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Islamic World News ( 18 Oct 2024, NewAgeIslam.Com)

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“Bulldozer Justice”: In Udaipur, One Home Razed, Three Families Punished For A Muslim Teenager’s Crime

New Age Islam News Bureau

18 October 2024

Rashid Khan outside the demolished remains of his home in Udaipur. | Abhik Deb

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· “Bulldozer Justice”: In Udaipur, One Home Razed, Three Families Punished For A Muslim Teenager’s Crime

· Pakistan Under The Scanner Of UN Human Rights Committee Over Rights Violations

· Sabah Fatwa Council Declares GISBH Teachings Deviate From Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah

· US House Candidate Opposes To Muslims Serving In Congress; Says, “Their Fundamental Belief System Is Anti-American”

· Bangladesh Islamist Chief Seeks Extradition And Trial Of Sheikh Hasina

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India

· Congress, AIUDF, AGP Hail SC's upholding of Section 6A of Citizenship Act

· ‘You are not alone’: Day after taking charge as CM, Omar Abdullah visits remote Jammu village gutted by fire

· Anthem row hits new Jammu and Kashmir government

· After Baba Siddique's murder, his son now dead against politicisation of father's killing

· As PM Narendra Modi hails Omar Abdullah’s comeback, here’s what you can’t forget

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Pakistan

· Policeman Held For Killing His Teenage Daughter In Honour’s Name In Qambar-Shahdadkot

· PTI Imran Khan's Aide Blames Pakistan Govt For Imran Khan's Disqualification From Oxford Chancellor Contest

· 'No Forward Bloc' In JUI-F Over 26th Amendment

· 'Consensus Reached' On Establishment Of Constitutional Bench

· BNP condemns ‘raid’ on chief Akhtar Mengal’s residence

· CM Bugti calls for dialogue at Khuzdar jirga

· FIA Identifies Journalists, Tiktokers For Spreading ‘Fake’ Rape Story

· Despite govt cajoling, Fazl still singing a different tune

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Southeast Asia

· Penang Joins Five Other States In Declaring GISBH Teachings Deviant, Says Deputy CM

· Selangor gazettes fatwa declaring GISBH as deviant

· Non-Muslim groups will be consulted on syariah law reforms, deputy minister clarifies

· Jakim: Malaysia Adds Five Foreign Halal Certification Bodies From Russia, Brazil, Mongolia And Uruguay

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North America

· Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival Returns To Oriental Theater

· ‘We’re Desperate’: Socialists, Muslims Band Together To Deny Harris The White House

· Detroit Evening Report: Islamic Center of Detroit opens new mental health center

· Regulator finds mosque was mismanaged

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South Asia

· Protests on SC premises: Legal experts call it intimidating, a threat to judiciary

· Investigations Underway into Afghan Casualties at Iran-Pakistan Border

· Suhail Shaheen Meets Turkish Ambassador to Qatar to Discuss Bilateral Ties

· Mass uprising: Govt to give Tk 30 lakh to victim families

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Mideast

· Israel PM Says Killing Of Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar ‘Beginning Of The End’ Of Gaza War

· Lebanon crowdfunded ambulances under fire in Israel-Hezbollah war

· No US role in Israel operation that killed Hamas leader, Pentagon says

· Biden Says Sinwar’s Death Is ‘Good Day’ For World, ‘Opportunity’ For Hostage Deal, End To Gaza War

· Hezbollah enters new phase in war as Netanyahu insists on dismantling its structure

· Houthis say US will ‘pay the price’ for airstrikes on Yemen

· Islamic Jihad Movement strongly condemns brutal American aggression that targeted Yemen

· Islamic Resistance in Iraq bombs vital target in occupied Umm al-Rashrash

· Settlers break into Aqsa Mosque yards

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Arab World

· How AI-Driven Robotics Is Transforming Healthcare In Saudi Arabia

· COP 29 must be a ‘stand-and-deliver’ moment for climate change, says UN expert

· Saudi Arabia’s commissions of museums, heritage sign 4 executive programs in China

· King Faisal hospital displays innovations and solutions

· KSrelief has implemented 1,029 food, agriculture and water aid projects worldwide

· Qiddiya launches training program to boost Saudi job market

· Saudi FM receives phone call from Secretary Blinken

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Europe

· Non-Muslims Invited To Mosque Open Day In Blackburn As Part Of A Community Engagement Day

· EU Commissioner Labels Musk ‘Promoter Of Evil’

· France to cut prices in Martinique over cost of living unrest

· Eurovision star launches legal challenge against EU sanctions

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Africa

· Tinubu Moves Around FCT At Night To See What Nigerians Are Passing Through – Senator Kalu

· ‘God Will Judge You’ – Rivers State Governor, Warns Compromised Judges

· Rethink Your Policies, Reshuffle Your Cabinet – CSOs Tell Tinubu

· Kenyan Deputy President Impeached While Hospitalised

· Mpox: Head of Africa CDC urges partners to honour pledges as death toll tops 1,000

· Islamic clerics applaud Matawalle over elimination of bandits’ leader, Sububu

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bulldozer-justice-razed-muslim-teenager/d/133475

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“Bulldozer Justice”: In Udaipur, One Home Razed, Three Families Punished For A Muslim Teenager’s Crime

Rashid Khan outside the demolished remains of his home in Udaipur. | Abhik Deb

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Abhik Deb

18 October 2024,

On August 16, a 15-year-old Muslim student of a government school in Udaipur got into a fight with a classmate during recess. He took out a knife and stabbed the other boy. Three days later, the injured teenager, a Hindu, died.

In the three days between the stabbing and the death, a bulldozer ran through the lives of three Muslim families of Udaipur.

A day after the stabbing, the Udaipur civic authorities demolished the 15-year-old’s rented home in the Kachchi Basti locality on the ground that it had been built on unauthorised land. The action was taken after Hindutva supporters in the city held violent protests demanding what they called “bulldozer justice”.

The 15-year-old was sent to a juvenile home and his father, Saleem Sheikh, arrested on the allegation that he instigated his son.

The civic action also affected the lives of two other families, who had nothing to do with the death of the teenager. This included Abid Khan, a tea-seller who was a tenant at the same home, and the owner, Abdul Rashid Khan.

“Why did they bulldoze my home when the accused was my tenant’s son?” Abdul Rashid Khan asked. The 61-year-old answered the question himself: “They wanted to set an example by demolishing a Muslim’s home.”

The demolition followed a pattern in which civic authorities in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states have demolished several purportedly illegal properties of those accused of crimes, mostly Muslims. There are no provisions in Indian law that allow for such punitive demolitions.

On August 30, the human rights body, Association for Protection of Civil Rights in Udaipur, filed a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the demolition of the rented house.

This was among a batch of petitions challenging such demolitions that the Supreme Court took up last month. On October 1, the Supreme Court noted that demolitions cannot be carried out “merely because somebody is an accused or a convict”. The top court reserved its judgement on a batch of petitions challenging such demolitions, including the one in Udaipur, saying it would issue guidelines for such matters.

With her husband in jail and her son in a juvenile home, the 15-year-old’s mother, Shameem Sheikh, draws little consolation from the court’s words. “I have lost my home, my son and my husband,” said Shameem. “Will the judgement help me get them back?”

After the demolition, Shameem found nobody willing to take her in as a tenant. “People are scared that their home will also be bulldozed,” said her eldest daughter Reshma Sheikh, who lives with her husband nearby.

Shameem and the youngest of her four daughters have had to move in with Reshma and her husband since the demolition. Households where Shameem used to work as domestic worker have asked her not to return. A small grocery store that Sheikh’s youngest daughter used to run out of the rented home was also razed.

Questions about the demolition

Kachchi Basti is a slum of more than 250 shanties and pucca houses, located along the slope of the Machla Magra hillock in Udaipur.

Yaqoob Mohammed, the Udaipur district president of human rights body People's Union for Civil Liberties, told Scroll that people started settling in the locality in the late 1970s. “A case of encroachment filed by the forest department has been pending in the courts for years, but no demolition ever took place,” Mohammed said.

In 2019, Abdul Rashid Khan bought a house from an acquaintance for Rs 17 lakh in this neighbourhood.

“I thought my sons would live there after they marry and have children,” Khan, who lives in his ancestral home in Udaipur’s Khanjipeer, a Muslim-dominated locality, told Scroll.

Khan rented out three rooms of the two-storey building to the Sheikh family, and two other rooms to Khan, the tea-seller.

Rashid Khan said that on August 16, he had asked the Sheikh family to vacate the house after the police filed a case against the minor boy.

“The next morning, Reshma [Sheikh] called me to say that authorities had put up a demolition notice outside the home,” said Khan.

As he rushed to his Kachchi Basti home, Khan found that in fact, two notices had been issued – one by the Udaipur municipal corporation and the other by the forest department, both saying that the house was on unauthorised land. Curiously, both the notices, dated August 16, were addressed to Saleem Sheikh, and not Khan, the owner.

The municipal corporation notice stated the house was built on government land, and threatened action if Sheikh did not clarify within 24 hours why he had built the house illegally.

The other notice said that Sheikh had encroached upon land belonging to the forest department, and the house would be demolished if Sheikh did not vacate the home by August 20.

Nevertheless, the house was demolished within hours of the notice being pasted.

Khan said that he visited several government offices urging that the demolition be stopped. Even as he ran pillar to post, a bulldozer and policemen in two vans lined up outside the home by noon. By 3 pm, the house was demolished.

Khan was left with debris of the razed building, the belongings of his tenants that they had no place to keep, and an array of questions. “How can the notice be issued on the tenant’s name and if it is on government land, why was my house singled out in the entire locality?” he questioned. “And why was the home bulldozed even before the stipulated time to vacate?”

He did not get the answers to any of these questions at the government offices he visited on the day of the demolition. The forest department officials told him that the demolition was being carried out by the municipal corporation. At the civic body’s office, Khan was told no officials were present due to a holiday.

At the district collectorate, an official said, “makaan har haal mein tootega” – the home will be razed at any cost. “I went to the police too, but they refused to register a complaint,” said Khan.

Almost two months after the demolition, Khan said that the Supreme Court’s action was welcome but was unsure of how it would help him. “Would I get compensation for my home?” he asked. The court has not said anything in this regard.

Targeted for their identity

Yaqoob Mohammed, the activist, said that the demolition was a clear case of “targeting Muslims as is happening across the country”.

When members of his organisation urged the police to stop the demolition on August 17, they were left aghast at the response. “We told the local station house officer that you will be remembered as the man who brought ‘bulldozer raj’ to Rajasthan,” Mohammed said. “To this, the police officer smugly said he would take pride in that.”

Reshma, the Sheikh family’s eldest daughter, also alleged that they were being targeted over their religious identity. She recounts that on August 16, when she and her father reached the local police station after the arrest of her brother, the station house officer made communally charged comments. “He said your community teaches children to stab,” Reshma said.

The police went on to accuse the boy’s father, Saleem Sheikh, of inciting him to violence. On September 4, a district court in Udaipur rejected Saleem’s bail application on the basis of the police statement that he had bought the knife that his son used for stabbing. The court order, as seen by Scroll, notes that the police submitted that Saleem Sheikh had asked his son to use the knife to attack anyone who troubles him in school.

‘Only because we are Muslim’

Abid Khan, the tea seller, migrated to Udaipur seven years ago from Araria district of Bihar in search of employment.

Since the demolition, Abid, with his wife and three daughters had to shift to six temporary shelters, before he finally got a rented accommodation two weeks ago.

“House owners have been asking me if I had any connection with the stabbing and why I had migrated from Bihar,” Abid Khan said. “My youngest daughter is just five months old, you can imagine our plight if I have to shift homes every other week.”

A fight between friends in a school was made into a communal issue to target the Muslims, he said. “The boy did wrong, you can punish him, but why is his father in jail?” Abid Khan questioned. “Only because he is a Muslim.”

Hope fading

“Let law take its course in the minor’s case, but the arrest of Saleem and the demolition are unlawful,” advocate Qamar Siddiqui, who heads the association that has petitioned the Supreme Court against the demolition, told Scroll. “The court has made its stand clear and we are hopeful for justice.”

The Sheikh family, however, is more fearful than optimistic.

Shameem Sheikh said that she has been able to meet his son only twice in the two months since his arrest. The rules allow family members to meet minors in custody once every week, Siddiqui said.

But officials at the juvenile home have turned Shameem back on five occasions, saying that she was not allowed to meet her son. “When I met him for the first time after his arrest, he was limping,” Shameem said. “He said that the police had beaten up him and his father with sticks and kicked them with boots.”

The day Scroll met her, Shameem was hopeful to see her son in juvenile court, but the hearing got postponed to October 19. As the day ended in hopelessness, Shameem said: “I have lost my home, and I fear I will lose my family too. I fear my son will be killed in custody.”

Source:scroll.in

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https://scroll.in/article/1074399/in-udaipur-one-home-razed-three-families-punished-for-a-muslim-teenagers-crime

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Pakistan Under The Scanner Of UN Human Rights Committee Over Rights Violations

Irfan Aslam

October 18, 2024

LAHORE: The UN Human Rights Committee also called the Committee on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) has raised questions over human rights violations in Pakistan, especially during recent protests, anti-terrorism policy, accountability laws, rampant enforced disappearances, right to life in context of climate change, death row and women rights violations.

The human rights abuses issue was raised during the review under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) at the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva on Thursday. Pakistan ratified the ICCPR in 2010 and the first review took place in 2017. It was the day one of the review. The Pakistani delegation was headed by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan. Live screening of the review meeting was arranged by the Justice Project Pakistan at Annemarie-Schimmel Haus here.

Excessive use of force in recent protests

The UN Rights Committee pointed out that since 2017, the number of enforced disappearances has been quite high in Pakistan. “The Working Group on Involuntary Disappearances quotes the highest number of disappearances over the last five years. According to our information, enforced disappearances are widespread across the territory and continue to be one of the ways used as a part of the anti-terrorist policy of the state. It could be used as a tool to suppress minorities,” a committee member said and added that enforced disappearances affected everybody, political opponents, members of their families, journalists, students and human rights defenders. The practice has affected members of Ahmadi or Pashtun communities. She referred to 7,000 cases of enforced disappearances between 2004 and 2024.

Short-term enforced disappearances are also reported to remove individuals from protection of the law, including (journalist) Imran Riaz Khan, these people are disappeared, reappeared to be tried in military courts, the committee member pointed out.

“I would like to draw your attention to the worrying information that on Sept 24, the secretary general of the NGO, Voice of Baloch Missing Persons, Sammi Baloch, was not allowed to travel to Geneva.”

There are extrajudicial executions, even on the territory of other states, of separatists, political opponents, activists, journalists, including Arshad Sharif, who was killed in 2022.

The UN body noted excessive use of force by police, particularly against peaceful demonstrators, denounced enforced disappearances and summary executions in Balochistan. It mentioned the excessive use of police force in months of September and October and lack of investigation in violations of rights. It said the efficacy of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances had been questioned even by the Supreme Court that was not satisfied with its functions.

The committee said that the enforced disappearance had not been criminalised in Pakistan’s justice system and a bill in this regard had remained suspended.

Counter terrorism and definition of torture

During the review meeting, the UN body raised the matter of narrowing down the definition of terrorism as against the international laws. A member of the review committee asked about the measures being taken by Pakistan to do away with the provisions that allow the police to seize, search and arrest without a warrant.

“Reports indicate that an act (Anti-Terrorism Act) is being used to ban Ahmad literature and restrict members of the Ahmadi community while individual from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are restricted from holding public gatherings and going abroad,” she said.

The committee expressed alarm at the lack of punishment for custodial deaths or torture as the cases were filed under the PPC that would leave gaps in enforcement. It demanded redefinition of torture to include psychological torture besides physical torture. “In Punjab alone, 624 police officers were disciplined for torture in 2021 but the govt reported only 10 complaints that year,” the committee member said.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has jurisdiction to process complaints of torture but lacks ability to address the issue, the member said and added that widespread torture of women included rape and reprisal they face for reporting torture cases.

The issue of selective accountability

“Reports suggest that despite anti-corruption laws, accountability is selectively applied and politically motivated. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cannot investigate members of judiciary and military personnel but are subject to internal disciplinary systems,” a committee member said.

He asked about the measures to make the investigation system effective and free from political interference besides meeting challenges like budget restrictions and staff shortages in anti-corruption bodies. The member asked the delegation to provide details on the internal anti-corruption mechanism systems within judiciary and military and how they ensured transparency.

Climate change

The committee raised the issue of the right of life in the context of climate change. Hundreds of thousands have been hit by the climate crisis, causing massive displacement and damage to harvests, exacerbated by the heat wave. In 2022, 8m people were displaced, living in precarious conditions.

Questions were raised about the adaptation plan of 2023 and the lack of a sustainable policy for replacement of fossil fuels. Concerns were expressed on attack on environmental defenders and activists while the issue of lack of information on environmental courts and tribunals was raised.

Death row and women rights

The chair of the committee raised the questions over presence of the capital punishment in Pakistani laws including for the offence of blasphemy. “Whether there is any progress for doing away with the death penalty and whether the death penalty has been commuted for the crimes that are not most serious in nature,” a member asked.

Despite the reports of elimination of the death penalty for drug related cases there had been two instance of death penalty in drug-related cases while 93 individuals are on still on death row for drug-related crimes. She asked whether the lower courts follow the policy of higher courts in such cases. As many as 123 petitions have been filed with the president from 2018 to 2023.

A member of the committee pointed out the issue of gender equality and discrimination against women. “I don’t see any female member in the committee and hoping it’s just coincidence.” She expressed concerns at the violence against women, including acid attacks and that sexual harassment in public places was not considered even a crime in Pakistan. Questions were raised over the Jirga system, Qissas and Diyat in criminal cases.

Earlier, the head of Pakistani delegation, Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, gave the perspective of the government on the issues raised in the committee. After receiving questions from the members, he referred laws according to Pakistan constitution that were in place to protect human rights.

Source:dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1865951/pakistan-under-the-scanner-of-un-committee-over-rights-violations

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Sabah Fatwa Council declares GISBH teachings deviate from Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah

The Sabah Fatwa Council has declared the teachings, practices, beliefs and ideology of members of GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) and its affiliated companies contradict and deviate from Islamic teachings that are based on the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

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18 Oct 2024

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 18 — The Sabah Fatwa Council has declared the teachings, practices, beliefs and ideology of members of GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) and its affiliated companies contradict and deviate from Islamic teachings that are based on the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah.

The Sabah Mufti’s office, in a statement yesterday, said the decision was made at a Special Muzakarah of the 2024 Sabah Fatwa Council 2024 held last Oct 1 and 2.

“This deviation encompasses aspects of Aqidah (faith), Sariah (Islamic law), akhlak (behaviour), family, humanity and economic transactions (muamalah) that lead to division within the Muslim community and could potentially threaten national security,” it said.

It also stated that GISBH deviates from the true teachings of Islam, including believing that Ashaari Mohammad or Abuya is in occultation and will appear as the assistant of Imam Mahdi in the afterlife.

Another is the practice of tabarruk (seeking blessings), such as obtaining blessings from objects used by GISBH leaders, including consuming food or water used by leaders to wash hands, brush teeth, beards and others, it said.

In terms of shariah, the State Mufti’s Office stated that the deviations include claims that the Friday prayer is not obligatory until the Imam Mahdi’s government is established and combining the five obligatory prayers, performing them at once instead of at the designated times throughout the day.

The economic deviations, it said, include the misuse of charity homes to secure donations from the public and the government, and the exploitation of members, who work without pay.

As such, it said, any GISBH members and Muslims who practice the beliefs and teachings of GISBH must repent immediately. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/10/18/sabah-fatwa-council-declares-gisbh-teachings-deviate-from-ahli-sunnah-wal-jamaah/153999

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US House Candidate Opposes To Muslims Serving In Congress; Says, “Their Fundamental Belief System Is Anti-American”

The U.S. Capitol. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

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Oct. 17, 2024

By Jerry Cornfield

A Republican congressional candidate in Washington says he doesn’t believe “devout” Muslim Americans should serve in Congress but insists he will work with those there now if elected.

Jerrod Sessler, who is challenging incumbent Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse, said he is “not trying to take away someone’s constitutional rights” but does not believe Muslims can uphold the oath of office because “their fundamental belief system is anti-American.”

This is not a new view for Sessler, but it has re-emerged following his recent interview with the Yakima Herald-Republic. “There is no way that a devout Muslim should be in Congress,” he told the newspaper. He made similar remarks during this year’s primary.

A Navy veteran and entrepreneur, Sessler is trying to win the 4th Congressional District seat Newhouse has held since 2015. The district covers rural central Washington, stretching from the Canadian border to the Oregon state line and includes the Yakima Valley, the Yakama Indian Reservation, Tri-Cities, Moses Lake and East Wenatchee.

Former President and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is backing Sessler, who is running to the right of the incumbent. Newhouse is one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Cherissa Boyd, a Democrat, is running as a write-in candidate.

In his conversation with the Herald-Republic, Sessler pointed to passages in the Quran that call for the killing of nonbelievers as concerning.

“What if the majority of Congress was Muslim?” he said. “How safe and secure would our Constitution be? It wouldn’t be.”

Sessler defended his comments on social media on Wednesday, writing: “As divisive as it is in America, Muslims may legally take the oath of office. Some even place their hand on the Quran which unequivocally calls for the killing of anyone that is not Muslim.”

Political price to pay?

Newhouse did not respond to requests for comment on Sessler’s remarks.

But others did.

They say he’s misinterpreted the language in the Quran and the passage he cited has become a weapon to portray Muslim Americans as violent. They also contend Sessler’s position would prevent members of Congress from exercising their constitutional right to practice the religion of their choice – which he denies he would do.

Imraan Siddiqi, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, said the statements highlight “just how pervasive Islamophobia is in our society, and that it is viewed as an acceptable form of bigotry.”

For Sessler to tout his position shows he doesn’t “feel there is a political price to pay,” he said.

State Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, said that Sessler’s “flagrant disregard” of the law separating church and state and the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedoms “is fundamentally un-American.”

“The things that he is disrespecting are the things that make me proudest to be American,” she said.

Siddiqi said a survey his group did earlier this year found 82% of Muslims in Washington had experienced bias, hate or discrimination in the past year. It also found that, in general, younger and less educated Muslims experienced more discrimination, and women and visibly Muslim people were more likely to feel unsafe due to their personal characteristics.

In light of the findings and views of candidates like Sessler, “it is imperative that Washington’s leaders stand up against Islamophobia,” Siddiqi said.

If Sessler is elected, he could be serving with three Muslims – Rep. André Carson of Indiana, Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. All are Democrats.

“It doesn’t mean I am against them. I’m open to learning,” Sessler said in an interview, adding that he’s received only positive responses to his recently published comments.

“I am speaking what everyone is thinking,” he said.

Source:spokesman.com

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https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/oct/17/washington-us-house-candidate-voices-opposition-to/

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Bangladesh Islamist Chief Seeks Extradition And Trial Of Sheikh Hasina

Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled after weeks of protests against quotas that reserved a high portion of government jobs for certain groups [File: Rajib Dhar/AP Photo]

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17 October, 2024

BANGLADESH’S top Islamist politician said he supports the extradition of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to face trial for crimes against humanity in the same tribunal that convicted his colleagues.

Shafiqur Rahman is the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, whose members were hounded, driven underground and sentenced to death during Hasina’s rule.

Her government justified the crackdown on the nation’s largest Islamist party by accusing it of sponsoring extremist attacks – charges Rahman denied.

After Hasina’s toppling and exile in India following a student-led revolution in August, the ban on Jamaat’s activities was lifted. Rahman is leading its public revival.

Now back in the political mainstream, he said Hasina must be extradited to face trial with her allies for abuses committed during her tenure.

“We don’t believe in the theory that just because we faced injustice, someone else should also face injustice,” the 65-year-old said at his party office in Dhaka. “But people want them to be tried. If they don’t face trial, these criminals will commit more crimes.”

Dozens of Hasina’s allies were taken into custody after her regime collapsed, accused of culpability in a police crackdown that killed more than 700 people during the unrest that deposed her.

Several cases accusing Hasina of orchestrating the “mass murder” of protesters are being probed in a war crimes court her government set up.

The International Crimes Tribunal was ostensibly created to try Bangladeshis accused of committing crimes against humanity during the country’s 1971 independence war against Pakistan.

The United Nations and rights groups criticised its procedural shortcomings, and it became widely seen as a means for Hasina to eliminate political opponents. The tribunal hanged five of Jamaat’s top leaders, sparking protests that led to the deaths of around 500 people. Rahman said it was important Hasina and her loyalists faced a fair trial, the kind denied to his executed comrades.

He said he was confident the tribunal, if reformed, could meet the task.

“Whenever there is any crime against humanity in this country, then there is no problem with it being explored in the tribunal,” he said.

“If there is any disparity of law, if there is any contradiction with the constitution or human rights, that can be amended.” At the same time, Rahman said Jamaat would challenge the tribunal’s former wrongdoings by posthumously appealing the death penalty verdicts handed to his former colleagues.

“We will prove that we faced injustices in the court which hanged our leaders,” he said. Jamaat’s headquarters was shuttered for more than a decade, but reopened days after Hasina’s downfall. It is now swarming with party activists.

The party will contest the next national elections, expected sometime in the next two years – but Rahman said they are in no rush. Instead, he wants the caretaker government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, to first fulfil its pledge of a democratic overhaul. “The election would not be meaningful without reforms,” Rahman said.

So far there had been no alliance struck with its previous coalition partner, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), he said.

But Rahman supported the return of exiled BNP leader Tarique Rahman, convicted of graft charges during Hasina’s government, and who has lived in London since 2008.

“We have many false cases against us, so we believe he also has many false cases against him,” Rahman said.

Hasina accused Jamaat of supporting extremism and undermining the country’s secular constitution.

The impetus for her crackdown on the party was bolstered by several Islamist attacks during her time in office that killed bloggers accused of blasphemy and Westerners living in Dhaka.

Rahman emphatically denied the party’s association with any extremist group, saying Jamaat had long committed to the democratic process. He cited Jamaat’s condemnation of a spate of attacks after Hasina’s toppling on Bangladesh’s minority Hindus, motivated by the community’s perceived support of her government.

And he pointed to the party’s efforts to guard Hindu temples and Sufi Muslim shrines after they were attacked.

“We are loud and clear,” he said. “We don’t have any ambiguity here. We don’t support any of this.

Source:easterneye.biz

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https://www.easterneye.biz/bangladesh-islamist-chief-seeks-extradition-and-trial-of-hasina/

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India

Congress, AIUDF, AGP Hail SC's upholding of Section 6A of Citizenship Act

Kangkan Kalita

Oct 18 2024

Guwahati: Opposition Congress, AIUDF and some of the major regional parties of Assam, including ruling BJP’s ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court judgment related to the 1985-Assam Accord.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Bhupen Kumar Borah emphasised that Congress has always respected the Assam Accord, which was signed under the supervision of then PM Rajiv Gandhi on Aug 15, 1985. “Not only Congress, but the BJP leadership of that time, including Vajpayee ji, and all political parties of Assam had termed the accord as a historic document. But later, the BJP-led govt brought CAA and tried to nullify the Assam Accord. We are happy that the Supreme Court has reiterated what we were saying in respect to Assam Accord and the cut-off date,” Borah added.

He also expressed concerns about CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of creating a disturbing atmosphere and disrespecting the Assam Accord by advocating for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia echoed similar sentiments about the Supreme Court’s decision.

“Supreme Court’s decision is a historic moment for Assam. This verdict reaffirms the significance of the Assam Accord and the aspirations of the people.” Saikia said, adding, any move to grant citizenship to migrants under the CAA should be strongly opposed.

AGP president Atul Bora also acknowledged the ruling, highlighting that the verdict demonstrates the Assam Accord was a practical solution to Assam’s foreigners’ issue.

AIUDF vice-president Aminul Islam and general secretary Hafiz Rafiqul Islam both praised the verdict, considering it a historic decision by the Supreme Court. They believe this ruling will help complete the pending National Register of Citizens (NRC) process and address Assam’s foreigner issue.

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, related to granting citizenship to illegal immigrants in Assam. This decision, stemming from the 1985 Assam Accord, is seen as a political solution to address the influx of Bangladeshi migrants that threatened Assam's culture and demography, with March 24, 1971, set as the cut-off date.

Citizenship under Assam accord: 4:1 SC verdict upholds validity of Section 6A; dissenting judge says provision 'has become more prone to abuse'

The Supreme Court upheld Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, validating the Assam Accord provisions for citizenship of immigrants arriving between 1966 and 1971. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and the majority ruled in favor, while Justice Pardiwala dissented, citing concerns over document forgery. AASU welcomed the verdict; others expressed concerns about protecting indigenous rights.

Source:indiatimes.com

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‘You are not alone’: Day after taking charge as CM, Omar Abdullah visits remote Jammu village gutted by fire

by Arun Sharma

October 18, 2024

Omar Abdullah visits Jammu village, Jammu, Omar Abdullah, Jammu village fire, Jammu village gutted by fire, Indian express news, current affairsReferring to a charter of demands submitted to him by local MLA Pyare Lal Sharma, the CM assured that his government, after preparing a detailed project report for the construction of a tunnel in the area, would talk to the Centre to ensure round-the-year connectivity with Kishtwar district headquarters.

A day after taking charge as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Thursday visited Mulwarwan village, most of which was recently gutted in a devastating fire.

“I have come here to make sure you know that you are not alone in this difficult time,” said Omar, who travelled to the village in the Marwah area of Kishtwar district along with Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary and others.

“Sometimes, I feel that you people in these areas see us only once in five years. We come to take votes and disappear until the next elections,” he acknowledged, adding, “Yeh aap ki sarkar hai, kisi aur ki nahi (This is your government, not anyone else’s).”

Omar Abdullah Abdullah on Thursday visited the fire-ravaged village where dozens of houses were gutted in a massive blaze, and pledged more relief for the rehabilitation of the devastated families. (PTI)

He met people affected by the fire, which has rendered around 80 families homeless. With the Fire and Emergency Services Department taking hours to reach the remote village, the fire was contained by local residents themselves, many of whom demolished their own houses to stop the fire from spreading.

The village, which is in Jammu division, lacks a direct road link to Kishtwar district headquarters. Omar pointed out that fire tenders had to be brought from neighbouring Anantnag district in the Kashmir Valley, and it took 6.30 hours for them to reach the village.

He announced fire stations would be set up at Marwah and Warwan, so as to ensure timely help in case such incidents come up again in the future. Omar said it was not the first time that fire has erupted in the area. “Every time, we rehabilitate the victims, but they again lose everything in a fire after some years,” he said.

Omar Abdullah CM Omar Abdullah also assured that the government would hold a special recruitment drive in the area. (PTI)

He also lamented the absence of mobile connectivity in the area. “Here, mobile phones are only useful for their cameras,” he said.

He announced that the government would provide all help in rehabilitating the fire victims, and said that they would also be provided financial assistance under the PM Awas Yojna to construct their houses.

Referring to a charter of demands submitted to him by local MLA Pyare Lal Sharma, the CM assured that his government, after preparing a detailed project report for the construction of a tunnel in the area, would talk to the Centre to ensure round-the-year connectivity with Kishtwar district headquarters.

Source:indianexpress.com

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Anthem row hits new Jammu and Kashmir government

Muzaffar Raina

18.10.24

A controversy has hit the Omar Abdullah government on its first day in office with Jammu and Kashmir police launching an inquiry against an “individual” who purportedly did not stand up during the national anthem on Wednesday.

The cops have not named the “individual” or the event where it took place but some media reports, which were not denied by the police, claimed the inquiry was ordered into the conduct of National Conference MLA Hilal Akbar Lone during Omar’s swearing-in ceremony.

If the reports are true, they suggest that the lieutenant governor's administration is unwilling to relax its iron-fist policy on activities deemed anti-national by it, even if they involve members of the government.

Earlier in July, the Union home ministry had amended the rules of the J&K Reorganisation Act, giving the LG unbridled powers over the police, public order, all-India services and the anti-corruption bureau.

The NC MLA said he did not stand up during the national anthem but added that “back pain”, and not disrespect, was to blame. He said he tried to stand up but the pain forced him to remain seated.

“The police have taken cognizance of an incident where an individual did not stand up during the playing of the National Anthem. A preliminary Enquiry by an SP-rank officer under Section 173 (3) of the BNSS has been initiated, and electronic evidence is being analysed for further course of legal action,” Srinagar police said on X.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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After Baba Siddique's murder, his son now dead against politicisation of father's killing

17.10.24

Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique on Thursday said the killing of his father and NCP leader Baba Siddique should not be politicised and asserted his family needs justice.

Baba Siddique (66) was shot at in Nirmal Nagar in Mumbai's Bandra area on October 12 by three persons. He succumbed to injuries at nearby Lilavati Hospital soon after.

In a post on X, Zeeshan Siddique said his father lost his life protecting and saving the lives and homes of poor innocent people.

"Today, my family is broken but his death must not be politicised and definitely not go in vain. I NEED JUSTICE, MY FAMILY NEEDS JUSTICE!" the Bandra East MLA said in his social media post.

Baba Siddique, a former state minister, had joined the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party from the Congress recently.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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As PM Narendra Modi hails Omar Abdullah’s comeback, here’s what you can’t forget

Samrat Sardar

17.10.24

Omar Abdullah’s comeback as chief minister of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in the historic Assembly polls held five years after the abrogation of Article 370 is the stuff of political history, given that he was defeated in the Lok Sabha elections this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose party has time and again labelled Abdullah a separatist, was one of the first to felicitate the National Conference leader after being sworn-in. “Wishing him the very best in his efforts to serve the people. The Centre will work closely with him and his team for J&K's progress,” Modi wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.

Omar Abdullah’s return as chief minister is a good time to look back at his detention of 232 days.

In his interview with Pradeep Chhibber and Harsh Shah for their book, India Tomorrow: Conversations with the Next Generation of Political Leaders (2020), Abdullah had opened up about his detention.

He was determined to not let the BJP “get me down,” Abdullah had said.

The ‘absolute shock’ of August 2019

Abdulla had never imagined that the BJP would dilute Article 370, abrogate 35A and cut up the state into two Union Territories.

He described his immediate reaction to the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir as “absolute shock”.

Because when Abdullah and his party MPs had a meeting with Prime Minister Modi “on the 2nd or 3rd of August” of 2019, they had been “reassured that it wouldn’t be as serious and as damaging as the rumours had led us to believe”.

Abdullah added: “But from midnight of the night of the 4th of August, when reports started coming in of people being detained, arrested, some removed from their homes and political leaders being placed under house arrest, we knew that we had to expect something pretty serious.”

Weeks turned into 232 days

August 5, 2019, “passed in a haze” while he was “still locked up at home”.

In the evening, a staffer at the Srinagar district magistrate’s office, accompanied by a police officer, turned up with a detention order for Abdullah.

“I was very matter of fact about it,” he recalled. “I said, ‘That’s it then. Give me a little bit of time, I’ll shower, pack some clothes, and I’ll go with you’.”

He had initially thought that his detention would last for about a week or two. “Those two weeks stretched to 232 days before I got out.”

Determined to not ‘let them mess with my head’

Weeks before he was detained, Abdullah had a surgery on his hand, for which he needed an MRI. During the MRI, he realised he was “borderline claustrophobic”. “...it’s one of the worst experiences when you get sucked into that tube and it starts making noises,” he described.

He felt the same on the first few days of his detention. With no contact with the outside world, Abdullah felt “trapped”.

But he was determined to not “let them mess with my head”.

Abdullah felt he needed a routine to cope with his detention. So, he set fixed times for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and his medical check-ups.

‘Went through the entire spectrum of emotions’

“As a person in detention, I had to have a medical check-up with blood pressure and other tests taken every day,” said Abdullah.

Gradually, he started working out and reading.This routine prevented Abdullah from getting “aimless” and helped him endure his detention.

“I went through the entire spectrum of emotions from anger to frustration to resentment to bitterness to sort of resigning myself to what had happened, and then going back to being angry about being detained and frustrated about it,” said Abdullah.

Detained for being a popular leader

Omar Abdullah felt there was no justification for his detention.

“One of the clauses in my detention order talks about how I was able to influence people to come out and vote in large numbers in spite of a boycott call and a militant threat,” he recounted.

Abdullah never thought he could be detained for urging people to exercise their franchise.

“Tomorrow, how am I going to convince people to come out and vote? What am I going to tell them?” wondered Abdullah, whose party has bagged 42 seats in the latest Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls.

“...the overwhelming feeling that I have come out of detention with is a whole lot of bitterness and anger…,” the National Conference leader said.

In the interview, Abdullah also said that “constitutionally,” he would “try and fight to retrieve what we have lost on the 5th of August.”

Source:telegraphindia.com

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Pakistan

Policeman Held For Killing His Teenage Daughter In Honour’s Name In Qambar-Shahdadkot

October 18, 2024

LARKANA: Police on Thursday arrested a constable along with the pistol he had used to murder his teenage daughter in the name of honour in a graveyard in Qambar town, early on Wednesday morning.

Abdul Wahab, a close relative of the victim, registered an FIR (No.352/2024) against the suspect Mohammad Safeer under Sections 302 and 311 of PPC late on Wednesday night in which he stated that he along with his nephews Tariq Hussain and Aziz Mudassir went to the graveyard that day to offer fateha on the family elders’ graves.

While they were offering fateha and repairing the graves they saw a white pickup truck entering the graveyard from which the suspect, his wife Naheed Buriro and their daughter disembarked, he said.

The suspect took out a pistol, shouted at his daughter “You are a Kari!” and said he would not spare her, he said.

Having said that the suspect opened fire at the girl and sped away in the same vehicle along with his wife. “She died before us and we informed police immediately,” said the complainant.

Source:dawn.com

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PTI Imran Khan's Aide Blames Pakistan Govt For Imran Khan's Disqualification From Oxford Chancellor Contest

By Murtaza Ali Shah

October 17, 2024

LONDON: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan's aide has claimed that the Pakistan government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif played a role in the disqualification of the former premier from the Oxford University chancellor election.

Syed Zulfi Bukhari, the former PM adviser on international affairs, ran a high-profile media campaign for the imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) top leader to run in the election but the university decided to not allow Khan to stand in the election, let alone become the chancellor, over Toshakhana conviction and politicisation of the issue.

Speaking to The News, Bukhari said he was convinced that the government forces from Pakistan campaigned against Khan’s candidacy and put the university under some kind of pressure to block him from contesting the chancellor election.

“The Oxford University has made a very narrow-minded and pressured decision to block Imran Khan. The decision came as a big disappointment because the whole of Pakistan wanted Imran Khan to take part in the Oxford University chancellor election. People from India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and many Islamic countries wanted Imran Khan to take part, he claimed.

The PTI leader further said that nearly 200 Oxford alumni signed the petition in Khan’s support, saying there were no legal grounds to block Imran Khan.

“Before we submitted Imran Khan’s nomination papers we took advice from many King’s Counsels (KCs) and they agreed that nothing is barring Imran Khan legally from taking part. The Oxford Uni has made a narrow-minded and pressured decision to block Imran Khan. To say that Imran Khan is convicted in the Toshakhana case would not justify the decision because in the same case, the United Nations Working Group has said that Imran Khan’s detention is illegal and cases against him are politically motivated.

In all other cases the sentences have been appealed and set aside so there is no legal standing. At the end of the day, Oxford University has a charitable status and according to the UK rules governing charities, Imran Khan is eligible to open his bank accounts and become a trustee or become a charity director.”

Bukhari said one of the biggest awareness campaigns in the history of Oxford University was run around Khan’s candidacy and the whole world got to know about his case through this campaign. He said he was aware that the varsity was petitioned against Khan – first started by social media activists R A Shehzad and Hajra Khan and later picked up PML-N UK’s Khurram Butt and several others – but he said several other actors played a role too.

He said: “I understand that many pressures came alongside his candidacy. I believe that Oxford Uni has made a ‘pressured decision’ and Lord Daniel Hannan clearly said it a decision was made in pressure. I do not think the UK government has played a part but the Pakistani government certainly has. Political differences aside, the Pakistani government should have supported Imran Khan as he would have presented Pakistan on a global stage. They should have supported him as a Pakistani hero. There is no doubt that there was enough pressure applied and Oxford University may have thought that they did not want to get involved in a muddy situation.”

Bukhari has also said he is considering legal action against the university and already written to the university.

“Naturally, before applying for this role we took the advice of KCs, top solicitors across the country, barristers – and with their consent and their opinion did we go ahead. So legally there is no reason why Khan should not be allowed to contest. I’m sure we will get to the bottom of it. We will use all legal possibilities.”

A university source told The News: “More than 40 people applied and only 38 were approved. The candidates were only excluded according to the exclusion criteria of the university. 26,000 people have registered to vote in this election. Khan has been disqualified to run in the election over several factors including his conviction and political role.”

The prominent names wanting to become the next Chancellor are Lord William Hague, Lady Elish Angiolini, Lord Peter Mandelson, Khan, Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford and Dominic Grieve but only Khan has been disqualified from the top five well-known figures.

The News had reported exclusively on Tuesday that a King’s Counsel at UK’s leading law firm Matrix Chambers has opined that former prime minister Khan is not eligible for Oxford Chancellorship according to the university’s own regulations. Hugh Southey, King's Counsel at Matrix Chambers in London said: “In my opinion, Khan is unlikely to be eligible to be a candidate in light of one of his criminal convictions.”

Source:thenews.com.pk

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PTI Imran Khan's Aide Blames Pakistan Govt For Imran Khan's Disqualification From Oxford Chancellor Contest

By Murtaza Ali Shah

October 17, 2024

The PTI leader further said that nearly 200 Oxford alumni signed the petition in Khan’s support, saying there were no legal grounds to block Imran Khan.

Bukhari has also said he is considering legal action against the university and already written to the university.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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BNP condemns ‘raid’ on chief Akhtar Mengal’s residence

Munawer Azeem | Saleem Shahid

October 18, 2024

ISLAMABAD / QUETTA: The Balochistan National Party leadership on Thursday condemned a late-night “raid” on the residence of party chairman Sardar Akhtar Mengal at the Parliament Lodges in Islamabad and accused authorities of kidnapping the sons of party senators to coerce the BNP into supporting a proposed constitutional amendment allegedly aimed at curbing the judiciary’s powers.

However, the police clarified in a statement that the operation was part of a routine security audit related to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, as several foreign delegates remained in the capital. The police claimed that no raid or harassment took place at the lodges, stressing that it was a standard security check.

“In view of some security concerns and complaints, the concerned police officer went to eight to 10 places for investigation and verification,” the police said.

A police officer told Dawn that there were reports suggesting Sardar Akhtar Mengal might be abroad. During the operation, police found BNP’s Acting President Sajid Tareen at Mr Mengal’s flat and informed him that the raid was conducted following an intelligence report regarding the possible presence of suspects.

Sardar Mengal had previously resigned from his seat in the National Assembly, but his resignation has yet to be officially accepted.

BNP demands recovery of senators’ sons

Meanwhile, during a press conference in Quetta on Thursday, senior BNP leaders demanded the safe recovery of Senator Qasim Roonjho’s and Senator Nasima Ehsan’s sons. They alleged that “forced disappearances” were being used as a tool of intimidation to pass bills in parliament.

The party leaders alleged that authorities in Islamabad believed that they could erase the Baloch people through such tactics.

They said the raid on Mr Mengal’s lodges confirmed the BNP’s concerns regarding state harassment. They reported that Senator Roonjho’s home had been raided, and he had been unreachable since the day before. Similarly, Senator Ehsan’s son had also gone missing.

The BNP leaders claimed that the raid on Mr Mengal’s residence was part of a decades-long pattern of harassment against the party. They insisted that the party chief’s resignation from the National Assembly was also a direct result of this ongoing pressure.

Criticising the use of forced disappearances in a democratic state, the BNP leaders said that the federal government had failed to understand the situation in Balochistan.

Source:dawn.com

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CM Bugti calls for dialogue at Khuzdar jirga

Abdul Wahid Shahwani | Saleem Shahid

October 18, 2024

KHUZDAR/QUETTA: A political and tribal jirga was held in Khuzdar on Thursday to discuss Balochistan’s security concerns, rising terrorist attacks and the pressing issues affecting citizens, including health, education, unemployment and administrative challenges, and to review steps taken by the government to normalise the situation.

The jirga was significant due to the presence of high-ranking officials, including Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, Commander of the 12 Corps Lt Gen Rahat Naseem Khan, tribal elders, political party leaders and members of civil society. Ministers, the chief secretary and other senior administrative officials also participated.

Participants addressed various concerns, including the root causes of increasing terrorism. They stressed that unemployment and the closure of the Iran border, along with the suspension of Iranian petroleum supplies, was fuelling anxiety among the youth and pushing them towards negative influences.

A senior official told Dawn that the Khuzdar jirga was part of a Balochistan government initiative to hold such gatherings across all eight divisions of the province to engage directly with the people, offering them a platform to discuss their grievances and to understand the government’s efforts to resolve the challenges faced by citizens.

During the jirga, CM Bugti and Lt Gen Naseem assured the participants that the government was committed to solving their problems.

Speaking at the gathering, Mr Bugti remarked that issues in Balochistan were long-standing, and the government was determined to resolve them through political dialogue. He stressed that the government’s doors were open for meaningful talks with those willing to engage under the framework of the Constitution. However, he condemned the killing of innocent labourers who come to the province to earn a living, labelling it as both regrettable and unacceptable.

“The government is committed to a coordinated, organised and transparent approach for the welfare and prosperity of the people,” Mr Bugti said, adding that the administration has developed a plan to promote various sectors, including education and health.

He emphasised that merit-based job creation and an effective accountability system were key priorities to ensure public funds were utilised genuinely for the people’s welfare.

Stressing that Balochistan’s people were patriotic, Mr Bugti said they were eager for development and supported the government’s vision for progress. He announced a policy to send youth abroad for education, with steps already underway to prepare a new generation equipped with higher education.

Mr Bugti assured that the Balochistan government would not compromise on merit or transparency and reaffirmed its commitment to resolve issues through dialogue. “Those who challenge the authority of the state will be dealt with through constitutional means,” he warned, adding, “It is up to the people of Balochistan whether they want to see their children holding pens or Kalashnikovs.”

The chief minister acknowledged the multiple challenges facing the province, including terrorism, unrest and climate change. He said the provincial government was also making efforts to improve educational access for Baloch youth and has reopened many schools that had been closed.

Mr Bugti also underscored the importance of decentralising authority to lower levels of government to address public issues effectively, strengthening local institutions.

Commander of the 12 Corps, Lt Gen Naseem, emphasised the importance of education for Balochistan’s youth, urging them to focus on learning to better tackle future challenges. He noted that thousands of positions were available for Baloch youth in the Frontier Corps and the Pakistan Army, encouraging them to join the armed forces and serve the nation.

The jirga, attended by public representatives, civilian and military officials, tribal elders, political leaders and members of minority communities, witnessed robust participation.

Among those present were Provincial Minister for Irrigation Sadiq Umrani, Leader of the Opposition in the Balochistan Assembly Younis Aziz Zehri, Jhalawar Awami Panel Chief Shafiqur Rehman Mengal, National Party leader and former senator Abdul Kabeer Muhammad Shahi, Inspector General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari and other officials.

Source:dawn.com

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FIA identifies journalists, TikTokers for spreading ‘fake’ rape story

Asif Chaudhry

October 18, 2024

LAHORE: The Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) carried out province-wide raids on Thursday for the arrest of some senior journalists, lawyers, TikTokers and arrested three of them for spreading ‘alleged’ rape story of a private girls college student which incited students and general public to hold violent protests across Punjab since Monday last.

A senior FIA official said teams have arrested Raja Ahsan Naveed, an employee of the National Assembly, Faisal Jutt advocate, a TikToker and Umar Daraz Gondal who allegedly instigated students to launch an armed and violent movement.

He said raids were conducted to nab 38 senior journalists and TikTokers who were nominated in the FIR for spreading false information on social media regarding the alleged rape.

Prominent among them are Jameel Farooqi, Ayyaz Amir, Imran Riaz, Naeem Bukhari, Sami Ibrahim, Farha Iqrar, activist of PTI Tayyaba Raja, Ehtisham Ali Abbasi, Misbah Advocate, Faysal Shahzad, Fareed Shahzad, Muqaddas Farooq Awan, Shakir Mehmood Awan, Saddam K Tareen, Ahmad Bobak, Abdullah Warraich, Mian Omer Advocate, Haseeb Ahmad, Syed Khaliqur Rehman, Chaudhry Ikhlas Gujjar, Malik Gul Nawaz Soiya etc.

The official said most of the senior journalists nominated in the FIR had either gone underground or fled to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when the FIA teams carried out raids for their arrests on their identified locations.

He said the FIA was trying to get updates about their new locations they were changing rapidly.

The FIR was registered in the light of an inquiry conducted by the cyber crime wing of the FIA (Lahore) on the complaint of Punjab College for Women (Gulberg) Principal Sadia Yousuf. He said the FIA was also using all other options to get red warrants of suspects who were operating social media accounts from abroad.

“We are also going to write to Facebook and Instagram to initiate further action against the account-holders involved in spreading false propaganda”, the official said.

On the other hand, Principal Sadia Yousuf alleged in the FIR that the `dirty’ social media campaigns aggravated protests. “After the instigation on social media, an unguided and violent mob attacked our campus in Gulberg,” reads the FIR.

She said some students were snubbed by the vice principal of the Gulberg Campus for making videos of other students and staff without their permission during college hours.

“Soon a violent mob started attacking our staff and damaging the building badly,” the principal said, adding that this protest spread to other cities of the province due to social media campaign.

According to FIA, technical reports of the cyber crime wing had identified social media accounts of 38 senior journalists, lawyers and TikTokers who were found involved in sharing the news of the alleged fake propaganda against the Punjab Group of Colleges, thereby, instigating the general public to involve in ransacking the government and private infrastructure.

“These users/profiles have been found involved in propagating/disseminating false propaganda to defame the complainant’s institute and to incite the general public to get involved in violence,” alleges the FIR.

“Such violence-inducing content/posts made intentionally and publicly by the aforementioned social media accounts may cause or is likely to cause fear and alarm in the public or in any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against the public tranquility or incite or like to incite any class or community to commit any offence against any other class or community on the ground of spreading anarchy, division in the social fabric, hatred between the people by making such violence-inducing posts,” reads the FIR.

Principal Saadia Yousaf held the press conference alongside several female students. One of the students involved in the controversy expressed regrets over her role in spreading the false narrative.

She said that she hastily created a video based on unverified information and shared within a students social media group. “All the girls were sharing posts in our group, and my classmates encouraged me to make a video about it,” she said. “Without doing any proper research, I did a vlog and uploaded it. I deeply regret my actions, and I want to apologize for contributing to the spread of misinformation. I am here today, of my own free will, to take responsibility for my mistake.”

The FIA said after-effects of sharing such a false propaganda resulted in the destruction of government and private infrastructure at the hands of violent mobs.

Separately, Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siquque Kamyana said that the police had arrested 55 suspects during the last two days for carrying out violent protests.

Flanked by Lahore Operations DIG, the CCPO held a press conference and said that the action was initiated when protesters attacked police with patrol bombs and burnt seven police motorbikes.

“I myself examined CCTV recording for 12 hours when it was claimed that the incident had occurred on Oct 2”, he said, adding no evidence of rape was found.

ISF blamed

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari says the government has evidence that the Insaf Students Federation of the PTI incited and provoked students to carry out violent protests. “The PTI has tarnished the dignity of the student and her family under a planned scheme,” she said in a statement here on Thursday.

She claimed that students had been provoked through official PTI pages . “Former officials of the ISF continuously provoked students.” She said videos were available to prove the official stand.“

She said the situation in all cities of Punjab, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Gujranwala was normal. She said that police were fulfilling their responsibilities to maintain law and order, and no one would be allowed to disrupt peace in Punjab.

Zulqernain Tahir and Imran Gabol also contributed to this report

Source:dawn.com

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Despite govt cajoling, Fazl still singing a different tune

Kalbe Ali | Iftikhar A. Khan | Ikram Junaidi

October 18, 2024

• In another late-night presser, JUI-F chief overturns all talk of ‘consensus’, threatens to boycott consultation process if govt does not mend its ways, stop coercive tactics

• Ultimatum prompts PM Shehbaz, Bilawal etc to rush to Maulana’s residence late at night

• Barrister Gohar claims some govt members have agreed not to vote for amendment; says party won’t share its draft sans Imran’s approval

ISLAMABAD: Defying all attempts to cajole him into backing the controversial 26th constitutional amendment, Maulana Fazlur Rehman overturned the government’s best-laid plans when he threatened to walk out of negotiations if the rulers continued using heavy-handed methods to muster the two-thirds majority they need in parliament.

The ultimatum came after a two-hour meeting between JUI-F and PTI leaders at the Maulana’s residence in Islamabad.

Although earlier media reports and statements from political leaders had indicated that a consensus on the draft amendment was not far off, the Maulana’s volte-face prompted late-night visits from PM Shehbaz Sharif and PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto, ostensibly in a bid to win him over.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar and PPP leader Syed Naveed Qamar also rushed to the Maulana’s residence after his press conference alongside PTI leaders. The meeting was still ongoing at the time of going to press.

Flanked by PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in his third post-midnight press conference in as many days, the JUI-F leader had flipped the game on its head.

While it was anticipated in light of his earlier press conferences that the JUI-F had agreed to support the government, Maulana Fazl’s latest stance was a significant departure from his earlier statements.

The PTI is a major opposition party and cannot be excluded from such an important matter, he said, adding that the entire opposition should be taken on board to achieve a broad-based consensus.

Political observers were anticipating something was brewing, as the JUI-F had summoned a meeting of its parliamentary party to discuss the constitutional amendment just hours after the commencement of the National Assembly and Senate sessions.

The JUI-F chief said he spent four hours discussing the amendments with the PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in Karachi on Tuesday, and the matter was also discussed at length at Jati Umra on Wednesday with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari.

“Some things have been agreed upon and some were still under discussion,” he said.

Govt should ‘behave properly’

He asked the government to stop harassing opposition lawmakers and their families, particularly mentioning JUI-F, PTI, and BNP-Mengal.

“I want to tell them that if do not behave properly, we will respond in the same coin… Don’t force us to boycott parliament,” he said.

“Our reconciliatory attitude is not being reciprocated. The government is simultaneously talking to the opposition and intimidating the opposition lawmakers.”

The Maulana also revealed that his party’s lawmakers had been issued notices under Article 63-A — that deals with defections — so they know that if they vote in defiance of the party line, they will be disqualified.

In his view, the PTI had a positive attitude towards the amendments. “Some things were agreed upon today and talks on some issues will continue,” he said.

The Maulana also called for the special parliamentary committee to be expanded to include key stakeholders such as the Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association.

Speaking on the occasion, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stressed the need for a consensus, and claimed that his party had been cooperating with the government to draft the “best possible proposal” for the proposed amendments.

Earlier, JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari told media persons that they had tried to convince the government on “our draft of the constitutional amendment”. He said there was still confusion about the content of the constitutional amendments, and only the government could tell when the amendment would be introduced in parliament.

Bench vs court

Earlier in the day, sources claimed the PML-N and PPP had agreed to accommodate the JUI-F’s demand for a constitutional bench rather than a separate constitutional court, as suggested by the Maulana’s party.

Speaking to Dawn on Thursday evening, sources claimed that this was decided between the JUI-F and PPP chief in Karachi on Tuesday, and that the PML-N had “reluctantly agreed” to the proposal at the Jati Umra huddle the next day.

Another source said a proposal aimed to empower the prime minister to appoint the chief justice of Pakistan out of the three senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, rather than picking the most senior judge, was still a part of the government’s draft.

Besides judicial reforms, there was also a plan to change the procedure for the appointment of the chief election commissioner. According to the proposal, in the case of a disagreement between the prime minister and the opposition leader, the matter would be referred to a parliamentary committee.

Special committee

The special parliamentary committee formed to forge a consensus on the draft amendment had also met on Thursday with Syed Khursheed Shah in the chair, where various proposals were discussed between all stakeholders, including the PTI.

Mr Shah told media persons after the meeting that the PML-N, JUI-F and MQM seemed to be in agreement, but the PTI did not present its proposals before the committee, despite repeated requests.

PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Sherry Rehman had also claimed harmony between her party and the JUI-F, saying: “It’s a matter of day or two and a draft will come before all”.

The PTI, on the other hand, said it would not share its proposals without getting a sign-off from their incarcerated founder Imran Khan.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had even claimed that seven lawmakers from the treasury benches would vote against the constitutional amendment and contested the government’s claim of having a two-thirds majority, saying the number only existed on paper.

“Legislators, belonging to the ruling parties, are ready to be disqualified but they will not vote in favour of proposed amendments. Maybe Bilawal [Bhutto-Zardari] is also aware that his own party’s members are not going to vote for the amendment,” he claimed.

Source:dawn.com

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

https://www.dawn.com/news/1865910

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Southeast Asia

Penang joins five other states in declaring GISBH teachings deviant, says deputy CM

18 Oct 2024

By Opalyn Mok

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 18 — The Penang Fatwa Council has declared the teachings, practices, beliefs and ideology of the followers of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) and its affiliated companies as deviant.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid told a press conference that GISBH leaders, followers and workers were found to uphold the teachings of Darul Arqam and Syarikat Rufaqa’ Corporation Sdn Bhd (SRC), both previously declared as deviant.

“It is found that followers of GISBH have deviated in terms of faith such as believing that Asy-Syeikh Muhammad Abdullah As-Suhaimi is invisible and will reappear as Imam Mahdi,” he said in a press conference at the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department office here.

Mohamad, who is also Penang Islamic Council chairman, said GISBH followers believed that the late Ashaari Muhammad (Abuya), founder of Darul Arqam, will appear as Imam Mahdi’s assistant in the afterlife.

“They also practice tabarruk (seeking blessings), such as obtaining blessings from water used by GISBH leaders,” he said.

He added that GISBH exploits children and women through slavery and oppressive practices in their economic activities.

“Therefore, the Fatwa Council has decided that all Muslims, whether individually or in groups, are forbidden from following or believing in their teachings or adopting any similar practices,” he said.

He said Muslims are also banned from spreading, supporting, teaching, owning, publishing, selling or promoting any of GISBH’s beliefs and practices.

“The fatwa council has also banned any individual or organisations from providing aid, funding or any support to any organisations or groups under GISBH with the intention of spreading its deviant teachings,” he said.

He called on GISBH members and leaders to repent and return to the true teachings of Islam.

Penang is the sixth state to declare GISBH’s teachings deviant, following Perlis, Selangor, Pahang, Melaka and Sabah.

“The state government has prepared a faith restoration centre to help the followers of GISBH to restore their faith,” he said.

He said GISBH members may voluntarily report to the Darul Hidayah Complex (KDH) in Permatang Tok Gelam, Penaga, to undergo in faith restoration programmes.

He said the programmes will focus on the teachings of Islam and to strengthen their understanding of Islamic teachings based on the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah.

“The KDH normally manages the affairs of new converts and is also a centre to strengthen the faith of individuals or groups,” he said.

The KDH is fully equipped with accommodation for up to 120 people, a surau that can accommodate 200 people and a multipurpose hall with a 500-person capacity for indoor sports.

“For now, KDH is yet to receive any GISBH members for faith restoration process,” he said.

The state government and relevant departments will ensure the faith restoration plan is implemented effectively for GISBH members.

Meanwhile, the fatwa declaring GISBH teachings as deviant will be gazetted as soon as possible to enable easier enforcement, he said.

He said the decision will be presented to the Yang diPertuan Agong for his approval.GISBH has four business premises in Penang, but Mohamad said all of them closed on October 9.

“There are no educational institutions linked to GISBH in Penang,” he said.

Source:malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/10/18/penang-joins-five-other-states-in-declaring-gisbh-teachings-deviant-says-deputy-cm/154042

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Selangor gazettes fatwa declaring GISBH as deviant

Oct 18, 2024

The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) has confirmed that a fatwa declaring that Global Ikhwan Service and Business Holdings’ (GISBH) teachings and activities deviate from Islam has been gazetted.

Mais chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said in a statement that the fatwa was approved by the Selangor ruler and was published in the state government gazette on Oct 16.

Source:malaysiakini.com

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https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/723040

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Non-Muslim groups will be consulted on syariah law reforms, deputy minister clarifies

Oct 18, 2024

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Zulkifli Hasan has clarified that non-Muslim organisations “will” be consulted on the impending reforms of syariah law.

In a Facebook post this afternoon, he clarified his statement to the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that the groups “were consulted” to explain the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) (Amendment) Bill, which included issues involving overlapping and conflicting jurisdictions.

Source:malaysiakini.com

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https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/723068

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Jakim: Malaysia adds five foreign halal certification bodies from Russia, Brazil, Mongolia and Uruguay

18 Oct 2024

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 18 — The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has amended the Second Schedule of the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Halal Marking) Order 2011 by adding new overseas halal certification bodies that are recognised by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM).

Its minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the amendment aligns with JAKIM’s decision to recognise five additional foreign halal certification bodies this year, comprising two from Russia and one each from Brazil, Mongolia and Uruguay.

“This brings the total number of overseas halal certification bodies recognised by JAKIM to 88 in 49 countries around the world.

“The Second Schedule of the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Halal Marking) Order 2011 was gazetted on Oct 4, 2024, and came into effect on Oct 5,” he said in a statement today.

Based on statistics on the enforcement of halal-related cases, Armizan said, a total of 53 cases were reported between Jan 1 and Sept 30 this year with goods worth RM1.81 million confiscated.

Among the offences recorded were using a fake halal logo and using a halal certificate issued by an unauthorised body.

He advised all quarters to comply with the laws currently in force, especially regarding halal issues, as the ministry will take firm action against the errant ones.

The publication of the amendment is to empower the country’s halal industry and legislation, in addition to protecting the interests of Muslim consumers, he said. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/10/18/jakim-malaysia-adds-five-foreign-halal-certification-bodies-from-russia-brazil-mongolia-and-uruguay/154045

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North America

Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival returns to Oriental Theater

Oct 17, 2024

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival is back for its 9th year. The first screening will begin at 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening at the Oriental Theatre.

The four-day film festival will showcase themes surrounding culture, identity, and faith. There will also be a post-screening discussion that delves into “the complexity of Muslim experiences from around the world.”

TMJ4’s Sydni Eure spoke with Janan Najeeb, the Executive Director of the Muslim Women’s Coalition and founder of the Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival. Najeeb said she’s looking forward to opening night.

“I hope it just, you know, opens eyes and makes people more curious,” said Najeeb. “I think that we’re always enriched when we learn different things, especially about a variety of different cultures. So, we tried to bring in different films, not just from here in the United States but around the world. It’s always greater to always learn about different perspectives.”

The MWC will also be celebrating its 30th year of service. Najeeb said there will be plenty of things to look forward to this year thanks to some re-branding efforts.

“We never really imaged where it could go and now we have so many different programs, we have tremendous numbers of employees, we’re well-known, we’re a go-to for information and resources so it’s really exciting,” said Najeeb.

Najeeb says a new name, logo, and website that better reflects the organization's regional impact will all be unveiled.

Watch: Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival kicks off Thursday night.

“We started out at the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition and our work has really become state-wide so now we are dropping the ‘Milwaukee’ from our name and becoming the Muslim Women’s Coalition,” said Najeeb. “So, we are definitely rebranding as we are expanding our physical footstep. So, we will be expanding into the other half of the building in 2025. Our logo has changed, we’re doing a lot of interesting things including a marketing campaign which will include billboards, etcetera. Just to help people know that we’re changing, we’re moving on up, so to speak.”

The festival will run from October 17th through 20th. For more information about the Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival and how to purchase tickets, click here.

Source:tmj4.com

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https://www.tmj4.com/news/milwaukee-county/muslim-women-deserve-to-be-seen-milwaukee-muslim-film-festival-returns

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‘We’re Desperate’: Socialists, Muslims Band Together To Deny Harris The White House

October 17, 2024

If 75% of the roughly 200,000 Muslim Americans in Michigan cast their vote on November 5, Vice President Kamala Harris will be virtually guaranteed to lose the state and its critical 15 electoral votes.

That’s what one activist group in the state, Drive for 75, believes. And to achieve it, Rex Nazarko and his organization are barnstorming Mosques, hosting voter promotion sermons and knocking on thousands of doors across the state.

“What was a guarantee for [a Harris loss] to happen? We tried with different percentages and different turnouts, and with the 75% number, again, accounting only for the Muslim community, not other communities, not other allies, not other progressives. It essentially guaranteed a 99.9% likelihood of the vice president losing the election in Michigan, if 75% of [the community turned out],” Nazarko told the Caller, explaining that they ran numerous mathematical simulations to inform their strategy.

“We ran that simulation 10,000 times, and almost every time that was the case. So that’s how we got the Drive for 75 call to action and idea,” he explained.

Though Harris hasn’t faced nearly as many pro-Palestinian protestors as President Joe Biden, efforts to thwart the Democrats’ presidential aspirations haven’t disappeared. Muslim Americans told the Daily Caller they are working to push their community to vote for Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein, or even in some cases former President Donald Trump, in an effort to hold Harris accountable for how she and Biden have handled the Israel-Hamas war.

“[The Muslim American community] lost their faith in the Democratic Party and the Democratic administration, so they’re out to kind of hold them accountable. And I don’t want to necessarily say punish, but it is also a punishment vote, in a sense. I think that they’re desperate. We’re desperate. It’s also a vote of desperation. You know, we want to see an end to this bloodshed and this genocide as soon as possible,” Nazarko told the Caller.

The Michiganders who spoke to the Caller acknowledged Trump might not have the Israel-Gaza policy the community hopes to see, but their effort is more focused on punishing the current administration than about who they could vote into office. The movement is also about sending a message to politicians that their voice cannot be ignored, Democrat Khalid Turaani, co-chair of the Abandon Biden campaign in Michigan, told the Caller. (Stream Daily Caller’s latest documentary ‘Cleaning Up Kamala’ HERE)

“We’re hoping that, whether Republicans or Democrats, will not take our vote for granted. So if it is [spoiling Harris’s chances], I hope it teaches not only the Democrats but the Republicans that, you go against your voters, you go against people as well. You continue to support a genocide, you’re going to lose,” Turaani told the Caller.

Before Biden dropped out of the race for the White House, his primary victory was stunted by a large protest vote across several key swing states, including Michigan. Campaigns like “Abandon Biden” pushed Arab and Muslim Americans to vote for the “uncommitted” ballot option in protest of his Gaza policy. And while 81.1% of Democratic primary voters chose Biden, 13.3% — more than 100,000 people — chose the uncommitted option.

In light of Biden exiting the presidential race, Abandon Biden switched its name to Abandon Harris, even though the vice president has indicated she would be tougher on Israel than her boss.

“She parrots the same line of ‘well on Oct. 7’ and okay, there has been more than 50,000 deaths. Two-thirds of them are women and children and she can’t get past ‘well on October 7.’ And we feel that this callous disregard to the lives of Palestinian civilians and the destruction of not only their infrastructure, the entire place in Gaza has been decimated, and and she just continues to parrot the same line. Meanwhile, continuing to support the Israeli assault and the Palestinian civilians and their lives and their buildings and their every aspect of their lives is under assault,” Turaani told the Caller.

“This administration represented by Biden and Harris continues to support that. The other thing is the fact that every effort to stop the genocide has been thwarted by this administration,” Turaani continued.

To cost Harris the state, not every Muslim American is expected to vote for Trump. In fact, some groups told the Caller they expect the community to not vote for either. Just five days ago, Abandon Harris threw its support behind Stein, who also has the backing of some socialist groups in the U.S due to her anti-capitalist economic positioning. And the Green Party seems to know its bid could spoil Harris’ candidacy.

“We need to be clear about what our goals are, we are not in a position to win the White House. But we do have a real opportunity to win something historic. We could deny Kamala Harris the state of Michigan,” Kshama Sawant, a former Seattle City Council Member and self-described socialist, said to cheers at a recent rally for Stein.

A spokesperson for the Stein campaign referred the Caller to Abandon Harris’s endorsement, adding that it “outlines Muslim support for the campaign.”

“We’ve conducted an internal informal poll, we’ve cross-referenced with other polls taken in the state and nationwide, and we’ve been speaking to thousands of community members for the past weeks. The sentiment seems either Jill Stein or third-party, and then Trump and then Harris is at the very bottom. So if we just get the community out, we know that the natural distribution of both is going to fall towards that third party,” Nazarko told the Caller.

Vice chair of the 12th Congressional District Republican Committee, Stephanie Butler, who lives in Dearborn and is married to a Muslim, told the Caller that a deciding moment for the Muslim community in Michigan was former Vice President Dick Cheney’s endorsement of Harris.

“Here’s the new thing going around, people are saying that, ‘hello, she’s been endorsed by Dick Cheney.’ That tells you everything you need to know about this woman: that her intentions are war,” Butler told the Caller.

But a few weeks out from the election, some are still worried that the community may choose to stay home rather than go out to vote amid their anger.

“I feel like a majority of Muslims will vote for Jill Stein. There are a small portion that will vote for Trump,” Hassan Chami, a Dearborn resident, told the Caller. “The issue is, I fear that a lot of people may not want to vote at all. And if that’s the case, Kamala maybe can win Michigan.”

To address the concerns, Drive for 75 is blitzing the Muslim community. The effort currently has a civic representative and team captains assigned to each mosque that are building a sub team of volunteers and who each will be responsible for providing materials and election updates to 50 contacts within the community. Currently the plan is being implemented in 25 mosques, but will be expanded into more.

Within those mosques and other community centers, Drive for 75 is hosting turn out the vote events and using social media and text messages to push Muslim Americans to the polls. In the final two weeks of the election cycle, Drive for 75 expects to knock on 10,000 doors.

“Muslims are family-oriented and family-centered. We’re relying on the large networks that community members have to encourage one another,” Nazarko told the Caller.

Though polls show the race neck-and-neck in the state, there is a confidence among the community about what to expect.

“There’s no way [Harris] can win Michigan,” Butler told the Caller. “There’s just no way.”

Source:dailycaller.com

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https://dailycaller.com/2024/10/17/kamala-harris-michigan-abandon-jill-stein-gaza-uncommitted/

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Detroit Evening Report: Islamic Center of Detroit opens new mental health center

October 17, 2024

There’s a new mental health center located inside the Islamic Center of Detroit.

ICD held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday for its faith-based My Mental Wellness center, which is open to all.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

It’s believed to be the first mental health center inside a mosque in the U.S. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says ICD has come a long way from its humble beginnings.

“ICD is now the center of this community, and I’ve been here for food programs. I’ve been here for youth programs, been here for recreation programs, and now opening of a mental health clinic is going to serve the whole community,” he said. “It’s just a terrific day for Detroit.”

The clinic provides free on-site and virtual therapy and counseling sessions, as well as ASL services, career coaching, annual health fairs, and initiatives for the special needs community.

My Mental Wellness has served 200 people so far. ICD hopes to add additional health care services for the community in the near future.

For more information, visit mymentalwellnessicd.org.

Reporting by Nargis Rahman, WDET

Other headlines for Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024:

Detroit is looking for a new top cop. Police Chief James White is set to become the CEO and president of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network after the group’s board of directors voted to appoint him to the role at their meeting on Wednesday.

The Michigan Education Justice Coalition Youth Collective is hosting its second virtual statewide candidate forum on Monday, Oct. 21, called Student Strong.

Six local Black tech founders have been awarded a total of $120,000 in grants from the “Community Regrant” program from Black Tech Saturdays and Rocket Community Fund. Each recipient received $20,000 for projects that will help bridge the digital divide in the city of Detroit.

The Wayne County Treasurer’s Office and the city of Detroit are hosting a foreclosure prevention seminar for seniors and individuals with disabilities on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Perfecting Church, 7616 Nevada Ave., Detroit. Call 313-244-0274 to schedule an appointment and Lyft Service to the event.

Source:wdet.org

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https://wdet.org/2024/10/17/islamic-center-of-detroit-opens-new-mental-health-center/

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Regulator finds mosque was mismanaged

October 18, 2024

Alex McIntyre

The mismanagement of a charity in charge of a mosque led to issues around safeguarding and “inappropriate” posts on social media, according to a regulator.

A Charity Commission report highlighted issues at Dar ul Uloom Islamia Rizwia (Bralawai), which operates Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif in Birmingham.

Its publication followed a three-year inquiry, during which time the charity made “significant steps” to address the problems, the regulator said.

The mosque said the process had been “exhausting” but accepted the report’s findings and said it would continue to make improvements.

The Charity Commission was first alerted in 2019 when a safeguarding incident was reported to have happened at the mosque’s education centre.

The centre was closed and an investigation found the charity had no safeguarding policies in place at the time of the incident, which was described as a “serious breach of duty”.

The statutory inquiry was launched in November 2021, when the education centre was reopened without safeguarding measures being implemented, the report said.

Among the issues identified was the charity’s failure to complete a draft social media policy, which the report said contributed to “multiple inappropriate social media posts” by trustees and staff.

The posts have since been deleted and an apology was issued at the time, the report said.

It also raised concerns about the charity’s failure to log its accounts for the financial years ending in March 2019 and 2020, which the regulator said amounted to “misconduct and/or mismanagement”.

'Regulatory concerns'

Following the appointment of an interim manager by the commission, the charity has since put safeguarding measures in place, implemented a “robust” social media policy and brought its accounts up to date, the report said.

Joshua Farbridge, the Charity Commission’s head of compliance visits and inspections, confirmed the inquiry was closed with the expectation the mosque’s trustees would continue to make the necessary changes.

“Our inquiry found a number of regulatory concerns and several instances of misconduct and/or mismanagement but the trustees have taken significant steps to improve how the charity operates”, he said.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Ghamkol Sharif Mosque said it was grateful the inquiry had concluded and thanked the commission for its support.

“It has been a thoughtful period, in which we can assertively state that the outcome has been beneficial for the charity,” it read.

It described the investigation as “exhausting for all concerned” and said a “significant amount” of concerns were raised, which prolonged the inquiry.

“We accept the findings of the Inquiry, and will continue to make improvements towards governance, administration and management in the coming period,” it added.

Source:bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvdl0qedpmo

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South Asia

Protests on SC premises: Legal experts call it intimidating, a threat to judiciary

Oct 18, 2024

The protests on Supreme Court premises and the subsequent bar on 12 judges are a threat to the judiciary's independence, legal experts said.

Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain said Wednesday's incidents put both lawyers and judges at unease.

"Judges will be in fear when issuing verdicts and lawyers when handling cases," she told The Daily Star.

On Tuesday, Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, two key coordinators of the student movement against discrimination, urged their followers to gather on the Supreme Court premises and demand the resignations of "Awami League's fascist judges".

The next morning, over a thousand people, mostly students, and a group of lawyers began demonstrating on the SC premises, calling for the resignation of "corrupt and biassed" judges.

In the afternoon, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed barred 12 High Court judges from participating in judicial activities.

"If there were specific allegations against the judges, a fair and transparent process should have been followed. We are entitled to know what the allegations are... the details should have been made public," Sara said.

Senior lawyer ZI Khan Panna said the protesters' demand for resignation of 12 judges by Sunday was a threat to the judiciary.

"They even manhandled a lawyer. They claim they want an independent judiciary, but we understand what sort of 'independent judiciary' they seek," he added.

The government should have done something when they made the Facebook posts, he said.

"What evidence do they have to prove that the judges are agents of the Awami League government? There may be allegations of corruption against them, but if their appointment by the Awami League government makes them agents, then the same should apply to judges appointed during the BNP regime."

Lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua said putting pressure on the judiciary should not be allowed.

Referring to the student-led mass uprising that toppled the AL government, he said so many people gave their lives and suffered life-changing injuries, because they wanted to rid the country of irregularities and corruption.

"They want a just society free of discrimination. If we want to restore the [glory of] judiciary, it must be done while maintaining [the judiciary's] dignity," he said.

Someone must be trying to use the students through instigations and wrong information.

"The [interim] government has been there for two and a half months. What has the law adviser done during this time? Why hadn't the law adviser take steps [about the judges]? They know everything."

Source:thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/protests-sc-premises-legal-experts-call-it-intimidating-threat-judiciary-3730211

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Investigations Underway into Afghan Casualties at Iran-Pakistan Border

2024-10-17

KABUL(BNA): Mawlawi Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, announced that investigations are currently being conducted into reports concerning the deaths and injuries of Afghan nationals at the Iran-Pakistan border.

In a statement shared on his X account, Mujahid addressed the media’s ambiguous reports about the situation, emphasizing that various bodies within the Islamic Emirate, along with diplomatic representatives, are working to clarify the details surrounding the incident.

Mujahid acknowledged that, given the incident occurred outside of Afghanistan, comprehensive information is still pending. He assured that appropriate decisions will be made once more clarity is achieved regarding the circumstances and implications of the event.

The spokesperson’s comments come amid growing concern over the safety of Afghans in border regions, as the international community closely monitors the situation. Further updates are expected as investigations progress.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/investigations-underway-into-afghan-casualties-at-iran-pakistan-border/

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Suhail Shaheen Meets Turkish Ambassador to Qatar to Discuss Bilateral Ties

2024-10-17

KABUL(BNA): Mohammad Suhail Shaheen, the Chief of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, announced his recent meeting with Dr. Mustafa Göksu, the Turkish ambassador to Qatar.

The meeting took place in Doha, where both officials engaged in discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between Afghanistan and Turkey.

In a post on his X account, Shaheen highlighted the key areas of focus during their discussions, which included education, health, agriculture, and potential investment opportunities in Afghanistan. The dialogue reflects a commitment to enhancing cooperation and exploring avenues for mutual benefit.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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

https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/suhail-shaheen-meets-turkish-ambassador-to-qatar-to-discuss-bilateral-ties/

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Mass uprising: Govt to give Tk 30 lakh to victim families

Oct 17, 2024

The government has decided to provide Tk 30 lakh to the family of those were martyred during the July-August uprising.

This decision was made today in the advisory council's meeting, said Mahfuj Alam, special assistant to the chief adviser, at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.

"In the first phase, the government will provide Tk 30 lakh to the families of the martyred. Similar arrangements will be made for those who will be added to the list [of martyrs] after scrutiny," he said.

Source:thedailystar.net

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Mideast

Israel PM Says Killing Of Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar‘Beginning Of The End’ Of Gaza War

October 18, 2024

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip was the “beginning of the end” of the year-long war in the Palestinian territory.

The Israeli military said that after a lengthy hunt, troops had on Wednesday “eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organization, in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip.”

Hamas has not confirmed his death.

Netanyahu, who vowed to crush Hamas at the start of the war, hailed Sinwar’s killing, saying: “While this is not the end of the war in Gaza, it’s the beginning of the end.”

He had earlier called Sinwar’s death an “important landmark in the decline of the evil rule of Hamas.”

The chief of Hamas in Gaza at the time of the October 7 attack that sparked the war, Sinwar became the militant group’s overall leader after the killing in July of its political chief, Ismail Haniyeh.

He is said to have masterminded the October 7 attack, the deadliest in Israeli history, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures that includes hostages killed in captivity.

Israel’s announcement of Sinwar’s death comes weeks after it assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a strike in Lebanon, where the Israeli military has been at war since late September.

With Hamas already weakened more than a year into the Gaza war, Sinwar’s death deals an immense blow to the organization.

US President Joe Biden, whose government is Israel’s top arms provider, said: “This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world.”

“There is now the opportunity for a ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

Militants also seized 251 hostages during the October 7 attack and took them into Gaza. Ninety-seven remain there, including 34 who Israeli officials say are dead.

Following the attack, Netanyahu vowed to defeat Hamas and bring home all the hostages.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed 42,438 people in Gaza, the majority civilians, according to data from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures which the UN considers reliable.

Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi said: “We are settling the score with Sinwar, who is responsible for that very difficult day a year ago.”

He vowed the military would keep fighting “until we capture all the terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre and bring all the hostages home.”

Some Israelis hailed the news of Sinwar’s death as a sign of better things to come.

“I am celebrating the death of Sinwar, who has brought us nothing but harm, who has taken people hostage,” said one Israeli woman, Hemda, who only gave her first name.

Attending a Tel Aviv rally demanding the hostages’ release, 60-year-old El-Sisil, who also gave only her first name, said his killing presented a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for “a hostage deal to end the war.”

But whether the Hamas chief’s death will bring the end of the war any closer is unclear.

Warning that the hostages were in “grave danger,” Israeli military historian Guy Aviad said Sinwar’s killing was “a significant event... but it’s not the end of the war.”

Campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged the Israeli government and international mediators to leverage “this major achievement to secure hostages’ return.”

According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, Biden called him to congratulate him on Sinwar’s killing, with the two leaders vowing to seize “an opportunity to promote the release of the hostages.”

Netanyahu said Palestinian militants should free the hostages if they want to live.

The Israeli military said Sinwar was killed in a firefight in southern Gaza’s Rafah, near the Egyptian border, while being tracked by a drone.

It released drone footage of what it said was Sinwar’s final moments, with the video showing a wounded militant throwing an object at the drone.

With the civilian toll in Gaza mounting, Israel has faced criticism over its conduct of the war, including from the United States.

In northern Gaza’s Jabalia, two hospitals said Israeli air strikes on a school sheltering displaced people killed at least 14 people, though the military reported that it had hit militants.

According to a UN-backed assessment, some 345,000 Gazans face “catastrophic” levels of hunger this winter.

Nearly 100 percent of Gaza’s population now lives in poverty, the UN’s International Labour Organization said, warning that the war’s impact on Gaza “will be felt for generations to come.”

Israel is also fighting a war in Lebanon, where Hamas ally Hezbollah opened a front by launching cross-border strikes that forced tens of thousands of Israelis to flee their homes.

Hezbollah said Thursday it was launching a new phase in its war against Israel, saying it had used precision-guided missiles against troops for the first time.

On the same day, Israel conducted strikes on the south Lebanese city of Tyre, where the militant group and its allies hold sway.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported strikes on the Bekaa Valley, after Israel had issued an evacuation warning for civilians there.

The Israeli military said five soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon, taking to 19 the number of troop deaths announced since Israel began raids into Lebanon last month.

In Lebanon, the war since late September has left at least 1,418 people dead, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry figures, though the real toll is likely higher.

The war has also drawn in other Iran-aligned armed groups, including in Yemen, Iraq and Syria.

Iran on October 1 conducted a missile strike on Israel, for which Israel has vowed to retaliate.

Tehran’s mission to the United Nations said Thursday that Sinwar’s killing would lead to the strengthening of “resistance” in the region.

Source:arabnews.com

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Lebanon crowdfunded ambulances under fire in Israel-Hezbollah war

October 17, 2024

BEIRUT: Lebanese data scientist and volunteer rescue worker Bachir Nakhal started a crowdfunding effort to buy new ambulances for south Lebanon months ago, fearing Israel’s war in Gaza could spread to his country.

But weeks into Israel’s war with Hezbollah, his worst fears came true when an ambulance he had helped purchase was bombed.

“We were trying to get the number of ambulances up to the bare minimum level,” he told AFP.

“We weren’t expecting the ambulances ... to get directly targeted or bombed,” said Nakhal, who says the vehicle he had raised money for was destroyed in an Israeli strike just four days after the volunteers had received it.

The October 9 strike, which took place in the southern village of Derdghaiya, killed five rescue workers, including the head of the local team and his son, according to the civil defense.

The incident was among what the United Nations says is a growing number of attacks on healthcare in Lebanon, with paramedics, first responders and ambulances increasingly in the firing line.

“More attacks continue to be reported where ambulances and relief centers are targeted or hit in Lebanon,” UN humanitarian agency OCHA said after the Derdghaiya strike.

The Israeli army has accused Hezbollah of using ambulances to transport weapons and fighters, though it has yet to produce any evidence.

“Necessary measures will be taken against any vehicle transporting gunmen, regardless of its type,” Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee wrote in Arabic on social media platform X.

Nakhal said a second crowdfunded ambulance, dispatched to the southern city of Nabatiyeh on Monday, was barely on the road for a day when it had a close call with heavy strikes.

Israel had earlier in the war issued an evacuation warning for Nabatiyeh, where Hezbollah and its ally Amal hold sway.

Source:arabnews.com

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No US role in Israel operation that killed Hamas leader, Pentagon says

October 17, 2024

WASHINGTON: The US military said on Thursday its forces had no role in the Israeli operation that killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, even if US intelligence has contributed to Israel’s understanding of Hamas leaders who took hostages last year.

“This was an Israeli operation. There (were) no US forces directly involved,” said Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson.

“The United States has helped contribute information and intelligence as it relates to hostage recovery and the tracking and locating of Hamas leaders who have been responsible for holding hostages. And so certainly that contributes in general to the picture.”

“But again, this was an Israeli operation. And I would refer you to them to talk about the details of how the operation went down.”

Source:arabnews.com

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Biden says Sinwar’s death is ‘good day’ for world, ‘opportunity’ for hostage deal, end to Gaza war

October 17, 2024

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE: President Joe Biden said Thursday that the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli troops is a “good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world,” and called it an “opportunity” to free Israeli hostages held by Hamas and end the yearlong war in Gaza.

Biden, in a statement, compared it to the feeling in the US after the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, saying the killing of the mastermind of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel “proves once again that no terrorists anywhere in the world can escape justice, no matter how long it takes.”

Biden said he would speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to congratulate them “and to discuss the pathway for bringing the hostages home to their families, and for ending this war once and for all.”

Biden said with Sinwar’s death “there is now the opportunity for a ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

He praised US special operations forces and intelligence operatives who helped advise Israeli allies on tracking and locating Sinwar and other Hamas leaders over the last year — though the US said the operation that killed Sinwar was an Israeli one.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan called Sinwar a “massive obstacle” to peace. He added, “his removal from the battlefield does present an opportunity to find a way forward that gets the hostages home.”

Source:arabnews.com

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Hezbollah enters new phase in war as Netanyahu insists on dismantling its structure

NAJIA HOUSSARI

October 17, 2024

BEIRUT: Hezbollah confirmed that it has “no option in Lebanon except for the realities imposed by its members in the field, and anything else is betting on an illusion.”

MP Hassan Fadlallah, a member of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, said in a press conference that “Israel’s war on Hezbollah aims to eliminate the resistance, wipe it out from the region, and subjugate Lebanon.”

He said that the enemy “has been planning this war for years and has adopted a scorched-earth policy along the borders, attempting to create a buffer zone to annex the area south of the Litani, which the resistance will thwart.”

Fadlallah said that the party “has entered a new phase of resisting aggression. We are operating on three fronts, the first being in the field, and so far, the enemy has not managed to take control of or settle in any village. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati are negotiating with international envoys to reach a ceasefire, and we are closely following this matter with Berri.”

Fadlallah refused to confirm or deny reports circulating in the south about Hezbollah capturing Israeli soldiers. He simply said: “If any Israeli soldier is captured, the resistance will announce it through its statements.”

On Thursday, the sounds of airstrikes and artillery fire drowned out any diplomatic talk paving the way for a ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his escalatory stance, stating Israel’s intent to “destroy all of Hezbollah’s military structure, which has been built over two decades,” and that his goal “in Lebanon is to return the northern residents to their homes and dismantle Hezbollah's military structure.”

A German Ministry of Defense spokesperson on Thursday told Reuters that “a German warship that operates as part of UNIFIL’s peacekeeping mission intercepted a drone off the Lebanese coast.”

He said that the drone “fell into the water,” and caused no damage to the ship.

The spokesperson said that “the origin of the drone brought down by the air defense system is unknown,” adding that “the warship, known as Ludwigshafen am Rhein and deployed as part of the UN’s peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, is continuing its duties.”

Several UNIFIL positions, as well as the headquarters’ watchtower, were subject to Israeli hostilities, in which several peacekeepers were injured.

The goal of the attacks was to make UNIFIL peacekeepers evacuate their positions in the Lebanese border area and relocate 5 km north. However, the UN strongly rejected the matter and condemned the attacks.

UNIFIL peacekeepers at a position near Kafer Kela on Wednesday observed “an Israeli Merkava tank firing at their watchtower, destroying two cameras and damaging the tower.”

In an official statement, UNIFIL said: “Yet again we see direct and apparently deliberate fire on a UNIFIL position.”

Meanwhile, evacuation threats were sent on Thursday to Lebanese in diplomatic, media and residential buildings in Beirut, Bekaa and the south.

The evacuation warning messages were received by workers in a Beirut building housing offices of the Al-Jazeera news network and the Norwegian Embassy, the Markazia Suites hotel, and buildings in the vicinity of Starco Center, which includes ministries and company offices.

Evacuation warnings were also sent to workers in the main Hamra street next to the American University of Beirut’s campus, including the Commodore Hotel, where foreign journalists usually stay.

A judge at the court of audit received a similar message.

After the army’s investigation of the source of the warnings, it appeared that the calls received on people’s phones were “fake,” according to a security source.

The source considered that “all are rumors other than the warnings issued by the spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, on his social media account, which include maps specifying the targets, remain inaccurate, especially the phone calls received by citizens, officials, mayors, judges, embassies and media offices.”

On Thursday, Adraee issued a series of urgent warnings to residents in northern Bekaa to evacuate before attacking the targeted areas less than an hour later with airstrikes.

Adraee’s warnings included areas in the south, especially the Tyre region.

Israeli airstrikes continued in the border area, particularly in the areas of Tyre, Nabatiyeh, Iqlim Al-Tuffah and Jezzine, reaching the eastern sector with the shelling of Shebaa. The airstrikes focused on the northern Bekaa region, up to the border with Syria.

In a series of statements, Hezbollah said it had repelled Israeli forces in Labbouneh Heights and the Kfarkela and Odaisseh axes.

Adraee claimed that “a Hezbollah battalion commander, Hussein Mohammed Awada, was eliminated in the Bint Jbeil area and that he was responsible for launching shells toward Israeli territory.”

Source:arabnews.com

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Houthis say US will ‘pay the price’ for airstrikes on Yemen

SAEED AL-BATATI

October 17, 2024

AL-MUKALLA: Yemen’s Houthi militia on Thursday threatened to punish the US for launching a series of airstrikes on areas under their control in Yemen and vowed to continue attacking ships in international shipping lanes in support of the Palestinian people.

Nasruddin Amer, a Houthi media official, said that the US would “pay the price” for attacking their areas in Yemen and that the US was trying to put pressure on them to stop their attacks on ships as well as lift their ban on US ships passing through the Red and Arabian seas.

“We confirm that our position on Gaza and Lebanon will remain unchanged and that they will pay the price for their continued aggression against our country,” Amer said in a post on X.

The threat came as US Central Command said on Thursday that its forces carried out a series of airstrikes on hardened underground storage facilities in Yemen where the Houthis conceal missiles and other weapons that are used to strike ships in international shipping lanes.

The US military said the airstrikes, which used the B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers for the first time, were intended to weaken Houthi military power and push them to stop threatening US and international naval forces as well as commercial vessels.

“These actions were taken to degrade the Houthis’ capability to continue their reckless and unlawful attacks on international commercial shipping and on US, coalition, and merchant personnel and vessels in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, and to degrade their ability to threaten regional partners,” the US Central Command said, adding there had been no reported human casualties as a result of their airstrikes.

Residents in Sanaa reported large explosions in various areas on Thursday morning, with amateur videos showing large fireballs and thick smoke billowing from the targeted locations.

The Houthis’ Political Bureau strongly condemned the US airstrikes in their areas, describing them as “cowardly aggression” that would not “go unpunished.”

Since November, the Houthis have launched hundreds of ballistic missiles, drones and drone boats at international naval and commercial ships in the Red Sea and other seas off Yemen, sinking two ships and forcing international shipping companies to avoid the Red Sea in favor of the longer and more expensive route round South Africa.

The Houthis claim that they target only ships with links to Israel and those sailing to Israel as a means to pressure Israel to end its war in the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

The US responded to the Houthi ship attacks by designating the Yemeni militia a terrorist organization, forming marine task forces to protect ships and launching waves of strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

At the same time, Abdulrahman Barman, a Yemeni human rights advocate and director of the American Center for Justice, told Arab News on Thursday that the Houthis are preparing to try six abducted Yemenis who work for the US and US-funded organizations after their investigations are completed.

The Houthis have referred to the criminal prosecution of Abdul Kader Al-Saqqaf, a retired Yemeni worker, as well as five other current and former Yemeni employees of the US Embassy in Sanaa, the US Agency for International Development, and an American English language institute who were abducted by the Houthis in 2021, Barman said.

The abducted individuals appeared in a video released by the Houthis in which they confessed to spying for the US, confessions Yemeni activists say were taken at gunpoint.

“After years in prison, the Houthis turned them over to the prosecution to legalize their arrest, torture and violation of the law,” Barman said.

Source:arabnews.com

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Islamic Jihad Movement strongly condemns brutal American aggression that targeted Yemen

17 Oct 2024

The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine has strongly condemned the brutal American aggression that targeted Yemen, claiming it confirms the American administration's role in managing the war waged by the Zionist entity against the region's peoples.

The movement criticized the American administration's promotion of protecting international trade and securing navigation, stating that Yemeni forces only targeted ships linked to the occupying entity and its defenders.

The movement praised the Yemeni people's support for the Palestinian people and their resistance, expressing confidence in their response to the aggression.

Source:saba.ye

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Islamic Resistance in Iraq bombs vital target in occupied Umm al-Rashrash

17 Oct 2024

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq on Thursday dawn claimed responsibility for attacking a vital target of the Zionist enemy in southern occupied Palestine with drones.

The Islamic Resistance said in a statement that its mujahedeen attacked a vital target in the occupied Umm al-Rashrash ‘Eilat’ with drones.

It stressed that its operations come ‘in continuation of our approach in resisting the occupation, in support of our people in Palestine and Lebanon, and in response to the massacres committed by the usurper entity against civilians, including children, women and the elderly.’

The Islamic Resistance warned that the operations would continue to ‘crush the strongholds of the enemies’ at an escalating pace.

Source:saba.ye

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Settlers break into Aqsa Mosque yards

17 Oct 2024

Tens of Zionist settlers on Thursday stormed the Aqsa Mosque's yards, with protection from Israeli police that deployed forces across the yards and at gates, imposing security restrictions around the Mosque.

Settlers break into the holy Mosque almost daily, in a bid to promote for spatial and time division of the Aqsa Mosque.

Source:saba.ye

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Arab World

How AI-driven robotics is transforming healthcare in Saudi Arabia

MANAL AL-BARAKATI LAMA ALHAMAWI

October 17, 2024

RIYADH: Robots have lived among us for years, from our factory assembly lines to the autonomous vehicles sorting our parcels. Now, with rapid advances in artificial intelligence, our robot companions are taking on even more sophisticated tasks — even heart surgery.

With their precision and steadiness of hand, robots are able to perform delicate procedures often beyond the abilities of even the most skilled human surgeons, proving less invasive for the patient, offering faster recovery times, and reducing the risk of post-op infection.

According to the World Economic Forum, the market for robot-assisted surgery is expected to surpass $14 billion by 2026. Having invested heavily in health sector innovation, Saudi Arabia is already making significant strides in the adoption of AI-driven robotics in medicine.

In September, a cardiac team at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh achieved a historic milestone by performing the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant on a 16-year-old boy who was facing end-stage heart failure.

Dr. Feras Khaliel, head of cardiac surgery and director of the Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program at KFSHRC, said the success of the procedure represents a monumental leap in robot-assisted surgery, and highlights AI’s game-changing role.

“AI is an invaluable tool,” Khaliel told Arab News. “It allows us to process a substantial amount of data in real time, providing insights that improve our decision-making in the operating room. But it’s not replacing surgeons — it’s enhancing what we can do.”

The surgery was conducted using the Da Vinci Surgical System, a robotic platform renowned for its precision and control, developed by the US biotechnology company Intuitive Surgical.

Combined with AI, it provides real-time analytics during surgery, continuously processing data, offering clinical insights, and allowing for instant adjustments.

Da Vinci Xi is the world’s most widely used multiport robotic surgery system, able to perform a wide array of medical procedures.

The system’s robotic arms, guided by human hands, allow doctors to operate through tiny incisions, thereby avoiding the open-chest incisions normally required for major heart surgery.

“We’ve always known the potential of robotic systems, but seeing it applied to something as intricate as a heart transplant was extraordinary,” said Khaliel. “The precision we achieved would have been impossible using conventional techniques.”

By incorporating AI, the team was able to make critical decisions with extreme accuracy, responding instantly to any changes in the patient’s condition.

To ensure the patient’s safety, the team conducted rigorous preoperative simulations, practicing the entire procedure seven times over three consecutive days. This allowed them to define every step and minimize potential complications.

Each step of the surgery was calibrated for precision. The robotic instruments underwent multiple tests to ensure optimal performance, and the team continuously monitored the data system throughout the procedure.

This minimally invasive approach not only reduced the risk of complications, but also significantly shortened the patient’s recovery time and minimized scarring, marking a major advancement in transplant surgery.

“The success of this groundbreaking surgery really came down to a few key elements; the advanced technology, meticulous planning, rigorous simulations, and flawless team coordination,” said Khaliel.

Data collected during the surgery — such as precision metrics, patient response, and system performance indicators — will be analyzed to refine future techniques. This will not only improve the robotic surgery program, but also contribute to broader research in robotic transplants.

Khaliel believes AI will play a growing role in surgery, becoming a real-time partner in the operating room, offering predictive insights and optimizing surgical pathways. Indeed, human surgeons will continue to have a place, applying their expertise and intuition.

The advent of AI-driven robotics will, however, transform how he and his colleagues work together as a team and will demand highly specialized technical skills and proficiencies in the use of advanced robotics and the ability to interpret data-driven insights provided by AI.

KFSHRC is no stranger to medical firsts. With more than 400 robotic cardiac surgeries already under its belt, the hospital ranks among the top five centers for robotic heart procedures worldwide.

Its Robotic Cardiac Surgery Program has achieved a 98 percent survival rate, performing complex surgeries such as multi-valve operations and aortic valve replacements.

The success of this latest robotic heart transplant opens the way for more complex procedures to be performed with greater safety and efficiency.

KFSHRC’s leadership in robotics and AI not only improves patient outcomes, but also positions the Kingdom as an emerging world leader in healthcare innovation.

Source:arabnews.com

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COP 29 must be a ‘stand-and-deliver’ moment for climate change, says UN expert

HAIFA ALSHAMMARI

October 17, 2024

RIYADH: As climate change increasingly adds to the strains on national finances and economies worldwide, it is essential that international climate financing be significantly enhanced, a leading UN expert on the subject said on Thursday.

Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, added that increased access to affordable and reliable funding on a large scale is crucial for efforts to mitigate climate risks, encourage action and foster sustainable economic growth.

His comments came during a discussion about climate finance at a virtual event hosted by Brookings Institution’s Global Economy and Development program, as he highlighted opportunities to achieve meaningful progress in efforts to combat climate change and advance global development.

Highlighting the finance goals and plans he believes must be delivered next month at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 29, in Azerbaijan, he said: “In the past decade, we have seen some real progress. Over a trillion dollars were invested in climate action last year, globally, up from a few hundred billion a decade ago.”

In 2022, developed countries provided more than $100 billion in climate financing to developing nations, Stiell said. However, even developed countries can struggle to properly address the effects of climate change, which are causing hundreds of billions of dollars of damage in rich and poor nations alike, he added.

“Under Brazil’s G20 leadership (this year), climate and finance ministers have finally been brought together,” Stiell said. “This essential collaboration must continue and be translated into clear outcomes.”

Discussions about financing for efforts to tackle climate change are critical to ensure all countries, in particular developing nations, small islands and the least-developed countries, receive the support they need to help reduce the effects of the environmental crisis and reduce emissions, he added.

“At COP 29 in Baku, all governments must agree to a new goal for international climate finance that truly responds to the needs of developing countries,” Stiell said.

“COP 29 must be the ‘stand-and-deliver’ COP, recognizing that climate finance is core business to save the global economy, and billions of lives and livelihoods, from rampaging climate impacts.”

This echoed a comment he posted on social media network X last week, in which he wrote: “The upcoming COP29 climate conference must be an enabling COP: Delivering concrete outcomes to start translating the climate pledges made by countries in last year’s COP28 UAE Consensus into real-world, real-economy results. It’s time to get the job done.”

The conference next month offers important opportunities to enhance climate financing, establish new global delivery objectives, and generate some much-needed momentum for existing commitments, Stiell said on Thursday.

“Ambitious outcomes at the annual meetings are vital to enable bolder climate actions that boost economies and strengthen societies everywhere,” he added.

Source:arabnews.com

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Saudi Arabia’s commissions of museums, heritage sign 4 executive programs in China

October 17, 2024

BEIJING: The Kingdom’s Museums Commission and its Heritage Commission on Thursday signed four executive programs with a number of Chinese cultural institutions at Beijing’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, who is the chairman of the board of directors of both commissions, attended the ceremony, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The first program, signed by the Museums Commission and the Shanghai Museum, focused on the long-term loans of artworks and archaeological collections, in addition to future cooperation in hosting the Kingdom’s Art Exhibition, featuring contemporary Saudi artists and organized by the Museums Commission at the Shanghai Museum.

The second program was an agreement between the Museums Commission and the National Museum of China to study and establish a joint bilateral forum, in addition to an agreement on long-term loans of artworks and archaeological collections from the National Museum of China. There is also to be an exchange of exhibitions in 2025-2026 as the Saudi Musical Instruments Exhibition and the Kingdom’s Art Exhibition are to be hosted in China.

The third program, which was between the Museums Commission and the Chinese Palace Museum, looked to cooperate in the field of long-term loans of artworks and archaeological collections.

The fourth agreement, between the Heritage Commission and the Chinese Cultural Heritage Administration, agreed to renew the license for excavation work at the Al-Sereen archaeological site.

The programs are in the context of strengthening cultural relations between the two countries. They are part of the efforts of the Ministry of Culture and other cultural bodies to open new horizons for Saudi culture by promoting international cultural exchange, which is one of the goals of the national strategy for culture under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030.

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King Faisal hospital displays innovations and solutions

October 17, 2024

RIYADH: The Global Health Forum 2024 will be held in Riyadh from Oct. 21 to 23 with the participation of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre as a platinum sponsor.

The hospital’s pavilion will present its latest innovations and solutions in the health sector, as well as their effect on healthcare outcomes, the patients’ experience and operational efficiencies.

These innovations include robotic cardiac surgery, organ transplants, CAR-T cell production and pharmacogenetic analysis. The pavilion will also present the capacity command centre and its achievements in employing virtual reality technologies in medical education.

The hospital’s participation in the forum is part of its commitment to explore new trends, envision the future of healthcare and strengthen its position as an institution at the forefront of global healthcare innovation.

The hospital will introduce pavilion visitors to the achievements that made it a pioneer in the medical field, including performing the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant. The research center is famous for the local production of CAR-T cells.

This achievement is a qualitative addition to specialized healthcare in the Kingdom, reducing the financial burdens previously associated with manufacturing conditions elsewhere.

Source:arabnews.com

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KSrelief has implemented 1,029 food, agriculture and water aid projects worldwide

October 17, 2024

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has implemented 1,029 food, agriculture and water projects for vulnerable communities worldwide since its formation in 2015, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

The center has completed 902 projects related to food and agricultural security worth over $2 billion.

In addition, it has carried out 28 nutrition projects worth $187.6 million, and 99 water and sanitation projects worth $294.3 million globally.

Food security remains a key pillar for the development and strengthening of communities and nations, the SPA report stated.

It boosts local economies, achieves environmental sustainability, improves public health, and reduces poverty and hunger.

This is achieved through land reclamation, good agricultural production, and the provision of water for drinking and other purposes.

KSrelief has been at the forefront of countries dedicated to addressing the risks of famine, desertification, water scarcity, and malnutrition in needy countries around the world.

Source:arabnews.com

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Qiddiya launches training program to boost Saudi job market

October 17, 2024

In efforts to drive career opportunities in the Kingdom, Qiddiya Investment Company announced the launch of the “Playmakers Training Programs,” the Saudi Press agency reported on Thursday.

The programs are open to people from a range of educational backgrounds, with the minimum requirement being a high school-level education.

After successfully completing the course, participants will be offered a job at Qiddiya.

Abdullah Aldawood, managing director of Qiddiya Investment Company, said: “We are thrilled to launch the ‘Playmakers Training Programs,’ which represent a significant step in Qiddiya’s mission to develop Saudi talent and create a vibrant, skilled workforce for the entertainment, hospitality, sports and culture sectors, among others.

“By providing a wide range of training programs that lead directly to job opportunities, we are not only supporting Vision 2030 but also empowering individuals to embark on meaningful careers within the Qiddiya ecosystem.”

The programs will offer a broad range of training opportunities catering to different career aspirations.

From short-term courses to vocational training and higher education degrees, the programs are designed to prepare participants for employment in Qiddiya City sites such as Six Flags, Aquarabia, and Speed Park Track.

Qiddiya has signed MoUs with top global and local entertainment and hospitality training partners and is engaging additional partners to support the next phase of its training programs.

The first set of programs involve training for the entertainment and hospitality sectors, and there are plans in place to extend the offerings to sports, culture and more over time.

Qiddiya also works closely with government and non-profit organizations that share the same goals to upskill and train the Kingdom’s future talent.

Qiddiya has also inaugurated an online platform providing comprehensive information about all available training programs.

Interested candidates can browse through the catalog available on the platform and submit their applications for their program of choice.

Qiddiya anticipates creating 325,000 jobs in Qiddiya City and an additional 22,000 jobs across the Kingdom in Saudi Entertainment Ventures.

Launched in 2018 by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Qiddiya City is a massive entertainment project under construction on the outskirts of Riyadh.

Located in the Tuwaiq mountains about 40 minutes from Riyadh, Qiddiya is set to be home to more than 600,000 residents.

The development will include 25 different districts with entertainment zones, sports and culture, mixed-use areas, and residential communities.

More information on the newly launched training programs can be found at the official website: https://qiddiya.com/training-programs/.

Source:arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2575711/saudi-arabia

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Saudi FM receives phone call from Secretary Blinken

October 17, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday.

During the phone call, developments in the region and efforts made with regard to them were discussed, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Source:arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2575703/saudi-arabia

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Europe

Non-Muslims Invited To Mosque Open Day In Blackburn As Part Of A Community Engagement Day

October 18, 2024

By Shuiab Khan

A mosque is opening its doors to the wider community as part of a Community Engagement Day.

The Darussalam Education Centre, on Whalley New Road will be hosting the event on Monday 21 October from 10am until 1pm.

A mosque spokesperson said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for our community’s to come together, have some food, enjoy a brew, take a tour, and learn about each other’s cultures and beliefs.

“There will be a variety of activities including free health checks, henna artist, samosa making and more.

“This event is open to everyone, regardless of your faith and beliefs.

“Let’s come together to meet new people, celebrate our diversity, enhance understanding, and help bridge gaps between communities.

“Come along with your friends and family and be a part of this enriching experience.”

Source:lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

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https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24656677.non-muslims-invited-mosque-open-day-blackburn/

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EU commissioner labels Musk ‘promoter of evil’

18 Oct, 2024

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is unable to “recognize good and evil,” the outgoing EU commissioner for values and transparency has claimed, accusing the X CEO of failing to curb antisemitism on his platform.

“We started to relativize evil, and he’s helping it proactively. He’s the promoter of evil,” Vera Jourova told Politico magazine in an interview published on Wednesday, arguing that X has become “the main hub for spreading antisemitism.”

Jourova has never met Musk in person. She argued, however, that “even without this personal meeting, I would say that out of all the bosses I met, he is the only one who is not able to recognize good and evil.”

The official added that she was “really scared by digital platforms in bad hands,” and that “we have to be sure that the innovations are developed to do good to people.” She further argued that Musk’s platform failed to take “sufficient action” to tackle antisemitism.

Musk hit back at Jourova on X, saying “if she wants to know what evil looks like, she just needs a mirror.”

In 2022, the EU adopted the Digital Services Act (DSA), which allows officials to fine online platforms up to 6% of their yearly global revenue for failing to remove illegal content and disinformation or respect transparency regulations. In its preliminary findings released in July, the EU accused X of violating the DSA in “areas linked to dark patterns, advertising transparency and data access for researchers.”

After finalizing the purchase of Twitter in the fall of 2022, Musk promised to rebrand the platform as a more transparent space that is devoted to free speech and is free of censorship. He pledged to combat hate speech and paid a trip to Auschwitz, the site of a former Nazi death camp in Poland, in January.

X has “the least amount of antisemitism” compared to other platforms, Musk argued, adding that “it’s never going to be zero if you’ve got 600 million people on the platform.”

Musk also has accused the European Commission of wanting to make him sign “an illegal secret deal” while seeking to quietly censor speech on X.

Source:rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/605887-eu-calls-musk-promoter-evil/

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France to cut prices in Martinique over cost of living unrest

October 18, 2024

Paul Kirby

After more than six weeks of protests over the high cost of living on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, the local prefecture has signed a deal to cut soaring food prices.

Jean-Christophe Bouvier, France's prefect in Martinique, said the deal with a number of groups including importers and distributors would mean a 20% average cut in prices for 6,000 key, imported products.

Martinique has been rocked by protests that have left four people dead in clashes and shops and businesses set alight or looted. Authorities in the French territory have extended an overnight curfew to next week.

However, the deal to cut food prices has been rejected by the group behind the protests.

Food costs are about 40% more in Martinique than in mainland France and the Rally for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources (RPPRAC) is demanding that prices on the island are no higher than the mainland.

The RPPRAC says the agreement should cover 40,000 products, not just 6,000, and leader Rodrigue Petitot said it should be across the board rather than limited to 54 types of food.

"We'll keep fighting until we get our way," Petitot told AFP news agency.

In a communiqué after a seventh round of negotiations on Wednesday night, the French prefect said the agreement reached would result in five significant measures "for a structural reduction in purchase costs... as well as a firm and mandatory commitment by big distributors to cut significantly their margins on the sale of products".

About 80% of food is imported from mainland France, so the 360,000 people who live in Martinique have to pay about €7.80 (£6.50) for a 250g packet of branded ground coffee that might cost €3.50 elsewhere. Butter can cost as much as €8.50 and households spend as much as 17% of their income on meat alone.

And it is not just food, where the price gap between France and Martinique has widened significantly in recent years. Phone and internet costs are a third higher, too.

Part of the problem is an old 9% import tax known as octroi de mer (dock dues) dating back to the 17th Century. Another is the large number of intermediaries involved in bringing products to the shops.

"It's not right for a couple with a child to have to spend €250 on groceries every 10 days for basic food items," another leader of the protest movement told French media.

Unrest in Martinique broke out on 1 September, prompting protests and roadblocks and a curfew in the capital Fort-de-France.

Riot police were sent to the island later in September, the first such intervention involving a mainland security force since 1959.

Earlier this month a number of police offers were wounded in clashes and a man was fatally wounded by gunfire during the looting of a shopping centre.

Source:bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy80z1ppnjno

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Eurovision star launches legal challenge against EU sanctions

October 18, 2024

Pop star and Eurovision finalist Polina Gagarina has asked the EU’s top court to remove her from a list of Russian citizens sanctioned over the Ukraine conflict.

Brussels has blacklisted many Russian celebrities for supporting the Russian army or in any way publicly associating themselves with Moscow’s policies regarding Ukraine.

Gagarina was sanctioned in June this year, after the EU accused her of supporting actions that “undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine” by participating in Russian “state propaganda events.”

The restrictions, including a ban on entering EU countries, were slapped on the 37-year-old singer three months after she performed at a concert in Moscow celebrating the 10th anniversary of Crimea’s reunification with Russia. The UN still recognizes the mostly Russian-speaking peninsula as part of Ukraine.

Gagarina filed a complaint at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in September. According to the legal document, which was registered on October 14, she argues that the Council of the European Union failed to “discharge the burden of proof,” and violated the principles of proportionality and freedom of expression.

Gagarina participated in the Eurovision song contest in 2015, finishing second with her entry ‘A Million Voices.’ She was also a judge on several seasons of the Russian version of the music TV show ‘The Voice.’

The artist previously expressed disappointment that due to sanctions her songs had been removed from the streaming services Apple Music and Spotify.

“I believe that music, just like any other form art, has been created to heal and inspire. And people who love me should be able to continue to listen to it and be able to easily find it. No one has the right to ban music, which is why I will have my say,” Gagarina told the Voice Magazine in July.

Moscow has repeatedly condemned reprisals against artists, insisting that attempts to “cancel” Russian culture abroad will ultimately fail.

Source:rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/pop-culture/605888-gagarina-sues-eu-sanctions/

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Africa

Tinubu Moves Around FCT At Night To See What Nigerians Are Passing Through – Senator Kalu

17 October 2024

By Richard Ogunsile

Former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has asserted that President Bola Tinubu usually moves around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, at night to witness what Nigerians are passing through.

The senator representing Abia North Senatorial District stated that the Nigerian leader is aware of the country’s fluttering economy and is taking necessary actions to address the challenges.

“The president himself knows that Nigerians are suffering and hungry. He is a street person; he knows the street very well.

“The president sometimes uses his car to go around and find out what is happening in Abuja here,” Kalu stated in Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Naija News recalls that in September 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the inflation rate in the country reached 32.7 per cent.

Following the elimination of the fuel subsidy and the transition to a floating naira, the prices of essential goods have surged, placing them out of reach for many Nigerians.

However, Senator Kalu contended that the economic difficulties faced are not unique to Nigeria.

He noted that the nation is also grappling with the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted the global economy.

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/10/17/tinubu-moves-around-fct-at-night-to-see-what-nigerians-are-passing-through-senator-kalu/

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‘God Will Judge You’ – Rivers State Governor, Warns Compromised Judges

17 October 2024

By Rachel Okporu Fadoju

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has warned the state judges against perverting justice in their court judgments.

Naija News reports that Fubara, while speaking at the opening of the 2024/2025 Legal Year and Re-Dedication Service at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s, Anglican Communion in Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, took a swipe at some legal luminaries.

He said some judges smeared their conscience to canvass what is professionally an aberration to please their paymasters.

Fubara also stated that judges are representatives of God who should dispense justice rightly without fear or favour.

He said, “Some of you, you say you are legal luminaries. You know the truth, but you will go on air just to pacify your paymasters to turn the law upside down.

“We all know the law when it comes to issues that have to do with the administration of governance in the State; it is within the jurisdiction of the State High Court. It doesn’t matter whether you joined INEC, or Police. It is a State’s matter! I am not a lawyer, but I know that one. And you stand and say you are doing the right thing? God will judge you.

“Let me say it here so that you will understand: Judges, you are the God that we are seeing. Your position is to stand and defend us. Your position is to look at whoever and tell the person the truth.

“Because if you don’t do it here, you will have a big question to answer. The preacher said it, every evil done in the course of administering justice, you will pay for it dearly.”

Governor Fubara applauded the Rivers State Judiciary, particularly, the High Court Divisions, for their sundry support that have contributed to keeping his administration going despite calculated antagonisms.

He added, “I want to thank the Rivers State Judiciary, more especially, the High Court of Rivers State, for your support, for keeping this administration afloat up until this hour.

“We know quite alright that a good number of you have been threatened by way of phone calls and even physical assaults. We are also aware that some of you have been threatened professionally through petitions that are fake and frivolous.”

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/10/17/god-will-judge-you-fubara-warns-compromised-judges/

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Rethink Your Policies, Reshuffle Your Cabinet – CSOs Tell Tinubu

18 October 2024

By George Oshogwe Ogbolu

Members of the Organised Private Sector and Civil Society Organisations have expressed deep concerns over the worsening economic conditions in Nigeria, highlighted by escalating inflation, rising food prices, and surging unemployment.

These groups are calling for an urgent review of government policies, which they argue have only brought hardship and despair to citizens.

Since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023, the average price of commodities has increased significantly, with inflation rising from 22.41% to 32.70% in September 2024.

This marks a sharp 10 percentage point increase over the 13 months of continued economic strain.

Several factors, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the depreciation of the naira, have further exacerbated the situation, pushing the cost of living to unprecedented levels.

A report from the National Bureau of Statistics paints a grim picture, showing a steady rise in inflation.

By January 2024, inflation had reached 29.90%, driven largely by soaring food costs.

This pattern continued into 2024, peaking at 34.19% in June before a slight drop to 32.70% in September.

Despite efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria to curb inflation through an 850 basis point hike in interest rates, concerns remain over the long-term impact on economic growth and borrowing costs for businesses.

The removal of fuel subsidies, a cornerstone of Tinubu’s economic reforms, has triggered sharp increases in fuel prices, further straining households and businesses.

Fuel prices skyrocketed by over 488%, rising from N175 in May 2023 to N1,030 in October 2024. Despite promises to lower fuel prices during his campaign, the president’s policies have only deepened the struggles of ordinary Nigerians.

Although Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.19% in the second quarter of 2024, this economic growth has not translated into tangible improvements in the lives of average citizens.

Rising production costs, weakened consumer purchasing power, and high borrowing costs continue to hamper businesses, especially in the manufacturing and small business sectors.

Key industry leaders have spoken out about the dire situation. The Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, called for a rethink of the government’s inflation-fighting strategy, which he said has been ineffective.

He emphasized the need for a comprehensive impact assessment of the persistent interest rate hikes, highlighting the toll they’ve taken on the manufacturing sector.

Ajayi-Kadir told The PUNCH: “I mean, it is evident. You can’t do the same thing for 18 or 28 months, and expect a different result. What this has proven is that we need to rethink our strategy. We need to rethink the way we have managed the issue of inflation and the economy in general.”

Ajayi-Kadir said MAN was one of the most impacted sectors by the rising inflation and urged the government to carry out an impact assessment.

“We have asked for an impact assessment of the persistent increase, and whether it has achieved its objective. And if it has not, we must be able to ascertain what else we need to do and what sectors have suffered as a result of this persistent increase.

“If we do that analysis, I think it will be evident that manufacturing has been the most impacted because it is no longer possible for you to borrow and produce and be profitable, competitive and sustainable. So you can’t borrow at a rate of more than 30 per cent or 34 per cent.”

He acknowledged that the country needs to grow what it eats and be able to fight insecurity affecting production to ease food inflation.

He added, “We also need to be able to check the activity of middlemen that have continued to create this steep rise. And then we need to give effect very quickly to the importation of the food.

“Though I need to say that we need to be very careful about that so that we set the right quota and we monitor the implementation so that it is those who have milling facilities as envisaged in the reform, in the measure for implementation.”

The MAN DG urged President Tinubu to consider the state of the economy to make necessary changes.

“In coming back, Mr. President would be best advised that well, the situation in the economy has not really improved so there is more to be done and all hands should be on deck to intentionally backtrack the resolution of the economic situation we are in as envisaged in the stabilisation plan of the government,” he advised.

Ajayi-Kadir’s sentiments were echoed by other sector leaders, including the National President of the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, Dr. Femi Egbesola, who warned that small businesses face the risk of closure due to rising operational costs.

He said, “Rising costs for everything from raw materials, taxes, energy, fuel, other inputs and cost of doing business, eat directly into profits, making it harder to stay afloat.

“This squeeze is further amplified by weakened consumer spending power. As people have less money to spend, non-essential purchases often take a back seat, potentially leading to declining sales and eventually job losses as businesses continue to prune down costs.

“We strongly advocate for the re-jigging of the president’s cabinet, as some of the ministers are not making significant impact in their assigned ministry.”

Egbesola asserted that “best hands should be engaged to chart a more innovative way forward out of the economic quagmire we are.”

Public analysts and economic commentators have also urged the government to prioritize key sectors like food security, transportation, and infrastructure.

As Nigerians grapple with these challenges, the government is being urged to take more decisive actions to alleviate the economic hardships.

With inflation remaining stubbornly high, many argue that only bold and compassionate policy adjustments can provide relief to the millions of Nigerians affected by the current crisis.

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/10/18/rethink-your-policies-reshuffle-your-cabinet-csos-tell-tinubu/

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Kenyan Deputy President Impeached While Hospitalised

17 October 2024

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

The Kenyan Senate made history on Thursday evening by voting to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, marking the first time a deputy president has been removed from office in the country.

The impeachment proceedings took place despite a plea from Gachagua’s lawyer, Paul Muite, who requested a postponement due to the deputy president’s hospitalization.

Muite informed the lawmakers that Gachagua fell seriously ill just hours before the vote was scheduled to occur.

Senate Speaker, Amason Kingi stated that Gachagua had until 5 PM local time to appear before the Senate, but his absence ultimately led to the decision to proceed with the impeachment.

The final vote saw at least 53 senators supporting the motion, which was passed on five out of the eleven charges against the deputy president.

The charges included allegations of improper shareholding, undermining the independence of judges, violations of the National Cohesion and Integrity Act, and gross misconduct, specifically public attacks on the National Security Intelligence Service.

Gachagua’s actions earlier in June, where he criticized the intelligence agency for failing to brief President William Ruto on the scale of mass protests against unpopular tax hikes, were viewed as undermining the president’s authority.

The impeachment motion received overwhelming support in the National Assembly, with 281 Members of Parliament voting in favor of Gachagua’s ouster compared to just 44 against, with one MP abstaining.

Following the vote, Speaker Kingi declared, “DP Gachagua ceases to hold office.” If Gachagua chooses not to challenge the impeachment in court, the development opens the door for President Ruto to nominate a successor, though the president has yet to publicly comment on the situation.

Throughout the proceedings, Gachagua has maintained that the impeachment efforts are part of a “political witch hunt,” vowing to defend his position and clear his name.

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/10/17/just-in-kenyan-deputy-president-impeached-while-hospitalised/

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Mpox: Head of Africa CDC urges partners to honour pledges as death toll tops 1,000

18 October 2024

The number of mpox-related deaths has topped 1,000 in outbreaks currently affecting 18 of Africa's 55 nations.

The head of the continent’s top public health agency unveiled the latest figures on Thursday (Oct. 17).

The demise, this week, of 50 infected people brought the total of victims to 1,100.

The head of AfricaCDC Jean Kaseya urged international partners to honour their pledges to support Africa’s response.

The estimated budget for a six-month plan put forward by the Africa centres for disease control and prevention known as Africa CDD and the World Health Organization is worth almost $600 million.

55% of the sum is allocated to the response to mpox in 14 affected nations and boosting readiness in 15 others.

Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes milder symptoms, including fever and body aches.

People with more serious cases can develop lesions on the face, hands and genitals.

Zambia and Zimbabwe became the latest African countries to confirm mpox cases in the past week.

Easter DRC remains the epicentre of the global health emergency.

The Mpox virus was discovered in Denmark in 1958.

For years, it had been sporadically spreading in central and west Africa until the 2022 global outbreak.

At the time, wealthy countries quickly responded with vaccines from their stockpiles.

Source:africanews.com

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

https://www.africanews.com/2024/10/17/mpox-head-of-africa-cdc-urges-partners-to-honour-pledges-as-death-toll-tops-1000/

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Islamic clerics applaud Matawalle over elimination of bandits’ leader, Sububu

OCTOBER 18, 2024

Islamic clerics from various sects have lauded the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, for his role in the recent elimination of a notorious bandits’ leader, Halilu Sububu, along with several of his followers.

The commendation was made during a courtesy visit by the clerics, led by Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, to the minister’s office in Abuja.

Umar described the operation as a significant achievement, noting that the success came shortly after President Bola Tinubu directed security chiefs to relocate to the affected region to curb the rising insecurity.

“As religious leaders, and also representatives of our people, we have to express our appreciation because of the success in eliminating the bandits’ leader and many of his followers.

“The administration of President Tinubu also deserves such commendation for its immediate action towards protecting the lives and property of the people.

“With the recent security measures, a lot of successes have been recorded, and also the security situation has improved compared to before.

“We pray and hope that such measures can be sustained so that other bandits’ leaders, especially Bello Turji and others can be eliminated soon.

“We are confident in the actions of the minister and other security agencies in this crucial situation. And we have the belief that they will succeed in ending the insecurity,” Umar said.

The religious leaders also called on Nigerians to continue to pray for peace and security in the country, especially areas facing the security challenges.

They also prayed for the minister and other head of the security agencies to succeed in ending the insecurity.

Source:authorityngr.com

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https://authorityngr.com/2024/10/18/islamic-clerics-applaud-matawalle-over-elimination-of-bandits-leader-sububu/

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“Bulldozer Justice”: In Udaipur, One Home Razed, Three Families Punished For A Muslim Teenager’s Crime

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