said that “since Donald Lu has denied it [threatening Pakistan to remove Imran Khan] we demand Asad Majeed must give his statement in this regard as he was the one who had sent the cypher”.

“We demand Asad Majeed to come on record and renew his statement which he had written in cypher after his conversation with Lu. We want him [Asad Majeed] to speak up whether the denial from Lu is right or wrong…it’s been almost 20 hours [since Lu denied US interference to oust Imran Khan] but Asad Majeed is yet to react to Lu’s statement,” he added.

He said the jailed former prime minister had called upon Majeed to give his statement as he was privy to the conversation with the controversial US official, adding the PTI wanted a thorough probe into cypher as Lu had told a lie before a subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the US House of Representatives.

The PTI chairman reiterated that the former Pakistan ambassador to the US must come on record and break the silence over the misleading statement by Donald Lu before the subcommittee of US foreign affairs.

“Whatever Donald said during the hearing is a complete lie and there is no second opinion about the conspiracy against Pakistan as after the Pakistan’s ambassador’s cypher, the opposition had moved the no-confidence motion to remove Imran Khan as prime minister,” he maintained.

To a question, he said the doors for talks with the government were always open and the release of the party founding chairman from jail could not be linked to talks with the incumbent regime.

“The case for the release of Imran Khan is being taken up by the courts and we will not hold any talk with the government for the release of Imran Khan as we’ve full faith in the courts,” he declared.

Source: brecorder.com

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Africa

 

Ghana president caught in squabble over anti-LGBTQ bill

21.03.2024

The speaker of Ghana's Parliament has halted the approval of new ministers, deepening the standoff over the delayed signing of an anti-LGBTQ+ bill by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The bill, which seeks to criminalize gay relationships and support for them, was passed last month but has faced legal challenges. The presidency has requested that Parliament refrain from sending the bill for presidential assent until these challenges are resolved.

Speaker Alban Bagbin has criticized the presidency's stance as "contemptuous," asserting that it undermines parliamentary authority. President Akufo-Addo is facing pressure both domestically, where many Ghanaians support the bill, and internationally, with Western donors and human rights groups urging him not to sign it into law.

The delay in the bill's signing has sparked a political showdown, with a lawyer challenging its passage in the Supreme Court on the grounds of insufficient parliamentary quorum during the vote.

In a recent letter to Parliament, the presidential secretary argued that it would be improper for the president to receive the bill until the court reaches a verdict on the matter. In response, Speaker Bagbin has frozen the approval of new ministers, heightening pressure on the president to act.

The move has elicited mixed reactions among political leaders. While the minority leader in Parliament, CassielAtoForson, supports the speaker's stance, the majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has criticized it, calling for wider consultation.

Former President John Mahama has weighed in, denouncing the presidency's letter as unconstitutional and asserting that the presidential secretary lacks the authority to intervene in parliamentary matters.

Dubbed the "Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values" bill, the legislation has bipartisan support and enjoys backing from influential religious leaders. It proposes stringent penalties, including up to three years' imprisonment for LGBTQ+ identification and five years for promoting LGBTQ+ activities.

President Akufo-Addo, who had previously indicated willingness to sign the bill if popularly supported, is now seeking to reassure the international community of Ghana's commitment to human rights.

However, the bill's potential ramifications extend beyond the social and political spheres. Ghana stands to lose significant World Bank funding amounting to $3.8 billion over the next five to six years if the bill is enacted. This loss comes at a precarious time for the country, which is grappling with a severe economic crisis and recently received a bailout from the IMF.

With presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December, the resolution of this standoff remains uncertain, as the Supreme Court is unlikely to rule on the case before then.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2024/03/21/ghana-president-caught-in-squabble-over-anti-lgbtq-bill/

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Ramadan: Abdulsalami calls for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians

March 21, 2024

Former Nigerian Head of State, General AbdulsalamAbubakar, has reiterated the importance of peaceful coexistence among Nigerians irrespective of religious and cultural backgrounds in the country.

Abdulsalami stated this during the Ramadan lecture at his residence in Minna, Niger State.

The elder statesman also stressed the need for youth to respect the elders just as leaders should endeavour to build peace as well as ensure orderliness in the society.

He also called on the Muslim faithful to support one another during the Ramadan period in the areas of provisions for the less privileged in society to enhance their religious practices.

According to him: “I am urging all Muslims globally to enhance their religious practices by supporting one another, especially in terms of providing food and other provisions for their fellow Muslims and all the needy during and after the holy month of Ramadan.”

Source: dailypost.ng

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https://dailypost.ng/2024/03/21/ramadan-abdulsalami-calls-for-peaceful-coexistence-among-nigerians/

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We need more young men to call Adhan - National Mosque

Mar - 21 - 2024

The National Mosque of Ghana has held a competition aimed at promoting, among the youth, the culture of offering Adhan, the Muslim call to Friday public worship (jum?ah) and to the five daily hours of prayer.

The contest dubbed; the National Adhan Competition, was opened to any male aged between 14 to 24 living in Ghana.

Applicants were required to submit a maximum of 3 minutes video of themselves calling Adhan to a whatsapp number.

The best 40 were shortlisted for the competition after which three were selected as winners.

Abdul Nafiu Mohammed from the Ashanti Region was crowned winner with a cash prize of GH¢ 5,000.00.

Hadi Kaafarani, a Lebanese residing in Accra and Osman Abdul Salem also from Accra grabbed the second and third places respectively. Mr Kaafarani  walked away with GH¢3,000.00 while Mr Salem got with GH¢2,000.00.

Only men can offer Adhan, per Islamic law.

Significance

A Deputy Administrator at the mosque, Alhaji Jabir Ameer Yaadiga intimidated that the competition was necessary because many young Muslim men were shying away from act because they perceived it to be in the purview of only older men.

“When you come to our local communities, you’ll realise it’s older men who normally call for Adhan and any Muslim will bear with me in this regard,” he said.

“But now we want to change the narrative.  You don’t need to be a retiree or to be done with life to call Adhan. It is important in the steps of prayers and Islam in general and so we need more young men to call Adhan,” he added.

The Imam of the Ghana National Mosque, Ali Güven described the Adhan as a critical identity mark and the biggest communication tool for the Islamic community particularly in a secular state like Ghana.

“For example, for most Muslims, Christianity is known by the sound of a bell, the sign of the cross, the priests, priests' vestments, or the liturgical sounds heard in churches,” he added.

No winners, no losers

The Personal Assistant to the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Mohammed MarzuqAbubakrAzindoo stressed that there were no winners or losers as far as the competition was concerned.

He explained that it was a form of highlighting values such as hard work, unity, peace, tolerance and understanding which were critical to the prosperity of Islam and mankind as a whole.

Sheikh Azindoo further stated that the National Chief Imam, Sheikh UsmanuNuhuSharubutu had commended the National Mosque and its partner NGOs including Jil-Al Quran and HudaiFoundation for continuously taking up initiatives geared towards promoting and preserving Islam in the country.

Source: graphic.com.gh

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https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/we-need-more-young-men-to-call-adhan-national-mosque.html

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Burkina Faso's security forces are killing more civilians. Survivors detailed 1 village's massacre

22 Mar 2024

DAKAR: Women slain with babies wrapped against their bodies, lifeless children intertwined together, a 2-month-old face-up on the ground with puppies crawling on his tiny frame. The scenes were horrifying, but the 32-year-old farmer felt he had to document them, as proof of the carnage in his central Burkina Faso village.

More than a dozen relatives were killed Nov. 5 when security forces attacked with mounted pickup trucks, guns and drones, he told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, for fear of retaliation. He said he hid for hours in a neighbor’s compound and took a series of photos before fleeing the next morning.

Dozens more were killed that day in Zaongo village, according to his account and that of two other survivors, as well as a U.N. report citing government figures. The images the man sent AP and the interviews with the three survivors are rare firsthand accounts amid a stark increase in civilian killings by Burkina Faso’s security forces as the junta struggles to beat back a growing jihadi insurgency and attacks citizens under the guise of counterterrorism.

Most attacks — including the slaying of children by soldiers at a military base last year, uncovered in an AP investigation — go unpunished and unreported in a nation run by a repressive leadership that silences perceived dissidents.

More than 20,000 people have been killed since jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group first hit the West African nation nine years ago, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a U.S.-based nonprofit. The fighting has divided a once peaceful population, blockaded dozens of cities and led to two military coups.

Civilian deaths at the hands of security forces increased by 70% from 2022 to 2023 — to 735 people killed from 430, ACLED figures show.

Burkina Faso’s government spokesman didn’t respond to requests for comment about the Nov. 5 attack. Previously, officials have denied killing civilians and said jihadis often disguise themselves as soldiers.

The three survivors told AP they’re certain the men were security forces, not jihadis. They describe them wearing military uniforms, one with a Burkina Faso flag fastened to him as he tried to warn a group of civilians that anyone found alive would be killed. The farmer saw a helicopter flying toward the village in the attack’s aftermath — those are used solely by the military, not insurgents.

The United Nations urged the government to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the attack, hold those responsible accountable, and compensate victims and families, said SeifMagango, spokesperson for the U.N. Human Rights Office.

Burkina Faso’s prosecutor’s office said it opened an investigation, but four months later, survivors said they’ve had no news.

"They Massacred them"

It was early morning when the farmer heard gunshots in the distance. He was cultivating land a few miles from home with his father, he said, and they returned to the village to wait it out.

Violence in Namentenga province is frequent, locals said — it’s common to hear shootings and see soldiers on patrol.

But this Sunday was different.

About 3 p.m., the farmer said, hundreds of men — most in military fatigues — stormed through on motorbikes and trucks and started indiscriminately killing people.

He hid at the neighbor’s home, he said, and after hours of gunshots, the man with the Burkina Faso flag entered, warning people to stay out of sight.

“The soldier told us that his colleagues were in the other compound,” the farmer said. “He said he didn’t want to hurt us, but if the others realized we were still alive, they’d kill us.”

When the guns stopped that evening, he said, he left the compound and saw Zaongo littered with dead and injured men, women and children. Among them were his father, two brothers, a sister and her four children.

His uncle’s body lay under a pile of several children. His 63-year-old father was by the door of their house.

“These people sought shelter in their huts, but they massacred them,” the farmer said.

The Junta Today

It’s unclear what prompted the attack, but locals said most times, security forces think villagers are working with the extremists.

Since seizing power in the second coup in September 2022, the junta led by Capt. Ibrahim Traoré has threatened rights groups and journalists and carried out attacks against civilians — potential war crimes under international law.

Military drone strikes late last year claiming to target Islamic fighters killed at least 60 people at two markets and a funeral in Burkina Faso and neighboring Mali, according to Human Rights Watch.

The junta is on a war footing as it tries to beat back the jihadis, who've overtaken more than half the country, according to conflict analysts and Sahel region experts. It’s using a new general mobilization law to expand its crackdown and force people into combat.

The junta is distancing itself from regional and Western nations that don’t agree with its approach. This year, it left the West African regional economic bloc known as ECOWAS and created an alliance with Mali and Niger, also run by military juntas battling jihadi insurgencies.

The junta severed military ties with former colonial ruler France. Officials have welcomed several dozen Russians tasked in part with keeping the junta in power, according to several conflict experts and a diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the matter.

In November, days after the Zaongo massacre, 50 Russians arrived in Burkina Faso to protect the junta, influence public opinion and provide security services, said Lou Osborn with All Eyes on Wagner, a project focusing on the Russian mercenary group, which operates in a handful of African countries.

While the Wagner Group's future has been uncertain since leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a suspicious plane crash last year, its presence in Burkina Faso is part of the group’s new and more visible phase of influence, Osborn said. A pro-Russian association called the Africa Initiative has been established and is staffed with former Prigozhin employees, she said.

Its goal, initiative president SoumailaAzenwo Ayo told AP, is promoting Russian and Burkina Faso culture and language, in part through its new radio program, “Russian Hour.”

Africa is key to Russia politically and economically as it seeks allies amid its war in Ukraine. But Wagner mercenaries have been accused by rights groups and civilians of committing human rights atrocities in the countries where it operates, including the killing of 300 people at a Mali village in 2022. An increased Burkina Faso presence would bring fear of even more civilian deaths.

The United States said it has cut and suspended assistance to Burkina Faso’s military but still supplies nonlethal equipment to civilian security forces such as the national police. In January, it delivered nearly 100 bikes and pickups.

In a statement, the State Department said it has provided $16 million in “counterterrorism capacity building assistance” to Burkina Faso since 2022.

“We are not aware of any diversion of misuse of recent equipment,” it said. “We take allegations seriously and will continue to monitor and evaluate use of our security assistance.”

Some analysts said continued U.S. aid sends the wrong message.

“Other countries around the world are seeing and watching and saying to themselves, ‘I can also jail all of my opponents, kill civilians under the guise of counterterrorism efforts and also play friendship with Russia, China — and the US will still give me all the toys I’ve asked for,’” said Aneliese Bernard, a former State Department official specializing in African affairs who runs a risk advisory group.

Civilians in the middle

During the Nov. 5 attack, men in military uniforms speaking French and local language Moore called for all men to leave their houses, a 45-year-old mother told AP.

Peering through the window of the home where she hid, she said, she saw relatives being killed — more than 15 in all.

She said she was spotted by a soldier, who motioned for her to lie down and stay silent. The men dressed, looked and sounded like the soldiers who regularly pass through the village inspecting people’s documents, she said.

The third survivor who spoke to AP, a 55-year-old man from Zaongo, said villagers had been accused of working with the jihadis because they refused to join tens of thousands of volunteer fighters serving alongside Burkina Faso’s military.

Recruiting is part of the junta’s strategy, but residents said this has only contributed to civilian killings as volunteers round up anyone they suspect of ties to the extremists. It also provokes jihadis to attack communities with volunteers, they said.

Civilians are increasingly caught in the middle as violence intensifies. More than 2 million have been displaced and tens of thousands face severe hunger, according to the U.N. The insecurity makes it hard for aid groups to get assistance to those who need it.

At least 74 civilians were killed in connection with a weekslong convoy carrying food and aid in December, according to ACLED. They were killed by both the military and jihadis, two aid workers told AP on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak about the matter. One worker said the jihadis accused the civilians of providing information to the convoy’s armed escort.

An internal report for aid workers seen by AP said soldiers escorting the food supplies “fired on suspected accomplices” of jihadi-affiliated fighters.

"We're Frightened"

Four months after the attack, survivors fear that bodies still lie on the ground rotting in Zaongo, now occupied by jihadis. Some relatives were able to return about a week after the deaths, but there were too many bodies and not enough time to bury them all, they said. They’ve been unable to get back since.

It’s still unclear how many people were killed – reports from survivors, the U.N. and aid groups vary, from 70 to more than 200.

Survivors are displaced in different parts of the country. They’re calling on the government to hold the killers accountable while living in fear that it could happen again.

“We never thought that so many people could be killed at once,” said the surviving woman who spoke to AP.

“When a door slams or a child shouts, we’re frightened. If we go back there, we’ll just die.”

Source: newindianexpress.com

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5.5 million Haitians need humanitarian assistance: UN

MerveGülAydoganAglarci

21.03.2024

The UN announced Thursday that 5.5 million people out of the 11.4 million who reside in Haiti need humanitarian assistance, with 3 million being children.

"Haiti, obviously, is a humanitarian crisis of quite profound magnitude," Ulrika Richardson, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Haiti, said in a virtual news conference.

Attributing the crisis in Haiti to political instability and widespread insecurity, Richardson said: "Enormous amount of people have had to flee their neighborhoods as the gangs take over them."

"There is a human suffering of an alarming scale," she said.

Citing a previous statement about January being the "most violent month" in the last two years, Richardson said, "Sadly enough, we could confirm that February was even more vital," resulting in the killing of 2,500 people in two months.

Richardson underscored the need for solidarity from the international community, emphasizing that "time is running out."

In response to a question about the possibility of the UN leaving Haiti, Richardson stated: "We are not at that stage yet."

She noted that the UN is working to support Haitians in every way possible and expressed hope for the deployment of a multinational security force as soon as possible.

Haiti has been struggling with gang violence and political instability for years. The situation dramatically deteriorated in recent months, with kidnappings, killings, armed robberies and other violent crimes becoming commonplace.

The rampant instability has further exacerbated an exodus of migrants from Haiti, and Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned last week after fleeing the island nation.

According to the International Organization for Migration, since Feb. 29, several neighborhoods in the Metropolitan Area of Port-au-Prince have been targeted by increased armed attacks, with nearly 15,000 people displaced as a result.

Source: aa.com.tr

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Europe

 

Sweden's pivot: From recognizing Palestinian statehood to backing Israel in Gaza

Leila Nezirevic

21.03.2024

For years, Sweden had been one of Europe’s most committed nations to the Palestinian cause, going so far in 2014 as to become the first EU member to recognize Palestine as a state.

At the time, the new left-wing government in Stockholm took that important step to confirm Palestinians’ “right to self-determination,” said then-Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom.

“We hope that this will show the way for others,” she had added.

Almost a decade later, Sweden’s current right-wing administration has presided over a radical shift with its near-unwavering support for Israel even as roughly 32,000 Palestinians — mostly women and children — have been killed in Tel Aviv’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Now, any open criticism of the Israeli military campaign is unthinkable. After an Oct. 31 attack leveled an entire residential square in Northern Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom dismissed the outcry at the hundreds killed and injured, calling Tel Aviv’s move “proportionate, in relation to its right to defend itself.”

Over five months into the onslaught, which came after Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack that Israel said killed 1,200 people, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water, and medicine, according to the UN.

Today, Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide, and guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Adopting US policies

Sweden began its political and socioeconomic pivot in the 1990s, when both right-wing and left-wing parties adjusted to neoliberal policies, as well as unconditional support for Israel.

However in 2014, the Social Democrats were unable to form a government without the support of the Greens, whose leadership at the time was mainly pro-Palestinian, in turn leading to the recognition of the State of Palestine by the Nordic country.

Since Oct. 7, Sweden’s pro-Israeli change in stance became more pronounced, as all parties trumpet Israel’s “right to defend itself,” in what, according to Masoud Kamali, former Swedish special investigator on discrimination, racism, and integration, helped Tel Aviv wage its “genocide against Palestinian people.”

Kamali, who is also a professor of sociology and social work, told Anadolu that the new “racist government” is ideologically led by the far-right Sweden Democrats party, known to have supported Israel since its formation in 1988.

Like many other countries in the West and beyond, Sweden started adopting US policy on the Israeli-Palestinian issue to avoid possible sanctions and other negative consequences that Washington may impose, he added.

Sweden’s position on Israel's devastating attacks on Palestinians is almost identical to that of Washington and Tel Aviv, said Kamali,

Very frightening’ development

The issue, noted Kamali, is that the current Swedish government does not allow any dissent to the government’s stance on Palestine.

This is evident, in particular, when in Swedish media coverage of the ongoing war, he added.

“They never call it genocide. They call it the war between Israel and Hamas, even (though) everybody knows that it’s not a war between Israel and Hamas. It’s a war even in the West Bank. It’s a war on Palestinians. It’s a colonial settlers’ war, which has been going on for 75 years,” he explained.

This approach is also prevalent in other spheres, with university students also facing negative consequences if they demonstrate in favor of Palestinians, Kamali added.

“They are controlled, and they are going to be sanctioned” unless they comply, with some students risking being “expelled” from their universities, he said.

In one of his books, Neoliberal Securitization and Symbolic Violence: Silencing Political, Academic and Societal Resistance, Kamali argues that censorship is rife in Sweden, with many admitting being expelled after refusing to change their attitudes towards Israel.

Even government-sponsored civil society groups are under pressure, asked not to participate in protests supporting Palestine, to prevent them from doing anything that would harm the official position that Sweden and many other countries have adopted on Gaza, Kamali added.

He pointed out that in recent decades, social democrats across the world have been shifting to the political right, leaving behind their traditional ideologies and policies that played a constructive role in peacekeeping.

For this reason, attitudes towards Israel’s attacks on Palestinians would be almost identical even if a left-wing party was in power, argued the author.

In Kamali’s opinion, these factors point to the “very frightening” prospect of the “establishment of fascism in this country,” while social democrats and other groups are “just silent and letting this happen.”

Western hypocrisy

Israel’s actions in Gaza have exposed Western hypocrisy that claims to support human rights, democracy, and the self-determination of people, according to Kamali.

“Those claims are just words, they do not mean anything,” he said.

The world should reflect on the history of colonialism in the West, and the history of Western powers’ participation in genocides in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, he asserted.

The Israeli war on Gaza showed that the only power to stop it and to change the course of history lies with civil organizations and with people in all countries, who must raise their voices to stop governments from establishing “fascist regimes.”

Many European countries like the UK, France, and Germany are have been overwhelmingly pro-Israel in their stance on the ongoing war, particularly among the ruling elite, as well as establishment voices and establishment media.

Meanwhile, Spain and Ireland have exhibited the most pro-Palestinian sentiments, says Nader Hashemi, associate professor of Middle East and Islamic politics at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

When Russia launched its war on Ukraine in February 2022, Western nations including Sweden said, “we had to abide by international law, that we had to oppose the occupation, we had to oppose annexation, we had to support the criminal prosecution of those people who are guilty of war crimes,” he told Anadolu.

These principles announced in the context of Ukraine “have completely been abandoned” when it comes to Palestine, Hashemi asserted, adding that it was “very difficult to take the West seriously anymore on these questions.”

Government officials in the West are very pro-Israel, but “now they have to respond to outraged public opinion,” he pointed out.

Today, that is forcing them “to make statements that attempt to acknowledge the Palestinian dimension of this crisis, the suffering in Gaza, the need for a Palestinian state,” he said.

Source: aa.com.tr

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UK, Australia call for ‘immediate cessation of fighting’ in Gaza

 22 Mar 2024

ADELAIDE, March 22 — Britain and Australia today declared the need for an “immediate cessation of fighting” in Gaza, as diplomatic pressure built on Israel to rethink a planned ground assault on the southern city of Rafah.

Australian and UK foreign and defence ministers stressed the “urgency of an immediate cessation of fighting in Gaza to allow aid to flow and hostages to be released”, in a statement after talks in Adelaide.

The call came just hours before the United States was expected to put a resolution to the UN Security Council that would stress the need for “an immediate ceasefire”.

Washington has for months vetoed calls for resolutions including that language, shielding its closest Middle Eastern ally Israel from UN criticism as it avenges the attacks of October 7.

But there is concern in Washington about the human toll of Israel’s five-month-old Gaza offensive and the political fallout across the Middle East.

The operation has enraged the Arab world and claimed almost 32,000 lives, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

There are also suspicions in Washington that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — the country’s longest-serving leader — may be dragging out the war for political reasons.

A UN resolution would heap pressure on him, and Israel, to temper the operations. But it is far from clear that any resolution would halt the war altogether.

Brushing aside critics, Netanyahu has vowed to intensify operations by moving into Rafah — hoping to rout the remnants of Hamas forces responsible for bloody October 7 raids into Israel that killed about 1,160 people, mostly civilians.

London’s call for an “immediate cessation of fighting” is a sign that Britain is also growing more anxious about the toll and impact of what Israel calls Operation Swords of Iron.

Britain and Australia said a cessation was now urgently needed to “allow aid to flow and hostages to be released as a crucial step toward a permanent, sustainable ceasefire.”

The pair called the humanitarian crisis in Gaza “catastrophic” and “called on Israel to allow immediate, safe, unimpeded and increased humanitarian relief to reach Palestinians in Gaza”.

Britain is also a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, along with the United States, Russia, China and France.

The Australian and UK foreign and defence ministers also condemned Russia’s “full-scale, illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine” and demanded that Russia withdraw its forces.

“Ministers called on all those with close relationships with Russia, particularly China, to refrain from helping Russia to continue its war in any way and convince Russia to end its illegal war,” the statement said. — AFP

Source: malaymail.com

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UK threatens Israel with arms embargo over access of Red Cross to jailed Hamas militants

March 21, 2024

LONDON: The UK has reportedly warned Israel that it will withhold weapons unless the Red Cross is granted access to jailed Hamas militants, The Telegraph reported on Thursday.

Rights groups and Israeli media have highlighted the severe conditions in which Palestinian prisoners are currently held, with at least 10 Palestinians killed in Israeli prisons since October, in addition to the deaths of 24 people in the custody of the Israel Defense Forces.

YediothAhronoth newspaper reported that a British legal team visited Israel earlier in the month to investigate the situation, and claimed that all prisoners in Israel, including Hamas suspects, should be allowed a visit by the International Committee of the Red Cross, in line with the Geneva Convention.

Israel claims an exemption to that law on security grounds.

The UK’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron warned Israeli officials during recent talks that Europe could impose an arms embargo if Israel persists in denying access to members of Hamas being held in prison.

This follows reports in February that the UK was considering withholding arms should Israel attack the city of Rafah in Gaza.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz reportedly sent a letter to Cameron urging the UK to support Israel and not weaken its stance during ongoing negotiations with Hamas for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

He is said to have told Cameron that there was “no room” for restricting the supply of weapons at such a pivotal moment in the negotiations, The Telegraph reported.

Israel’s National Security Council reportedly held a closed-door meeting on Tuesday to consider a petition from a leading Israeli rights group that demanded Red Cross access to prisoners from Hamas. The council reportedly unanimously decided against allowing such visits.

Source: arabnews.com

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Attempted arson attack on mosque in western Germany

AyhanSimsek

21.03.2024

An unidentified person tried to set fire to a mosque in the western city of Wuppertal, authorities said on Thursday. 

The public prosecutor’s office said initial investigations revealed that the suspect arrived at the mosque’s entrance at around 4:20 a.m. local time (320GMT), and tried to place a burning object.

The attempted arson caused a small fire and minor damage to the building’s facade, as the gates were locked, and the suspect could not gain access.

The police have appealed for witnesses and requested anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation into the incident.

Turkish-Muslim umbrella group DITIB, which runs the Wuppertal-Elberfeld mosque, has condemned the arson attack, and called on authorities to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of community members.

“Especially in the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims around the world celebrate peaceful coexistence, we will not allow such attacks to disrupt our harmonious and diverse coexistence,” the group said in a statement.

“We call on all Wuppertal residents to stand together, and stand up against all forms of hatred and violence. The DITIB mosque in Wuppertal-Elberfeld will remain a place of peace and community, and we will not be intimidated.”

Germany witnessed growing racism and xenophobia in recent years, fueled by the propaganda of far-right and anti-Muslim groups, including the opposition party Alternative for Germany, or the AfD.

A country of over 84 million people, Germany has the second-largest Muslim population in Western Europe after France. It is home to nearly 5 million Muslims, according to official figures.

Source: aa.com.tr

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‘Burning object’ thrown at Israeli embassy in The Hague, suspect arrested

21 March 2024

 CANAAN LIDOR

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Dutch police said on Thursday they had arrested someone suspected of throwing a burning object at Israel’s embassy in The Hague, which is under heavy security amid the war in Gaza.

Neither the police nor embassy officials gave any description of the object. No one was wounded during the incident, police said in a post on social media platform X, without giving more details.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry is aware of the incident and overseeing the response on the ground, a ministry spokesperson told The Times of Israel.

There has been a rapid rise in the number of hate crimes reported across Europe since the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza began last October.

In a Dutch-language statement, the Israeli embassy in the Netherlands wrote on its official account on X: “It is unacceptable that such an attack occurs in the Netherlands. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

“We are confident that authorities will take all possible measures to prevent the recurrence of such attacks,” the embassy continued. “The attack is evidence of the worrisome consequences of growing hate and incitement. This hate cannot be tolerated.”

All staff from the embassy, which moved in recent years from the city center to a quieter area in the beachside Scheveningenneighborhood, were safe and evacuated from the building, according to De Telegraaf daily.

Security has been stepped up around Israeli embassies across the world as the country’s military presses an offensive in Gaza following the brutal October 7 attack by Palestinian terror group Hamas that opened the war.

The attack by thousands of Hamas-led terrorists who burst through the border with the Gaza Strip killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians, amid horrific atrocities. Terrorists also abducted 253 people of all ages who were taken as hostages to Gaza.

Israel responded with a military campaign to destroy Hamas and free the hostages, of whom 130 remain in captivity.

In February, there was a bomb scare at the official residence of the Israeli ambassador in The Hague. Police cordoned off the area but found no explosives.

At the time, authorities in The Hague had imposed emergency security measures around the Israeli embassy in response to an unspecified threat.

In January, the bomb squad in Sweden destroyed a “live” device at Israel’s embassy in Stockholm, something authorities described as a potential “terrorist crime.”

Source: timesofisrael.com

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Finland to resume funding to UNRWA

March 22, 2024

HELSINKI: Finland will resume funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, its foreign trade and development minister said on Friday.

Several countries, including the United States and Britain, paused their funding to UNRWA after accusations by Israel that a dozen of the agency’s 13,000 staff in Gaza took part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel.

“UNRWA improving its risk management, meaning preventing and initiating close monitoring for misconduct, provides sufficient guarantees for us at this point to continue our support” Foreign Trade and Development Minister Ville Tavio said.

He told a press conference some of the Finnish money would be earmarked for risk management.

Countries including Canada, Australia and Sweden have also restored funding to UNRWA, while several Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia have increased funding.

Source: arabnews.com

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