Delhi HC Refuses To Stop Authorities From Demolishing Ashiq Allah Dargah And ‘Baba Farid’ Chillagah
New Age Islam News Bureau
08 February 2024
Photo: Devdicourse/Country: India
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Delhi HC Refuses To Stop Authorities From Demolishing
Ashiq Allah Dargah And ‘Baba Farid’ Chillagah
·
Tension
Prevails In Bareilly After Head Of Ittehad-e-Millat Council’s Call For ‘Jail
Bharo’ Movement On Gyanvapi Issue
·
Third Of
Israelis Hold A Stronger Belief In God Since October 7, 'Post' Survey Finds
·
Malaysia’s
Top Court Declares Several Islamic Laws In Kelantan State Unconstitutional
·
No To
Blessing Of Same-sex Unions As Approved By Pope, Say Lagos, Ogun Catholic
Bishops
------
India
·
Haldwani:
Four Killed Over 250 Injured In Violence After Madarsa Demolition
·
Muslim Boy
Slapping Row: Supreme Court Slams Uttar Pradesh Government For Not Counselling
Victim's Classmates
·
Centre’s
decision to scrap Free Movement Regime between India and Myanmar sparks UN plea
----
Mideast
·
'Jihad
Must Stop': Hamas Founder's Son Talks UNRWA, Support For Israel
·
Al-Aqsa
Support Committee Determines Areas For “Steadfast In Our Stance...With Gaza
Until Victory” Marches Friday
·
Gazans
fear Israeli advance on Rafah would ‘end in massacres’
·
Daesh/ISIS
terror suspect wanted on red notice nabbed in central Türkiye
·
Hezbollah
pounds Israeli military outposts in support of Palestinians in Gaza
·
Iran
Strongly Condemns ‘American State Terrorism’ In Iraq
·
UN: At
least 300,000 at risk from lack of food in north, central Gaza
----
Southeast
Asia
·
Muslim
Preachers Should Present Message Of Peace Before Election Day
·
PM: Unity
Govt Has Nothing To Do With Federal Court Ruling On Kelantan Shariah Code
·
Ahmad
Zahid hopes year of the dragon will bring joy, strengthen unity among people
·
CJ says
challenged provisions under Kelantan Shariah criminal enactment mandated by
state not Allah, cannot be construed as act against God
·
Indonesia
a global model for mosque development: Grand Imam
----
Africa
·
Mali,
Burkina Faso, Niger Took Hasty Decision, Didn’t Consider Implications On Their
Citizens Before Leaving – ECOWAS
·
Islamic
group sends crucial message to Tinubu as cost of living crisis worsens
·
Boko
Haram-Ravaged Yobe State To Buy ‘Two Tvs, Two Air Conditioners’ For
N300Million; N210Million For Graveyards, Mosques’ Renovation
----
Arab
World
·
Saudi
Arabia And UN Host Workshop On State Of Environment In Kingdom
·
Arab
Foreign Ministers Meet In Riyadh For Talks On Gaza
·
Saudi FM,
KSrelief chief discuss Gaza with head of UNRWA in Riyadh
·
Yemeni
official: All warships will be forced to leave Red Sea
·
KSrelief
Distributes Food Baskets in Rafah, Gaza Strip
-----
Pakistan
·
With Over
100 Seats Counted, Imran Khan's Supporters Lead In Pakistan - Media
·
Iran Envoy
Felicitates Pakistan On ‘Successful, Safe, Secure’ Polls
·
Pak Envoy
to US Calls For Pak-India Dialogue To Resolve Bilateral Issues
·
Kakar:
Recognition of Islamic Emirate Needs Regional Consensus
·
Jailed
Imran Khan casts vote via postal ballot as Pakistanis flock to polling stations
---
South
Asia
·
Bangladesh
Not Becoming A One-Party State: Foreign Minister
·
EU
Special Envoy prioritizes productive Doha meeting during Afghanistan visit
·
UN
allocates $3.8 million to expelled Afghan migrants from Pakistan
·
Nearly
2,000 Afghan migrants expelled from Pakistan and Iran
·
Muttaqi
Criticizes Human Rights Rhetoric of West
·
Centre
Formed for Talks Among People, Officials, Intl Community
·
Acting
Foreign Minister Discusses Bilateral Relations with Uzbekistani Envoy
·
Bangladeshi
citizens in extreme risk along Myanmar border: Rizvi
·
Bangladesh
has and will continue to make defence purchases from India: FM
----
North
America
·
US Says Israeli
Operation In Rafah 'Would Be A Disaster' For Palestinians
·
Nicaragua
Asks To Join South Africa’s Genocide Case Against Israel At ICJ
·
Biden
calls Israel’s Gaza response ‘over the top’
·
US
strikes Houthi missile positions in Yemen
·
US Senate
advances $95 billion bill for aid to Israel and Ukraine
---
Europe
·
Germany
sends frigate to help secure Red Sea shipping
·
Swedish
court orders expulsion of Iraqi man behind Qur’an desecration
·
Irish
leader calls for cease-fire in Gaza, urges Israel to respect international law
in conflict
·
Spanish
Foreign Minister: We support establishment of Palestinian state & have
stopped arms exports to Zionist entity
·
British
Afghan-origin official accused of spying for Russia
Compiled by New Age
Islam News Bureau
------
Delhi HC Refuses To Stop Authorities From Demolishing
Ashiq Allah Dargah And ‘Baba Farid’ Chillagah
Photo: Devdicourse/Country: India
------
February 9, 2024
“Right to health, right to breathe, and right to
heritage and culture have to be harmonised and balanced,” said the Delhi High
Court on Thursday, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), seeking
directions to authorities including the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to
desist from demolishing the ‘Ashiq Allah Dargah’, including the ‘Baba Farid’
Chillagah and other nearby historical monuments, in Mehrauli or Sanjay Van.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said in the order, “This Court is of the
view that undoubtedly life in its expanded horizons includes all that gives
meaning to a man’s life, including his culture and heritage, and the protection
of that heritage in its full measure. However, this Court takes judicial notice
of the fact that Delhi is one of the cities that are worst affected by
pollution. No month passes when the air quality index does not cross the
hazardous mark. According to doctors, even the lungs of young children are
being adversely affected.”
The High Court also said that Mehrauli and Sanjay Van
are marked as “green/forest areas” in the city’s Master Plan. It then observed
that green areas are the “lungs of the city”, and all statutory authorities
have to put in efforts to ensure that “no illegal or unauthorised construction
is carried out on this public land”.
The court, after examining photographs in the plea,
observed that it was apparent that some of the structures located in the midst
of thick forest have been “renovated recently, and are occupied by certain
families”. The bench said that the “apprehension of mindless demolition”
expressed by the petitioners was misplaced, adding that as per a Supreme Court
ruling, “religious structures can be demolished only after taking a prior
approval from the Religious Committee, which is headed by the Lieutenant
Governor of Delhi”.
“The undertaking given by the learned counsel for the
respondents that no protected monument or national monument declared either by
the central or state authority shall be demolished is fair, reasonable, and
strikes a balance between the competing claims/interest,” the bench said while
disposing of the plea, holding that respondent parties are “bound” by their
undertaking.
The petitioners’ counsel argued that the DDA had
demolished adjacent structures in Mehrauli, including the Akhoondji Masjid
without issuing prior public notice. He said that the demolition of such old
heritage structures in Mehrauli took place under the garb of removal of
encroachments, despite such monuments being registered in historical records.
He also said that the area where the Ashiq Allah Dargah is, has been barricaded
by police as well as public access has been restricted, its caretakers removed from the premises, raising
“serious apprehension of its impending demolition”. He argued that the dargahs
and surrounding monuments ought to be protected as they are of “historical,
artistic, and archaeological interests”, noted the order.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/green-areas-lungs-of-city-delhi-hc-disposes-of-plea-to-desist-authorities-from-demolishing-ashiq-allah-dargah-9152056/
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Tension Prevails In Bareilly After Head Of
Ittehad-e-Millat Council’s Call For ‘Jail Bharo’ Movement On Gyanvapi Issue
Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan,
Uttar Pradesh cleric
-----
9th February 2024
Sameer Khan
Bareilly: Tension prevails in Bareilly after Maulana
Tauqeer Raza Khan, Uttar Pradesh cleric and Head of Ittehad-e-Millat Council,
gave a call for ‘Jail Bharo’ movement after Friday prayers in protest against
offering of prayers inside the Gyanvapi mosque, the police said.
After the announcement by Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan,
the police is taking precautionary measures and has made concrete arrangements
to stop the proposed programme.
The Islamia Maidan has been sealed, and Pradeshik
Armed Constabulary as well as Rapid Action Force have also been deployed.
A senior police official said, “We will make sure that
people do not collect at any place on Friday. We have adequate forces to deal
with the situation peacefully.”
The cleric’s followers have distributed pamphlets and
shared posts on social media that say, “The Babri mosque was snatched from us
using court’s decision and now they have started offering prayers in Gyanvapi
mosque. Our 700-year-old mosque was razed during midnight hours.”
The media in-charge of the organisation has appealed
to the people to reach here.
Source: siasat.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.siasat.com/tension-prevails-in-bareilly-after-clerics-call-for-protest-on-gyanvapi-issue-2974287/
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Third Of Israelis Hold A Stronger Belief In God Since October
7, 'Post' Survey Finds
(Photo credit:
Vanderwolf-Images/Getty Images Via Canva, Jenny Lipets/Canva)
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FEBRUARY 9, 2024
Israelis have become closer to God and Judaism in the
past four months, a survey found.
According to a comprehensive survey conducted by Lazar
Research for The Jerusalem Post, 33% of Israelis have reported a strengthened
faith in God since the October 7 massacre by Hamas and the subsequent war.
The study, spearheaded by Dr. Menachem Lazar of Lazar
Research in collaboration with Panel4All.co.il, an internet respondent panel,
aimed to gauge the religious sentiments among Israelis in these turbulent
times.
The survey, which was done on February 5-6, drew
responses from 512 individuals, providing a representative sample of Israel’s
adult Jewish community. With a margin of error capped at 4.3%, the findings
offer a glimpse into the nation’s soul-searching journey in the face of
adversity.
A stark division in the responses was noted. A
significant portion of the population, 33%, affirmed that their belief in a
higher power has been fortified; conversely, a small fraction, 8%, felt their
faith wane, while the majority, 59%, reported no change in their spiritual
stance.
The analysis further delved into demographic nuances,
revealing that faith reinforcement was notably more pronounced among
traditionalists, with 44% affirming strengthened beliefs compared to 16% of
secular respondents. Age also played a critical role, with younger participants
more likely to report a bolstered faith.
The practical expressions of the respondents’
strengthened religious faith were primarily prayers (63%), conversations with
God (59%), and the recitation of Psalms (45%). The increase in prayers was
especially characteristic of respondents aged 60+ (73%); conversations with God
were reported at relatively high rates by secular respondents (64%), Sephardic
respondents (65%), and respondents aged 45-60 (60%).
The recitation of Psalms was relatively more
characteristic of respondents aged 45-60 (60%) and Ashkenazim (50%). As the age
of the respondents increased, they reported more about lighting Shabbat candles
following the war – from 20% among those aged 18-29 to 51% among those 60+.
Greater connection to the State of Israel
An absolute majority of respondents (75%) said that
since October 7, they feel a greater connection to the State of Israel (69%)
and the diverse Israeli society (68%). About half of the Israelis surveyed feel
more connected to the Jewish people in the Diaspora (53%) and to Jewish
tradition (49%).
A greater connection to the people of Israel was
characteristic of respondents aged 18-29 (85%) and Mizrahi respondents (81%).
An increased connection to Israeli society was characteristic of respondents
aged 18-29 (72%) and Sephardic (74%) respondents. A further connection to
Jewish tradition was characteristic of respondents aged 18-29 (61%),
traditional respondents (65%), and Mizrahi respondents (58%).
The majority of ultra-Orthodox respondents (59%) said
that since October 7, they feel a greater connection to the State of Israel.
This response was more characteristic of Sephardic respondents (74%) compared
to 64% of Ashkenazim, among whom 30% said there was no change for them in this
respect. An increased connection to the Jewish people in the Diaspora was
characteristic of respondents aged 18-29 (62%), traditional respondents (64%),
and Sephardic respondents (59%).
The younger the respondents, the more they reported an
increase in faith: from 48% among those aged 18-29 to 18% among those 60+.
Sephardic Israelis reported a much higher faith increase than Ashkenazim (42%
versus 24%, respectively).
The events of October 7 and the subsequent war did not
change the way Israelis in general define themselves religiously, except for
minor differences. Relatively significant changes were found among two groups:
78% of those previously identified as liberal-religious stayed with this
definition but 18% now define themselves as traditional and another 9% as
religious. Of those who described themselves as slightly traditional seculars,
84% remained so but 10% now define themselves as traditional.
Source: jpost.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-786030
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Malaysia’s Top Court Declares Several Islamic Laws In Kelantan
State Unconstitutional
Some gathered outside the
court ahead of the decision to show their support for the Kelantan government
[Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters]
------
February 09, 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s top court on Friday declared
more than a dozen Islamic laws enacted by the northeastern state of Kelantan as
unconstitutional, in a decision that could affect the legality of Sharia in
other parts of the Muslim-majority country.
Malaysia has a dual-track legal system with Islamic
criminal and family laws applicable to Muslims, running alongside civil laws.
Islamic laws are enacted by state legislatures while civil laws are passed by
Malaysia’s parliament.
The Federal Court, in an 8-1 decision of the
nine-member bench, on Friday declared 16 laws in Kelantan’s Sharia criminal
code “void and invalid,” including provisions criminalizing sodomy, sexual
harassment, desecrating places of worship and sexual intercourse with a corpse.
Chief Justice TengkuMaimun Tuan Mat who delivered the
majority judgment said the state had no power to enact the laws, as the subject
of the legal provisions were covered under parliament’s law-making powers.
“We therefore allow the petition’s application for a
declaration that (these laws) are void and invalid,” she said.
Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Muhyiddin
Yassin, whose coalition includes the hard-line Islamist party PAS, in a
statement on Thursday said the case could have a negative impact on the
country’s Sharia legal system, and called on the government to amend the
constitution to strengthen the Islamic laws and judiciary.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2456861/world
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No To Blessing Of Same-sex Unions As Approved By Pope,
Say Lagos, Ogun Catholic Bishops
Representative Photo
-----
February 9, 2024
The Catholic Bishops of the Lagos Ecclesiastical
Province have unanimously said ‘no’ to blessing same-sex marriages.
The Lagos Ecclesiastical Province which comprised
Lagos Archdiocese, Ijebu Ode, and Abeokuta Dioceses, declared the position in a
communique issued on Thursday after their January 26 plenary meeting in Lagos.
In the communique signed by their chairman and
secretary, Archbishop of Lagos and Bishop of Ijebu-Ode, Most Rev Alfred
Martins, and Most Rev Francis Adesina respectively, the bishops said that they
were in total agreement with the position of the Catholic Bishops Conference of
Nigeria (CBCN) that declared no to the blessing of same-sex unions.
The Vatican on December 18, 2023, approved a landmark
ruling to allow Catholic priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples as
long as they are not part of regular church rituals or liturgies, nor given in
contexts related to civil unions or weddings.
A document from the Vatican’s doctrinal office
approved by Pope Francis, said such blessings would not legitimise irregular
situations but be a sign that God welcomes all.
The document backed “the possibility of blessings for
couples in irregular situations and for couples of the same sex” but “this
blessing should never be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil
union, and not even in connection with them.”
In the Catholic Church, a blessing is a prayer or
plea, usually delivered by a minister, asking God to look favourably at the
person(s) being blessed.
However, the Pope's approval was met with divergent
views and criticism.
Aligning with the position of the position of the
Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria and that of the Symposium of Episcopal
Conferences of Africa and Madagascar concerning the blessing of homosexual
unions or same-sex couples, the bishops said: “We affirm that the teaching of
the Catholic Church on marriage as the union of a man and a woman in a stable
and exclusive relationship, open to bearing children, remains the same. We also
affirm the Church’s teaching on human sexuality and urge the faithful to be
guided by it."
Source: saharareporters.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://saharareporters.com/2024/02/09/no-blessing-same-sex-unions-approved-pope-say-lagos-ogun-catholic-bishops
---
India
Haldwani: Four Killed Over 250 Injured In Violence After Madarsa Demolition
February 9, 2024
In a shocking turn of events, a demolition drive
targeting an ‘unauthorized’ Madarsa in Haldwani has resulted in the tragic loss
of at least four lives and left over 250 injured.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday night has
sent shockwaves through the community, sparking demands for a thorough
investigation into the circumstances surrounding the demolition.
According to local authorities, the demolition drive
was carried out by the municipal corporation after it was discovered that the
Madarsa had been constructed without obtaining proper permits and violating
building regulations. The city administration had served a notice to the
responsible individuals, demanding the removal of the unauthorized structure.
Early in the morning on Thursday a team comprising
municipal corporation officials, accompanied by police personnel, arrived at
the Madarsa premises to carry out the planned demolition. As the demolition
work commenced, a tense atmosphere prevailed, with the affected community
opposing the move and leading to clashes between protestors and law enforcement
personnel.
During the course of the clashes, violence erupted,
leading to tragic consequences. Reports indicate that amid the chaos, authorities
used force to disperse the crowd, resulting in the loss of four lives.
The incident has sparked outrage among locals, with
various religious and social organizations condemning the excessive use of
force during the demolition process. They are demanding a thorough
investigation into the matter to identify the causes behind the unfortunate
deaths and to hold those responsible accountable.
The local administration, in a bid to restore calm and
address the situation, has ordered an immediate probe into the events leading
to the tragic outcome. The state government has expressed deep condolences to
the families of the deceased and assured that lawful action will be taken
against individuals found guilty of any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, security has been heightened in the area to
prevent any further clashes and maintain peace. The local police have been
instructed to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of residents during
these tense times.
Source: muslimmirror.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/haldwani-four-killed-over-250-injured-after-madarsa-demolition/
----
Muslim boy slapping row: Supreme Court slams Uttar
Pradesh government for not counselling victim's classmates
09.02.24
The Supreme Court slammed the Uttar Pradesh government
on Friday for not counselling students who were allegedly instructed by their
school teacher to slap a Muslim boy for not doing his homework.
Observing that there has been a complete breach of its
directions by the Uttar Pradesh government, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and
UjjalBhuyan directed the state to counsel the children who witnessed the
incident and file a compliance affidavit in two weeks.
"We have perused the latest TISS report, which
calls for the counselling of all the students who had taken part in the
corporal punishment as participants and witnesses. Nothing has been done by the
state, it is too late in the day now.
"We direct the state to immediately implement the
directions, especially for the witness children. Compliance affidavit to be
filed in two weeks," the bench said while posting the matter for hearing
on March 1.
Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh Garima
Prashad said two organisations have volunteered for counselling the students
and sought time to file a more detailed affidavit.
The court had earlier castigated the state government
for not complying with its order to depute an agency for counselling the Muslim
boy and his classmates who were allegedly instructed by their school teacher to
slap him for not doing his homework.
The woman teacher of the school in Muzaffarnagar
district has also been accused of hurling communal slurs at the victim boy.
The top court had appointed the Tata Institute of
Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai to suggest the mode and manner of counselling
the boy and his classmates.
The Muzaffarnagar Police had registered a case against
the teacher for allegedly making communal remarks against the Muslim boy and
instructing his classmates to slap him. The school was also served a notice by
the state's education department.
The teacher was booked after a video purportedly
showed her asking the students to slap the Class-2 boy in Khubbapur village and
also making a communal remark.
The apex court had, on November 6 last year, asked the
Uttar Pradesh government to facilitate the admission of the boy to a private
school.
It was hearing a plea filed by Tushar Gandhi, the
great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, seeking speedy investigation in the case.
On October 30 last year, the court had directed the
state government to immediately decide on granting sanction to prosecute the
teacher.
The court had referred to the assertions made in an
affidavit filed by the victim's father that the boy was "severely
traumatised" and asked Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj to take
instructions on the availability of an expert agency like the NIMHANS and TISS,
which could go to the victim's village and counsel him and the other students.
Except for the headline, this story has not been
edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated
feed.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/muslim-boy-slapping-row-supreme-court-slams-uttar-pradesh-government-for-not-counselling-victims-classmates/cid/1999379
----
Centre’s decision to scrap Free Movement Regime
between India and Myanmar sparks UN plea
09.02.24
The Centre’s decision to scrap the Free Movement
Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar, along with plans to fence the border,
has sparked an uproar, with
the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) seeking the United
Nations’ intervention.
Union home minister Amit Shah announced the FMR
suspension to enhance internal security and maintain demographic structures in
the northeastern states.
The move comes amid turmoil along the 1,643-km-long
porous India-Myanmar border.
Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh lauded the
decision, citing security concerns, while the NSF urged the UN to prevent
further fragmentation of the Naga homeland, expressing reservations about
border fencing. The NSF highlighted Naga historical and traditional rights,
emphasising the need for a peaceful resolution to the Indo-Naga-Myanmar
political issue.
The NSF, in a representation appealed to UN
secretary-general António Guterres, sought his immediate intervention against
“further fragmentation of Naga homeland by occupational forces”.
An umbrella body representing tribal communities,
including the Kukis from Manipur, opposed the FMR’s removal, citing concerns
about alienating local populations with cross-border ties.
Zo United demanded a Union Territory with the
legislature for Manipur’s tribal people, amid escalating violence. The
organisation documented attacks since May 2023, reporting 165 deaths.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/centres-decision-to-scrap-free-movement-regime-between-india-and-myanmar-sparks-un-plea/cid/1999260
----
Mideast
'Jihad must stop': Hamas founder's son talks UNRWA,
support for Israel
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Son of Hamas co-founder Mosab Hassan Yousef, also
known as 'the Green Prince', spoke up in support of Israel during an interview
conducted with the spokesman of the Prime Minister's Office for Arab media.
The interview delved into personal topics, as Yousef
discussed his childhood, describing his experiences growing up as the son of
Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef.
Yousef also discussed his experience of studying at a
UNRWA high school in the West Bank and explained that the education he received
there was one where hatred towards Jews was encouraged.
Taught to hate Jews from childhood
"Everywhere you go, there is hatred towards the
Jewish people and Israel. You are taught hatred in mosques, schools, the
street, and at home," he stated when reflecting on his education at the
UNRWA high school.
Yousef then discussed the terrorist organization Hamas
in further depth and about the current situation in the Arab world and the
Middle East.
"The people who wrote the Hamas charter are a
group of lunatics," he said.
A warning to the world about Hamas
Yousef also had a warning for the Arab world, stating
that "the Arab world needs to pay attention to the danger from within.
Hamas doesn't care about human lives. They sacrifice the lives of children and
innocent children to achieve cheap political goals.
Excerpts of the interview will be published and
promoted on various digital platforms, both in the international community and
the Arab community.
In addition to the interview, Yousef toured the Gaza
envelope and visited the settlements affected by the October 7 massacre and the
site of the Re'im music festival massacre.
'The idea of
jihad must stop, and it must stop now," Yousef concluded.
Source: jpost.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-785973
-----
Al-Aqsa Support Committee determines areas for
“steadfast in our stance...With Gaza until Victory” marches tomorrow, Friday
[08/February/2024]
SANA'A February 08. 2024 (Saba) -The Supreme Committee
for Defending Al-Aqsa called for a large mass demonstration tomorrow, Friday,
in the capital, Sana'a, and the provinces, in marches “steadfast in our
stance... with Gaza until victory.”
The committee identified Al-Sabeen Square in the
capital, Sana'a, as a place for the rally in this march tomorrow afternoon,
Friday.
In Sa'ada, Al-Aqsa Support Committee designated the
city, the Martyr Commander Square, ShaaratBarazih, Al-Jarsha in Ghamr, Qatabr,
Dhuwaib, Bani Bahr, Rabu’ Al-Hudud, and Al-Zahir for the rally tomorrow
morning, Friday. It also designated the square of Shada District for the rally
after Friday prayers, and the center of the Munabeh District in the afternoon.
In Hodeida province, the committee designated the city
of Zabid for the southern districts, and the city of Bajil for the eastern
districts, to gather in the marches tomorrow afternoon, Friday. It also
designated Al-Mina Street in the city, and Al-Zaydiyah for the northern
districts, to gather in the mass marches tomorrow afternoon, Friday.
The committee identified the square of the health
office in the city of Dhamar , the city of DouranAns tomorrow afternoon,
Friday, Atma in the morning, and Jabal al-Sharq after Friday prayers, for
crowds in the mass marches.
In Marib, Al-Juba Square was designated tomorrow
afternoon, Friday, and the Serwah and Harib Al-Qaramish squares were designated
in the morning for gatherings in marches.
In Al Mahwet province, city squares and district
centers were designated as gathering places for mass marches after Friday
prayers.
Al-Aqsa Support Committee identified the market square
in Al-Bayda, the main street in Radaa, and the main street in Al-Sawadiyah for
gathering in marches after Friday prayers.
In Al-Dhale' province, Amer Street in Damt city was
designated as a gathering place for the mass march after Friday prayers.
The committee also designated “in Amran province” the
Al-Hamma area square in Sufyan District for gathering on Friday morning, Thalaa
, Waridah squares after Friday prayers, and it designated Al-Shahid Al-Sammad
Street in the city, Khamer, Al-Sakibat, Suwayr, Kharif, Dhalima, Maswar and Houth
for the rally tomorrow afternoon, Friday.
In Taiz province, the square opposite the Traffic
Department in Al-Hawban and Al-Kamb Square in Maqbana have been designated for
mass marches tomorrow afternoon.
The Committee for Supporting Al-Aqsa “in Hajjah
province” designated Hura Square in the city after Friday prayers, and the
squares of Abs, Al-Mahabshah, Mastaba, and district centers in the afternoon.
In Raymah province, Al-JebeenCenter and Rabu’ Bani
Khouli in Bilad Al-Ta’im District were designated as gathering places for mass
marches tomorrow morning, Friday.
The committee also identified the squares of Al-Jawf:
Al-Hazm, Al-Moton, Al-Marashi, Al-Anan, Rajuza, Khub and Al-Sha’af, Al-Khalq,
Al-Zahir, Al-Humaidat, Al-Ghail, Al-Maslub, and Al-Matamah after Friday
prayers.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3303241.htm
----
Gazans fear Israeli advance on Rafah would ‘end in
massacres’
February 09, 2024
RAFAH, Palestinian Territories: Adel Al-Hajj fears
Israeli forces could at any moment launch an “invasion” of southern Gaza’s
Rafah city, where he and more than a million other Palestinians have fled for
safety.
Teeming with displaced Gazans huddled in makeshift
camps, Rafah has swelled to about five times its pre-war size since fighting
between Israel and Gaza rulers Hamas erupted in October.
The city is one of the few areas spared an Israeli
ground offensive, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week he had
ordered troops to “prepare to operate” there.
Hajj, from Al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza, now
lives in a tent in Rafah.
“There is not enough room in Rafah to accommodate
everyone who has been displaced, and there is no safe place,” he said.
An Israeli military push into the city could “end in
massacres” of the hundreds of thousands trapped on the besieged territory’s
border with Egypt, said Hajj.
Tens of thousands of tents, some no more than sheets
of tarpaulin held up by metal poles or tree branches, stretch as far as the eye
can see.
Umm Ahmed Al-Burai, a 59-year-old woman also from
Al-Shati, is camping with her four daughters and three of her grandchildren
close to an unfinished Qatari hospital in the west of Rafah.
“We first fled to Khan Yunis, then to Khirbat
Al-Adas,” gradually heading south before reaching Rafah, she said.
After Netanyahu’s remarks on Wednesday, “we took
shelter near the Qatari hospital with my sister and her family.”
If troops advance of Rafah, Burai said she feared
“there will be massacres, there will be genocide.”
“I don’t know whether we will be able to flee to
Egypt, or whether we will be massacred.”
Since the war began, triggered by Hamas’s October 7
attack on southern Israel, more than half of Gaza’s 2.4 million people have
fled to Rafah, according to the United Nations, facing dire humanitarian
conditions.
The unprecedented attack resulted in the deaths of
more than 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally
based on official figures.
Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas and launched a
relentless military offensive that has killed at least 27,840 people in Gaza,
most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health
ministry.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that
an Israeli military push into Rafah could “exponentially increase what is
already a humanitarian nightmare with untold regional consequences.”
Many displaced Gazans have taken shelter in Rafah’s
west because “they think that any possible invasion will start in the east,”
said an employee of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
Jaber Abu Alwan, 52, said “the bombardments have
intensified since Netanyahu’s comments.”
“We’re waiting to die,” he said, still nurturing some
hope of “returning home” to Khan Yunis, further north, once the fighting stops.
As the war raged into its fifth month, international
mediators were trying to convince Hamas and Israel to agree to a new truce.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday left
Israel without securing a pause in fighting, wrapping up his fifth crisis tour
of the Middle East since the war began.
Mohammad Al-Jarrah, who fled from Gaza City, said the
offensive on Rafah “seems to be near, because the bombardments have increased
considerably.”
“They told us that Rafah is a safe area for displaced
people,” he said, recalling being “displaced to Rafah after being displaced to
Khan Yunis — so this situation scares me.”“We don’t know where to go.”
“We don’t know where to go.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2457031/middle-east
-----
Daesh/ISIS terror suspect wanted on red notice nabbed
in central Türkiye
UtkuSimsek, Mustafa UnalUysal and YavuzEmrah Sever
08.02.2024
A Daesh/ISIS terror suspect wanted on a red notice was
apprehended in central Türkiye as part of an anti-terror operation carried out
simultaneously in 33 provinces, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on X.
T.B, a Tajikistani member of the terror group, who is
accused of being involved in terror acts, was detained in Eskisehir province
during the “Kahramanlar-49” Operation.
Police seized numerous digital and organizational
documents for examination during the search of T.B.’s address.
A total of 147 suspects were apprehended in the
operation.
In addition, 16 suspects were detained in southern
Mersin in an operation against the Daesh/ISIS terror group, according to the
Provincial Security Directorate.
The suspects are accused of engaging in armed
activities on behalf of the group, seeking organization in line with the
ideology of Daesh/ISIS in Mersin and serving in the so-called intelligence unit
of the terror organization.
The operation came after two gunmen opened fire Jan.
28 on worshippers at the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul's Sariyer district,
killing 52-year-old TuncerCihan.
The Daesh/ISIS terror group claimed responsibility for
the attack.
In 2013, Türkiye became one of the first countries to
declare Daesh/ISIS a terror organization.
Türkiye has since been attacked by the terror group
multiple times, with more than 300 victims killed and hundreds more injured in
at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks and four armed attacks.
In response, Türkiye launched anti-terror operations
at home and abroad to prevent further attacks.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/daesh-isis-terror-suspect-wanted-on-red-notice-nabbed-in-central-turkiye/3131751
----
Hezbollah pounds Israeli military outposts in support
of Palestinians in Gaza
09 February 2024
Fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance
movement have carried out a string of strikes against Israeli military
positions to show their support for the Palestinians’ resistance amid the
unrelenting Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip.
Lebanon’s Arabic-language al-Manar television channel,
citing a Hezbollah statement, reported that the group struck the command
headquarters of the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the Israeli military at EinZeitim
base in the 1948 occupied territories at around 11:00 p.m. local time (2100
GMT) on Thursday with dozens of Katyusha rockets.
Lebanese resistance fighters also pounded the Branit
barracks and its garrison with a salvo of missiles, and destroyed targets
there.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah dismisses Israeli threats, says
‘ready’ to confront aggression
A senior official of Lebanon’s Hezbollah has brushed
off the Israeli threats of a widespread attack against the country, warning
that the resistance movement is “ready” to respond appropriately to any
aggression by Tel Aviv.
Earlier in the day, Hezbollah targeted a number of
military posts and a command center in the northern part of the occupied lands
as Israeli artillery shelled several border towns in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah said in a statement that it had attacked the
Jalil command center in KiryatShmona, soldiers in Metula, and the radar post in
the occupied Shebaa Farms.
An officer and two soldiers were wounded in the
KiryatShmona attack, the Israeli army radio said.
Israeli artillery units meanwhile shelled the southern
towns of Kfarkila, al-Khiam, al-Hamames and the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab.
Moreover, Lebanon’s Arabic-language al-Mayadeen
television news network reported that Hezbollah fighters had bombed the Meron
air base with several Falaq (Dusk) rockets earlier on Thursday.
The Lebanese resistance group said it attacked the
strategically important Israeli air base in support of resilient Palestinians
in the Gaza Strip and also in response to the Israeli attacks on Lebanese
villages and civilians.
The Israeli regime launched its devastating
hostilities in the Gaza Strip on October 7 after the territory’s Hamas-led
Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed
Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.
A senior Hezbollah official says Israel should expect
a “strong slap in the face” if it decides to raise the ante and wage an all-out
war on Lebanon.
The Israeli military has also been carrying out
attacks against the Lebanese territory since then, prompting retaliatory
strikes from Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah in support of the
Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
The movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory
operations as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its onslaught on Gaza.
The Israeli campaign in Gaza has killed at least
27,840 people, most of them women and children. Another 67,317 individuals have
also been wounded.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/09/719747/Hezbollah-pounds-Israeli-military-outposts-in-support-of-Palestinians-in-Gaza
-----
Iran strongly condemns ‘American state terrorism’ in
Iraq
08 February 2024
Iran has strongly condemned the “terrorist act of the
American government inside Iraq, which led to the martyrdom of several members
of the resistance forces against terrorism”.
The assassination of Abu Baqir al-Saadi, one of the
senior commanders of the fight against terrorism and Daesh, and others is “a
clear example of American state terrorism”, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser
Kan’ani said on Thursday.
The US military admitted responsibility for a drone
strike in Baghdad Wednesday night, which killed three people, including the
senior commander of Iraq's Kata'ib Hezbollah resistance group.
Kan’ani said the assassination is a "violation of
national sovereignty" and "territorial integrity of Iraq" and
against international laws and regulations.
“The aggressive act of the terrorist CENTCOM forces in
Baghdad was carried out in line with the continuation of the full support of
the American government for the crimes of the Zionist regime against the
oppressed people of Palestine,” he said.
The spokesman extended his condolences to the Iraqi
nation and government and the families of those assassinated in the attack.
The attack came nearly a week after the United States
carried out a flurry of airstrikes across Iraq and neighboring Syria, killing
nearly 40 people.
Kan’ani said the continuation of “such adventures” by
the US is a threat to regional and international peace and security.
He underlined the responsibility of the international
community as well as the United Nations Security Council in preventing illegal
and unilateral actions and attacks by the United States in the region and
staving off the expansion of crisis and instability.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/08/719716/Iran-strongly-condemns-%E2%80%98American-state-terrorism%E2%80%99-in-Iraq
---
UN: At least 300,000 at risk from lack of food in
north, central Gaza
09 Feb 2024
GAZA STRIP, Feb 9 — Hundreds of thousands of people’s
lives are at risk in north and central Gaza because of a lack of food, the UN
agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) warned yesterday.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said the last time the
agency was allowed to deliver supplies to the area was more than two weeks ago
on January 23.
Other agencies providing humanitarian aid also
reported blocks on getting relief into the Palestinian territory, which has
been bombarded by Israel since Hamas’s deadly attack on October 7.
“Since the beginning of the year, half of our aid
mission requests to the north were denied,” Lazzarini wrote on X, formerly
Twitter.
“The @UN has identified deep pockets of starvation and
hunger in northern #Gaza where people are believed to be on the verge of
famine.
“At least 300,000 people living in the area depend on
our assistance for their survival.”
Israel, which has laid siege to the tiny, densely
populated territory, ordered people living in north and central Gaza to move
south as it goes after those responsible for the October 7 attack.
More than half of Gaza’s estimated 2.4 million people
are now crowded into the city of Rafah in the south, where Israel’s Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered troops to prepare to attack.
Thomas White, director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, said
there was now “enormous concern” about a looming offensive in Rafah, where the
agency bases its operation for the whole of the Gaza Strip.
“It’s going to be very difficult to manage an aid
operation if we have to move from Rafah. We are struggling to meet the demands
of the people right now,” he told Al Jazeera English.
“If there are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of
people on the move again, we just do not have the resources to support them but
also operationally we will not be able to effectively or safely run operations
from a city that’s under assault from the Israeli army.”
‘Hunger and despair’
Despite the move south, many remain in Wadi Gaza, in
the centre, and the north.
Georgios Petropoulos, head of the UN humanitarian
agency OCHA in Gaza, said the territory was being turned “into a wasteland of
hunger and despair”.
Aid agencies were being blocked, while the few trucks
that make it through are mobbed by residents, who in north Gaza were “on the
edge of starvation”, he told AFP on Wednesday.
“They congregate by trucks and other vehicles carrying
goods sometimes in their thousands, and unload them in minutes,” he added.
An AFP reporter on Wednesday witnessed hundreds of men
waiting for a convoy of aid trucks south of Gaza City on the main road from
north to south.
When they saw Israeli military vehicles advance in
their direction, many fled but others kept moving towards the convoy. Several
were wounded by gunfire and were taken to hospital, the reporter added.
World Central Kitchen, a non-profit organisation
providing food aid, also reported only being able to get to north Gaza “a
limited number of times each week”.
They now take two trucks — one transporting meals for
hospitals, and the other to deliver food to crowds on the route, it said in a
statement.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a visit to
the region this week, made a new plea for more aid into Gaza.
“Preventing access prevents lifesaving humanitarian
aid,” wrote Lazzarini. “With the necessary political will, this can be easily
reversed.”
But Israel claims that Hamas, which runs Gaza, is
diverting aid for its own ends to prolong the five-month conflict. — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2024/02/09/un-at-least-300000-at-risk-from-lack-of-food-in-north-central-gaza/117156
-----
Southeast
Asia
Muslim preachers should present message of peace
before Election Day
February 9, 2024
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister
YaqutCholilQoumas urged Muslim preachers to present a message of peace and
respect for differences during their Friday prayer sermons ahead of Election
Day next week.
“As the Election Day is round the corner, we ask
Friday prayer preachers to present a message about the importance of ensuring a
peaceful election, strengthening brotherhood and harmony, as well as encouraging
residents to exercise their voting rights responsibly and respecting political
differences,” the minister noted in a written statement here on Friday.
A circular on the matter has been issued by the
ministry’s Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance and dispatched to
the heads of the ministry office at the provincial level, he remarked.
The circular emphasized the importance of maintaining
a conducive situation among members of the Muslim community and preventing
political activities at mosques to maintain their sacredness.
“Mosques should not be used to host political
campaigns where support to a particular political party or electoral candidates
are explicitly displayed,” the minister emphasized.
The circular also called on mosque administrators and
preachers to abide by and disseminate a related circular that guides on
religious sermons.
Religious sermons should be educative, enlightening,
and constructive to improve personal piety and faith as well as maintain
national unity and integrity, Qoumas affirmed while adding that sermons should
not stir racial sentiments, should not be inflammatory in nature, and should
not be political.
Places of worship should also play their role in
increasing cohesion and harmony among people amid political differences ahead
of the election, he remarked.
“I ask religious figures to present the same message
to their congregations at every assembly and meeting,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Qoumas said he expected the 2024 General
Election, as a “fiesta of democracy,” to be a joyful occasion for every
resident.
“Differences in political preference are reasonable,
and everyone should respect it. How unfortunate if our political differences
ruin our brotherhood,” he stated.
The minister also expressed hope that tensions among
groups would recede after the Election Day, as residents continue their daily
activities while waiting for the official result tabulated by election
officials.
Source: antaranews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://en.antaranews.com/news/305514/muslim-preachers-should-present-message-of-peace-before-election-day
----
PM: Unity Govt has nothing to do with Federal Court
ruling on Kelantan Syariah Code
09-02- 2024
MELAKA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pix)
today said that the Unity Government has nothing to do with the Federal Court’s
decision in annulling 16 provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code
today.
He said the decision was made by the Federal Court by
the power vested in them under the Federal Constitution.
“The decision also has nothing to do with Syariah
(Court)...or the powers of the state. Let's say (during) the State Legislative
Assembly sitting next month, the chief minister enacts several new laws
conflicting with state powers and the powers of the Federal Constitution, then
it can be referred to the Federal Court and if the court finds it conflicting,
it will annul it (the laws enacted during the State Assembly sitting).”
Anwar said at the Melaka civil servants assembly at
the Melaka International Trade Centre here, which was also attended by Chief
Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
The Federal Court in an 8-1 majority decision today
ruled that 16 provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment 2019
as null and void.
The landmark decision was delivered by Chief Justice
TunTengkuMaimun Tuan Mat who led a panel of nine judges after allowing an
application by Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid, who hails from Kelantan, and
her daughter, Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Abdul Rahman, to challenge the
constitutionality and legality of 18 provisions in the Kelantan Syariah
Criminal Code (1) Enactment 2019.
Elaborating, Anwar said that the opposition played on
religious sentiments in a bid to portray his Unity Government as opposing
Islam, even though the application by the two women was filed during
PerikatanNasional’s (PN) administration.
“It’s a law of the state of Kelantan, and the ones
challenging are Kelantanese. They challenged it in the Federal Court...not the
(Federal) Cabinet, not the Prime Minister...they challenged the
constitutionality and legality of the law, and the court ruled it (16
provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment) as null and void.
“The PerikatanNasional government did not protest
before (when the legal challenge was presented). It all happened during their
administration...in 2020 and 2021. Now they are protesting and turning it into
a political issue,” he said.
Therefore, the Prime Minister said the current
government has established the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs
Malaysia (MKI), chaired by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris
Shah, to examine matters related to Syariah laws used in each state.
“Previously, there was no action at the national
committee level to examine the jurisdiction of Syariah courts and the powers
regarding Syariah law. Now, there is one (MKI). What is MKI’s role? To
determine the roles of Syariah courts in the country,” he said.
On another development, Anwar said the Unity
Government also had nothing to do with the reduction of former Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib TunRazak’s sentence as announced last week.
“They alleged that it was all PM and Cabinet’s doing.
The Cabinet never discussed it, I just announced it after the decision was made
(by the Pardons Board),” he said. –Bernama
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://thesun.my/home_news/pm-unity-govt-has-nothing-to-do-with-federal-court-ruling-on-kelantan-syariah-code-CL12082891
---
Ahmad Zahid hopes year of the dragon will bring joy,
strengthen unity among people
09-02- 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wished Happy Chinese New Year to the Chinese community who
will be celebrating the festival tomorrow, with the hope that the arrival of
the Year of the Dragon will further strengthen racial unity in the country.
Ahmad Zahid, who is UMNO president, is confident that
the Chinese New Year celebration will bring joy and further strengthen the bond
of unity and kinship among the people.
“Hope this new year celebration will bring happiness
and further strengthen the relationship and kinship among all of us. Even
though we are of different religions, cultures and races, we are still united,”
he posted on his Facebook page today.
Through the post, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural
and Regional Development Minister, shared a video depicting extending his
Chinese New Year wishes in Mandarin, saying: “Gong Xi Fa Cai. I am a Malay, you
are all Chinese, but we are all Malaysians!”
The Year of the Dragon, which begins on Feb 10, 2024
of the lunar calendar, is one of the most celebrated moments because, according
to the ancient Chinese traditional practice of fengshui, this year will bring
significant changes to society.-Bernama
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://thesun.my/local_news/ahmad-zahid-hopes-year-of-the-dragon-will-bring-joy-strengthen-unity-among-people-LL12082768
----
CJ says challenged provisions under Kelantan Shariah
criminal enactment mandated by state not Allah, cannot be construed as act
against God
09 Feb 2024
PUTRAJAYA, Feb 9 — The country’s top judge said today
a constitutional challenge brought by two Muslim women to nullify 18 provisions
under the Kelantan Shariah criminal enactment cannot be construed as blasphemy
since the laws had been mandated by the state legislative assembly and not
Allah.
Earlier, the Federal Court in a majority verdict of
8-1 struck down 16 out of 18 provisions under the Kelantan Shariah criminal
enactment as unconstitutional, ruling that the Kelantan State Legislature does
not have the power to enact laws on said offences because there are federal
laws covering the same.
Chief Justice TunTengkuMaimun Tuan Mat, who led a
nine-member panel of judges, explained that there were three types of
punishment under Islamic law; namely hudud, qisas and takzir.
Explaining each, TengkuMaimun said hudud were
punishments fixed by Allah whereas qisas were punishments interpreted to mean
retributive justice that are also fixed by Allah.
On the other hand, takzir refers to punishment for
offenses at the discretion of the judge and not mandated by Allah.
“The Shariah Courts in Malaysia, up until today, do
not enforce hudud or qisas, only takzir.
“The Civil Courts also enforces takzir. Thus, there is
no difference between both courts because both Shariah and Civil enforce the
same punishment.
Yet, there is one difference TengkuMaimun said, being
that the takzir enforced by the Shariah Courts are based on laws set by the
respective state administrations which have been legislated by its legislative
bodies; whereas the ones enforced by the Civil Courts are laws fixed by the
federal administration which has been legislated by Parliament.
“So, if there are any parties wishing to challenge the
laws legislated by the respective state assemblies enforced by the Shariah
Courts on grounds that said legislative body lacked the authority to do so, and
if the Civil Courts allowed that challenge, both the court and the challenger
cannot be said to be against Allah because the laws being disputed are not
mandated by Allah but by the state assemblies,” she said.
Thus, TengkuMaimun asserted that there was no issue
arising over the position of Islam or the Shariah Courts if one were to observe
the present constitutional challenge from this aspect.
She then followed up with a stern reminder that the
Federal Constitution guarantees the legislative power to all the state
governments in drafting laws for the Shariah Court to enforce, dismissing
claims that the ongoing case is an attempt to “bury” the powers of the Shariah
courts.
“Looking at this challenge alone, neither the Shariah
Courts nor Islamic laws will at any point in time buried with a tombstone as
claimed by lawyer YusfarizalYusof,” she said.
Yusfarizal had held a watching brief for the
Terengganu Islamic Religion and Malay Customs Council.
Last November, TengkuMaimun had warned Yusfarizal,
stating the lawyer should have known better based on his professional ethics
and that the remark on the Shariah court institution being “buried” is entirely
untrue.
Yusfarizal’s remark was carried out in an article
published by HarakahDaily — the outlet of the Islamist party PAS, which is
opposing the constitutional challenge.
Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid, a native of
Kelantan, along with her daughter Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Abdul Rahman,
previously filed a petition directly with the Federal Court under Article 4(4)
of the Federal Constitution, naming the Kelantan government as the sole
respondent in this case.
The duo is challenging the constitutionality and
validity of 18 provisions under the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (left)
Enactment 2019, claiming that the Kelantan State Legislature does not have the
power to enact laws on these offences because there are federal laws covering
the same.
Through the court challenge, the two women sought the
Federal Court to declare that 18 provisions of Kelantan’s Shariah Criminal Code
(I) Enactment 2019 are invalid, arguing that the Kelantan state legislative
assembly had overstepped its powers or had no powers to make such laws.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/02/09/cj-says-challenged-provisions-under-kelantan-shariah-criminal-enactment-mandated-by-state-not-allah-cannot-be-construed-as-act-against-god/117197
----
Indonesia a global model for mosque development: Grand
Imam
February 8,
2024
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian mosques have been
recognized by the United Nations (UN) as a model for global mosque development
in the future, according to Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque Grand Imam Nasaruddin
Umar.
While delivering his Isra Miraj commemoration message
here on Thursday, he recounted the moment he met the United Nations High
Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel ÁngelMoratinosCuyaubé,
who said that the UN was inspired by Istiqlal Mosque's development.
Muslims believe that during the Isra and Miraj,
Prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven to receive the command of the five daily
prayers from Allah.
"Istiqlal Mosque is not only a model for all of
us in Indonesia because, praise be to God, the international community has
begun emulating what Indonesia has done," Umar said.
The Grand Imam said that mosques are a symbol of unity
as their activities are often attended by a large number of participants.
Related news: Diversity-friendly mosques can be
solution to politicization: BRIN
He noted that in some mosques in Europe, congregants
often overflow onto the road in front of the mosques, forcing the mosques to
close temporarily to accommodate them.
"Even in the United States, no one can match
congregations who partake in worship activities at mosques. Hence, awakening
this collective spirit is essential," he emphasized.
Umar highlighted that an interfaith community in Los
Angeles, the United States, has also sought his advice to attract congregants
to participate in religious activities, as he has done in Istiqlal Mosque.
He further said that pursuing worldly pleasures and
financial gain can cause people's hearts to become empty. Visiting a mosque,
where they can be soothed by the imam's beautiful Quran recitation and
solidarity to pray together, can replenish their hollow heart, he added.
He also said that commemorating Isra Miraj is a way to
enhance the spirit of participating in mosque activities together, especially
with Ramadan around the corner.
Source: antaranews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://en.antaranews.com/news/305478/indonesia-a-global-model-for-mosque-development-grand-imam
----
Africa
Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Took Hasty Decision, Didn’t
Consider Implications On Their Citizens Before Leaving – ECOWAS
February 8, 2024
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
on Thursday said that the decision of the three member states: Mali, Burkina
Faso and the Republic of Niger to withdraw their membership of the West African
bloc has no real reasons nor does it show reflection of its implications on
their citizens.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar
AlieuTouray, said this at the Extra-ordinary Session of the Mediation and
Security Council (MSC) at Ministerial Level held at the ECOWAS Commission
headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The Extra-ordinary Session of the Mediation and
Security Council (MSC) at Ministerial Level was held to discuss the recent
decisions of the three member states to withdraw from ECOWAS.
Touray said that the unfolding events in the region
are posing threats to peace and political stability in the West African
community.
He noted that “If there is a time for ECOWAS to stay
together, this is the time,” stressing that “there is no challenge that ECOWAS
cannot overcome.”
Touray said that there was no real basis in the
reasons given by the countries for their withdrawal of their membership of
ECOWAS and added that they did not reflect on the implications of this decision
to their citizens.
According to him, “The hasty decision of withdrawal of
membership of ECOWAS did not take into account the conditions for withdrawal of
membership from ECOWAS, as espoused in the 1993 ECOWAS Revised Treaty.
“But more importantly, the three member States have
not really reflected on the implications of this decision on the citizens.”
Also speaking during the session, the Chairman of the
MSC and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf MaitamaTuggar,
said that the decisions of the three countries which are under military rule
have generated considerable concern across the region and beyond.
Tuggar described the meeting as crucial “To devise
solutions to the challenges presented by these decisions” but stressed that “In
our pursuit of solutions, we must remain committed to the principles of
democratic governance and safeguarding the right of our people to freely elect
their leaders.”
Tuggar further said that “It goes without saying that
we are stronger together as a Community. We project not just our common values
and a more attractive market.
“We also can deal more effectively with those shared
challenges that go beyond national borders: climate change, violent extremism,
migration and organized crime, to name but a few.”
Recall that Mali, Burkina Faso and the Republic of
Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS “with immediate effect” through a
joint communiqué signed by representatives of the three countries on January
28.
The ECOWAS said that the communiqué was subsequently
followed by separate official notifications on January 29.
The Extraordinary meeting of the Mediation and
Security Council at Ministerial Level was made up of Ministers of Foreign
Affairs and Defence from ECOWAS member states.
Source: saharareporters.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://saharareporters.com/2024/02/08/mali-burkina-faso-niger-took-hasty-decision-didnt-consider-implications-their-citizens
----
Islamic group sends crucial message to Tinubu as cost
of living crisis worsens
Goodness Adaoyiche
February 9, 2024
The Jama’atulNasril Islam (JNI) has called on
President Bola Tinubu to immediately address the difficulties Nigerians are
going through especially as regards the cost of food.
The Islamic group also called on business owners in
the country to desist from hoarding foodstuff for selfish gains.
“The current trying-time ordinary Nigerians are
experiencing, occasioned by food insecurity, inflation, abject poverty and
insecurity is distressing and calls for serious redress,” Khalid Aliyu, JNI
Secretary General said.
Recall that there has been a consistent rise in prices
of foodstuffs and other commodities which has led to the worsening of the
already fragile economy of the country.
The worsening economic hardships have resulted in
pockets of protests in some states in the country.
JNI called on the federal government to “urgently
intervene over the difficulties Nigerians are passing through. This call is
made over the exhilarating pains citizens are airing in both print and
electronic media, inclusive of the social media, wherein Minna, Niger State and
Lokoja, Kogi State Protests and other dissenting concerns being raised.”
The statement also called on governments at the
federal and state levels to intervene to avoid provoking citizens.
“Likewise, all those arrested during the protests
should be released and future recurrence be avoided through synergy and prompt
interventions. This call has become necessary such that citizens would not be
further provoked. Government functionaries are also cautioned to choose their
words very well while addressing citizens on the matter,” Aliyu said.
While calling on the business community to avoid
hoarding commodities, JNI also urged the government to assist the less
privileged especially now that Muslims fasting month (Ramadan) approaches.
“We equally implore the business community to resist
the temptation of hoarding for selfish gains; instead they should make
essential commodities more affordable, by lowering prices, to serve as an act
of charity for them.
“Let us emulate the generosity of Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) by being more generous and kind, especially during Ramadan.
“As we approach Ramadan, we urge all levels of
government to extend assistance to the less fortunate, as reports of their
plight are both alarming and worrying. All stakeholders must unite in patriotic
fervour to implement measures that mitigate the impact of rising food costs,
ensuring Nigeria’s continued path of growth and development is not halted,” the
statement added.
Source: politicsnigeria.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://politicsnigeria.com/islamic-group-sends-crucial-message-to-tinubu-as-cost-of-living-crisis-worsens/
----
Boko Haram-Ravaged Yobe State To Buy ‘Two Tvs, Two Air
Conditioners’ For N300Million; N210Million For Graveyards, Mosques’ Renovation
February 9, 2024
The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in Yobe
State will in 2024 spend N200 million to “purchase 2nos of Air Conditioners”, a
copy of the state’s 2024 appropriation bill obtained by SaharaReporters
revealed.
The ministry which has a budget approval of N1.131
billion for capital expenditure also plans to buy two television sets for N100
million.
All these are contained in the state’s 2024
appropriation bill of N217,000,000,000 to service both capital and recurrent
expenditures signed by Governor Mai Mala Buni in December 2023.
(http://budget.pfm.yb.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/YOBE-FY24-BGT.pdf)
A further check by SaharaReporters showed that N180
million was budgeted under the state Ministry of Agriculture for the construction
and renovation of “constituency” mosques and graveyards.
Another N30 million is also expected to be spent for
the construction of a mosque at Nasari grazing reserve, making N210 million in
total.
Terrorism has impacted communities in Yobe State in various
ways, with thousands of innocent lives lost and property worth millions of
naira destroyed, including places of worship.
SaharaReporters during the week reported that Boko
Haram insurgents attacked the convoy of Major General MLD Sara, Theatre Commander,
Sector 2 Joint Task Force (JTF) North East (NE), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) of
the Nigerian Army using explosives.
The IED, which occurred in Kukareta, Yobe State was
planted by militants of the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the
Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā'at Ahl
as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihā.
During the attack, the driver of the vehicle sustained
a leg injury while the vehicle was damaged.
However, Major General Sara and another army personnel
also in the military vehicle were unhurt.
According to a military signal obtained by
SaharaReporters, the army commander was on assessment to a military formation
233 Battalion on the outskirts of Kukareta which was earlier attacked by the
terrorists.
The gunmen had launched an attack on the town where
they also killed a mobile policeman and two civilians.
“While on an assessment visit to the amp by the Comd
Sector 2 JTF NE OPHK Maj Gen MLD Sara’s at about 040930A, an IED planted at the
entrance gate to the camp exploded which injured the Commanders driver on the
leg while the Comds staff car was also damaged but the Comd and his Radio
operator were unhurt.
“The situation is being assessed while a detailed
investigation has commenced,” the military signal had read.
Since the death of JAS leader, AbubakarShekau, ISWAP
has been consolidating its grip in locations around Lake Chad.
The sect’s membership has swollen with the defection
of hundreds of Boko Haram fighters under Shekau.
Source: saharareporters.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://saharareporters.com/2024/02/09/exclusive-boko-haram-ravaged-yobe-state-buy-two-tvs-two-air-conditioners-n300million
-----
Arab
World
Saudi Arabia and UN host workshop on state of
environment in Kingdom
February 09, 2024
RIYADH: A two-day national consultative workshop for a
report on the state of the environment in the Saudi Arabia, and likely future
developments, concluded on Thursday.
The event in Riyadh was organized by the Saudi
Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and the UN. The participants
included the Kingdom’s undersecretary for environmental affairs, Osama Faqiha,
and the regional representative of the UN Environment Program, Sami Demasi.
The aim of the workshop was to address the objectives
of the report; provide reliable, up-to-date information about the state of the
environment in the Kingdom and related trends; evaluate the effectiveness of
national policies, procedures and initiatives to protect and manage the
environment; identify gaps, challenges and opportunities; and provide
innovative and practical recommendations and solutions to improve the
environment and promote sustainable development.
Participants also explored ways to enhance awareness,
education and participation among all stakeholders in environmental issues, and
the role this can play in achieving the development goals of the Kingdom’s
Vision 2030 agenda.
They reviewed information about the efforts that have
been made to protect and preserve the environment; weather phenomena and air
quality; water resources; vegetation and land uses; marine and coastal
environments; biodiversity; waste; and climate change. They also discussed
institutional and legislative frameworks for the environmental sector.
The workshop looked at environmental databases and
indicators collected over the past five years, which contribute to the
development of environmental information to help identify climate problems and
the challenges that are faced in efforts to improve the environment.
It also reviewed the latest scientific research that
could play a key role in confronting the challenges and overcoming obstacles
related to climate change, through research and innovative ideas that can help
identify solutions and achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The participants also discussed national efforts by
the media and governmental institutions to raise awareness of environmental
issues.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2456886/saudi-arabia
----
Arab foreign ministers meet in Riyadh for talks on
Gaza
February 08, 2024
RIYADH: The foreign ministers of the UAE, Qatar,
Egypt, and Jordan arrived in Riyadh on Thursday for a consultative meeting on
the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip, Saudi Press Agency reported.
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Qatari
Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Egyptian Foreign
Minister SamehShoukry, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi attended
the ministerial meeting.
The ministers were received at King Khaled
International Airport by Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed bin Abdulkarim
Al-Khuraiji.
During the meeting, the ministers stressed the need to
end the conflict in Gaza by reaching an immediate and complete ceasefire.
They also said it was vital to ensure the protection
of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law, and lift all
restrictions that impede the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave.
They expressed their support for the UN Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and urged all its supporters to
play their role in supporting humanitarian efforts to assist Palestinian
refugees.
They also stressed the importance of taking
irreversible steps to implement the two-state solution and recognize the State
of Palestine on the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2456596/saudi-arabia
----
Saudi FM, KSrelief chief discuss Gaza with head of
UNRWA in Riyadh
February 08, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince
Faisal bin Farhan on Thursday received the Commissioner-General of the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Philippe Lazzarini and
his accompanying delegation in Riyadh.
During the reception, the two sides reviewed
cooperation between the Kingdom and UNRWA and ways to enhance it, and the
minister reiterated the Kingdom’s position in support of the agency.
Prince Faisal called “for all donors to UNRWA to play
their role in supporting humanitarian missions toward the Palestinians, to
mitigate the effects of the humanitarian crisis taking place in occupied
Palestine,” the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said.
Lazzarini also held talks with Dr. Abdullah
Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and general supervisor of the King
Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.
The two discussed topics related to relief and
humanitarian affairs and developments in humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip.
Lazzarini expressed gratitude to the Kingdom,
represented by KSrelief, for its support for UNRWA and noted the strategic
relationship between the Kingdom and the agency.
He said he looked forward to more cooperation between
the two sides in the interest of Palestinian refugees.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2456786/saudi-arabia
----
Yemeni official: All warships will be forced to leave
Red Sea
09 February
2024
After a successful Yemeni operation forces a British
warship to leave the Red Sea, a ranking Yemeni official says all such foreign
vessels will eventually be forced to depart the body of water.
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of Yemen's Supreme
Political Council, made the remarks on Thursday.
A day earlier, British media reports revealed that the
country’s Royal Navy had been forced to pull a warship, named as HMS Diamond,
out of the Red Sea after coming under three bouts of attacks with ballistic
missiles fired from Yemen.
The reports did not specify the reasons for the
summoning, only stating that HMS Richmond had “temporarily” taken over in the
Red Sea. They said HMS Diamond would be rearmed before heading back into action
in the Red Sea.
But footage released by Yemeni media purportedly
showed a missile hitting HMS Diamond in the Red Sea, without specifying when
the strike took place.
"Just as the British warship has left the region
for overhaul, the other warships will likewise [be forced to] leave the
region," al-Houthi said.
"All [foreign] warships must leave the Red Sea,
stop their attacks on Yemen, and end their blockade of the country," he
added.
Yemen has been conducting missile and drone operations
against Israeli vessels, those heading for the occupied territories' ports, and
the British and American warships that have been dispatched to the Red Sea to
confront the Yemeni strikes.
The strikes have been seeking to pressure the Israeli
regime into stopping an October 7, 2023-present Washington- and London-backed
war against the coastal sliver.
More than 27,840 Palestinians, mostly women, children,
and adolescents, have died in the genocidal war so far.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/09/719740/Yemen-British-warship-Red-Sea-Israel-Gaza-war
----
KSrelief Distributes Food Baskets in Rafah, Gaza Strip
08 Feb, 2024
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center
(KSrelief) yesterday continued providing relief aid to the affected
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in coordination with the Palestinian Red
Crescent.
The assistance
is a part of the popular campaign to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian
people in the Gaza Strip.
The center
distributed 350 food baskets, 350 personal hygiene bags, and 500 pieces of
clothing in the Al-Wafa shelter center for displaced people in Rafah, south of
the Gaza Strip.
The aid is
intended to meet the needs of the population throughout the enclave and benefit
4,700 individuals to alleviate their suffering.
The effort is
part of the Kingdom's long-standing and well-known role in standing with the
Palestinian people during their various crises and tribulations.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
http://www.alriyadhdaily.com/article/21e5afd5c98841fd90785a1ea53ebe2f
----
Pakistan
With Over 100 Seats Counted, Imran Khan's Supporters
Lead In Pakistan - Media
By Ariba Shahid and Gibran NaiyyarPeshimam
February 9, 2024
ISLAMABAD, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Supporters of jailed
former Prime Minister Imran Khan had the edge on Friday in Pakistan's election
results from over 100 seats, local media said, after vote counts were hit by
unusual delays that the government ascribed to a suspension of mobile phone
services.
Geo News said independents, who mostly owe allegiance
to Khan, had won 47 of 106 seats for which it had results. A total of 265 seats
were contested in Thursday's election.
By 0800 GMT, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
had announced 70 official results, with independents getting 24.
The Pakistan Peoples Party of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari,
the son of assassinated premier Benazir Bhutto, also got 24 while former Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won 18.
The rest were won by small parties.
Khan is in jail and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
party was barred from the election, so his supporters contested as
independents.
Analysts have predicted there may be no clear winner,
adding to the woes of a country struggling to recover from an economic crisis
while it grapples with rising militant violence in a deeply polarised political
environment.
"A timely announcement of the results, leading to
a smooth formation of a new government will reduce policy and political
uncertainty," Moody's Investors Service said. "This is crucial for
the country that is facing very challenging macroeconomic conditions."
The delay in the announcement of results was unusual
for elections in Pakistan. Karachi's stock index and Pakistan's sovereign bonds
fell because of the uncertainty.
An "internet issue" was the reason behind
the delay, Zafar Iqbal, special secretary at the ECP, said without elaborating.
The government said it suspended mobile phone services
ahead of the election on Thursday as a security measure, and they were being
partially restored.
The main battle was expected to be between candidates
backed by Khan, whose PTI won the last national election, and the PML-N of
Sharif. Khan believes the powerful military is behind a crackdown to hound his
party out of existence, while analysts and opponents say Sharif is being backed
by the generals.
The military has dominated the nuclear-armed country
either directly or indirectly in its 76 years of independence but for several
years it has maintained it does not interfere in politics.
Sharif, considered by many observers to be a strong
candidate, has dismissed talk of an unclear result but a close aide, Ishaq Dar,
told GEO TV that the party could form a coalition with the support of
independents.
"I am confident that we will form a
government," Dar said.
IMF BAILOUT
If the election does not result in a clear majority
for anyone, as analysts are predicting, tackling multiple challenges will be
tricky - foremost being seeking a new bailout programme from the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) after the current arrangement expires in three weeks.
"The deciding factor is which side the powerful
military and its security agencies are on," said Abbas Nasir, a columnist,
commenting on the likelihood that no party would emerge as a clear winner.
"Only a huge turnout in favour of (Khan's) PTI can change its fortunes."
He added: "Economic challenges are so serious,
grave, and the solutions so very painful that I am unsure how anyone who comes
to power will steady the ship."
Thousands of troops were deployed on the streets and
at polling stations across the country for the voting on Thursday. Borders with
Iran and Afghanistan were temporarily closed as security was stepped up.
Despite the heightened security, 12 people, including
two children, were killed in 51 bomb blasts, grenade attacks and shootings by
militants, mostly in the western provinces, the military said in a statement.
"Despite a few isolated incidents, the overall
situation remained under control, demonstrating the effectiveness of our
security measures," caretaker Interior Minister Gohar Ejaz said in a
statement.
Washington was concerned about "steps that were
taken to restrict freedom of expression, specifically around internet and
cellphone use," State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told
reporters.
The U.S. strongly condemned election-related violence
both in the run-up to the polls and on election day, Patel added.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also
expressed concern about the violence and the suspension of mobile
communications services, his spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement.
Amnesty International called the suspension of mobile
services "a blunt attack on the rights to freedom of expression and
peaceful assembly".
Reporting by Asif Shahzad and Charlotte Greenfield in
Islamabad, Mushtaq Ali in Peshawar, Salim Ahmed in Quetta, and Saud Mehsud in
Dera Ismail Khan; additional reporting by Simon Lewis in Washington; Editing by
Raju Gopalakrishnan and Lincoln Feast.
Source: reuters.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-vote-counts-drags-after-election-marred-by-attacks-outages-2024-02-09/
------
Iran envoy felicitates Pakistan on ‘successful, safe,
secure’ polls
February 09, 2024
Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
ISLAMABAD: Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan Raza Amiri
Moghadam has felicitated the people and government of his host country on the
successful conclusion of general elections.
He took the X (former Twitter) to express his
sentiments. He is the first foreign envoy who conveyed his happiness about the
polls. “At the end of the day, I extend my warmest congratulations to honorable
nation and government of Pakistan on holding successful, safe and secure
nationwide Elections-2024. It marks another achievement in the history of the
neighbourly, friendly & brotherly country of Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, sources in the Foreign Office told The News
that ambassadors/high commissioners of foreign countries posted in Islamabad
would be briefed on the February-2024 general elections, once the results are
compiled and elected members are notified.
The diplomats are reporting to their respective
governments developments and outcome of the polls in Pakistan.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1155938-iran-envoy-felicitates-pakistan-on-successful-safe-secure-polls
----
Pak Envoy to USCalls For Pak-India Dialogue To Resolve
Bilateral Issues
February 09, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States
Masood Khan on Thursday called for dialogue between Pakistan and India to
resolve all bilateral issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
In an interview with Newsweek, he said Kashmir dispute
is the flashpoint between India and Pakistan and must be resolved as per
aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
According to a press release issued from Washington
DC, Ambassador Masood Khan said due to the distraction of international
attention, Kashmir dispute has become a dangerous blind spot.
Emphasising the early resolution of the dispute, he
said freedom of Kashmiri people is as sacred as freedoms of any other people in
any part of the world.
The envoy hoped to continue to build more substantive
ties between Pakistan and the United States, based not only on security but
also in various other fields such as investment education and climate change.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1155923-envoy-calls-for-pak-india-dialogue-to-resolve-bilateral-issues
----
Kakar: Recognition of Islamic Emirate Needs Regional
Consensus
February 8, 2024
The prime minister of the caretaker government of
Pakistan, Anwar ul-Haq Kakar, said that the recognition of the Islamic Emirate
needs the regional consensus.
In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, Kakar said
that all countries of the region, including Russia and China, want peace and
security and stability in Afghanistan.
He added that until the countries of the region and
the world recognize the current government of Afghanistan, Pakistan will not
take a step forward in this regard.
“I personally believe that all the countries in the
region want the Afghan government to get recognized, although I cannot talk
about the exact time, regional countries have understood this. I believe that
the issue of recognition will be resolved as time passes,” Anwar ul-Haq Kakar
said.
During the interview, Kakar said the Durand Line is an
internationally recognized “border” between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“The UN and 206 countries have approved this as an
international border, what the Afghan people say about this is their internal
discussion, in which I am not interested,” he said.
Kakar once again claimed that Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP) has shelter in some provinces of Afghanistan. According to him,
this issue has caused insecurity in Pakistan.
“But when my people come to your soil, use it, train
on it, and then come and harm my people, then I will definitely be telling you
that my unpleasant brother is on your soil, no matter if by your permission or
not, he must be expelled from your soil,” he said.
This is Pakistan’s stance; we have not accused the Afghan
government of intentionally sheltering these people,” Kakar further stated.
The prime minister of Pakistan's caretaker government
said that no nation would be permitted to utilize Pakistan's airspace against
Afghanistan and he denied allowing foreign
drones to fly into Afghanistan from his country.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-187332
----
Jailed Imran Khan casts vote via postal ballot as
Pakistanis flock to polling stations
08-02- 2024
NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister
Imran Khan (pix) cast his vote via a postal ballot on Thursday as millions of
Pakistanis gathered at polling stations across the country to take part in the
general election.
Imran was barred from contesting the election and his
popular Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) faced a pre-poll widespread crackdown.
PTI candidates are participating in the election but
have been denied the use of the party’s cricket bat electoral symbol, a huge
disadvantage in facing their rivals from two other major parties -- the
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto
Zardari, and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of former prime minister
Nawaz Sharif.
Pakistani celebrities encouraged people to turn out in
large numbers to vote.
“Voting is not only our right -- it is our power!”
said cricketer Shaheen Afridi, urging people to go out and vote for a “better
Pakistan.”
“No matter what you feel or who you want to vote for,
it’s important that we exercise our fundamental right to vote. See you all at
the polls,“ actress Mahira Khan said.
President Arif Alvi told the nation of 241 million
people that electing their representatives was “your Islamic, constitutional
and civic responsibility”.
“We as a family reached our polling station, stood in
line and have voted and urge all of you to come out and exercise your right.
Pakistan needs your opinion as never before,“ he said in a social media post.
More than 90,500 polling stations were set up to allow
128.5 million registered voters to cast their votes in the country’s 12th
general election.
They will elect 266 members of the National Assembly
as well as decide the fate of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
provincial assembly candidates.
The National Assembly has a total of 336 seats, with
60 seats reserved for women and 10 for non-Muslims. –Bernama
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://thesun.my/world/jailed-imran-khan-casts-vote-via-postal-ballot-as-pakistanis-flock-to-polling-stations-DE12079587
---
South
Asia
Bangladesh Not Becoming A One-Party State: Foreign
Minister
Feb 9, 2024
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud yesterday said
Bangladesh is not becoming a one-party state.
"Definitely, Bangladesh is not becoming a
one-party state. We uphold the values of democracy. Bangladesh is a multi-party
democracy," he said.
The foreign minister made the remarks while responding
to a question at an interactive session hosted by the Foreign Correspondents'
Club of South Asia in New Delhi.
He said some leaders who are part of the
BNP-Jamaat-led alliance have the desire to turn Bangladesh "into
Afghanistan" and they "cannot contribute to democracy."
The foreign minister said the BNP-Jamaat alliance has
always tried to disrupt the democratic journey and they even tried this time
too. "But they failed in the past and this year too. They were not
successful," he added.
Despite challenges, Hasan said, democracy in Bangladesh
is doing better day by day.
He described the relations between Bangladesh and the
US as cordial and expressed willingness to take the relations to a new height.
On the situation in Myanmar, the foreign minister said
they should work together.
Responding to a question, he said data shows
inequality is reducing in Bangladesh.
Mahmud is on his first bilateral visit to New Delhi at
the invitation of his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar.
Describing the current state of relations between
Bangladesh and India as a "golden chapter," he said the two sides are
now giving the highest priority to three aspects -- enhancing mutual trust and
confidence, promoting connectivity and ensuring all-around economic
cooperation.
"We are going through a golden chapter of our
relationship. India-Bangladesh relationship is now a role model for the
neighbourhood and democracy today," he said at the Vivekananda
International Foundation, at a separate event.
Foreign Minister Hasan said India stood beside
Bangladesh and remains beside Bangladesh to continue the democratic trend in
the country by overcoming anti-election domestic and foreign conspiracies.
He said bilateral relations between Bangladesh and
India have reached unique heights in the past years.
Both countries will work shoulder to shoulder to take
it forward, he added.
Director of the Foundation Dr Arvind Gupta, Bangladesh
High Commissioner to India MdMustafizur Rahman and former High Commissioner of
India to Bangladesh Veena Sikri, among others, were present.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/us-embassy-organised-techcamp-50-aspiring-bangladeshi-journos-ends-3539836
----
EU Special Envoy prioritizes productive Doha meeting
during Afghanistan visit
Fidel Rahmati
February 8, 2024
Tomas Niklasson, the European Union’s special envoy
for Afghanistan, spoke at a briefing in Kabul about his recent four-day visit.
He highlighted the importance of improving preparations for a productive
meeting in Doha but emphasized that the de facto authorities’ recognition will
not be the focus of the meeting.
During Niklasson’s visit, he talked with key figures
such as the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) chief, Taliban
representatives, Afghan political leaders like Hamid Karzai, NGO members, and
various others.
“Concluding my four-day visit to Kabul, graciously
hosted by RaffaellaIodice, the EU Chief of Mission to Afghanistan, and her
team, I express gratitude to all who shared their insights. I met with UN
representatives, Afghan government officials, civil society members, including
women, former President Karzai, and NGO colleagues,” Niklasson said.
“The main focus
of my visit this time was to compare notes with the de facto authorities, other
Afghans and representatives of the diplomatic community to help us set
realistic expectations and prepare better for a constructive Doha meeting,” he
said.
He mentioned his upcoming attendance at a meeting in
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, next week.
“My visit to Kabul follows extensive outreach to
countries invited to the Doha meeting on Feb. 18-19, convened by the UN and
hosted by Qatar,” Niklasson also mentioned his involvement in a G7+ meeting in
London and talks with countries like Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Meanwhile, I added that during my recent visit, I
engaged with Afghan authorities and diplomats to set realistic goals for the
forthcoming Doha meeting. Following the UN Secretary-General’s chaired meeting
in May 2023 focused on key agreements, the UN Security Council adopted
Resolution 2721 (2023), paving the way for a constructive dialogue in Doha, now
inclusive of all Afghan stakeholders.
Furthermore, he said that “we deliberated on the
independent assessment’s recommendations, aiming to safeguard Afghan rights,
foster positive relations with the international community, and establish
sustainable peace. I underscored the Doha meeting’s significance for meaningful
dialogue, emphasizing readiness for a UN-led process. Welcoming the inclusion
of diverse Afghan voices, I noted widespread acknowledgement of the
assessment’s key findings. Discussions also touched upon the need for a UN
Special Envoy, echoing optimism among acting ministers about the upcoming
meeting and ongoing preparations for delegation composition.”
Niklasson also touched upon the UN-organized meeting
in Doha from last year, offering reflections on its outcomes and implications.
“At the first meeting of Special Envoys in Doha on May
1-2, 2023, no Afghans were invited. The meeting agreed on three main points: No
support for armed resistance in Afghanistan, the need for engagement with
Afghan de facto authorities, and the conditions not being in place for
international recognition of these authorities as the legitimate government,”
he said.
After Special Coordinator FeridunSinirlioglu’s
independent assessment, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2721 (2023)
on December 29, 2023, paving the way for the forthcoming Doha meeting.
“Unlike last
year, representatives of the de facto authorities and other Afghans have been,
or will be, invited to this meeting,” Niklasson said.
The visit comes ahead of the special envoys’ gathering
in Doha set for February 18-19.
Source: khaama.com
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original story
https://www.khaama.com/eu-special-envoy-prioritizes-productive-doha-meeting-during-afghanistan-visit/
----
UN allocates $3.8 million to expelled Afghan migrants
from Pakistan
Fidel Rahmati
February 8, 2024
The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund
(CERF) has announced that it has allocated $3.8 million to assist involuntary
returnees from Pakistan.
The World Food Program stated in a press release on
Thursday that this money will be used for cash assistance to expelled Afghan
migrants.
According to the World Food Program statement, it
plans to provide cash assistance to nearly 33,000 families or more than 230,000
individuals, including persons with disabilities who have been forced to return
to Afghanistan.
Isabelle MoussardCarlsen, the head of the United
Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in
Afghanistan, emphasized that the financial assistance from the Central
Emergency Response Fund of this organization has been allocated in the harsh
winter and peak of food insecurity for thousands of returning migrants from
Pakistan for their urgent food needs.
According to OCHA, these aids are a lifeline for
thousands of Afghan returnees from Pakistan amid the peak of food insecurity.
According to reports, since the start of the expulsion
process, more than 500,000 Afghan migrants have returned to the country.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.khaama.com/un-allocates-3-8-million-to-expelled-afghan-migrants-from-pakistan/
-----
Nearly 2,000 Afghan migrants expelled from Pakistan
and Iran
Fidel Rahmati
February 8, 2024
The Ministry of Migrants and Repatriation of
Afghanistan has announced that close to two thousand Afghan migrants were
expelled from Pakistan and Iran in a single day.
On Thursday, February 8th, the ministry stated in a
statement that approximately 1,563 Afghan migrants were expelled from Iran and
returned to the country.
According to the ministry’s statement, these migrants
re-entered the country through the Islam Qala-Herat border on February 7th.
Additionally, the ministry added that around 212
Afghan migrants returned to the country from Pakistan after being expelled on
Wednesday through the Spin Boldak border in Kandahar province.
The Ministry of Migrants clarified that the returning
migrants include both families and individuals.
Recently, Iran and particularly Pakistan have
intensified the expulsion of undocumented Afghan migrants, but in the latest
report from the UN Refugee Agency, it was stated that the Pakistani government
has extended the registration cards for Afghan registered migrants until the
end of March 2024.
Despite the extension of registration cards for Afghan
migrants by the Pakistani government, Pakistani officials have expelled over
half a million Afghan migrants amidst a harsh winter and dire humanitarian
crisis in Afghanistan.
As a result, many of the returnees are facing
significant challenges, including a lack of shelter, food, medical treatment,
job opportunities, and means of livelihood. This situation exacerbates the
already precarious conditions in Afghanistan, highlighting the urgent need for
international support and assistance to address the humanitarian crisis
affecting Afghan migrants.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.khaama.com/nearly-2000-afghan-migrants-expelled-from-pakistan-and-iran/
----
Muttaqi Criticizes Human Rights Rhetoric of West
February 8, 2024
The Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said
that during the last 20 years, acts of terrorism have been carried out in
Afghanistan in the name of human rights.
Speaking during the Institute of Diplomacy's
graduation ceremony, Muttaqi said that underdeveloped nations have always been
treated unfairly in the name of human rights. He also emphasized the need for
profession education in the country.
"Wasn’t Afghanistan bombed in twenty years under
the name of terrorism or not? Hundreds of thousands of people were martyred,
hundreds of thousands of people were imprisoned and tortured and even
transferred to Guantanamo. A great crisis has passed, but no one has yet
defined terrorism for what it is,” Muttaqi said.
In his speech, the Foreign Minister emphasized the
provision of education in diplomatic departments in the country.
Some political analysts have different views about the
roles of international countries in the last two decades in Afghanistan.
"They believe that their presence in Afghanistan
has provided opportunities and challenges, and on the contrary, there is no
doubt that their presence has faced challenges,” Javed Javed, a political
analyst told TOLOnews.
"In the past twenty years, when the US and the
partners of NATO came here in the name of eliminating terrorism, they did not
have a correct definition of terrorism,” said Ahmad Khan Andar, a political
analyst.
According to officials, the students in the Institute
of Diplomacy are taught Arabic, Turkish, and Russian languages beside other
subjects.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-187335
-----
Center Formed for Talks Among People, Officials, Intl
Community
February 8, 2024
Several politicians formed a “Dialogue Center” for the
negotiations between the Islamic Emirate, the people of Afghanistan, and the
international community.
According to these politicians, the negotiations among
Afghans, the Islamic Emirate, and the international community from this center
will address the nation's challenges.
“We strive to solve the problem of people through
dialogue among the international community, US, and the Afghan community,” said
Fazal Rahman Orya, a politician.
Meanwhile, some political analysts said the formation
of this center is important and emphasized that negotiations among Afghans can
help address the current challenges in the country.
“Dialogue is a dire necessity. The people of
Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate, and the international community want the
dialogue to happen,” said Yousuf Amin Zazi, a political analyst.
“If this center can have wide activities and provide
dialogue between the people of Afghanistan and the Islamic Emirate, they can do
it. But it is related to the government of Afghanistan to show flexibility,”
said Zakiullah Mohammadi, another political analyst.
On the other hand, the spokesman of the Islamic
Emirate asks the politicians to coordinate with the government in this regard.
“We want to interact with countries. In this regard,
if politicians, personalities, and institutions help Afghanistan, we are
satisfied and welcome it,” said Zabihullah Mujahid.
Before this, the Islamic Emirate has said repeatedly
that there is no need to form a national dialogue in the country and that the
Islamic Emirate always meets with the people and politicians.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-187327
----
Acting Foreign Minister Discusses Bilateral Relations
with Uzbekistani Envoy
2024-02-08
KABUL (BNA): Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, recently held a meeting with
ShadmanovYadgarkhoja, the Envoy of Uzbekistan in Kabul.
Hafez Zia Ahmad Takal, the Deputy Spokesperson for the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported that during the meeting, they discussed a
range of topics. These included high-level visits between the two countries,
bilateral trade, and the import of electricity from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan
as per an existing agreement.
Muttaqi also addressed some of the challenges faced by
Afghan traders and those in the transportation sector. He emphasized that
expedited visa issuance for Afghan traders and drivers would facilitate
progress in bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, benefiting both
nations.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/acting-foreign-minister-discusses-bilateral-relations-with-uzbekistani-envoy/
-----
Bangladeshi citizens in extreme risk along Myanmar
border: Rizvi
Feb 8, 2024
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi
today expressed concern that Bangladeshi citizens along the Myanmar border are
extremely unprotected as people are getting killed and injured by stray bullets
and mortar shells.
Speaking at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan
central office, he also blamed the government for the death of a Bangladeshi
citizen in a mortar shell fired by Myanmar.
"No man or woman is safe inside Bangladesh along
the border. People are losing their lives being hit by mortar shells. We want
to see necessary efforts and activities to ensure the security of the country
and its people and make the sovereignty stronger," the BNP leader said.
He also questioned why a Bangladeshi woman was killed
by a mortar shell fired by another country. "Where is the appropriate
response to the incident? The government can't even lodge a written protest as it's
a weak regime which has no public support."
Rizvi said the Awami League government cannot do
anything to deescalate the border tension since it has been in power depending
on the state apparatus.
"They fear their (foreign) masters, but they use
guns to terrorise the people of the country," he said.
A tense situation has been prevailing along the border
between Bandarban'sNaikhongchhari, Ghumdhum, and Tumbru amid fierce fighting,
skirmishes, and gunfire between the armed forces of the military junta and
insurgent groups inside Myanmar for nearly two weeks.
Over 300 Myanmar forces and border guards have so far
taken shelter in Bangladesh as of Wednesday noon in the wake of conflicts along
the border.
Meanwhile, two people--a Bangladeshi woman and a
Rohingya man-- were killed when mortar shells from the Myanmar side landed on a
kitchen at Jalpaitli village of Ghumdhum union in Naikhongchhariupazila of
Bandarban on Monday.
"People are entering Bangladesh in groups from
the neighbouring country. But the Bangladesh government is silent. Even, the
government didn't dare to protest when a BGB member was killed in BSF
firing."
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's call for
exercising restrain and maintain peace now threatens the country's sovereignty.
"As a result, our border guards are retreating every day, putting the
people of Bangladesh in danger."
Rizvi claimed that during the rules of Ziaur Rahman
and Khaleda Zia, the border areas of Bangladesh were secured and the people
were safe.
"Only the prime minister of the dummy government
and her cohorts called the January 7 election free and fair. But it was the
worst mockery of the century," he added.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/bangladeshi-citizens-extreme-risk-along-myanmar-border-rizvi-3539576
----
Bangladesh has and will continue to make defence
purchases from India: FM
Feb 8, 2024
Hailing the current "golden chapter" of
Indo-Bangladesh ties, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud today said Dhaka has and
will continue to make defence purchases from New Delhi.
He, after delivering a speech at Vivekananda
International Foundation in New Delhi, also said the defence and security
cooperation between the two neighbouring countries is "on an
upswing".
"I am not
the Defence Minister so I am not entitled to talk on defence issues. I cannot
comment on technical issues. But we do have defence purchases from India and we
shall have defence purchases from India," said Mahmud while replying to an
Indian journalist
He was asked whether Bangladesh is contemplating
procuring from India indigenously-manufactured Light Combat Aircraft Tejas,
Dhruv choppers and other military hardware, reports our New Delhi
correspondent.
India granted a 500 million USD soft loan to
Bangladesh during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi in 2017.
During his lecture on "Bangladesh-India Relations
in the Last Decade", Hasan Mahmud said the two countries are now giving
highest priority to three aspects -- enhancing mutual trust and confidence,
promoting connectivity, and ensuring all round economic cooperation.
"We are going through a golden chapter of our
relationship. India-Bangladesh relationship is now a role model for the
neighbourhood and democracy today," he said.
On the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, he said a case
has already been filed at the International Court of Justice and Dhaka is in
touch with New Delhi in this regard.
Mahmud said the current situation in Myanmar is an
"obstacle" to sending back the refugees but he hoped the crisis will
be over very soon and "we will be able to send them back. In this respect,
we expect assistance and cooperation from the Indian side."’
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/bangladesh-has-and-will-continue-make-defence-purchases-india-fm-3539351
-----
North
America
US says Israeli operation in Rafah 'would be a
disaster' for Palestinians
Rabia İclalTuran, Michael Gabriel Hernandez
08.02.2024
The US on Thursday warned that an Israeli military
operation in Rafah "would be a disaster" for the more than 1 million
displaced Palestinians sheltering there.
The White House and State Department stressed they
have not seen evidence to suggest that such an operation is imminent, but
warned of grave humanitarian consequences if one were to take place.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said hours
earlier that the military would advance on the area near the Egyptian border
after earlier ordering many Palestinians from elsewhere in the coastal enclave
to seek shelter there.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told
reporters that the US has not seen any "plans that would convince us that
they are about to, or imminently, going to conduct any kind of major operations
in Rafah."
"There's a lot of displaced people there, and the
Israeli military has a special obligation as they conduct operations there or
anywhere else, to make sure that they're factoring in protection for innocent
civilian life, particularly civilians that were pushed into southern Gaza by
operations further north," he said.
"Absent any full consideration of protecting
civilians at that scale in Gaza, military operations right now would be a
disaster for those people, and it's not something that we would support,"
added Kirby.
The comments were echoed by State Department
spokesperson Vedant Patel who said the Biden administration "would not
support the undertaking of something like this without serious and credible
planning as it relates to the" protection of civilians sheltering in
Rafah.
Netanyahu vowed to take Israeli military operations
into Rafah, saying the war on Gaza will continue until Israel can claim “total
victory” against Hamas.
At least 14 Palestinians were killed and several
injured overnight as Israeli warplanes targeted houses in Rafah and Deir
al-Balah in the southern and central Gaza Strip, the official Palestinian news
agency, WAFA, reported late Wednesday.
Israel launched a deadly offensive on Gaza following
an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas, killing at least 27,585 Palestinians
and injuring 66,978 others, while nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have
been killed in the Hamas attack.
The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s
population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and
medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed,
according to the UN.
Many of the displaced have taken shelter in Rafah.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/us-says-israeli-operation-in-rafah-would-be-a-disaster-for-palestinians/3132054
----
Nicaragua asks to join South Africa’s genocide case
against Israel at ICJ
09 February 2024
Nicaragua has formally asked to join South Africa in
its genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ),
the UN's top court says.
The Central American country filed its own application
on January 23, the Hague-based ICJ also known as the World Court said on
Thursday.
"In its application for permission to intervene,
Nicaragua states that it 'has interests of a legal nature that stem from the
rights and obligations imposed by the Genocide Convention on all State
Parties," the ICJ said.
According to the court’s statement, Nicaragua also
urged judges to rule that Israel "has breached and continues to breach its
obligations under the Genocide Convention" and to "cease acts or
measures which would be capable of killing or continuing to kill
Palestinians."
South Africa and Israel have been invited to furnish
written observations on Nicaragua’s application for permission to intervene as
a party.
South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel in
December 2023 over its war on the Gaza Strip.
According to South Africa’s application, Israel's
actions in Gaza were "genocidal in character because they are intended to
bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national,
racial and ethnical group."
Last month, the ICJ issued an interim ruling on the
emergency measures requested by South Africa in its genocide case against
Israel, ordering Tel Aviv to take all measures to prevent genocide in Gaza, but
stopped short of ordering a ceasefire.
Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 and since
then, it has killed at least 27,840 Palestinians and injured more than 67,317
others.
Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead
under the rubble in Gaza, which is under “complete siege” by Israel.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/09/719746/Nicaragua-asks-join-South-Africa-genocide-case-Israel
----
Biden calls Israel’s Gaza response ‘over the top’
09 Feb 2024
WASHINGTON, Feb 9 — Israel’s military response in the
Gaza Strip to the October 7 attacks by Hamas has been “over the top,” US
President Joe Biden said yesterday.
“I’m of the view, as you know, that the conduct of the
response in Gaza, in the Gaza Strip, has been over the top,” the 81-year-old
Democrat told reporters at the White House.
American support for Israel’s war on the Palestinian
militant group has sparked a flurry of attacks on US troops in the region, as
well as criticism of the Biden administration at home and abroad.
Months of bombardment and siege have deepened a
humanitarian crisis, especially in southern Gaza.
But Biden said he had pushed to get humanitarian
assistance into Gaza.
He said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi
initially “did not want to open up the gate to allow humanitarian material to
get in.”
“I talked to him, I convinced him to open the gate. I
talked to Bibi to open the gate on the Israeli side,” Biden continued,
referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I’ve been pushing really hard, really hard to get
humanitarian assistance into Gaza.”
Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7
resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an
AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas and launched air
strikes and a ground offensive that have killed at least 27,840 people, mostly
women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Gunmen also seized around 250 hostages. Israel says
132 remain in Gaza, of whom 29 are believed to have died.
The war has sparked a surge in violence across the
region by Iran-backed groups operating in solidarity with Hamas, drawing
retaliatory attacks from Israel and the United States and its allies. — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2024/02/09/biden-calls-israels-gaza-response-over-the-top/117166
---
US strikes Houthi missile positions in Yemen
08 Feb 2024
WASHINGTON: The US military conducted new airstrikes
targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels, officials said Friday.
American forces destroyed four explosive-loaded drone
boats and seven mobile anti-ship cruise missile launchers Thursday that could
target vessels in the Red Sea, the US military's Central Command said.
"They presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy
ships and merchant vessels in the region," the Central Command said.
"These actions will protect freedom of navigation
and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant
vessels." The Houthis have not acknowledged the losses.
On Tuesday, the Houthi rebels said they had struck US
and British ships in two attacks in the Red Sea, causing minor damage but no
casualties. On Wednesday, the Houthis' news agency reported that the United
States and Britain had hit targets in Yemen's Hodeida province.
The Iran-backed rebels, who control much of war-torn
Yemen including the port of Hodeida, have been targeting shipping in the Red
Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis began the attacks in November, saying they
were hitting Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which
has been ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war. But they have frequently targeted
vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key
route for trade among Asia, the Mideast and Europe.
US and British forces have responded with strikes
against the Houthis, who have since declared American and British interests to
be legitimate targets as well.
The Red Sea attacks have raised insurance premiums for
shipping companies, forcing many to avoid the Red Sea, a vital route that
normally carries about 12 percent of global maritime trade.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2024/Feb/09/us-strikes-houthi-missile-positions-in-yemen
-----
US Senate advances $95 billion bill for aid to Israel
and Ukraine
09 Feb 2024
A $95.34 billion bill that includes aid for Ukraine,
Israel and Taiwan advanced in the US Senate on Thursday after Republicans
blocked compromise legislation that included a long-sought overhaul of
immigration policy.
Senators backed a procedural motion by 67-32,
exceeding the 60-vote threshold to advance the bill. Seventeen Republicans
voted in favor, in a surprising shift after they blocked the broader bill on
Wednesday.
“This is a good first step. This bill is essential for
our national security, for the security of our friends in Ukraine, in Israel,
for humanitarian aid for innocent civilians in Gaza, and for Taiwan,” Senate
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in the Senate after the vote.
There was no immediate word on when the 100-member
chamber would consider final passage, as some senators said they expected to
remain in session during the weekend if necessary.
“We are going to keep working on this bill until the
job is done,” Schumer said.
The Democratic-led Senate took up the security aid
bill after Republicans on Wednesday blocked a broader measure that also
included reforms of border security and immigration policy that a bipartisan
group of senators had negotiated for months.
The security aid bill includes $61 billion for Ukraine
as it battles a Russian invasion, $14 billion for Israel in its war against
Hamas and $4.83 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific, including
Taiwan, and deter aggression by China.
It also would provide $9.15 billion in humanitarian
assistance to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, Ukraine and other
populations in conflict zones around the globe.
Even if the aid bill eventually passes the Senate, it
faces uncertainty in the House of Representatives. Dozens of Republican House
members, particularly those most closely allied with former president Donald
Trump, have voted against Ukraine aid, including Speaker Mike Johnson.
While lawmakers have approved more than $110 billion
for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, Congress has not passed any
major aid for Kyiv since Republicans took control of the House in January 2023.
Supporters of Ukraine aid say Washington and its
partners must send a unified message to Russia as well as globally.
The Kremlin said Putin and Chinese President Xi
Jinping spoke by phone on Thursday and both rejected what they called US
interference in the affairs of other countries.
The $14 billion allocated to Israel would assist the
country in its war against the terror organization Hamas. That war broke out on
October 7 when 3,000 Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel under a barrage of
rockets, killing some 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, and kidnapping
about 250. Following a brief truce last year, over 100 hostages were released. An
estimated 132 hostages remain in Gaza, and about 30 are believed to be dead.
Over 27,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war,
according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. These numbers, however,
cannot be independently verified and are believed to include over 10,000
members of Hamas’s military wing who were killed in battle and Gazans killed by
misfired rockets.
Source: timesofisrael.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-senate-advances-95-billion-bill-for-aid-to-israel-and-ukraine/
----
Europe
Germany sends frigate to help secure Red Sea shipping
February 09, 2024
BERLIN: A German navy frigate set sail for the Red Sea
on Thursday with the aim of protecting commercial ships from attacks by Yemeni
rebels, as part of a planned European Union mission.
The deployment marked “the most serious engagement of
a unit of the German navy in many decades,” navy chief Jan Christian Kaack told
reporters in Berlin.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched a
series of attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea since November, saying their
campaign was in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and
Hamas.
The Red Sea normally carries about 12 percent of
global maritime trade.
The unrest has prompted some shipping companies to
reroute their vessels away from the Red Sea, making them take the longer and
costlier route around the southern tip of Africa.
The “Hesse” frigate set off from the northern German
port of Wilhelmshaven with a crew of around 240 people, Kaack said.
It will be able to respond to potential attacks
including from missiles, drones and remotely controlled “kamikaze boats,” he
said.
It is expected to be tasked with escorting commercial
ships and intercepting attacks.
The frigate’s mission still needs to be confirmed by
the German parliament and the European Union, however.
The EU is currently considering a naval mission to
improve security for merchant ships in the Red Sea.
A decision could be announced before the next meeting
of EU foreign ministers on February 19.
Countries including Italy, France and Belgium have
signalled an interest in joining the mission.
US and British forces meanwhile have in recent weeks
carried out joint strikes aimed at reducing the Houthis’ ability to target
vessels transiting the key Red Sea trade route, but the rebels have vowed to
continue their attacks.
Most trade between Asia and Europe usually passes
through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal that leads to the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the International Monetary Fund’s
PortWatch platform, total transit volume through the Suez Canal was down 37
percent this year by January 16 compared with the same period a year earlier.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2456821/middle-east
------
Swedish court orders expulsion of Iraqi man behind
Qur’an desecration
08 February 2024
Sweden’s Migration Court has ordered the deportation
of an Iraqi man who desecrated copies of the Holy Qur’an in Stockholm last
year.
Salwan Momika, the 37-year-old Iraqi immigrant,
stomped on the Qur’an before setting several pages alight in front of
Stockholm’s largest mosque in June 2023. The act of sacrilege was made under the
authorization and protection of the police.
The incident coincided with the start of the Muslim
Eid al-Adha and the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It
drew the anger of Muslims across the world.
On Wednesday, local media reported that the Swedish
court had confirmed Momika would be deported.
Immigration authorities refused to extend his
residence permit last October, but the order for his departure had been delayed
for security reasons, Turkey's state news agency Anadolu reported, citing
Swedish broadcaster TV4..
Local broadcaster SVT Nyhter said Momika appealed the
expulsion decision, but his appeal was rejected.
The court ruling against Momika came after it was
determined he had provided false information in his application for asylum.
Days after Momika committed the heinous act, Iraq’s
Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein asked his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom
to extradite the Iraqi expatriate so that he could be tried according to the
Arab country’s laws.
The desecration of the Holy Qur’an in Stockholm during
a protest authorized by police has drawn strong condemnations worldwide.
Momika, who is Christian, was initially granted a
residence permit in 2021 and has since become known for publicly desecrating
the Holy Qur’an on multiple occasions in Sweden.
The Iraqi citizen is no longer eligible for
international protection as he is considered to have committed a serious crime.
Following international outcry against the
desecration, the Nordic countries deplored the desecration of the Muslim holy
book but claimed they cannot prevent it under constitutional laws protecting
freedom of speech.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/08/719725/Swedish-court-expulsion-Iraqi-man-desecration
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Irish leader calls for cease-fire in Gaza, urges
Israel to respect international law in conflict
AysuBicer
08.02.2024
In a resolute address to the public, Mary Lou
McDonald, the leader of Ireland's Sinn Fein party, emphasized the urgent need
for a cease-fire and adherence to international law in the ongoing conflict in
Palestine.
During a press briefing for foreign correspondents,
McDonald expressed deep concern over the relentless violence engulfing the entire
Middle East, comparing it to a distressing movie unfolding day by day.
She underscored the necessity for unified global
action, stressing that the Irish community speaks with one voice, demanding an
end to the bloodshed.
"We took the opportunity to make sure that Prime
Minister Rishi Sunak heard very loudly and clearly in terms of our view on
Palestine and cease-fire," McDonald said, highlighting the importance of
cohesive messaging and unwavering advocacy for peace.
Directing her message primarily to Israel, McDonald
emphasized the imperative of a cease-fire on all sides. She criticized the
ambiguity of international messaging, asserting that mixed signals only serve
to fuel the conflict.
"The second piece has to be clarity of
international messaging and leadership on the application of international
law," McDonald asserted, emphasizing that adherence to international law
must be unequivocal, with no exceptions for any party involved.
She commended South Africa for its proactive stance in
bringing the Palestine issue to international courts, heralding it as a
significant step towards ensuring accountability and justice, and urged the
Irish government to actively participate in the legal proceedings.
McDonald also reiterated Sinn Fein's support for the recognition
of the Palestinian state within the borders of 1967, aligning with calls from
various international entities for a two-state solution.
"We're small islands, you know, we're not some
kind of superpower. But we do bring an experience and a perspective, we have a
voice and we are absolutely determined that we will continue to talk on
Palestine," she affirmed.
- Reunification
Meanwhile, McDonald has signaled that a border poll on
Northern Ireland’s constitutional future would take place before the end of the
decade, and possibly before 2030.
She believed that referenda on both sides of the
border could occur within the next six years.
She emphasized the urgency for the Dublin government
to actively engage in the ongoing conversation regarding reunification, which
she noted is gaining momentum throughout Ireland.
On the other hand, Northern Ireland's first
nationalist First Minister Michelle O'Neill reaffirmed her commitment to
representing every citizen of Northern Ireland with equality and respect, regardless
of background or political affiliation.
Reflecting on her journey and the principles that
guide her, O'Neill emphasized her unwavering commitment to the values enshrined
in the Good Friday Agreement. "Two years ago, I said that I would
demonstrate every day, every word of the day," O'Neill remarked,
highlighting her steadfast dedication to upholding the principles of equality
and fairness.
Addressing the diverse tapestry of Northern Irish
society, she expressed her determination to bridge divides and foster a spirit
of inclusivity.
She underscored the importance of maturity in
political discourse, urging respect for differing viewpoints and a willingness
to engage in constructive dialogue.
Recognizing the rich tapestry of cultures and
traditions that define Northern Ireland, she pledged to engage with communities
across the region to better understand their needs and aspirations.
"I will represent every single citizen across the
north," she pledged, signaling her commitment to inclusivity and representation.
O'Neill expressed her optimism for the future and her
unwavering resolve to work collaboratively towards a more inclusive and
equitable Northern Ireland.
"I'm very excited that I think, you know, I'm
somebody who represents the Good Friday Agreement generation," she
remarked, underscoring her belief in the transformative power of unity and
cooperation.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/irish-leader-calls-for-cease-fire-in-gaza-urges-israel-to-respect-international-law-in-conflict/3131772
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Spanish Foreign Minister: We support establishment of
Palestinian state & have stopped arms exports to Zionist entity
[08/February/2024]
MADRID Feb 08. 2024 (Saba) - Spanish Foreign Minister
José Manuel Albares confirmed that his country wants a viable Palestinian state
that coexists with the Zionist entity, calling for a peace conference that
brings together Palestinians and Zionists and leads to the establishment of a
Palestinian state.
Last Tuesday, the "Palestine Today" news
agency quoted Albares as saying: The call for the international peace
conference is based on the two-state solution... praising the role of the State
of Qatar in mediating a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
He pointed out that since October 7, Madrid has
suspended all licenses to export weapons to the Zionist entity, noting that
this date "made us realize the importance of a just and lasting solution
to the issue of the Palestinian people."
He stressed his country's unwillingness to expand the
scope of violence in the region, saying: "We must do what we can to
prevent this," calling on all parties to comply with the orders of the
International Court of Justice.
He pointed out that United Nations headquarters, schools
and hospitals in the Gaza Strip are being bombed... demanding a permanent and
immediate ceasefire in Gaza because 27,000 Palestinians were martyred in the
war.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3303250.htm
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British Afghan-origin official accused of spying for
Russia
Fidel Rahmati
February 8, 2024
British media have reported that an Afghan-origin
employee of British intelligence agencies and the Foreign Office of the country
has been accused of spying for Russia.
The Times newspaper, published in Britain on Thursday,
February 7, reported that the individual in question has traveled to Russia at
least six times to establish contact, according to reports.
According to reports, he entered Britain in 2000 and
received asylum based on the fact that he came directly from Afghanistan.
The Times report, without naming the Afghan-origin
spy, added that he had met with the British monarch and Prince William during a
trip to Afghanistan.
The British media continues to claim that he has
worked with David Cameron and Gordon Brown, and has also met with Prince
Charles and Prince William.
It should be noted that this asylum seeker has denied
the accusation of spying for Russia and stated that he lied in his asylum
application.
According to reports, he has requested a review of the
government’s decision to revoke his British citizenship in a special court.
However, his British citizenship was revoked in 2019
after allegations of espionage for Russian military intelligence surfaced.
According to British security and intelligence
officials, he had access to “classified” documents while working with the
government in Afghanistan.
So far, the British government has not decided on the
espionage case against this individual.
Previously, senior British security officials have
repeatedly warned about Russian penetration and espionage in the country.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.khaama.com/british-afghan-origin-official-accused-of-spying-for-russia/
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