Banned PFI Members Conspired to Transform India into Islamic Nation by 2047: Bombay HC

New Age Islam News Bureau

12 Jun 2024

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·         Banned PFI Members Conspired to Transform India into Islamic Nation by 2047: Bombay HC

·         Modi 3.0 Cabinet: Out of The 72 Hate-Speech FIR On Eight Ministers, 19 With Serious Criminal Cases: ADR

·         US Sexually Tortured Daesh LeaderAbu Bakr Al-Baghdadi in Military Prison: His WidowUmm Hudaifa

·         Islamic State Group Alters Tactics Under New Leadership in Mozambique

·         LHC Gives Immigration Dept 3 Months: ‘Amend Rules So Women Can Retain Father’s Name On Computerised National Identity Card’

 

India

·         Portion of Mosque in Rakhial Torn Down By Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation

·         Anti-Muslim Campaign, ‘400 Paar’, To Jaat Anger: The Blunders At Play Behind BJP Rout In Key States

·         BJP's hatred for Muslims got reflected in new ministry: Tejashwi Yadav takes a jibe at PM Modi

·         Delhi man shot dead on Jammu bus was trying to warn others of terror attack

·         Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists attack Army check post, CRPF jawan killed, six security personnel injured in two gunfights

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North America

·         8 People with Suspected Ties to The Islamic State Arrested In New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles

·         US police clash with pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA

·         Chicago Area Mosque Guides Local Muslim Community Through Multiple Tragedies

·         Ait namaz to be held in mosques, not on Old Square in Bishkek - Muftiyat

·         Man gets five years for attacking Connecticut’s first Muslim state rep

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Africa

·         Recapitalisation: Fitch projects Islamic finance growth

·         Muslim clerics, political leaders back ban on muguka

·         Malawi's Vice President among 10 confirmed dead in plane crash

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Pakistan

·         Army neutralises 11 terrorists of Lakki Marwat attack: ISPR

·         IHC Issues Notice to Complainant On Bushra’s Plea Against Conviction

·         Three FC men injured in IED attack near Kuchlak

·         725 booked for holding PTI convention at Sahiwal

·         85 Afghans arrested in Chagai for ‘illegally’ crossing into Pakistan

·         Eid ul Adha: PM Shehbaz 'approves three-day' holiday

·         PM expresses grief over death of Malawi's Vice President in plane crash

·         Pakistan reaffirms renewed commitment to UN peacekeeping

·         Pakistan to host 3-day global conference on girls' education in September

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Europe

·         One-Third of Primary School Children in Vienna Are Muslims, Overtaking Catholics as Largest Religious Group

·         Gaza conflict ranks amongst most important election issues for British Muslims

·         Election Candidate Sacked Over 'Anti-Islam' Tweets

·         City Law ‘Drinking Culture’ Poses Major Challenge for Aspiring Muslim Lawyers

·         AP sources: 8 people with possible Islamic State ties arrested in US on immigration violations

·         Death Sentence of Sunni Iranian Cleric Commuted to Life Imprisonment

·         Welsh UKIP candidate makes obnoxious comments about gays, Muslims and Vaughan Gething

·         Kyrgyzstan, Islamic Development Bank discuss renewable energy and infrastructure projects

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Southeast Asia

·         Johor’s Religious Authority Says No New ‘Deviant’ Islamic Movements Detected After Ulu Tiram Attack

·         Malaysians are more confident of Putin and Xi on the world stage compared to Macron or Biden, Pew survey shows

·         US pollster confirms what Malaysians think of Biden: Nine in 10 think he’s doing a shoddy job handling Israel’s attack on Gaza

·         Malaysia calls for effective ceasefire, multifaceted response to Gaza crisis

·         Gaza ceasefire resolution: Ops Ihsan calls for border crossing to be opened immediately

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Mideast

·         ‘Immense’ Scale of Gaza Killings Amount To Crime Against Humanity, UN Inquiry Says

·         Gaza War Hangs Over Hajj as Pilgrims Flock to Mecca

·         Gulf Bank studying transition to sharia compliant banking

·         Iraq's Islamic Resistance claims attacking vital target in Eilat

·         Zionist settlers renew incursion into courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque

·         Israel army says about ‘90 projectiles’ fired from Lebanon

·         Blinken heads to key mediator Qatar after Hamas truce deal reply

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Arab World

·         More Than 1.5 Million Foreign Pilgrims Arrive In Makkah For Annual Hajj Pilgrimage

·         Saudi envoy sends off first group of King Salman’s Palestinian Hajj guests from Jordan

·         Families of conjoined twins arrive for Hajj as guests of Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Program

·         Saudi authorities thwart attempt to smuggle 240kg of qat

·         KSrelief announces three health projects to support hospitals in Sudan

·         Scout leader speaks 6 languages to help Hajj pilgrims

·         After 10 Years from Missing His Chance, Ismael, From Ghana, back in Makkah to Finally Perform Hajj

·         Sunni Cleric Besmellah Khogiani Arrested in Zahedan

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South Asia

·         Transforming Lives: The Islamic Emirate’s Successful Strategy To Eradicate Urban Begging

·         Ex-US official demands Taliban accountability for women’s rights at Doha meeting

·         Aghan teen arrested for knife attack on women in Germany

·         BRICS nations emphasize women’s fundamental rights in Afghanistan

·         IEA Holds Economic Commission Meeting to Discuss Key Development Projects

·         DAB Discusses Financial and Banking Issues in Supreme Council Meeting

·         Sar-e Pol Province Implements 71 Projects Worth Over 675 Million Afs

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/banned-pfi-members-india-islamic-nation/d/132496

 

Banned PFI Members Conspired to Transform India into Islamic Nation by 2047: Bombay HC

June 12, 2024

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The Bombay High Court has refused to grant bail to three alleged members of the banned Popular Front of India, noting they ‘conspired to transform India into an Islamic country by 2047’ and overawe the government by use of criminal force.

A division bench of Justices Ajey Gadkari and Shyam Chandak on Tuesday rejected the bail pleas of Razi Ahmed Khan, Unais Umar Khaiyyam Patel and Kayyum Abdul Shaikh, and observed there was prima facie evidence against them.

They are accused of being members of the Popular Front of India (PFI), banned by the Centre in 2022, and indulging in conspiracy acts against the Government of India.

The court, in its order, said the accused persons conspired to overawe the government by use of criminal force.

“The First Information Report is self-eloquent. They conspired to transform India into an Islamic country by 2047 They are not only propagators but actively intending to implement the Vision-2047 document of their organisation (PFI),” the bench noted.

The accused also incited like-minded persons to join them to overawe the government by use of criminal force, it observed.

“There is overwhelming evidence to demonstrate that the appellants in connivance with other accused persons have systematically undertaken activities which are detrimental to the interest and integrity of the nation,” the HC said.

The bench said the accused persons participated in spreading hatred against the state and pushing anti-national agenda through various means of propaganda.

The accused persons shared a document on social media groups titled ‘Vision-2047’, it noted.

“Perusal of Vision-2047 document indicates that it is a sinister plot and design to transform India into an Islamic State by adopting all possible methods mentioned therein,” the HC maintained.

It is a conspiracy to commit horrendous acts perpetrated by the appellants pursuant to their conspiracy, amounts to conspire to overawe or to attempt to wage war against the Government of India, the bench said.

The court, while rejecting their bail pleas, maintained there was prima facie evidence against them.

According to the prosecution, the accused persons had an aim to foster hatred towards other religions and the Government of India and to create division among Indians.

It is alleged that the accused held various meetings to create hatred in the mind of people from Muslim community and to instigate them to wage a war against the Government of India.

Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had lodged a case against the suspected PFI members under the Indian Penal Code sections for criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity between religious groups and provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The prosecution case is that in June 2022, the accused persons and several others attended a secret meeting of the PFI during which they highlighted various ‘atrocities’ being committed against the Muslim community in India, including incidents of mob-lynching.

As per the prosecution, in the meeting it was emphasised that there was a need for unity in the Muslim community to ‘wage a war against the country by adopting any mode’.

Source: firstpost.com

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https://www.firstpost.com/india/pfi-members-conspired-to-transform-india-into-islamic-nation-by-2047-bombay-hc-13781538.html

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Modi 3.0 Cabinet: Out of The 72 Hate-Speech FIR On Eight Ministers, 19 With Serious Criminal Cases: ADR

12.06.24

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An analysis of election affidavits by poll watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) reveals that out of the 72 new ministers, 19 have serious criminal cases.

Eight ministers face FIRs for alleged hate speeches, and two — both from Bengal — are accused of attempted murder.

Minister of state George Kurian has not been analysed as he has not yet been elected to Parliament. His affidavit for the 2016 Kerala polls had no criminal antecedents.

Some of the cases against the ministers date back to more than five years ago and none of them have been convicted yet. Once convicted, they won’t be able to contest polls for six years after being released from jail if the sentence is for more than two years.

The ones accused of hate speech include ministers Amit Shah, Giriraj Singh, and Dharmendra Pradhan, and junior ministers Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Shantanu Thakur, Sukanta Majumdar, Shobha Karandlaje and Nityanand Rai. Thakur and Majumdar also face FIRs for attempt to murder.

Many of these ministers, including Shah and Rai, have got relief from higher courts. Shah was booked in Contai in 2019 for saying that Mamata Banerjee’s government would fall when the votes for the Lok Sabha polls that year were counted and that she could incite violence. The BJP’s seat share jumped from two to 18 in Bengal that year but remained below Trinamool’s tally of 22.

Rai was booked during a bypoll campaign in 2018 in Bihar’s Araria for saying: “If the RJD candidate, Sarfaraz Alam, wins the elections from Araria, the region would become an ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) den.” Alam won the bypoll.

The share of ministers facing serious cases has fallen from 29 per cent in 2019 to 27 per cent this year. In 2014, however, this figure was just 17 per cent.

Other remarks of the newly appointed ministers that invited police action against them include Giriraj Singh’s remark in Bihar’s Begusarai during the 2019 polls. He was quoted as saying: “Those who cannot say Vande Mataram or cannot respect the motherland, the nation will never forgive them. My ancestors died at the Simaria Ghat and did not need a grave but you need three handspans of space.” He won Begusarai.

Karandlaje has two pending FIRs. In March, she said people from outside Karnataka allegedly committed crimes there. In 2020, she claimed that people were denied water in Kerala for supporting the new citizenship regime.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/hate-speech-fir-on-eight-ministers-19-with-criminal-cases-association-for-democratic-reforms/cid/2026308

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US Sexually Tortured Daesh LeaderAbu Bakr Al-Baghdadi in Military Prison: HisWidowUmm Hudaifa

11 June 2024

Slain Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is shown in this undated TV grab taken from a video released by Al-Furqan media. (File photo by AFP)

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Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the slain leader of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, was subjected to "sexual torture" during his time in US custody back in 2004, claims his widow.

Umm Hudaifa, currently detained in a Baghdad prison, shed light on her life alongside Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in an interview with BBC published on Monday.

Before he was held in 2004, al-Baghdadi was “religious but not extremist” and “conservative but open minded,” Umm Hudaifa said who is currently under investigation in an Iraqi jail for her ties to Daesh.

She claimed that a year-long detention in US-run Camp Bucca caused a significant change in Baghdadi’s personality, as he was reportedly arrested after founding a militant group to purportedly combat US and allied occupation forces in Iraq. She said that he told her that during his detention, he was subjected to something “you cannot understand.”

Umm Hudaifa also claimed that after being released, Baghdadi exhibited a short temper and frequent outbursts of anger, along with developing psychological issues that she attributed to “sexual torture.”

Meanwhile, Umm Hudaifa is herself suspected of being involved in the sexual enslavement of women and girls abducted by Daesh leaders. She has refuted the claims, asserting that she herself had tried to flee from Daesh, but was forced to return by armed individuals stationed at check posts.

She expressed her deep shock and disgust at the atrocities committed by Daesh, describing them as “inhumane” and “crossing the line of humanity.” She further expressed her feelings of shame towards the violence inflicted upon the Izadi minority group, but denied the accusations directed at her.

This comes as Hamid Yazidi and his niece Soad, who was enslaved, raped and sold several times, have filed a civil lawsuit against Umm Hudaifa, accusing her of colluding in the abduction of Yazidi's two wives, 26 children, and his two brothers and their families by Daesh. Six of Yazidi's children remain missing.

Soad says that Hudaifa played a key role in selecting individuals for servitude, stating that her sister was among the girls chosen by Hudaifa for that purpose.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi announced the establishment of a so-called caliphate in 2014 following the capture of the Iraqi city of Mosul by Daesh.

At that time, Daesh committed genocide against the Izadi people, in addition to hostage-taking, enslavement, and massacres of Muslim civilians in areas under its control. Despite his declaration, Muslims around the world overwhelmingly dismissed his claim.

In October 2019, then-US President Donald Trump announced that the US Special Operations Forces conducted a raid targeting Baghdadi in northwestern Syria, during which the Daesh leader killed himself by igniting a suicide vest.

Experts believe that the US created the Daesh terrorist group and helped it rise and commence its reign of terror and destruction in Syria and Iraq in 2014.

Back in 2016, former US president Donald Trump, who as at the time a Republican presidential nominee, said in a campaign rally that ex-president Barack Obama and Trump's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton founded Daesh.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/06/11/727247/US-torture-radicalized-Daesh-leader-AlBaghdadi-widow-

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Islamic State Group Alters Tactics Under New Leadership in Mozambique

Jun 11, 2024

A Rwandan Soldier patrols Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. AFP/GETTY IMAGES

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The Islamic State group is operating in new places and using new tactics in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province after losing key leaders and being driven from former bases.

The IS has increased the use of improvised explosive devices while dispersing into smaller camps in dense forests and conducting cross-province operations. The terror group also has used child soldiers in recent attacks.

“The adoption of the new ‘modus operandi’ by terrorists demonstrates that there is new leadership within the group,” Mozambique’s Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda said in a report by Lusa News Agency. “The majority of the terrorist leaders are found in the districts of Macomia and Quissanga, with a highlight on Óscar, Dardai, Zubair, Mane, Sheik, Amisse and Machudee.”

The new IS leaders replaced Ibn Omar, Abu Kital, Ali Mahando and Amurane Adamo, who were killed in 2023 by the Mozambican Defence and Security Forces, Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) and Rwandan forces.

The resurgent rebels have attacked coastal communities as well as residents of the Quirimbas Islands just off the coast. The terrorists have ambushed military patrols, brutally executed civilians and looted communities.

Under new leadership, the IS launched a furious assault on Macomia from May 10 to May 12. The group used boys as young as 13 to raid and loot the town, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The recruitment and use of children under age 15 as soldiers is a war crime.

Analysts described the operation as well-coordinated, conducted from several directions and one of the boldest terror attacks in Mozambique since the 2021 raid on Palma.

Witnesses said three groups of hundreds of militants arrived in the town around 4 a.m. on May 10. One group spoke to residents and looted businesses. Another group battled South African and Mozambican forces while the third group blocked Macomia’s main road, according to HRW.

Heavy fighting ensued.

“We need reinforcement, urgently,” a Mozambican Soldier said in a recording obtained by defenceWeb. “They’re coming to our base. We can hear the gunshots. They are here at the base.”

Roadside bombs destroyed two armored vehicles carrying South African forces deployed from Pemba to Macomia about 20 kilometers away but no Soldiers were injured. Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said in a televised address that the terrorists withdrew after about 45 minutes of fighting, then regrouped and returned.

By mid-afternoon, the terrorists were looting the town, including a World Food Programme warehouse. They distributed the stolen goods to local residents, according to Cabo Ligado, a project published by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, or ACLED.

Distributing stolen food is viewed as a way for terrorists to garner favor among the public. They also stole 15 vehicles, including some from the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) relief agency, before leaving.

“These cars had been used to carry food to Mucojo,” witness Muchude Salimo Abudo told the state-run Mozambique Information Agency (AIM). “In fact, many things were stolen and burned at MSF and at the Foundation Against Hunger, as well as public institutions.”

Abudo said the terrorists killed more than 10 people, “most of them members of the defense and security forces.” Other witnesses said the IS did not suffer as many casualties.

“I saw two people injured on the side of the terrorists,” an anonymous witness told AIM. “Other people right here in the town saw the wounded loaded onto a motorbike heading towards Mucojo.”

Witnesses told HRW the insurgents included boys carrying ammunition belts and AK-style assault rifles. Two people from the same family said they recognized their 13-year-old nephew among the children.

“I saw him with my own eyes carrying a big gun and ammunition belt and acting like a confident big man,” Abu Rachide, the boy’s uncle, told HRW. When he called out to his nephew, Rachide said, the boy waved and continued his mission.

Jamal Jorge, a 47-year-old trader, stayed in the market during the attack. He said he saw more than 20 children among the fighters, as well as young men who spoke Swahili and Kimwani, a language of the Cabo Delgado coast.

“There in the market, I only saw children, some a bit older, maybe 17 or 20 years,” he told HRW. “But to me, most of them were children not older than 16 years.”

IS attacks are increasing as SAMIM gradually withdraws from the country; the mission’s mandate ends in July. Since January, the IS has claimed responsibility for 57 attacks in Mozambique compared to 51 for all of 2023, according to the Institute for Security Studies.

“The SAMIM drawdown provides IS not only with operational space, but also a major propaganda opportunity,” institute analysts wrote. “The situation signifies the greatest level of instability in Cabo Delgado since Rwandan troops and SAMIM were first deployed in 2021.”

Source: adf-magazine.com

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https://adf-magazine.com/2024/06/islamic-state-group-alters-tactics-under-new-leadership-in-mozambique/

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LHC Gives Immigration Dept 3 Months: ‘Amend Rules So Women Can Retain Father’s Name On Computerised National Identity Card’

June 11, 2024

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court directed the immigration and passport department to complete within three months its consultative process and amend the rules allowing women to retain the name of their father on the computerised national identity card (CNIC) and the passport, irrespective of their marital status.

Justice Asim Hafeez passed the order on a petition filed by Mehr Bano Langrial, who sought a declaration that a married woman has the right to retain her father’s name on her identity documents, including, but not limited to CNIC and passport, irrespective of her marital status.

Additional Attorney General Mirza Nasar Ahmad told the court that the federal government had no objection to the declaration sought by the petitioner.

Immigration and Passport Additional Director Attaur Rehman said the consultative process is ongoing and in order to offer such an option to the petitioner/woman, to the extent of her passport, requisite changes are required in the policy/rules.

He said the column for the particulars in the passport needed revision and printing, besides sharing of newly-formatted passports with border control authorities of various foreign countries, is imperative, adding that this exercise will consume reasonable time.

In his order, Justice Hafeez observed that the government in essence acknowledged the right of the women to retain their father’s name on the CNIC and passport, irrespective of their marital status.

However, the judge said such acknowledgement would not affect the government’s policy regarding the format/details of the passports of the children, which shall continue to be issued in accordance with the existing policy. The judge disposed of the petition with a direction to the immigration and passport department to complete the consultative process and make amendments in the formatting of the passports, giving the option to the women to retain their father’s name on CNIC or passport, within three months.

“It is pertinent to observe that the government shall ensure data synchronisation in the records of Nadra and immigration and passport department,” the judge said in the order issued last week.

It is to mention that as per the Nadra policy, a married woman is free to decide if she wants to retain her father’s name in the “father’s name” column on the CNIC, irrespective of her marital status.

However, the office of the Directorate General of Immigration and Passport requires all married women to have their CNICs updated with their husband’s name in the relevant column in order to obtain a passport.

Lawyer gets bail: A LHC division bench released a lawyer on bail and ordered him to appear at each hearing of an appeal against his conviction on contempt charges.

Advocate Zahid Mahmood Goraya was sentenced to six months in jail by Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan under section 5 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003 besides a fine of Rs100,000.

The chief justice initiated the contempt proceedings against the lawyer on a reference forwarded by Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmad.

The lawyer was accused of displaying contemptuous and disorderly conduct by levelling baseless allegations on the court (Justice Ahmad).

As per the reference, the lawyer also instigated his fellow advocates to challenge the court’s authority to file a complaint against the judge. He, despite being directed by the court through its staff to maintain order, persisted in contemptuous shouting and caused video recording of his contemptuous acts through his accomplice.

Advocate Goraya challenged his conviction through Advocate Shahzad Shaukat, who is also president of the Supreme Court Bar Association.

The appellant said he tendered an unconditional apology but the chief justice did not accept it. He asked the bench to set aside his conviction and release him.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1839111/lhc-gives-immigration-dept-3-months-amend-rules-so-women-can-retain-fathers-name-on-cnic

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India

 

Portion Of Mosque In Rakhial Torn Down By Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation

Jun 12, 2024

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Tuesday demolished illegal construction on the margin space and first floor of the Madani mosque at Viratnagar in Rakhial. The civic body removed 3,766 square feet of illegal construction.

Shehzad Pathan, the leader of opposition in the AMC and Congress councillor from Danilimda criticized the civic body’s move, saying, “When I learned about the demolition at a mosque built on a private plot in the Rakhial, I visited the site. The civic body does not demolish illegal constructions of rich people but are very aggressive when it comes to demolishing a mosque where thousands of people pray. The AMC acts against owners of small properties but not large ones.”TNN

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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/portion-of-mosque-in-rakhial-torn-down/articleshow/110923092.cms

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Anti-Muslim campaign, ‘400 Paar’, to Jaat anger: The blunders at play behind BJP rout in key states

June 11, 2024

Shrishti Bisht

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government took oath on Sunday, with Narendra Modi appointed as the Prime Minister for a third straight term. However, this time there’s a difference as he returns as India’s PM with a compromised mandate. With the conclusion of the 18th Lok Sabha Elections, it was clear that the saffron party had fallen short of the magic 272 majority number, securing 240 seats and falling short by 32 seats on its own. However, the NDA, a coalition of 14 parties, collectively managed to grab 53 seats, boosting the alliance’s tally to 293 seats and ensured a stable but coalition-dependent government.

Between 2019 and 2024, the BJP’s Lok Sabha seats dropped from 303 to 240, with the bulk of the losses occurring in the Hindi heartland states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana. These three states alone accounted for 44 lost seats, playing a major role in the party’s overall decline.

Anti-Muslim dog whistle

‘Infiltrators’, ‘those with more children’, and ‘vote jihad’ – these were the phrases used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. In Rajasthan’s Banswara constituency, one of the seats BJP lost with over 2 lakh votes, Modi attacked the Congress manifesto, alleging that during their tenure, they prioritised Muslims, suggesting they would distribute the nation’s wealth to those with more children and infiltrators.

A major shocker came when BJP lost the Faizabad constituency that also includes Ayodhya, where the Ram Mandir was inaugurated with much fanfare. However, the excessive emphasis on Hindutva, which is the core ideology of the BJP, and the religious polarisation that has previously worked in its favour, failed to yield the expected results this time.

According to Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, an author and analyst who penned a biography of Modi, “There had been an overkill. And beyond a certain point, people were not very comfortable with the politics of religious polarisation,” he told Financial Express Online. “It had become too much. Mangal Sutra, Mutton, Mughal, everybody was able to realize that the Congress has not made any such promise in the manifesto. But lies after lies, half-truths after half-truths. Everything has a certain use-by date. Mr. Modi’s presentation of the Hindu, hard Hindutva line, was not working with the people any longer,” he said.

On the other hand, political analyst Rashid Kidwai accused Modi of practicing the politics of negativity. “Mr. Modi’s thing of politically being a victim was very useful when he was not, Prime Minister or even he was a first-time Prime Minister. If you’re going on a third term, you cannot be talking about, victimhood because people think that you are in power.”

Caste politics: The Yadav factor in Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh, the Yadav community, comprising approximately 10% of the state’s population, has traditionally wielded significant influence in the state’s political dynamics. The party’s failure to effectively engage with the community and address its concerns caused a decline in its popularity. The BJP’s struggles in Uttar Pradesh can be attributed to its inability to tap into the Yadav vote bank, which has historically backed the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

According to political analyst Amitabh Tiwari, “BJP has been winning UP because they have created a wedge between the Yadav and the non-Yadav vote. Yadav population is 10%, non-Yadav population is 30%. They have been getting 60-70% of the non-Yadav vote.”

“Now, this time there was discontent amongst five communities because of various reasons. Kurmi, Kuswaha, Nishad, Pal, and Maurya, five caste groups that comprise around 7-8% of the population perhaps. And this time they have given more tickets to OBCs than BJP. So BJP has given 23 tickets to OBCs, while the Samajwadi Party gave 32 tickets to OBCs. So when the contest got localised, the OBCs shifted towards the INDIA bloc. That’s why you see BJP’s vote share declining from 50% to 41%. A 9% drop, largely because OBCs moved away or non-Yadav OBCs moved away.”

Did BJP’s 400 paar slogan backfire?

Following the announcement of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, the BJP launched their campaign with the singular slogan ‘Apki Baar 400 Paar’. However, the party failed to provide a clear rationale for their aspiration to surpass 400 seats.

Political strategist Abhimanyu Bharti elaborated on how the ‘400 Paar’ slogan worked in favor of the INDIA bloc. “Opposition propagated that if they (BJP) cross 400, they will change the Constitution, they will remove reservation, and this narrative somehow stuck with the lower OBCs that reservation could be in danger. Although it was said ‘400 Paar’, he (Modi) didn’t give enough reason to why he needs 400 Paar. So, people thought why 400 Par? Modi couldn’t give a reason.”

Jaat anger hurt BJP in Haryana and Rajasthan

Strong anti-incumbency, the farmers’ strike, and the wrestlers’ protest were a few reasons behind the Jaat community’s anger, which was reflected in the BJP’s electoral performance in Haryana. Despite the BJP’s historic success in consolidating the anti-Jat vote, they couldn’t replicate the same level of support this time. Additionally, a breakdown in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) vote and dissatisfaction among the youth regarding the Agniveer scheme and leadership crisis contributed to the BJP’s electoral downfall.

“Haryana faced very strong anti-incumbency. In Rajasthan, many seats are adjoining Haryana. In Haryana, there was a coalition government that broke down. They evicted Manohar Lal Khattar because they thought they would be able to minimize the anti-incumbency factor, but they weren’t able to. This anger is rooted in the farmers’ strike. Specifically, farmers from Haryana supported the farmers who came from Punjab,” said Mukhopadhyay.

“In Rajasthan, the constituencies where the BJP lost are close to the Haryana border. Secondly, after the BJP won Rajasthan, their choice of candidate was inappropriate because someone completely new and unknown in Rajasthan was made the chief minister, which caused problems,” he added.

Source: financialexpress.com

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https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/anti-muslim-campaign-400-paar-to-jaat-anger-the-blunders-at-play-behind-bjp-rout-in-key-states/3521840/

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BJP's hatred for Muslims got reflected in new ministry: Tejashwi Yadav takes a jibe at PM Modi

11.06.24

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday alleged that Muslims got no representation in the union council of ministers as a consequence of the ruling BJP's "hatred" for the minority community.

The former Bihar deputy CM was also of the view that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was "late" in voicing concerns over the strife in Manipur, which got exacerbated as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had chosen to remain "silent".

"It is clearly an indication of hatred..... we, on the other hand, believe in taking all sections of society along", said Yadav in response to queries from journalists about not a single Muslim getting a berth in the jumbo-sized 72-member union council of ministers.

Asked about Bhagwat's concerns on Manipur, the RJD leader said "he has been too late in speaking out", adding, "the prime minister, on his part, has merely kept silent on every crisis, be it violence in that state, or protests by farmers and female wrestlers in Delhi".

The ethnic conflict in Manipur between Imphal valley-based Meiteis and hills-based Kukis has led to the deaths of over 200 people and rendered thousands of people homeless.

Yadav maintained that despite having a "decisive role" in the new central government, helmed by the BJP which was short of a majority, Bihar did not get a square deal in allocation of portfolios.

Nonetheless, he hoped "eight ministers from the state will raise their voice" in favour of demands like special status for Bihar, placing in the ninth schedule the law raising quotas for deprived castes to 75 per cent and a nationwide caste census.

The Ninth Schedule of the Constitution includes a list of central and state laws that cannot be challenged in courts.

In 1992, the Supreme Court capped reservations for the backward classes at 50 per cent.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/bjps-hatred-for-muslims-got-reflected-in-new-ministry-tejashwi-yadav-takes-a-jibe-at-pm-modi/cid/2026217

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Delhi man shot dead on Jammu bus was trying to warn others of terror attack

Jun 12, 2024

NEW DELHI: Saurav Gupta, a 21-year-old man, was among the nine pilgrims who lost their lives in the recent terror attack on a bus in Jammu's Reasi. Despite the shots being fired, Saurav bravely attempted to raise an alarm but was tragically struck by a bullet that pierced the back of his neck. His body was transported to Delhi by his father, Kuldeep Gupta, and other family members, and he was cremated near his home in Mandoli, northeast Delhi, on Tuesday.

Saurav and his wife, Shivani Gupta, had embarked on a pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu to pray for a baby, as they had been married for two years. They were scheduled to return home on the same day. Manoj Gupta, Saurav's uncle, described the heartbreaking scene: "She saw her husband die in front of her eyes. She was inconsolable."

Manoj Gupta also shared that Saurav was a courageous and well-built man, standing at 6 feet tall. He was seated behind the driver in a window seat when the terrorists attacked the bus. Although Shivani escaped the attack unharmed, she suffered fractures in her legs and face when the bus plunged into a gorge. Just before the attack, Shivani had made a video call to her grandmother-in-law to show her the scenic view.

Saurav, who lost his mother at the tender age of three, is survived by his wife, father, who works in an export house, and a younger brother, who is currently studying in college. Saurav himself worked in an export house in the Gandhi Nagar area. The couple had visited the Vaishno Devi shrine last week and decided to visit the Shiv Khori temple on a bus on June 9. Manoj Gupta expressed his desire for the Indian Army to deliver a fitting response to the terrorists responsible for this heinous attack.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jammu/delhi-man-shot-dead-on-jammu-bus-was-trying-to-warn-others-of-terror-attack/articleshow/110924205.cms

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Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists attack Army check post, CRPF jawan killed, six security personnel injured in two gunfights

12.06.24

A CRPF jawan was killed and six security personnel were injured in two overnight encounters with terrorists in Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday.

In Doda district, five troopers of Rashtriya Rifles and a special police officer (SPO) were injured when terrorists attacked a joint check post in the upper reaches of Chattergalla on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road.

On the other hand, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan Kabir Dass was critically injured in a firing by a terrorist holed up in Kathua district's Saida Sukhal village around 3 am, officials said, adding the soldier was shifted to a hospital where he succumbed to injuries during treatment.

They said the terrorist opened indiscriminate fire to break the security cordon in the village, over 60 kms from here.

Terrorists attacked the village near the International Border on Tuesday evening and injured a civilian. During a subsequent search operation, one terrorist was killed while efforts were being made to flush out the other holed-up terrorist who is believed to have infiltrated from across the border.

Senior police officers led by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) are at the scene of the encounter. Police said the area has been cordoned off, and a house-to-house search is underway with the assistance of the CRPF.

The two overnight incidents come just days after terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra, causing it to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge, resulting in the death of nine people and injuries to 41 others.

In Doda, terrorists fired on a joint checkpost of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and police at Chattergalla area late on Tuesday night, leading to a fierce gunfight which continued for several hours, officials said.

They said five Rashtriya Rifles personnel and an SPO were injured and taken to hospital. Additional security personnel have been rushed to the area to intensify the operation against the terrorists, the officials added.

About the operation in Kathua's Saida Sukhal village, ADGP (Jammu zone) Anand Jain said, "Two terrorists, who appeared to have freshly infiltrated (from across the border), surfaced in the village around 8 pm and asked for water from a household. The people got frightened, and as soon as information was received, a police team rushed to the village."

"One of the terrorists tried to hurl a grenade at the police team and was killed in the exchange of fire, while the second terrorist is reported to be hiding in the village," Jain said, adding an assault rifle and a rucksack were recovered from the slain terrorist whose identity and group affiliation were being ascertained.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir-terrorists-attack-army-check-post-crpf-jawan-killed-six-security-personnel-injured-in-two-encounters/cid/2026359

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North America

 

8 people with suspected ties to the Islamic State arrested in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles

June 11, 2024

WASHINGTON  — Eight people from Tajikistan with suspected ties to the Islamic State have been arrested in the United States in recent days, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.

The arrests took place in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles and the individuals, who entered the U.S. through the southern border, are being held on immigration violations, said the people, who were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation by name and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The nature of their suspected connections to the Islamic State was not immediately clear Tuesday, but the individuals were being tracked by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, or JTTF. They were in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which made the arrests while working with the JTTF, pending proceedings to remove them from the country.

The individuals from Tajikistan entered the country last spring and passed through the U.S. government’s screening process without turning up information that would have identified them as potential terrorism-related concerns, said one of the people familiar with the matter.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a statement confirming the immigration-related arrests of “several non-citizens” but did not detail specifics. The agencies noted that the U.S. has been in a “heightened threat environment.”

FBI Director Christopher Wray has said the U.S. is facing accelerating threats from homegrown violent extremists as well as foreign terrorist organizations, particularly in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.

He said at one recent congressional hearing that officials were “concerned about the terrorism implications from potential targeting of vulnerabilities at the border.” The Biden administration in August said that it had detected and stopped a network attempting to smuggle people from Uzbekistan into the U.S. and that at least one member of the network had links to a foreign terrorist group.

“The FBI and DHS will continue working around the clock with our partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt potential threats to national security,” the agencies said.

Source: dailybreeze.com

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https://www.dailybreeze.com/2024/06/11/8-people-with-ties-to-the-islamic-state-arrested-in-new-york-philadelphia-and-los-angeles/

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US police clash with pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA

11 June 2024

US police have clashed with a large group of pro-Palestinian protesters who marched across the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus while carrying fake bloodied corpses and reading aloud the names of Palestinians who have been killed in Israeli war on Gaza.

The protesters formed a pro-Palestinian camp on UCLA’s campus on Monday, as part of an event organized by the Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA.

Police ordered them to disperse at least twice, prompting the demonstrators to quickly dismantle tents and move to different locations on campus.

While marching, one of the protesters read aloud the names of Palestinians killed, with the fellow demonstrators chanting “They will not die in vain” and “They will be redeemed” after each name.

After a few hours, police clashed with the protesters, declaring the gathering to be an unlawful assembly.

Associate professor Graeme Blair, who is a member of Faculty for Justice in Palestine, said one student was wounded by a rubber bullet fired when students were barricaded near the Dodd Hall courtyard. He slammed authorities, noting that the students had been following dispersal orders throughout the evening.

L.A. Police Capt. Kelly Muniz confirmed to The Los Angeles Times that arrests were also made at the protest but did not elaborate.

UCLA professor Yogita Goyal said police should not have declared an unlawful assembly when students were protesting peacefully.

“UCLA leadership should be out here and should be allowing our students to express their political views,” Goyal, who was among faculty on campus expressing support for the protesters.

The UCLA campus has so far witnessed third protests in recent weeks, the handling of which has drawn outrage.

California university academics end strike after court order, plan protests

Thousands of academic workers at the University of California were on a strike over police and university crackdowns on pro-Palestine protesters on six UC campuses last month that they said violated free speech rights of its members.

On Monday, United Auto Workers Local 4811, which represents 48,000 graduate students working as teaching assistants, researchers, tutors and other academic employees, ended their strike, which started on May 20, and returned to work following a court order from a state judge.

An Orange County Superior Court judge on Friday granted a temporary restraining order sought by the university asserting that the walkout was in violation of a no-strike clause in the union’s contract as it stemmed from non-labor issues.

United Auto Workers Local 4811, however, said it is planning protests on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Protests were held recently on many campuses in the US, demanding an end to the Washington-backed Israeli war on Gaza, which has killed more than 37,124 Palestinians, and injured 84,712 others. The demonstrators were met with brutal police violence.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/06/11/727253/US-police-clash-pro-Palestinian-protesters-UCLA

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Chicago area mosque guides local Muslim community through multiple tragedies

June 11, 2024

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (CBS) -- Over the last eight months, local Arab American and Muslim communities have suffered after the stabbing death of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy and the shooting deaths of four women in the same family.

The Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview had the tall task of laying these loved ones to rest and guiding the community through grief. Eight months later they're still processing it.

"Sometimes you're just supposed to listen, sometimes you're just supposed to give encouragement, sometimes you're supposed to learn," said Shiekh Ali Masshour, an imam at the Mosque Foundation.

Those are the things Masshour has learned as an imam over the last 20 years. But when he first began practicing, he didn't know the gift could become a challenge.

"At first, it's kind of a shock to the system, but after a while, you'll learn to not try to fix everything. Not be the hero in everything. You just have to be present. Provide what you can," he said.

He learned to be present as a servant of Allah, the term used for "God" in Islam, while also learning how to provide funerals for families who have suffered a loss.

"This is certainly the mosque that has the most funerals that I've ever seen because the community is so clustered together," Masshour said.

Two funerals in the last year left the community scarred.

"The heaviest burdens are usually the lightest in physical weight," he said, referring to the death of 6-year-old Wadee Al-Fayoumi.

"Tragedy compounded upon another tragedy"

Masshour said the boy's death "was certainly probably the most emotionally charged "because of the story and how it happened and the victim."

On October 14, 2023, the little boy was allegedly stabbed 26 times by his landlord Joseph Czuba at his apartment in Plainfield Township. His mother was left injured. In his confession, Czuba told police he attacked them because they were Muslim.

"I think really situating this incident in the larger narrative of racism, this is what it is at its heart. Anti-Palestinian hatred is a form of racism," said Deanna Othman, a teacher at the Universal School on the same campus as the Mosque Foundation.

For months, she has served as a sounding board while still trying to heal from paralyzing deaths in the community, especially as a mother.

"It really was tragedy compounded upon another tragedy, compounded once again, and it continues to compound," Othman said.

The tragedy kept building. Three months later, on the morning of January 21, Maher Kassem of Tinley Park called the police.

Police say Kassem fired 16 shots inside his home. He allegedly shot his wife Majeda seven times, his daughters Halema, Zahia, and Hanaan were shot more than once.

His 19-year-old son heard the screams but was not harmed.

"Just imagining that everyone woke up on a regular Sunday morning disagreeing on where they should go have breakfast turns into a bloodbath," Masshour said. "It makes you think a lot about what led to that, what was going on through a person's mind."

Court documents revealed what Maher Kassem told police. He blamed his wife for her own murder.

"'She treats me like [expletive] dog. I worked 40 years,' end quote, and quote 'I worked all my life to give my family a better home and they treat me like [expletive],'" said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Clark, quoting Kassem.

Masshour said he remembered the murders "weighing heavy on my mind for a few days. Which doesn't happen to me very often because I've been so exposed to these things over the year," Masshour said.

Coming together in grief

It still weighs heavy to this day. But what gives the imam solace is the life that comes after death.

"There is another life after this life where a lot of those injustices are going to be righted. As a Muslim, we believe in that," Masshour said.

That knowledge gave the community strength as they entered the holy month of Ramadan, hoping to heal and find peace.

"It was heartwarming to come together as a community every single night in prayer, in remembrance, and charity," Othman said.

There were somber nights in solidarity as a community, but separately, the families of these victims continued to mourn in silence.

"The real slew of emotion happens after everybody goes home. Right? You got to go and clean out the bedroom or cancel doctors' appointments and put pictures away or whatever it is. That's when people really need the most support, and that's usually often the most overlooked," said Masshour.

Solemn moments brought emotion and strength to those who follow the sacred call to prayer. It's a sound that often serves as a cry for help as well as a beautiful, yet painful reminder that the first pillar in Islam is acceptance.

"Acceptance of what's passed, acceptance of what occurs," said Masshour.

Maher Kassem, the man accused of killing his wife and daughters, faces four first-degree murder counts and is due in court next month.

Czuba, the landlord charged with a hate crime, first-degree murder, and attempted murder is scheduled for a motion hearing on Friday.

Source: cbsnews.com

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https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/bridgeview-mosque-tragedy/

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Ait namaz to be held in mosques, not on Old Square in Bishkek - Muftiyat

12 June 2024

Ait namaz (prayer) will not be held on the Old Square in Bishkek. The press service of the Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of Kyrgyzstan (SDMK) reported.

According to it, collective prayer will take place only in Friday mosques. The muftiyat presented the Ait prayer program:

6.15-7.25 — narratives;

7.25-7.30 — rules of Ait-namaz, reading of saffat saaf;

7.30 — holiday prayer.

Kurman Ait will be celebrated this year on Sunday, June 16.

Source: 24.kg

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https://24.kg/english/296418_Ait_namaz_to_be_held_in_mosques_not_on_Old_Square_in_Bishkek_-_Muftiyat/

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Man gets five years for attacking Connecticut’s first Muslim state rep

He previously pleaded guilty to felony charges of third-degree sexual assault, attempted first-degree strangulation and risk of injury to a minor. After prison, he must serve nearly 16 years of special parole, register as a sex offender and receive mental health treatment.

While she welcomed the sentence, Khan acknowledged that the case underscores issues in the mental health system, saying she’s “glad to be in a position to have the ability to be able to do some stuff about that.”

Source: nextshark.com

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https://nextshark.com/man-gets-five-years-for-attacking-connecticuts-first-muslim-state-rep

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Africa

 

Recapitalisation: Fitch projects Islamic finance growth

11th June 2024

International credit ratings organisation, Fitch Ratings, has said that the higher capital requirement for banks operating in Nigeria inclusive of non-interest banks would boost the growth of the Islamic financial sector in the country.

This was disclosed in its non-rating action commentary issued on Tuesday.

In March, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced new capital requirements for banks in the country as commercial banks with international authorisation are expected to have N500bn, the capital requirement of the non-interest banks was pegged at N20bn and N10bn for national and regional licences, respectively.

Commercial banks with national licences saw their capital base pegged at N200bn up from N25bn and merchant banks requiring N50bn up from N15bn. As of April 2024, no Fitch-rated banks had met the new requirements but they have up to March 2026 to do so based on the CBN circular.

In its commentary on the Islamic banking sector, Fitch said that it expects the sector to continue growing over 2024–2025, “Driven by the anticipated increase in equity issuance for Islamic banks to comply with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s significantly increased paid-in capital requirements.

“While Islamic banks’ lower capital requirements compared to conventional banks could provide an advantage, with lower barriers to entry, we expect their market share to remain below two per cent as conventional banks are likely to grow faster.”

It revealed that Jaiz Bank Plc (rated B-/Stable) recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector to explore investment opportunities through the introduction of additional Tier 1 capital (mudarabah capital) for the business growth of Jaiz Bank Plc, and its regional expansion through ICD’s partnership and networks.

Taj Bank and Lotus Bank (both unrated), who must also comply with the new capital requirement had a gap of about N6bn each (about $5m at the current exchange rate) as of the end of 2022.

According to the list of licenced banks released by the CBN in May, there are four non-interest banks in the country. They include Jaiz Bank Plc, TAJ Bank Limited, Lotus Bank Limited and Alternative Bank Limited.

The rating firm estimates the Islamic finance industry in Nigeria at $3.8bn as of 2023 ending. It is predominantly sukuk, at 59.3 per cent of the total industry value, followed by non-interest banks (39.8 per cent) and Islamic funds and takaful (together 0.9 per cent).

With these figures, Fitch said there is significant potential for growth in Nigeria’s Islamic finance industry, given it has the largest Muslim population in Africa and over a fifth of the Nigerian population is unbanked.

However, challenges to tapping this potential include gaps in the distribution network compared to conventional banks, a smaller, but growing, capital base, low public awareness and demand for Islamic products, and segments of the public strongly opposing Islamic finance.

Source: punchng.com

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https://punchng.com/recapitalisation-fitch-projects-islamic-finance-growth/#google_vignette

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Muslim clerics, political leaders back ban on muguka

11 June 2024

Muslim clerics and political leaders have called on the government to consider the welfare of future generations and categorise muguka as a substance with significant health and social risks.

Speaking on Tuesday at Nairobi's Jamia mosque, Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi said muguka has considerable negative outcomes such as psychological effects on users, depression, insomnia, low sperm count and marriage breakdowns.

“We support the legislative efforts to remove miraa from the Crops Act. According to Nacada, it remains a narcotic substance with adverse health issues which should not be accepted for consumption,” Mwinyi said.

“It is clearly evident that the government is more concerned with the economic benefits derived by farmers in the muguka producing areas while ignoring the adverse health and social effects suffered by consumers in other parts of the country,” Mwinyi added.

The legislator also urged the government to develop strategies to mitigate the socio–economic impact on regions dependent on such harmful substances.

“Instead of channeling public funds into sustaining this sector, the government should invest in alternative high value crops which could have economic benefits to the famers,” he said.

“We would like the government to take the same zeal it has undertaken in Central region to fight alcohol menace on the same energy on the war on muguka,” the MP added.

The leaders further expressed their support on the action taken by the county government of Mombasa, Kilif, Taita Taveta, Lamu and Kwale to ban and restrict the consumption of the addictive stimulant so as to protect the health and social welfare of their people.

Source: the-star.co.ke

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https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2024-06-11-muslim-clerics-political-leaders-back-ban-on-muguka/

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Malawi's Vice President among 10 confirmed dead in plane crash

Malawi’s Vice-President, Saulos Chilima, was among 10 people killed when a small military plane crashed in a mountainous region in the north of the country, the president said in a live televised address on Tuesday.

Air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane on Monday after telling the pilot to turn back to the capital, Lilongwe, due to bad weather.

"I'm deeply saddened, I'm sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill. They have found it completely destroyed with no survivors," President Lazarus Chakwera said.

The president went on to praise the late vice-president, saying it had been an honour to work with him and that his passing was a "terrible loss" to his family and the country.

"Dr Saulos Chilima was a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction, and a formidable vice-president," he said.

He said the seven passengers and three crew members on board the plane were killed on impact and that the military was bringing their remains back to the capital.

The group, which included former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, had been traveling to the northern city of Mzuzu to attend the funeral of a former government minister.

Chilima, 51, was serving his second term as vice-president and was widely as a potential candidate in next year's presidential election.

In 2022, he was arrested over graft allegation, but the charges against him were dropped last month. He denied any wrongdoing.

Chakwera said funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/11/malawis-vice-president-among-10-confirmed-dead-in-plane-crash/

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Pakistan

 

Army neutralises 11 terrorists of Lakki Marwat attack: ISPR

June 11, 2024

The Pakistan Army has “neutralised” 11 terrorists who were involved in the weekend attack on seven security officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.

At least seven security officials, including an army captain, were martyred after an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted their vehicle in Lakki Marwat on Sunday. Local officials had said the vehicle was on its way to the Kaichi Kamar area when it came under attack near Sultankhel village, an area bordering Punjab’s Mianwali district.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said that 26-year-old Captain Muhammad Faraz Ilyas, a resident of Kasur, along with 50-year-old Subedar Major Muhammad Nazir from Skardu, 34-year-old Lance Naik Muhammad Anwar from Ghanchi, 36-year-old Lance Naik Hussain Ali from Ghizer, 33-year-old Sepoy Asadullah from Multan, 27-year-old Sepoy Manzoor Hussain from Gilgit, and 31-year-old Sepoy Rashid Mehmood from district Rawalpindi were martyred.

A press release issued by the ISPR today said that the security forces launched an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Lakki Marwat on the night of June 10/11 to bring the perpetrators of the “heinous act” to justice.

“During conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, as result of which 11 terrorists were successfully neutralised and sent to hell while multiple terrorist hideouts were also busted,” the military’s media wing said.

The ISPR said a sanitisation operation was being carried out to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area as “the security forces are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.”

Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in the past year, especially in KP and Balochistan after the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.

According to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 — marking a record six-year high.

KP and Balochistan were the primary centres of violence, accounting for over 90 per cent of all fatalities and 84pc of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations.

Last month, an army officer was martyred and three terrorists were killed during an IBO in Balochistan’s Zhob district.

In a separate incident, 17 terrorists were killed and another two were injured on May 27 in two separate operations conducted by security forces in KP.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1839262/army-neutralises-11-terrorists-of-lakki-marwat-attack-ispr

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IHC issues notice to complainant on Bushra’s plea against conviction

June 12, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued a notice to the complainant and prosecution on a petition seeking the suspension of the sentence of former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi in Iddat case.

The couple were convicted by a senior civil judge on Feb 3 for contracting marriage during Ms Bibi’s Iddat period. They were sentenced for seven years in jail with a fine of Rs500,000 each.

They challenged the conviction before district and sessions judge Shahrukh Arjumand, who recused himself at a time when the hearing had been concluded and the court was supposed to announce verdict.

Subsequently, the case was transferred to another judge Afzal Majoka.

However, the counsel for Bushra Bibi filed a petition before the IHC seeking her release on bail and suspension of her sentence.

The registrar office raised some administrative objections to the petition on the grounds that the petitioner was seeking same relief from a sessions court.

While hearing arguments of her counsel on the petition, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb removed the administrative objections. He also remarked that the reason for which Judge Arjumand had recused himself was “not justified”.

Counsel for the petitioner Salman Akram Raja informed the court that the judge had already fixed a date for the verdict after concluding the proceedings.

It was scheduled to be announced on May 29, but the verdict could not be pronounced, he argued.

The counsel said her case was distinct, noting she had been sentenced to seven years in prison. He urged the IHC to exercise its authority to suspend the sentence.

Further hearing has been adjourned till June 13.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1839333

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Three FC men injured in IED attack near Kuchlak

June 12, 2024

QUETTA: Three Frontier Corps personnel have been injured in an IED attack near Kuchlak at the Quetta-Chaman Highway late on Tuesday night.

According to officials, the IED exploded close to the personnel’s vehicle, which was damaged as a result of the powerful blast.

The window panes of a nearby building were smashed due to the explosion’s intensity.

Police and FC personnel shifted the injured soldiers to Quetta’s Combined Military Hospital.

“It seems like a remote control IED blast,” a senior police officer posted in Kuchlak told Dawn.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1839332/three-fc-men-injured-in-ied-attack-near-kuchlak

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725 booked for holding PTI convention at Sahiwal

June 11, 2024

SAHIWAL: The district police have registered cases against 25 nominated and 700 unidentified workers and local leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including party’s parliamentarians, ticket-holders and office-bearers of Okara, Pakpattan and Sahiwal chapters.

These workers have been accused of organising and participating in a ‘workers convention’ at Anjum Farms on Sunday afternoon, without getting permission for the event.

The convention was reportedly hosted by Chaudhry Asif Ali, a PTI ticket-holder from NA-142, at his farmhouse.

The Ghala Mandi police have booked the suspects under various sections, including section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order, section 6 of the Punjab Sound Systems Regulation Act 2015, and sections 341, 186, 148, and 149 of the PPC, on a complaint by Sub-Inspector Zafer Iqbal, posted at the Bypass Police Check Post.

PTI MNA Rai Hasan Nawaz told Dawn that a day before the convention, the houses of the PTI parliamentarians and district office-bearers were raided by police in Pakpattan, Sahiwal, and Okara. He says the cases were a result of the successful PTI convention.

Chaudhry Asif and other local party leaders condemned the cases against peaceful participants of the convention held at a private place with a boundary wall and gate.

Sources say the police and administration had exerted pressure on the farmhouse owner and organisers to prevent him from holding the convention. However, the PTI workers and local leaders remained steadfast, despite facing police harassment, raids and violations of their basic rights, they say.

The sources say the police also attempted to bar workers from entering the city and attending the convention.

Those named in the FIRs include MNAs Rai Hasan Nawaz, Rai Murtaza Iqbal and Chaudhry Muhammad Usman, MPA retired Maj Sarwar, Chaudhry Asif, Rai Naseem Hashim (Pakpattan), Mian Sajad Nasir, Faisal Jalal Dhakko, Muhammad Yar Damra, Chaudhry Saleem Sadiq, Rana Amir Shahzad, Ali Raza Gilani (Okara), Naeem Ibrahim (Arifwala ex-MPA), Tariq Qaum Khagga, Waheed Asghar Dogar, Rana Aftab (ticket-holder/ex-MPA), Shakeel Khan Niazi, Riaz Arshad, Muhammad Chohan, Sardar Asad Khan Baloch and others.

The FIR alleges that some 700-750 participants in the convention were chanting slogans against the government and state institutions. So far no arrest has been made.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1839108/725-booked-for-holding-pti-convention-at-sahiwal

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85 Afghans arrested in Chagai for ‘illegally’ crossing into Pakistan

June 11, 2024

QUETTA: Security forces arrested 85 Afghan nationals in the border district of Chagai district for allegedly crossing into Pakistan illegally, officials said on Monday.

The Afghan nationals were found on the Pakistani side near the border without legal travelling documents.

According to sources, the Afghan nationals entered Pakistan illegally to cross into Iran for further journeys.

A senior security official said the Afghan nationals were arrested and handed over to the Levies force for further investigation.

Levies Force officials said that after completing legal formalities and procedure, the Afghan nationals would be deported through the Baracha crossing gate on the Pak-Afghan border.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1839156/85-afghans-arrested-in-chagai-for-illegally-crossing-into-pakistan

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Eid ul Adha: PM Shehbaz 'approves three-day' holiday

June 11, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has reportedly approved a three-day holiday for the occasion of Eid ul Adha from June 17 to June 19.

Sources told Geo News that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the summary on Eid holidays forwarded by the Cabinet Division.

The development comes ahead of Eid ul Adha celebration in Pakistan on June 17, as the Zil Hajj moon was sighted last week on June 7.

The festival falls on the 10th day of Zil Hajj and also marks the Hajj pilgrimage.

With Eid ul Adha just around the corner, cattle markets have been set up in different areas for people to purchase cows, goats, sheep and camels for sacrifice.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways has announced a 25% reduction in fares as a special package for commuters on the occasion of Eid ul Adha.

The discount will be available on all types of trains and classes with the exception of Eid special trains.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1199348-eid-ul-adha-pm-shehbaz-approves-three-day-holiday

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PM expresses grief over death of Malawi's Vice President in plane crash

June 12, 2024

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima in a plane crash.

In his condolence message, the Prime Minister expressed solidarity with the government and people of Malawi over this tragedy. He also expressed solidarity with the bereaved family.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/12-06-2024/pm-expresses-grief-over-death-of-malawis-vice-president-saulos-chilima-in-plane-crash

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Pakistan reaffirms renewed commitment to UN peacekeeping

June 12, 2024

Pakistan has reiterated its readiness to collaborate with member states and the United Nations to make peacekeeping more productive, result-oriented, and meaningful in promoting peace and security in line with the UN Charter.

This was stated by Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Munir Akram while welcoming a delegation comprising heads of military components conference that visited the Pakistan Mission for a briefing on Pakistan's contribution to UN peacekeeping.

Ambassador Munir Akram highlighted Pakistan's pride in over six decades of dedicated and professional participation in UN peacekeeping missions, with 235,000 Pakistani peacekeepers having served in 48 missions.

He said that peacekeeping must be part of a broader political strategy aimed at addressing the root causes of conflicts and violence.

Munir Akram stressed that UN peacekeeping is an intense form of international cooperation requiring serious reflection on its future.

On this occasion, Acting Military Adviser and representative of the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace, Major General Cheryl Pearce commended Pakistan's contributions.

He noted that no other country has sacrificed more lives in the service of international peace than Pakistan.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/12-06-2024/pakistan-reaffirms-renewed-commitment-to-un-peacekeeping

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Pakistan to host 3-day global conference on girls' education in September

June 12, 2024

The Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with Muslim World League is set to host a landmark global conference on girls' education in September this year.

This event aims to bring together a diverse group of international and national dignitaries, including education ministers from numerous Islamic countries, to address and find solutions to different challenges faced by girls in education sector.

The primary objective of the three-day conference is to explore and formulate effective strategies to enable institutional responses and ensure better resource allocation for promoting girls' education on a global scale.

The conference will be attended by participation of eminent scholars, education experts, policymakers, and various stakeholders who will share their expertise, experiences, and best practices in the field of girls' education. The event will serve as a crucial platform for sharing experiences, discussing the multifaceted challenges faced by girls in accessing education, and exploring innovative solutions to overcome these barriers.

The Prime Minister constituted a dedicated committee to organize the event in a befitting and efficient manner. This committee is headed by Secretary of Education Mohyuddin Wani and includes Ms Nausheen Iftikhar MNA, Ms Dr. Tanveer Anjum representatives from the Foreign Office, the Federal Directorate of Education, and the Capital Development Authority. Their collective efforts aim to ensure the seamless execution of this high-profile event.

This event marks a significant step towards the global promotion of girls' education, demonstrating Pakistan's commitment to being at the forefront of this vital initiative. By hosting such a crucial conference, Pakistan aims to contribute substantially to the global dialogue on education and help forge a path towards a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape for girls worldwide.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/12-06-2024/pakistan-to-host-3-day-global-conference-on-girls-education-in-september

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Europe

 

One-third of primary school children in Vienna are Muslims, overtaking Catholics as largest religious group

JUNE 12, 2024

More than one-third of primary school children in Vienna are Muslims, representing the largest religious group among elementary schools in the Austrian capital.

According to figures published by the Education Directorate and cited by the Exxpress news site, 35 percent of primary school students are Muslims, while 21 percent are Catholic, 13 percent are Orthodox, and 2 percent are either Protestant or belong to another denomination.

Just over one in four pupils (26 percent) are classified as non-religious.

The figures show a considerable increase in the number of Muslim children frequenting Austrian primary schools compared to data published for the 2016/2017 academic year when Catholics remained the largest religious group at 31 percent compared to 28 percent of Muslims.

Left-wing deputy mayor Christoph Wiederkehr, who is also the city councilor in charge of education, dismissed suggestions that the increase should be a cause for concern.

“Faith is a private matter and freedom of belief or religious freedom is a very valuable asset,” he told journalists on Tuesday.

The survey also shows that young Muslims are very religious and most are actively practicing members at their respective mosques. “As a result, they tend to have more derogatory attitudes toward topics such as anti-Semitism, LGBT hostility, or equality between men and women,” Exxpress writes.

Kenan Güngör, a social scientist and diversity expert who advises the Austrian government on integration, has called for a change in the curriculum to accommodate lessons promoting democratic values from a young age to combat teachings being taught outside the classroom.

“There are more and more people converting to Islam – they then tend to be more radical,” Güngör warned.

He said that lessons teaching democracy, ethics, and values should be compulsory from first grade onwards, explaining that a “common belief” in Austria is democracy and this should be ingrained in all students irrespective of their religious affiliation.

In April, Christian Klar, a principal at a middle school in Vienna, discussed the growing intolerance toward minority groups within the rising Islamic student population frequenting his school.

“Ninety percent of the children here have a migrant background, significantly more than half are Islamic,” he told Austrian news portal Heute.

He explained how some students convert to Islam to avoid being bullied by what is now a majority group within the school.

“Those who don’t get bullied want to convert to Islam. I have students here who say, ‘Gays should be killed, that’s it, period.’ Or I get a textbook that says on the back: ‘Islam will win.’ Some people also say quite openly: ‘We’ll have more children anyway. It’s just a matter of time.'”

Source: rmx.news

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https://rmx.news/article/one-third-of-primary-school-children-in-vienna-are-muslims-overtaking-catholics-as-largest-religious-group/

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Gaza conflict ranks amongst most important election issues for British Muslims

11 June 2024

The Labour Party faces threats from independent candidates in certain constituencies as more than four in ten British Muslims rank the conflict in Gaza as one of their five most important issues.

New polling done for Hyphen by Savanta found that of British Muslims who ranked the conflict of Gaza highly in their priorities, 86% say they would consider backing an independent candidate.

Labour’s support does however still remain high among British Muslims. They are the biggest party polling at 63%, with little change since the Autumn, but policy positions on the conflict in Gaza remains an issue that is influencing Muslim voters.

“Labour maintains a very strong level of support among Muslim voters, with little change in their vote share since the autumn, but that isn’t to say there aren’t warning signs for Keir Starmer’s party,” said Chris Hopkins, Political Research Director at Savanta.

“There is a sense of disillusionment towards Labour’s response to the crisis in Gaza among those who rank it as a top 5 issue — although this number has been stable since the end of last year."

There are a handful of independent candidates standing on Gaza platforms across the country, primarily in constituencies with a high British Muslim population.

Although this is unlikely to impact the national results, they provide an interest subplot at the upcoming election.

 Labour will hope the commitment to recognising a Palestinian state “as part of a peace process” will help to recover some of the ground lost to Muslim and progressive voters, many of whom have become disillusioned with the party’s foreign policy in recent months.

For 21% of Muslim voters the conflict in Gaza is the most important issue for them, compared to just 3% for non Muslims - demonstrating how much more of an issue it is for Muslims in the upcoming election.

Hyphen editor in chief, Burhan Wazir, said the poll findings confirm that Labour’s stance on Gaza has lost the party votes across the population.

“While Labour’s support among Muslim voters remains undeniably strong, the party’s responses to the conflict have definitely alienated some,” he said.

The Labour Party vote share among British Muslims is down 23 percentage points of compared to the 2019 election but the party is broadly evening out support because there are a significant number of UK Muslims who voted Conservative in 2019 who say they intend on now voting for Labour.

For the Tories, almost half of their Muslim voters (48%) say they will change their voting intention, compared to only 28% for Labour and Keir Starmer’s party is winning over a large chunk of these voters.

Two in five Muslim Conservative voters saying they are likely to switch from the Tories to Labour at the next election.

But with the election being fought on a number of issues, it is no surprise that other policy areas were a priority for British Muslims.

UK Muslims are most likely to select the NHS (57%), inflation and the cost of living (51%), and the economy (48%) within their top five priorities.

The poll was put to a nationally representative sample of 2,862 respondents in the UK and the sample included 1,366 nationally representative UK Muslims and 1,496 nationally representative UK adults.

Source: itv.com

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https://www.itv.com/news/2024-06-11/gaza-conflict-ranks-amongst-most-important-election-issues-for-british-muslims

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Election candidate sacked over 'anti-Islam' tweets

A former rugby league player who was standing as a parliamentary candidate in West Yorkshire has been sacked by his party over "anti-Islamic" tweets.

Keith Mason was due to represent The Workers Party of Britain, led by George Galloway, in Wakefield and Rothwell on 4 July in the general election.

Mr Galloway confirmed he had sacked the former prop for the messages, with Mr Mason issuing an apology.

"I absolutely 100% respect all my Muslim brothers and sisters," he said.

Mr Mason, who played for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, St Helens, Castleford Tigers and Huddersfield Giants, is reported to have insulted the religion in a number of tweets sent in reply to other X accounts.

In an apology, he posted: "I’ve grown up with Muslims my whole life I see them as my brothers and sisters, and not one of them would say I was Islamophobic ever!"

He said he was a Roman Catholic who respected all beliefs, adding: "I don’t have to agree with other religions like you wouldn’t with mine but I absolutely 100% respect all my Muslim brothers and sisters."

He concluded: "I apologise to anyone who misinterpreted a conversation that came across that way."

Confirming his sacking, Mr Galloway posted: "Mason apologised for his historic tweets which were published when he was indeed guilty of anti-Islamic bigotry.

"It seems repentance is not enough in the elections game however. So he's gone."

Mr Mason retired from rugby league in 2013 to pursue an acting career, appearing in the BBC crime drama series Peaky Blinders.

His name will still appear on the ballot paper alongside The Workers Party of Britain as the deadline for candidates to be nominated has passed.

Candidates for Wakefield and Rothwell

Arnold Craven - Conservative

David Dews - Reform UK

Stewart Golton - Liberal Democrats

Brent Hawksley - The Yorkshire Party

Simon Lightwood - Labour

Ashley Routh - Green

Nicholas Sanders - Social Democratic Party

Source: bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2jjzln887lo

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City law ‘drinking culture’ poses major challenge for aspiring Muslim lawyers

Jun 12 2024

A new report has highlighted the challenges faced by Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage applicants seeking training contracts in City law, where the “prevalent drinking culture” significantly challenges those who abstain from alcohol on religious grounds.

The report, Included? The Experience of British Bangladeshis and Pakistanis in City Law, found that Bangladeshi and Pakistani candidates made up over 6% of vacation scheme applications but only 3.9% of offer holders. Researchers suggest that while these candidates are well-represented in the application pool, they are underrepresented among offer holders.

The success rate for Bangladeshi and Pakistani candidates applying to vacation schemes was only 1.8%, compared to 2.8% for all candidates, 2.8% for white candidates, and 2.5% for Black candidates. The report notes that while the success rate gap for Black candidates applying to vacation schemes has started to close, it remains significant for Bangladeshi and Pakistani candidates.

The report, produced by diversity recruitment specialist Rare, noted a similar trend for training contract applications. Bangladeshi and Pakistani candidates constituted 7% of the application pool but only 3.5% of those receiving offers. Their success rate was just 1.2%, compared to 2.3% for all candidates, 2.8% for white candidates, and 2.1% for Black candidates.

It also highlights several challenges faced by Bangladeshi and Pakistani aspiring lawyers, including limited access to professional networks and “social capital”. This lack of connections within law firms makes it difficult for them to gain insights into the application process.

Researchers noted that the “prevalent drinking culture” in law firms, with social events often centred around pubs and bars, creates an uncomfortable environment that forces candidates to navigate situations conflicting with their religious beliefs.

Some City law firms now run ‘dry’ social events to address this issue, and many vacation scheme programs are built around activities that do not involve alcohol, aiming to make them more inclusive.

Despite the availability of prayer rooms in many firms, researchers found candidates often feel anxious about leaving their desks to pray, fearing it might negatively impact their evaluations or how their commitment is perceived.

The report goes no to make several recommendations for law firms, including upping the number of social events that do not centre on alcohol and providing structured mentorship programmes to connect candidates with senior lawyers from similar backgrounds.

Naomi Kellman, head of research at Rare and author of the report, said:

“This report highlights the critical need for law firms to address the systemic barriers that hinder the progress of Bangladeshi and Pakistani applicants. Our research reveals significant issues in current practices, particularly around cultural and religious inclusivity, that create an uneven playing field for these candidates. By confronting and dismantling these obstacles, law firms can transform their workplaces into truly inclusive environments that embrace diversity, and better reflect both the society they operate in and the clients they serve.”

She continued: “The findings point to necessary changes in workplace culture and support systems, from re-evaluating social event norms to ensuring proper facilities for religious practices. Law firms must commit to fostering an environment where underrepresented groups feel valued and supported, and it is crucial for employers to take responsibility for opening the conversation on religious practice at work. This commitment is essential not only for the success of individual employees but also for cultivating a more equitable and dynamic legal industry.”

Source: legalcheek.com

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https://www.legalcheek.com/2024/06/drinking-culture-in-city-law-poses-major-challenge-for-aspiring-muslim-lawyers/

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AP sources: 8 people with possible Islamic State ties arrested in US on immigration violations

June 12, 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight people from Tajikistan with suspected ties to the Islamic State group have been arrested in the United States in recent days, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.

The arrests took place in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles and the individuals, who entered the U.S. through the southern border, are being held on immigration violations, said the people, who were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation by name and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The nature of their suspected connections to the IS was not immediately clear, but the individuals were being tracked by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, or JTTF. They were in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which made the arrests while working with the JTTF, pending proceedings to remove them from the country.

The individuals from Tajikistan entered the country last spring and passed through the U.S. government's screening process without turning up information that would have identified them as potential terrorism-related concerns, said one of the people familiar with the matter.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a statement confirming the immigration-related arrests of “several non-citizens” but did not detail specifics. The agencies noted that the U.S. has been in a “heightened threat environment.”

FBI Director Christopher Wray has said the U.S. is facing accelerating threats from homegrown violent extremists as well as foreign terrorist organizations, particularly in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.

He said at one recent congressional hearing that officials were "concerned about the terrorism implications from potential targeting of vulnerabilities at the border.” The Biden administration in August said that it had detected and stopped a network attempting to smuggle people from Uzbekistan into the U.S. and that at least one member of the network had links to a foreign terrorist group.

“The FBI and DHS will continue working around the clock with our partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt potential threats to national security,” the agencies said.

Source: yahoo.com

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https://www.yahoo.com/news/ap-sources-8-people-possible-004224758.html

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Death Sentence of Sunni Iranian Cleric Commuted to Life Imprisonment

After interventions from Sunni clerics, the death sentence for Mohammad Khezrnejad, a dissident Sunni Kurdish cleric has been commuted to life imprisonment.

Khezrnejad, a vocal critic of governmental policies, was initially detained on November 19, 2022, following his speech at a memorial for Asad Rahimi, a victim of the protests in Bukan, where he openly criticized the government's suppression of protests following the death in morality police custody of Mahsa Amini. The death of the Kurdish-Iranian was the trigger for the biggest anti-government uprising since the founding of the Islamic Republic.

The Urmia Revolutionary Court, after holding Khezrnejad in temporary custody for over a year, convicted him on December 20, 2023, for "corruption on earth," sentencing him to death. Additional charges included 15 years for "damaging the integrity or independence of the country," and one year for "propaganda against the system." The sentences were later affirmed by Branch 41 of the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Ali Razini.

Mizan, Iran's judicial news agency, claims a displayed remorse and pledge for better conduct from Khezrnejad, alongside pleas from prominent Sunni scholars, led to the reduction of his sentence to life imprisonment.

During his detention, reports from the Hengaw Human Rights Organization highlighted that Khezrnejad endured severe torture, resulting in coerced confessions.

Source: iranintl.com

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https://www.iranintl.com/en/202406113898

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Welsh UKIP candidate makes obnoxious comments about gays, Muslims and Vaughan Gething

11 Jun 2024

A United Kingdom Independence Party candidate has been strongly condemned for liking a social media post that referred to gay people as “pervs” and referring on a Facebook video site to London’s Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan as a rat.

Stan Robinson will be standing for UKIP in Llanelli. He also runs the far-right webcast known as the Voice of Wales with convicted fraudster Dan Morgan. In his latest video he also makes racist slurs against First Minister Vaughan Gething.

A Llanelli Labour source, who wanted to remain anonymous out of concern that they would otherwise be victimised, said: ‘To like such repugnant comments is a foul slur on the character of many gay people who have to live with hatred and prejudice.

“Such bile and bigotry is unbecoming in a general election candidate.

“Stan Robinson should hang his head in shame and stand down before voting on July 4.

‘Not content with stirring a festering pot of ignorance and inhumanity towards minorities, Stan seems to be making a direct attempt to attack our Labour candidate, Dame Nia Griffith, whose behaviour is beyond reproach.

‘Let’s hope the good people of Llanelli send out the right signal on polling day and show his views hold no sway and that Llanelli is a tolerant and welcoming community for all regardless of sexual orientation.’

Lesbian

Dame Nia, who has represented Llanelli as its MP since 2005, came out as a lesbian in 2016, commenting that her sexuality had been known among friends, family and colleagues since the mid-1990s.

The Labour source added: “UKIP should kick Stan Robinson out of their party for the disgusting rabble-rousing hate speech on Facebook where he declares that the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, a Muslim, is a rat. That is clearly prejudiced and virulently racist.

“Stan and his sidekick Dan Morgan are revelling and laughing while mocking minorities on their Voice of Wales Facebook site. This amounts to inciting hatred and should not be permitted in a civilised society. The offensive material should be immediately removed by Facebook.

“In Scotland such comments would be classed as a hate crime. In England and Wales it can be an offence to stir up hatred on the grounds of race, religion and sexual orientation. In the past few days Robinson, who is UKIP’s spokesman for Wales, has, in my view, blatantly breached all three guidelines. It seems to me the man has no moral standing and is in the gutter.”

Reasoned debate

The row comes days after William Powell, who is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Monmouthshire, called on all candidates in Wales to be calm and engage in reasoned debate.

He backed the Jo Cox Foundation’s “Civility Pledge” and urged others to do so too.

Mr Powell, who is a councillor in Powys, said:”’In recent years, notably since the advent of Brexit, Donald Trump and with increasing levels of political interference from Vladimir Putin and other foreign actors, our politics have become increasingly embittered.

“This relates not only to social media and campaign literature, but also to the shrill tone of voice often heard and the implied violence and intimidation in what passes for political debate.

“On two occasions in the last eight years this ‘hate speak’ has spilt over into lethal violence, with the cold blooded murder of former Labour MP Jo Cox at the hands of a right wing extremist, and the assassination of Conservative MP Sir David Ames by an Islamist terrorist.”

Mr Powell has signed the three- point pledge, promoted by the Jo Cox Foundation, established in memory of the young Labour MP, following her murder during the 2016 Referendum campaign. He has also written to fellow candidates, urging them also to sign the pledge.

The Civility Pledge includes three related promises:

* I pledge to use a civil and constructive tone in political debate’

* Act with integrity, honresty and compassion; and

* Behave respectfully towards others including those I disagree with.

‘Lead by example’

Mr Powell said: “In doing so, candidates can lead by example, showing that disagreements can be handled without resorting to abuse. This modelling of good behaviour by elected politicians is one of the key recommendations from the Jo Cox Civility Commission. By debating with civility and respecting the views of others, the Jo Cox Foundation believes that a more positive and constructive political climate is possible.

“I knew Jo Cox, then Jo Leadbetter, as a fellow campaigner for Britain in Europe before she entered Parliament. In more recent years, I met Sir David Amess, who led the UK delegation to the Free Iran Congress.

Their violent deaths are a stark reminder that we need to listen to and hear our opponents and, at all costs, we need to dil down the rhetoric, and cut out talk of ‘scalps’ and ‘decapitation’, all too prevalent in social media. Only by doing that – and by learning to ‘disagree well’ – can we mend our broken system and restore trust and hope in politics.”

Source: nation.cymru

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https://nation.cymru/news/welsh-ukip-candidate-makes-obnoxious-comments-about-gays-muslims-and-vaughan-gething/

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Kyrgyzstan, Islamic Development Bank discuss renewable energy and infrastructure projects

AKIPRESS.COM - Minister of Economy and Commerce Daniyar Amangeldiev and Minister of Finance Almaz Baketaev met with President of Islamic Development Bank Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser on June 6 as part of his visit to the Kyrgyz Republic.

Issues related to socio-economic development of the country, poverty reduction, mortgage lending, renewable energy projects, construction of logistical centers were discussed during the meeting.

Particular attention was paid to construction of Kambar-Ata-1 hydropower plant.

The Islamic Development Bank expressed interest in renewable energy projects, infrastructure projects and expressed readiness to consider financing of projects.

Source: akipress.com

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https://akipress.com/news:778477:Kyrgyzstan,_Islamic_Development_Bank_discuss_renewable_energy_and_infrastructure_projects/

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Southeast Asia

 

Johor’s religious authority says no new ‘deviant’ Islamic movements detected after Ulu Tiram attack

11 Jun 2024

JOHOR BARU, June 11 — The Johor Islamic Religious Department (Jainj) have not detected any new deviant Islamic activities following the deadly attack on the Ulu Tiram police station last month, the state government said today.

State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said the absence of deviant religious activities was the result of continuous monitoring and intelligence gathering by Jainj.

“After further review, we found that there have been no reports on activities involving new deviant religious movements that spread misleading teachings in the state and in districts such as in Ulu Tiram.

 “Such activities are under control at this time,” Mohd Fared told reporters after a religious charity programme held in Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar here.

Mohd Fared had also included the Islamic denomination of Shiah and the Ahmadiyyah movement as among those considered “deviants”.

Shiah is the second-largest Muslim denomination in the world after Sunni.

Meanwhile, Ahmadis, who are derogatorily called Qadianis here, adhere to the same beliefs as the Sunni branch of Islam, but also believe that their founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the Imam Mahdi, Islam’s prophesied redeemer.

In Malaysia, only the Sunni denomination of Islam and its Shafie school of jurisprudence are considered official.

Last month, two policemen were killed while another injured in a pre-dawn attack at the Ulu Tiram police station by individuals linked to the militant Islamic group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

Johor religious authorities previously said they would consider demolishing the abandoned Madrasah Luqmanul Hakim in Kampung Sungai Tiram, Ulu Tiram that was allegedly used to recruit Islamic militants before it was closed in 2001.

Meanwhile, Mohd Fared called on the public to immediately alert the authorities, especially Jainj, if there are any suspicious practices taught or practices by deviant sects.

The Semerah assemblyman pointed out that concerned parties can also opt to use Jainj’s social media platform to lodge complaints on deviant religious activities in their respective areas.

“I understand on the public’s concerns when lodging an official report to Jainj. For those who are particular about their privacy, they can use any of Jainj’s social media channel to reach out to the authorities,” he said, adding that Jainj will immediately conduct an investigation based on the complaint.

In March last year, Jainj and the police were reported to be tracking down members of the Suhaini Muhammad deviant group, or better known as “SiHulk” for allegedly insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad in a video.

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/06/11/johors-religious-authority-says-no-new-deviant-islamic-movements-detected-after-ulu-tiram-attack/139222

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Malaysians are more confident of Putin and Xi on the world stage compared to Macron or Biden, Pew survey shows

12 Jun 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — A bigger proportion of Malaysians polled by the Pew Research Center expressed their confidence in Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping when it comes to world affairs.

The Washington-based pollster's Spring 2024 Global Attitudes Survey showed that the views of Malaysians did not reflect others among the 34 countries polled, where a median of 43 per cent said they have confidence in Biden to do the right thing.

“Even though Biden gets better assessments than Trump globally, ratings for the current US president are down since last year in 14 of 21 countries where trends are available, including by double digits in Australia, Israel, Japan, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom," it said in an accompanying press release.

The report launched last night pointed that confidence in Xi and Putin is generally low across the countries surveyed — a median of 24 per cent trust the Chinese president, while 21 per cent trust the Russian leader.

However, this does not hold true in Malaysia where 61 per cent of respondents had confidence in Putin, followed by 55 per cent in Xi.

Malaysians views on the two world leaders have largely remained unchanged since the last survey in 2022, where 59 of respondents view Putin positively, compared to 62 per cent for Xi.

Biden, Trump, Macron not holding candle to Putin and Xi

In comparison, Macron received thumbs up from 44 per cent of Malaysian respondents in this survey.

Malaysian respondents viewed Biden and his controversial predecessor Donald Trump with equal disdain. Just 30 per cent felt confident that Biden would do the right thing on world affairs, compared to 33 per cent on Trump.

“Around one-in-10 adults in Australia, Japan, Poland and Sweden trust Xi’s handling of world affairs. But views of Xi are not negative everywhere: Half or more in Bangladesh, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand and Tunisia have confidence in him,” the survey said.

The survey by the US-based non-partisan think tank was carried out from January 5 until May 21 this year involving a nationally-representative pool of 40,566 people in 34 countries, not including the US.

In Malaysia, the survey was conducted through the telephone.

This Pew Research Centre analysis was focused on the public opinion of Biden and the other world leaders and explored respondents' opinion on the US president's handling of international issues.

China is Malaysia’s biggest trading partner, with the US as the third after Singapore.

Russia is not even in the top 25, but Putrajaya previously said that relations between the two remain cordial despite the former being implicated in the downing of Malaysia Airlines’ Flight MH17 in 2014.

This article is part of a series of stories based on Pew Research Center's Spring 2024 Global Attitudes Survey. The first article focused on Malaysians' disapproval of Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Source: malaymail.com

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US pollster confirms what Malaysians think of Biden: Nine in 10 think he’s doing a shoddy job handling Israel’s attack on Gaza

12 Jun 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — A recent survey by Washington-based Pew Research Center found that 84 per cent of Malaysian respondents disapproved of United States President Joe Biden’s handling of Israel’s recent aggression against Gaza.

Its Spring 2024 Global Attitudes Survey also found that among the 34 countries polled, Malaysia ranked third in its disapproval of Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Tunisia and Turkiye were the two countries which ranked higher.

“Disapproval rates are particularly high in some countries where a large majority of the population is Muslim, specifically Malaysia, Tunisia and Turkey. In Bangladesh, public opinion is divided on this issue,” said the report released last night.

In a statement accompanying the report, Pew Research said on Biden’s handling of five major international issues, he received his most negative reviews on the Israel issue.

“A median of 57 per cent across 34 nations disapprove of the way Biden is handling the Israel-Hamas war. In nearly every country surveyed, fewer than half approve of the way he has been dealing with the Israel-Hamas war,” it said, adding that the only exception is in Kenya, where his handling was seen in a positive light.

It however noted that the survey was conducted prior to Biden’s proposal to end the conflict by suggesting a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages last month.

Not just Biden, Malaysians look down on the US too

The survey also showed that 65 per cent of Malaysian respondents viewed the US unfavourably, compared to 35 per cent who viewed the superpower favourably.

This was a fall from the last survey done in 2022, when 43 per cent of Malaysian respondents had viewed the US favourably.

Similarly, Malaysia also ranked third among all countries surveyed on this matter — also behind Tunisia and Turkiye.

Among its Asia-Pacific neighbours, Malaysia also held the biggest proportion of those who viewed the US unfavourably, followed by Australia and Singapore.

Malaysian respondents also viewed Biden and his controversial predecessor Donald Trump with equal disdain. Just 30 per cent felt confident that Biden would do the right thing on world affairs, compared to 33 per cent on Trump.

The survey by the US-based non-partisan think tank was carried out from January 5 until May 21 this year involving a nationally-representative pool of 40,566 people in 34 countries, not including the US.

In Malaysia, the survey was conducted through the telephone.

This Pew Research Center analysis was focused on the public opinion of Biden and the other world leaders and explored respondents’ opinion on the US president’s handling of international issues.

Last week, Malaysia called on the concerned parties to accept and work towards the full implementation of a recent proposal by Biden to end Israeli atrocities in Gaza.

The Foreign Ministry in a statement said the proposal is the best way forward to end the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza and full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian Territory.

This article is part of a series of stories based on Pew Research Center’s Spring 2024 Global Attitudes Survey. The second article will have a look at Malaysians’ views on Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Source: malaymail.com

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Malaysia calls for effective ceasefire, multifaceted response to Gaza crisis

12-06- 2024

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan reaffirmed Malaysia’s steadfast support for the Palestinian cause during a high-level conference titled “Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza” in Jordan. He underlined the necessity for an effective and permanent ceasefire for a successful humanitarian response.

Speaking at the conference held at the Dead Sea, Jordan on Tuesday, Mohamad underscored how the genocide in Gaza has hindered the much-needed humanitarian aid for Palestinians.

“The brutal reality on the ground is that there is still no guarantee for safe, secure, and unhindered delivery of aid,” he said, pointing out that Israel airstrikes had not only struck Malaysia’s aid convoy but also demolished a distribution centre, resulting in the deaths of volunteers and the destruction of life-saving consignments.

Mohamad stressed that these barbaric attacks did not, and will not deter Malaysia from its humanitarian commitments.

“We all can agree, that it would be impossible for any immediate humanitarian response to materialise, in the absence of a permanent and effective ceasefire and political solution,” he said.

Mohamad also called on states and stakeholders alike, to support the sincere undertaking towards a truce including the United States’ three-phase proposal.

“As a matter of principle, Malaysia has always been a strong advocate for peace and stability. We will stand in solidarity with any genuine effort that promotes peaceful settlement of conflict,” he said, welcoming the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2735 on the three-phase proposal by the United States (US).

He outlined that a successful humanitarian response for Gaza is conditional on three elements namely - addressing the root causes of the conflict; imposing accountability on Israel through a reparative approach and reinforcement of the United Nations (UN) humanitarian mandate.

“We need a comprehensive humanitarian response, as well as recovery and reconstruction strategies that addresses the root causes, namely the denial of self-determination, and the prolonged Israeli illegal occupation and atrocities,” he said.

He said Palestine’s inherent right as a full member of the United Nations (UN) must be realised.

“As the occupying power, Israel must be held accountable, through reparative approach, in rebuilding Gaza, and for the immense violations inflicted upon the Palestinians,” Mohamad said.

“We must reinforce the UN’s role in carrying out its humanitarian mandate.

“UNRWA must be empowered, supported and protected, to enable it to deliver humanitarian assistance, and immediate recovery in social infrastructures, including healthcare services and psycho-social support, and at scale,” he said.

Mohamad pledged Malaysia continued humanitarian support, and pointed out that the Malaysian government, in collaboration with more than 50 national non governmental organisations (NGOs), had dispatched over 5,000 tonnes of vital aid to Gaza.

Source: thesun.my

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Gaza ceasefire resolution: Ops Ihsan calls for border crossing to be opened immediately

12-06- 2024

PUTRAJAYA: Ops Ihsan is calling for the border crossing to be opened immediately for the delivery of humanitarian aid goods to Gaza, including food and medicine which are badly needed at this time.

The call was made following the UN Security Council (UNSC) adopting a resolution that supports a Gaza cease-fire proposal yesterday.

Ops Ihsan chairman Jismi Johari said the conflict resulted in more than 240 days of Gaza residents facing humanitarian disasters and more than 37,000 martyred while tens of thousands of people were injured.

“The opening of the border gates without limits and restrictions is also necessary so that medical teams from outside can help those injured in Gaza through the construction of field hospitals since health services in Gaza are now paralysed after the destruction of hospitals in the peninsula,” he said in a statement here today.

Jismi said ?Ops Ihsan is committed and determined to continue carrying the trust of Malaysians in handling humanitarian missions.

Yesterday, the UNSC reportedly passed a resolution supporting the Gaza cease-fire proposal announced by US President Joe Biden. The resolution, drafted by the US, was supported by 14 of the 15 UNSC member states with Russia abstaining.

The approved resolution emphasised diplomatic efforts led by Egypt, the US and Qatar and welcomed a three-phase proposal by the US that called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages by Hamas and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The resolution also called for the immediate and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Source: thesun.my

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Mideast

 

‘Immense’ scale of Gaza killings amount to crime against humanity, UN inquiry says

June 12, 2024

GENEVA: Both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes in the early stages of the Gaza war, a UN inquiry found on Wednesday, saying that Israel’s actions also constituted crimes against humanity because of the immense civilian losses.

The findings were from two parallel reports, one focusing on the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and another on Israel’s military response, published by the UN Commission of Inquiry (COI), which has an unusually broad mandate to collect evidence and identify perpetrators of international crimes committed in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Israel does not cooperate with the commission, which it says has an anti-Israel bias. The COI says Israel obstructs its work and prevented investigators from accessing both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Israel’s diplomatic mission to the UN in Geneva rejected the findings. “The COI has once again proven that its actions are all in the service of a narrow-led political agenda against Israel,” said Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva.

Hamas did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

By Israel’s count more than 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage in the Oct. 7 cross-border attacks that sparked a military retaliation in Gaza that has since killed over 37,000 people, by Palestinian tallies.

The reports, which cover the conflict through to end-December, found that both sides committed war crimes including torture; murder or willful killing; outrages upon personal dignity; and inhuman or cruel treatment.

Israel also committed additional war crimes including starvation as a method of warfare, it said, saying Israel not only failed to provide essential supplies like food, water, shelter and medicine to Gazans but “acted to prevent the supply of those necessities by anyone else.”

Some of the war crimes such as murder also constituted crimes against humanity by Israel, the COI statement said, using a term reserved for the most serious international crimes knowingly committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against civilians.

“The immense numbers of civilian casualties in Gaza and widespread destruction of civilian objects and infrastructure were the inevitable result of a strategy undertaken with intent to cause maximum damage, disregarding the principles of distinction, proportionality and adequate precautions,” the COI statement said.

Sometimes, the evidence gathered by such UN-mandated bodies has formed the basis for war crimes prosecutions and could be drawn on by the International Criminal Court.

Mass killings, sexual violence and humiliation

The COI’s findings are based on interviews with victims and witnesses, hundreds of submissions, satellite imagery, medical reports and verified open-source information.

Among the findings in the 59-page report on the Oct. 7 attacks, the commission verified four incidents of mass killings in public shelters which it said suggests militants had “standing operational instructions.” It also identified “a pattern of sexual violence” by Palestinian armed groups but could not independently verify reports of rape.

The longer 126-page Gaza report said Israel’s use of weapons such as MK84 guided bombs with a large destructive capacity in urban areas were incompatible with international humanitarian law “as they cannot adequately or accurately discriminate between the intended military targets and civilian objects.”

It also said Palestinian men and boys were subject to the crime against humanity of gender persecution, citing cases where victims were forced to strip naked in public in moves “intended to inflict severe humiliation.”

The findings will be discussed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva next week.

The COI composed of three independent experts including its chair South African former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay was set up in 2021 by the Geneva council. Unusually, it has an open-ended mandate — a fact criticized by both Israel and some of its allies.

Source: arabnews.com

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Gaza war hangs over hajj as pilgrims flock to Mecca

12/06/2024

One of the world's largest annual religious gatherings officially begins on Friday, and Saudi officials are trying to keep the focus on prayers.

The Gulf kingdom's minister in charge of religious pilgrimages, Tawfiq al-Rabiah, warned last week that "no political activity" will be tolerated.

The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means, and as of Thursday around 1.2 million pilgrims had already arrived in Saudi Arabia from abroad to take part.

Last year saw more than 1.8 million people complete the hajj rites which last for several days. Around 90 percent came from overseas, mainly from elsewhere in the Arab world and from Asia, according to official figures.

Israel's withering military operations against Hamas militants in Gaza have "created a lot of anger in (the) broader Muslim world", turning this year's hajj into a "test" for Saudi leaders, said Umer Karim, an expert on Saudi politics at the University of Birmingham.

"Protest or performance is bound to happen by individuals or groups of pilgrims, and Saudis understand this is a slippery slope," he said. "Thus for Saudi rulers conducting hajj is a matter of prestige but also a test of their governance."

Pilgrimage politics

The bloodiest ever Gaza war broke out after Hamas's October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

The Israeli army then launched a devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip that has left at least 37,164 dead, the majority of them civilians, according to data from the health ministry of the Hamas-led Gaza government.

Saudi Arabia has never recognised Israel but de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was considering establishing formal diplomatic ties with Israel before the October 7 attack.

Saudi leaders remain in talks with US officials about a so-called mega-deal that would see Riyadh recognise Israel in exchange for a deeper security relationship with Washington.

However Saudi officials have said ties with Israel are impossible without "irrevocable" steps towards recognition of a Palestinian state, which Israel has long opposed.

Saudi King Salman issued a decree on Monday to host 1,000 pilgrims "from the families of martyrs and the wounded from the Gaza Strip", bringing to 2,000 the number of Palestinian pilgrims to be hosted this year, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

The hajj is a source of legitimacy for Saudi rulers, and King Salman's title includes "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" in Mecca and Medina.

Yet the Saudi government also "uses the pilgrimage to control Muslims worldwide", as it can potentially bar critics from performing an essential religious rite, said Madawi al-Rasheed, a Saudi academic and opposition figure based in London.

"The Saudis will increase their control over the pilgrims to prevent any mobilisation around support for Gaza. It remains to be seen whether the pilgrims will respect Saudi wishes."

Heat fears

The rites in Mecca and its surroundings fall again this year during the hot Saudi summer, with officials forecasting average high temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit).

Last year more than 2,000 people suffered heat stress, which includes heatstroke, exhaustion, cramps and rashes, according to Saudi authorities.

The real figure was probably far higher, as many sufferers were not admitted to hospitals or clinics.

Worshippers have already arrived en masse in Mecca to begin circling the Kaaba, the large black cubic structure in the Grand Mosque in Mecca towards which all Muslims pray.

Large crowds at the hajj have proved hazardous in the past, most recently in 2015 when a stampede during the "stoning the devil" ritual in Mina, near Mecca, killed up to 2,300 people in the deadliest hajj disaster.

The Gulf kingdom's minister in charge of religious pilgrimages warned that 'no political activity' will be tolerated during the hajj

The Gulf kingdom's minister in charge of religious pilgrimages warned that 'no political activity' will be tolerated during the hajj © Abdel Ghani BASHIR / AFP

Managing the gathering represents "a logistical achievement", said Bernard Haykel, a Saudi expert at Princeton University, with extensive surveillance and monitoring in place for security and health reasons.

Pilgrimages to Mecca are a financial windfall for Saudi Arabia, generating billions of dollars as the world's biggest crude oil exporter tries to develop its tourism sector.

Umrah, the pilgrimage which can be performed throughout the year, drew 13.5 million worshippers last year, and authorities are targeting 30 million hajj and umrah pilgrims by 2030.

Source: france24.com

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Gulf Bank studying transition to sharia compliant banking

June 11, 2024

KUWAIT: Gulf Bank announced on Tuesday that its board of directors has approved the engagement of an international consultant to conduct a feasibility study on converting Gulf Bank into a sharia-compliant institution.

In an official disclosure on the Boursa Kuwait website, signed by Chairman of the Board of Directors Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, the bank confirmed it has received no objection from the Central Bank of Kuwait to proceed with the study to transition to an Islamic bank. Gulf Bank will disclose the study’s findings upon completion.

Source: kuwaittimes.com

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Iraq's Islamic Resistance claims attacking vital target in Eilat

[11/June/2024]

BAGHDAD June 11. 2024 (Saba) - The Islamic Resistance in Iraq on Tuesday claimed responsibility for bombing a vital target of the Zionist enemy in occupied Eilat, Umm al-Rashrash, using drones.

In a statement, the Islamic Resistance said its operations come in support of the Gaza Strip, and in response to the massacres committed by the Zionist enemy against Palestinian children, women and the elderly.

It vowed to continue destroying enemy strongholds, completing the second phase of operations to resist the occupation.

Earlier, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced that it had launched a strike against a vital target of the Zionist enemy in the occupied Palestinian territories, confirming the continuation of its operations.

Source: saba.ye

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Zionist settlers renew incursion into courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque

[11/June/2024]

OCCUPIED AL-QUDS June 11. 2024 (Saba) - Groups of Zionist settlers on Tuesday renewed their storming of the courtyards of the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Quds city, under the protection of the Zionist enemy forces.

The Palestinian WAFA News Agency reported that dozens of settlers stormed into Al-Aqsa in groups, from the direction of Maghariba Gate, carried out provocative rounds and performed Talmudic rituals in its courtyards.

The Zionist forces also tightened their military measures at the gates of the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Source: saba.ye

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Israel army says about ‘90 projectiles’ fired from Lebanon

June 12, 2024

 JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said about 90 projectiles were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel Wednesday, after an Israeli strike killed a senior Hezbollah commander in south Lebanon the previous day.

“A short while ago, approximately 90 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon,” the military said in a statement, adding that several were intercepted but others struck inside northern Israel sparking fires in some areas.

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said it had fired dozens of rockets at Israeli military posts and a military factory in northern Israel in retaliation for the killing of a senior commander.

Hezbollah has traded near-daily cross-border fire with the Israeli army since its Palestinian ally Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, triggering war in Gaza.

As temperatures have soared in recent days, the exchanges of fire have sparked multiple brush fires on both sides of the border.

The latest barrage from Lebanon came after an Israeli strike killed a senior Hezbollah commander on Tuesday.

Hezbollah identified the commander as Taleb Sami Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb and born in 1969.

A Lebanese military source said the commander was “the most important in Hezbollah to be killed up to now since the start of the war.”

The source said the Israeli strike hit the town of Jouaiyya, 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the border, and also killed three other people.

Source: arabnews.com

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Blinken heads to key mediator Qatar after Hamas truce deal reply

June 12, 2024

AMMAN: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was heading on Wednesday to talks in key mediator Qatar after Hamas gave a reply to a US-led proposal for a ceasefire in war-ravaged Gaza.

Blinken, on a four-country swing around the Middle East to push Hamas to accept the truce proposal, will meet the top leadership of Qatar, which has transmitted messages to the Palestinian militant group.

Hamas, responding to the plan laid out on May 31 by President Joe Biden, proposed amendments late Tuesday including a ceasefire timeline and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, according to a source familiar with the talks.

The Biden plan calls for an Israeli withdrawal from “major population centers” and a ceasefire for six weeks, which would then be extended as negotiators reach a permanent deal.

The White House said Tuesday that the United States was “evaluating” the reply.

US officials had privately expected Hamas to insist on at least some changes rather than accepting the entire deal immediately, and want to see if there is enough common ground to hammer out differences with Israel.

Biden is eager to end a war that has taken a mounting toll on civilians and turned parts of his Democratic Party base against him months ahead of razor-close elections.

Blinken said in Israel on Tuesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has committed himself to the plan, although the Israeli government, which has far-right members, has not formally endorsed it.

Blinken on Tuesday pressed Hamas’s elusive Gaza-based leader, Yahya Sinwar, to take the deal.

“Are they looking after one guy who may be for now safe — buried, I don’t know, 10 storys underground somewhere in Gaza — while the people that he purports to represent continue to suffer in a crossfire of his own making?” Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.

Israel says that Sinwar masterminded the October 7 attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

The Israeli army has responded with a devastating offensive in Gaza that has left at least 37,164 people dead, the majority of them civilians, according to the Hamas-ruled territory’s health ministry.

Blinken will meet in Doha with both the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who is also the wealthy kingdom’s top diplomat, according to the State Department.

Later on Wednesday, Blinken will fly to Italy to join Biden at the summit of the Group of Seven major industrial democracies.

Source: arabnews.com

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Arab World

 

 

More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims arrive in Makkah for annual Hajj pilgrimage

June 12, 2024

MAKKAH: Muslim pilgrims have been streaming into Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Makkah ahead of the start of the Hajj later this week, as the annual pilgrimage returns to its monumental scale.

Saudi officials say more than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in the country by Tuesday, the vast majority by air, from across the world. More are expected, and hundreds of thousands of Saudis and others living in Saudi Arabia will also join them when the pilgrimage officially begins on Friday.

A breakdown of the arrival data revealed that 1,483,312 pilgrims arrived via air travel, while 59,273 pilgrims entered through land ports. Sea ports received a total of 4,710 pilgrims, state news agency SPA reported.

Saudi officials have said they expect the number of pilgrims this year to exceed 2023, when more than 1.8 million people performed Hajj, approaching pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, more than 2.4 million Muslims made the pilgrimage.

The pilgrims included 4,200 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank who arrived in Makkah earlier this month, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were not able to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year, because of the 8-month war between Israel and Hamas.

On Tuesday, pilgrims thronged the Grand Mosque in Makkah, performing a ritual circuit walking seven times around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure inside the mosque that is considered Islam’s holiest site. They wore ihrams, two unstitched sheets of white cloth that resemble a shroud.

Many were seen carrying umbrellas against the sun, in temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius (107 Fahrenheit) during the day on Tuesday.

“I was relieved when I arrived at the Al-Masjid Al-Haram and saw the Kaaba,” said Rabeia Al-Raghi, a Moroccan woman who came to Makkah for Hajj along with her husband and their daughter. “I am very happy.”

At night, the vast marble court around the Kaaba was packed with the faithful, walking nearly shoulder to shoulder and often jostling with barricades set up by security forces to direct the giant flows of people in and around the Grand Mosque.

Pilgrims do the circumambulation, known as “Tawaf” in Arabic, upon arriving in Makkah. The large crowds circling the Kaaba will last into the Hajj’s first day.

On Friday, pilgrims will move to the Mountain of Arafat for a daylong vigil, then to Muzdalifah, a rocky plain area a few miles away. In Muzdalifah, pilgrims collect pebbles to be used in the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil back in Mina.

One of the world’s largest religious gatherings, the Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. All Muslims are required to undertake it at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so.

Those in the Hajj view the pilgrimage as an opportunity to strengthen their faith, wipe out old sins and start new.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi envoy sends off first group of King Salman’s Palestinian Hajj guests from Jordan

June 12, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to Jordan Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi Tuesday bid farewell to the first group of 1,000 Palestinian pilgrims, who are staying in Jordan, who were invited by King Salman to perform Hajj this year.

Al-Sudairi saw off the pilgrims, who are the families and relatives of Palestinian martyrs, prisoners and wounded, at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman.

He said that the Palestinian martyrs, prisoners and wounded deserved the ‘paternal attention’ from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and added that the gesture was part of the government’s “continuous and generous support for serving Islam and Muslims in general and the brotherly Palestinian people in particular.”

The Palestinians are performing their pilgrimage under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program.

Source: arabnews.com

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Families of conjoined twins arrive for Hajj as guests of Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Program

June 12, 2024

MAKKAH: Families of conjoined twins, who were separated in Saudi Arabia, were welcomed in Makkah after arriving to perform Hajj, state news agency SPA reported.

They were hosted as guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visit under directives issued by Saudi King Salman last month.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, which supervises the program, had made extensive preparations and formed various committees to ensure a smooth pilgrimage for the families.

The families thanked the Saudi leadership for their continuous kindness, from the successful separation of their twins to being hosted for Hajj.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi authorities thwart attempt to smuggle 240kg of qat

June 12, 2024

 RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Border Guard has foiled an attempt to smuggle 240 kg of qat into the country.

Officers in Asir’s Al-Raboah district arrested several suspects, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The government has urged the public to report suspected smuggling operations or customs violations on the confidential numbers 1910 and 00 966 114208417, or via email at 1910@zatca.gov.sa.

Financial rewards are offered for tips leading to prosecutions.

Qat, a shrub native to the Arabian Peninsula, contains mainly cathine and cathinone that cause excitement, euphoria and loss of appetite.

The World Health Organization in 1980 stated that qat can create mild to moderate psychological dependence. It is banned in several countries, including Saudi Arabia.

Source: arabnews.com

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KSrelief announces three health projects to support hospitals in Sudan

June 12, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi aid group KSrelief inaugurated three health projects in Port Sudan, Red Sea State that provide necessary medical equipment to hospitals, the Saudi Press Agency said. 

The first project aims to support Al-Abyadh Specialist Hospital for Children with an oxygen station to generate and distribute oxygen, benefiting 25,000 individuals.

The second project seeks to support government hospitals affiliated with the Sudanese Ministry of Health with dialysis machine, benefiting 3,960 individuals.

The third project provides medical equipment to children’s hospitals affiliated with the Patient Support Fund, filling a major shortage of medical equipment in Kasla Hospital and Al-Obeid Hospital. It is expected to benefit 200,000 individuals directly and indirectly.

The projects were announced in the presence of Saudi Ambassador to Sudan Ali bin Hassan Jafar, Sudanese Federal Minister of Health Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, Sudanese Sovereignty Council member Lieutenant-General Bahri Ibrahim Jaber Ibrahim, and a KSrelief team.

Source: arabnews.com

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Scout leader speaks 6 languages to help Hajj pilgrims

June 12, 2024

MAKKAH: The Hajj season brings people together in a spirit of faith, solidarity and volunteerism, among whom 70-year-old scout leader Abdulwahed bin Abdulmalik Khayyat stands out for his exceptional service and multilingual abilities.

Khayyat’s fluency in six languages – English, Hausa, Urdu, Indonesia, Persian and Arabic – has enabled him to effectively assist pilgrims from diverse nationalities and backgrounds at the Al-Aziziyah Camp in Makkah for over 25 years.

He said commitment drives him to continue ensuring pilgrims receive the support they need during their spiritual journey, adding that age is no barrier when the spirit of service remains steadfast.

“Serving pilgrims is not just about providing assistance; it’s about building a community and fostering a sense of responsibility among volunteers,” said Khayyat.

He pointed to the motivational impact of experienced members on younger scouts. “Seeing older members share the honor of service motivates young scouts,” he explained. “Their sincerity and enthusiasm push them to offer exceptional service.”

Khayyat’s story is a testament to the enduring spirit of volunteerism and the profound impact one individual can have on a global congregation of pilgrims.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2528871/saudi-arabia

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After 10 Years from Missing His Chance, Ismael, From Ghana, back in Makkah to Finally Perform Hajj

June 12, 2024

RIYADH: After a 10-year wait, a pilgrim from Ghana is getting a second chance to perform Hajj.

Ismael Maysounah first came to Makkah in 2013 but fell ill and was unable to complete the journey, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

“I was depressed for not being able to perform all the rituals. For 10 years I was always praying to get the chance to make it again,” he said.

Maysounah was chosen this year to perform Hajj under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program.

Maysounah thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for inviting him this year.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, mandating every adult Muslim to undertake the journey at least once, provided they are financially and physically able.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2528866/saudi-arabia

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Sunni Cleric Besmellah Khogiani Arrested in Zahedan

Posted onJune 11, 2024

A source close to the cleric confirmed the arrest to HRANA, stating, “This Sunni cleric was arrested at his home by the agents from the Ministry of Intelligence on Saturday, and has been taken to an unknown location.”

The reasons for his arrest, the charges, and his whereabouts are unknown at the time of this writing.

Molavi Besmellah Khogiani, who serves as the Imam of Friday prayer at Siddiqi Mosque in Karimabad, Zahedan, has previously been arrested.

Source: en-hrana.org

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https://www.en-hrana.org/sunni-cleric-besmellah-khogiani-arrested-in-zahedan/

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South Asia

 

Transforming lives: The Islamic Emirate’s successful strategy to eradicate urban begging

June 12, 2024

The Islamic Emirate has recently focused on addressing the significant challenge of urban begging, in addition to implementing numerous economic, infrastructural, and national programs. Through the formulation and execution of effective strategies and the implementation of various social welfare programs, the Islamic Emirate has achieved notable success in reducing the number of beggars on streets, roads, and alleys. This article highlights the successful strategies employed by the Islamic Emirate to mitigate or eradicate urban begging. One of the initial steps taken by the Islamic Emirate was to conduct a thorough census aimed at identifying and registering beggars. In coordination with local authorities, community leaders, social workers, and volunteers, accurate and detailed information was collected, enabling a comprehensive census of beggars in urban areas. The second step involved establishing urban centers for shelter, care, and rehabilitation. These centers aim to provide beggars with shelter, medical care, and essential vocational training opportunities. Designed to address immediate needs and include longterm plans and solutions for reintegrating beggars into society, these centers offer a safe environment where beggars can receive necessary health and psychological treatment, as well as acquire essential vocational and professional skills to effectively integrate into the workforce. To ensure the sustainable economic growth of former beggars, the Islamic Emirate has focused on several targeted strategies and programs. Vocational training programs in carpentry, tailoring, agriculture, and other businesses have been organized to enhance their work and professional skills. This approach facilitates job creation and helps former beggars achieve essential life amenities, thus reducing the prevalence of begging in urban areas and providing them with the opportunity to lead dignified lives. Public awareness campaigns have been an integral part of the Islamic Emirate’s strategy to eradicate begging. Through these campaigns, efforts have been made to raise public awareness about the issues and harms associated with begging and to encourage citizens to cooperate comprehensively with the government in the implementation and execution of this strategy. The Islamic Emirate leverages radio, television, social media, and community structures to effectively communicate and disseminate necessary messages to the public. The Islamic Emirate has also implemented a number of essential regulations to combat urban begging. Law enforcement authorities have been tasked with monitoring urban areas to ensure that beggars are removed from streets and alleys and sent to appropriate rehabilitation centers. This approach has not only helped maintain public order but has also ensured that beggars transition to a dignified life and receive the assistance they need, rather than living on the streets. The implementation of these strategies by the Islamic Emirate has yielded numerous positive outcomes, including: Reduction of Beggars on Streets and Alleys: The most immediate impact of this strategy is a significant reduction in the number of beggars on streets, roads, and alleys. This indicates a decrease in poverty levels in urban areas. Improvement in the Quality of Life for Former Beggars: Those who have participated in rehabilitation programs now enjoy better health, stable lives, respect, and human dignity. Vocational training and job opportunities have provided them with a sense of purpose and independence. Community Support and Engagement: Public awareness campaigns have fostered a sense of social responsibility among people, leading to cooperation with the government to eliminate this phenomenon and directing beggars to rehabilitation centers instead of giving them money. Enhanced Public Order and Safety: The reduction of beggars on streets, roads, and alleys has contributed to improved public safety and urban order, creating a safer and more pleasant environment for citizens in urban areas. Through strategic planning, rehabilitation, vocational training, public awareness, and law enforcement, the Islamic Emirate’s comprehensive approach to reducing begging has proven successful in creating an organized, safe, and pleasant urban environment. By addressing both the immediate needs and root causes of begging, the Islamic Emirate has set a clear example for achieving sustainable social welfare in the region and beyond. The Islamic Emirate remains committed to strengthening this process through dedicated efforts and resource allocation, with the ultimate goal of completely eradicating urban begging and providing every individual the opportunity to live a life of dignity and self-sufficiency. End.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/transforming-lives-the-islamic-emirates-successful-strategy-to-eradicate-urban-begging/

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Ex-US official demands Taliban accountability for women’s rights at Doha meeting

June 11, 2024

A former senior White House official stated that the Taliban should be held accountable for human rights violations, especially women’s rights, at the upcoming Doha meeting.

Lisa Curtis wrote on the “Just Security” website that the United Nations should expedite its efforts to criminalize “gender apartheid.”

Curtis expressed hope that the UN’s efforts in Afghanistan would initiate a process leading to Taliban accountability for human rights abuses.

The former White House official noted that in December 2023, the Security Council passed a resolution calling for Afghan women’s participation in the political process and appointing a special UN representative for Afghanistan.

However, she pointed out that six months after the resolution, its provisions have not been implemented.

Curtis emphasized the need for the UN to accelerate its actions regarding Afghanistan, including recognizing gender apartheid as a crime against humanity, which she claims is happening in Afghanistan.

She mentioned that continued UN human rights initiatives in Afghanistan give the global community a valuable opportunity to align the country’s conditions with international human rights standards.

Curtis concluded that the current situation in Afghanistan demands a cohesive global approach to address the ISIS-K threat and to pressure the Taliban to improve women’s rights.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/ex-us-official-demands-taliban-accountability-for-womens-rights-at-doha-meeting/

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Aghan teen arrested for knife attack on women in Germany

June 11, 2024

The German police announced on Tuesday that a 19-year-old Afghan youth was arrested on charges of attacking a 41-year-old German woman with a knife in Frankfurt.

This Afghan migrant attacked the woman, who was sitting on a bench in a park, and seriously injured her.

In a joint statement, the Frankfurt prosecutor’s office and police said that on Monday afternoon, the young Afghan attacked the German woman from behind in the riverside area of the Main River in Frankfurt.

According to the police, the victim was saved from the assailant due to the intervention of passersby. After the knife attack, the assailant fled the scene. The police stated that he was hiding among the bushes and was later arrested.

The Frankfurt prosecutor’s office has issued an arrest warrant against the assailant on charges of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm.

The police have said that investigations into the factors and motives of the incident have begun.

This is the second attack by an Afghan migrant on German citizens in recent days. Sulaiman Attai, a 25-year-old Afghan youth, killed a police officer and injured five civilians in an attack on an anti-Islam rally in Mannheim on Friday, June 1.

In response to these incidents, Afghan residents in Germany have organized rallies to show their solidarity with the German police and condemn the violent acts. The rallies aim to demonstrate the community’s commitment to peace and cooperation with law enforcement.

During these rallies, Afghan community leaders have spoken out, emphasizing the importance of unity and rejecting any form of violence. They have called for justice for the victims and support for the police in their efforts to maintain safety and order.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/aghan-teen-arrested-for-knife-attack-on-women-in-germany/

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BRICS nations emphasize women’s fundamental rights in Afghanistan

June 11, 2024

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the BRICS countries emphasized the preservation of fundamental rights for Afghan citizens, including the rights of women and ethnic groups.

The Russian news agency TASS reported today, Tuesday, June 11, that the BRICS foreign ministers called for a peaceful resolution to the current crisis in Afghanistan.

BRICS also stressed that visible and verifiable actions must be taken in Afghanistan to ensure that Afghan soil is not used by terrorists.

The statement from these countries highlighted “the urgent need to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and to preserve the fundamental rights of all Afghans, including women, girls, and various ethnic groups.”

Following the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2024) in Russia, Russian media reported the commencement of the annual meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

Yesterday, the Russian news agency TASS reported that the foreign ministers of the BRICS countries, including China and India, had traveled to Russia to participate in the annual BRICS meeting.

The core members of this group are Russia, China, India, Brazil, and South Africa. As emerging economies, they hold annual meetings to address current political and economic challenges.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/brics-nations-emphasize-womens-fundamental-rights-in-afghanistan/

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IEA Holds Economic Commission Meeting to Discuss Key Development Projects

2024-06-11

KABUL(BNA): The regular meeting of the Technical Committee of the Economic Commission was held yesterday, June 10th at the Marmarin Palace.

In this meeting, discussions were held on the copper processing in Sar-e Pol province, the development of the substation in Mohammad Agha district of Logar province, the production of 40 megawatts of solar power in Nangarhar province, 10 megawatts in Paktika province, and several other topics.

In addition, in the aforementioned meeting, after comprehensive discussions, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum was tasked with sharing its information about the Balkhab copper mine in Sar-e Pol with the Economic Commission.

In the meeting, following detailed discussions on the project’s development, the Ministries of Water and Energy, Mines and Petroleum, and Breshna Sherkat were assigned to present their analytical reports on these projects to the Economic Commission.

Source: bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/iea-holds-economic-commission-meeting-to-discuss-key-development-projects/

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DAB Discusses Financial and Banking Issues in Supreme Council Meeting

2024-06-11

KABUL(BNA): In a meeting of the Supreme Council of Da Afghanistan Bank, financial and banking issues were discussed.

According to a press release from Da Afghanistan Bank, the acting governor, Hidayatullah Badri, addressed the effective implementation of monetary policies, the state of the banking sector, efforts to expand Islamic banking in the country, the mechanization of money exchange activities, and people’s access to financial services.

Badri stated that over the past year, Afghan currency has maintained its value against the US dollar and is improving compared to the currencies of many regional and global countries.

He also discussed the status, management, and liquidity improvements of the banks’ assets, noting that the level of public deposits in the Islamic banking sector has increased by four percent compared to the previous quarter.

It is worth mentioning that the Supreme Council Meeting of Da Afghanistan Bank is the highest decision-making body of the bank, holding four meetings per year.

Source: bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/dab-discusses-financial-and-banking-issues-in-supreme-council-meeting/

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Sar-e Pol Province Implements 71 Projects Worth Over 675 Million Afs

2024-06-11

KABUL(BNA): Officials from the Department of Economy in Sar-e Pol province have reported the implementation of 71 major and minor projects durinng last year, with a value of over 675 million Afghanis.

Mawlawi Ghulam Haidar Haidari, head of the province’s Department of Economy, told BNA that in the solar year 1402, 71 projects were implemented in the province at a cost of over 675 million, Afghanis.

He added that these projects were conducted in the sectors of health, education, agriculture, and other sectors.

He further stated that these achievements not only demonstrate the commitment and continuous efforts of local officials but also provide new hope and motivation for the people of Sar-e Pol.

The head of the Department of Economy of Sar-e Pol mentioned that these projects created job opportunities for more than 5,000 people.

It should be noted that last year, dozens of similar projects costing hundreds of millions of Afghanis were also implemented in other provinces, receiving warm appreciation from the public.

Source: bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/sar-e-pol-province-implements-71-projects-worth-over-675-million-afs/

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