Egypt Army Kills 98 Daesh-Linked Militants in Sinai Peninsula: Report
New Age Islam News Bureau
12
Sept 2015
A towering construction crane toppled over on Friday during a violent rainstorm in Makkah, Islam's holiest site, crashing into the Grand Mosque, ahead of the start of the annual Haj pilgrimage later this month.
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Arab World
• Egypt Army Kills 98 Daesh-Linked Militants in Sinai Peninsula: Report
• 120 Terrorists Killed in Various parts of Syria
• More Than 100 Killed In Makkah Crane Collapse
• Bombs Kill 13 Iraq Kurds in Anti-Isis Operation
• Over 140 ISIL Militants Killed by Syrian Forces in Deir Ezzur in Last 72 Hours
• 16 Nusra Militants, Mostly Foreigners, Killed in Syrian Forces Operation in Lattakia
• Peshmarga Forces Win Back 13 Villages in Iraqi Kirkuk
• Car bomb kills woman, child in Egypt’s Sinai
• Rebels storm Syria’s largest prison near Damascus
• Saudi official: We received 2.5 mln Syrians
• Top Iraq Shiite cleric demands release of kidnapped Turks
• Civilians reported dead in rebel shelling on Syria’s Damascus
• Australian aircraft in first mission in Syria
• Riyadh Blamed for Negligence in Mecca Deadly Incident
• Bahraini demonstrators call for release of Sheikh Salman
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South Asia
• 51 Militants Killed In Afghanistan Security Operations
• Mullah Akhtar Mansour Sends Envoy Abroad To Gain Support
• Taliban gain ground in Baghlan’s Baghlan-e-Markazi District
• Mulla Mansour Sends Envoy Abroad To Win Support
• 40 Bangladeshis injured in Mecca crane collapse
• Things are only getting worse for Burma’s Rohingya Muslims
• Atheist bloggers flee Bangladesh
• Bangladesh on 'bomb chief's trail'
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Mideast
• Twenty Die In Houthi Attack on Marib Market
• 13 Yemenis Killed In Saudi Airstrikes
• UN to mediate Yemen peace talks, rebel rockets hit market
• Turkey bombs PKK targets in northern Iraq
• Iran Ready to Dispatch Medical Team to Mecca
• Turkey lifts week-long curfew on Kurdish city of Cizre
• After bitter Iran row, Netanyahu gets White House invite
• Iran urged to sign nuclear test ban treaty
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India
• India is more Islamic than Pakistan: Home Minister
• Hindu Religion or Culture Was Never Under Attack during Muslim Rule in India: Book
• Day after Sena Calls Ban Religious Fanaticism, BMC Lifts Its Two-Day Meat Ban in Mumbai
• BJP cell says will build up cases for deportation of illegal Muslims & facilitate stay of Hindus
• Hajj pilgrim from Kerala among 2 Indians killed in crane collapse in Mecca
• Ban strictures hit poorest of poor Muslims
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North America
• US Man 'Posed As Australian Jihadist and Plotted 9/11 Bomb'
• State Department: Radical Islam is Losing, But Also Growing
• Obama: Russia’s involvement in Syria indicates Assad is worried
• ISIS militant reportedly hiding in migrant camp: Report
• US official: 'IS making and using chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria'
• 14th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks observed in US
• US House votes against Iran deal in two symbolic votes
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Europe
• IS Hackers Intercept Secret British Government Emails
• Advanced Air Defences Being Sent To Syria by Russia: Sources
• Russia backs Syria’s fight against ISIS, not Assad’s regime – Lavrov
• Netanyahu seeks UK support against 'militant Islam'
• Labour selects Muslim lawyer to stand for London mayor
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Pakistan
• At Least 47 Pakistani Pilgrims Injured In Makkah Crane Accident: FO
• Hurriyat Leader Praises Pakistan’s Stance
• MQM lying about ‘their target killers’: Rangers
• MQM's appeal to keep shutters down: Most of Karachi stays on routine
• 10 target killers apprehended in Karachi, say Rangers
• Terrorist behind firing at PIA plane in Peshawar held
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Africa
• Nigeria Bomb Blast Hits Yola Camp for Boko Haram Refugees
• Hard Work Fulfills Ugandan Muslim Hajj Dream
• Top Nigerian Muslim leader kidnapped
• Nigeria: 100 Days in Office - Muslim Group Begs for More Patience, Prayers for PMB
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Southeast Asia
• PM Pledges Aid for Malaysian Pilgrims Injured In Mecca Crane Collapse
• 10 Malaysian pilgrims injured, six unaccounted for in Mecca crane collapse
• Police counter-terrorism unit says beefing up security after IS threatens attack on Malaysia
• Two Indonesians Reportedly Among Scores Killed in Mecca Crane Collapse
• Hong Kong Probes Bank Deposits Complainant Links to Malaysia PM
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/egypt-army-kills-98-daesh/d/104561
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Arab World
Egypt army kills 98 Daesh-linked militants in Sinai Peninsula: Report
Sep 11, 2015
At least 98 Daesh-linked Takfiri militants have been killed in an ongoing operation by the Egyptian army in the North African country’s violence-plagued Sinai Peninsula, Press TV reports.
Four Egyptian soldiers lost their lives and seven others sustained injuries during the Friday operation, the army said in a statement, adding that seven civilians were also killed as a result of the confrontations between military forces and the militants.
According to the statement, the killed militants were members of a local terror group which calls itself Velayat Sinai (Sinai Province), previously known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis.
Velayat Sinai, which pledged allegiance to Daesh in November 2014, has been behind many of the attacks that have killed many Egyptian police officers, soldiers, and judiciary officials as well as civilians over the past months.
The army launched the operation on Monday around the North Sinai towns of Sheikh Zuweid, el-Arish, and Rafah. At least 232 militants have been slain in the past few days.
The militants have carried out several attacks in major Egyptian cities in the past few months. Cairo has been battling militants in Sinai for years now, but attacks mainly targeting the army and police have escalated and spread to the mainland since last year.
The Egyptian army views the Sinai Peninsula as a sanctuary for extremists, who use the volatile region as a safe haven.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/11/428774/Egypt-army-Daesh-Sinai-Peninsula-ISIL
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120 Terrorists Killed in Various parts of Syria
Sep 12, 2015
According to the report, the militants who were members of the ISIL and al-Nusrah terrorist groups were killed near Deir Ezzur military airport, Idlib airport and Latakia and in the Syrian army's airstrikes in other parts of the country.
Also five civilians were killed and dozens more were injured, some of them women and children, in a series of terrorist mortar attacks on neighborhoods in Damascus on Friday night.
A source at the Police Command said that two mortar shells fired by terrorists fell in al-Duwaila’a neighborhood in Damascus claimed the lives of 4 civilians and injured 25 others.
The source said five more shells fell in the neighborhoods of al-Qasa’a, Bab Touma, al-Qaimariye, and al-Hamidiye, killing one civilian and injuring 12 who were rushed to hospitals.
The attacks also damaged homes and cars.
Earlier on Friday, two civilians were injured after armed terrorist groups launched mortar shells on Marouna and Harasta in Damascus countryside.
A source at the province’s Police Command said that terrorists fired 5 mortar shells on Marouna and one on Harasta, causing the injury of two civilians and material damage to the properties in the targeted areas.
On Friday morning, the Syrian Arab Army’s Special Forces – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF) – carried out a powerful assault on Al-Nusra Front terrorists at Al-Kabeer, killing 16 inside this town in the Latakia Governorate’s Northeastern countryside.
According to a military source in Latakia, the Syrian Armed Forces destroyed three armored vehicles mounted with a 23mm anti-aircraft machine gun, while also clearing a small hilltop before noon on Friday.
Also, on Friday morning, the ISIL attempted to mount another assault on the army base to the Southwest of the Deir Ezzur military airport; however, the Syrian Arab Army’s 137th Artillery Brigade of the 17th Reserve Division – in coordination with the 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard – repelled the attack for the third time since Monday.
As a result, the terrorist group was forced to withdraw their fighters to the Artillery Battalion Base, allowing for the Syrian Arab Army’s 137th Brigade to launch a counter-assault amid the multitude of airstrikes from the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF).
Also, last night, the National Defense Forces (NDF) were able to repel Jaysh Al-Islam’s attempt to capture the Harasta National Hospital; however, on Friday morning, the rebel group returned and continued where they left off the day before – firefights are still ongoing near the hospital, as the NDF attempts to repel the attack once again.
Also in the past 24 hours, military sources said that the Syria Armed Forces defended their positions against the ISIL Takfiri terrorists' attacks in the Eastern province of Deir Ezzur, and killed nearly 100 militants in their anti-ISIL operations.
The sources said that the ISIL attempted one suicide attack, which was aimed at the Syrian army’s checkpoint near the Artillery Battalion’s Housing Quarter; however, the suicide bomber’s vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) was destroyed by the checkpoint guards before it could reach its desired destination.
As the ISIL attempted to advance their position from the Artillery Battalion towards the Deir Ezzur Airbase, the aforementioned terrorist group ran into a well-defended area that was swarming with soldiers from the Syrian army’s 137th Artillery Brigade of the 17th Reserve Division and the 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard.
The ISIL was not able to withstand the fierce resistance from the Syrian army troops near the Agricultural Building; this resulted in the terrorist group's withdrawing towards the Artillery Battalion.
Not long after their withdrawal, the Syria Air Force made its first appearance in this battle, targeting the ISIL’ forces' positions at the Artillery Battalion, Al-Muri’iyah Farms, and Al-Jafra.
Intense firefights are still ongoing to the North of the Artillery Battalion; however, the Syrian army is in full-control of the airbase and at least 3 square km of territory around it.
The source further added that an estimated 100 ISIL militants have been killed in the last 48 hours, including a number of foreign terrorists from North Africa.
Shaytat Tribesmen have issued a warning to the ISIL; if any ISIL terrorists are captured, they will be executed.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940621000394
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More than 100 killed in Makkah crane collapse
11 September 2015
More than 100 people have been killed and scores more wounded in Makkah’s Grand Mosque after a crane collapsed on Friday, Al Arabiya News Channel reported citing the Saudi Civil Defense authority.
It is believed the crane collapsed in high winds and severe rainfall.
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The Saudi civil defense Twitter account said 15 search and rescue teams were at the scene, transporting the wounded to hospital.
The collapsed crane. (Al Arabiya)
Pictures circulating on social media showed pilgrims in bloodied robes and masses of debris from a part of the crane that seemed to have crashed through a ceiling.
The Emir of Makkah Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has commissioned a committee to investigate the cause of the deadly collapse.
News of the collapse came about an hour after civil defense tweeted that Mecca was “witnessing medium to heavy rains.”
The incident occurred as hundreds of thousands of Muslims are due to gather from around the world for the annual hajj pilgrimage set to begin later this month.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/11/Scores-killed-in-Makkah-crane-collapse.html
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Bombs kill 13 Iraq Kurds in anti-ISIS operation
11 September 2015
Bombs killed 13 members of the Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces during an operation against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group in the northern province of Kirkuk on Friday, officers said.
“The aim (of the operation) is to secure the Baghdad-Kirkuk road and the centre of the Daquq district and to end activity by (ISIS) members,” said Mohammed Mustafa Hama, a brigadier general in the autonomous Kurdish region’s peshmerga forces.
Hama said that roadside bombs and explosives-rigged vehicles left by the militants killed 13 peshmerga and wounded 47 during the operation, figures confirmed by a second Kurdish brigadier general who declined to be identified by name.
The second officer said the operation was launched at dawn on Friday with support from international coalition aircraft, and had succeeded in retaking 10 villages from ISIS.
Kurdish forces also retook villages from ISIS in Kirkuk in a similar operation in late August.
ISIS overran large areas of Iraq in a devastating offensive in June 2014, sweeping security forces aside, and drove Kurdish forces back towards their regional capital that August.
A U.S.-led coalition began carrying out air strikes against the jihadists and Kurdish forces have since pushed the militants back, as have Iraqi federal forces in other areas.
But much of western Iraq remains under ISIS control.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/11/Bombs-kill-13-Iraq-Kurds-in-anti-ISIS-operation.html
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Over 140 ISIL Militants Killed by Syrian Forces in Deir Ezzur in Last 72 Hours
Sep 12, 2015
The sources said that the ISIL terrorist group's largest assault on the Deir Ezzur airbase in the last ten months failed on Friday morning was defended by the Syrian Army’s 137th Artillery Brigade of the 17th Reserve Division and the 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard.
As a result of the failed attack, the terrorist group was forced to withdraw their fighters to the Artillery Battalion Base, allowing for the Syrian army’s 137th Brigade to launch a counter-assault amid the multitude of airstrikes from the Syrian Air Force.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940621000460
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16 Nusra Militants, Mostly Foreigners, Killed in Syrian Forces Operation in Lattakia
Sep 12, 2015
The Syrian Army’s Special Forces, in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF), carried out a powerful assault against the Al-Nusra Front (Al-Qaeda-affiliated group) at Al-Kabeer, killing 16 militants inside this town.
The source added that most of the killed rebels in the Syrian armed forces' operations were foreigners; this included militants of Syrian descent and militants from Libya, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Chechnya, and Tunisia.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940621000369
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Peshmarga Forces Win Back 13 Villages in Iraqi Kirkuk
Sep 12, 2015
The sources said that an area of approximately 150 square kilometers was recaptured from the militants as Peshmarga forces pushed back militants from 13 villages, Rudaw reported.
Three Peshmarga forces were also killed and 21 others wounded in the operation, including Muhammad Haji Mahmoud, a well-known Kurdish Peshmarga commander and leader of the Kurdish Socialist Party.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940621000402
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Car bomb kills woman, child in Egypt’s Sinai
11 September 2015
A car bombing killed an Egyptian woman and a child Friday in the North Sinai town of Rafah, where the military is engaged in a sweeping campaign against jihadists, the army said.
The military said that the bomb went off as troops combed the border town neighboring the Palestinian Gaza Strip, and there were no army casualties.
It launched an offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria group militants this week which it says has killed 134 jihadists since Monday.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/11/Army-Egypt-Sinai-car-bomb-kills-woman-child-.html
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Rebels storm Syria’s largest prison near Damascus
11 September 2015
An Islamist rebel group stormed Syria's largest prison on Friday, seizing two buildings in the complex near Damascus amid heavy fighting, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
“Jaish al-Islam entered Adra prison and seized two buildings in the women's section of the complex,” said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.
The rebels launched an offensive Wednesday on the regime-held complex, which lies in the Eastern Ghouta suburb of Damascus, capturing a hilltop before seizing part of the facility, he told AFP.
“Most of the prisoners there are activists, political figures, and human rights defenders who are against the regime” of President Bashar al-Assad, said Abdel Rahman.
At least 5,000 prisoners are being held at the facility, almost twice its capacity of about 3,000 prisoners, he added.
When Jaish al-Islam announced their upcoming offensive, security personnel in the women's section fled, taking the female detainees with them.
In an online statement, the rebel group said it had taken control of a hilltop and buildings around the prison as well.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/11/Rebels-storm-Syria-s-largest-prison-near-Damascus.html
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Saudi official: We received 2.5 mln Syrians
12 September 2015
Saudi Arabia has received around 2.5 million Syrians since the start of the conflict in their country, an official source in the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has revealed, elaborating that the Kingdom has adopted a policy not to treat these Syrians as refugees, or place them in refugee camps “in order to ensure their dignity and safety.”
Speaking to the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the MoFA official explained that Saudi Arabia initially did not “intend to speak about its efforts to support Syrian brothers and sisters, during their distress, as it has, since the beginning of the problem,” adding that “Saudi Arabia dealt with the situation from a religious and humane perspective, and did not wish to boast about its efforts or attempt to gain media coverage.”
However, given what he slammed as media reports containing “erroneous and misleading information,” the Saudi official told SPA that the Kingdom now considers it important to discuss its efforts with “appropriate facts and figures,” as he stated the following:
1. The Kingdom has received around 2.5 million Syrians since the beginning of the conflict. In order to ensure their dignity and safety, the Kingdom adopted a policy that does not treat them as refugees or place them in refugee camps. They have been given the freedom to move about the country and those who wish to remain in Saudi Arabia (some hundreds of thousands) have been given legal residency status. Their residency comes with the rights to receive free medical care, to join the labor market and to attend schools and universities. This was contained in a royal decree in 2012 that instructed public schools to accept Syrian students. According to government statistics, the public school system has accepted more than 100,000 Syrian students.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/12/Saudi-official-we-received-2-5-mln-Syrians-since-conflict.html
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Top Iraq Shiite cleric demands release of kidnapped Turks
12 September 2015
Top Iraqi Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on Saturday demanded the release of 18 Turkish workers kidnapped in Baghdad by unknown militants, saying it harmed the image of Islam.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/12/Top-Iraq-Shiite-cleric-demands-release-of-kidnapped-Turks-.html
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Civilians reported dead in rebel shelling on Syria’s Damascus
12 September 2015
Eleven people were killed in rebel rocket fire on the Syrian capital Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday.
The Britain-based monitor said the deaths were in the Duwaylaa neighborhood on the southeastern outskirts of Damascus, adding that most of those killed appeared to be civilians.
At least 20 people were also injured in the Friday shelling, the monitor said.
State news agency SANA, citing a police source, said Saturday that shelling on the area had killed four people and injured 25.
Rebels in strongholds on the outskirts of the capital regularly fire rockets into Damascus, often killing scores of people, many of them civilians.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/12/11-reported-dead-in-rebel-shelling-on-Syria-s-Damascus-.html
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Australian aircraft in first mission in Syria
12 September 2015
Australian aircraft have completed their first operation in Syria, defense officials said Saturday, just days after Canberra extended the mission from Iraq to better fight ISIS militants.
“The Australian Air Task Group completed its first operational mission in Syria overnight, returning to base in the Middle East without incident,” the defense department said in a statement.
“No weapons were released during the mission.”
The statement added that two Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18A Hornets, a KC-30A air-to-air refueling aircraft and E-7A Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft were used.
Australia Air Task Group Commander, Air Commodore Stu Bellingham said the Hornets were searching for enemy activity in eastern Syria, reporting to the international coalition’s Combined Air Operations Centre.
“The Hornets were also prepared for any short notice high priority tasking which could include surveillance and weapons release,” Bellingham said.
Australia was already part of the coalition fighting ISIS in Iraq but this week extended air operations into Syria, saying the legal basis was the collective self-defense of Iraq against the militant group which does not respect borders.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/12/Australian-aircraft-in-first-mission-in-Syria-.html
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Riyadh Blamed for Negligence in Mecca Deadly Incident
Sep 12, 2015
On Friday, Irfan al-Alawi compared the fatalities of the crane collapse in the Grand Mosque of Mecca to that of a bomb blast, criticizing Saudi officials for their disregard of safety measures in the ongoing construction projects around the city's holy sites, press tv reported.
"They do not care about the heritage, and they do not care about health and safety," said the executive director of the London-based institution, adding that the cranes overlooking the mosque pose a great threat to the security of the Hajj pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia has been under fire for the mass demolition of hundreds of historic Islamic sites and construction of towers overlooking the Grand Mosque and the Kaaba. The kingdom’s officials claim the destructions are part of a multi-billion-dollar project to expand the Grand Mosque, also called Masjid al-Haram, in an attempt to host more pilgrims.
Earlier in the day, at least 107 people, including an Iranian citizen, lost their lives as a crane fell on Hajj pilgrims in the Grand Mosque of Mecca. Reports added that the incident injured 238 people, including 25 Iranians.
"All those who were wounded and the dead have been taken to hospital. There are no casualties left at the location," General Suleiman al-Amr, the director general of the Saudi Civil Defense Authority, stated.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940621000443
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Bahraini demonstrators call for release of Sheikh Salman
Sep 12, 2015
Scores of anti-regime protesters have staged rallies in Bahrain, calling for the democratization of the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom and the immediate release of the leading opposition figure and Shia cleric, Sheikh Ali Salman.
The demonstrators held a rally in the northwestern village of Diraz, located about 12 kilometers (seven miles) southeast of the capital, Manama, following Friday prayers, demanding the release of Salman, who heads Bahrain’s main opposition bloc, al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.
The protesters, carrying portraits of Salman and Bahrain’s national flags, also said they will continue their street demonstrations until their demands for democracy and restoration of people’s rights are met.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/12/428833/Bahrain-Sheikh-Salman-Al-Khalifa-alWefaq-Diraz
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South Asia
51 Militants Killed In Afghanistan Security Operations
Sep 12 2015
51 militants have been killed in newest security operations in eleven provinces of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, the operations were conducted jointly by Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army and personnel from the National Directorate of Security in Takhar, Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul, Jowzjan, Kandahar, Oruzgan, Khost, Paktika, Herat, Ghor and Helmand provinces in past 24 hours.
51 militants were killed, 24 wounded and 10 others detained by the security forces, the statement adds.
Full report at:
http://www.khaama.com/51-militants-killed-in-newest-security-operations-3891
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Mullah Akhtar Mansour sends envoy abroad to gain support
Sep 12 2015
Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour the newly appointed Supreme Leader of the militant group of Taliban has sent an envoy abroad to gain support, reports suggest.
Taliban insiders have told Reuters news agency that Mullah Mansour recently sent Mullah Jalil, an envoy with good contacts with the Taliban’s political leadership, to persuade senior members based in the Middle East to publicly support him instead of a rival faction coalescing around Omar’s brother and son.
Beside running a political office in Qatar, Taliban often hold informal meetings with diplomats in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
By sending envoy abroad to gain more support, Mullah Akhtar Mansour wants to weaken his rival group that does not back him as the Supreme Leader of Taliban.
Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour was appointed to lead Taliban after Mullah Mohammad Omar was confirmed dead.
Full report at:
http://www.khaama.com/mullah-akhtar-mansour-sends-envoy-abroad-to-gain-support-3889
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Taliban gain ground in Baghlan’s Baghlan-e-Markazi District
Sep 12 2015
Taliban have gained ground in Baghlan-e-Markazi District of northern Baghlan province.
Sources have told media on condition of anonymity that Taliban seized a center and two military vehicles from security forces yesterday.
According to these sources, some villages have also fallen into the hands of Taliban.
Baghlan is one of the restive provinces in the northern part of the country where armed militant groups are operating in its remote areas but they frequently carry out attacks in provincial capital as well.
Full report at:
http://www.khaama.com/taliban-gain-ground-in-baghlans-baghlan-e-markazi-district-3890
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Mulla Mansour Sends Envoy Abroad To Win Support
September 12, 2015
PESHAWAR - The Afghan Taliban’s new leader is wooing powerful figures from the militant movement based in the Middle East who have not yet publicly pledged their support, sources within the group say, as he attempts to stifle a brewing challenge to his position.
A battle for the top job could worsen violence in Afghanistan by triggering Taliban-on-Taliban fighting and in turn doom fledgling peace talks between the Afghan government and the insurgency. It could also make it easier for Islamic State to expand its influence in one of the world’s most unstable regions.
Mulla Mansour was hastily appointed leader of the Taliban, the Islamist insurgency fighting to overthrow the Afghan government, in July after the Afghan spy agency leaked the death of Mulla Omar, founder of the movement. Mansour was Omar’s deputy. Many commanders were outraged that Mansour concealed news of Omar’s death for more than two years and boycotted the meeting that appointed him. Mansour said the deception ensured Taliban unity amid the 2014 withdrawal of Nato troops. Despite his efforts, as rumours of Omar’s death grew stronger, at least three Afghan insurgent factions pledged allegiance to Islamic State, a Middle Eastern group known for public executions and systematic rape in Iraq and Syria.
In recent weeks, Mansour sent Mulla Jalil, an envoy with good contacts with the Taliban’s political leadership, to persuade senior members based in the Middle East to publicly support him instead of a rival faction coalescing around Omar’s brother and son, Taliban insiders told Reuters.
The Taliban operate a political office in Qatar and also frequently hold informal meetings with diplomats in the United Arab Emirates. The outcome of talks in Qatar and the UAE may determine whether the dissident faction launches an open challenge to Mansour.
So far it has refused to accept his authority, but not put forward a rival candidate. Omar’s family has far less money and fighters than Mansour, who also enjoys good relations with Pakistan. One Taliban source said the leadership in the Middle East had been planning to split from Mansour because they feared he was too close to Pakistani intelligence.
“Some senior members of the group such as Tayyab Agha and Mulla Hasan Rahmani ... feel threatened in Pakistan,” the source said. “Mullah Mansour is sending a delegation headed by Mulla Jalil to hold talks with them and convince them to pledge allegiance.” Agha is the leader of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar and Rahmani is a former deputy of Omar’s and head of the political council. So far, both Mansour and his opponents have succeeded in avoiding an open showdown. Taliban commanders opposing Mansour say he is using threats and incentives to strengthen his position.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/12-Sep-2015/mulla-mansour-sends-envoy-abroad-to-win-support
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40 Bangladeshis injured in Mecca crane collapse
september 12, 2015
At least 40 Bangladeshi nationals have sustained injuries when a crane collapsed in the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam in a Facebook post confirmed the news on Friday night, immediately after the incident that claimed the lives of some 107 people and injured over 200 others.
Of the injured, the condition of one Chand Miah Chowkider is stated to be critical, wrote the junior minister. "Three people are in the ICU. All are being treated at Zayed hospital. Our Medical team is there."
The post further reads: "All are out of danger, Alhamdulillah. Hospital started releasing our people after fast aid treatment. Mostly injuries are due to panic and stampede.
"Our First Secretary is in hospital with Hajj officials to look after injured countrymen."
Read More: Crane collapse kills 107 at Saudi Arabia's Grand Mosque
The huge red crane crashed into a part of the Grand Mosque - the largest in the world - that was filled with worshippers at the time.
The head of Saudi Arabia's civil defence told BBC strong winds and heavy rains had caused the collapse. The crane had collapsed around 5:45pm local time.
The Emir of Makkah Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has commissioned a committee to investigate the cause of the deadly collapse.
Full report at:
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2015/sep/12/40-bangladeshi-injured-mecca-crane-collapse
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Things are only getting worse for Burma’s Rohingya Muslims
Sep 11, 2015
BURMA’S Muslim minority, the Rohingya, have long been victims of systematic persecution by the military government. Their plight has become increasingly desperate over the past year as government policies, human traffickers and natural disasters have exacerbated their vulnerability. National elections are scheduled for early November, but without a voice at this important juncture, there are fears that conditions for the most persecuted refugees on Earth will begin rapidly deteriorating.
A 2014 report by Fortify Rights, ‘Policies of Persecution: Ending Abusive State Policies Against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar’, details the systematic oppression under which the Rohingya persevere. They suffer from restricted access to basic public services such as education and health care and, in the absence of basic freedoms, their movements, marriage rights and childbearing rights are all suppressed. Recently their plight has been raised by Pope Francis who stated the continued persecution of the Rohingya constituted war against these people.
In Burma, also known as Myanmar, it’s not only government policies that have targeted the Rohingya, rising nationalist sentiment continues to play a significant role in their persecution. Among those encouraging hatred towards the Muslim community are ultra-nationalist groups. Ashin Wirathu, a Buddhist monk and prominent member of nationalist groups the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion (Ma Ba Tha) and Movement 969, has become infamous for his outspoken anti-Muslim rhetoric in which he refers to Muslims as the enemy. He recently lashed out at the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Yanghee Lee, calling her a “whore” for highlighting the unjust treatment of the Rohingya. In the run up to the national elections the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion has become an increasingly powerful organization influencing the policies of both the ruling party and the opposition party.
It is against this backdrop that tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled Burma, only to fall prey to human traffickers in many cases. The situation reached crisis point in May this year after authorities in Thailand began cracking down on human trafficking and slavery. A new report from UNHCR has collated the experiences of refugees who were abandoned at sea in May. Their stories tell of terrifying ordeals – violence, drownings, starvation and attempts by Southeast Asian nations to redirect the destitute refugee towards neighboring territories.
At the end of July natural disaster struck communities in Rakhine State as Cyclone Komen sent Burma into a state of emergency. Cyclone Komen, the worst natural disaster to hit Burma since 2008, caused over 100 deaths, destroyed homes, submerged villages, damaged essential infrastructure and displaced more than a million people. The townships of Maungdaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Buthidaung, Ann and the Rohingya IDP camps where among the worst affected areas.
Full report at:
http://asiancorrespondent.com/135512/things-are-only-getting-worse-for-burmas-rohingya-muslims/
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Atheist bloggers flee Bangladesh
11.09.2015
Despite the fact that the country’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech, these writers fear that they too will be the next targets for Islamists. Four bloggers have been murdered so far this year.
The number of atheists living in Bangladesh is not known. There has never been an attempt to ascertain the number of people who reject religion. Bloggers claim that more than one hundred thousand people are atheists in Bangladesh, a country with a population of 160 million people. More than 90 percent are Muslims.
Ever since the independence of the country back in 1971, atheism has remained as a taboo in the country. Atheist journalist Daud Haider was forced to leave the country in 1974 for writing a poem criticizing religion. Another atheist writer, Taslima Nasreen, fled Bangladesh in 1994 following massive protests by Islamists demanding her death after she made some critical comments about Islam.
Until 2013, these two people were the only writers to be singled out by religious fundamentalists. However, after the 2013 Shahbag protests, a movement that came out against the continuing influence of Islamists who opposed the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, bloggers called upon the government to guarantee the secular nature of society. A few of their number were atheists. This is turn led to Islamist fundamentalists targeting 'some new enemies' of Islam.
This Picture captured by daughter of Avijit Roy, Bangladeshi writer and blogger
Atheist blogger Avijit Roy, the founder of Mukto-Mona, was hacked to death this February
They took to the streets to demand capital punishment for atheist bloggers, who - from their perspective - were writing blogs with the aim of defaming Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. On the Internet, they even published a hit list of 84 bloggers whom they intended to kill. Four bloggers on the list have been murdered this year. Several others had been attacked and killed earlier.
Vile propaganda or hate speech?
While Bangladesh is generally considered to be a liberal-minded Muslim country, few protested against the murder of the atheist bloggers. Arifur Rahman, an atheist blogger based in London, believes that atheism remains a taboo subject because of the propaganda spread by some politicians and the Islamic clergy. The situation is compounded by a general lack of reason-based education in the country, he argues.
"Atheism is merely a stepping stone towards humanism, which challenges religious power and threatens the current political system, which in turn is heavily dependent on people's religious fervor," he says.
Full report at:
http://www.dw.com/en/atheist-bloggers-flee-bangladesh/a-18708933
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Bangladesh on 'bomb chief's trail'
September 12, 2015
Suspected mastermind flew to Dhaka one day before blast
Bangladesh on 'bomb chief's trail'
SUSPECTED MASTERMIND FLEW TO DHAKA
ONE DAY BEFORE ERAWAN SHRINE BLAST
THE NATION
BANGLADESH says that it will work closely with Thailand to get information about the alleged mastermind of the Erawan Shrine bombing after it was discovered he left Bangkok for Dhaka a day before the attack and stayed there briefly.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Saida Muna Tasneem said yesterday that Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies were investigating the activities of the alleged mastermind during his stay there and would share details with Thailand, other concerned countries and Interpol.
The ambassador, who met with police spokesman Pol General Prawut Thavornsiri yesterday to discuss the case, said it was the first time that the suspect had been to Bangladesh.
The case's chief investigator Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda has alleged that Abudustar Abdulrahman, or Izan, was the mastermind of the deadly bomb attack on August 16.
Without mentioning the suspect's name, Tasneem told The Nation that the suspect applied for an entry visa to Dhaka from her embassy and obtained a single tourist visa.
"In applying for the visa, the alleged bomb plotter submitted the required documents which were found [to be] legal. The documents included a non-immigrant multiple visa to Thailand and a work permit," she said.
She said that it was unfortunate the suspect had left the country - on August 30 - when Bangladeshi authorities learnt from Thailand that he had travelled there.
However, she said her embassy had initiated a high-security alert after learning about the suspect's visa application in order to prevent any further attempts to enter the country by similar individuals.
Bangladesh's The Daily Star online reported on Thursday night that the man in question flew to Dhaka on a Chinese passport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Bangkok on August 16.
Full report at:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Bangladesh-on-bomb-chiefs-trail-30268633.html
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Mideast
Twenty die in Houthi attack on Marib market
11 September 2015
Twenty people were killed in Marib on Friday as Iran-backed Houthi militias sporadically shelled a busy market in the Yemeni eastern city, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.
Houthis and militias loyal to deposed leader Ali Abdullah Saleh fired Katyusha rockets in Marib’s center hitting residential areas and a government building, the report added.
Earlier on Friday, Saudi-led coalition warplanes hit a Houthi-held weapons depot north of the capital of Sanaa, Al Arabiya reported.
The United Nations on Thursday said peace talks aimed at ending the conflict in Yemen were set to resume next week in the region and urged all parties to participate “in good faith,” Reuters news agency reported.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/11/Twenty-die-in-Houthi-attack-on-Marib-market.html
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13 Yemenis Killed in Saudi Airstrikes
Sep 12, 2015
On Friday, Saudi warplanes targeted a village in the province of Ta’izz, and killed at least 10 people and injured many others. The Saudi army also killed three civilians in the province of Ma’rib and also pounded the Baqim district in the province of Sa’ada with rockets and shells.
Late on Thursday, Saudi warplanes bombed military positions and civilian neighborhoods in and around the Yemeni capital Sana’a.
Reports said that in one of the airstrikes on Sana’a, the Saudi airstrikes hit the Yemeni military camp of al-Hafa. The force of the explosion caused by the airstrike discharged rockets and other weapons from the military camp toward a nearby neighborhood.
Meanwhile, thousands of Yemeni people staged a protesting rally in Sana’a on Friday to denounce a decision by Saudi authorities to prevent thousands of Yemeni pilgrims from performing Hajj this year.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940621000344
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UN to mediate Yemen peace talks, rebel rockets hit market
September 12, 2015
SANAA/UNITED NATIONS - Yemen's government in exile said Friday that it would join UN-mediated peace talks next week, as Iran-backed rebels were accused of killing 20 civilians at a busy market.
The coalition battling the Iran-backed Shia Huthi insurgents meanwhile sent new reinforcements over the border into Yemen in preparation for an offensive to retake the capital Sanaa. Coalition warplanes struck an arms depot in Sanaa, triggering powerful explosions that killed at least seven civilians and wounded 10, witnesses and medics said.
International rights groups have repeatedly voiced alarm at the heavy civilian toll in the conflict, which has killed more than 4,500 people since March, according to UN estimates. The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen has welcomed the commitment of the Government, the Houthis and the General People’s Congress to participate in peace talks that he will convene in the region next week.
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the envoy, applauded the decision of Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi and other Yemeni parties to attend the talks, for which a venue and date will be announced in the coming days. The coalition sent more military vehicles and troops across the border into Yemen Friday to try to recapture more territory from the Huthis, who overran the capital a year ago and swept southwards across the impoverished country.
An AFP reporter at the Wadia border post between Saudi Arabia and Yemen saw at least 40 coalition military vehicles cross over into Yemen's oil-rich Marib province on Friday. The vehicles were carrying Yemeni troops trained in Saudi Arabia as well as coalition troops whose nationality military officials in the area declined to specify.
Their arrival came as coalition warplanes killed seven rebels in an air raid Friday in eastern Yemen, where Apache helicopters have also joined the fight against the insurgents.
The strike targeted a military vehicle used by the rebels in the eastern province of Marib, while other air raids struck rebel positions in neighbouring Shabwa province, military sources said. Hours later, the rebels fired Katyusha rockets at the government headquarters in Marib's provincial capital, witnesses said. But several rockets landed on an adjacent market in Marib's city centre, killing at least 20 civilians and wounding dozens, according to medics and witnesses.
Friday's violence came hours after UN special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, said that the exiled government and the Huthi rebels had agreed to take part in peace talks that "will convene in the region next week".
The country's government-in-exile confirmed in Riyadh on Friday that it had agreed to take part in UN-mediated peace talks next week in Oman.
Oman, the only Gulf Cooperation Council member not taking part in the coalition, had hosted talks between the rebels and a US delegation before a previous, failed round of UN-brokered negotiations took place in Geneva in June.
It is also the only GCC member which has always maintained good relations with Iran.
However, in the absence of an announcement from the rebels, Yemeni government spokesman Rajih Badi was unsure the rebels would attend.
The talks "may not take place", he told AFP.
The government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi insisted that a rebel pullback from areas seized since last year - as outlined by UN Resolution 2216 - remained a precondition for negotiations.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/international/12-Sep-2015/un-to-mediate-yemen-peace-talks-rebel-rockets-hit-market
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Turkey bombs PKK targets in northern Iraq
11 September 2015
Turkish warplanes have bombed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq overnight, a security source told Reuters on Friday, the latest in a series of daily air strikes on the militants as conflict surges in southeast Turkey.
The source said more than 15 warplanes struck sites where the PKK are located at Qandil, Zap and Avashin in the mountains of northern Iraq in attacks launched shortly before midnight that continued until 02:00 GMT.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/11/Turkish-warplanes-strike-PKK-targets-in-northern-Iraq.html
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Iran Ready to Dispatch Medical Team to Mecca
Sep 12, 2015
The health ministry expressed regret over the deadly crane collapse in the Grand Mosque of Mecca on Friday, which has killed at least 107 people, including one Iranain, and announced that it is prepared to receive the injured in the Iranian hospitals and provide treatment for the injured from other countries such as India, Pakistan and Indonesia in Iran.
Sum 238 were wounded in the incident, including 32 Iranian.
Full report at:
The Saudi Civil Defense authority confirmed on its official Twitter as of early Saturday.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940621000424
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After bitter Iran row, Netanyahu gets White House invite
12 September 2015
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to visit the White House in early November, a U.S. spokesman said Friday, the first time he’s been invited since a fierce row over the Iranian nuclear deal.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said there was an “ongoing effort” to find an exact date for the meeting, but that it would be a chance to deepen cooperation.
“Despite our well known differences on even some key issues, the bond between the U.S. and Israel when it comes to our security relationship is unshakable,” he said.
U.S.-Israeli relations are at one of their lowest points in decades, fueled by animosity between Obama and Netanyahu.
After years of frosty relations, Netanyahu stridently opposed a deal championed by Obama as the best way of preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
The Israeli prime minister described the accord, an important piece of Obama’s foreign policy legacy, as a “stunning, historic mistake.”
The White House regarded Netanyahu’s appearance before a joint session of Congress in April to call directly on U.S. lawmakers to scupper the deal, as an affront.
Obama pointedly refused to meet Netanyahu when he was in Washington to make the address.
The two men clashed again during Nethanyahu’s re-election campaign, when he rejected a two-state solution.
In the midst of a bitter and sometimes personal dispute, Netanyahu insisted his opposition is “not about me and it is not about President Obama, it’s about the deal.”
But with the deal now safely through Congress, Obama appears ready to smooth over relations.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/12/After-bitter-Iran-row-Netanyahu-gets-White-House-invite.html
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Iran urged to sign nuclear test ban treaty
12 September 2015
The head of the U.N.’s nuclear test ban treaty organization says Iran should follow up on its historic nuclear deal with world powers by ratifying the treaty and assuring it will never conduct a nuclear test explosion.
Lassina Zerbo said in an interview Friday with The Associated Press that if Iran doesn’t ratify the treaty, “it will leave room for the doubt that people have put in this deal and the good intentions of Iran.”
Zerbo said Iran should have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, known as the CTBT, before negotiations started on the deal to rein in its nuclear program, in order to give assurances to critics that it has no intention to develop nuclear weapons - and that there is a religious prohibition, or “fatwa,” against possessing them, issued in 2013 by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ratifying the treaty now, he said, will assure doubters in the U.S. and elsewhere that before or after the nuclear agreement ends in 15 years, Iran will never conduct any nuclear test explosions in a search to develop nuclear weapons.
Zerbo said ratifying the treaty will also give Iran a stronger position to say that it has complied with all arms control treaties and is part of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, so “what else do you need from us to show good faith with regard to our intention to only use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes?”
“I believe in what they say, and that’s why I’m telling them, ‘I trust you,’” he said of Iran. But he noted the saying “Trust, but verify” and added, “Why don’t you give us this assurance?”
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
The CTBT organization has 196 member states - 183 that have signed the treaty and 164 that have ratified it. But the treaty has not entered into force because it still needs ratification by eight countries involved in originally negotiating it: Iran, Israel, Egypt, India, Pakistan, North Korea, the United States and China.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/12/Iran-urged-to-sign-nuclear-test-ban-treaty.html
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India
India is more Islamic than Pakistan: Home Minister
11 Sep, 2015
NEW DELHI: India can be called "more Islamic than Pakistan" as more Muslims live here than that country, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today told the chief of Pakistan Rangers who called on him to discuss ways to keep the border peaceful.
During the interaction, Singh said India wants peace with all neighbours, including Pakistan, and will not fire the first bullet but asked the Rangers to ensure no infiltration takes place from their side.
In his response, Maj Gen Umar Farooq Burki, the head of Pakistan Rangers' delegation, told Singh that he was the "mere DG of a force and not the leadership" like the Home Minister and could not give any commitment in this regard. He said he would convey Singh's message to the Pakistani leadership.
Burki said his country also wanted peace along the border and cordial relations with India and that there could have been some incidents at the border where firing took place due to misunders ..
Singh said that "Like India, Pakistan, too, is a victim of terrorism" and both countries must unite against the menace.
The Home Minister noted that India is home to all the 72 'firkas' (sects) of Muslims, which no other country has.
"India has more Muslim population than Pakistan. India can be called as more Islamic than Pakistan," he said.
Burki, who is here for talks with BSF DG DK Pathak, responded, "Your country is very big and vast. It is a great nation. We also want to have very good relations with India."
He also mentioned that both sides hope to defuse the situation along the Indo-Pak border in future amicably.
Singh said India wants friendly relations with all its neighbours and that was the reason why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited all heads of neighbouring countries when he took charge and even met his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif at Ufa in Russia.
"India will not fire the first bullet towards Pakistan along the border," Singh told Pakistan Rangers.
The Home Minister further told the Pakistan Rangers it should ensure that no infiltration takes place from Pakistan to India.
The Home Minister said the forces should stop firing at each other and illumination bomb should be used at best for whatever reasons.
He said India wanted to engage in dialogue with Pakistan at different levels and that was why Modi had met Sharif at Ufa in July.
"Unfortunately, the NSA level talks did not take place. But we want to have a good relation with Pakistan. I am saying this not for formality's sake, but 'tah-e-dil-se' (from the bottom of the heart)," Singh told the visiting delegation.
Quoting former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Singh said "we can change friends, but not the neighbours" and that was why it was necessary to have cordial relations with all neighbouring countries.
Full report at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-is-more-islamic-than-pakistan-rajnath-singh/articleshow/48918485.cms
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Hindu religion or culture was never under attack during Muslim rule in India: Book
12 Sep 2015
Washington: At a time when religious discourse is coming under friction, a new book by a Stanford University historian has revealed a cultural alliance between Muslims and Hindus in early Sanskrit texts, a finding that may help ease relationships between the two religion's followers.
Titled Culture of Encounters: Sanskrit at the Mughal Court, the book by Audrey Truschke, a leading scholar of South Asian cultural and intellectual history, argues that the heyday of Muslim rule in India from the 16th to 18th centuries was, in fact, one of "tremendous cross-cultural respect and fertilisation and not religious or cultural conflict."
Popular thought in India holds that the origin of this conflict goes back centuries to medieval times, when Muslim rule expanded into the Indian subcontinent.
In her study of Sanskrit and Persian accounts of life under the Mughal empire, the author provides the first detailed account of India's religious intellectuals during this period.
"Her research paints a far different picture than common perceptions, which assume that the Muslim presence has always been hostile to Indian languages, religions and culture," the Stanford University said in a statement.
According to Truschke, the divisive interpretation actually developed during the colonial period from 1757 to 1947.
"The British benefited from pitting Hindus and Muslims against one another and portrayed themselves as neutral saviours who could keep ancient religious conflicts at bay," she writes.
"While colonialism ended in the 1940s, the modern Hindu right has found tremendous political value in continuing to proclaim and create endemic Hindu-Muslim conflict," she continues.
According to Truschke, a Mellon postdoctoral fellow in the department of religious studies, her research shows that much of the current religious conflict in India has been fuelled by ideological assumptions about the Mughal period rather than an accurate rendering of the subcontinent's history.
She argues that the ideology underpinning such violence erroneously "erases Mughal history and writes religious conflict into Indian history where there was none, thereby fuelling and justifying modern religious intolerance".
Her work shows that the Muslim impulse in India was not aimed at dominating Indian culture or Hinduism.
Full report at:
http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/hindu-religion-was-never-under-attack-during-muslim-rule-54502.html
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Day after Sena calls ban religious fanaticism, BMC lifts its two-day meat ban in Mumbai
by Tanushree Venkatraman , Ruhi Bhasin
Mumbai
Sep 12, 2015
In a turnaround, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to revoke its two-day ban on sale of meat in Mumbai during the Jain festival of Paryushan, which was in addition to the two-day ban imposed by the state government across Maharashtra. The BMC informed the Bombay High Court that it was withdrawing its decision to impose a ban on slaughter of animals and sale of meat on September 13 and 18. Incidentally, the decision comes a day after Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray spoke out against the longer ban, and Sena mouthpiece Saamana carried an editorial terming the demand of the Jain community as ‘religious fanaticism’.
“On instructions from the municipal secretary, a statement has been made that the ban imposed in accordance to a circular dated September 1, 2015 will be withdrawn. Consequently, the abattoir which was to remain shut on September 13 and 18 will remain open on those days and sale of meat will be allowed,” said the court. The ban on sale of meat for two days, on September 10 and 17, directed by the state government, remains in place for now, and the petitioners said they will contest the ban on September 17. Meat shops were already closed on September 10. The petitioners’ lawyer Zubin Kamdin questioned as to why the ban was on meat and poultry and not on fish and other seafood. “What is the rationale behind allowing a ban on some sort of killing while allowing others?” he asked. Advocate General Anil Singh argued that “a fish dies if taken out of water” and no cutting to slaughter it was involved. The court wanted clarity on what had been the practice so far in a metropolitan city like Mumbai and whether a ban for four days had been followed all the time. “A cosmopolitan city like Mumbai has many facets. Here, there is no sizeable amount of one community, or class. The practical point to consider is the practice so far,” said the Bench. “What is the idea behind choosing four specific days? Is it that on some days ‘hey don’t like… but on other days they are okay?” said Justice Mohta. To the court’s observation about the role of police when commodities are imported and exported and are easily available in a globalised world, Singh said the decision should not be interfered with for now and that a better system could be developed later. Singh added, “We encourage trade but not at the cost of history, culture, heritage and religious sentiment. This type of globalization should not be permitted.” Senior counsel representing BMC Narendra Walavalkar clarified that the ban on sale of meat had been imposed since 2014. “We have a very reasonable attitude. Full report at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/after-petition-filed-in-bombay-hc-civic-body-withdraws-ban-on-slaughter-and-sale-of-meat/
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BJP cell says will build up cases for deportation of illegal Muslims & facilitate stay of Hindus
12 Sep, 2015
KOLKATA: Emboldened by the recent central government notification that India would allow minority refugees from Bangladesh and Pakistan to stay in this country even after expiry of their visas, the BJP's West Bengal unit has decided to facilitate the 'legal entry' of Hindus from Bangladesh and identify the Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators for deporting them.
"Earlier, all Bangladeshis, including Hindu and Muslim, were treated as infiltrators. Hindus did not get the refugee status by th ..
"And we would activate the network of our party men and common people to identify the Muslim infiltrators and pressure the administration to deport them following all legal procedures. We would not allow the ruling party in Bengal to use them as a part of their election machinery," Roy said. A 10-member committee will supervise the Refugee Cell's work.
Roy said the Narendra Modi government's notification issued on September 7 also cleared a confusion that the ruling Trinamool Congress ..
"In an election campaign in 2014, Narendra Modi told people in Bengal that he would not allow the Bangladeshi infiltrators to take over the state and they would be sent back. TMC misinterpreted it for their vested interest and told people that Hindu refugees would too be deported. But now, the question does not arise," he said. In a statement, the refugee cell said the development brings relief to 5-6 million Hindus of West Bengal. It said the central notification made the difference between the ..
"We are yet to analyse the notification. But, we know that the BJP government would try to do several things before election," TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said.
Full report at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bjp-cell-says-will-build-up-cases-for-deportation-of-illegal-muslims-facilitate-stay-of-hindus/articleshow/48930011.cms
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Hajj pilgrim from Kerala among 2 Indians killed in crane collapse in Mecca
by Shaju Philip
Thiruvananthapuram
Sep 12, 2015
A hajj pilgrim from Kerala was among the 107 people killed after a construction crane crashed onto the Grand Mosque in Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The crane had collapsed as a result of heavy rain and strong winds throughout the night. The victim from Kerala was identified as Maimun, 33, wife of Ismail. The couple hailed from Kalmandapam in Palakkad district. They had reached Mecca three days back via a private hajj operator. Family sources said that Ismail sustained minor injuries in the incident. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that two Indians have been killed and 15 others injured in the tragedy. Pictures of the incident on Twitter showed bloodied bodies strewn across a courtyard where the top part of the crane, which appeared to have bent or snapped, had crashed into the building which is several storeys high.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/hajj-pilgrim-from-kerala-among-2-indians-killed-in-crane-collapse-in-mecca/
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Ban strictures hit poorest of poor Muslims
Bella Jaisinghani
Sep 11, 2015
MUMBAI: The government's restriction on meat consumption has hit the poorest of poor among the Muslim community. Around 5,000 families of the Khatik and Kasai sects are involved in the mutton trade in Mumbai. They hardly earn Rs 400-500 per day. "These people are the most backward among Muslims. Their members are barely educated, they live a hand-to-mouth existence, and 'high caste' Muslims often refuse marriage alliances with them owing to their occupation. This latest harassment is like driving the final nail into the coffin of their sorry existence," says Mohammed Ali Qureshi, president of the Bombay Suburban Beef Dealers Association. He adds, "Given their work surroundings, they are unable to maintain good standards of hygiene as well. They are scarcely equipped for any other trade."
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Ban-strictures-hit-poorest-of-poor-Muslims/articleshow/48918560.cms
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North America
US man 'posed as Australian jihadist and plotted 9/11 bomb'
11 September 2015
A 20-year-old from Florida is accused of posing as an Australian jihadist and trying to help plan an attack on a 9/11 memorial in Missouri.
US officials charged Joshua Goldberg with distributing information on explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction.
Mr Goldberg chatted online with an undercover FBI agent, offering information on bomb building.
He told the agent to put the bomb at a 9/11 memorial in Kansas City, Missouri.
Pressure-cooker bombs were used in the Boston marathon bombings that left three dead and dozens hurt.
In other instances this year the FBI has charged American residents with plotting terrorist attacks after finding them online.
The FBI agent had found Mr Goldberg's online messages, in which he was posing as an Australian jihadist, offering to assist in plotting terror attacks in Australia and Texas.
"What weapons do you have brother? I can send you guides on how to make bombs if you need help making them," wrote Mr Goldberg in one message to the agent.
Mr Goldberg sent bomb-making guides to the agent on 19 August, asking the agent how he wanted to attack on 11 September.
Full report at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34226014
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State Department: Radical Islam is Losing, But Also Growing
September 11, 2015
State Department Press Secretary John Kirby offered a contradictory assessment of U.S. progress against radical Islam on Friday, calling the ideology a “loser” that was nonetheless “metastasizing” across the world.
“I believe that terrorist networks around the world—while they continue to metastasize and fester and remain a lethal threat—are themselves under threat,” Kirby said.
Kirby cited U.S. progress in killing members of core al Qaeda, although similar terrorist groups, like Islamic State (IS) and Boko Haram, have proliferated in recent years.
“This is an ideology that is a loser, and it’s going to lose,” Kirby said. “But as I said earlier, we recognize it’s going to take time and effort and resources and will probably result in more bloodshed before it does.”
Full report at:
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/state-department-radical-islam-is-losing-but-also-growing/
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Obama: Russia’s involvement in Syria indicates Assad is worried
11 September 2015
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday that Russia's escalated military involvement in Syria is an indication that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is worried and is turning to Russian advisers for help.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/11/Obama-Russia-s-involvement-in-Syria-indicates-Assad-is-worried.html
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ISIS militant reportedly hiding in migrant camp: Report
September 12, 2015
Washington :An Islamic State (ISIS) militant is reportedly hiding in a migrant camp in the French port town of Calais waiting to cross the English Channel into Britain to commit terrorist attacks.
According to a local French media report, French police were told to locate and arrest the man who left Syria in August and is on a French terror suspect watch list known as “fiche S”.
“His intention is to reach Britain to commit terrorist attacks,” regional French newspaper ‘La Voix du Nord’ reported.
Police in northern France believe the man is living among some 3,500 migrants in a makeshift camp known as the “Jungle”, which the French government has announced will become an official refugee camp with 1,500 places early next year.
According to ‘La Voix du Nord’, police are under orders to “proceed with his arrest”.
A local police source declined to confirm the report but told the ‘Telegraph’: “Who can guarantee that among the thousands of Syrians arriving in Europe are not some jihadists?”
Meanwhile, British border guards are on high alert for illegal immigrants using stolen and forged Syrian passports to pose as genuine refugees.
Full report at:
http://www.siasat.com/news/isis-militant-reportedly-hiding-migrant-camp-report-834579/
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US official: 'IS making and using chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria'
11 September 2015
By Paul Blake
There is a growing belief within the US government that the Islamic State militant group is making and using crude chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria, a US official has told the BBC.
The US has identified at least four occasions on both sides of the Iraq-Syria border where IS has used mustard agents, the official said.
The official said the chemical was being used in powder form.
A BBC team on the Turkey-Syria border has seen evidence backing these claims.
The US believes the group has a cell dedicated to building these weapons.
"They're using mustard," the individual said of IS. "We know they are."
The mustard agent was probably being used in powder form and packed into traditional explosives like mortar rounds, the official said.
"We've seen them use it on at least four separate occasions on both sides of the border - both Iraq and Syria."
When these weapons explode the mustard-laced dust blisters those who are exposed to it.
What is mustard agent?
The term "mustard gas" is commonly used to describe the agent, but it is liquid at ambient temperature.
Sulphur mustard sometimes smells - like garlic, onions, or mustard - and sometimes has no odour. It can be clear to yellow or brown.
People can be exposed through skin contact, eye contact or breathing if it is released into the air as a vapour, or by consuming it or getting it on their skin if it is in liquid or solid form. It causes blistering of the skin and mucous membranes on contact.
Though exposure to sulphur mustard usually is not fatal, there is no treatment or antidote to mustard which means the agent must be removed entirely from the body.
How Syria's chemical weapons were destroyed
The official said the intelligence community believes the most plausible explanation is that they are manufacturing it.
Full report at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34211838
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14th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks observed in US
September 12, 2015
Washington :US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle today led Americans in observing the 14th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 that killed nearly 3,000 people.
In New York, police and relatives of those killed at the World Trade Centre (WTC) began the annual reading of names of victims at Ground Zero, the present site of the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
At 8:46 am, precisely 14 years after American Airlines Flight 11 flown by al-Qaeda hijackers smashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Centre with enough sound and fury to be heard around the world, there was silence on the South Lawn of the White House.
Obama stood, head bowed, along with his wife and senior staffers including his Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, National Security Advisor Susan Rice and spokesman Josh Earnest.
The flag atop the White House fluttered at half-staff.
When the President and First Lady emerged, they walked
silently and somberly along the aisle, halting just short of the bugler off to their right as four bells tolled.
Full report at:
http://www.siasat.com/news/14th-anniversary-911-terrorist-attacks-observed-us-834586/
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US House votes against Iran deal in two symbolic votes
September 12, 2015
WASHINGTON - The US House of Representatives defeated a resolution on Friday backing the nuclear agreement with Iran in a symbolic vote engineered by congressional Republicans who object to the deal.
House members defeated the measure 269 to 162 in a strongly partisan vote, part of an effort by Republicans to underscore their objections to the international accord despite a vote on Thursday in the Senate that blocked a Republican-led effort to kill it by passing a resolution of disapproval.
"This deal is far worse than anything I could have imagined," John Boehner, the Republican Speaker of the House, said in a speech harshly critical of the July 14 agreement between the United States, five other world powers and Iran.
Twenty-five Democrats joined 244 Republicans in voting against the resolution.
No Republicans voted in favor.
After a rebellion by some of the most conservative Republicans, party leaders abandoned plans for a House vote on a disapproval resolution, opting for votes on three measures to send a stronger message that a majority of Congress objects to the pact.
Members from each party accuse the other of using the dispute for political purposes.
Democrats accuse Republicans of leaping to reject the deal and ignoring US allies and international experts who back it.
Some also accused Republicans of politicizing the anniversary of the Sept.
11, 2001, attacks by holding the votes on that date.
In turn, Republicans accuse Democrats of blindly supporting Democratic President Barack Obama in an agreement they see as going too far in easing economic sanctions on Iran in return for too few concessions on its nuclear program.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/international/12-Sep-2015/us-house-votes-against-iran-deal-in-two-symbolic-votes
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Europe
IS hackers intercept secret British government emails
September 12, 2015
London: Islamic State (IS) hackers have intercepted top secret British government emails in a major security breach, a media report said on Saturday.
The breach was uncovered by the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), Mirror online reported.
An investigation by the intelligence organisation has discovered that IS extremists have been targeting information held by some of Prime Minister David Cameron’s most senior ministers, including Theresa May, the Home Secretary.
The extremists could have discovered events that government figures and members of the Royal family were expected to attend as a result of the hacking. the GCHQ said.
It is understood that at least one of the plot’s ringleaders was killed by a drone strike in an operation disclosed by Cameron earlier this week.
Full report at:
http://www.siasat.com/news/hackers-intercept-secret-british-government-emails-834690/
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Advanced air defenses being sent to Syria by Russia: sources
September 12, 2015
Moscow is sending an advanced anti-aircraft missile system to Syria, two Western officials and a Russian source said, as part of what the West believes is stepped-up military support for embattled President Bashar al-Assad.
The Western officials said the SA-22 system would be operated by Russian troops, rather than Syrians. The system was on its way to Syria but had not yet arrived.
"This system is the advanced version used by Russia and it's meant to be operated by Russians in Syria," said one of the sources, a Western diplomat who is regularly briefed on U.S., Israeli and other intelligence assessments.
Two U.S. officials separately confirmed the information. The second U.S. official said the United States had indications that, although the entire system had not arrived, some control system components for the SA-22 had been positioned at an airfield near Latakia, an Assad stronghold.
The second U.S. official said the system may be part of a Russian effort to bolster defenses at the airfield.
The Russian source, who is close to the Russian navy, said the delivery would not be the first time Moscow had sent the SA-22 system, known as Pantsir-S1 in Russian, to Syria. It had been sent in 2013, the source said.
"There are plans now to send a new set," the source said, without detailing how far along the process was.
However, the Western diplomat said the version of the SA-22 on its way to Syria was newer than previous missile systems deployed there.
Syrian officials could not be reached for comment.
The United States has been leading a campaign of air strikes in Syrian air space for a year, joined by aircraft from European and regional allies including Britain, France, Jordan and Turkey. U.S. forces operating in the area are concerned about the potential introduction of the weapon, the diplomat said.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/international/12-Sep-2015/advanced-air-defenses-being-sent-to-syria-by-russia-sources
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Russia backs Syria’s fight against ISIS, not Assad’s regime – Lavrov
11 Sep, 2015
Moscow is set to continue supporting Syria in its fight against Islamic State and provide Damascus with military supplies, Russia’s foreign minister said, stressing that the drills of the Russian Navy near Syrian shores fully comply with international law.
“We support the fight of the Syrian government against so-called Islamic State, which neither represents Islam, nor happens to be a state,” Sergey Lavrov said Friday.
Russia will not hesitate to continue maintaining Syria’s defensive capacity to counter the terrorist threat, Lavrov said.
“I can tell you once again, that our servicemen and military experts remain there [in Syria] for the maintenance of Russian [military] hardware and assisting the Syrian army in using this hardware, there’s training under way,” Lavrov said, stressing that military hardware supplies will continue.
In fighting terrorism, Moscow has always supported “teamwork based on international legislation,” the foreign minister said.
Germany has said it welcomes more Russian engagement in the fight against Islamic State.
“I think we would welcome the Russian Federation and the Russian president ... getting actively involved in the fight against ISIS, given the dangers arising from Islamist terrorism,” Reuters cited German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer as saying, speaking at a regular government news conference in Berlin on Friday.
Lavrov also reiterated that the anti-ISIS coalition should start cooperating with the Syrian government and army on the ground.
“The most effective and powerful ground force to fight Islamic State is the Syrian army,” Lavrov said, adding that coordination is necessary to avoid “unintended incidents.”
Moscow has been calling on to the US-led anti-ISIS coalition to team up with the Syrian army from the very beginning of airstrikes against Islamic State one year ago.
“Better late than never,” Lavrov said.
Full report at:
http://www.rt.com/news/315040-russia-support-syria-lavrov/
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Netanyahu seeks UK support against 'militant Islam'
September 12, 2015
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought Britain's cooperation to "turn back the tide of militant Islam" as he met Prime Minister David Cameron in London yesterday.
"The Middle East is disintegrating under the twin forces of militant Islam: The militant Sunnis led by ISIS and the militant Shiites led by Iran," said Netanyahu, using an acronym for the Islamic State jihadist group, as he began talks with Cameron at Downing Street.
"And I believe that we can cooperate in practical ways to roll back the tide of militant Islam both in the Middle East and in Africa altogether."
A Downing Street spokesman said the two leaders discussed the threat of Islamist extremism and pledged to work together on cyber-security.
They agreed "a new package of co-operation covering training and joint exercises to prepare against cyber attacks", the spokesman said, adding that Britain would send "a cyber business delegation" to Israel in December.
Full report at:
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Netanyahu-seeks-UK-support-against--militant-Islam-_19228199
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Labour selects Muslim lawyer to stand for London mayor
September 11, 2015
London could get its first Muslim mayor after the main opposition Labour party selected Sadiq Khan, a bus driver’s son and former government minister, as its candidate Friday.
Khan, a former human rights lawyer, will stand in elections being held next May to decide who should follow Conservative Boris Johnson, one of Britain’s best-known politicians, into City Hall.
While the mayor of London has fewer powers than in comparable world cities such as New York, it is a high-profile job which usually attracts ambitious figures.
Khan, 44, said he wanted to iron out inequalities in a city home to some of the world’s richest people, as well as some of Britain’s poorest.
“Our burning ambition must be to ensure that all Londoners have the same opportunities,” he told a press conference after being nominated.
“London must once again become a city in which everyone can fulfil their potential.”
Khan, who is of Pakistani descent and is MP for Tooting in south London, vowed to build more affordable housing and freeze transport fares while still investing in infrastructure projects.
He was one of the MPs to nominate veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership — a race Corbyn is expected to win Saturday. Khan reportedly did not actually vote for Corbyn.
Full report at:
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/09/labour-selects-muslim-lawyer-to-stand-for-london-mayor/
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Pakistan
At least 47 Pakistani pilgrims injured in Makkah crane accident: FO
IRFAN HAIDER
September 12, 2015
ISLAMABAD: At least 47 Pakistanis were injured in the crane accident in Makkah's Grand Mosque, which resulted in the deaths of at least 107 pilgrims on Friday.
Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said that out of the 47 injured, 22 Pakistanis were admitted in three hospitals near Makkah but only 16 remained in the medical facilities as six were discharged after necessary medical treatment.
Some 25 pilgrims who had sustained minor injuries were given first aid at the spot, he said.
The spokesman said there was no news so far of any Pakistani having died in the accident, while none of the injured was in critical condition either.
Earlier in the day, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf told Radio Pakistan that around 50 Pakistani pilgrims were injured in the accident and seven of them were in critical condition.
He said about 25 Pakistani pilgrims were discharged after being provided with medical aid, while the rest were under treatment in various hospitals.
Pakistanis wishing to know about their loved ones' condition or any other information regarding the incident can contact Pakistan’s Embassy in Saudi Arabia on these numbers: 00966580734001 or 00966504517632.
President, PM express grief over incident
President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in their separate statements prayed for the departed souls and sympathised with the bereaved families.
Moreover, the prime minister has directed Pakistan's Ambassador in Saudi Arabia to provide every possible help to the injured and personally visit every Pakistani patient in hospitals on his behalf.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1206537/at-least-47-pakistani-pilgrims-injured-in-makkah-crane-accident-fo
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Hurriyat leader praises Pakistan’s stance
September 12, 2015
ISLAMABAD: Lauding the principled stand taken by Pakistan on national security advisers’ talks with India, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani has said that a strong Pakistan is “pre-requisite” for resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiri people.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he said the way Pakistan had advocated the rights of the oppressed people of Kashmir had given a renewed strength to the Kashmiris’ passion and spirit of freedom.
He said that the stand had resulted in highlighting the issue of Kashmir across the world and reinforcing the fact that Kashmir was not a territorial dispute between Pakistan and India but an issue of over 13 million people who were genuinely struggling for their birth and basic right and were the most important party in the Kashmir dispute.
Take a look: Hurriyat’s Geelani writes ‘secret’ letter to Sharif
“For this Mr prime minister, we are thankful to you, the Pakistan Army and the whole Pakistani nation,” he said and expressed hope that Pakistan would continue boldly pursuing its strong policy on Kashmir.
Mr Geelani said the case of Kashmiri people was strong and Pakistan’s principled position could lead India to be made accountable before the comity of nations and give up its obstinate policy.
He said the Kashmiris were not oblivious of the internal and external challenges faced by Pakistan, but it was also a fact that besides their own rights they were also fighting for a strong Pakistan.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1206488/hurriyat-leader-praises-pakistans-stance
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MQM lying about ‘their target killers’: Rangers
September 12, 2015
KARACHI - Rangers have strongly rejected MQM claims that they killed three party workers in Karachi extra-judicially and accused the party leadership of patronising target killers.
“MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) propaganda regarding killings of their workers is not only misleading but also in contrast to reality,” a statement issued on Friday by the Rangers read.
The statement came in response to MQM’s accusation that the paramilitary force had arrested four persons a month ago and three of them were killed by Rangers in a staged shootout and the fourth one by MQM-Haqiqi.
The Rangers had said Thursday they had killed four terror suspects during a gunfight, stating that the incident took place after they raided a hideout near the Northern Bypass in Karachi's Sohrab Goth area.
“Upon seeing the Rangers, the terrorists opened intense fire, which was effectively responded to,” the spokesman had said. “During the encounter four terrorists died whereas one solider of the Rangers was wounded,” the statement added.
But MQM leader Farooq Sattar on Friday told a press conference that they were their men and his party will observe a day of mourning on Saturday, as he also gave a strike call for today.
Responding to MQM’s strike call the Rangers said they will not let anyone close down businesses forcefully and deal with such elements with an iron hand.
The Rangers spokesperson in his Friday’s statement alleged that the killed persons have been identified as murderers of a member of MQM’s legal aid committee, Wakeel Hussain Bukhari, and they were holed up in safe houses on the instructions from senior MQM leadership.
He further claimed that Rangers had earlier arrested Asif Ali — the suspected killer of MQM worker Waqas Shah, who died from a mysterious gunshot during a raid at MQM headquarters. MQM’s senior leadership had sent Waqas’ alleged murderer underground in interior Sindh, the statement added.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/12-Sep-2015/mqm-lying-about-their-target-killers-rangers
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MQM's appeal to keep shutters down: Most of Karachi stays on routine
September 12, 2015
KARACHI: Situation in most parts of Karachi remained normal and business and educational institutions opened as per schedule Saturday morning despite an announcement by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) that called for a ‘day of mourning’ along with an appeal to traders and transporters to keep their businesses shut in response to its allegations that Rangers had killed of three of its workers.
Know more: Four men killed in Rangers encounter were MQM workers: Farooq Sattar
Regular public transport could be seen on the roads of the metropolis while petrol pumps and schools were also operating as per routine. No significant decrease could be observed in traffic on the roads in a majority of the city's areas.
Personnel from the Rangers paramilitary force were present in sensitive areas of Karachi as well as in spots of the metropolis that are routinely crowded.
Most traders opened their shops and businesses. However, markets in some areas, including Korangi, Federal B. Area, Landhi and Karimabad remained shut.
Earlier, Dawn reported that the party's call came when the already tense relations between MQM and the security establishment strained further on Friday with the MQM accusing Rangers of killing its workers in what it described as a fake encounter. The MQM's accusation was followed by a strong reaction from the paramilitary force which claimed that all the four killed were terrorists hiding in ‘safe houses’ on the party's directives.
Rangers claimed to have killed the four suspects on Thursday night in an ‘encounter’ on the Northern Bypass, near Sohrab Goth.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1206535/mqms-appeal-to-keep-shutters-down-most-of-karachi-stays-on-routine
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10 target killers apprehended in Karachi, say Rangers
September 12, 2015
KARACHI: Pakistan Rangers Sindh on Saturday claimed arresting 10 target killers in operations carried out in various areas of Karachi during the last 24 hours.
According to a Rangers press release, out of the 10 apprehended men, four belong to religious-militant groups, three have links with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and three belong to the Mohajir Qaumi Movement - Haqiqi (MQM-H).
One Rangers official Tariq Hussain was injured when Nabeel alias Sherry, a target killer associated with the MQM and a resident of Shah Faisal Town, opened fire at the paramilitary force personnel during an operation, a Rangers press release said.
This was followed by retaliatory firing on part of the Rangers during which the suspect Nabeel sustained minor injuries and was later arrested, the statement said.
It added that all arrested target killers will soon be presented before anti-terrorist courts.
Earlier last month, Dawn newspaper had reported that Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar had reiterated his trust in Rangers and other law enforcement agencies leading the ‘Karachi operation’.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1206548/10-target-killers-apprehended-in-karachi-say-rangers
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Terrorist behind firing at PIA plane in Peshawar held
September 12, 2015
PESHAWAR - The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s counter terrorism department has arrested a high-profile terrorist who allegedly targeted airline at Bacha Khan International airport in Peshawar in June last year. Official sources said that Noor Muhammad, resident of Nowshera, was taken into custody from Ring Road Peshawar city. “The accused has confessed firing on Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-756 from Riyadh to Peshawar on June 25, 2014,” a statement from CTD said.–Staff Reporter
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/12-Sep-2015/terrorist-behind-firing-at-pia-plane-in-peshawar-held
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Africa
Nigeria bomb blast hits Yola camp for Boko Haram refugees
11 September 2015
At least three people have died when a bomb exploded at a camp in north-eastern Nigeria for people who have fled their homes because of the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency.
Emergency services told the AFP news agency that the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device.
It occurred at the Malkohi camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) on the outskirts of Yola in Adamawa state.
Yola has been seen as a relative safe place for those fleeing the violence.
Africa Live: News updates
The BBC's Chris Ewokor in Abuja says this is the first attack on a camp for IDPs in the north-east.
The explosion happened in a warehouse, emergency services say.
Map of Yola in Nigeria
There are reportedly more than 1,000 children in the camp.
Two million people have been forced from their homes since the militants launched their insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria in 2009.
According to Amnesty International, at least 17,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
Although the militants have been forced out most of the territory they had seized, they are still active and there has been an upsurge in suicide attacks since President Muhammadu Buhari took office in May.
Full report at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34220291
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Hard Work Fulfills Ugandan Muslim Hajj Dream
11 September 2015
KAMPALA – As millions of pilgrims flock from different parts of the world to the holy city of Makkah to perform Hajj, one Ugandan Muslim is still in awe.
The 46-year-old Ahmed Twalib Kamya Kalungi narrates that he has consistently escorted pilgrims to Entebbe International Airport for about ten years now.
Speaking to OnIslam.net, Ahmed Twalib says, “I would offer to pay for the fuel and in my heart I would make dua`a saying, “Allah accept this deposit towards my own travel in the future.”
Selling second hand shoes and construction wood, Ahmed Twalib realized he was not going to be able to pay up for the life-time journey whose fees keep increasing.
“In 2005 I bought an acre of land and immediately planted eucalyptus trees,” he said.
In January this year, Ahmed Twalib paid up $409 as he waited for his trees to mature and be harvested. In May, the father of 12 children harvested his trees and paid another installment of $2182.
“Am so grateful and thankful to Allah, that the money I got from the trees cleared the bulk I needed for the journey,” he told OnIslam.net.
He adds that, to complete the $4150 needed for the journey, “I kept paying in installments for five months which was complete in the fasting month of Ramadan.”
Ecstatic about a dream that has finally come true, he said: “Am so happy and feel proud that I am among those chosen by Allah to go to Makkah. I didn’t know it would have been possible this year, I still can’t believe I am going.”
This year, 335 men and 415 women will be heading to Makkah, making up to 750 pilgrims coming from Uganda.
Among them is 37-year-old Nakiyimba Salma, a teacher by profession.
Like many Ugandan families supporting each other to perform the holy journey, Salma is very excited about the trip paid for by her husband.
“Allah has enabled me travel through my husband, I really wanted to pay for myself but I could not afford it,” she told OnIslam.net.
But the trip was unexpected since she wished it for her mother-in-law.
“I used to urge my husband to take his mother to Makkah, thankfully he listened and now he is not paying for just his mother but the three of us including him,” she added.
Decreasing Number
The titular head of Muslims in Uganda, Prince Kassim Nakibinge, expressed happiness that Muslims from all factions had worked together to send pilgrims to Makkah.
Noting the high number of women going despite the high cost of travel he advised, “Upon return, please behave like someone who has visited Allah’s house and ensure your dress code matches one of a pilgrim.”
He also appealed to the pilgrims to pray for the country ahead of the coming general elections especially the Muslim Ummah.
Full report at:
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/africa/493527-hard-work-fulfills-ugandan-muslim-hajj-dream.html
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Top Nigerian Muslim leader kidnapped
September 11, 2015
The Deputy Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Adam Idoko, has been kidnapped.
Mr. Idoko is also the Chief Imam of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Mr. Idoko, a famous Islamic cleric in the South East, was abducted in the early hours of Thursday in his village, Ogrute Enugu-Ezike in Nssukka, Enugu state.
Confirming the abduction to PREMIUM TIMES, the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’at Mosque, Okene, Kogi State, Murtada Gusau, said the Muslim community had reported the incident to the police shortly after it happened.
Full report at:
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/189854-top-nigerian-muslim-leader-kidnapped.html
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Nigeria: 100 Days in Office - Muslim Group Begs for More Patience, Prayers for PMB
11 SEPTEMBER 2015
By Eseohe Ebhota
As President Muhammadu Buhari marked his 100 days in office during last Saturday, the Tijjaniyyah Muslim sect under the leadership of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi has called on Nigerians to be patient with the president as he lays the foundation to fulfill his campaign promises to the country.
In a special prayer organised by the group to commemorate the president's 100 days in office, Muslim faithful who gathered at the National Mosque in Abuja on Tuesday expressed optimism on the capability of the APC-led administration to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
Former speaker of the Federal House of Representatives Ghali Umar Na'abba, who was a special guest of honour at the gathering stated that there was need for cooperation from members of the public to help the Buhari-led administration succeed.
Full report at:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201509111230.html
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Southeast Asia
PM pledges aid for Malaysian pilgrims injured in Mecca crane collapse
September 12, 2015
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — The government is to provide immediate aid to the Malaysian pilgrims who were injured after a crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque in Mecca yesterday, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Malaysian officials in the holy city said six Malaysian pilgrims were injured in the incident which reportedly claimed the lives of 87 worshippers at about 5 pm (10 pm in Malaysia).
At least 184 more people were injured in the incident, reports said. “I understand that several Malaysian pilgrims were injured. Aid will be provided as fast as possible,” Najib posted on his Twitter account early Saturday. The tragedy occurred ahead of the annual Haj pilgrimage which is due later this month. Millions of Muslims from around the world will converge on the holy city between Sept 21 and 26.
Full report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/pm-pledges-aid-for-malaysian-pilgrims-injured-in-mecca-crane-collapse
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10 Malaysian pilgrims injured, six unaccounted for in Mecca crane collapse
September 12, 2015
PETALING JAYA, Sept 12 — Ten Malaysian pilgrims were injured and six have not been accounted for after a crane collapsed yesterday onto the Grand Mosque in Mecca, killing 107 worshippers and injuring hundreds of others.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said today the injured seven men and three women were in stable condition, and that their injuries included fractured bones.
“Three of them are under treatment at Saudi Arabian hospitals and six, at the Tabung Haji Medical Centre, while one person has been allowed to return to the hotel,” he told a news conference at the TH Complex in Kelana Jaya here.
Jamil Khir said TH was working with the Southeast Asian Muasassah (pilgrims management body) to look for the six missing pilgrims — two men and four women.
“They have been identified. Based on our assumption and experience, they may be in the mosque or would be performing certain rituals or would be returning to the hotels later,” he said.
Initial reports said six Malaysian pilgrims were injured in the incident which occurred at about 5pm (10pm in Malaysia).
Altogether 107 people were killed and 238 injured, according to latest reports.
The injured Malaysians are Zainul Arifin Zulkifli, 36, of Batu Caves, Selangor; Ahmad Muzafar Mamat alias Adam, 39, of Bangi, Selangor; Mohd Nor Azman Hassan, 44, of Cheras, Selangor; Noordin Wahab, 59, of Kuala Terengganu; Abdul Razak Mahmood, 61, of Tanah Merah, Kelantan.
Full report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/six-malaysian-pilgrims-injured-in-mecca-crane-tragedy
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Police counter-terrorism unit says beefing up security after IS threatens attack on Malaysia
September 11, 2015
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 — Security measures are being stepped up in public places and foreign diplomatic missions in Malaysia in the wake of threats by global terror group Islamic State to launch attacks here and other countries, the police said today.
The police intelligence agency’s counter-terrorism unit said it was aware that IS has called on its followers worldwide to attack several nations, including Malaysia, through its online magazine Dabiq.
“PDRM has and will continue to act to step up security in all places with key assets to the country, including foreign embassies and public places,” Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, assistant director of E8, the counter-terrorism unit in the police Special Branch, said in a short statement.
Earlier today, Japan ordered its embassies worldwide to raise their security alert after IS highlighted its missions in Indonesia, Malaysia and Bosnia-Herzegovina were part of a broader threat.
Full report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/police-counter-terrorism-unit-says-beefing-up-security-after-is-threatens-a
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Two Indonesians die, 31 injured in Mecca accident
thejakartapost.com, Jakarta | National | Sat, September 12 2015
Two Indonesian pilgrims were killed and 31 others were injured when a massive construction crane crashed into Mecca's Grand Mosque in stormy weather in Saudi Arabia on Friday, according to a report from the Foreign Ministry.
The ministry’s protection of Indonesian citizens director, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, said on Saturday that the identities of the two victims were Masnauli Sijuadil Hasibuan, 59, who started at the Medan embarkation point, and Iti Rasti Darmini, 57, from the Jakarta-Bekasi embarkation point; they were from kloter (flight groups) 9 and 23, respectively.
Immediately after the incident, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin summoned a team from the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Jeddah and the Haj Attache to investigate the location.
“Staff of the KJRI and the Haj Attache in Jeddah are currently coordinating with local authorities to ensure that all Indonesian victims will receive the best care,” said Lalu as quoted by the Antara news agency.
The crane fell on Friday at about 5.30 p.m. as a result of strong winds and heavy rains. It is part of a massive project to expand the area of the mosque by 400,000 square meters, allowing it to accommodate up to 2.2 million people at once.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who is currently in Saudi Arabia as part of his four-day state visit to Middle Eastern countries, has instructed the religious affairs minister to provide the best support to the Indonesian victims.
Full report at:
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/09/12/two-indonesian-pilgrims-die-haj-31-injured-mecca-accident.html
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Two Indonesians Reportedly Among Scores Killed in Mecca Crane Collapse
September 12, 2015
Jakarta. At least two Indonesians were among the dozens of pilgrims killed when a crane toppled over at Mecca’s Grand Mosque on Friday, according to media reports.
Quoting an Indonesian hajj official in Mecca, Chairul, Detik.com reported that Masnauli Hasibuan, left for Mecca from Medan, North Sumatra, and Siti Rasmi Darmini, from Karawang, West Java, were confirmed to have died in the incident.
Chairul said up to four more Indonesians may have been killed in the incident, but Saudi authorities were still confirming the identities of at least 107 people killed and 238 injured.
“We are monitoring the situation,” the official told Detik.
At least 30 Indonesians were also injured in the incident and are now being treated at several hospitals and hajj medical centers set up by the Indonesian government across Mecca.
A statement from a spokesman for the administration of the mosques in Mecca and Medina said the crane smashed into the part of the Grand Mosque where worshippers circumambulate the Kaaba and where pilgrims walk between Mount Safa and Marwa.
Full report at:
http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/two-indonesians-reportedly-among-scores-killed-mecca-crane-collapse/
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Suspect in Murder of Japanese Woman Faces Possible Death Penalty
September 12, 2015
Jakarta. The Indonesian security guard arrested for the alleged murder of a Japanese woman at her Jakarta apartment could face the death penalty if found guilty.
“For such case, it could be [the] death [penalty],” Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian, the Jakarta Police chief, said on Friday following the police’s arrest of Mursalim, 25, for the alleged murder of Yoshimi Nishimura, 28.
“He can be charged under the Criminal Code article [on murder] because it appears to have been planned,” Tito added.
Nishimura’s body was found by her driver, a friend and a building security guard at the Casa Grande apartment block in Tebet, South Jakarta, on Monday morning. Police suspect she was killed two days earlier.
Full report at:
http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/suspect-murder-japanese-woman-faces-possible-death-penalty/
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Hong Kong Probes Bank Deposits Complainant Links to Malaysia PM
September 12, 2015
Kuala Lumpur. Hong Kong police are investigating bank deposits a complainant said were linked to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, police said on Friday, as a probe into a troubled Malaysian state investment fund widens.
The investigation comes as another blow to Najib, who chairs the advisory board of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) , after Swiss authorities froze millions of dollars in Swiss bank accounts linked to the firm on suspicion of corruption and money laundering.
Malaysian investigators are also looking into the fund, which has raked up over $11 billion in debt that has weighed on the country's economy.
Najib has denied taking any money from 1MDB or any other entity for personal gain. The Malaysian government dismissed the latest allegations about bank deposits as politically motivated.
Hong Kong police confirmed that they were probing a matter a complainant had linked to Najib.
"A man reported to the police on August 30 and requested for the police's investigation on some bank deposits," Hong Kong police said in a statement in response to a question about an investigation into Najib. "Investigations by Crime Headquarters are under way."
The complaint was lodged by Khairuddin Abu Hassan, a former member of Najib's ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) who was sacked from the party earlier this year.
A vocal critic of Najib, Khairuddin told Reuters he said in the report that deposits of over $250 million were made into a Credit Suisse bank account in Hong Kong through four companies linked to Najib.
The Malaysian government spokesperson dismissed these latest allegations as "baseless and politically motivated lies."
Full report at:
http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/international/hong-kong-probes-bank-deposits-complainant-links-malaysia-pm/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/egypt-army-kills-98-daesh/d/104561