‘We Demolished Homes Where Beef Was Found’: MP Police

New Age Islam News Bureau

19 June 2024

‘No one wants to help because they fear their homes may be next’: Sultana Qureshi (above) with her family. (Express photo by Anand Mohan J)

--------------

·         ‘We Demolished Homes Where Beef Was Found’: MP Police

·         550 Haj Pilgrims Die Amid Scorching Heat In Mecca, Mercury Rises To 51 Degrees

·         Countries Move to Crack Down on Islamic State Khorasan Globally

·         France Launches Widespread Violent Police Raids On Muslims Under The Pretext Of Protecting National Security During The Olympics

·         Journalist Khalil Jibran Shot Dead In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

 

India

·         Hamare Baarah Does Not Offend Muslims’ Religious Sentiments, Says Bombay HC

·         Delhi L-G Lauds Muslims, MCD, Police For Eid Celebrations In 'Befitting' Manner

·         Muslim Man Lynched By Mob In UP’s Aligarh Over Suspicion Of Theft; Police Arrest 4

·         UP Youth, Akbar Ali, Detained For ‘Abusing’ And ‘Threatening’ PM Modi, CM Adityanath

·         Bharuch Muslim cleric arrest: Man who drafted objectionable social media post held, say police

·         Saved them from getting sacrificed: Jains raise Rs 15 lakh, dress up as Muslims to buy goats

-----

Arab World

·         Makkah Locals Welcome Blessings Of The Spiritual Season

·         Saudi deputy environment minister says desertification among ‘most pressing environmental challenges of our time’

·         KSrelief distributes sacrificial meat to people in Yemen

·         Could AI one day perform all of Hajj social services?

·         Saudi authorities thwart drug smuggling across KSA

·         Saudi crown prince, Canadian prime minister discuss relations during call

-------

South Asia

·         Systemic Gender Oppression In Afghanistan May Amount To Crimes Against Humanity

·         UN expert condemns Taliban 'crimes' against Afghan women, girls

·         China urges Taliban to respect basic rights of Afghans, including women and ethnic groups

·         Human Rights should establish mechanism to hold Taliban accountable: HRW

·         Afghanistan faces world’s worst human rights crisis: Nasir Ahmad Andisha

·         Pakistan envoy urges Taliban to resume education for women and girls in Afghanistan immediately

--------

Europe

·         UK Arab Community Calls For Support Of Arab Voice And Muslim Vote Campaigns In Election

·         Humza Yousaf: Media 'Obsessed With Nigel Farage Ignored Muslim Hate'

·         Turkey Issues Arrest Warrant For YouTuber, Diamond Tema, Due To ‘Insulting’ Comments About Islam, Prophet

·         Spanish Civil Guard dismantles so-called Islamic State media network

·         Russia names main condition for BRICS membership

--------

Pakistan

·         Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Ringleader, Abdul Manan Alias Hakeemullah, Killed In Afghanistan

·         JI chief terms budget ‘recipe to destroy national economy’

·         Pakistan: 36 members of persecuted Ahmadi community arrested for animal sacrifice on Eid al-Adha

·         Pak granthi’s rally around PSGPC president amid sacrilege claims

-------

Mideast

·         Illegal Israeli Settlers Attack Palestinian Villages In West Bank During Muslim Eid Al-Adha Holiday

·         No future US government can prevent Iran oil exports, minister says

·         Israel may have violated laws of war in Gaza campaign, UN rights office says

·         Ship attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in fatal assault sinks in Red Sea in second-such sinking

·         UN says lawlessness in Gaza impedes aid via Kerem Shalom despite Israel’s military pause

·         Israel army says operational plans for Lebanon offensive ‘approved’

·         Turkish charities mark Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday with donations to Ugandans

-------

North America

·         Jewish, Muslim Groups Call For Governments To Create Safe ’Bubble Zones’ Around Places Of Worship

·         NYC Man Arrested for Harassment and Hate Crime Against Young Muslim Girl

·         Lebanese Journalist: U.S. Student Protests Against Israel Ultimately Serve Iran, Islamist Organizations

·         Pro-Palestine students walk out of Stanford University ceremony

·         Somalia Faces Critical Threat as Islamic State Group Expands in Puntland

·         CAIR Condemns Chinese Government’s Removal of Dome from Mosque, Crackdown on Eid Celebrations and Halal Products in Uyghur Region

·         CAIR Calls on All Virginia Muslim Voters to Go to the Polls Today

·         Netanyahu says US promised to lift restrictions of arms deliveries to Israel

--------

Southeast Asia

·         Indonesia's Istiqlal Mosque to Welcome Pope Francis' Visit

·         Malaysia, China ink science and technology expertise exchange

·         China and Malaysia renew five-year economic pact, to review visa-free travel

·         Five family members suspected in Ulu Tiram Police station attack charged with terrorism activities

·         King grants audience to China’s Premier Li Qiang

--------

Africa

·         UN: Rebel Activity In CAR Worsens Amid Sudan Conflict

·         Muslims end Eid with prayers for peaceful election

·         More than 200 arrested in Kenya protests over proposed tax hikes in finance bill

·         Malawi's VP laid to rest as president calls for probe into his death

·         Dispute Between PSC, NPF Hampers Recruitment Of 10,000 Police Officers

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/demolished-homes-beef-mp-police/d/132534

 

‘We Demolished Homes Where Beef Was Found’: MP Police

By Anand Mohan J

Mandla (mp): June 19, 2024

‘No one wants to help because they fear their homes may be next’: Sultana Qureshi (above) with her family. (Express photo by Anand Mohan J)

-------------

Eleven demolished homes, and 16 that are yet untouched, paint a picture of contrast at a neighbourhood in Bhainswahi village, in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla district.

The homes were razed by authorities on June 15 after police, in an operation targeting cattle smuggling, said they had found beef inside fridges, animal hides in sacks, and bones in pickup trucks there. While authorities maintain the 11 structures were built on government land, 16 homes in the same neighbourhood — which authorities acknowledge are also illegal but where beef was not recovered — are still standing.

“We demolished the homes where beef was found and left the others alone for now. Which homes to demolish is not part of our protocol. It is decided by the revenue department. We were taking action against cattle smugglers. Leather companies in Jabalpur which bought animal hides and local tribal people who bought cow meat from this gang will be investigated. The NSA will be invoked against five accused who are repeat offenders,” said Inder Baldev, SHO of Nainpur police station.

All the homes belong to members of the Qureshi community. One person has been arrested, while 10 are absconding.

Mandla District Collector Saloni Sidana told The Indian Express that authorities “have not targeted specific homes”. “The local administration has been serving notices to residents of this village since 2022. It is very difficult for the authorities to operate here. In 2016, a policeman serving a warrant in this village was beaten to death. We managed to remove the illegal structures only after residents fled (during the police crackdown). This area was earmarked as semi-forest land for cattle grazing and it was illegally occupied,” she said.

Asked why 16 homes adjacent to the demolished ones were spared, she said, “We did not demolish the other homes as there were constraints — it was Eid and given the sensitivity, we left them. We will take action against all illegal structures in this village soon. This exercise is being carried across the district and we have demolished 32 structures in the last one month.”

The police raids follow a freak accident four days prior, when a dhaba owner in Dithori village, on the outskirts of Mandla, spotted a cow being dragged by a rope attached to a white Bolero pickup, at around 9 am.

Some locals intercepted the truck and questioned the two occupants, Sev Prasad Dhuvre and Bhainswahi resident Salim Qureshi. The police recovered five cows, including one that died later, leading to protests by local outfits.

This case led the police to Bhainswahi, which already has a history of violence linked to cattle smuggling. At Nainpur police station here lies a bust of constable Kamla Prasad Yadav, who was killed while serving an arrest warrant in a cattle smuggling case. So far this year, 12 cases of cattle smuggling have been registered at this station.

Said a woman officer who was part of the raids, “We cleaned up that village and residents can finally rest easy.”

Bainswahi village has around 1,100 residents comprising tribal and Muslim communities. There are around 80 Muslim households across the village. On July 14, around 27 homes, allegedly on 15,000 square feet of government land, were raided by a heavy police contingent, turning the settlement into towering piles of rubble and debris. Many brick homes had come up over the past two years, though some were decades old.

According to the FIR in connection with the raids, an informer had tipped police that one Adil Qureshi was behind a cow slaughter racket and had a large quantity of cow meat stored at his home along with live cows meant for slaughter. “We tried to arrest Adil but he gave us the slip. He was accused in a previous case as well. His whole family fled. We went with a large force and made a large recovery from each house,” the officer said.

Amidst the wreckage of the homes on Tuesday, personal belongings lay scattered — a bike that was a wedding gift, a fan, dry rations, and clothes.

Sultana Qureshi’s home, painted in bright blue, had been partially destroyed, with some walls still standing. She managed to save a small bed and her pet parrot. “We slept out in the open on Eid. Today it rained and we have three other women in the family who all have one set of clothes. We begged the local sarpanch for help. No one wants us to come to us. Everyone here fears their home is next in line for demolition,” she said.

Ashiya Qureshi was in Mandla when a frantic call from her daughter forced her to rush to the village. “I have two homes in this village and thought they would both be demolished. My home is also built on government land and I have been staying here for 25 years. If others’ homes are being destroyed, then so should mine. Only difference is that they claimed to find beef in other homes and not mine,” she said.

Salman (27) could be seen trying to push a slab of concrete to retrieve his cousin’s wedding gifts from under the rubble. “We were never served notices. If we knew a demolition was going to happen, we would have saved all our belongings,” he claimed.

Occupants of the homes still left standing are tense. “My family was spared as nothing was found in our home even though this too is built on illegal land. I don’t want any trouble, so we are just keeping quiet. We hope this incident passes,” she said.

Sameena Qureshi’s family, who have been living in the village for 30 years, had four of their homes demolished. “My husband stores chicken and lamb meat. He also collects skeletons of dead cows. But there was no cow meat. This is a false allegation,” she claimed.

Source: indianexpress.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/we-demolished-homes-where-beef-was-found-inside-the-mp-village-where-bulldozers-came-a-day-after-police-9400789/

-----

 

550 Haj Pilgrims Die Amid Scorching Heat In Mecca, Mercury Rises To 51 Degrees

Jun 19, 2024

Representational photo.

------------

Diplomats on Tuesday said at least 550 pilgrims died during the Haj, underscoring the grueling nature of the pilgrimage which again unfolded in scorching temperatures this year.

At least 323 of those who died were Egyptians, most of them succumbing to heat-related illnesses, two Arab diplomats coordinating their countries’ responses told AFP.

“All of them (the Egyptians) died because of heat” except for one who sustained fatal injuries during a minor crowd crush, one of the diplomats said, adding the total figure came from the hospital morgue in the Al-Muaisem neighborhood of Mecca.

At least 60 Jordanians also died, the diplomats said, up from an official tally of 41 given earlier on Tuesday by Amman.

The new deaths bring the total reported so far by multiple countries to 577, according to an AFP tally.

The diplomats said the total at the morgue in Al-Muaisem, one of the biggest in Mecca, was 550.

The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam and all Muslims with the means must complete it at least once.

The pilgrimage is increasingly affected by climate change, according to a Saudi study published last month that said temperatures in the area where rituals are performed were rising 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.72 degrees Fahrenheit) each decade.

Temperatures hit 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday, the Saudi national meteorology center said.

HEAT STRESS

Earlier on Tuesday, Egypt’s foreign ministry said Cairo was collaborating with Saudi authorities on search operations for Egyptians who had gone missing during the Haj.

While a ministry statement said “a certain number of deaths” had occurred, it did not specify whether Egyptians were among them.

Saudi authorities have reported treating more than 2,000 pilgrims suffering from heat stress but have not updated that figure since Sunday and have not provided information on fatalities.

At least 240 pilgrims were reported dead by various countries last year, most of them Indonesians.

AFP journalists in Mina, outside Mecca, on Monday saw pilgrims pouring bottles of water over their heads as volunteers handed out cold drinks and fast-melting chocolate ice cream to help them keep cool.

Saudi officials had advised pilgrims to use umbrellas, drink plenty of water and avoid exposure to the sun during the hottest hours of the day.

But many of the Haj rituals, including the prayers on Mount Arafat which took place on Saturday, involve being outdoors for hours in the daytime.

Some pilgrims described seeing motionless bodies on the roadside and ambulance services that appeared overwhelmed at times.

Around 1.8 million pilgrims took part in the Haj this year, 1.6 million of them from abroad, according to Saudi authorities.

Source: indiatoday.in

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/saudi-arabia-mecca-haj-pilgrims-death-toll-egyptians-heatwave-heat-stroke-2555023-2024-06-19

--------

 

Countries Move to Crack Down on Islamic State Khorasan Globally

June 19,2024

The Greater Khorasan (Photo courtesy: Wikishia)

--------------

Within the first weeks of June, several countries conducted a number of operations against Islamic State’s networks with links to the organization’s branch in the Khorasan region – Islamic State Khorasan (ISKP) –, namely Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia. Such operations not only involved the physical arrests of individuals affiliated with ISKP and the dismantling of plots, but also they included the banning of several websites used by the group and the broader Islamic State organization as well as setting up new measures to disrupt the criminal activities of ISKP leaders.

Countries decided to crack down on ISKP as a result of a long series of renewed threats the organization has been moving both locally as well as internationally. Within the last two months, ISKP has been boosting its traction power in inspiring, influencing, aiding, or directly orchestrating plots, both within its area of activities and abroad, particularly with attention to the West theatre. As part of its global strategy for attacks, the group attempts to take advantage of international events to urge its followers to conduct attacks on such occasions by increasing the amount of specifically tailored propaganda. The latter not only inspire supporters, but also provide ISKP sympathizers with operational guidelines regarding target selection; modus operandi; and possible weapons to use.

In line with this strategy, ISKP and its offspring Islamic State Pakistan (ISPP) have been focusing on tailoring propaganda on the occasion of a number of sports events that are set to occur during 2024 around the world, such as the ICC World Cup 2024 in the US; Euro 2024 in Germany; and Olympic Games 2024 in France. Most propaganda urges Islamic State supporters to wreak havoc among people attending the events and carry out attacks, following a pattern similar to the March 22 attack at the Crocus City Hall, Moscow, Russia, which started the renewed influx of propaganda and foreign plots by ISKP and, generally, by the Islamic State.

As a result, in the past weeks, Western security agencies, governments, and analysts warned about possible attacks occurring in the West during such events. The head of Germany’s domestic intelligence services, Thomas Haldenwang, recently argued that the country was currently taking measures to prevent possible terrorist attacks during the Euro 2024. Such “Islamic terror threat” has been amplified by the ongoing war in Gaza and by the burning of copies of the Holy Quran, mentioning that ISKP is considered a primary threat for international plots in Germany. Such claims were echoed more specifically by Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Security Chief Greg Ehrie, who stated that ISKP threat was not only visibly increasing its external operations, but also remains an unknown thus unpredictable threat to many officers in charge of security. On the other hand, Patrick Ryder, the Nassau County police commissioner, also stated that due to mounting threats from Islamic State, the India vs Pakistan ICC match on June 9 had been secured by police sniper patrols. While no actual attack materialized, the pressure on security measures remains high. Similarly, FBI Director Chris Wray had reported to the Senate earlier this month that there was the risk that militant organizations, such as ISKP, might attempt to carry out an attack on US soil imitating the Crocus City Hall attack. The likeliness of a similar strike within the US was also maintained by Gen. Frank McKenzie, former CENTCOM, who said that not only the US have limited capabilities in predicting and thwarting ISKP plots in the US, but also that the group had demonstrated the willingness to attack. French authorities, too, repeatedly warned about the existence of plots linked to ISKP aimed at the Olympic Games; EU anti-terrorism coordinator, Bartjan Wegter stressed ISKP as a mounting threat to the event, pointing out to a diffuse threat.

In the wake of this diffuse threat, regional and Western countries decided to raise security and conduct a series of arrests against individuals connected to the Islamic State and ISKP. Hence, on June 9, German police in Cologne arrested an individual who had applied to work as part of the Euro 2024 staff; the individual was allegedly planning to carry out an attack during the matches and had previously been in touch with ISKP, having transferred almost $1,700 via a cryptocurrency exchange to the organization. A week before, in Saint-Étienne, France, police foiled the first plot against Olympic Games 2024 by arresting a suspect who was planning to carry out an attack on the local stadium. While security forces did not disclose his affiliation with any specific Islamic State’s branch, it is worth noticing that after the Crocus City Hall attack, French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned that France had previously disrupted several plots orchestrated by the organization. At the same time, countries disrupted plots which can be traced back to other cells of Islamic State, either independent or connected to other branches. For instance, FBI, Interpol, and Spanish authorities dismantled a cell that was planning to carry out an attack against a bus of Real Madrid players and its fans.

However, perhaps the most impactful operation involved the arrest of eight Tajik nationals in Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia, US, due to alleged links to ISKP and the intention of carrying out attacks in the country. As the individuals allegedly entered the country from the southern border, this raised questions about managing borders and intelligence collections. Significantly, the eight men had stayed in Russia before, where Islamic State carried out the Crocus City Hall attack thanks to its Tajik network in the country, which retains links with ISKP. Furthermore, as part of its efforts to tackle the transnational dimension of ISKP, the US Department of Treasury also announced that four individuals with links to the Islamic State have been sanctioned due to their involvement in human smuggling network between Central Asia and Türkiye. The sanctioned individuals are reportedly Uzbek and Georgian nationals.

However, not only Western countries took action against alleged ISKP supporters. Recently, the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) reported that 15 citizens had been arrested due to their affiliation with the Islamic State. According to the press release, they had been recruited by the organization’s branch in Afghanistan, ISKP.

It is alarming the fact that ISKP individuals and cells have been discovered and neutralized in several parts of the world. While this is not something new, it is evident that ISKP is trying to capitalize on specific events in the Western world in order to boost its image and thus attract funds and recruits to channel in their main area of activities, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia. In this scenario, the powerful tool of the propaganda machine should not be underestimated, as a recent case in Germany revealed. In June 2023, Germany arrested seven individuals in the country originally from Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan) who had links to ISKP and who were in contact with other two individuals in the Netherlands, also from Central Asia. A year later, investigations revealed that the cell intended to target the Ibn Rushd Goethe Mosque in Berlin-Moabit, Germany, which is considered a “liberal” mosque which also allows the participation of Muslims from homosexual and queer communities. Significantly, the same mosque had been previously outlined as a specific target of ISKP attacks in issue 22 of ISKP English magazine, Voice of Khurasan. In the magazine, ISKP referred to the mosque as a place where a “deviant” form of Islam was practiced, hence suggesting to take action against it. Furthermore, it was also revealed that three members of the cell personally knew the ISKP member, Abu Muhammad al-Tajiki, who carried out a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan at a Sikh temple in June 2022.

The widespread use of propaganda online by the Islamic State has been significantly boosted by the actions of ISKP’s Al-Azaim Foundation since 2020/2021. Particularly, the latter has been relying on an integrated network of other online entities which provided Al-Azaim Foundation with access to websites and translation tools, which amplified reach and quality of ISKP propaganda. As a consequence, on June 14, Europol revealed that under a joint operation, Operation HOPPER II, judicial and law enforcement authorities across Europe and the US dismantled several of such online infrastructures to disrupt platforms and websites for militant communications and propaganda. As a result, nine individuals were arrested and servers were taken down in Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, and Iceland. One of the biggest achievements of the operation was the disruption of the I’Lam Foundation, a website that has been providing ISKP with a stable platform where to translate and upload its propaganda for the past three years.

However, notwithstanding CT efforts and the intense campaign aimed at disrupting the online activities of Islamic State and ISKP, the latter is continuing to project itself as the main source of inspiration of global jihad. On the one hand, ISKP users rely on a broad set of tools for producing and consuming propaganda, from traditional platforms, such as Facebook, Telegram, and RocketChat, to new alternative ways, as on Teleguard. On the other hand, while individuals are arrested and cells are busted, the overall, loose network of ISKP – which is intricate and intersects other Islamic State regional networks – poses a hard issue to tackle. Not only ISKP would just need a successful plot in order to gain new traction, but the attack does not have to be carried out by ISKP itself, as the group is perfectly capable of subsequently capitalizing on it even if it would be partially involved or not at all. As per its media strategy, thanks to its propaganda machine, ISKP internationally elevates Islamic State attacks which occurred in areas of interest, thus attracting funds and recruits to perpetuate its loose network or to boost its influence and galvanize supporters. The recent brief takeover of a prison in Rostov-on-Don, Russia by half a dozen of Islamic State inmates might become the next key feature in ISKP propaganda.

Source: thekhorasandiary.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.thekhorasandiary.com/en/2024/06/18/countries-move-to-crack-down-on-islamic-state-khorasan-globally

-------

 

France Launches Widespread Violent Police Raids On Muslims Under The Pretext Of Protecting National Security During The Olympics

18th June 2024

France has unleashed a series of violent police raids against the Muslim community under the pretext of protecting national security during the Olympics.

Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin announced in a message sent to all administrative regions that all measures should be taken to limit the “capacity to cause trouble” and to keep the most dangerous individuals monitored by the services “away from events.”

Darmanin has also outlined a system of “detection and obstruction” targeting all Muslims who find themselves on the ever-expanding state security files, supposedly for “radicalisation for terrorist purposes.” More than 5,100 Muslims will be closely monitored.

French regions are required to establish interventionary measures “of any kind” for “any target” registered in the state security file. These include raids, house arrests and imprisonments.

This means that any alleged or perceived infraction is to be pursued and used to justify state intervention.

CAGE and other organisations have received numerous testimonies of violent raids carried out against innocent Muslims. 250 Muslims were raided in Paris alone.

Rayan Freschi, researcher for CAGE International, said: “Police use extreme violence to terrorise the victims of these raids, through deliberate destruction of doors, furniture and belongings in addition to physical brutality. The state used similar tactics between November 2015 and February 2016, a period during which thousands of Muslim families were violently raided as a form of collective punishment for the ISIS-inspired attacks in France that year. These tactics seek to discipline and silence Muslims by spreading paralysing fear amongst an entire community.”

In 2022 CAGE released a report which revealed the unprecedented crackdown on Islam and Muslims in France under the government of Emmanuel Macron.

The report said the crackdown on Islam and Muslims amounted to “persecution” under international law, as well as institutionalised Islamophobia and repression.

CAGE said the pattern of behaviour exhibited by the French state towards Muslims was calculated to harass and humiliate, resulting in the intentional and severe deprivation of freedom of religion, of opinion, of association and right to property.

In 2021 the French parliament approved a law to strengthen oversight of mosques, schools and sports clubs. The government said it was needed to safeguard France from “radical Islamists” and to promote respect for secularism and women’s rights. The law has been used to shut down multiple mosques and community groups.

Source: 5pillarsuk.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://5pillarsuk.com/2024/06/18/france-launches-widespread-raids-on-muslims-ahead-of-olympics/

--------

 

Journalist Khalil Jibran Shot Dead In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

June 19, 2024

Senior journalist Khalil Jibran in this undated photo. — Supplied

--------------

Unidentified miscreants killed a senior journalist Khalil Jibran near his residence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Landi Kotal town when he was returning home, DPO Khyber said Wednesday.

Jibran, who was associated with a private news channel — Khyber News — was targeted by unidentified miscreants on a motorcycle when he was heading towards his residence with his friend Sajjad Advocate, District Police Officer (DPO) Khyber Salim Abbas said.

He detailed that the journalist's car developed a fault near his home when the gunmen surrounded him, dragged him out of his vehicle and opened fire at him.

Jibran, who was also former president of the Landi Kotal Press Club, died on the spot and Sajjad got wounded while the culprits fled from the scene. His body was shifted to a Landi Kotal hospital for post mortem, the police officer said.

The incident took place in Mazreena area in the vicinity of Landi Kotal Police Station, he added.

Abbas claimed that Jibran had also received threats from terrorists.

KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur took notice of the incident and ordered authorities concerned to immediate arrest the culprits behind the journalist’s killing.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned Jibran’s murder.

The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) strongly condemned the gruesome murder of the Khyber News' reporter and demanded the KP chief minister and federal interior minister to bring Jibran's killers to justice.

In a statement, the association criticised the higher authorities' failures to stop such incidents as journalists were continuously facing torture, abductions and threats across the country.

Last month, another journalist from a Sindhi newspaper, Nasrullah Gadani, was targeted by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants near Korai Goth, 12 kilometres from Mirpur Mathelo, leaving him seriously wounded on May 21.

Gadani was, at the time of the unfortunate incident, riding his motorcycle. Following the attack, police shifted him to Civil Hospital Mirpur Mathelo, where he received emergency medical aid and was then sent to Rahim Yar Khan for surgery.

Later, he was shifted to Karachi via an air ambulance for better treatment, with the Sindh government announcing to bear all of his medical costs.

However, even shifting him to a better hospital could not bear fruit as he succumbed to his wounds around three days later and breathed his last.

Source: thenews.com.pk

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1201437-journalist-khalil-jibran-shot-dead-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwa

--------

 

India

 

Hamare Baarah Does Not Offend Muslims’ Religious Sentiments, Says Bombay HC

Jun 19, 2024

Mumbai: After watching the controversial movie Hamare Baarah, the Bombay high court on Tuesday observed that it does not offend the religious sentiments of the Muslim community or distort the teachings of the Quran, but is in fact aimed at the upliftment of women.

A division bench comprising Justice BP Colabawalla and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla noted that while the movie’s first trailer was objectionable, the filmmakers had since removed all those scenes. “The Indian public is not gullible or silly,” the bench remarked, underscoring the necessity for viewers to apply critical thinking.

The court observed that both the petitioner and the filmmakers had approached the court based solely on the trailer. Despite the trailer being described as “shocking”, the recertified movie, as reviewed by the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC), did not contain any offensive content.

Further, the bench pointed out that the trailer violated certification guidelines and included parts that had been removed during the certification process.

The movie, which the court described as a “crusade of one woman against a man,” reflects the dynamics within one Muslim family rather than portraying the entire community. “This is a thinking movie,” the judges stated, highlighting its role in encouraging viewers to reflect on its themes rather than just enjoying it passively.

The court observed that both the petitioner and the filmmakers had approached the court based solely on the trailer. Despite the trailer being described as “shocking”, the recertified movie, as reviewed by the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC), did not contain any offensive content.

Further, the bench pointed out that the trailer violated certification guidelines and included parts that had been removed during the certification process.

The movie, which the court described as a “crusade of one woman against a man,” reflects the dynamics within one Muslim family rather than portraying the entire community. “This is a thinking movie,” the judges stated, highlighting its role in encouraging viewers to reflect on its themes rather than just enjoying it passively.

The court also observed that a ₹5 lakh fine on the filmmakers for releasing the trailer with uncertified scenes would be appropriate, and directed that the amount be donated to a charity of the petitioner’s choice.

“Violation was their vis-a-vis the trailer. So, you will have to pay something towards charity of the petitioner’s choice. Cost will have to be paid. This litigation has got the film so much unpaid publicity,” the court said.

The filmmakers must exercise caution and avoid including dialogues or scenes that could hurt religious sentiments under the guise of creative freedom, the court advised, noting that Muslims constitute the second-largest religious group in the country.

In response to claims that the film promotes domestic violence, the court remarked that domestic violence is not confined to any one community. “Domestic violence is a reality. It happens in all religions. The movie is not above that. It’s about the upliftment of women, a court case,” the court observed.

Hamare Baarah was initially scheduled for release on June 7, and later on June 14. The new release date is still not known.

Source: hindustantimes.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/latest-news

--------

 

Delhi L-G lauds Muslims, MCD, police for Eid celebrations in 'befitting' manner

18 June 2024

New Delhi: Lt Governor V K Saxena on Tuesday thanked the people, particularly Muslims in the city, and appreciated the government agencies including Delhi Police and MCD for celebrations of Eid-ul-Adha in the city in a befitting manner, said a statem...

It said the devotees performed namaz on the festival inside mosques and idgahs and not on the roads. In a stark departure from the past, there was no open slaughtering of sacrificial animals, it added.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), in close coordination with the devotees and the police, ensured that the carcasses of sacrificed animals were immediately picked up and disposed of at identified dumping sites, the statement said.

"It may be recalled that last year various locations in Delhi, especially those in North-East and North Shahdara Zone had witnessed sights of blood-drenched bodies and entrails of sacrificed animals lined up in open on streets and even main arterial ...

The LG has said celebrations of Eid-ul-Adha in a befitting manner was possible because of proactive cooperation by the Muslim community and its religious heads and underlined that in a diverse city like Delhi, everything could be achieved by dialogue...

Source: deccanherald.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/delhi-l-g-lauds-muslims-mcd-police-for-eid-celebrations-in-befitting-manner-3071481

-------

 

Muslim Man Lynched By Mob In UP’s Aligarh Over Suspicion Of Theft; Police Arrest 4

June 19, 2024

The police in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh city have arrested four people and a hunt is on for three others named in an FIR registered over the alleged mob lynching of a 35-year-old Muslim man on the suspicion of theft late on Tuesday.

Leaders of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party as well as the victim’s family members staged a sit-in on Wednesday demanding the arrest of the three other accused, even as Bajrang Dal leaders threatened to launch a protest if the police shield “protectors of a thief”.

Personnel from three police stations have been deployed in and around the spot and more force has been requisitioned in view of palpable tension. Shopkeepers in the Mama Bhanja locality, where the incident took place, and at the Railway Bazar downed shutters on Wednesday in protest.

“An FIR under IPC section 302 (murder) was registered at the Gandhi Park police station late on Tuesday night in this connection. We have arrested four persons named in the FIR so far and are trying to identify others involved in the incident through available video footage. No one will be spared,” said Mrigank Shekhar Pathak, Superintendent of Police, Aligarh city.

According to the police, the man was attacked after he was seen coming out of the home of Mukesh Chand Mittal, a textile trader, and running towards the main gate on Tuesday night. As Mittal’s son Rohit, who had stepped out to see off a visiting friend, confronted the stranger and raised an alarm, he fell off the stairs and was soon overpowered by members of the Mittal family and others who assembled there, the police said.

In videos of the incident doing the rounds on social media, the man is seen being beaten with lathis, punched and kicked by the mob.

The man, later identified as Mohammed Farid alias Aurangzeb, is seen being dragged on the road by the mob in one of the videos. A police officer could be later seen carrying an injured Farid on his shoulders to a hospital, where the doctors declared him dead on arrival.

As word about Farid’s death spread, his family members along with Abdul Hamid Ghosi, chief of the SP’s Aligarh unit, BSP mayoral poll contestant Salman Shahid and SP leader Ajju Ishaq with their supporters rushed to the Aligarh district hospital and created a ruckus.

“An innocent Muslim man has been lynched by the Hindu family and others who painted him as a thief, while the fact is that he had mistakenly entered the house owned by Mukesh Mittal. The incident highlights the plight of the minority community under the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh. We have called for a sit-in and will intensify our protest if all those named in the FIR are not arrested soon,” said Ajju Ishaq, the SP leader.

At the same time, dozens of Bajrang Dal volunteers led by the outfit’s local unit convener, Gaurav Sharma, thronged the site and claimed the deceased had entered the house to steal and what happened afterwards was a normal reaction by the crowd.

“Though I do not justify mob lynching, those trying to protect a thief should remember clearly that UP is still ruled by Yogi Adityanath, whose government has zero tolerance for crime. Do not forget that bulldozers had razed properties of such elements and these (bulldozers) will roar again on streets to teach criminals a lesson,” said Gaurav Sharma.

Source: indianexpress.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/muslim-man-mob-lynching-up-aligarh-theft-9401538/

--------

 

UP Youth, Akbar Ali, Detained For ‘Abusing’ And ‘Threatening’ PM Modi, CM Adityanath

June 18, 2024

Investigation revealed that the video was three to four months old and led the police to the accused Akbar Ali, a resident of Rajendra Nagar here, Sharma said.

The police on Monday detained a 22-year-old youth here after a purported video of him “abusing” and “threatening to kill” Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath went public, police said.

Circle Officer (City) Gaurav Kumar Sharma said in a video that went viral on social media, a man was heard using abusive language for Modi and Adityanath.

The accused also threatened to kill them, in the video, he said.

Investigation revealed that the video was three to four months old and led the police to the accused Akbar Ali, a resident of Rajendra Nagar here, Sharma said.

Ali was detained on Monday and is being interrogated, the CO added

Source: indianexpress.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/up-youth-detained-for-abusing-and-threatening-pm-modi-cm-adityanath-in-viral-video-9398368/

--------

 

Bharuch Muslim cleric arrest: Man who drafted objectionable social media post held, say police

June 19, 2024

Two days after arresting a cleric in Bharuch’s Amod over a social media post that could allegedly “provoke breach of communal peace”, the Bharuch District Special Operations Group (SOG) on Tuesday said that it has made another arrest in the case.

Shabbir Ali Patel, vice-president of Darul Uloom Barkat-e-Khwaja in Amod, was arrested on Tuesday in the case. On Sunday, Maulvi Abdul Rahim Rathod, was booked for ‘promoting enmity’ after he had put up a post describing the Islamic “ritualistic procedure” for animal sacrifice. Darul Uloom, an Arabic term, literally means house of knowledge.

The objectionable post came ahead of Bakrid, which was celebrated across the country on Monday.

Stating that the post could “provoke breach of communal peace”, police arrested Patel for allegedly drafting the controversial post and handing it over to Maulvi Abdul Rahim Rathod. The arrests came following an FIR lodged by sub-inspector RA Aswar.

The Bharuch SOG said that it had ascertained during investigation that it was Patel who had drafted the message and handed it over to Rathod. “The accused, Maulvi Rathod, has indulged in an act that could hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus and also breach religious harmony between the Hindu and Muslim community. It has come to light in the probe that Shabbir Ali has written the message titled ‘Process of Qurbani’ some time back and handed it over to Rathod to circulate in social media. Accordingly, Patel has been booked and arrested late on Monday night,” the SOG said in a release

The accused have been booked under IPC sections 153(A) (promoting enmity between different groups), [295(A)] (deliberate and malicious acts, that are intended to outrage religious feelings) and 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) as well as IT Act.

On Sunday, Bharuch Superintendent of Police Mayur Chavda had told this newspaper, “We are keeping a 24×7 watch on cyberspace with no tolerance for any attempts that breach peace in the district… We have also been holding Shanti Samiti meetings, where we have specified what we are looking at in the cyber space as well. The post put up by the Maulvi was instigating in nature as it explicitly mentioned cow-slaughter. We acted before a situation could arise. In fact, the Maulvi also put up an apology after posting the first message as he was aware that the police were coming after him.”

Source: indianexpress.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/bharuch-muslim-cleric-arrest-man-who-drafted-objectionable-social-media-post-held-say-police-9400721/

--------

 

Saved them from getting sacrificed: Jains raise Rs 15 lakh, dress up as Muslims to buy goats

18 June 2024

As the whole world celebrated Bakrid on June 17, a man named Vivek Jain — standing in the courtyard of a temple in Chandni Chowk, about 500 m away from the famous Jama Masjid — saw himself surrounded by hundreds of goats.

According to a report by The Print, Vivek who is aged 30 and is a chartered accountant by profession, said that he and his team managed to save 124 goats from being slaughtered by raising Rs 15 lakh.

During the Bakrid or Eid-ul-Adha, Muslims worldwide celebrate the 'Festival of Sacrifice' which involved the sacrifice of usually a sheep, goat, cow or camel.

Vivek, on the other hand, has been playing Jain mantras — using a speaker to keep the animals calm.

According to The Print, Vivek said, "This is a powerful Jain mantra to bring peace and positivity. These goats are afraid because they think they have been gathered for slaughter. They don’t know we have given them a new lease of life."

With the excitement of 'saving the goats from the butcher's knife', the Naya Jain Mandir in Dharampur had the same energy as the goat markets had ahead of Bakrid.

The Jains living in Chandni Chowk visited the temple in large numbers - some to catch a glimpse pf the bleating goats, some to pet them lovingly and some to donate money for the fodder of the animals.

For some Jains, it was a 'goat darshan', an act that boosted their religious virtues.

According to the publication, Vivek also said, "We are really proud of ourselves. The contribution by our community members from across the country has made it possible. We call it social welfare, and this is what our religion teaches us. This is a ‘...

A plan was laid out including a team of 25 members - all from the Jain community, followed by surveys of areas and places where goats are sold.

According to The Print, another community member named Chirag Jain said, "We posed as their [Muslim] community members and asked for the price at which goats were sold. We also surveyed the goat mandis (markets)."

Vivek who appalled by the cruel way in which the goats were handled and said, "The goats were crammed together and handled poorly. There was no sensitivity towards these living, breathing creatures."

Vivek told that all the community members during the survey decided to dress up in kurta pajamas and speak in a specific way so that the goat sellers wouldn't get suspicious of them being non-Muslims.

According to the publication, Vivek said, "Had they known we were non-Muslims, they would have sold the goats to us at a higher price, and we wanted to rescue as many goats as possible."

He also told that after a lot of tough bargaining, the goats were purchased at an average price of Rs 10,000 each.

Vivek also added, "Finally, we managed to rescue over 100 goats. Such was the excitement."

According to the publication, Vivek also shared that the community had raised the required money across Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra, Kerala and Hyderabad and that they used the leftover funds to buy fodder.

Debate over being vegetarian and killing innocent animals rages every year during such key holy days for Muslims. But, this deed by Vivek and his community has not only resulted in saving many animals, but has also gained a place in social media with...

The not-so-prominent temple and the Old Delhi area, where it is located, has gained a lot of attention now, which it wouldn't have received otherwise.

Source: deccanherald.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/saved-them-from-getting-sacrificed-jains-raise-rs-15-lakh-dress-up-as-muslims-to-buy-goats-3070950

-------

 

Arab World

 

Makkah locals welcome blessings of the spiritual season

June 18, 2024

RIYADH: During the sacred days of Hajj, Makkah witnesses an influx of pilgrims and locals themselves engage more fervently in Islamic practices such as prayer and fasting.

Sami Al-Alwani, a local citizen, enjoys the spiritual aspects of the pilgrimage and says the Hajj season is unlike any other month.

“This annual tradition of welcoming, joy and enthusiasm with which we receive the pilgrims of the House of God is passed down from generation to generation,” he told Arab News.

Muttawwif Wejdan Buqas with Malaysian pilgrims after Hajj. (Supplied)

The arrival of pilgrims also means a peak in economic activity and boost for local employment.

Al-Alwani added: “One significant economic aspect we notice is the full occupancy of hotels, leading to a noticeable economic boost in restaurants and services.

“We have numerous job opportunities during Hajj to assist pilgrims and work with them in Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah and the train station. We also serve as their supervisors and assist them in completing their Hajj obligations. Many volunteers, including young men and women from Makkah, participate voluntarily through available programs.”

Residents of Makkah have historically played a crucial role in hosting and supporting the millions of Muslims who come to perform Hajj. (Supplied)

Al-Alwani added pilgrimage routes and traffic patterns in recent years had had no negative effects for Makkah’s population.

Wejdan Buqas is a female mutawwif — someone who leads pilgrims in the traditional rites and prayers of Hajj and Umrah — who says she used to offer to drive people to Mount Hira and other holy locations.

“Back in the 1980s, we used to greet pilgrims, let them stay in our homes, and transport them to the Al-Tanaim Mosque, Al-Maala Cemeteries, and Hira Mountain. We used to also take them to private, tiny museums that highlighted Makkah inhabitants’ customs, such as telling them about our Eid celebrations,” she said, adding such activities were now streamlined by the government.

Due to the high volume of pilgrims, nearby companies and service providers were set up to meet their needs by providing lodgings, transportation, medical care, and guidance. The sacred time of Hajj also brings forth the deep-rooted compassion and friendliness that are hallmarks of the people of Makkah.

Bakur Hemdi is a Makkah native from a long lineage of muttawifs, including his grandfather and father. He followed in their footsteps and took up the role when he was 21 years old.

“As a mutawwif, my role goes beyond just guiding the pilgrims through the rituals and ceremonies of Hajj and Umrah,” he said.

“I’m a cultural ambassador, helping them navigate the intricacies of Makkah’s landscape and ensuring they can fully immerse themselves in the spiritual journey they’ve come to undertake.”

He added: “Through my interactions with pilgrims from diverse backgrounds, I've gained a deep appreciation for the richness of their traditions and the shared devotion that unites them in their pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. I take great pride in upholding the legacy of my ancestors, while also adapting to the evolving needs of modern-day pilgrims.”  

Hayat Eid, who also comes from a family of mutawwifs, said everyone in Makkah mostly worked during Hajj or, if not, they traveled.

“We make a profit of a whole year during Hajj season, so many people will not miss that opportunity,” she said. “We also remark to each other, ‘Hajj wala dajj?’ which translates to ‘Are you working in Hajj or are you fleeing?’ which is a humorous statement.” 

She added many women participated by preparing treats like maamoul cookies and date cakes to share during Eid.

Every activity contributes to the Hajj season, a time of great spiritual significance and community engagement for the residents of Makkah who play a crucial role in hosting and supporting the millions of Muslims who come to perform this important religious duty.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2533066/saudi-arabia

--------

 

Saudi deputy environment minister says desertification among ‘most pressing environmental challenges of our time’

June 19, 2024

RIYADH: Desertification and drought are among the most pressing environmental challenges faced by the world, Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Osama Faqeeha has said.

In a statement marking the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the minister said land degradation affected up to 40 percent of the world’s land area, resulting in the annual loss of 100 million hectares of healthy land, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Emphasizing the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainable land management, Faqeeha said: “Desertification, land degradation and drought are among the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. This year’s 30th anniversary of the UNCCD coincides with COP16, which is expected to be a pivotal moment for land restoration and sustainable management. Together, we can turn the tide and restore our land. Our future depends on our ability to manage our land sustainably.”

He added that land degradation meant the world lost an area of healthy land equivalent to four football fields every second.

“Healthy land is essential for our future. Let’s unite for sustainable land management,” he said.

Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of driving global efforts to combat land degradation and drought. Programs such as the Saudi Green Initiative and various land restoration projects were highlighted as models for sustainable development.

The minister said the initiatives not only contributed to environmental sustainability, but also aimed to create economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for communities.

The 30th Desertification and Drought Day was hosted by Germany and concluded this week.

UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: “This year, we focus on sharing the wisdom of our ancestors with future generations. More than a billion young people under the age of 25 in developing countries depend on land and natural resources. They are key to transforming their communities and driving innovation in sustainable land management”.

Key highlights of the event included a presentation of the new cohort of UNCCD Land Heroes and the unveiling of the UNCCD Youth Engagement Strategy and the Land Youth Negotiators Program.

These initiatives empower young people to transform land management practices and engage in policy-making processes, especially ahead of the upcoming UNCCD COP16 negotiations which will take place in Riyadh from Dec. 2 to 13.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2533316/saudi-arabia

--------

 

KSrelief distributes sacrificial meat to people in Yemen

June 19, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief distributed the meat from 480 animal carcasses to 6,720 people in Yemen, reported Saudi Press Agency.

The distribution in Hadramout and Marib on Tuesday was part of a project being carried out by KSrelief in several Yemeni governorates this year.

Muslims traditionally sacrifice animals for the Eid feast, with some of the meat given as a gift to those who are less fortunate.

The project aims to provide 2,330 animals for slaughter to benefit 32,620 people in the governorates of Aden, Hadramout, Al-Mahra, Marib, and Lahj and is part of ongoing relief and humanitarian efforts by the Kingdom.

It is hoped the initiative will bring happiness and help support those in need during the Eid Al-Hadha holiday.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2533276/saudi-arabia

--------

 

Could AI one day perform all of Hajj social services?

June 19, 2024

RIYADH: Like every Dul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, millions of Muslims from all over the world have gathered in Saudi Arabia to take part in the ritual of Hajj, one of the world’s largest annual congregations.

Though this massive influx of pilgrims poses a challenge to the limits of the infrastructure and social services of the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, the Kingdom was well prepared to handle this year’s Hajj.

As Saudi Arabia’s technological capabilities steadily expand, the country’s authorities have taken to using robotic social workers to make this spiritual experience of a lifetime unforgettable.

An estimated 1,845,045 pilgrims, 90 percent of whom came from outside the country, participated in Hajj last year, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics.

Social workers whose job it is to help make the Hajj experience better for visitors have long been a staple of the pilgrimage at every relevant location in Makkah and Madinah.

They play a vital role in supporting and assisting a pilgrim’s needs. However, the sheer scale of the event has some wondering whether artificial intelligence could complement, and even replace, certain social work functions.

Saudi Arabia has extensive experience with the use of technology during Hajj, particularly during the challenging post-COVID-19 seasons. Last year, the Kingdom’s Tourism Authority launched the Nusuk platform to streamline planning and booking for the entire Hajj experience.

Smart robots have been used for several years, working in the fields of disinfection and sterilization and the distribution of Zamzam water.

Last year’s Hajj also saw the use of AI-enabled robots which communicated with pilgrims in 11 languages to guide them through the performance of religious rituals and offer assistance. A number of advanced technologies have already been introduced this Hajj season.

On June 12, several officials from the Saudi Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services and the General Authority of Civil Aviation witnessed the launch of a self-driving — or, rather, self-flying — aerial taxi service in Makkah.

The Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence has also deployed AI technology to improve the entry process for pilgrims, equipping more than a dozen entry points in the country.

Drones have been monitoring the flow of pilgrims in Makkah around the clock to ensure a smooth experience, and field monitors wearing augmented reality glasses are overseeing transportation and traffic patterns.

For the elderly and those with disabilities, the new technologies are a welcome improvement. Smart golf carts and electric scooters for those with mobility issues can be reserved by pilgrims; their use has improved the flow of traffic in the holy cities.

Saudi technology to benefit pilgrims has expanded even outside of the typical social services. For instance, this season an elderly Chinese pilgrim received a lifesaving, highly advanced wireless pacemaker at the King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah after experiencing arrhythmia.

With the amount of technology integrated into Hajj growing year after year, some may wonder what is in store for the use of AI during the pilgrimage. As in previous years, the Kingdom has continued to ensure that social services are readily available to all pilgrims.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced this year the launch of Ajeer Al-Hajj, a service that enables businesses to hire seasonal workers specifically for the Hajj period.

The service allows facilities working during the Hajj season to cover the number of workers needed and contributes to serving pilgrims.

The amount of tech integrated into Hajj has been growing year on year. (SPA)

Social workers are entrusted with a variety of duties including helping pilgrims navigate their religious journey, assisting in emergency help with medical staff such as giving medical and psychological support to people at sites, reuniting separated or lost family members, and guiding pilgrims through crowded places.

These tasks require organization skills, language proficiency, cultural sensitivity, and quick responses to orders — all of which AI has the potential to excel at.

One of the services the Kingdom has been providing for decades for its visitors during this religious holiday is social service. At every location, there are social workers to ensure that pilgrims receive safe and best quality experience during Hajj. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)

Abeer Alomrani, a Saudi AI consultant, says that while it has the potential to significantly support and enhance the efficiency of operations during Hajj, AI cannot replace human creativity, complex moral judgment and deep cultural sensitivity.

“AI can excel in tasks that require data management and logistical planning. For instance, AI-powered systems can optimize the scheduling and flow of pilgrims, manage crowd control, and ensure efficient distribution of resources,” she said.

The amount of tech integrated into Hajj has been growing year on year. (SPA)

“These systems can analyze real-time data to adjust plans dynamically, helping to prevent bottlenecks and manage emergency situations efficiently.”

AI and virtual assistants have already been used to help pilgrims with accessing information and assist in locating missing people. Computer vision and natural language processing algorithms could also help with communication to serve pilgrims who may not speak the local language.

“AI-powered translation tools and natural language processing systems are highly adept at breaking down language barriers. These tools can provide real-time translation services to assist pilgrims from diverse linguistic backgrounds, ensuring that communication is clear and effective,” Alomrani said.

However, there have been concerns regarding AI and whether it can compare with humans in terms of creating genuine experiences for pilgrims. After all, computers cannot offer the empathy or emotional support that human social workers can provide.

Dr. Amal Salamah, a family medicine consultant, explained to Arab News the necessity of human interactions to solve health problems between patients and doctors.

“Some medical rules cannot be replaced, especially the ones that have direct contact with patients,” she said. “Empathy can’t be provided by robots. In our career, one plus one does not necessarily equal two. You might need to provide more. We always need to work by equity.”

Others believe that a hybrid approach, where AI can perform routine tasks and process large amounts of data while social workers focus on complex duties that require emotional intelligence, could be a promising way forward for the future of Hajj.

Alomrani strongly supports the use of a hybrid model and describes it as “the best approach.”

Through a hybrid method, social workers would feel comfortable and would have the time to “focus on the personal, empathetic interactions and decision-making that require a human touch,” she said.

“This synergy could ensure that the spiritual and logistical elements of Hajj are both honored and efficiently managed.”

As technology advances, AI will undoubtedly play a larger role in social services during Hajj season in the future.

Special care is needed to ensure that the new technologies being introduced operate with suitable cultural and religious context for the religious ritual.

While AI may never be able to replace human workers, it can contribute to Saudi Arabia’s ultimate goal of improving the quality of services and offering exceptional experiences to the millions of Hajj pilgrims every year.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2533166/saudi-arabia

-------

 

Saudi authorities thwart drug smuggling across KSA

June 19, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s drug control authority arrested several people involved in smuggling, and seized large quantities of narcotics after operations across Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Press Agency reported Tuesday.

Border Guard land patrols in Rabwa, Asir province, arrested 15 violators, Ethiopians and Yemenis, for smuggling 300 kg of khat.

Additionally, security patrols in Jazan region have arrested two Yemenis and four Saudis after finding them in possession of 196 kg of hashish and 7,227 amphetamine tablets.

Another raid by Border Guards in Al-Dair, Jazan province, thwarted smuggling of 450 kg of khat.

Saudi security authorities urged people to report any activities related to drug smuggling or promotion by calling 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh and Eastern Province regions, and 999 in the rest of Saudi Arabia’s regions.

Alternatively, information can be emailed to 995@gdnc.gov.sa. All reports are treated confidentially.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2533206/saudi-arabia

--------

 

Saudi crown prince, Canadian prime minister discuss relations during call

June 18, 2024

JEDDAH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau spoke on the phone on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the call, the development of relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them in various fields were reviewed.

A number of regional and international issues and their recent repercussions, as well as international efforts made regarding achieving security and stability, were also discussed.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2533146/saudi-arabia

--------

 

South Asia

 

Systemic gender oppression in Afghanistan may amount to crimes against humanity

18 June 2024

The de facto authorities in Afghanistan, the Taliban, swept back into power in August 2021 and swiftly began curtailing women’s rights, including imposing stricter dress codes, banning higher education for girls, excluding women from the job market, and restricting freedom of movement in public spaces.

This repression is bolstered by the Taliban’s use of violence, mainly through murder, enforced disappearance, torture, rape and other inhumane acts, according to the UN expert’s latest report.

“The Taliban’s institutionalisation of its system of oppression of women and girls, and the harms that it is continuing to entrench, should shock the conscience of humanity,” said Mr. Bennett.

Since the Taliban takeover, a series of verbal and written decrees have effectively eliminated the fundamental freedoms of Afghan women and girls, with violence being used to enforce their edicts. 

According to the report, the systematised oppression will disempower Afghan women across generations, ingraining their inferior socioeconomic status and State-enforced dependence on men.

Mr. Bennett is firmly of the viewpoint that “gender apartheid” most fully encapsulates this ongoing injustice, given its institutionalised and ideological nature.

The Human Rights Council-appointed expert is recommending Member States recognise the concept of gender apartheid and propel its codification. He believes doing so will effectively address the unmatched human rights crisis confronting Afghan women.

‘All tools’ approach needed

The UN expert is calling on the Taliban to take immediate steps to restore the fundamental rights of women and girls. He is also pushing for an “all tools” approach to dismantle the Taliban’s institutionalised system of gender oppression and to hold those responsible to account.

This would involve international accountability mechanisms including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). It would also include pursuing cases at the national level.

Mr. Bennett opposes any legitimization of the Taliban leadership until concrete, measurable, and verified improvements on human rights take place.

“Afghans, in particular Afghan women and girls, have shown tremendous bravery and determination in the face of Taliban oppression. The international community must match this with protection and solidarity, including decisive and principled action, which places human rights front and centre,” the UN expert said.

Source: news.un.org

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/06/1151146

--------

 

UN expert condemns Taliban 'crimes' against Afghan women, girls

June 18, 2024

ISLAMABAD —

The United Nations human rights expert for Afghanistan warned Tuesday against sidelining the rights and voices of women at an upcoming international meeting with the country's fundamentalist Taliban leaders.

The special rapporteur, Richard Bennett, issued the warning while presenting his latest report on the Taliban’s allegedly intensifying rights violations against Afghan women and girls to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.

“Following extensive research, consultation, and analysis, it finds that the Taliban’s institutionalized system of gender oppression established and enforced through its violations of women's and girls’ fundamental rights is widespread and systematic and appears to constitute an attack on the entire civilian population, amounting to crimes against humanity,” Bennett reported.

"The gravity and scale of the crimes can’t be overstated. We have a collective responsibility to challenge and dismantle this appalling system and to hold those responsible to account,” said the U.N. expert.

Bennett shared his findings as the U.N. prepares to host a two-day meeting of international envoys on Afghanistan in Doha, Qatar, commencing June 30. The Taliban will attend for the first time what will be the third Doha conference since U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched the process more than a year ago.

Afghan civil society groups and representatives reportedly have not been invited to the third Doha huddle, even though they attended the second this past February. The Taliban refused to join those discussions unless their delegates could be accepted as the sole representatives of Afghanistan.

Guterres rejected the Taliban’s demands in a post-meeting news conference. The U.N. has stated that the Doha process is aimed at developing a coherent and unified world approach to engagement with the Taliban.

Bennett said Tuesday the upcoming meeting presents an important opportunity to affirm that civil society, including women, are "meaningful participants" and that women's rights are central to discussions.

“The Taliban are not recognized as a government and should not be treated as such. They must not be allowed to dictate the terms of U.N.-hosted meetings,” Bennett said.

“Failure to learn the lessons of the past and sidelining human rights could have devastating and long-lasting consequences,” he added. “The Taliban’s institutionalization of its system of gender oppression should shock the conscience of humanity.”

The Taliban have dismissed international criticism of their governance, including restrictions on women’s access to education and employment, saying their policies are aligned with Afghan culture and their harsh interpretation of Islamic law.

On Sunday, the Taliban’s foreign ministry spokespersons formally confirmed that its delegation would attend the third Doha conference.

“The agenda and participation list of the upcoming Doha meeting shared with the Islamic Emirate after two months of discussions with the U.N., it was decided in principle to participate in the said meeting,” Abdul Qahar Balkhi said. He used the official title of their men-only government, which is yet to be recognized by the world.

“If there are any changes to the agenda and participation, it would naturally affect our decision, which we will share with all sides at that time,” Balkhi cautioned.

Bennett urged the international community to use an “all-tools approach” centered on justice and accountability, incorporating human rights and women’s voices in political processes and diplomatic engagement while dealing with the Taliban.

“It’s incumbent on us all to take decisive action to stand with Afghan women and girls, hold the perpetrators accountable, and restore dignity, equality, and justice for all.”

The Taliban stormed back to power in Afghanistan almost three years ago, banning girls ages 12 and older from attending secondary school. They have also barred women from working in public and private sectors, including the U.N, except for Afghan health care and a few other departments.

Women are not allowed to travel long distances by road or air unless accompanied by a male relative and are banned from visiting public places such as parks, gyms, and bathhouses.

The Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 led to the worsening of economic and humanitarian conditions in the impoverished country of more than 40 million people, which is reeling from years of war and the devastation of natural disasters.

Source: voanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.voanews.com/a/un-expert-condemns-taliban-crimes-against-afghan-women-girls/7660677.html

--------

 

China urges Taliban to respect basic rights of Afghans, including women and ethnic groups

June 19, 2024

Representative of China expressed hope at the UN Human Rights Council session that the Taliban would respect the fundamental rights of Afghans, including women, children, and ethnic groups.

Jiang Han urged the Taliban to make positive efforts to safeguard the interests of the Afghan people.

Without naming specific countries, China’s representative blamed some nations for exacerbating Afghanistan’s current humanitarian conditions, describing long-standing blockades and unilateral sanctions as “irrational,” causing severe harm to Afghan rights and wellbeing.

China voiced deep concern over the current situation in Afghanistan and advocated for a flexible and pragmatic approach to supporting Afghan leadership in addressing the urgent needs of the Afghan people.

Since the Taliban’s resurgence in August 2021, Afghan women have faced severe challenges, including the curtailing of their basic rights. Restrictions on education have forced many girls and women out of schools and universities, undermining decades of progress in female education.

Employment opportunities for women have drastically diminished, with many sectors closed to them or only accessible under restrictive conditions. This has led to widespread economic hardship among Afghan women and their families.

Freedom of movement for women has been severely restricted, limiting their ability to participate in public life, access healthcare, and engage in essential activities.

Ethnic suppression remains a critical issue, exacerbating inequalities and marginalizing ethnic groups and women who face compounded discrimination and barriers to basic rights.

International outcry and diplomatic efforts have intensified, urging the Taliban to respect human rights, particularly those of women and girls, and ensure their inclusion and protection in Afghanistan’s future governance.

Efforts at the UN Human Rights Council underscore global determination to hold the Taliban accountable for human rights violations and support initiatives aimed at restoring fundamental freedoms for all Afghans, regardless of gender or ethnicity.

Source: khaama.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.khaama.com/china-urges-taliban-to-respect-basic-rights-of-afghans-including-women-and-ethnic-groups/

--------

 

Human Rights should establish mechanism to hold Taliban accountable: HRW

June 18, 2024

Human Rights Watch stated that the exclusion of women from the third Doha meeting is a violation of a UN Security Council resolution. According to the organization, countries’ disregard for the Taliban’s harassment of women is disappointing.

The organization has called on countries to create a mechanism within the Human Rights Council to hold the Taliban accountable and investigate their crimes.

This international body expressed concern about the “suffocating” situation of Afghan women and girls and urged the world to take gender apartheid as a crime against humanity seriously.

Human Rights Watch issued its statement a day before the new Human Rights Council meeting to review the latest report by Richard Bennett, the council’s special rapporteur.

Human Rights Watch, one of the major international organizations, has supported the proposals of Richard Bennett’s report. This report emphasizes recognizing gender apartheid and calls on countries to file a case against the Taliban for human rights violations at the International Court of Justice.

Human Rights Watch has also urged members of the Human Rights Council to file a complaint against the Taliban at this court.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has excluded Afghan women from the third Doha meeting. Human Rights Watch has stated that this action by the United Nations is a blatant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security.

Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, there has been a dire human rights and humanitarian crisis in the country. The Taliban have severely restricted women’s rights, including banning education beyond the sixth grade. This regression has deprived countless young girls of their right to learn and pursue their dreams.

Women in Afghanistan are also barred from employment and working with both domestic and international aid organizations. This restriction not only impacts the women directly but also hampers the effectiveness of humanitarian efforts aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Afghan population.

Furthermore, the Taliban have restricted the free movement of women and other basic rights. Women must be accompanied by a male guardian in public spaces, and this enforcement of strict mobility limitations severely limits their ability to participate in society and access essential services.

Source: khaama.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.khaama.com/human-rights-should-establish-mechanism-to-hold-taliban-accountable-hrw/

--------

 

Afghanistan faces world’s worst human rights crisis: Nasir Ahmad Andisha

June 18, 2024

Afghanistan’s representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council said that Afghanistan is experiencing the worst human rights crisis in the world under Taliban rule.

Nasir Ahmad Andisha added that the Taliban, by violating human and women’s rights, are planting the seeds of a dangerous ideology in the minds of men.

Mr. Andisha, the representative of Afghanistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council, made this statement on Tuesday, June 18, at the council’s fifty-sixth session, saying that the Taliban have issued 52 decrees against women in the past year.

He emphasized that the Taliban’s policies and actions against women are contrary to international human rights laws and various conventions.

Mr. Andisha said that the Taliban have proven over the past three years that they lack the willingness and ability to fulfill their commitments under the United Nations Charter.

He added that granting legitimacy to the Taliban, especially at the upcoming Doha meeting, should be avoided.

He called for the Human Rights Council’s attention to creating a cohesive mechanism to defend the rights of Afghan citizens and stressed the need to hold the Taliban accountable.

Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, women’s rights have been severely restricted, including education beyond the sixth grade and employment opportunities.

Furthermore, women have faced limitations on their free movement and other basic rights, exacerbating the humanitarian and rights crisis in the country.

Source: khaama.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-faces-worlds-worst-human-rights-crisis-nasir-ahmad-andisha/

-------

 

Pakistan envoy urges Taliban to resume education for women and girls in Afghanistan immediately

June 19, 2024

The Pakistani representative said at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday that the continued suspension of women’s and girls’ education in Afghanistan and the deprivation of women’s employment have disappointed Islamabad.

Omar Khalid, speaking at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council on Afghanistan on Tuesday, said, “We also urge the current rulers of Afghanistan to take immediate steps to resume the education of women and girls and to create conditions where women can work, in line with Afghanistan’s international commitments.”

He added that the restrictions on women’s education and employment have also impacted Afghanistan’s economic and humanitarian conditions.

Kumar Thakur, the Indian representative, also spoke at the session, highlighting the proximity of Afghanistan to India and the relations between the two countries, stating that lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan are important for India.

Kumar Thakur said, “We are closely monitoring the human rights situation in Afghanistan. Our priority is to uphold the rights of women, children, and minorities, to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan, to form an inclusive and representative government in the country, and to combat terrorism and drug trafficking.”

The Indian representative said that his country is ready to actively cooperate with all partners and stakeholders to ensure peace and security in Afghanistan.

He also mentioned that India continues to send humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan and to provide scholarships to Afghan students.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, Afghan women have faced severe restrictions on their freedoms and rights. The Taliban has imposed strict dress codes, limiting women to wearing burqas and banning them from traveling without a male guardian. These restrictions have severely curtailed women’s ability to participate in public life, access healthcare, and pursue education and employment.

In addition, the Taliban has shut down many women’s shelters and organizations that provide support and resources to victims of domestic violence. This has left many women vulnerable and without any means of protection or recourse. The situation is particularly dire for women who were previously employed in sectors now dominated by the Taliban, such as the judiciary, police force, and media.

Furthermore, the mental health impact on Afghan women under Taliban rule is significant. The fear of punishment, harassment, and violence has led to increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among women. The Taliban’s oppressive policies have not only robbed Afghan women of their rights and freedoms but also their hope for a better future.

Source: khaama.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-envoy-urges-taliban-to-resume-education-for-women-and-girls-in-afghanistan-immediately/

--------

 

Europe

 

UK Arab community calls for support of Arab Voice and Muslim Vote campaigns in election

June 18, 2024

More than fifty prominent figures from the Arab community in Britain have signed an appeal to people of conscience to support the Arab Voice” and “The Muslim Vote” campaigns in the coming general election scheduled for 4 July. The signatories have called on the British Arab and Muslim communities, including activists and human rights supporters, to sign the appeal as well.

They call for cooperation and united efforts to form an influential voice in the election through a series of coordinated actions.

The importance of electing and supporting candidates endorsed by the Arab Voice in coordination with The Muslim Vote campaigns to ensure effective and impactful representation was stressed. Voters can find the names of the candidates endorsed by both campaigns according to constituency through the following link.

Candidates have been endorsed on precise criteria that align with the goals of both campaigns. All other candidates who are not endorsed by the campaigns, but are standing on similar pledges, are urged to withdraw immediately in favour of the endorsed candidates, to avoid splitting the vote and thus paving the way for an easy win for the incumbents or candidates from the major parties.

All voters are encouraged to support and promote the electoral campaigns of endorsed candidates, while also urging friends and colleagues in the respective constituency to do likewise. The signatories emphasised the importance of exercising the right to vote, either in person, by proxy or by post. Not exercising that right, they pointed out, indirectly supports the worst possible candidates.

The appeal noted that prioritising the end of Israel’s genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza does not necessarily mean neglecting local issues. International and local issues alike have been duly considered before endorsing any candidate to ensure a reasonable balance.

The signatories of the appeal include well-known figures such as Anas Altikriti, the CEO and Founder of the Cordoba Foundation; Mohammed Kozbar, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain; Zaher Birawi, President of the Palestinian Forum in Britain; Adnan Hmidan – Head of the Arab Voice Campaign and Mohammed Al-Tawil, consultant in Clinical Psychology.

Source: middleeastmonitor.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240618-uk-arab-community-calls-for-support-of-arab-voice-and-muslim-vote-campaigns-in-election/

--------

 

Humza Yousaf: Media 'obsessed with Nigel Farage ignored Muslim hate'

THE UK media is “obsessed” with platforming Nigel Farage and its complacency in doing so without challenging “anti-Muslim hatred” has brought Islamophobia into the mainstream, Humza Yousaf has said.

Writing in The Guardian, the former first minister described a rise of far-right and anti-Muslim rhetoric sweeping Europe – and said that it risked a reactive rise in Islamist extremism.

He suggested that a “complacency” in the media and a “tendency to ignore and dismiss anti-Muslim hatred” were partly to blame.

The former SNP leader wrote: “Farage – who, during this campaign, has said that Muslims do not share British values – has a history of making Islamophobic remarks.

“In 2015, he said that people had fears of Muslims as a ‘fifth column’; in 2013, he suggested Muslim migrants were ‘coming here to take us over’.

“Farage has failed to get elected seven times and yet, despite this and regardless of the fact that he has made a living out of fanning the flames of religious and racial tension, the British media appears obsessed with platforming him.”

Yousaf pointed to similar surges in the hard-right in Germany, the Netherlands, and France – where president Emmanual Macron called a snap national election following a crushing defeat by the far-right in the European parliamentary vote.

The former first minister went on: “Commentators and politicians have often caricatured the likes of Farage and [Dutch far-right Party for Freedom leader Geert] Wilders as your harmless, old-fashioned uncle who, after downing one too many glasses of Pimm’s at the family barbecue, will spout the odd off-colour remark.

“This complacency, this tendency to ignore and dismiss anti-Muslim hatred, has allowed it to grow from the fringes to the mainstream of our political discourse.”

Yousaf, who became the first Muslim leader of a western nation when he was elected Scottish first minister in 2023, further cautioned that the rise of the hard-right in Europe could spark a similar extremist response among followers of Islam.

He said that people like former UK home secretary Suella Braverman are now able to “openly” claim that “the Islamists, the extremists and the antisemites are in charge now” – whereas previously they were forced to hide behind euphamisms.

Yousaf went on: “The far-right want Muslims to leave Europe – to, in their words, ‘go back home’.

“However, we have no home other than the countries we were born in, live, raise our children, work, pay our taxes to and contribute to. The result? We risk tens of millions of people across Europe feeling disfranchised, feeling as if they do not belong in their own country.

“It is not only the far-right that would seek to gain from such feelings of disillusionment, but Islamic State-inspired extremists. They prey on vulnerable people, on those who do not feel as if they belong.

“Their twisted propaganda relies on the creation of a false dichotomy, splitting the world in two: dar al-harb (the land of war) and dar al-Islam (the world of Islam). They tell those who feel lost that they belong in the land of Islam, that the west has become a land of war in which all and any deadly tactics are acceptable to punish the enemy.

“It is not too late for politicians of all persuasions to confront and face down the anti-Muslim hatred rampant in our political discourse. The real danger is that by appeasing the far right, we also risk emboldening IS-inspired extremists too.”

Source: thenational.scot

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24395478.humza-yousaf-media-obsessed-nigel-farage-ignored-muslim-hate/

--------

 

Turkey Issues Arrest Warrant For YouTuber, Diamond Tema, Due To ‘Insulting’ Comments About Islam, Prophet

June 18, 2024

Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç has announced the issuance of an arrest warrant for a popular YouTuber whose remarks on Islam and the Prophet Muhammad during a recent interview on the platform have sparked criticism for being “insulting.”

Diamond Tema runs a YouTube channel under his name and has more than 870,000 subscribers. In his videos Tema, who has Turkish and Albanian citizenship, mainly talks about issues related to religion, philosophy, history and science.

Tunç announced on X that Tema is being investigated by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office due to his “insulting, ugly and provocative” statements about the Prophet Muhammad on charges of “fomenting hatred and enmity among the people,” under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). He said an arrest warrant has been issued for Tema as part of the investigation since he was discovered to be abroad.

“Ugly and provocative statements targeting Islam and our beloved Prophet are never acceptable. The investigation is being conducted meticulously,” said the minister. Tema made the remarks that sparked the investigation during a recent interview with another YouTuber, Asrın Tok, on Tok’s YouTube channel, Yer6 Film.

In the interview Tema, who describes himself as an agnostic who holds that any ultimate reality (such as God) is unknown and probably unknowable, and Tok discussed Islam and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, with Tema voicing disbelief and directing criticism.

He also criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) over its alleged Islamist leanings.

Amid the outrage on social media due to his remarks, Tema announced on his YouTube channel on Monday that he was forced to leave Turkey for Albania following online threats of arrest and concerns over his safety. He said he might try to return to Turkey in four to five months.

“The next time I come to Turkey, they can arrest me if they want and put me in jail; I can go to court, I can testify then. No problem at all. But I didn’t want to experience this just now, when this is pushed on me, when everyone wants me to die, when everyone wants me to be thrown out,” Tema said in the video.

Turkish authorities also requested that YouTube ban the controversial video.

Turkey is a predominantly Muslim but officially secular state, although investigations into popular figures are common due to their comments about Islam, Islamic law or the Prophet Muhammad.

Source: turkishminute.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.turkishminute.com/2024/06/18/turky-issue-arrest-warrant-youtube-over-insulting-comments-abut-islam-prophet/

-------

 

Spanish Civil Guard dismantles so-called Islamic State media network

18 June 2024

Spain's Civil Guard, in collaboration with Europol and the FBI, has dismantled one of the largest media networks linked to the so-called Islamic State.

According to Europol, servers were taken down in Germany, the Netherlands, Iceland and the US, with Spanish authorities arresting nine people.

The servers supported multiple media outlets linked to the so-called Islamic State, the European law enforcement agency said, and were used to disseminate global propaganda and messages capable of inciting terrorism in at least thirty languages.

The operation is part of a wider effort by judicial and law enforcement authorities across Europe to tackle online terrorist propaganda and communications, including through social media.

Europol reports that websites and communication channels, such as radio stations, a news agency, and social media content, had an international reach.

They disseminated directives and slogans of the so-called Islamic State in over thirty languages, including Spanish, Arabic, English, French, German, Danish, Turkish, Russian, Indonesian and Pashto.

According to files seen by Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, the network also published messages urging an attack on a bus carrying Real Madrid's football players, as well as targeting the Euro 2024 football tournament in Germany and the Paris Olympics.

Source: uk.news.yahoo.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/spanish-civil-guard-dismantles-main-115600122.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jLm5ld3Nub3cuY28udWsv&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFXXeMzXU8xHRUSDNnef0jRT94DqslZyG2NMVh8FSw09o-Zrh1CkVA_chKWd6JAmLuvKagGpBNwR-tYtUkvDOYa-vQbdExl0nRDn9zbAL4eGWg7Wt6JBxfMTVUAkURHnweWrczrlSeGvoOcNhjYenMGhlLx_7SBbdKNgzUY8U2mp

-------

 

Russia names main condition for BRICS membership

18 Jun, 2024

Any country seeking to join the BRICS group should not participate in illegal unilateral sanctions, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said, emphasizing that this is a key criteria for Moscow to welcome new members.

Speaking at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday, the diplomat touched upon Russia’s vision for the further enlargement of BRICS.

“For us, one of the key criteria for admission to BRICS and welcoming partner states is non-participation…in the illegal sanctions policies, illegal restrictive measures against any BRICS participant, first of all, of course, against Russia,” Ryabkov stated.

This stance is met with “full understanding” by other BRICS members, Ryabkov noted. Moscow expects such a position to maintain its “core nature” as the group grows in the future, he said.

“The fact that BRICS will grow and find new forms both with partners and in terms of its own expansion is indisputable,” the diplomat said, adding that the current ten members of the group have already “adjusted” to each other and are now working “as a team.”

BRICS was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, while South Africa joined in 2011. The group expanded this year by welcoming Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as full-fledged members. The group, now colloquially known as BRICS+, has opted to keep its original name despite the expansion.

Numerous other countries have officially declared an intention to join the organization as well. The latest expression of intent came over the weekend from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who pledged to file the necessary paperwork shortly.

“We have made our policy clear and we have made our decision. We will start the formal process soon. We are waiting for the final result and the feedback from the South African government,” Ibrahim stated.

Source: rt.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.rt.com/russia/599511-brics-expansion-sanctions-mechanisms/

--------

 

Pakistan

 

Tehreek-e-Taliban PakistanRingleader, Abdul Manan Alias Hakeemullah, Killed In Afghanistan

June 19, 2024

AFGHANISTAN:

A militant ringleader of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was reportedly killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday.

The slain terrorist Abdul Manan alias Hakeemullah fatally shot in the Chaghasarai area of Asadabad district in Kunar province.

Hakeemullah was formerly associated with the TTP Malakand Shura and served as an aide to Wali, overseeing terrorist activities in Bajaur and carrying out various acts of violence including target killings, landmine explosions, checkpoint attacks, and extortion.

His death is seen as a significant setback for the TTP and underscores the internal conflicts among various armed factions operating within Afghanistan.

On April 27, TTP Malakand chapter commander Talha Swati was killed in the Asadabad area of Afghanistan's Kunar province, sources confirmed.

Swati – associated with the Fazlullah group belonged to Swat. He was gunned down in broad daylight after Friday prayers.

The TTP commander was linked to the intelligence group and worked as intelligence chief in the Barikot area.

As per reports, the slain terrorist was reporting on Jammatul Ahrar's activities to the South District Taliban, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), and his close aide Noor Wali Mehsud.

There were conflicting reports surrounding the commander's death. Some reports suggested he was killed by ISKP, while others stated he was killed by a rival faction due to some internal rifts.

The Swati group, following the commander's death, demanded punishment for the killers.

Source: tribune.com.pk

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2472334/ttp-ringleader-killed-in-afghanistan

--------

 

JI chief terms budget ‘recipe to destroy national economy’

June 17, 2024

KARACHI/BADIN/LARKANA: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has said that the budget 2024-25 has been designed to target and bully the middle class and facilitate feudal lords. “It is a complete recipe to destroy the economy at the behest of the International Monetary Fund (IMF),” he remarked.

The JI leader expressed these views while addressing a press conference at his party’s Karachi headquarters, Idara Noor-i-Haq, on Sunday.

He quoted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as claiming that “inflation has decreased from 38pc to 12pc” and argued, where on earth inflation has decreased?

The budget has placed the lower and middle classes under an unbearable burden, he said. On the one hand, the prime minister claims inflation has decreased and, on the other, 18pc tax has been increased on flour, pulses, sugar, spices and other food items.

Says lower and middle income groups have been placed under ‘unbearable burden’

This is a typical example of deception, he said, adding that Shehbaz Sharif delivered the same speech he had delivered at the time of ‘regime change’.

He said that the government has already blasted the low-income group and the budget 2024-25 particularly targeted the middle class to pound it. The government announced a pay rise for the public sector employees but did not announce any such relief for private sector employees.

“The tax regime presented in the budget reflects the feudal mindset in the government’s top brass. The government increased slabs to further squeeze the already crushed salaried class. In the previous year, Rs360bn taxes were levied on the salaried class as compared to just Rs4 billion on feudal lords,” he added.

Still the government has not introduced any burden-sharing formula for the feudal lords, who own thousands of acres of agricultural lands.

The JI leader said that the tax regime in Pakistan was a total failure. A large number of professionals, among the 1.2 million Pakistanis, had left the country last year just because of the social and economic injustices in the country.

Instead of focusing on the tax net, the government is committed to increasing the tax base that, too, only by further pressing the salaried class.

Hafiz Naeem also lambasted the flawed policy for the agriculture sector and highlighted that the ‘sugar mills mafia’ had not paid the outstanding amounts to sugar cane growers for the last six months.

“The prime minister must tell the nation as to where is the report on import of wheat worth $1 billion,” he said, and also questioned the power generation cost that is double in the country as compared to the region.

The JI chief also posed to him questions about the gas prices development, if any, regarding gas exploration including the Pak-Iran gas pipeline.

JI’s Deputy Emir Osama Razi, Karachi Emir Munem Zafar and other leaders, including Saifuddin Advocate, Naveed Baig, Taufiquddin Siddiqui and Zahid Askari were present at the press conference.

The Awami Jamhoori Party (AJP) has rejected the budget 2024-2025 by declaring it “hostile to the poor and a friendly to the rich”.

The budget had doubled the pain and sufferings of the people of Sindh and they completely rejected it because no relief had been given to farmers, workers and labourers, said AJP central president Khadim Talpur and his party leaders Syed Laal Shah, Dr Aslam and others while talking to media on Sunday. Instead, it had sown unrest among the masses, they added.

They alleged that it was a joke with the people of Pakistan as the figures presented in the budget were not real because it had shown 6.25pc growth in the agriculture sector under the head of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The AJP leaders said that terrorism, bad economic policies, unemployment, inflation, stagnation of agricultural and industrial development, corruption, extremism and the destruction of education and healthcare systems were major problems.

JUI-F describes Sindh budget as ‘anti-people’

The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has rejected the Sindh budget 2024-25 terming it ‘anti-people’.

In a statement issued in Larkana on Sunday, JUI-F Sindh general secretary Maulana Rashid Mehmood Soomro and Larkana district chief Maulana Nasir Mehmood Soomro remarked that the budget reflects “a nexus between thieves and watchmen”.

Instead of preparing it in the finance department, it was okayed at some ‘house’ where education, health and basic amenities sectors were heavily taxed, they observed.

They noted that a big population of Karachi was denied of any new development project while the young generation was ignored by the ruling party, which portrayed itself as the champions of taking care of youth. Women were totally ignored in the budget, they pointed out.

They said no allocations were earmarked for establishing new educational institutions in the light of population growth, adding that lion’s share of the development budget was diverted to the “bungalows of influential figures”.

They termed the Rs8bn allocation for haris as ‘mole in camel’s mouth’, saying that if calculated, it stood merely Rs650 per hari.

MQM-P rejects Sindh budget as ‘anti-urban’

Central committee of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has rejected the provincial budget, calling it anti-urban. It also criticised the lack of development schemes for those living in urban Sindh.

The reaction came at an MQM-P central committee meeting held at the party headquarters in Bahadurabad.

After reviewing the federal and Sindh budgets in the meeting, the party rejected the Sindh budget, calling it anti-urban Sindh.

The party observed that Karachi contributed 97pc of the revenue to the Sindh kitty, but the government had ignored its people by not announcing any major development and infrastructure schemes.

The MQM-P also urged the prime minister to issue directives to reduce the income tax burden on the salaried class and stop their economic exploitation.

Source: dawn.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.dawn.com/news/1840319/ji-chief-terms-budget-recipe-to-destroy-national-economy

--------

 

Pakistan: 36 members of persecuted Ahmadi community arrested for animal sacrifice on Eid al-Adha

June 18, 2024

Islamabad: The Ahmadi community in Pakistan has been reeling under relentless persecution from authorities and radical Islam groups, which was once again highlighted when 36 members of the community were arrested in the country on charges of sacrificing animals on Eid-al-Adha, as they are recognised as non-Muslims in Pakistan. Animal sacrifice is a routine practice in Pakistan during Eid, but is banned for Ahmadis.

The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan, which represents the minority community in the country, accused authorities of preventing Ahmadis from offering their religious rites within the confinement of their homes during Eid and detaining people with their sacrificial animals, citing grave violations of human rights.

"At least 36 members of the minority Ahmadi community have been arrested for offering sacrificial animals for slaughter on Eid-ul Adha in the country mostly in Punjab province," Amir Mahmood, an official of the organisation, told news agency PTI. "Preventing Ahmadis from offering their religious rites within the confinement of four walls is a grave violation of their human rights as well as a clear violation of the judgements by the Supreme Court of Pakistan," he added.

'Police joining hands with extremists'

Mahmood alleged that the radical Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbiak Pakistan (TLP) has been fanning hatred against Ahmadis and pressuring police to stop members of the minority community from performing their religious rituals. Members of the community were being harassed particularly in the Punjab province by extremists and law enforcement officials alike, he said.

According to the official, Ahmadis were even stopped from offering Eid prayers on Monday and the police are calling in Ahmadiyya leadership in various police stations and threatening them with "immediate danger" from the TLP in case any Ahmadi is found performing the 'Qurbani' or offering Eid prayers.

"It has come to be known that the intelligence agencies have also issued a threat alert on the occasion of Eid against Ahmadis," Mahmood said. The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan has demanded the immediate release of the Ahmadis detained on Eid and urged authorities to take steps to ensure their religious freedom.

Persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan

Earlier, the police in Pakistan's Punjab province, allegedly under pressure of the radical Islamist party, reportedly destroyed the tombstones of 17 graves of the minority Ahmadi community in the Punjab province on Saturday, the second such incident last week. “The TLP activists had been threatening the Ahmadi community and pressuring police to demolish the tombstones of Ahmadi graves. The Ahmadi community living there is feeling vulnerable because of the law enforcers' support to the illegal demand of extremists," Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan said in a statement on Saturday.

Ahmadis are one of the most vulnerable minority communities in Pakistan and are often targeted by religious extremists. Most Ahmadi worship places have come under attack by TLP activists while in other incidents police on the pressure of religious extremists demolished minarets, and arches, and removed sacred writings.

Although Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims, Pakistan’s Parliament in 1974 declared the community as non-Muslims. A decade later, they were not just banned from calling themselves Muslims but were also barred from practising aspects of Islam. These include constructing or displaying any symbol that identifies them as Muslims such as building minarets or domes on mosques, or publicly writing verses from the Quran.

The TLP says constructing or displaying any symbol that identifies Ahmadis as Muslims such as building minarets or domes on mosques, or publicly writing verses from the Quran is not acceptable. The hate campaign against the Ahmadi community in Pakistan is reportedly at an all-time high and two of its members were shot dead by a teenager allegedly for their faith in Punjab earlier this month.

Source: indiatvnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/pakistan-members-of-persecuted-ahmadi-community-arrested-for-animal-sacrifice-on-eid-al-adha-updates-2024-06-18-937602

--------

 

Pak granthi’s rally around PSGPC president amid sacrilege claims

Jun 19, 2024

AMRITSAR: Coming to the defense of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) president Ramesh Singh Arora facing sacrilege allegations, several granthis of Pakistan's Gurdwaras, alongside PSGPC General Secretary, have vouched to protect maryada (Sikh code of religious conduct) in Pakistan's Gurdwaras and have commended Ramesh's efforts in preserving a Gurdwara that had remained closed since the Indo-Pak partition.

Jaskaran Sidhu, the granthi of Gurudwara Babe Di Bair in Sialkot, Pakistan, informed TOI on Tuesday "When the president of PSGPC came to attend the function, the Sikh sangat, along with Muslims, was sitting on chairs wearing shoes. Later, we realized our mistake, and the sangat decided to seek pardon by offering ardas at the nearby gurdwaras.”

Notably,PSGPC president Ramesh Singh Arora who is also the first Sikh to become the minority affairs minister in Pakistan’s Punjab province entered the Gurdwara Bhai Karam Singh, Jhelum, wearing shoes on the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony for Gurdwara’s conservation and restoration held on last Saturday following which Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Insaf Minority Wing president Mahinderpal Singh accused Ramesh of sacrilege and urged the Akal Takht jathedar to take religious action against Ramesh.

The video message sent by Jaskaran shows the six Granthi of Gurdwara’s including Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Bal Leela Sahib and Gurdwara Patti Sahib, and PSGPC General Secretary Bibi Satwant Kaur reading out a written message.

They informed that the Gurdwara had been closed since the Indo-Pak partition with no parkash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. They praised Ramesh for addressing the historical Gurdwara's condition by initiating conservation and restoration efforts. They appealed to refrain from politicizing religious matters and expressed their commitment to upholding maryada in Pakistan's Gurdwaras.

Jaskaran said that Mahinderpal, being a political representative of PTI, and Ramesh, representing Pakistan Muslim League (N), was allegedly attempting to gain political advantage from the issue. He said "Instead of applauding Ramesh for reopening a Gurdwara after more than 75 years, where there used to be a police station, Mahinderpal is accusing him. There are still over one thousand Gurdwaras in Pakistan that remain closed”

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/pak-granthis-rally-around-psgpc-president-amid-sacrilege-claims/articleshow/111104715.cms

--------

 

Mideast

 

Illegal Israeli settlers attack Palestinian villages in West Bank during Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday

18.06.2024

Illegal Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages and properties in several areas of the occupied West Bank on Monday that were marking the second day of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that illegal settlers attacked Palestinian residents in the town of Deir Dibwan east of Ramallah.

The agency said a group of settlers invaded the town's outskirts, gathered in the area and threw stones at residents, resulting in three injuries.

In the northern West Bank, WAFA said illegal settlers attacked Palestinian vehicles in the town of Huwara south of Nablus.

In the south, the agency noted that settlers established an illegal outpost on privately owned Palestinian land east of Hebron on Monday.

Armed settler groups set up large settlement tents and wooden and tin shelters on lands in the town of Bani Naim.

According to the agency, the Israeli army also raided various areas of the West Bank on Monday, including the town of Ajjul north of Ramallah, where confrontations broke out between residents and Israeli forces, without reporting any casualties.

The army also stormed the town of Anata northeast of Jerusalem as well as several neighborhoods in the city of Hebron and the town of Ramin east of Tulkarm.

Tensions have risen along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv presses ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 37,300 people since last October following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

Source: aa.com.tr

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/illegal-israeli-settlers-attack-palestinian-villages-in-west-bank-during-muslim-eid-al-adha-holiday/3252576

-------

 

No future US government can prevent Iran oil exports, minister says

June 19, 2024

DUBAI: Iranian oil exports will continue regardless of who is elected as the next US president, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji said on Wednesday, amid concerns that a Donald Trump presidency could curb Iranian crude sales.

“Whatever government comes to power in the United States will not be able to prevent Iranian oil exports,” Owji said in comments quoted by Iran’s official news agency IRNA.

In 2018, then-President Trump withdrew from a 2015 nuclear pact with Iran and re-imposed sanctions which hurt Iran’s oil sector, with production dropping to 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd).

US President Joe Biden took office in 2021 and since then Iran has managed to raise output to 3.5 million bpd while tripling exports, according to Owji.

Iran has expanded oil trade with China.

Iran will elect a new president on June 28 following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May.

The US presidential election is scheduled for November 5.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2533311/middle-east

--------

 

Israel may have violated laws of war in Gaza campaign, UN rights office says

June 19, 2024

GENEVA: Israeli forces may have repeatedly violated fundamental principles of the laws of war and failed to distinguish between civilians and fighters in their Gaza Strip military campaign, the United Nations human rights office said on Wednesday.

In a report assessing six Israeli attacks that caused a high number of casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure, the UN human rights office said Israeli forces “may have systematically violated the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack.”

“The requirement to select means and methods of warfare that avoid or at the very least minimize to every extent civilian harm appears to have been consistently violated in Israel’s bombing campaign,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.

Israel’s air and ground offensive has killed more than 37,400 people in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory, according to health authorities there.

Israel launched its assault after Hamas fighters stormed across the border into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 people hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Last week the UN human rights office said the killing of civilians during an Israeli operation to free four hostages could amount to war crimes, but so might Palestinian militants’ holding of captives in densely populated areas.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2533301/middle-east

-------

 

Ship attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in fatal assault sinks in Red Sea in second-such sinking

June 19, 2024

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: A bulk carrier sank days after an attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels believed to have killed one mariner on board, authorities said early Wednesday, the second-such ship to be sunk in the rebel campaign.

The sinking of the Tutor in the Red Sea marks what appears to be a new escalation by the Iranian-backed Houthis in their campaign targeting shipping through the vital maritime corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

The attack comes despite a monthslong US-led campaign in the region that has seen the Navy face its most-intense maritime fighting since World War II, with near-daily attacks targeting commercial vessels and warship.

The Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned-and-operated Tutor sank in the Red Sea, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said in a warning to sailors in the region.

“Military authorities report maritime debris and oil sighted in the last reported location,” the UKMTO said. “The vessel is believed to have sunk.”

The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge the sinking. The US military as well did not immediately acknowledge the sinking and did not respond to requests for comment.

The Tutor came under attack about a week ago by a bomb-carrying Houthi drone boat in the Red Sea. John Kirby, a White House national security spokesman, said Monday that the attack killed “a crew member who hailed from the Philippines.” The Philippines has yet to acknowledge the death, but the man who had been aboard the Tutor has been missing for over a week in the Red Sea, which faces intense summertime heat.

The use of a boat loaded with explosives raised the specter of 2000’s USS Cole attack, a suicide assault by Al-Qaeda on the warship when it was at port in Aden, killing 17 on board. The Cole is now part of a US Navy operation led by the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea to try and halt the Houthi attacks, though the rebels continue their assaults.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, killing four sailors. They’ve seized one vessel and sunk two since November, according to the US Maritime Administration. A US-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with a series of strikes May 30 killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say.

In March, the Belize-flagged Rubymar carried a load of fertilizer sank in the Red Sea after taking on water for days following a rebel attack.

The Houthis have maintained their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the US or the UK However, many of the ships they’ve attacked have little or no connection to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The war in Gaza has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians there, while hundreds of others have been killed in Israeli operations in the West Bank. It began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage.

A recent report by the US Defense Intelligence Agency acknowledged container shipping through Red Sea has declined by 90 percent since December over the attacks. As much as 15 percent of the world’s maritime traffic flows through that corridor.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2533221/middle-east

--------

 

UN says lawlessness in Gaza impedes aid via Kerem Shalom despite Israel’s military pause

June 19, 2024

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations said on Tuesday it has been unable to distribute aid in the Gaza Strip from the Israel-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing because of lawlessness and panic among hungry people in the area, despite Israel’s daytime pause in military activity.

Israel’s military said on Sunday there would be a daily pause in its attacks from 0500 GMT until 1600 GMT until further notice along the road that leads from Israel via the Kerem Shalom crossing to the Salah Al-Din Road and northwards in Gaza.

The UN welcomed the move, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Tuesday, but added that “this has yet to translate into more aid reaching people in need.” He said the area between Kerem Shalom and the Salah Al-Din road was very dangerous.

“Fighting is not the only reason for being unable to pick up aid ... The lack of any police or rule of law in the area makes it very dangerous to move goods there,” he said.

“But we are ready to engage with all parties to ensure that aid reaches people in Gaza, and we’ll continue to work with the authorities and with security forces, trying to see what can be done to have security conditions,” Haq said.

“When aid gets to a place, people are starving, and they’re worried that this may be the last food that they see,” he said. “They have to be assured that there’s going to be a regular flow of goods so that there’s not a panic when we get to the area.”

The United Nations and aid groups have long complained of the dangers and obstacles to getting aid in and distributing it throughout Gaza, where the UN had warned a famine is looming.

Since the Israel-Hamas war began more than eight months ago, aid for 2.3 million Palestinians has primarily entered through two crossings into southern Gaza — the Rafah crossing from Egypt and the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel.

But deliveries were disrupted when Israel stepped up its military operations in Rafah last month with the stated aim of routing remaining units of Hamas fighters. Egypt closed the Rafah crossing due to the threat posed to humanitarian work and has routed a backlog of aid and fuel via Kerem Shalom.

Haq said on Tuesday that the Rafah crossing remained closed and there was limited access via Kerem Shalom. In Gaza’s north, he said the Erez crossing was not accessible due to an escalation of fighting, while the West Erez and Zikim crossings were operational.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2533156/middle-east

--------

 

Israel army says operational plans for Lebanon offensive ‘approved’

June 18, 2024

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said Tuesday operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon were "approved and validated", as Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement engaged in cross-border exchanges of fire.

Senior Israeli military officials "held a joint situational assessment in the Northern Command. As part of the situational assessment, operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon were approved and validated," the military said in a statement.

"Decisions were taken on the continuation of increasing the readiness of troops in the field."

Lebanon's Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, and Israel have been trading near-daily fire since the Gaza war was trigged by the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack on southern Israel.

The sign-off came as Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz earlier warned Hezbollah that it would be destroyed in the event of a "total war" between the two.

"We are very close to the moment when we will decide to change the rules of the game against Hezbollah and Lebanon. In a total war, Hezbollah will be destroyed and Lebanon will be hit hard," Katz said, according to a statement from his office.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this month that the military was ready for an intense operation in Lebanon if necessary, pledging to restore security to the country's northern border.

US special envoy Amos Hochstein was in Lebanon on Tuesday a day after meeting Israeli leaders, seeking "urgent" de-escalation on the Israel-Lebanon border.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2533106/middle-east

--------

 

Turkish charities mark Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday with donations to Ugandans

18/06/2024

A number of Turkish charities are delivering humanitarian aid to Ugandans to mark Eid al-Adha, a Muslim holiday in which meat is customarily donated to the needy.

Turkish Ambassador to Uganda Fatih Ak applauded the selflessness of the Turkish community who are delivering donations to assist families in Uganda.

“On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the generous individuals who contribute,” he told Anadolu.

He said the Turkish Diyanet Foundation – a group connected to the Turkish state Religious Affairs Directorate – has been playing a key role in ensuring that Turkish donations reach countless families “so that they can partake in the joy and blessings of this sacred festival”.

“They are bringing us together in unity and compassion, uplifting our community and reinforcing the values of charity and empathy. So we are thankful for their service,” he said.

Ahmet Tahsin Firat, the group's coordinator for Uganda, told Anadolu that they distributed the meat from 7,000 cows to those in need.

Similar donations were done in other countries of Africa, as well as in other regions such as the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, he added.

Ensar Kucukkaltan of the Turkish Deniz Feneri Association said that the group is distributing meat to the needy in more than 20 countries, including Uganda.

Abubalar Byango, the director of Uganda's Byango Development and Charitable Organization, told Anadolu that with support from the Turkish Keskul organization, they were able to distribute meat from 500 cows to needy people in Eastern Uganda.

Source: yenisafak.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/turkish-charities-mark-muslim-eid-al-adha-holiday-with-donations-to-ugandans-3686043

--------

 

North America

 

Jewish, Muslim groups call for governments to create safe ’bubble zones’ around places of worship

Jun 18, 2024

OTTAWA — Representatives of Muslim and Jewish community groups said Tuesday it’s time for governments, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s, to consider legislating extra protections around places of worship, schools and daycares.

Richard Marceau of the Canadian Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs says the federal Liberals already have a “blueprint” for how it could work.

He pointed to legislation the Liberals introduced in 2021 that criminalized the intimidation of health-care workers and people seeking health services like COVID-19 vaccinations.

“It’s not only a Jewish community problem,” he said on Tuesday, appearing alongside other faith leaders at a press conference addressing hate.

“All other faith institutions…deserve as much protection.”

Shaila Carter, who co-chairs the Canadian Interfaith Conversation and works with Islamic Relief Canada, echoed those comments, saying many Muslims feel targeted, especially after a family of four was killed in vehicle attack in 2021 in London, Ont.

“We should, as Canadians, be able to move forward safely, freely, happily with whatever faith we are,” she said.

Police across Canada have been reporting an increase in hate crimes at synagogues, Jewish community centres, schools and mosques since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war.

Hamilton police recently announced the arrest of a 37-year-old man, alleging he walked into a classroom inside a mosque and made “hate-related comments,” and ripped up a copy of the Quran which he had carried in.

Source: vancouversun.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://vancouversun.com/news/canada/jewish-muslim-bubble-zones

--------

 

NYC Man Arrested for Harassment and Hate Crime Against Young Muslim Girl

June 18, 2024

NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Police Department has announced the arrest of Robert Pierpont, a 40-year-old resident of East 51st Street, Manhattan. Pierpont was apprehended on Monday, June 17, 2024, at 7:55 AM within the confines of the 7th Precinct and faces charges of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree and Harassment in the Second Degree.

Pierpont’s arrest follows charges stemming from a harassment complaint. Specific details regarding the nature of the harassment were not immediately disclosed by the authorities. The legal proceedings are expected to provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding the charges.

On April 28, 2024, at approximately 12:00 PM, a 17-year-old female victim reported that while walking westbound on East 44th Street toward 2nd Avenue, an unidentified male forcibly removed her hijab and yelled at her. The suspect fled the scene heading north on Second Avenue. Thankfully, the victim did not sustain physical injuries, though the emotional and psychological impact of the attack is significant.

UTICA, NY — Early this morning, Utica Police responded to a stabbing incident on the 900 block of Cherry Street. Upon arrival at approximately 12:15 AM, officers encountered a male victim who reported that he had been attacked by his girlfriend following an argument.

The victim detailed that during the dispute, his girlfriend, identified as 34-year-old Stephanie Santana-Rodriguez of Utica, brandished a knife and inflicted multiple cuts on his hands. Police and Utica Fire units provided immediate assistance at the scene.

In accordance with New York State's mandatory domestic violence laws, Santana-Rodriguez was taken into custody without further incident. Following the investigation, she has been charged with assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

Santana-Rodriguez was transported to the Utica Police Department for processing. The case highlights the serious nature of domestic violence and the swift response by local law enforcement to enforce the law and ensure community safety.

UTICA, NY — On June 14th, 2024, Utica Police responded to a reported domestic incident on the 800 block of South St. around 12:30 PM. Upon their arrival, officers were met by a female victim who reported a violent altercation involving the father of her child.

According to the victim's statement, an argument escalated when the male, identified as 44-year-old Jonathan Hines of Utica, allegedly choked her and destroyed a computer monitor. It was further revealed during the investigation that there was an active order of protection against Hines, which specifically prohibited such conduct.

Given the violation of the order of protection and the nature of the allegations, Hines was taken into custody at the scene. He was subsequently transported to the Utica Police Department where he was charged with crimes related to the incident.

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — In an unexpected twist at a local Goodwill store, a four-foot-long snake, humorously referred to as a "basilisk" in a nod to Harry Potter lore, was discovered among a box of donated books. The incident occurred at the Goodwill on 72 Doc Stone Road.

Captain J.A. Bice of the Stafford County Animal Control was quick to respond to the scene, showcasing skills that could rival a Quidditch Seeker. Employing a mix of expertise and humor — jokingly including "a bit of Parseltongue" — Captain Bice safely captured and relocated the snake back to its natural habitat.

The Stafford County Sheriff's Office reported that the snake was unharmed during the incident, as were the Goodwill employees and responding deputies. This lighthearted encounter highlights the unexpected challenges local law enforcement and animal control officers face, especially as rising temperatures encourage all kinds of local wildlife to explore new environments.

BUFFALO, NY — The Buffalo Police Department is urgently requesting the public's help in locating 12-year-old Camden Rodriguez, who was last seen in the Jones Street area of Buffalo. Camden is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5'8" tall, with brown curly hair. He was last seen wearing blue sweatpants and black sneakers.

Authorities are deeply concerned for Camden's safety and are asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to call 911 immediately. The prompt and swift assistance from the community is crucial in ensuring Camden's safe return.

Tyreek Ogarro, a 32-year-old resident of Brooklyn, was identified as the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred on Sunday, June 16, 2024. At approximately 11:06 PM, officers responded to a 911 call reporting a person shot at 254 Ralph Avenue, within the confines of the 81st Precinct/PSA #3. Upon arrival, officers discovered Ogarro with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. He was transported by EMS to NYC Health and Hospitals/Kings County, where he was pronounced deceased. There have been no arrests made in connection with this incident, and the investigation remains ongoing.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Philadelphia Police Department is urgently requesting the public's help in locating 24-year-old Kamera Golden, who has been missing since May 28, 2024. She was last seen around 11 PM at her residence on the 500 block of North 56th Street.

Kamera is described as being 5 feet tall, weighing approximately 140 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. Details regarding her clothing at the time she went missing are not available.

The police are asking anyone with information about Kamera Golden's whereabouts to contact the Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3184 or to dial 911. The community's assistance is crucial in helping to ensure Kamera's safe return.

Source: shorenewsnetwork.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2024/06/18/nyc-man-arrested-for-harassment-and-hate-crime-against-young-muslim-girl/

--------

 

Lebanese Journalist: U.S. Student Protests Against Israel Ultimately Serve Iran, Islamist Organizations

June 18, 2024

In a June 4, 2024 article in the London-based Saudi daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat,  Shi'ite Lebanese journalist and media figure Nadim Koteich writes that the student protests against the Gaza war in U.S. campuses ultimately serve extremist Islamist elements like Iran, Al-Qaeda and the organizations of political Islam. These elements, he explains, exploit the ideology of the liberal left to weaken the West and promote their own ideology that rejects pluralism, equality and human rights. He adds that, by presenting Israel as a temporary and illegitimate product of Western imperialism and even denying its right to exist, the liberal left adopts the narrative of these extremist Islamists and inadvertently serves their goals.

The following are translated excerpts from his article:[1]

"Iran's praise for the protests against the Gaza war held by students in U.S. campuses converged with the position of the Al-Qaeda organization [on these protests]. Iran's Supreme Leader praised what he called the steadfastness of the protesting [students], and said that they are 'on the right side of history' and 'have managed to open another resistance front against Israel.' A statement issued by Al-Qaeda's top leadership said, [in a similar vein], that 'we appreciate and esteem the protest movement of the students at the Western universities who are staging demonstrations and sit-ins to express their opposition to the genocide taking place in dear Gaza.'

"This puzzling convergence [of positions] between the liberal left and extremist Islam goes beyond geopolitical agreement and has grave ideological, psychological and strategic dimensions.

"True, the protest movement of left-wing students that supports the Palestinian cause usually focuses on human rights and social justice. Yet the finer details [of its position], which have to do with its radical opposition to Israel as a temporary product of illegal imperialism, fully conform to the perception of extremist Islamists like Al-Qaeda and the Iranian regime. The slogan 'Palestine will be free from the river to the sea,' which does not leave any room on the map for Israel, is a terrifying point of convergence between these students who are rising up in the Western universities and the narrative of the most extremist Islamists who pledge to exterminate Isael out of religious and ideological motivations, chief of them [the desire to] weaken the influence of the West and strengthen the model of political Islam. In this manner, the students at Western universities have become one of the elements that weaken the West itself – the Western [world] where they live and whose freedoms and universities they enjoy – and have become tools which the extremists use to defend their own extremism under the slogan of cultural and religious independence.

"The naivete of the liberal left contrasts with the exploitation of the student protests by the extremist organizations, which use [these protests] as a strategic opportunity to legitimize their own causes, broaden their support base and transform it into a platform for recruiting [more] supporters and operatives. Perhaps what blinds the liberal left is the convergence [of opinions] with the radical Islamists, and the assumption that they enjoy the moral high ground in their struggle with their joint enemies. [This assumption] disregards the fact that the ultimate social and political goal of the two sides is completely different. While the liberal left believes that it is promoting justice, equality and cultural pluralism, the extremist [Islamists] seek to establish closed and oppressive societies under the guise of holy war against corruption and moral degeneracy. The liberals' staunch defense of [the practice of wearing] the hijab may be the pinnacle of this surrealist farce. Because, while the liberals defend the hijab as an emblem of tolerance, pluralism and opposition to cultural imperialism, the leaders of political Islam use the hijab in their game of identity [politics] and of oppressing, controlling and subjugating women!

"Despite this, it seems that the ideological bond between the two camps is much stronger than the obvious differences in the goals and principles that each ultimately seeks to realize. Both sides espouse the idea of profound change and of toppling the existing frameworks of power. They also share the belief that revolutionary action – by social movements or through political upheaval or armed struggle – is the way to realize their goals and attain a just society.

"Since the narratives of both camps focus on opposing oppression and fighting for justice, and since both feel they are excluded from the existing global power frameworks, there is solid ground for agreement between them, with each side using the other's narrative to justify its actions and strategy.

"If we look back a bit, we will find that Iran made strategic use of the literature and ideologies of the left to realize its revolutionary goals. It combined elements of anti-colonial discourse with Marxist-Leninist perceptions of socioeconomic justice and support for the poor and the oppressed in order to arouse revolutionary sentiment. This was a key part of the efforts made by Iran [i.e., by Khomeini's supporters] to form strategic coalitions with left-leaning groups and academics, and to use the ideas of Ali Shariati[2] to unite the opposition to the Shah regime.

"The criticism of the liberal left against the economic and social ramifications of Western capitalism converged with the criticism voiced by political Islam against what it saw as the West's moral degeneration that stems from [capitalism] and against [the West's] use of [capitalism] as part of a policy of fanning international identity struggles. The criticism of the liberal left against the militarizing of democracy converged with the criticism voiced by political Islam against all relations with the West, which is presented as a Crusader power that controls the Muslims' physical and cultural resources and benefits from 'the weakness of the pro-Western [Muslim] regimes'!  

"The contemporary example is the linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky, whose take on Al-Qaeda's September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington converged horrifically with Osama Bin Laden's own excuses. Chomsky believes that these attacks resulted from decades of American military policy in the Middle East and elsewhere, which bred a great deal of resentment and violent reactions. Chomsky's criticism of America's foreign policy indirectly benefits Bin Laden's narrative, which sees the U.S. as the enemy of the Muslim world. At the same time, Bin Laden's violence and extremism supports Chomsky's claim that America's policy increases hostility and terror."

Source: memri.org

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.memri.org/reports/lebanese-journalist-us-student-protests-against-israel-ultimately-serve-iran-islamist

--------

 

Pro-Palestine students walk out of Stanford University ceremony

18 June 2024

Around 500 pro-Palestine students have walked out of the commencement ceremony at Stanford University over the ongoing Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The protesting students were seen wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags as they walked out during Stanford President Richard Saller's speech at the American university's official commencement ceremony on Sunday.

One student was seen holding up a sign reading, "Free Palestine. Stanford Divest!"

Some people seated in the stands cheered the students as they left the ceremony.

The students staged the walkout in protest to the university's response to the demands of pro-Palestine demonstrators over the savage Israeli campaign against Gaza.

Stanford students and graduates are demanding the university divest from companies that are providing funds to Israel for the genocidal war on Gaza.

Sunday's walkout followed months of student protests including two encampments and a brief occupation of the office of the university's president.

The ceremony was open to graduates and invited guests; however, security measures were tight and tickets were required to enter the stadium venue while guests and graduates were subject to a clear bag policy.

On Sunday, an activist group called Stanford Against Apartheid in Palestine posted the walkout on Instagram, calling for students to walk out for a "People's Commencement."

It invited graduates, friends and family "to walk out of the commencement into our alternative ceremony next to the stadium, to show support for divestment and honor Palestine this graduation weekend."

The pro-Palestine encampment lasted on campus for more than 100 days and more than a dozen students were eventually arrested during its removal on June 5, after the pro-Palestinian students briefly took over the President office.

Some of these pro-Palestinian students were immediately suspended from the first-rate private university with links to Zionist organizations with tens of millions of dollars at their disposal to actively silent pro-Palestine voices.

Zionist organizations have targeted the anti-Israel protests with an aim to create an atmosphere where free expression and open debate do not exist.

Despite those attempts, activists across campuses stretching from California to New York continue to demand their universities divest from Israeli-linked companies supporting the genocide in Gaza.

The genocidal Israeli campaign in Gaza has continued since October 7.

The regime has killed over 37,300 Palestinians in Gaza since that October day. More than 16,000 of the people are children.

Source: presstv.ir

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/06/18/727715/stanford-university-gaza

--------

 

Somalia Faces Critical Threat as Islamic State Group Expands in Puntland

Jun 18, 2024

The Islamic State group in Somalia’s Puntland region reportedly has gained ground from al-Shabaab, its longtime rival.

The IS claims to have taken control of the Al Miskaad mountain range. The groups have vied for control of strategic territory in the Bari district for eight years, according to a new report by the Emirates Policy Center.

Al Miskaad’s location in northeast Somalia offers heavily forested cover near a clan with ties to Somali IS leader Abdul Qadir Mumin, which offers protection to the group. It is a remote, sparsely inhabited area with few permanent settlements.

“The expansion of ISIS in Puntland provides the group with a significant propaganda boost to bolster its recruitment efforts and attract foreign fighters,” Ahmed Khalid, counterterrorism analyst at the Emirates Policy Center, told Somali radio station and news website Horseed Media.

The expansion also allows the group greater access to the sea, more opportunities for taxation and financial operations, and potential coordination with an IS offshoot in Yemen, Khalid, lead author of the new report, wrote.

It also may help IS exploit the increasing activities of Somali pirates. Al-Shabaab has done this by reportedly offering to protect pirates in exchange for a share of ransom proceeds. After a six-year lull in attacks, Somali pirates launched a resurgence last year.

IS Wages a Comeback

Al-Shabaab, al-Qaida’s Somalia-based branch, is viewed as the stronger group. It has far more members and drove the IS south for years. By 2022, observers say, the IS appeared to be on the verge of collapse in Puntland.

However, when Somalia’s government launched an offensive against al-Shabaab in southern Somalia last year, the shift in focus inadvertently offered a lifeline to the IS. Al-Shabaab had to divert its resources and attention away from the Al Miskaad mountains, according to news website The Somali Digest.

This led to fierce fighting between the rivals. The IS claimed control of the mountain range in April after a three-month offensive that killed 50 al-Shabaab fighters, including key commanders.

The campaign began on January 28, when IS fighters armed with machine guns repelled an attempted al-Shabaab advance in the Walisoor valley.

According to the Middle East Media Research Institute MEMRI, the IS then went on the offensive, successfully attacking al-Shabaab positions and ambushing rival fighters as they tried to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The IS captured ammunition and military equipment during these operations.

Complicating Counterterrorism Efforts

The IS conducted “da’wah” activities in some of the villages they captured during Ramadan. Da’wah is an Arabic term that roughly means proselytizing. In these areas, the IS dismantled IEDs left by al-Shabaab and conducted Eid al-Fitr prayers with villagers.

As Caleb Weiss noted in the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Long War Journal, terror groups often try to convert people to their version of Islam and build goodwill in communities, even those they seize.

As the conflict between the rivals intensifies, security in Puntland and the rest of Somalia remains fragile. IS gains in Puntland could alter the dynamics of ongoing security operations across Somalia, complicating counterterrorism efforts.

Khalis wrote that Puntland administrators need to contain the IS threat within the state “through increased intelligence work and community engagement, aiming to prevent further deterioration of the security situation,” dry up the funds for IS and “undermine its cross-border organizational ties.”

Puntland security sources estimate that IS ranks have grown to between 200 and 300 fighters, mostly Ethiopian nationals.

The IS and its supporters have amplified media productions and translations since 2022 in prominent languages spoken in Ethiopia, such as Amharic and Oromo, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Source: adf-magazine.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://adf-magazine.com/2024/06/somalia-faces-critical-threat-as-islamic-state-group-expands-in-puntland/

--------

 

CAIR Condemns Chinese Government’s Removal of Dome from Mosque, Crackdown on Eid Celebrations and Halal Products in Uyghur Region

June 18, 2024

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the Chinese government’s removal of a dome from a mosque in China’s Yunnan Province. CAIR also condemned the Chinese government’s crackdown on Eid al-Adha celebrations in the Uyghur region.

The Chinese government removed the dome from the Grand Mosque of Shadian in Yunnan Province and replaced it with a Chinese-style pagoda as part of the Chinese Communist Party’s campaign of “sinicizing” Islam in China.

CAIR also condemned the reported strict restrictions Chines officials placed on the celebration of Eid al-Adha, the Islamic celebration marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, in the Uyghur-majority Xinjiang region. In addition, Washington, D.C., based CAIR condemned an alleged campaign against halal products launched by Chinese officials in the Uyghur region’s capital of Urumqi.

“The Muslim world and the larger international community must stand up against the Chinese government’s war on Islam,” said CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison. “Despite their efforts to suppress and bury the legacy of Islamic civilization in China, they will fail in their attempts to extinguish Islam from the hearts of the Muslims, just as the Soviets and others before them failed.”

He noted that CAIR previously condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s forced “sinicization” of Islam in the Uyghur region.

Source: cair.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-chinese-governments-removal-of-dome-from-mosque-crackdown-on-eid-celebrations-and-halal-products-in-uyghur-region/

--------

 

CAIR Calls on All Virginia Muslim Voters to Go to the Polls Today

June 18, 2024

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is encouraging all eligible Muslim voters in Virginia to Vote TODAY in the Virginia Primary Election. If you’re not registered, same-day registration is available at your precinct’s polling place on primary day.

Oe of Virginia’s two seats in the Senate, and all 11 House of Representatives seats are on the ballot on Nov. 5, 2024. Primary elections for those seats will be held TODAY.

“We encourage all eligible Muslims voters in Virginia to register and take part in early voting,” said CAIR Government Affairs Department Coordinator Shafiquil Muhshna. “It is crucial that our community makes its voice heard this year. By actively engaging in the democratic process, we can ensure that the issues that matter most to us are addressed and that our voices contribute to the shaping of Virginia’s future. This election holds great importance for our community, Now, more than ever, it is essential for Muslim Virginian voters to exercise their right to vote and make an impact.”

Voting in person: Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18. Anyone in line by 7 p.m. will be able to vote.

Click Here: Find Your Polling Place

Mail-in voting: If you have a mail-in ballot, you can return it via mail or place it in a drop box.

If you are returning your ballot by mail, it must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, June 18, and received by your general registrar’s office by noon on the third day following the election.

*Note that putting your ballot in a mailbox on primary day doesn’t necessarily mean it will be postmarked that same day.

Additional Voting Information in Virginia

When voting in person, you will be required to present an acceptable form of identification at the polls. For more details on voting in person, voting absentee, military and overseas voting, accessible voting, and candidate information, please visit VDE’s website.

Please note that Virginia law permits you to vote in only one political party primary election when multiple political party primary elections are held on the same day (Va Code § 24.2-530). Each primary election features a separate ballot listing different candidates, and you must indicate your choice of ballot.

When voting in-person, you will be asked to provide an acceptable form of identification at the polls.

Note (1): Election dates, voter registration and absentee voting information, and portions of this press release were directly sourced from the VDE. For the most up to date information, please visit the VDE’s website by clicking here.

*As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, CAIR does not endorse or oppose any candidate running for office.

Source: cair.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-on-all-virginia-muslim-voters-to-go-to-the-polls-today/

--------

 

Netanyahu says US promised to lift restrictions of arms deliveries to Israel

18 June 2024

Benjamin Netanyahu says the United States had promised him to remove all restrictions on weapons transfers to Israel in the coming days.

Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured him during a meeting last week that President Joe Biden's administration was working "day and night" to lift those restrictions.

"I certainly hope that's the case. It should be the case,” he said in a statement.

"Give us the tools and we'll finish the job a lot faster," Netanyahu said, as the regime’s brutal military campaign in Gaza is in its eighth month now.

Netanyahu and Blinken met in al-Quds on June 10.

Following Blinken’s pledge, the Washington Post said in a report that two key Democrats in the US Congress have agreed to support a major arms sale to Israel that includes 50 F-15 fighter jets worth more than $18 billion.

The two representatives, it said, have signed off on the deal under heavy pressure from the Biden administration after the two lawmakers had for months held up the sale.

In a separate report, the Washington Post said last week that the Biden administration has approved and delivered on more than 100 arms sales to Israel since the regime started its offensive against Gaza on October 7.

The sales included thousands of precision-guided munitions, small-diameter bombs and other weapons.

Washington has long been the largest weapons supplier to its ally, Israel, followed by Germany.

Some Western countries, such as Italy, Canada and the Netherlands, have halted arms shipments to Israel this year after they came under pressure by human rights groups that they risk complicity in the regime’s genocide in Gaza.

Israel's military forces have killed more than 37,400 people in the Gaza Strip since early October.

Source: presstv.ir

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/06/18/727725/Netanyahu-US-arms-Israel

--------

 

Southeast Asia

 

Indonesia's Istiqlal Mosque to Welcome Pope Francis' Visit

19 June 2024

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, disclosed that Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, is set to visit Indonesia in early September 2024 to participate in a religious meeting with the country's religious leaders.

“God willing, the Pope is expected to visit Indonesia from September 3 to 6. [He will visit] Istiqlal on Sept. 5,” Nasaruddin said after the Eid al-Adha prayer at the Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta, on Monday, June 17.

Ismail Cawidu, chairman of the Istiqlal Mosque Management Board (BPMI), also mentioned that Pope Francis' arrival was part of a series of visits to Asia, including Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. “Indonesia will be his first stop,” Ismail said by phone.

In Indonesia, Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Cathedral Church on September 4 and the Istiqlal Mosque the following morning, on September 5. “This is a meeting with all the religious leaders in Indonesia,” he said.

Ismail further explained that the meeting would be attended not only by ulama and priests but also by leaders of other religions such as Buddhists, Hindus, and Confucians. “I serve as the chairman of the committee. About 150 people will attend,” he said.

Indonesia welcomes Pope Francis

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the significance of the Pope's visit, emphasizing that it is important not only for Catholics but also for all religious communities in the nation. The ministry expressed hope that this visit would reinforce the message of tolerance, unity, and world peace.

Furthermore, Pope Francis is also scheduled to visit Port Moresby and Vanimo in Papua New Guinea from September 6 to 9, Dili in Timor Leste from September 9 to 11, and Singapore from September 11 to 13, 2024.

Source: en.tempo.co

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://en.tempo.co/read/1881528/indonesias-istiqlal-mosque-to-welcome-pope-francis-visit

--------

 

Malaysia, China ink science and technology expertise exchange

19 Jun 2024

PUTRAJAYA, June 19 — Malaysia and China today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the Science and Technology Expertise Exchange Programme as an extension of the Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Agreement signed between the two countries on October 4, 2013.

Among other things, the MoU will lead the scope of cooperation to include exchange programmes of scientists and researchers, partnerships between research institutions as well as joint organisation of academic programmes and conferences with the involvement of international scientists and researchers.

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Chang Lih Kang in a statement today said the move is in line with the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 which strategically focuses on economic growth towards innovation-driven industrial development and involves higher value-added activities.

“The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) as the leader of science, technology and innovation (STI) in the country has also set priority areas with high growth and high value (HGHV) especially technology-based industries such as hydrogen, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology and space technology,” he said.

The signing of the MoU was held in conjunction with the official visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Malaysia. The exchange of MoU documents between Chang and the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Li in a ceremony here today.

Through bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and China which involves enhancing capacity and expertise in various STI industries, Chang said it will contribute to the empowering a workforce of highly skilled and knowledgeable talents who are able to drive the development of high-impact strategic industries in the country.

“This special cooperation network for the exchange of expertise and research in STI is expected to provide beneficial added value to both countries besides attracting more extensive research cooperation and promoting scientific progress and stronger bilateral economic development,” said Chang.

In 2023, China remains Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years since 2009 with a trade value of RM450.84 billion.

Relations between Malaysia and China are getting stronger following the increase in bilateral relations through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2013. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/06/19/malaysia-china-ink-science-and-technology-expertise-exchange/140483

--------

 

China and Malaysia renew five-year economic pact, to review visa-free travel

19 Jun 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 ― China and Malaysia signed a slew of deals today, renewing a five-year economic co-operation pact and allowing exports of fresh durians, during a visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties.

Li met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the administrative capital of Putrajaya, following his arrival in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

“China is ready to work with Malaysia,” Li said in a statement, adding that focus areas included development strategies, mutually beneficial co-operation, and exchanges to promote the building of a China-Malaysia community.

After today's closed-door meeting, Li and Anwar witnessed the signing of more than a dozen pacts on co-operation in areas ranging from the digital economy to green development, housing, tourism, and communications, among others.

The new five-year pact that runs until 2028 provides for strategic collaboration in areas such as trade and investment, agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure and financial services, a statement after the meeting showed.

The five-year programme was first introduced in 2013.

China also agreed to allow imports of fresh durian from Malaysia after it meets sanitary requirements, the statement added.

Malaysia, one of the world's biggest producers of the spiky, smelly fruit, was previously allowed to ship only the whole frozen fruit and its products to China, with exports valued at RM1.19 billion in 2023.

The two countries also vowed to review visa-free travel arrangements set to expire in coming months.

China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009, and the foreign ministry said total trade was valued at US$98.9 billion (RM465.7 billion) in 2023.

Li is on the third leg of a trip that has included New Zealand and Australia, as China looks to expand influence and investments in the Asia-Pacific region amid tension and competition with the United States.

He is also expected to meet Malaysia's King, Sultan Ibrahim, and attend a ground-breaking ceremony at a construction site for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, on Wednesday.

The 665-km (413-mile), RM50-billion railway will link peninsular Malaysia's east and west coasts by the end of 2026. ― Reuters

Source: malaymail.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/06/19/china-and-malaysia-renew-five-year-economic-pact-to-review-visa-free-travel/140448

--------

 

Five relatives of Ulu Tiram police station attacker charged with inciting terrorism

19 Jun 2024

JOHOR BARU, June 19 — Five family members of the suspect involved in the deadly attack on the Ulu Tiram police station were charged in the Sessions Court here today for conspiring in promoting terrorist acts.

The accused faced a total of nine separate charges related to encouraging and cultivating the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group’s ideology.

The accused were identified as Radin Imran Radin Mohd Yassin, 62, his Singaporean wife Rosna Jantan, 59, and their three children Radin Romyullah, 34, Farhah Sobrina, 23 and Mariah 19.

All five family members arrived in the court’s compound in separate vehicles under heavy guard by the Special Branch’s counter-terrorism staff.

The accused, who were not represented, were charged in front of Sessions Court judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim.

According to the charge sheet, Radin Imran, the family’s father who is unemployed, faced four charges under Section 130G(a) of the Penal Code (Act 574).

In his first charge, Radin Imran allegedly promoted terrorist acts by instilling IS terrorist group’s ideology to his family members, including the slain Ulu Tiram police station attacker, Radin Luqman, 21, between the end of 2014 until May 17 this year at a house along Jalan Rabani in Kampung Sungai Tiram here.

Radin Imran’s offence was framed under Section 130G(a) of the Penal Code which carries a maximum imprisonment term of 30 years and fine upon conviction.

For his second charge, Radin Imran was alleged to have knowledge in support of terrorism acts by storing four self-made air rifles for IS activities at the same location at around 10.45am on May 17.

The offence was framed under Section 130J(1)(b) of the Penal Code, which carries a life imprisonment of not more than 40 years or a fine. It also includes the seizure of properties, which are used or the intention to carry out the offence.

For his third charge, Radin Imran was alleged to have pledged his oath of allegiance (baayah) to IS terrorist group leader Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi at the end of 2014 and at the same location.

Abu Bakar was an Iraqi militant who was the first IS caliph from 2014 until his death in 2019.

For the offence, Radin Imran was charged under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code, which carries a life imprisonment of not more than 40 years or a fine. It also includes the seizure of properties, which are used or the intention to carry out the offence.

For the fourth and final charge, Radin Imran was alleged to be in possession of a book titled “Hakikat Islam & Hakikat Syirik” by Abu Sulaiman Aman Abdurrahman, which is related to the IS terrorist group at the same location on May 17 and May 19 between 10.45am and 2.30pm.

His offence was framed under Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code, which carries seven years imprisonment or with a fine and the seizure of the printed material.

Meanwhile, the second accused Radin Romyullah was charged with pledging his oath of allegiance to Abu Bakar (Al-Baghdadi) and in possession of a external hard disc drive containing materials related to IS and the group's activities.

The two offences were alleged to have been committed by him at the same location between the end of 2014 and May 17.

The offences were framed under Section 130J(1)(a) and Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code where Radin Romyullah faced

Radin Romyullah faces life imprisonment of not more than 40 years or a fine for the first offence and imprisonment for no more than seven years with a fine for the second.

In the same court, the family’s mother Rosna and her two daugthers, Farhah Sobrina and Mariah, were charged with one charge each for deliberately omitting to provide information regarding crimes related to terrorist ideology.

All three were also charged with committing the offense at the same location between April 2017 and May 17. They face a prison sentence of not more than seven years and a fine if convicted.

The family of five understood the charges read against them and Che Wan Zaidi set July 31 for the case remention.

The court did not offer bail and the accused were advised by Che Wan Zaidi to appoint a lawyer to represent them in the cases.

The prosecution was represented by deputy public prosecutors Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam and Fazeedah Faik.

On May 17, the lone assailant was killed after an unprovoked attack on the Ulu Tiram police station.

In the 2.45am incident, Constable Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar, 22, and Constable Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said, 24, died after being attacked by a man armed with a machete, while Corporal Mohd Hasif Roslan was injured after being shot.

Source: malaymail.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/06/19/five-relatives-of-ulu-tiram-police-station-attacker-charged-with-inciting-terrorism/140430

--------

 

King grants audience to China’s Premier Li Qiang

19-06- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia today granted an audience to China’s Premier Li Qiang at Istana Negara here.

Li and his delegation arrived at about 3.30 pm, accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Ouyang Yujing.

Among those present at the audience were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan; Transport Minister Anthony Loke; Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Malaysia’s Ambassador to China Datuk Norman Muhamad.

Li arrived in Malaysia yesterday to begin his official visit, which lasts until tomorrow. This is his inaugural visit to the country since assuming his position in March 2023.

His visit also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations following the signing of the Joint Communiqué between second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and then Chinese Premier Chou En Lai on May 31, 1974.

As part of his visit today, Li and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will attend a dinner to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China bilateral relations. Before that, Li is expected to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) in Gombak.

The Chinese Premier is also scheduled to attend a luncheon with the business community from both countries before concluding his official visit tomorrow.

In 2023, China remained Malaysia’s largest trading partner for the 15th consecutive year since 2009, with a trade value of RM450.84 billion (US$98.90 billion).

The relationship between Malaysia and China has grown stronger following the enhancement of bilateral ties through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2013.

Source: thesun.my

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://thesun.my/local-news/king-grants-audience-to-china-s-premier-li-qiang-IP12593830

-------

 

Africa

 

UN: Rebel activity in CAR worsens amid Sudan conflict

Activities of armed groups in the volatile Central African Republic have increased, complicating a security landscape that has seen a spillover of the conflict in neighbouring Sudan, U.N. experts warn in a new report.

The panel of experts cite confirmed reports of air raids by the Sudanese military around border areas and of fighters from the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces crossing over to recruit from armed groups in the Central African Republic.

Sudan plunged into conflict in mid-April 2023 when long-simmering tensions between its military and paramilitary leaders broke out in the capital Khartoum. Fighting spread to other regions including Darfur, which borders the Central African Republic’s northeastern Vakaga region. The U.N. says over 14,000 people have been killed and 33,000 injured in the Sudan fight.

The expert panel, which monitors sanctions on mercenaries and armed groups in the Central African Republic, said the U.N. had registered almost 10,700 Sudanese refugees who had fled across the border by late March. It said 565 new refugees, the vast majority of women and children, arrive at the Korsi refugee camp in the northern city of Birao every week.

The war in Sudan has also disrupted the important trade and transportation route between the Central African Republic and Sudan's Darfur region through the border at Am Dafok. That has left people in Vakaga and neighbouring Haute-Kotto more insecure over the past year and aid deliveries slower and more expensive, the panel said.

The Central African Republic remains one of the poorest countries in the world despite its vast mineral wealth, including gold and diamonds Rebel groups have operated with impunity across the country over the past decade, thwarting mining exploration by foreign companies.

The country has been in conflict since 2013 when predominantly Muslim rebels seized power and forced then-President Francois Bozize from office. Mostly Christian militias fought back.

A 2019 peace deal did not end the fighting and six of the 14 armed groups that signed later quit the agreement. The Coalition of Patriots for Change, an alliance of rebel groups aligned with Bozize, was founded in the aftermath of the agreement, but the experts cited no progress and the splintering of some rebel groups.

Mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group along with Russian military instructors have been working in the Central African Republic at the government’s request.

The experts said that on Dec. 10, 2023, six waves of explosions were heard at the Russian instructors’ base in Kaga Bandoro in the west of the country, and three instructors were killed and seven people injured.

They said the attack appeared to be in response to an assault three days earlier by the country's military and Russian instructors on fighters from the UPC rebel group at the Bara mining site. A dozen UPC fighters were reportedly killed and 30 captured, the experts said in the report, which was released Friday.

The panel said activities by the Lord’s Resistance Army, a brutal armed group accused of mass killings, recruiting boys to fight and using girls as sex slaves, have also been disrupted by the war in Sudan. The LRA is led by one of the world’s most wanted men, Joseph Kony, who formed the group in his native Uganda and then scattered his followers across parts of central Africa.

“The group appears to have left its long-held bases in the disputed area of Kafia Kingi and moved to a mountainous zone in Haute-Kotto Prefecture,” the panel said. “This move brought LRA in proximity to towns in the eastern part of the Central African Republic and may have provided an opportunity for some group members, held against their will, to break free from the group.”

The International Criminal Court said in March it will present evidence to back up charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity filed levelled at Kony during the global court’s first-ever hearing in absentia starting Oct. 15.

The panel of experts said Kony's son, Ali Kony, himself targeted with U.N. sanctions, arrived in Uganda last July. Their report quoted media reports as saying Ali Kony defected from his father's group in July 2021.

Source: africanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/18/un-rebel-activity-in-car-worsens-amid-sudan-conflict/

--------

 

Muslims end Eid with prayers for peaceful election

Jun - 18 - 2024

From the Tema Metropolis in the Greater Accra Region, Benjamin Xornam Glover writes that Muslims within the Metropolis converged on the Tema Stadium in thanksgiving as they celebrated this year's Eid-ul-Adha prayers last Sunday.

Present at the prayers were the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Tema, Yohane Amarh Ashitey, and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema East, Isaac Ashai Odamtten.

Leading the prayers, the Tema Metropolitan Chief Imam, Alhaji Abubakari Adams, advised the worshippers, especially the youth, to refrain from any acts of violence that can mar the upcoming general elections slated for December 7 this year.

He said the Islamic religion taught against all forms of violence and therefore did not take kindly to people who perpetrated violent acts. He urged the youth not to give in to pressure from politicians who would like to use them to foment trouble in the country.

He said on election day, Muslims and any other Ghanaians should cast their ballot peacefully and wait patiently for the results to be declared by those mandated to do so in an atmosphere of peace and unity.

Alhaji Adams also called for respect for authority and cautioned against any action that could disturb the peace of the nation before, during and after the elections. The MCE for Tema commended the Muslim community of Tema for their cooperation and collaboration with the assembly in the discharge of its work and expressed optimism that both sides would build on that unity to ensure the delivery of social services to the residents of the area.

The MP for Tema East stressed the need for the peaceful celebration of the Eid, saying that in their happiness and joy, the youth especially must eschew acts that could lead to accidents and injury.

Bolgatanga

Gilbert Mawuli Agbey reports from Bolgatanga that many Muslims converged on various places, including the Bolgatanga Sports Stadium and the National Festival and Arts and Culture (NAFAC) grounds to participate in this year’s Eid-ul- Adha prayers.

The neatly dressed Muslims used the occasion to thank Almighty Allah for His guidance and protection throughout their lives as well as safeguarding the peace and security in the Upper East Region and the nation as a whole.

Leading the prayers, Regional Missionary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Upper East, Maulvi Mohammed Quaye, expressed worry that mankind had now become a slave to worldly pleasures and enjoyment.

He stated that modesty and shame had taken flight from the hearts of man, to the extent that men were sleeping with men and ladies practising lesbianism all in the name of human rights, adding that “fornication, drug abuse, among others are being practised as though they are harmless”.

“As we sacrifice animals to mark this important celebration, we must also be ready to sacrifice our bad ego, immoral behaviours and laziness towards prayers for the betterment of the family, religion and the nation.”

The Upper East Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, in a speech read on his behalf at the NAFAC grounds, commended Muslims for their continuous prayers towards sustaining the peace in the region.

He urged them to continue to pray for lasting peace, as it was the surest way towards the growth and development of the region, stressing “without peace, it will be very difficult for the area to achieve the desired progress for the benefit of the people.”

Tamale

From Tamale, Mohammed Fugu reports that the Northern Regional Minister, Shani Alhassan Shaibu, and a number of dignitaries joined hundreds of Muslims to observe the Eid-ul-Adha prayers at the Jubilee Park.

In his address, Alhaji Shaibu urged the people to be tolerant with one another and live in harmony to ensure sustained peace in the region. He entreated the Muslim Umar to continue to pray for peace for the nation as it gears up for the general elections in December.

The prayers were led by the Northern Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Salam, who prayed for peace and unity in the country. He urged the worshipers not to leave out the significance of the celebration just as Abraham did in obedience to Allah.

Koforidua

From the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua, Haruna Yussif Wunpini reports that hundreds of Muslim faithful gathered at the Koforidua Zango Football Park to pray to mark this year's Eid-ul-Adha celebrations.

Neatly dressed in various attires such as caftans and long dresses (jalbab) as mostly worn by members of the Muslim faith, they prayed for peace, unity and progress of the country.

The Municipal Chief Imam of the Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a, Sheikh Mustapha Yussif, who led the prayers slaughtered a ram to mark the day which is in honour of the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of obedient to Allah’s (God's) command.

He said no Muslim was supposed to slaughter an animal for the feast until the Imam did the symbolic slaughtering immediately after the congregational prayers. On the need for a peaceful conduct of the December 7 polls, Sheikh Yussif entreated all Muslims in the region to pray for a peaceful conduct of this year's polls.

Sheikh Yussif said violence was not good and that it was necessary for every Muslim to use the occasion of the Eid-ul-Adha to say no to violence. He appealed to Muslim youth to uphold the values of Islam and urged them to reject politicians who wanted to use them to foment trouble before, during and after the December 7 polls.

Sheikh Yussif advised flag bearers of the various political parties, especially the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to desist from hate speeches on political campaign platforms.

Sheikh Yussif also admonished Muslim youth against involving themselves in negative acts such as smoking wee, tramadol and other harmful substances such as cocaine, drug abuse among others.

The Municipal Chief Imam thanked Allah for protecting the country’s peace and stability for the past years and prayed for same this year.

Source: graphic.com.gh

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-muslims-end-eid-with-prayers-for-peaceful-election.html

--------

 

More than 200 arrested in Kenya protests over proposed tax hikes in finance bill

More than 200 protesters have been arrested in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, in ongoing protests against proposed tax hikes in a finance bill that is due to be tabled in parliament.

Civil society groups say that despite the arrests, demonstrations and a planned sit-down outside the parliament buildings will continue.

Nairobi Police Commander Adamson Bungei on Tuesday said no group had been granted permission to protest in the capital. The right to peaceful protests is guaranteed in Kenya's constitution but organizers are required to notify the police beforehand. Police generally give a go-ahead unless there are security concerns.

Police hurled tear gas canisters at hundreds of demonstrators on Tuesday, forcing businesses to close for fear of looting temporarily.

A lawyer, Wanjohi Gachie, said he was protesting on behalf of all Kenyans who would be potentially burdened by the tax hikes.

“I’m requesting the police not to arrest or beat us because we are fighting for their rights as well,” he said.

Some major tax proposals in the bill were dropped after a Tuesday morning meeting between ruling party MPs and President William Ruto.

The chairperson of the finance committee, Kuria Kimani, said the proposal to introduce a 16% VAT tax on bread had been dropped.

Other levies that had prompted debate and have been amended include a proposed 2.5% motor vehicle annual tax that was to be placed on insurance.

A proposed tax on goods that degrade the environment will also be amended to apply only to imported goods to encourage local manufacturing.

Ruto last month defended the proposed taxes saying the country must be financially self-sustaining.

“The whole principal is that you must live within your means,” he said.

“I persuaded and I made a case to the people of Kenya that we must begin to enhance our revenue,” Ruto added.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga urged MPs to scrutinize the bill and vote to remove clauses that would burden the poor.

“It is worse than the one of 2023, an investment killer and a huge millstone around the necks of millions of poor Kenyans who must have hoped that the tears they shed over taxes last year would see the government lessen the tax burden in 2024,” he said in a statement in early June

Opposition figure Kalonzo Musyoka said weekly protests would resume if the finance bill is approved as proposed.

Legislators are due to debate the bill starting Wednesday with a vote scheduled for Monday.

Last year’s finance law introduced a 1.5% housing tax on gross income for salaried individuals despite concerns it would further burden Kenyans already struggling under a high cost of living. The law also doubled the VAT tax on petroleum products from 8% to 16%.

Source: africanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/18/dozens-arrested-in-kenya-protests-over-proposed-tax-hikes-in-finance-bill/

-------

 

Malawi's VP laid to rest as president calls for probe into his death

Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima was laid to rest in his village south of the capital on Monday following a funeral where President Lazarus Chakwera called for an independent probe into his death in a plane crash.

Chilima and nine other people died in the plane crash last week in Malawi's northern region of Mzimba.

The state funeral was held at the Bingu Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Sunday, where Chakwera and other dignitaries paid their final respects to the late vice president.

Hundreds of soldiers, police officers and forest rangers had searched for more than 24 hours before the wreckage was discovered in a forest plantation south of Mzuzu.

The plane was on a short flight from Lilongwe to the northern city of Mzuzu when it went missing last Monday morning.

Chakwera had said earlier that air traffic controllers had told the plane not to land in Mzuzu because of bad weather and poor visibility and to return to Lilongwe. Air traffic controllers then lost contact with the plane.

The military rendered a 19-gun salute as the body was laid to rest, followed by a long trumpet post and reveille.

Those who laid wreaths included Chakwera, all of Malawi’s three former presidents and Chilima’s wife, children and relatives.

The Chilima family also called for an independent probe.

Source: africanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/18/malawis-vp-laid-to-rest-as-president-calls-for-probe-into-his-death/

-------

 

Dispute Between PSC, NPF Hampers Recruitment Of 10,000 Police Officers

19 June 2024

The ongoing dispute between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the high command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over the recruitment of constables is negatively impacting service delivery and the timeline for strengthening the manpower of the security outfit.

Notably, stakeholders have deemed the recent controversy surrounding the recruitment exercise as detrimental, citing its adverse effects on internal security in the country, given the pivotal role of the police in upholding civil authority.

In the latest development, Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun issued a strongly worded statement on Saturday, June 15, rejecting a list generated from the recruitment exercise conducted by the PSC.

This renewed friction occurred shortly after President Bola Tinubu dismissed the former chairman of the PSC, Solomon Arase, who was appointed on January 24, 2023, by the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari.

Although the exact link between the fresh conflict and Arase’s dismissal remains unclear, security sector stakeholders believe the president should have allowed him to conclude his duties related to the recruitment.

However, the statement from the IGP, conveyed to journalists by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, expressed dissatisfaction with what was described as a “recruitment process marred by irregularities and alleged corruption.”

Egbetokun specifically highlighted concerns regarding discrepancies in the list of successful candidates, with individuals who were neither screened nor trained appearing on it. He also raised issues concerning candidates who failed various stages of the recruitment process but were included in the published list.

In response, the staff members of the commission, represented by the Joint Union Congress, dismissed the IGP’s allegations as diversionary, asserting that his remarks were unwarranted.

The union lamented the confrontational stance adopted by the police during recruitment exercises, suggesting underlying interests and corrupt practices.

This ongoing conflict between the PSC and NPF has become a recurring issue, with experts attributing the failure to reach a consensus as a contributing factor to the halt in the recruitment of 60,000 personnel, as directed by the immediate past president, Buhari.

During the past year, since Bola Tinubu assumed the presidency, no police constables have been recruited, further exacerbating the situation.

Even during Buhari’s tenure, only 20,000 officers were recruited before his departure from office.

Source: naijanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.naijanews.com/2024/06/19/dispute-between-psc-npf-hampers-recruitment-of-10000-police-officers/

--------

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/demolished-homes-beef-mp-police/d/132534

 

New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism