ASI's Survey Report Says a Large Hindu Temple Existed Under 17th-century Gyanvapi Mosque Adjoining The Kashi Vishwanath Temple
New
Age Islam News Bureau
26
January 2024
Gyanvapi mosque. Photo:
Kabir Agarwal/The Wire
------
• ASI's Survey Report Says a Large Hindu Temple
Existed Under 17th-century Gyanvapi Mosque Adjoining The Kashi Vishwanath
Temple
• Rapper Ty Dolla $ign Asks His Screaming Saudi Fans On
A Stage Inside The Historical Centre Of Jeddah, “Where The Hot Girls At?”
• Senate Committee Wants Pakistanis Stopped From
Begging In Saudi Arabia
• Niger: Army Repeals Boko Haram Attack, Kills Dozens
Of Jihadist Fighters
• Brunei Imams Rally Faithful Towards Eco-Friendly
Living
India
• Ladakh’s Muslims, Buddhists Up In Arms Over Naming
Health Centres As Ayushman Arogya Mandir
• Explained: After 'Evidence' Of 'Temple' Found In
Gyanvapi Mosque Complex, What Are The Legal Crossroads Ahead?
-----
Arab
World
• Saudi Arabia: 25,000 Chip-Fitted Carpets Spread
Across Prophet’s Mosque
• Reading terrorist joined Islamic extremists during
Arab Spring, inquest told
• Saudi Fund for Development chief and envoy from
Djibouti discuss ways to boost cooperation
• Saudi Human Rights Commission holds panel discussion
on linking human rights to development goals
• Ministry acknowledges Hadiyah’s role in serving pilgrims
-----
Pakistan
• Shut ‘private jails’ in Sindh, Shehbaz tells Bilawal
• PTI founder seeks end to ‘political engineering’ by
institutions
• Pakistan Asks UN To Protect Muslim Sites In India
• PTI Says Its Websites ‘Blocked’ In Pakistan Ahead Of
Feb 8 Polls
• PPP chairman Bilawal urges PTI workers not to
‘waste’ vote on independents
• Large turnout expected in February 8 general
elections: survey
-----
Africa
• “Six Mosques Burnt” – Muslim Rights Concern Reacts
To Plateau Killings
• Attacks in Nigeria's Plateau state leave at least 30
dead
• Terrorists kill Imam, two others, abduct 32 in
Katsina
-----
Southeast
Asia
• At UPR review, Malaysia stands firm on its treatment
of refugees
• Bersatu MP claims party members ‘demoralised’ after
president Muhyiddin cycles back on stepping down
• Ten more Bersatu MPs expected to declare support for
PM Anwar, claims Bukit Gantang MP
• Global Islamic finance market seen ‘hitting $4.9trn
by 2025’
-----
Mideast
• Turkish Parliament Speaker Calls For Solidarity Among
Islamic Countries For Palestine
• "Tell Houthis To Show Restraint": China
Warns Iran As Ship Attacks Rise
• Report says US had warned Iran of attack before
Islamic State twin bombings
• US warned Iran of 'terrorist threat' before Jan. 3
attack: official
• Iran’s Supreme Leader Calls for Muslim Nations to
Cut Ties with Israel Amid Gaza Conflict
• Türkiye Is The Most Similar Country To
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Grand Mufti
• Iran bars Hassan Rouhani from seeking re-election to
key body
-----
South
Asia
• Rahmatullah Nabil, Former Afghan Spy Calls Pakistan
a “Historical Enemy” of Afghanistan
• Afghans Arrest IzatullahZawab, Poet, Magazine
Editor, Family Members Say
• Bangladesh Rebels Training In Mizoram, Claims Former
Armed Group
• Bangladesh sounds alarm over rise in Rohingya deaths
at sea
• Af-Pak border tension hits India-Afghan trade
• UN to host follow-up meeting on Afghanistan in Doha
on February 18-19
• NAI, Supporting Open Media, halts activities in
Afghanistan
-----
Europe
• As A Muslim And An Anti-Racist, There’s A Clear
Moral Path On Rochdale
• Argentina’s Milei Government Official ‘Repents’
Remarks Against Pope, Judaism, Islam
• Kyrgyzstan Delegation Meets with Islamic Emirate
Officials
• Flooded Muslim graves in Bristol cemetery ‘still collapsing’
despite drainage works
-----
North
America
• Students From Calgary Muslim School Stage Peace
March In Prairie Winds ParkOver The Ongoing Israel-Hamas Conflict
• MPs Condemn Man Who Disrupted Quebec Church Mass and
Performed Islamic Prayer
• US says it warned Iran before twin bombings by
Islamic State
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
-----
ASI's Survey Report Says a Large Hindu Temple Existed
Under 17th-century Gyanvapi Mosque Adjoining The Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Gyanvapi mosque. Photo:
Kabir Agarwal/The Wire
------
Omar Rashid
26-01-2024
New Delhi: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in
its survey report of the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi has claimed that a “large
Hindu temple” existed there prior to the construction of the existing structure
(the mosque) and that parts of the temple were used in the construction of the
Islamic place of worship.
The ASI carried out a court-approved scientific survey
of the 17th-century mosque adjoining the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to determine
if it was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a temple, as claimed by
Hindu petitioners who have sought year-round access for darshan and pooja of
Maa Shringar Gauri in the Gyanvapi Masjid compound. The Varanasi court had on
January 24 allowed the findings of the ASI report to be made available to all
parties.
While the full 839-page report is not yet accessible,
some operative parts of the ASI report said it had concluded that “it can be
said that there existed a large Hindu temple, prior to the construction of the
existing structure”. The ASI said it drew the conclusion on the basis of
scientific survey, study of architectural remains, exposed features and
artefacts, inscriptions, art and sculptures.
The ASI based its findings on the observations and
scientific study of the “central chamber and main entrance of the pre-existing
structure in existing structure”. It claimed that there was “reuse of pillars
and pilasters of pre-existing structure in existing structure” and that the
“central chamber of the pre-existing structure forms the central hall of the
existing structure”.
“This wall, made of stones and decorated with
horizontal mouldings, is formed by remaining parts of western chamber, western
projections of the central chamber and western walls of the two chambers on its
north and south. Central chamber attached to the wall still exists unchanged
whereas modifications have been made to both the side chambers,” the report
said.
The ASI also claimed that the pillars and pilasters
used in the existing mosque were “reused with little modifications” for the
enlargement of the mosque and constructing the sahan (courtyard).
Minute study of the pillars and pilasters in the
corridor of the mosque “suggest that they were originally part of the
pre-existing Hindu temple”, the ASI said. “For their reuse in the existing
structure, vyala figures carved on either side of lotus medallion were
mutilated and after removing the stone mass from the corners that space was
decorated with floral design. This observation is supported by two similar
pilasters still existing on the northern and southern wall of the western
chamber in their original place.”
The ASI during its survey recorded 34 inscriptions on
the “existing and pre-existing structures” and 32 estampages were taken. “These
are, in fact, inscriptions on the stones of the pre-existing Hindu temples,
which have been re-used during the construction/ repair of the existing
structure. They include inscriptions in Devanagari, Grantha, Telugu and Kannada
scripts,” the ASI said.
Reuse of earlier inscriptions in the structure suggest
that the earlier structures were destroyed and their parts were reused in
construction or repair of the existing structure, the ASI said, adding that
three names of deities such as Janardhana, Rudra and Umēśvara were found in
these inscriptions.
The ASI report said that the “temple” had a big
central chamber and at least one chamber to the north, south east and west
respectively. Remains of three chambers to the north, south and west still
exist but the remains of the chamber to the east and any further extension of
it could not be ascertained physically, as the area is covered under a platform
with stone flooring, the ASI noted. This structure with thick and strong walls,
along with all architectural components and floral decorations, was utilised as
the main hall of the mosque, it claimed, adding that animal figures carved at
the lower ends of decorated arches of the pre-existing structure were
mutilated, and the inner part of dome is decorated with geometric designs.
Saurabh Tiwari, lawyer for Rakhi Singh, one of the
five Hindu plaintiffs in the Shringar Gauri suit, told The Wire that the ASI
findings “established” their claim that a part of the temple existed prior to
the existence of the mosque and that a part of the temple structure was used to
build the mosque. Tiwari has already filed a petition in the Allahabad high
court pleading that the wazukhana (place of ablution) of the mosque, which was
sealed in 2022 on the directions of the Supreme Court, be also subjected to a
similar scientific survey.
“Our next step is to get a survey of the wazukhana as
well as the garb griha of the old temple which was concealed behind walls. Our
main evidence is there,” he said.
All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen’s Hyderabad MP
Asaduddin Owaisi reacted to the report on X (formerly Twitter) and said the
conclusions of the ASI “wouldn’t stand academic scrutiny before any set of
professional archaeologists or historians”. “The report is based on conjecture
and makes a mockery of scientific study. As a great scholar once said, ‘ASI is
the handmaiden of Hindutva,’” said Owaisi.
The Allahabad high court had in August 2023 paved the
way for conducting a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid after it
dismissed the Gyanvapi mosque committee’s petition challenging the Varanasi
district judge’s July 21 order for a survey of the premises by the ASI. The
district judge had in July directed the ASI director to undertake scientific
investigation, survey or excavation at the site, excluding the areas (the ablution
tank) sealed by the Supreme Court last year. The district court had also
directed the ASI to conduct a detailed scientific investigation by using GPR
Survey, excavation, dating method and other modern techniques of the present
structure to find out whether it had been constructed over a pre-existing
structure of a Hindu temple.
The ASI on December 18 submitted in a sealed cover its
report of a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid premises in a Varanasi
district court.
The ASI had earlier urged the district judge to not
make its report public for another four weeks, citing the December 19 judgment
by the Allahabad high court in which it had dismissed several pleas of the UP
Sunni Central Waqf Board and the masjid committee challenging the maintainability
of a 1991 suit seeking restoration of a temple at the site of the Gyanvapi
Masjid.
“The dispute raised in the suit is of vital national
importance. It is not a suit between the two individual parties. It affects two
major communities of the country,” Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal said as he set
a six-month deadline for the completion of proceedings in a Varanasi court in
the 1991 suit.
The high court ruled that the original suit of 1991
was not barred by provisions of The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act,
1991. The Act says that no person shall convert any place of worship of any
religious denomination or any section thereof into a place of worship of a
different section of the same religious denomination or of a different
religious denomination or any section thereof. It declares that the religious
character of a place of worship existing on August 15, 1947 shall continue.
The original suit of 1991 was filed by the Hindu
plaintiffs seeking possession of the Gyanvapi Masjid premises. The recent suit
filed by five Hindu women led by Rakhi Singh seeks year-round access for
darshan and pooja of Maa Shringar Gauri in the Gyanvapi Masjid compound.
The high court on December 19, 2023 also directed the
ASI to submit its scientific survey report in the 1991 suit currently heard in
the court of civil judge senior division, fast track. In case it was found that
“further survey is required, which have been left out in the survey conducted
by ASI, the Court below shall issue necessary directions” to carry out further
survey in view of order dated April 8, 2021, the high court said.
On January 3, the ASI, in an application submitted to
the district court, argued that its report was of “vital importance”. If the
report “is unsealed and disclosed in public” before the submission of a copy of
the report in the suit of the ‘Ancient Idol of Swambhu Lord Vishweshwar vs
Anjuman Intezamia Masajid in the civil judge, senior division, fast track,
there would be “more chance” of spreading “rumour and misrepresentation in public,”
which may affect the work of the ASI, the ASI said.
Source: Thewire.In
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Rapper Ty Dolla $ign Asks His Screaming Saudi Fans On
A Stage Inside The Historical Centre Of Jeddah, “Where The Hot Girls At?”
People party late into the
night at Balad Beast
STR
------
26 Jan 2024
JEDDAH, Jan 26 — On a stage inside the historical
centre of Jeddah, the main gateway for Muslim pilgrims heading to Mecca, rapper
Ty Dolla $ign asked his screaming Saudi fans a few questions.
“Where the hot girls at?” the dreadlocked 41-year-old
American (real name: Tyrone William Griffin Jr) bellowed into the microphone
during his set at the Balad Beast music festival.
It was an eyebrow-raising scene in conservative Saudi
Arabia, which first allowed large-scale mixed-gender festivals only about five
years ago, and maintains a strict no-alcohol policy.
Yet Ty Dolla $ign’s performance in Jeddah’s oldest
neighbourhood, known as Al-Balad, alongside artists like Wu-Tang Clan and Major
Lazer underscored efforts to revamp the Unesco World Heritage site, expanding
its allure for young Saudis and foreigners.
Under Vision 2030, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s
ambitious plan to develop a post-oil economy in the world’s biggest crude
exporter, authorities are targeting 3,000 new hotel rooms in Al-Balad as they try
to attract millions more tourists.
Beyond events such as Balad Beast, the
2.5-square-kilometre (nearly one square mile) area is being transformed by an
influx of cafes, museums, performance spaces and workshops for artists and
craftspeople.
Jeddah residents acknowledge some anxiety about the
changes in a neighbourhood strongly associated with the annual hajj pilgrimage
and traditional Ramadan markets.
But that was hard to glean from the droves of ravers
who crowded the four stages at Balad Beast, some with glittery face paint and
glow sticks. Most of the women had their hair and faces uncovered.
Saudi Arabia’s founding ruler King Abdulaziz conquered
Jeddah in the 1920s, and in 1947 fast growth prompted authorities to tear down
the walls surrounding Al-Balad, the city’s heart.
Some of the gates still stand, however, as do
Al-Balad’s distinctive coral stone buildings, many with balconies built from
latticed teak wood.
Unesco granted Al-Balad World Heritage site status in
2014, and in 2018 “revitalisation” efforts overseen by the culture ministry
began in earnest.
Today, green barricades erected by the ministry
protect restoration work on centuries-old villas, mosques and markets, known as
souks.
The ever-expanding calendar of festivals and art
exhibitions has enlivened the neighbourhood, attracting people who might
otherwise have little interest in it, said Ali AssiLoush, a Lebanese DJ who has
lived in Jeddah for 20 years.
“If Balad didn’t have Balad Beast, or whatever events
it has now, none of the new generation would come to Balad. They’d go to the
beach,” he said.
For some elderly residents, though, the new additions
can be jarring, he said, likening this wariness to that of a grandmother who
refuses to part with a beloved, if battered, chair.
“She would never let you remove it, throw it away,
even though it’s broken into pieces... No, it’s her chair. It’s the same
thing,” Loush said.
AbirAbusulayman, a Saudi tour guide, said most people
were enthusiastic about Al-Balad’s future, and that there was a clear solution
for those who were not.
The debate about what’s happening in Al-Balad is
partly fuelled by broader changes in Jeddah, where an ongoing US$20-billion
redevelopment project stands to displace half a million people.
Authorities pitch the project as an upgrade that can
replace “slums” with amenities like a stadium, an oceanarium and an opera
house.
But some affected residents have complained they don’t
know how to seek compensation, and seethe about official portrayals of their
neighbourhoods as dens of drugs and crime.
Abusulayman, the tour guide, said she did not mourn
the neighbourhoods that have been razed — most of them far from Al-Balad —
predicting they would be replaced by something better.
“I’m very happy that they are gone. These were unplanned
districts... no schools, no gardens, no clinics, and some people just built
their houses without having the land,” she said.
Instead she preferred to focus on new features of life
in Al-Balad, as did those who partied late into the night during Balad Beast.
“Personally I like to dress in a vintage style and
this is the same thing, it’s the same vibe,” said AbdulrahmanAlhabshi, 20, as
images of the performers were projected on nearby walls.
Source: Www.malaymail.Com
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-----
Senate Committee Wants Pakistanis Stopped From Begging
In Saudi Arabia
Representational Image via
The Express Tribune
-----
January 26, 2024
ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee has expressed
grave concern over the growing trend amongst Pakistanis resorting to begging in
Saudi Arabia after going there for Umra and directed the government to take all
possible measures to stop this ignominy.
The Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on
Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development had been especially convened
to discuss the problems confronting overseas Pakistani workers in different
countries. Senator Eng. Rukhsana Zuberi chaired the meeting.
Officials from the Interior Ministry said that the
ministry has offloaded 44,000 individuals in the past two and a half years.
However, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials suggested that checks and
balances should be kept in place for passport issuance, and the ministry should
increase the screening of individuals before issuance of passports.
Moreover, officials of the Overseas Pakistanis
Ministry proposed that NADRA block the CNICs of individuals involved in
begging, as it will help in breaking the rackets of begging.
Senator Engr. Rukhsana Zuberi directed the Interior
Ministry to take necessary actions against the growing begging in Middle
Eastern countries.
The chairperson of the committee remarked that
Pakistan encompasses 60 per cent unemployed youth, and there is a dire need to
provide employment opportunities to this youth. She stated that smart and short
training programmes in medical, nursing, midwifery, and other potential sectors
will serve as a guiding light in relinquishing the overgrowing unemployment
rate.
Senator Zuberi also recommended that an online portal
providing real-time details of job opportunities available in several countries
with details of the skills required for the job and the necessary details of
the institutions specialising in such training be established. However, the
Overseas Ministry suggested that the Information Technology Ministry and
Pakistan Information Technology Board should be taken on board for this
purpose.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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original story:
-----
Niger: Army Repeals Boko Haram Attack, Kills Dozens Of
Jihadist Fighters
Photo: The North Africa Post
-----
January 25, 2024
Fierce fighting in southeastern Niger has left 10
soldiers wounded and several dozen jihadist fighters from the notorious Boko
Haram group dead in the nation’s unstable region, Government officials have
said.
The clash was provoked by a group of Boko Haram
jihadists who attacked a special intervention battalion positioned at the
airport in N’Guigmi, a garrison town in the Diffa region near the border with
Nigeria, according to a statement by Niger’s defense ministry. Several dozen
“terrorists” were subsequently routed towards the banks of Lake Chad where they
were “neutralized” with air support through “surgical” air strikes, the
statement added. Lake Chad, a vast expense of water and marshland that
straddles the borders of Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, has been the site of
frequent attacks from Boko Haram as well as Islamic State West Africa Province
(ISWAP).
This latest clash is the worst reported between the
army and jihadists after several months of a relative calm in the region, the
scene of jihadist attacks since 2015. Niger, which has been led by junta
leaders since a military coup last July, is one of the poorest nations in the
world. It is also facing a deadly jihadist insurgency in the west near the
borders with Mali and Burkina Faso. In a separate but related development, a to
US official said on Wednesday (24 January) that the future of a US military
drone base in Niger hinges on the ruling junta’s efforts to restore democracy
and release ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. After the coup, the US was forced
to cut development aid and suspend military operations at Air Base 201, its
most strategic military asset in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: Northafricapost
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Brunei Imams Rally Faithful Towards Eco-Friendly
Living
File photo of the Taman
Mahkota Jubli Emas in capital, with the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the
background. - BORNEO BULLETIN
----
January 26, 2024
In the Friday sermon, Imams underscored the vital role
individuals play in achieving sustainable development by adopting
environmentally friendly practices.
The public is encouraged to embrace responsible
consumption habits, including the use of eco-friendly products, imams
emphasised.
Imams also highlighted the imperative to steer clear
of single-use plastics, reduce water and electricity consumption based on
necessity, and actively support local businesses that prioritise environmental
friendliness.
The religious authorities stressed the entrusted
responsibility of humans towards the Earth and urged them to utilise available
resources responsibly.
The message is a call to action, urging people to be stewards
of the environment, safeguarding it for present and future generations. This
collective effort, they believe, is crucial for ensuring sustainable
development.
Source: Borneobulletin.Com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://borneobulletin.com.bn/imams-rally-faithful-towards-eco-friendly-living/
-----
India
Ladakh’s Muslims, Buddhists up in arms over naming
health centres as Ayushman Arogya Mandir
January 26, 2024
Ladakh’s two main religious bodies, Ladakh Buddhist
Association (LBA) and Islamia School-Kargil, on January 25 objected to the move
to rename public health centres in the Union Territory as Ayushman Arogya
Mandir.
“The recent order of the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare [about] renaming the health and wellness centres as Ayushman Arogya
Mandir is unfortunate and tantamount to playing with the sentiments of the
people of Ladakh,” CheringDorjey, acting president of the LBA, said.
Source: Www.Thehindu.Com
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of the original story:
-----
Explained: After 'Evidence' Of 'Temple' Found In
Gyanvapi Mosque Complex, What Are The Legal Crossroads Ahead?
26 JAN 2024
On January 26, 2024, the Varanasi district court
ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report, submitted in a sealed
cover on December 18, 2023, to be made public and shared with both involved
parties. Notably, the ASI conducted a detailed scientific survey, including
excavations, to determine the mosque's historical origins. Additionally, the
cleaning of the Wazukhana, supervised by the district magistrate under Supreme
Court orders, was recently completed.
The ASI survey, conducted and concluded on May 16,
2023, marked a significant milestone. According to the findings, a 'Shivling'
was purportedly discovered within a reservoir on the mosque complex. However,
this claim faced vehement opposition from the Muslim side, underscoring the
contentious nature of the archaeological revelations.
Source: Www.outlookindia.com
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Arab
World
Saudi Arabia: 25,000 chip-fitted carpets spread across
Prophet’s Mosque
Ramadan Al Sherbini
January 26, 2024
Cairo: A revered destination for millions of Muslims
from around the world, the Prophet’s Mosque, Islam’s second holiest site, is
the focus of utmost care from Saudi authorities.
A state agency in charge of the place in the Saudi
holy city of Medina takes interest in ensuring comfort for worshippers. Part of
this attention is paid to more than 25,000 carpets stretched across the mosque
and its courtyards.
The carpets are daily sterilised and scented with the
finest perfumes. An electronic chip is attached to each carpet to track its
place and learn about the history of its cleaning, sterilisation and scenting,
according to the Saudi news agency SPA.
Source: Gulfnews.Com
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of the original story:
-----
Reading terrorist joined Islamic extremists during
Arab Spring, inquest told
POL ALLINGHAM
26-01-2024
The Reading terror attacker joined a proscribed
Islamist group during the uprising against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in Libya
almost a decade before murdering three men in a park, an inquest has heard.
Libyan refugee KhairiSaadallah shouted “Allahuakbar”
as he fatally stabbed friends James Furlong, 36, David Wails, 49, and Joseph
Ritchie-Bennett, 39, in the Berkshire town’s Forbury Gardens on June 20 2020.
Three other people – Stephen Young, Patrick Edwards
and NishitNisudan – were injured before Saadallah threw away the 8in (20cm)
knife and ran off, pursued by an off-duty police officer.
An inquest at the Old Bailey heard on Wednesday that
Saadallah had joined a terrorist group in Libya, which is proscribed in the UK,
during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising against Gaddafi’s dictatorship.
Source: Www.Standard.Co.Uk
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of the original story:
-----
Saudi Fund for Development chief and envoy from
Djibouti discuss ways to boost cooperation
ARAB NEWS
January 26, 2024
RIYADH: The CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development,
Sultan Al-Marshad, and the Djiboutian presidential adviser for investment
affairs, Fahmi Ahmed Al-Hajj, discussed ways to enhance development cooperation
and other issues of mutual interest during a meeting in Riyadh on Thursday.
Al-Hajj’s visit to the fund’s headquarters also
included a tour of an interactive exhibition showcasing some of the
organization’s key projects in countries around the world, and the effects they
are having on sustainable development, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The fund’s work in Djibouti began in 1982 with the
signing of a bilateral agreement to finance the construction of a road serving
the city of Tadjoura.
Source: Arab News.Com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2448356/saudi-arabia
-----
Saudi Human Rights Commission holds panel discussion
on linking human rights to development goals
ARAB NEWS
January 25, 2024
RIYADH: The Saudi Human Rights Commission, in
cooperation with the Kingdom’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, held a
panel discussion on linking human rights to sustainable development goals
(SDGs), Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The panel was part of the Kingdom’s participation in
the work of the 45th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s
Universal Periodic Review.
Speakers discussed sustainable development goals, the
recommendations of the UPR, and the great compatibility between them that
necessitates finding effective mechanisms to link them at the implementation,
follow-up, and reporting levels.
Source: Arab News.Com
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2448276/saudi-arabia
-----
Ministry acknowledges Hadiyah’s role in serving
pilgrims
SPA
January 25, 2024
MAKKAH: The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, represented
by the ministry’s Public Administration of Social Responsibility and Voluntary
Work, praised the efforts of the Hajj and Mutamer’s Gift Charitable
Association, also known as Hadiyah, in highlighting the role of the non-profit
sector in serving pilgrims throughout the year.
The ministry commended the association’s active
participation in the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition, which
included all governmental, charitable and private sectors operating in the Hajj
and Umrah system.
Turki Al-Hetershi, Hadiyah’s executive director, said
the association’s participation in the conference was reflected in highlighting
the services and efforts of the non-profit sector to serve pilgrims and
visitors, and expanding service points, which covered more than 200 points of
contact with pilgrims.
Source: Arab News.Com
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2448171/saudi-arabia
-----
Pakistan
Shut ‘private jails’ in Sindh, Shehbaz tells Bilawal
Waseem Ashraf Butt
January 26, 2024
PML-N president says there were no ‘political
prisoners’ during Nawaz’s govt
Without naming the PPP leader, the PML-N president
said: “I ask that kind man to eliminate personal jails by getting the oppressed
persons free from these jails, which even a police officer and assistant
commissioner have also failed to do.”
During the rally, Mr Shehbaz said the PML-N government
would bring revolution into the lives of people living in rural areas by giving
small loans to farmers and the youth to help them “establish small factories to
produce agricultural products”.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1808676/shut-private-jails-in-sindh-shehbaz-tells-bilawal
-----
PTI founder seeks end to ‘political engineering’ by
institutions
Malik Asad
January 26, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan on
Thursday sought an end to “political engineering”, calling for giving people
the freedom to vote and stressing that the alleged involvement of certain
institutions in politics has led to a significant breakdown in the country’s
governance.
Mr Khan’s remarks came after his appearance in court
in Adiala Jail concerning the Toshakhana and £190 million corruption cases
filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The Supreme Court, in a previous ruling while granting
bail to former minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, had observed that NAB was used
for political engineering and pressuring politicians. Mr Rafique and his
brother were arrested in December 2018, during Mr Khan’s tenure as prime
minister.
Talking to media persons, Mr Khan acknowledged the
limitations of politicians in the face of “establishment control” but said he
was ready for dialogue with politicians to ensure free and fair elections.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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Pakistan asks UN to protect Muslim sites in India
Anwar Iqbal
January 26, 2024
UNITED NATIONS: Following religious clashes sparked
by the opening this week of a controversial Hindu temple in India, Pakistan has
urged the United Nations to take action for the protection of Islamic sites in
the country.
Pakistan’s UN envoy Munir Akram shared the plea during
an OIC ambassadorial meeting at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday,
condemning the recent consecration of the Ram temple on the site of the
demolished Babri Masjid.
“Pakistan condemns in the strongest terms the
construction and consecration of the Ram Temple on the site of the demolished
Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, India,” he wrote in a letter addressed to Miguel Angel
Moratinos, a top official for the UN Alliance of Civilisations.
“This trend poses a significant threat to the social,
economic, and political well-being of Indian Muslims, as well as to the harmony
and peace in the region.”
The letter came on the heels of local authorities’
drive in Mumbai tearing down several Muslim-owned makeshift shopfronts. The
action by municipal authorities follows religious clashes sparked by the
inauguration of Ram temple.
Minor clashes broke out Sunday in parts of Mumbai,
including one incident where Hindus chanting religious slogans passed through a
Muslim neighbourhood on the megacity’s outskirts, AFP adds.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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PTI says its websites ‘blocked’ in Pakistan ahead of
Feb 8 polls
January 26, 2024
The PTI on Friday alleged that its websites were
“blocked” in Pakistan and demanded an answer from the federal authorities.
The PTI, deprived of its iconic ‘bat’ symbol for the
upcoming polls, has fielded its leaders as independent candidates with
different electoral symbols.
To combat confusion among voters and to ease access to
election-related information, the party launched an online portal on its
website insaf.pk, as well as a “back-up site”, pticandidates.com.
It also introduced a feature whereby voters can message
on Imran Khan’s official Facebook account to get information about PTI-backed
candidates.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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PPP chairman Bilawal urges PTI workers not to ‘waste’
vote on independents
January 26, 2024
GUJRAT: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has urged
PTI workers not to “waste” their votes on independent candidates and instead
opt for his party’s candidates on February 8, the day of general elections.
Addressing a public gathering in Mungowal town of
Gujrat district on Thursday, the PPP chairman once again requested both PTI and
PML-N supporters to vote for his party if they wanted to “uphold sanctity of
the vote”.
He said if PTI supporters wished to stop Nawaz Sharif
from becoming the prime minister for a fourth time, they could either waste
their vote by opting for independent candidates, “which amounts to supporting
the PML-N” or “strategically use their right to vote”.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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Large turnout expected in February 8 general
elections: survey
Iftikhar A. Khan
January 26, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Despite the fact that general elections
have already been made controversial, 87pc of working people were found keen to
cast their vote on Feb 8 and wanted general elections to be held on the
scheduled date, according to a Pattan-Coalition 38’s survey conducted in 41
districts across the country during Jan 4-22 finds.
In total, 1,149 individuals and 820 office-bearers of
345 unions and associations belonging to poor classes were interviewed
face-to-face.
Moreover, most of them believed that the Election
Commission of Pakistan and the caretaker governments were mainly responsible
for making elections controversial due to deliberate denial of level playing
field (LPF) to some parties/candidates.
In response to ‘which institutions were responsible
for not providing LPF, 55pc blamed ECP and caretaker government, while 16pc
named establishment and 20pc said all of them including judiciary.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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Africa
“Six Mosques Burnt” – Muslim Rights Concern Reacts To
Plateau Killings
Goodness Adaoyiche
January 25, 2024
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the
recent attack in Plateau State which has led to the death of at least eight
persons.
“The death toll in the raging crisis in Mangu, Plateau
State has reached eight. Six mosques and two churches have been burnt. The
burnt mosques include a central mosque, the AnguwanDawoJumat Mosque,” Akintola
said.
Source: Politicsnigeria.Com
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Attacks in Nigeria's Plateau state leave at least 30
dead
Jan 25, 2024
MAIDUGURI: At least 30 people have been killed and
several others injured in Nigeria's central Plateau state in a series of
attacks around Mangu town, despite a curfew imposed by the state government, a
community spokesperson said.
Farmer-herder attacks and communal conflicts are rife
in central Nigeria, an ethnically and religiously diverse hinterland known as
the 'Middle Belt' where a circle of violence has claimed hundreds of lives in
recent years.
The latest violence on Tuesday and Wednesday came
after a Christmas Day attack in the area which left at least 140 people dead. A
dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on Jan 23. The attackers targeted several
villages including Kwahaslalek, Kinat and Mairana, located on the borders of
Mangu and BarkinLadi local government areas, said Joseph Gwankat, head of the
community group Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA).
Source: Times Of India
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Terrorists kill Imam, two others, abduct 32 in Katsina
By Danjuma Michael
26 January 2024
Suspected terrorists have killed three persons,
including 65-year-old Imam, BashiruJibrin, at Yandaka village, Batsari Local
Council of Katsina State.
Among the deceased was a 12-year-old boy simply
identified as Haruna. Some of the injured were still receiving treatment in
hospitals till press time, yesterday.
A source said the terrorists, armed with automatic
weapons, stormed the community in their numbers, and moved from house to house
dragging out hapless residents.
When contacted, spokesperson for the police command in
the state, ASP AbubakarAliyu, promised to get across to the Divisional Police
Officer (DPO) of the council to get information on the incident and revert.
Source: Guardian.ng
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Southeast
Asia
At UPR review, Malaysia stands firm on its treatment
of refugees
By ZafSeraj
26 Jan 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — Malaysia’s representative to
the United Nations (UN) Universal Periodic Review (UPR) last night defended the
country’s inhospitality to refugees, after over 15 states pressed it to do more
to protect the vulnerable migrant group.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry deputy secretary-general
(multilateral affairs) Datuk Bala Chandran Tharman also said the country was
struggling to accept more refugees and asylum seekers as these groups were
weighing on its resources and health infrastructure at a time Malaysia was
dealing high national debt.
“Who is the deserving refugee? Who is a deserving
asylum seeker? Who is an economic migrant? Who is to determine them as such?”
he asked the recommending states at the UPR review conducted in Geneva,
Switzerland, yesterday.
He said Malaysia already has the most refugees in
Southeast Asia, and called for the UNHCR, International Organisation of
Migration and member states to expedite the resettlement of such migrants to
third countries.
Source: Www.malaymail.Com
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Bersatu MP claims party members ‘demoralised’ after
president Muhyiddin cycles back on stepping down
By Hajar UmiraMdZaki
26 Jan 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — PartiPribumi Bersatu Malaysia
(Bersatu) members desiring change are now wondering if reform will come now
that their president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has reversed an earlier decision
to relinquish his post at their next party congress, according to Bukit Gantang
MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abu Fasal.
Syed Abu, one of six Opposition party federal
lawmakers to have switched his allegiance to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar
since last year, claimed that Muhyiddin’s reversal just a day after making the
promise to pass the leadership baton has demoralised Bersatu members, news
portal Malaysiakini reported today.
“What's the reason for the U-turn? This is a big
decision... the party’s purpose is to lead MPs to build the country’s future
but the president easily made a U-turn,” Syed Abu was quoted as telling a news
conference.
Source: Www.malaymail.Com
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Ten more Bersatu MPs expected to declare support for
PM Anwar, claims Bukit Gantang MP
26 Jan 2024
PUCHONG, Jan 26 — Bukit Gantang member of parliament
Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal today claimed that 10 more
opposition MPs will declare their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim.
He said the support, to be declared before the opening
of the next Parliament session on February 26, would particularly involve
PartiPribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) MPs from Kedah, Penang, Perak,
Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor and Melaka.
“In general, members of parliament from
PerikatanNasional, especially from Bersatu, feel very disappointed and
unappreciated and are not taken care of by the party, as until today Bersatu
has no clear direction.
Source: Www.malaymail.Com
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Global Islamic finance market seen ‘hitting $4.9trn by
2025’
26-01-2024
The global Islamic finance market would reach $4.9
trillion by 2025, said YazrinSyakhairi, Malaysian Trade Commissioner, under the
Trade Section of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Hong Kong (MATRADE).
Speaking on the sidelines of the Asian Financial Forum
(AFF) in Hong Kong, Syakhairi told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the
Islamic finance market is witnessing significant and rapid growth worldwide,
surpassing $2.2 trillion in 2022.
It is expected that the Islamic finance sector will
grow by around 10% globally in 2023 and 2024, according to earlier estimates by
Standard Poors Global Ratings.
Source: Www.Tradearabia.Com
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Mideast
Turkish parliament speaker calls for solidarity among
Islamic countries for Palestine
EsraTekin
25.01.2024
The Turkish parliament speaker stressed on Thursday
the need to intensify efforts to foster unity among Islamic countries and
strengthen the humanitarian front for Palestine.
NumanKurtulmus received Hayef al-Mutairi, chairman of
the Kuwait-Türkiye Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group of the National
Assembly, and the accompanying delegation in Ankara.
He stressed the need for urgent aid delivery Gaza,
where Israeli attacks since the Oct. 7 Hamas incursion has killed nearly 26,000
people, and achieving a cease-fire.
Source: Www.Aa.Com.Tr
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"Tell Houthis To Show Restraint": China
Warns Iran As Ship Attacks Rise
January 26, 2024
Dubai: Chinese officials have asked their Iranian
counterparts to help rein in attacks on ships in the Red Sea by the Iran-backed
Houthis, or risk harming business relations with Beijing, four Iranian sources
and a diplomat familiar with the matter said.
The discussions about the attacks and trade between
China and Iran took place at several recent meetings in Beijing and Tehran, the
Iranian sources said, declining to provide details about when they took place
or who attended.
"Basically, China says: 'If our interests are
harmed in any way, it will impact our business with Tehran. So tell the Houthis
to show restraint'," said one Iranian official briefed on the talks, who
spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Source: Www.Ndtv.Com
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US warned Iran of 'terrorist threat' before Jan. 3
attack: official
Jan 26, 2024
While the official said the warning about the Jan. 3
attack was routine, analysts said it may imply a US effort to build trust with
Iran.
The US government privately warned long-time
antagonist Iran about a "terrorist threat" within its borders ahead
of a deadly attack this month that was claimed by the Islamic State militant
group, a US official said on Thursday.
While the official said the warning about the Jan. 3
attack - two suicide bombings in the southeastern city of Kerman that killed
nearly 100 people and wounded scores - was routine, analysts said it may imply
a US effort to build trust with Iran.
Source: Www.Hindustantimes.Com
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Calls for Muslim Nations to Cut
Ties with Israel Amid Gaza Conflict
By Nigar Bayramli
January 25, 2024
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has
urged for the political and economic isolation of Israel concerning the Gaza
war.
“Sometimes the positions and statements of the
officials of the Islamic countries are wrong because they talk about an issue
such as the ceasefire in Gaza, which is beyond their control and is in the
hands of the evil Zionist enemy. The officials of Islamic countries should
focus on matters that are within their control,” Khamenei said while addressing
a gathering of Tehran officials on January 23, according to his official
website.
He emphasized that “what is in the hands of Islamic
countries is the cutting off vital arteries” to Israel, adding that “Islamic
countries should cut off their political and economic relations with the
Zionist regime and they should also refrain from supporting this regime.”
Source: Caspiannews.Com
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Türkiye Is The Most Similar Country To
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Grand Mufti
Mustafa Talha Öztürk
26.01.2024
Türkiye is the most similar country to Bosnia and
Herzegovina, with a common Ottoman heritage, a local Muslim religious leader
told Anadolu.
"Türkiye is the closest country to us. We are
part of a common heritage, the Ottoman culture. We have excellent relations. We
always receive support and understanding from the Religious Affairs
Directorate," said Grand Mufti HuseinKavazovic.
Kavazovic highlighted the importance of being friends
with a country like Türkiye and said that Türkiye's foreign policy has a balancing
role in the Western Balkans
Source: Www.Aa.Com.Tr
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Iran bars Hassan Rouhani from seeking re-election to
key body
Patrick Wintour
25 Jan 2024
The Iranian regime has taken its crackdown on any
internal opposition into a new phase by disqualifying the reformist former
president Hassan Rouhani from seeking re-election to the assembly of experts,
the body that chooses the country’s supreme leader.
Reformists reacted angrily on Thursday to the
regime-controlled guardian council’s announcement. The 88 assembly members
serve an eight-year term, and since the incumbent supreme leader, Ali Khamenei,
is 84, it is highly likely that the next assembly will choose his successor.
The regime has often used disqualification on spurious
technical grounds as a means of preventing regime opponents from standing for
elections. Other past presidents Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad have also found themselves barred but it is a sign of the regime’s
audacity that it has chosen to exclude someone so experienced and prominent as
Rouhani.
Source: Www.Theguardian.Com
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South
Asia
Rahmatullah Nabil, Former Afghan Spy Calls Pakistan a
“Historical Enemy” of Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
January 26, 2024
The recent comments by Pakistan’s Army Chief, Asim
Munir, have stirred criticism from Afghan political figures and people on
social media. His statement, where he said “the life of a Pakistani is more
important than the whole of Afghanistan,” was described as ignorant, and
Afghanistan was referred to as Pakistan’s historical enemy. These reactions
came after Munir’s remarks on Thursday.
Haneef Atmar criticized the statements of the Chief of
the Pakistan Army, Asim Munir, who claimed that the life of a Pakistani is more
important than the whole of Afghanistan, describing it as the “height of
ignorance.”
Rahmatullah Nabil also called Pakistan as
Afghanistan’s “historical enemy,” and he saw Asim Munir’s remarks as indicative
of Islamabad’s long-term policy towards Afghanistan.
The Chief of the Pakistan Army, during an address to
students from across Pakistan on Thursday, stated that “the life of a Pakistani
is more important than the whole of Afghanistan.” Asim Munir’s statements have
drawn criticism from various Afghan political figures and citizens on social
media. However, the Taliban has not officially responded to these statements.
Source: Www.Khaama.Com
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Afghans Arrest IzatullahZawab, Poet, Magazine Editor,
Family Members Say
January 26, 2024
Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Thursday detained
an Afghan poet, IzatullahZawab, who serves as the head of Meena (Love) magazine
in eastern Afghanistan, as part of an ongoing crackdown on freedom of
expression and independent media in the country, family members posted on
social media.
The family members said Zawab was apprehended by the
Taliban while traveling from the capital, Kabul, to eastern Nangarhar province.
In a social media post, Zawab's sons, AttullahZawab
and Nusrat Arman, said the Taliban authorities did not reveal why their father
was detained but assured them of his well-being and imminent release.
Source: Www.Voanews.Com
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Bangladesh rebels training in Mizoram, claims former
armed group
January 25, 2024
An association of former extremists in Mizoram has
threatened to take action if the government fails to uproot the training camps
of a Bangladeshi armed group in the State.
Source: Www.Thehindu.Com
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Bangladesh sounds alarm over rise in Rohingya deaths
at sea
SHEHAB SUMON
January 25, 2024
DHAKA: Bangladeshi authorities are raising the alarm
over increasing numbers of Rohingya refugees going missing at sea as they take
risky boat journeys to reach Southeast Asia through the Bay of Bengal.
Bangladesh hosts more than 1.2 million Rohingya
Muslims, who, over decades, escaped death and persecution in neighboring
Myanmar, especially during a military crackdown in 2017.
Most of them live in Cox’s Bazar district, a coastal
region in eastern Bangladesh, which, with the arrival of the Rohingya, became
the world’s largest refugee settlement.
Source: Www.Khaama.Com
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Af-Pak border tension hits India-Afghan trade
Jan 26, 2024
Amritsar: The closure of the Chaman and Torkham
borders between Afghanistan and Pakistan for days together has had a
detrimental impact on Afghanistan-India trade, with just one truck carrying
mulethi reaching the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari on Tuesday, in stark
contrast to the usual volume of 20 truckloads per day.
The closure has forced importers to resort to
importing Afghan commodities via Dubai, resulting in elevated prices for these
goods in the Indian market even as there are indications that discussions are
underway on reopening at least one of the two closed borders, to facilitate
trade operations.
The closure has forced importers to resort to
importing Afghan commodities via Dubai, resulting in elevated prices for these
goods in the Indian market even as there are indications that discussions are
under way to potentially reopen at least one of the two closed borders, aiming
to facilitate smoother trade operations.
Source: Times Of India
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UN to host follow-up meeting on Afghanistan in Doha on
February 18-19
By Fidel Rahmati
January 26, 2024
The United Nations has announced that a follow-up
meeting of special envoys from countries and regional organizations regarding
Afghanistan will be hosted by Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the
United Nations, on February 18 and 19, 2024 in Doha.
Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN
Secretary-General, stated on Wednesday, January 24th that the purpose of this
meeting is to discuss how to increase international engagement on Afghanistan
in a coherent, coordinated, and structured manner, taking into account the
recommendations of an independent assessment of the country.
The independent assessment report was conducted by
FeridounSinirloglu, the Special Coordinator of the United Nations for
Afghanistan.
Source: Www.Khaama.Com
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NAI, Supporting Open Media, halts activities in
Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
January 26, 2024
Mujib Khilwatgar, the head of the ‘Nai’ Institute, a
Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan, announced that the institution’s
activities in Afghanistan have been temporarily halted. Mr. Khilwatgar stated
that he would provide explanations regarding the reasons for this suspension in
the future.
Nai began in 2005, and in a video message on Thursday,
January 25th, Mujib Khilwatgar stated that the institution has been working
sincerely for many years.
He expressed hope that Nai Institute can resume its
activities in the future “with positive changes and political and social
conditions in Afghanistan,” Mr Khilwatgar said in his message.
Source: Www.Khaama.Com
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Europe
As a Muslim and an anti-racist, there’s a clear moral
path on Rochdale
January 26, 2024
News impatiently rushes forwards. Producers and
consumers get caught up in the currents of now and the near future. But
sometimes, one needs to get out of the fast flowing waters, revisit a story,
reflect on its impact and implications.
The sexual exploitation by grooming gangs in urban
areas is one of those: it is widespread. It has been hidden for decades. It
demonstrates that too often, children from impoverished and dysfunctional
families are valued less than stray dogs and cats.
Last week, the findings from the official review into
these crimes in Rochdale between 2004 and 2013 was released. It confirmed what
we already knew: paedophile gangs – most of Pakistani and Afghan heritage –
lured and raped young, mostly white girls, over many years. Their crimes were
disregarded or excused by police and council bosses – the girls were seen as
slags, prostitutes, not worth saving.
The inaction could also have been the result of
wanting to avoid accusations of racism. Whistleblowers like health worker Sara
Rowbotham and Greater Manchester Police detective Maggie Oliver were
ostracised. The girls were left “at the mercy” of their abusers. Ninety-six
perpetrators were identified; some are roaming free today, breaking young
lives. Oliver, who left the force in 2012 and set up a foundation to support
victims, warns: “I am telling you that the failures I saw in Rochdale back in
2011 and 2012 are still happening today.”
Source: Inews.Co.Uk
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Argentina’sMileiGovernment Official ‘Repents’ Remarks
Against Pope, Judaism, Islam
26-01-2024
Argentina’s brand-new Cults Secretary Francisco
Sánchez, recently appointed by President Javier Milei, is trying to turn the
page.
The former Neuquén deputy wants to turn the page on
controversial expressions he made about Pope Francis and other religious
creeds.
In an interview, Sánchez remarks that he is open to
dialogue with all sectors. He also praises his predecessor Guillermo Oliveri,
affirming that he is willing to continue what was “done well” in the previous
term.
Among other things, the former PRO lawmaker called for
the “death penalty” for former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, while
also speaking against “international Zionism” and “Islamic hordes.”
Source: Tolonews.Com
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Kyrgyzstan Delegation Meets with Islamic Emirate
Officials
By Bibi Amina Hakimi
26-01-2024
The delegation of Kyrgyzstan, led by
DaniyarAmangeldiev, minister of economy and finance of Kyrgyzstan met with the
acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Shahabuddin Delawar and acting Foreign
Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
According to the statement of the Ministry of Mines
and Petroleum (MoMP), the two sides discussed cooperation in bilateral economic
fields and investment in mines in Afghanistan.
Delawar was quoted in the statement as saying that the
ministry has made calls for bids for gold, iron and gas mines for and that the
Kyrgyz investors can present their proposals to the ministry.
Source: Tolonews.Com
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Flooded Muslim graves in Bristol cemetery ‘still
collapsing’ despite drainage works
By Alex Seabrook
26 JAN 2024
Flooded Muslim graves in South Bristol Cemetery are
'still collapsing' despite drainage works carried out last year, according to
councillors. Bristol City Council is planning to expand the cemetery but the
cabinet was warned existing graves are in poor condition.
The cabinet signed off plans to expand the cemetery
during a public meeting on Tuesday, January 23, providing more than 3,000 new
burial plots. The expansion will take up fields currently used for grazing by
the neighbouring Yew Tree Farm.
The Muslim plot at the cemetery lies at the bottom of
a hill, leaving the area waterlogged and muddy. Last year the council carried
out works to manage surface water, but subsiding graves are still proving a
problem.
Source: Www.Bristolpost.Co.Uk
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North America
Students From Calgary Muslim School Stage Peace March
In Prairie Winds ParkOver The Ongoing Israel-Hamas Conflict
Stephen Hunt
Jan. 26, 2024
Students took part in a peace march Thursday over the
ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
About 165 students from the Ahmadiyya Muslim School
took part.
Dozens of kids gathered at Prairie Winds Park to
promote understanding and tolerance among diverse communities.
Source: calgary.ctvnews.ca
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MPs Condemn Man Who Disrupted Quebec Church Mass and
Performed Islamic Prayer
By William Crooks
1/26/2024
Two MPs have spoken out against a minor e-celebrity
who disrupted a recent Catholic Mass in Quebec and performed an Islamic prayer.
“This disruption of a Catholic Mass is appalling. It’s
also a criminal act,” wrote Conservative MP Michael Barrett on X (formerly
Twitter) Jan. 25.
“Similarly, more needs to be acted on re: acts of
arson against churches. The case for an Office of Religious Freedom with an
international AND domestic mandate becomes ever stronger to protect all of
faith.”
Source: Www.Theepochtimes.Com
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US says it warned Iran before twin bombings by Islamic
State
26-01-2024
The United States said Thursday it had specifically
alerted Iran to the threat of an attack before bombings claimed by the Islamic
State group killed around 90 people in southeastern Kerman.
The two blasts on January 3 hit crowds at a memorial ceremony
near the tomb of Qasem Soleimani, a top Revolutionary Guards general killed in
a US drone strike in Iraq in 2020.
"Prior" to the Islamic State (IS) attack,
the "US Government provided Iran with a private warning that there was a
terrorist threat within Iranian borders," a US official said on condition
of anonymity.
Source: Timesofmalta.Com
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https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/us-says-warned-iran-twin-bombings-by-islamic-state.1080141
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