Fatwa by Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid Asks Muslim Groups to Keep Mum on Uniform Civil Code
New Age
Islam News Bureau
01 July 20123
The Shahi
Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari. (Source: PTI)
-----
India
• 2019 Video From Rajasthan Shared As
Muslims Boycotting Hindus in Bengaluru
• Uttarakhand UCC Panel Studied Laws In
Turkiye, Bangladesh Among 10 Nations
• Visakhapatnam: Uniform Civil Code
should not be implemented in haste, says North Andhra Muslim JAC
• UCC Row: "CPI(M) Has Become A Muslim
Party," Kerala BJP Chief Hits Out At CM Vijayan
• Seven held for lynching Muslim truck
driver in Bihar
--------
Europe
• German Muslims Face Racism,
Discrimination Every Day: ReportBy The Interior Ministry
• France deploys 45,000 police, armoured
vehicles to quell riots
• Swedish PM says 'no need to insult'
others after Quran demo
• First ever family fun day by youth
group The Young Khadims at Ghamkol Sharif Mosque
• Four Men Guilty Over French Far-Right
Terror Plot Against Jewish And Muslim Targets
--------
Africa
• Governor Bala Mohammed Of Bauchi State
Gifts 300 Riyals Each To 3,000 Bauchi Pilgrims In Mecca
• Sallah: Don’t Desecrate Muslim Prayer
Ground, MURIC Warns Osun Politicians
• Muslims must honour parents, obey them
with devotion, say Imams
--------
Mideast
• OIC plans emergency meeting over
Qur'an desecration in Sweden
• Tehran Welcomes Better Ties With
Regional, Muslim States
• Iran Blasts Sweden for Allowing
Sacrilege of Holy Qur'an
• Iran president condemns insult to
Quran in Sweden, saying Muslims not to forget it
• Pictures| 40,000 Palestinians Pray in
Al-Aqsa Mosque
• Human Rights Ministry condemns
Sweden's permission to burn Holy Qur'an copies
--------
Arab World
• Saudi Minister Of Islamic Affairs
Stresses Importance Of Teaching True Islam During A Meeting With Islamic
Personalities
• Ministry of Islamic Affairs to Gift 2
Million Copies of Holy Quran to Departing Pilgrims
• Custodian of Two Holy Mosques
Congratulates President of Democratic Republic of Congo on Independence Day
--------
South Asia
• Islamic Emirate Of Afghanistan Leader
Issues Eid Message To Ummah
• Islamic Emirate Called IEP’s Findings
on Afghanistan 'Unjust'
• Kabul Residents Complain of Delayed
Passport Distribution
• 25 Political Figures, Officials
Returned Last Month: Commission
• Afghan Acting Defence Minister Meets
Saudi Crown Prince At Hajj
• Beneath symbolism and praises,
Bangladesh’s ties with U.S. take a tumble
• Messi team’s Eid message sends waves
of pride across Bangladesh
• Indo-Bangla trans-boundary 'peace
park' tag for Sundarbans in offing
--------
Southeast Asia
• Kota Baru Council Cancelled Indecent
Dressing Fine Against Non-Muslim Woman, Minister Confirms
• OJK: Sharia Banking Assets Up 15.8% to
IDR 2.3tn
• Muslims in Laventille stigmatised
unfairly
--------
Pakistan
• President Condemns Desecration Of Holy
Quran In Sweden
• Latif Khosa’s house attacked at PTI
leader’s behest, suspect tells police
• PM Shehbaz to attend July 4 SCO
virtual summit on Modi’s invitation
• Six terrorists killed in Tank, North
Waziristan shootouts
• People hail signing of Staff Level
Agreement b/w Pakistan, IMF
--------
North America
• State Department Criticizes Handling
of 2021 Evacuation From Afghanistan
• Man Who Attacked Muslim Lawmaker Tried
To Kiss Her, Made Lewd Comments, Police Say
• CAIR Calls for Probe of Possible Bias
Motive for Vandalism Targeting N.M. Mosque, Stepped-Up Patrols
• Muslims Applaud SCOTUS Ruling For
Christian Postal Worker Who Wanted Sundays Off
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/fatwa-shahi-imam-jama-masjid-ucc/d/130114
------
Fatwa by Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid Asks Muslim Groups to Keep Mum on Uniform Civil Code
The Shahi
Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari. (Source: PTI)
-----
JULY 01, 2023
As the debate over the possibility of a
Uniform Civil Code in India rages one year before Lok Sabha elections, the
Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid in Delhi has issued a fatwa to all Muslim groups to
keep mum on the issue. The Shahi Imam was reportedly abroad when he issued the
fatwa on Eid.
The Muslim Personal Law Board,
meanwhile, issued a statement and criticised the government’s position on
Uniform Civil Code. In a statement, it said the privilege has existed since
Independence and interference “clearly indicates” that the government “wants to
abolish” the Board.
Contending that the existing situation
is “not harming anyone”, it accused the government of trying to “disrupt and
peace and harmony in the society”.
News18 had earlier this week reported
that Muslim leaders and organisations have taken the strategic view of not
opposing the proposed Uniform Civil Code publicly, speculating it could benefit
the ruling BJP in upcoming Assembly elections and 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on
Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice will seek the views of all
stakeholders on the issue in its meeting on July 3.
According to the schedule of the
Standing Committee, the panel will hear the views of representatives of the law
panel and legal affairs and legislative departments of the Law Ministry on a
public notice issued by the Law Commission of India on June 14, 2023, inviting
views from the various stakeholders on the Uniform Civil Code under the subject
‘Review of Personal Laws’.
Till Tuesday evening, the law panel had
received nearly 8.5 lakh responses on its public notice, a PTI report said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on
Tuesday made a fresh pitch for UCC at a rally in Bhopal, evoking criticism from
the opposition, which has claimed it was “polarisation" tactics.
UCC refers to a common set of laws
governing personal matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption,
among others, of all citizens. It has been one of the three key poll planks of
the BJP for a long time with the other being the abrogation of Article 370 that
had given special status to Jammu and Kashmir and construction of the Ram
Mandir in Ayodhya.
Source: news18.com
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https://www.news18.com/india/uniform-civil-code-fatwa-by-shahi-imam-of-delhis-jama-masjid-asks-muslim-groups-to-keep-mum-8223379.html
--------
Baqrid Provides Jobs To 20 Lakh Farmers, Says Maulana Farangi Mahali
Maulana
Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali.
----
Jun 30, 2023
LUCKNOW: Amid the reports of protest
against sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha in the country, the chairperson of Islamic
Centre of India (ICI) Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said on Friday that
Baqrid provides jobs to 20 lakh farmers.
After offering Eid-ul-Azha prayers at
Imam Idgah, Mahali while addressing mass gathering said, "The sacrifice on
Baqrid is in the memory of two prophets, including Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat
Ismail. This has been described in detail in the Quran. Eid-ul-Azha gives the
message of sacrifice and peace."
He said, "Baqrid brings business on
a large scale and as per conservative an estimate, about 20 lakh farmers get
job opportunity from this."
Maulana appealed people to take special
care of cleanliness after the sacrifice.
He further added, "According to
United Nations report, one out of every ten people remains hungry and one out
of every three people is not getting enough food. Large number of people are
losing their lives due to hunger and depression. The world is on the verge of a
climate catastrophe. Therefore to remove poverty, hunger, unemployment, we all
together have to strengthen the system of Zakat. People will have to start
small businesses by forming self-help groups. Plant more trees and avoid use of
plastic and save more water."
He emphasised that children must be
provided education. "We should establish more and more schools," said
Maulana who prayed for the security, development and progress of the country,
peace, brotherhood, prosperity and welfare of all.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Baqrid-provides-jobs-to-20-lakh-farmers-says-islamic-center-of-india/articleshow/101401633.cms
--------
France In Flames Following Police
Killing Of 17 Yr Old Muslim Nahel M
The killing
of 17-year-old Nahel during a traffic check Tuesday, captured on video, shocked
the country and stirred up long-simmering tensions between young people and
police. (Photo | AP)
-------
30th June 2023
France is in a state of chaos as violent
protests have been spreading around the country following the shooting dead of
a 17-year-old Muslim by police during a traffic stop in the Paris suburb of
Nanterre on Tuesday.
In the aftermath of the killing of Nahel
M, people have taken to the streets on three consecutive nights to protest,
setting cars alight and throwing stones and fireworks.
At least 667 people were arrested across
France overnight on Thursday following a third day of protests over the death
of the teenager.
A video shared on social media showed
two police officers beside a Mercedes AMG car, with one shooting at the teenage
driver at close range as he pulled away. He died shortly afterward from his
wounds, the local prosecutor said.
“I lost a child of 17-year-old, they
took my baby,” Nahel’s mother, Mounia, said in a TikTok video. “He was still a
child, he needed his mother. This morning he gave me a big kiss and told me he
loved me. I told him be careful and I loved him.”
According to his mother, they both had
left the house together. While he went to get a McDonalds takeout, she left for
work.
“And then I am told they shot my son,
what can I do,” Mounia said. “I only had him. I didn’t have 10 like him. He was
my life, my best friend. He was my son, He was my everything.”
The victim’s grandmother said: “I will
never forgive them. My grandson died, they killed my grandson. We are not happy
at all, I am against the government… They killed my grandson, now I don’t care
about anyone, they took my grandson from me, I will never forgive them in my
life, never, never, never.”
The teenager, who was too young to hold
a full license in France, was driving illegally, a source familiar with the
investigation told Reuters. The Nanterre prosecutor said the boy failed on
Tuesday to obey the officers’ orders.
But a lawyer for Nahel’s family,
YassineBouzrou, said they want the police officer prosecuted for murder instead
of manslaughter. He said he would file an additional complaint for false
testimony over the allegation that the victim had tried to run over the police
officer.
Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron has
urged parents to keep teenagers at home to limit rioting in French cities. He
also blamed social media for fuelling copycat violence and said it had played a
“significant role in the events of the past few days.”
Mr Macron said a third of the
individuals arrested on Thursday were “young people, sometimes very young”, and
that “it’s the parents’ responsibility” to keep their children at home.
“We sometimes have the feeling that some
of them are living in the streets the video games that have intoxicated them,”
he said of rioters.
On Thursday, 40,000 police officers were
deployed across France – nearly four times the number mobilised on Wednesday.
And on Friday, following a second crisis
meeting, France’s interior minister Gerald Darmanin issued an order to stop
buses and tram services at night.
However, there were few signs that
appeals from the government to de-escalate the situation are having any effect.
In Nanterre, where the shooting took
place, protesters torched cars, barricaded streets and hurled projectiles at
police following a vigil.
National police said on Thursday night
that officers also faced new incidents in other areas of the country – in
Marseille, Lyon, Pau, Toulouse and Lille, including fires and fireworks.
Meanwhile, the police officer who shot
and killed the teenager asked the family of the boy for forgiveness.
His lawyer Laurent-Franck Lienard told
BFMTV: “The first words he pronounced were to say sorry and the last words he
said were to say sorry to the family.
“He is devastated, he doesn’t get up in
the morning to kill people. He didn’t want to kill him.”
Source: 5pillarsuk.com
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https://5pillarsuk.com/2023/06/30/france-in-flames-following-police-killing-of-17-yr-old-muslim-nahel-m/
--------
Killing People Over Blasphemy Is Fuelled
By Ignorance, Not Piety: Nigerian Islamic Cleric
Photo: Within Nigeria
-----
June 30 2023
Abdul-Lateef Adekilekun, an Islamic
cleric, says those who kill other people because of blasphemy are acting based
on ignorance.
NAN reports that Adekilekun spoke in
Ede, Osun state, on Friday.
On Sunday, Usman Buda, a butcher, was
killed over alleged blasphemy in Sokoto.
Buda was reportedly stoned to death by
an angry mob at the Sokoto abattoir over remarks considered to be an insult to
Prophet Muhammad.
The development sparked a heated debate
on social media, and many religious scholars weighed in.
Speaking on the incident, Adekilekun
condemned the mob action, adding that a lack of proper understanding of the
Islamic religion caused it.
He added that although Islam does not
encourage blasphemy, the religion has laid down procedures for such cases.
“I remember, I read a book, and I was
taught in the class exactly 61 years ago where they said anyone who accused
Prophet Muhammad should be beheaded,” he said.
“But that book is neither the Qur’an nor
hadith. It is just a book written by a self-styled jurist. Our problem in
Nigeria is ignorance.
“Blasphemy in Nigeria is mainly from the
northern part of the country, and the cause is ignorance.
“You rarely hear of such in the southern
part of the country where enlightenment and awareness are more pronounced.”
Adekilekun urged the government to blend
Islamic-oriented studies with the education system through the National Board
for Arabic and Islamic Studies for a proper understanding of the religion.
“Before President Muhammadu Buhari left
office, he signed a bill seeking to create a commission to cater to Almajiri
and out-of-school children. I want to advise the present administration to
encourage awareness of this,” the cleric said.
“Islam is a religion of peace, and it is
very rich. In Islam, you can learn history, arithmetic, among others, but for
those who lack adequate knowledge of Islam, they always rely on hearsay in
making judgments,” he said.
Adekilekun is the grand Mufassir of
Edeland and was also installed as the Waziri of Yorubaland by the League of
Imams and Alfas in south-west Nigeria.
Source: thecable.ng
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thecable.ng/islamic-cleric-killing-people-over-blasphemy-is-fueled-by-ignorance-not-piety
--------
Abbas Advisor: Arab Participation in
Jerusalem Municipal Elections Is ‘Betrayal of Allah’ and ‘A Crime’
Jerusalem’s
Teddy Stadium. Photo: Lyulyev Danny via Wikimedia Commons
-----
JUNE 30, 2023
The Jerusalem municipal elections are
scheduled for October 31, 2023, but the Palestinian Authority (PA) is already
warning Arab residents of Jerusalem against participating as candidates or
voters.
In fact, the Palestinian Supreme Fatwa
Council has issued a fatwa — an Islamic religious ruling — prohibiting
participation in the elections, stating that it “constitutes a violation of
religious law”:
Headline: “The [Palestinian Supreme]
Fatwa Council bans participating in the elections of the occupation’s
municipality in Jerusalem,both as candidates and as voters”
Text: “The Palestinian Supreme Fatwa
Council confirmed the fatwa that it issued, which bans participating or running
in the elections for the occupation’s municipality in Jerusalem. It explained
that this constitutes a violation of religious law and of the national consensus.”
[emphasis added]
[WAFA, official PA news agency, June 15,
2023]
Mahmoud Al-Habbash, the PA Supreme
Shariah Judge and PA leader Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and
Islamic Relations, stressed that any participation in the elections “constitutes
a betrayal of Allah,” as well as of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad and “the blood of
the Martyrs, and the sacrifice of the Jihad fighters”:
Al-Habbash expressed appreciation for
the fatwa issued by the Palestinian [Supreme] Fatwa Council, which defined
participation in these elections as a crime, because it constitutes a violation
of the national position and recognition of the occupation’s legitimacy. He
emphasized that this also constitutes a betrayal of Allah and His Messenger
[Muhammad], the blood of the Martyrs, and the sacrifice of the Jihad fighters
carrying out Ribat [i.e., religious conflict over land claimed to be Islamic].
[emphasis sadded]
[Ma’an, independent Palestinian news
agency, June 20, 2023]
Abbas’ advisor’s words that
participating in the elections constitutes “recognition of the occupation’s
[i.e., Israel’s] legitimacy,” is consistent with the PA and Fatah’s denial of
Israel’s right to exist: “Israel’s very existence contradicts international
law.” [Facebook page of the Fatah Commission of Information and Culture, Oct.
10, 2022]
Al-Habbash also stated that anyone who
takes part in the elections “will lose his national identity and his
Palestinian affiliation.”
One person who might decide to go
against the fatwa is Israeli Arab lawyer Walid Abu Tayeh, who has announced his
“intention to run for mayor” and argued why:
Abu Tayeh asked PA leader Abbas for his
“blessing and consent” for his and other Jerusalem Arabs’ participation in the
elections, and summarized Abbas’ five-point answer as follows:
Despite Abbas’ answer that Abu Tayeh
would “not get the green light” from the PLO and the PA, Abu Tayeh wrote on
social media on June 13, 2023, that he had information that the PA authorities
“do not oppose” participation in the elections.
Abu Tayeh added that “this position
constitutes a pragmatic turning point” in the PA’s attitude to participation in
the elections.
It seems that Abu Tayeh’s interpretation
of the PA’s stand on this question prompted the Palestinian Supreme Fatwa
Council to issue the explicit fatwa on June 15, 2023, forbidding any
participation in the elections.
Palestinian Media Watch documented a
similar PA prohibition against participation in the Jerusalem municipal
elections in 2018, which the Palestinian Supreme Fatwa Council said at the time
was “forbidden by religious law.” Those threats were a success, as only 1.5% of
Jerusalem Arabs voted in the elections.
The author is a senior analyst at
Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article first appeared.
Source: algemeiner.com
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https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/06/30/abbas-advisor-arab-participation-in-jerusalem-municipal-elections-is-betrayal-of-allah-and-a-crime/
--------
India
2019 Video From Rajasthan Shared As Muslims Boycotting Hindus in Bengaluru
30 June 2023
An old video of a group of Muslims
announcing an economic boycott of Hindus in Rajasthan is being shared online as
a recent incident from Bengaluru. BOOM found that the incident took place in
Barmer, Rajasthan, in 2019. In the video, a man is heard appealing to the crowd
to not take their business to any petrol pumps and medical stores owned by
Hindus, or even ride autos or taxis operated by them. He is then heard saying
that if the people follow this, they will attain jannat and receive Allah's
blessing. A user on Twitter that claims the video is recent wrote,
"Bengaluru: Muslims planning complete boycott of Hindus. "We must
swear by prophet Muhammad and his children that we Momins will not get petrol
at Hindu pumps, buy medicine from Hindu shops, or ride in their vehicles. If
you boycott Hindus, then Allah will allow us into jannat.""
FACT-CHECK BOOM found that the video was
taken in June 2019 and is from Barmer district in Rajasthan. A keyword search
of the video on Facebook led us to a post from July 2019 that carried the same
video.
Another keyword search of the incident
in Hindi using this date led us to another post around the same time that
shared the same video and mentioned that the incident is from Gagariya in
Ramsar, Barmer.
Using this information, we found a tweet
by the official handle of Barmer Police posted on March 15, 2023. In the tweet,
the handle had responded to the same video and mentioned that the incident is
from 2019 when a person died after being hit by a private bus near the Gagariya
petrol pump in June. It was then that the family members of the deceased
organised this demonstration where the man is seen calling for the boycott.
"The above video is from Bhojariya village near the Bijrad police station.
On June 28, 2019, one person died and three persons were injured due to an
accident in a private bus in front of the petrol pump in Gagariya village,
which comes under the jurisdiction of Ramsar Police," the tweet read in
Hindi.
"The relatives of the deceased made
these demands during the funeral to protest the incident. That was when this
speech was given by one of the relatives. At that time action was taken as per
the rules," the tweets by Barmer Police further specified. BOOM had
debunked the same video in March this year when it went viral as a recent
incident. We had then reached out to Bijrad Police who confirmed the video was
old and shot in 2019, while informing that action was taken against the man
speaking in the video. The family of the individual deceased in the road
accident filed an FIR at Ramsar police station on June 28, a copy of which was
procured by BOOM.
Source: boomlive.in
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.boomlive.in/fact-check/muslims-boycott-hindu-petrol-pumps-medical-store-bengaluru-fact-check-22405
--------
Uttarakhand UCC Panel Studied Laws In
Turkiye, Bangladesh Among 10 Nations
Jul 01, 2023
Aditi Tandon
Uttarakhand appears on track to enact
India’s first legislation on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) with the committee
examining the issue announcing completion of the draft code and its “very early
submission to the state government”.
“The drafting of the proposed UCC for
Uttarakhand is now complete. The report of the expert committee along with the
draft code will very soon be printed and submitted to the Uttarakhand
Government,” panel chairperson Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (Retd) said today.
The code will be the first UCC draft in
India, where people of different religions practise different personal laws.
In finalising a code for Uttarakhand,
the panel studied personal laws of 10 countries, including Muslim-majority
Indonesia, Bangladesh and Turkiye, besides the US and others. The panel also
looked at personal laws in Suriname, a society with several indigenous people.
All eyes are on whether the committee fixes the minimum legal marriageable age
for all citizens irrespective of faith, recommends safeguards in inter faith
marriages and live in relationships, and abolishes polyandry and polygamy.
The Uttarakhand UCC once enacted is
expected to guide the Law Commission of India currently gathering public
responses on the matter.
The Law Commission members had on June 2
met with the Uttarakhand panel experts to discuss the issue.
The Uttarakhand panel reviewed 2,31,000
written submissions on the subject and held 63 meetings. A panel sub-committee
conducted 163 meetings with 20,000 persons.
Desai said the panel engaged in
interactions with leaders of political parties, state statutory commissions and
religious denominations, besides visiting 40 places in BJP-ruled Uttarakhand to
debate the code and elicit responses.
“We got an overwhelmingly positive
response to the code. There was some shade of resistance, which is natural.
Once enacted, the UCC will strengthen India’s secular fabric. Our exercise was
guided solely by the need for gender equality and elimination of arbitrariness
and discrimination in personal laws,” Desai said.
The panel’s mandate is to look at laws
governing marriage, divorce, property rights, succession laws, inheritance and
adoption across faiths for the people of Uttarakhand, identify gaps and
consider an umbrella legislation.
Discussion on July 3
The parliamentary panel on law and
justice has called Law Commission members to discuss the UCC on July 3.
Notified last year
The Uttarakhand Government had notified
the committee on May 27, 2022
Its first meeting was held on July 4,
2022
Source: tribuneindia.com
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https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/uttarakhand-ucc-panel-studied-laws-in-turkiye-bangladesh-among-10-nations-521675
--------
Visakhapatnam: Uniform Civil Code should
not be implemented in haste, says North Andhra Muslim JAC
‘Equality is needed within the community
but not between different communities’
June 30, 2023
The greatness of India lies in its unity
in diversity. The BJP government’s efforts to pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
in a hurry before the elections is a far-fetched idea, which undermines the
plurality of India and its cultures, said leaders of North Andhra Muslim JAC.
Uniformity could be maintained, but the
personal laws of different religions should not be touched. Equality is needed
within the community but not between different communities, they said at a
media conference here on Friday.
Former MLA SA Rahaman said that the UCC
should not be seen from the perspective of Hindu-Muslim divide as it would have
far-reaching ramifications. The Adivasis, for example, follow diverse
traditions and cultures. Then there were other religions like Sikhs, Jains and
Buddhists, who follow different traditions. “There should be widespread
discussions, and a broad consensus should be arrived at before going ahead with
the plan. The Supreme Court had also ruled against mixing of religion and State
power. In any case, a decision on it should be taken only after the next
general elections,” he said.
Dr. Rahaman alleged that Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, who chants the mantra of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ during his
trips abroad, sings a different tune in India. He alleged that the BJP has
raked up the UCC issue now with an eye on vote bank politics. “This is not the
time for UCC. The issue can be taken up after broad discussions with all
communities and all sections of the people, based on the recommendations of the
Law Commission of India.
GVMC Corporator Mohd. Sadiq recalled
that the First Law Commission had noted in 1834 that no uniformity could be
ensured in the issue of marriage, divorce, adoption and succession as these
four were based on personal laws. He said that UCC was a sensitive issue and it
was wrong to bring it ahead of the general elections. It also violates Articles
25, 26 and 29 of the Constitution.
Advocate IM Ahmed wondered as to how the
Centre would implement the UCC, without even bringing a draft on it. He sought
that the Centre should release the draft and hold widespread debates on it
before going ahead with the proposal.
Source: thehindu.com
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/visakhapatnam-uniform-civil-code-should-not-be-implemented-in-haste-says-north-andhra-muslim-jac/article67026653.ece
--------
UCC row: "CPI(M) has become a
Muslim party," Kerala BJP chief hits out at CM Vijayan
Jul 01, 2023
(/topic/uniform-civil-code)Uniform Civil
Code (/topic/uniform-civil-code) (UCC) row, BJP Kerala president K Surendran on
Friday slammed Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan
(/topic/pinarayi-vijayan) for his stand on UCC.
"CPI(M) has become a Muslim party.
The latest example of this is Pinarayi Vijayan (/topic/pinarayi-vijayan)'s
stand against the uniform civil code," he said.
He further alleged that the goal of the
Chief Minister of Kerala is to polarise Muslims.
"Pinarayi Vijayan
(/topic/pinarayi-vijayan)'s goal is the polarisation of Muslims. No Muslim
parent will accept a triple talaq. Likewise, no Muslim parent will accept
discrimination against girls in property rights," said Kerala BJP state
president.
K Surendran further said that
"Prime Minister (/topic/prime-minister) Narendra Modi
(/topic/narendra-modi) supports the uniform civil code for social
equality."
Earlier, Kerala Chief Minister
(/topic/kerala-chief-minister) Pinarayi Vijayan (/topic/pinarayi-vijayan) said
on Friday that the (/topic/uniform- civil-code)Uniform Civil Code
(/topic/uniform-civil-code) (UCC) is on the "electoral agenda" of the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"Triggering debates around the (/topic/uniform-civil-code)Uniform
Civil Code (/topic/uniform-civil-code) is an electoral ploy by the Sangh
Parivar to press their majoritarian agenda for deepening the communal divide.
Let's oppose any attempts to undermine India's pluralism and support reforms
through democratic discussions
within communities," Kerala's CM tweeted.
Earlier on June 27, batting for the UCC,
Prime Minister (/topic/prime- minister) Narendra Modi (/topic/narendra-modi)
said that the country cannot be run with "two laws" when the
Constitution of India talks about equality for all. He asked how different
rules could apply to different family members.
"Will a family function if there
are two different sets of rules for people? Then how will a country run? Our
Constitution too guarantees equal rights to all people," PM Modi said.
(ANI)
Source: aninews.in
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Seven held for lynching Muslim truck
driver in Bihar
30th June 2023
PATNA: Police in Bihar's Saran district
on Friday arrested seven persons on charges of lynching a 55-year-old truck
driver on suspicion of transporting beef in his vehicle on the intervening
night of Wednesday and Thursday.
The deceased was identified as
Zahiruddin, a resident of Majhwalia village in Saran district.
Saran superintendent of police Gaurav
Mangla said that the injured driver was rushed to a nearby hospital where the
doctor declared him 'brought dead'.
Doctors suspected internal injury to be
the primary cause of his death.
The police arrested seven persons in
connection with the case. The accused have been identified as Vishal Kumar
Singh alias Vivek Singh, Mohit Kumar Singh, Pawan Kumar Singh, Prince Kumar
Singh, Rishu Kumar Singh and Prabhat Kumar.
They were in the age group of 19-25
years. They were booked under sections 302 (murder), 342 (wrongful
confinement), 147 & 148 (rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of Indian
Penal Code.
SP Mangla said that while six persons
have been named as accused, 20-25 others
were unidentified.
“Raids were on to arrest others involved
in the incident,” he told this reporter over phone on Friday.
Police investigation revealed that
Zahiruddin used to transport bones to a licensed Mathura based factory using
bones for medicinal purposes.
“There was nothing unusual in it,” an
investigating officer said.
The police later contacted the owner of
the factory Mohammad Haider, who alleged that the driver was thrashed in front
of the police personnel, a charge denied by Saran district police officials. He
revealed to the police that the deceased driver was transporting bones for his
industrial unit.
Cattle bones are used to make gelatine
for the pharmaceutical industry. Gelatine is used to make capsules and also in
cosmetics, health supplements and some other medicinal products.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/jun/30/seven-held-for-lynching-muslim-truck-driver-in-bihar-2590164.html
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Europe
German Muslims Face Racism,
Discrimination Every Day: ReportBy The Interior Ministry
30 Jun 2023
Muslims in Germany often face rampant
discrimination, hatred and sometimes violence in their daily lives, according
to a new report commissioned by the interior ministry in Berlin.
The Independent Group of Experts on
Muslim Hostility (UEM) analysed scientific studies, police crime statistics and
documentation of anti-Muslim incidents by anti-discrimination agencies,
counselling centres and nongovernmental organisations.
The comprehensive 400-page report
published by the 12-member independent panel took three years to complete. The
findings were presented at the interior ministry on Thursday.
At least one-third of Muslims in Germany
have experienced hostility because of their religion, the UEM said. The
experts, however, asserted the real numbers are likely higher since only 10
percent of Muslims appear to report hostility and hate crimes against them.
“Muslim life belongs to Germany as a
matter of course,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said in a statement.
“Many of the 5.5 million Muslims in
Germany experience exclusion and discrimination in everyday life – up to and
including hatred and violence,” she said upon receiving the report. “It is very
important to make this visible and to raise awareness of resentment that is
still widespread,” she added.
German Muslims are not only exposed to
blunt racism but also to daily stereotyping from kindergarten to old age, the
experts said.
Even German-born Muslims were widely
seen as “foreign” and Islam was perceived as a “backward religion”; women
wearing traditional headscarves faced “particularly dramatic forms of
hostility”, the report said.
In an analysis of popular culture, the
report found nearly 90 percent of films the panel watched presented a negative
view of Muslims, often associating them with “terror attacks, wars and
oppression of women”.
Former Interior Minister Horst Seehofer
launched the commission in 2020 after a far-right German killed 10 people and
wounded five others in an anti-Muslim shooting spree in the central city of
Hanau.
The attack shocked the country and
prompted rights groups to sound the alarm about Islamophobic sentiment in
Germany.
‘Structural discrimination’
Saba-Nur Cheema, one of the 12 experts
on the panel said the report also revealed details about prejudice towards
Muslims that she called “anonymous and subtle”.
“[According to the report] almost half
of the population in Germany believes Islam does not belong to Germany … or
one-third of the population felt alien [in Germany] …. because of the Muslims
living here,” she told Al Jazeera.
Moreover, Cheema said the report found
some 40 percent of people in the country would not accept a Muslim mayor. The
expert said such attitudes affect the everyday lives of Muslims in the country.
“It’s something which we call structural discrimination – where Muslims are
excluded from employment and or when they look for housing.”
The commission recommended the
government create a task force to address bias against Muslims and a central
clearinghouse to collect complaints.
Furthermore, training was needed at
daycare centres and schools, police stations, government offices, media outlets
and entertainment companies to combat the negative image of Muslims while
textbooks and lesson plans should be overhauled.
Germany’s Muslim community is diverse
with the majority claiming Turkish roots. Others originally emigrated from
Arabic countries such as Morocco or Lebanon. Many first came to West Germany
more than 60 years ago, when they were recruited as “guest workers” to help the
country advance economically.
Source: aljazeera.com
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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/30/german-muslims-face-everyday-racism-discrimination-report
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France deploys 45,000 police, armoured
vehicles to quell riots
July 1, 2023
France deployed 45,000 police officers
and some armoured vehicles on the streets on Saturday as riots rocked French
cities for a fourth night over a teenager’s fatal shooting by an officer during
a traffic stop.
Buildings and vehicles have been torched
and stores looted, and the violence has plunged President Emmanuel Macron into
the gravest crisis of his leadership since the Yellow Vest protests that
started in 2018.
Unrest has flared nationwide, including
in cities such as Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Strasbourg and Lille as well as
Paris where Nahel M., a 17-year-old of Algerian and Moroccan descent, was shot
on Tuesday in the Nanterre suburb.
His death, caught on video, has
reignited longstanding complaints by poor and racially mixed urban communities
of police violence and racism.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said
early on Saturday that 270 people had been arrested on Friday night, bringing
the total to more than 1,100 since unrest ignited.
Friday night’s arrests included 80
people in the southern city of Marseille, France’s second-largest and home to
many people of North African descent.
Social media images showed an explosion
rocking Marseille’s old port area. City authorities said they were
investigating the cause but did not believe there were any casualties.
Rioters in central Marseille looted a
gun store and stole some hunting rifles but no ammunition, police said. One
individual was arrested with a rifle likely from the store, police said. The
store was now being guarded by police.
Call for more troops
Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan called on
the national government to immediately send additional troops. “The scenes of
pillaging and violence are unacceptable,” he said in a tweet late on Friday.
Three police officers were slightly wounded
early on Saturday. A police helicopter flew overhead.
In Lyon, France’s third-largest city,
the gendarme’s police force deployed armoured personnel carriers and a
helicopter to quell the unrest.
Darmanin asked local authorities across
France to halt bus and tram traffic from 9pm and said 45,000 officers were
being deployed, 5,000 more than on Thursday.
“The next hours will be decisive and I
know I can count on your flawless efforts,” he wrote to firefighters and police
officers.
Asked on TF1’s main evening television
news programme whether the government could declare a state of emergency,
Darmanin said: “Quite simply, we’re not ruling out any hypothesis and we’ll see
after tonight what the President of the Republic chooses.”
In Paris, police cleared protesters from
the iconic central Place de la Concorde square on Friday night after an
impromptu demonstration.
More than 200 police officers have been
injured since the unrest erupted and hundreds of rioters and have been
arrested, Darmanin said, adding their average age was 17.
Macron earlier urged parents to keep
children off the streets.
Players from the national French soccer
team issued a rare statement calling for calm. “Violence must stop to leave way
for mourning, dialogue and reconstruction,” they said, in a statement posted on
star KylianMbappe’s Instagram account.
Looters have ransacked dozens of shops
and torched some 2,000 vehicles since the riots started.
Events including two concerts at the
Stade de France on the outskirts of the capital were cancelled. Tour de France
organisers said they were ready to adapt to any situation when the bicycle race
enters the country on Monday after starting in the Spanish city of Bilbao.
Macron has a crisis meeting
Macron left a European Union summit in
Brussels early to attend a second cabinet crisis meeting in two days.
He has asked social media to remove “the
most sensitive” footage of rioting and to disclose the identities of users
fomenting violence.
Darmanin met representatives from Meta,
Twitter, Snapchat and TikTok. Snapchat said it had zero tolerance for content
that promoted violence.
A friend of the victim’s family, Mohamed
Jakoubi, who watched Nahel grow up, said the rage was fuelled by a sense of
injustice after incidents of police violence against minority ethnic
communities, many from former French colonies.
“We are fed up, we are French too. We
are against violence, we are not scum,” he said.
Macron denies there is systemic racism
inside law enforcement agencies.
Videos on social media showed urban landscapes
ablaze. A tram was set alight in the eastern city of Lyon and 12 buses were
gutted in a depot in Aubervilliers, northern Paris.
Some tourists were worried, and others
were supportive of protesters.
“Racism and problems with the police and
minorities is an important topic going on and it’s important to address it,” US
tourist Enzo Santo Domingo said in Paris.
Some Western governments warned citizens
to be cautious.
In Geneva, the UN rights office
emphasised the importance of peaceful assembly and urged French authorities to
ensure that the use of force by police was non-discriminatory.
“This is a moment for the country to
seriously address the deep issues of racism and racial discrimination in law
enforcement,” spokesperson RavinaShamdasani said.
The policeman whom prosecutors say
acknowledged firing a lethal shot at the teenager is in preventive custody
under formal investigation for voluntary homicide — equivalent to being charged
under Anglo-Saxon jurisdictions.
His lawyer, Laurent-Franck Lienard, said
his client had aimed at the driver’s leg but was bumped when the car took off,
causing him to shoot towards his chest.
“Obviously (the officer) didn’t want to
kill the driver,” Lienard said on BFM TV.
The unrest has revived memories of three
weeks of nationwide riots in 2005 that forced then-President Jacques Chirac to
declare a state of emergency following the death of two young men electrocuted
in a power substation as they hid from police.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1762391/france-deploys-45000-police-armoured-vehicles-to-quell-riots
--------
Swedish PM says 'no need to insult'
others after Quran demo
30 June, 2023
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson
on Friday distanced himself from this week's protest at which a Quran was
burned outside a Stockholm mosque, which sparked outrage in parts of the Muslim
world.
"It is difficult to say what the
consequences will be. I think there are many people who have reason to reflect,"
Kristersson told a press conference.
"This is a serious security
question. There's no need to insult other people," the right-wing head of
government said.
On Wednesday, after being granted a
permit to protest by Swedish police, Iraqi refugee SalwanMomika stomped on a
copy of the Quran and set several pages alight outside Stockholm's largest
mosque on Wednesday.
The incident, which coincided with the
start of the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Adha and the end of the annual
pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, sparked protests in Iraq and elsewhere.
Kristersson called for calm and
reflection.
Swedish police had granted Momika, 37,
permission to stage his protest in line with free speech protections.
They later said they had launched an
investigation into "agitation against an ethnic group", noting that
Momika had burnt pages from the Islamic holy book very close to the mosque.
"I think that just because some
things are legal, they are not necessarily appropriate," Kristersson said
on Friday.
In Iraq, protesters on Thursday briefly
breached the Swedish embassy in Baghdad.
"It is of course completely
unacceptable to have people who unlawfully break into Swedish embassies in
other countries," Kristersson said.
Authorisation for Momika's demonstration
came two weeks after a Swedish appeals court rejected a police decision to deny
permits for two protests in Stockholm which were to include Quran burnings.
Police had at the time cited security
concerns, following a Quran burning outside Turkey's embassy in January which
led to weeks of protests, calls for a boycott of Swedish goods and further
stalled Sweden's NATO membership bid – which is being blocked by Turkey.
After the January burning, Turkey
temporarily broke off NATO admission talks with Sweden.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
has condemned the latest Quran burning.
Kristersson stressed it was too early to
say what the consequences of this week's events would be.
"I think we should focus on the
right things now. It's important that Sweden becomes a member of NATO. We have
important and large issues to deal with," he said.
Source: newarab.com
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First ever family fun day by youth group
The Young Khadims at Ghamkol Sharif Mosque
30 June 2023
A family fun day kicked off a new ‘My
Masjid My Future’ scheme at the Ghamkol Sharif Mosque in Newbold on Sunday 18
June.
The fun day was the first by a new community
youth group, The Young Khadims, which work together with the local mosques and
the community for bettering society.
The ‘My Masjid My Future’ scheme
encourages the local community to make use of the local mosques through
different facilities such as their car parks, community halls and classrooms.
This first event saw people come and attend from all walks of life.
Jamal Aziz, of The Young Khadims, said:
“The was some uncertainty initially about the event, given the weather we had
before but the weather was on our side. The turnout was amazing as people
turned up in numbers; the kids loved meeting Mickey Mouse and stallholders came
not only from Rochdale but the likes of Bolton, Manchester and Bradford.
“We would like to thank the Ghamkol
Sharif Mosque for giving us the opportunity to hold this funday, the local
councillors for their advice, the community for their support, the stallholders
for being part of the success.
“Finally, we would like to thank The
Young Khadim volunteers who made sure everything was going as planned
throughout the event by helping residents and attendees with car parking,
running the bouncy castle and overall managing the event: Ahmad Jamal, Umar
Farooq, Faisal Mohammed, Saqib Saadiq, Hashim Mohammed, Junaid Qamar, Subhaan Abbas,
FurqaanDitta, Roohan Arshad and Bilal Amin.”
Khadim is the plural of the Arabic work
‘khidmah’ which means service; the group’s motto is “to selflessly serve
society.”
The Young Khadims was launched in
December 2022, with members’ ages ranging from 14-23. Since the launch, the
group has carried out events like feeding the homeless, a sleepover at a
mosque, a funeral and educational workshop, and youth and community iftars.
They have also held charity fundraisers
and hosted shows on a local radio station.
The Young Khadims will carry on more
events under the ‘My Masjid My Future’ scheme during the summer to help bring
communities together.
Source: rochdaleonline.co.uk
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https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/152297/first-ever-family-fun-day-by-youth-group-the-young-khadims-at-ghamkol-sharif-mosque
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Four men guilty over French far-right
terror plot against Jewish and Muslim targets
JULY 1, 2023
PARIS, France — A Paris court Friday
sentenced to prison four men from a French neo-Nazi group who discussed attacks
on mosques and Jewish targets in an online chat group.
A 27-year-old former voluntary police
officer accused of being the ringleader got 18 years in jail, the longest term,
with the judge concluding he had “an undeniable influence over the group.”
Named as Alexandre Gilet, he was
arrested after police learned he had ordered equipment that could be used for
making explosives and was found in possession of weapons, including two
Kalashnikov machine guns.
The other three, one of whom was a minor
at the time, were given lighter prison terms ranging from five to three years,
but are expected to serve non-custodial sentences.
Prosecutors alleged during the trial
that the four men, now aged between 22 and 28, joined a private internet chat
group called “Operation WaffenKraft,” where talks “very quickly turned to the
preparation of terrorist projects.”
The Waffen-SS was the military branch of
the Nazi’s elite SS corps, which was founded by Adolf Hitler.
The chat group discussed targets,
including mosques as well as the headquarters of the Jewish council (CRIF) and
the office of the anti-Jewish discrimination league (LICRA).
Source: timesofisrael.com
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https://www.timesofisrael.com/four-men-guilty-over-french-far-right-terror-plot-against-jewish-and-muslim-targets/
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Africa
GovernorBala MohammedOf Bauchi
StateGifts 300 Riyals Each To 3,000 Bauchi Pilgrims In Mecca
June 30, 2023
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State
has distributed 300 Saudi Riyals to each of the more than 3,000 Bauchi pilgrims
in the holy land of Mecca.
This is contained in a statement issued
by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, MuktharGidado,
on Friday in Bauchi.
Mr Gidado said that the governor made
the donation when he visited Bauchi camp in the holy land to interact with the
pilgrims.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that
300 Saudi Riyals is equivalent to N75,000.
Mr Gidado said that the gesture by the
governor was to compliment the expenses incurred by the pilgrims during their
stay in the holy land.
He said that the governor, during the
visit to the pilgrims’ tent in Muna, appreciated them for their good conduct in
Saudi Arabia.
“Mohammed commended them for respecting
the authorities, both in Nigeria and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“He assured that his administration
would not relent in supporting the state pilgrims’ welfare board in order to
provide best services to pilgrims,” he said.
Mr Gidado also said the that the state
government would partner the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, to
address some of the challenges being experienced by the state’s Hajj commission
in the hold land.
He said that the governor expressed his
profound gratitude to the pilgrims for their prayers for the success of his
administration and urged them to sustain the tempo.
Source: dailynigerian.com
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https://dailynigerian.com/bala-mohammed-gifts-riyals/
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Sallah: Don’t Desecrate Muslim Prayer
Ground, MURIC Warns Osun Politicians
Jul 1, 2023
The Muslim Rights Concern ((MURIC) has
warned politicians in Osun State against desecrating the Muslim prayer ground.
The warning came after the clash between the state governor, AdemolaAdeleke and
Senator AjibolaBashiru at the Oshogbo Muslim prayer ground on Wednesday, 28th
June, 2023.
The Executive Director of MURIC,
Professor Ishaq Akintola described the incident as a show of shame.
“A clash occurred at the Muslim prayer
ground, Oshogbo, yesterday, Wednesday, 28th June, 2023 between Governor
AdemolaAdeleke of Osun State and a prominent senator, AjibolaBashiru.
“Senator AjibolaBashiru allegedly
arrived at the Muslim prayer ground, Osogbo, earlier than the governor. Reports
say he sat on the reserved front-row seat but a protocol of Adeleke approached
to inform him it was the seat kept for the Governor.
“He changed his seat to another front
row seat, which the protocol still opposed. In our opinion, that was the first
wrong step and it was taken by the governor’s protocol.
“We strongly believe that a senator is
also a distinguished personality who should not be disgraced at such a public
function. Therefore the governor’s protocol should have allowed him to use the
second seat occupied by him. Our sincere position is that the senator had
respected the governor by leaving the seat which the protocol claimed was reserved
for the governor.
“There was no need for the governor’s
protocol to insist that the senator should leave the front row completely. The
governor’s protocol was overzealous and he threw diplomacy to the winds. It was
at that point that the wrong step was taken. A senator is not a Mr. Nobody. He
should have been accorded his own respect as well particularly since he had
respected the office of the governor by leaving his (the governor’s) seat.
“Unlike in other places of worship, no
front rows are reserved for any individual inside mosques because all are equal
in Islam. The Glorious Qur’an 49:13 says, ‘Oh mankind, we created you from a
single male and female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may
know each other. The most honoured among you in the sight of Allah are the most
righteous and Allah has full knowledge of what you do.’
“Even Prophet Muhammad asserted clearly,
emphatically and authoritatively that all men are equal. ‘You are all equal’,
he said, ‘like the teeth of a comb. There is no difference between an Arab and
a non-Arab except by righteousness (taqwah)…’
“Therefore there is nothing wrong if
both the governor and the senator are on the front row. What happened yesterday
at the Muslim prayer ground in Oshogbo was a show of shame. It is also a
security lapse because the state security apparel should have foreseen that
ugly development and made adequate provision for it. There would not have been
a clash if the governor’s protocol and the state’s security apparatus had
worked together on the arrangements and taken strategic positions before the
arrival of worshippers.
“MURIC condemns this manifestation of
political Islam in negative form. Governor Adeleke should not have left the
prayer ground if he was there to worship Allah, no matter what happened.
Adeleke should tell us loud and clear where he belongs. All politicians should
drop their political garbs in their party secretariat. They are brothers and
sisters once they enter the prayer ground as Muslims, if indeed they truly belong
to the Islamic faith.
“Politicians in Osun State should not
desecrate the Muslim prayer ground again. They should not use political
differences to permeate and consequently rupture the fabrics of the Muslim
community.”
Recalled that this year’s edition of
Eid-el-Kabir almost turned sour for the governor who allegedly escaped
assassination at the state capital’s Prayer Ground, Osogbo, where he had joined
the Muslims for prayers to mark Eid -el-Kabir.
The attack was disclosed via a statement
by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
“The governor is safe, God preserved him
and his team from the attack,” he said.
“My good people of Osun, I appeal for
calm and urge us to continue to celebrate the Sallah festival in peace. I am
safe by the special grace of God. I have directed security agencies to arrest
those behind the incident and get them to face the wrath of the law. The
Commissioner of Police has been directed to arrest those involved no matter how
highly placed,” said the governor.
The statement further explained that the
“Governor arrived at the venue hoping to observe the Eid prayers, was
practically surrounded by armed thugs, prompting security men to ferry the
Governor into his jeep.
“For the second time, the Governor
attempted to enter the praying field but the encirclement by armed thugs was
already visible. It was at that point that the Governor had to leave the
praying ground.
“Members of the public will recall an
earlier security alert on an evil plot to destabilise the peace and stability
of Osun State.
“The government particularly notes with
shock and surprise the role played by former Senator AjibolaBashiru who took
over the space reserved for the Governor at the prayer ground. All efforts to
get the former Senator to vacate the space proved abortive.
“PDP members who agitated for respect
for the office of the Governor were beaten up. It was a scene of chaos by the
time the Governor arrived for the prayer,” the statement alleged.
Responding to the alleged assassination,
Senator AjibolaBasiru debunked the allegation that some people attempted to
assassinate the governor, saying that the person that issued the statement
needed a psychiatric examination.
He said, “If anybody says that
AjibolaBasiru attempt to assassinate the governor of Osun State, the person
needs psychiatric examination. I never saw the governor today and I’m not sure
the governor set his eyes on me today. But today, I was assaulted by thugs of
PDP led by MuniruRaji at the praying ground where I was sitting to pray.
“I did not see any protocols but yet,
MuniruRaji brought thugs that I should stand up from where I wanted to pray and
I prayed at the same spot. I did not see the governor. I did not know whether
he come or he did not come. I did not fight anybody. The thugs removed my
turban. They tried to take me away but the worshippers stood against them. If
they say somebody wants to assassinate the governor, that means something is
wrong with that governor if he allows such a statement to be issued on his
behalf.
“I was invited by the police and the
matter was resolved amicably. We told them that it was the overzealous
supporters of the governor who fomented trouble,” Basiru added.
Source: independent.ng
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Muslims must honour parents, obey them
with devotion, say Imams
July 1, 2023
Imams yesterday called upon Muslims to
draw inspiration from Prophet Ismail’s (pbuh) unwavering obedience who
willingly accepted Allah the
Almighty’s command and remained loyal to
his father, Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh), even in the face of sacrifice.
Imams made the call during the Friday
sermon in commemmoration of Aidiladha or the Feast of Sacrifice. The sermon
emphasised the deep love and sacrifices parents make which often go unnoticed.
Imams stressed that it is obligatory for
Muslims to be dutiful to their parents and treat them with kindness and
respect. “Both parents serve as a means for individuals to enter paradise,
provided they are obedient and uphold the principles of goodness, obeying their
parents’ instructions as long as they align with the teachings of Islam.”
Imparting a sound education,
particularly religious knowledge, to children was emphasised as crucial. The
sermon highlighted the elevated status of a child who is devoted to their
parents in the eyes of Allah the Almighty. – Azlan Othman
Source: borneobulletin.com.bn
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https://borneobulletin.com.bn/muslims-must-honour-parents-obey-them-with-devotion-say-imams/
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Mideast
OIC plans emergency meeting over Qur'an
desecration in Sweden
Jul 1, 2023
TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) – The Organization
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has decided to hold an emergency meeting over the
recent desecration of the Holy Qur'an in the Swedish capital of Stockholm.
Reporting on Friday, the official Saudi
Press Agency (SPA) said the intergovernmental body's Executive Committee was to
convene next week "under invitation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and
the President of the [OIC's] Islamic Summit" to discuss the act of
sacrilege.
In a repeated and state-authorized
instance of sacrilege against the Muslim holy book, two men stood outside the
Stockholm Central Mosque during the incident on Wednesday and burned a copy of
the holy book following a go-ahead given by a Swedish court.
The move was made to coincide with the
Muslim festivity of Eid al-Adha, which marks the conclusion of the annual Hajj
pilgrimage that is partaken by millions of Muslims from across the world.
"The meeting will be held in its
(the OIC's) headquarters in [the Saudi port city of] Jeddah and will discuss
the consequences of the burning of a copy of the Holy Qur'an in Sweden on the
first day of Eid Al-Adha," the SPA said.
"The meeting next week is scheduled
to discuss the measures to be taken against the heinous act and to adopt a
collective position on the necessary course of action," the report added.
The decision by the OIC followed a phone
call between Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and the OIC
Secretary-General HisseinBrahim Taha, during which the Iranian top diplomat
proposed that the OIC's foreign ministers hold an emergency meeting at the
earliest opportunity to address the desecration.
The act of desecration has opened the
floodgates of protest across the Muslim world.
On Thursday, Iran's Foreign Ministry
summoned Sweden's chargé d'affaires in the capital Tehran in protest at the
blasphemous act committed against the Muslim holy book.
Also on Friday, Iran's President Ebrahim
Raeisi said the Muslim world would never overlook the recent act of sacrilege
against "the most valuable divine book" in a Western country that
claims to defend free expression.
"An insult to our beloved Qur'an is
an insult to all divine religions, humanity, and all divine values, which the
Islamic society will not tolerate," he said.
Source: en.mehrnews.com/
Please
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/202631/OIC-plans-emergency-meeting-over-Qur-an-desecration-in-Sweden
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Tehran Welcomes Better Ties With
Regional, Muslim States
June 30, 2023
Iran’s top diplomat stressed that the
Islamic Republic welcomes expansion and normalization of its relations with
other regional and Muslim countries, including Egypt and Morocco.
Foreign Minister Hossein
Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks during a meeting with ambassadors, charges
d'affaires and heads of diplomatic missions from Islamic countries in Tehran on
Thursday on the occasion of Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), IRNA reported.
Amir-Abdollahian also expressed
satisfaction with the restoration of Iran’s ties with Saudi Arabia through
diplomacy and dialogue.
On June 17, the Saudi foreign minister
made his first visit to Iran since the two West Asian powers agreed to restore
ties following a seven-year rupture.
In a rapprochement deal signed in China
on March 10, Tehran and Riyadh agreed on the need to respect each other’s
national sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of
one another.
“In the path of political independence,
we will allow neither the West, nor the East, to dominate our country, the
sovereignty of the Islamic Republic, and the people of Iran. In line with our
interests, however … we welcome expansion of ties with both the East and the
West,” Amir-Abdollahian asserted.
“I emphasize that the Islamic world, the
region and the neighbors are considered an important foreign policy priority of
our government, in addition to strong contacts with all parts of the world.”
In addition, the top diplomat called on
the Islamic world to unite against “malicious” plots orchestrated by enemies
and the Zionist lobby to destabilize their countries.
He stressed that the enemies of the
Muslim Ummah have elaborate schemes to divide Muslim nations.
“Our collective efforts must be directed
toward thwarting the schemes of enemies of Islam and the Zionist lobby, which
seek to divide Muslim nations, including Sudan,” he stated, highlighting their
failure to achieve their objectives in previous conflicts such as those in
Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq.
Amir-Abdollahian reiterated that the
issue of Palestine remains the primary concern and top priority for the Muslim
world.
Referring to a recent meeting with his
Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Iran’s top diplomat said
the two sides agreed that the Muslim world should remain vigilant in the face
of the Israeli regime’s actions against Palestinians.
Iran and Saudi Arabia also agreed to
keep supporting the oppressed people of Palestine “with a stronger and more
expressive voice,” he added.
Source: financialtribune.com
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https://financialtribune.com/articles/national/118865/tehran-welcomes-better-ties-with-regional-muslim-states
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Iran Blasts Sweden for Allowing
Sacrilege of Holy Qur'an
2023-June-30
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister
Hossein Amir Abdollahian in a Twitter message strongly blasted the Swedish
government for allowing and supporting the sacrilege of the Holy Qur'an.
"The Muslim world categorically
condemns insult to holy scriptures & Quran. Allowing sacrilege & insult
to Quran under any justification by Sweden is unacceptable," Amir
Abdollahian tweeted on Thursday.
"Misusing democracy & freedom
for such behavior would just only incite terrorism & extremism. The West
only burns its fingers," the Iranian foreign minister added.
In a relevant development on Thursday,
Iranian foreign ministry summoned Sweden’s charge d’affaires in protest at
burning of the Holy Qur'an and the silence and passivity of the Swedish
officials unacceptable behavior.
The director of the Western Europe
Division of the Iranian foreign ministry summoned the Swedish diplomat in the
absence of Sweden's ambassador to Tehran on Thursday.
The Swedish diplomat was presented with
an official protest note.
The Iranian foreign ministry's diplomat
condemned the sacrilege of the Holy Qur'an and the passive stance and silence
of the Swedish government for violators of the most basic human rights which is
respecting the religious and divine values.
Also earlier on Thursday, Iranian
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kana'ani strongly condemned the latest
state-authorized insult to the Holy Quran in Sweden, urging the European
country to take responsibility and address the issue seriously.
“Creating a platform for the repetition
of sacrilege against celestial sanctities, especially during the sacred days of
the Islamic world and the gathering of millions of Muslims at the world
congress of hajj, is a provocative, unacceptable act,” Kana'ani said.
In a court-authorized act of sacrilege
against the Muslim holy book, two men stood outside the Swedish capital of
Stockholm's central mosque on Wednesday and burned a copy of the Quran.
The move was coincided with the Muslim
festivity of Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), which marks the conclusion of
the annual hajj pilgrimage.
“Insulting heavenly scriptures is a
manifestation of violence, hatred, and contrary to the fundamental values of
human rights,” Kanaani stated, adding that the Iranian government and nation,
like other Muslims and free thinkers around the world, “do not tolerate such
insults.”
Source: farsnews.ir
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https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14020409000191/Iran-Blass-Sweden-fr-Allwing-Sacrilege-f-Hly-Qr
--------
Iran president condemns insult to Quran
in Sweden, saying Muslims not to forget it
June 30, 2023
Raisi said on Friday the enemy is
insulting the Islamic sanctities under the guise of defending freedom.
He added that the sacrilege of the Quran
broke the hearts of all Muslims and followers of other religions.
The Iranian president said the
desecration of the Quran is the desecration of all religions and humanity.
He stressed that the Islamic societies
definitely will not forgive the insult.
Raisi further maintained that the false
defenders of freedom of speech defile Islamic sanctities due to their arrogant
nature, adding that they lie when they claim to be for free speech.
The burning of the Quran outside a
mosque in Sweden during Al-Adha Eid, one of the holiest days in Islam, sparked
outrage Thursday in many Muslim countries.
The two men behind it were granted a
permit to do so by the Swedish police after a court in the country ruled that
banning it would impinge on the right to freedom of speech.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry also
condemned the sacrilegious act and summoned Sweden’s Charge D’affaires in
Tehran over the insulting move.
Many other Muslim countries including
Turkey also deplored the burning of the Quran.
Source: ifpnews.com
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://ifpnews.com/iran-president-insult-quran-sweden-muslims-forget/
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Pictures| 40,000 Palestinians Pray in
Al-Aqsa Mosque
30 June, 2023
Over 40,000 Palestinian citizens from
the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem, and 1948-occupied Palestinian territories
performed Friday, June 30, 2023, the Al-Jum’a prayer in the blessed Al-Aqsa
Mosque.
Source: daysofpalestine.ps
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https://daysofpalestine.ps/40000-palestinians-pray-in-al-aqsa-mosque/
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Human Rights Ministry condemns Sweden's
permission to burn Holy Qur'an copies
[01/July/2023]
SANA'A July 01. 2023 (Saba)-The Ministry
of Human Rights condemned the Swedish authorities for allowing extremists to
burn copies of the Holy Qur'an, with the protection of the Swedish police.
In a statement, a copy of which was
received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the ministry denounced the Swedish
authorities' encouragement of extremists to commit these violations and racist
practices that deliberately offend Muslims' feelings and sanctities, foremost
of which is the Holy Qur'an.
The statement considered the Swedish
government's supervision of this crime, and its approval of licensing such
crimes, a dangerous escalation aimed at legitimizing acts of incitement against
Muslims in Sweden.
It pointed out that this offensive and
insulting act, in addition to that it constitutes a violation of the freedom of
religious belief and the practice of religious rites, exposes the falsity of
claims to respect the other and undermines the foundations of coexistence,
dialogue and building to promote international justice and peace.
The statement also warned against
provoking the feelings of Muslims, anti-Islam, and escalating hate speech
against them under the pretext of supporting freedom of expression.
He pointed out that the desecration of
sacred books, places of worship, or harm to them, divine laws, or religious
symbols leads to incitement to violence, in addition to harming the inherent
human dignity that is based on emotional dignity and peace that is based in all
parts of the world on religions and beliefs.
The statement called on the United
Nations, governments, organizations, institutions, and international and
regional organizations to adopt an international agreement based on respect for
laws and beliefs, and everything that would impose firm and deterrent measures
against the planners and perpetrators of acts of violence and incitement
against religions.
Source: saba.ye
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3249340.htm
--------
Arab World
Saudi Minister Of Islamic Affairs
Stresses Importance Of Teaching True Islam During A Meeting With Islamic
Personalities
30 Jun, 2023
The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawa
and Guidance, and the General Supervisor of the Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques' Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visits, Dr. Abdullatif bin
Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh, met on the second day of the days of Tashreeq in his
office at the Ministry's headquarters in Mina with 20 international
personalities who were hosted by the program, implemented and administered by
the ministry hosting 4,951 pilgrims from 92 countries from around the world.
At the outset of the meeting, the
minister welcomed the guests to the Kingdom, highlighting its great
appreciation and passion for all Muslims. He explained that the program is the
outcome of a decade-long effort under the directives of the Custodian of the
Two Holy Mosques to invite guests from around the world to perform Hajj every
year at his own expense, which the Ministry is tasked with its implementation.
He praised the elaborate work and
unwavering support by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown
Prince to harness all capabilities to serve the pilgrims and launch huge
projects that made the Hajj journey successful and comfortable.
The minister indicated that scholars
have a great role to play in spreading the message of tolerant Islam based on
moderation without extremism, as well as their duties in fighting extremist
ideas and attempts to exploit Islam to serve their agendas, advising them to
preach to their fellow Muslims on the true values of Islam and clarify its
principles, namely the Muslim’s obligation to complete Hajj if it is affordable
to do so.
The program's guests praised the efforts
made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al
Saud and HRH the Crown Prince for the service to Islam and Muslims, and their
keenness to serve the Two Holy Mosques and the holy sites. They also expressed
their admiration for the amount of development they have accomplished during
this Hajj season and the services and efforts provided to them since their
arrival to the Kingdom.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
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http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/271b50e7b9c7444f9a02be03a3b2bfc9
--------
Ministry of Islamic Affairs to Gift 2
Million Copies of Holy Quran to Departing Pilgrims
30 Jun, 2023
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawa
and Guidance, will start today distributing two million copies of the Holy
Quran as a gift from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for pilgrims
departing to their home countries from the King Abdulaziz International
Airport, the Red-Sea Jeddah Islamic Port and other land and air crossings as
well as public employees who worked in this year’s Hajj season.
The ministry said that the gift, which
comes as an implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is published by the King Fahd
Complex for Publishing the Holy Quran in different sizes and 76 international
languages catering to the many nationalities of pilgrims.
The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawa
and Guidance, Sheikh Dr Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh extended his
thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al
Saud and HRH Crown Prince, for the great support and special attention they pay
to serve Islam and Muslims and the pilgrims globally.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
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http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/a627e2181cf144929c457f7d9b3bbf88
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Custodian of Two Holy Mosques
Congratulates President of Democratic Republic of Congo on Independence Day
30 Jun, 2023
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has sent a cable of congratulations to
President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the
occasion of his country's independence day.
The King expressed his sincere
congratulations and best wishes of constant good health and happiness to the
President, and the government and friendly people of the Democratic Republic of
the Congo continued progress and prosperity.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
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http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/71a02554f93148eaa112fc9c60eb42be
--------
South Asia
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan leader
issues Eid message to Ummah
30th June 2023
On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, the
leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), Sheikh Hibatullah
Akhundzada, has issued a message to the Muslims of Afghanistan and the wider
Ummah.
Sheikh Hibatullah said that since the
IEA came to power the Islamic system has been restored and preserved; Shari’ah
law has been implemented; independence, security, and economic self-sufficiency
has been attained; and women have been protected.
He added that orphans’ rights have been
preserved, beggars have been assisted, and drugs have been eradicated.
And he urged the Ummah to establish good
relations with the Islamic Emirate and to keep Afghanistan in their prayers.
Here is an abridged version of his
speech:
“To the mujahid and believing people of
Afghanistan and to all the Muslims of the world…
“That these days of worship and
sacrifice are coming to our afflicted nation while our country is enjoying the
Islamic system and universal peace, our countrymen should thank Allah Almighty
so that we deserve more divine rewards.
“Praise be to Allah, the Islamic system
has been restored under the rule of the Islamic Emirate, the holy Islamic law
has been announced and implemented, and important measures have been taken for
the elevation of religious rituals and the development and strengthening of
religious centers. Religious reforms are taking place in legislation,
governance, judiciary, economy, culture and other fields of life. These are all
the goals and values for which our believing people have fought for a long time
and made great sacrifices.
“At the national level, the independence
and independence of Afghanistan has been secured once again, Islamic
brotherhood and national unity have been strengthened, all kinds of prejudices
such as race, language and direction have been eliminated, the territorial
integrity of the country has been preserved and all borders have been firmly
established. It is defended and protected. The national assets of the country,
such as customs and tax revenues, mines, emirate lands, forests and other
properties that are the common property of the nation, have been taken away
from private users and powerful people and have been protected as the assets of
Bait Al-Mal.
“Under the rule of the Islamic Emirate,
necessary measures have been taken to save women from forced marriage and other
traditional oppressions, including giving them away in badu, and all their
Shariah rights have been secured. As a part of the society, important measures
have been taken for the reformation of women, hijab, chastity, avoiding mixing
and providing a happy life under the shadow of Islamic Sharia. The negative
effects of the 20-year occupation related to women’s hijab and misogyny are
about to end. With the issuance of the six-article decree on women’s rights,
the status of women as a free and honourable human being has been restored and
all institutions have been obliged to help women in securing marriage,
inheritance and other rights.
“With the functioning of Sharia courts,
the Holy Sharia has once again been put into practice. Those religious orders,
sharia orders, limits and retribution that were not possible to be implemented,
God bless you, now you can see the implementation with your own eyes. Likewise,
the great duty of Ambar al-Ma’roof and Nahi an al-Munkar is being carried out.
In this section, according to the principles of Islamic da’wah, measures are
taken for the purpose of reforming the society, according to the principles of
moderation, expediency and compassion, thanks to which the society is reformed
day by day and the denials are about to end.
“In the economic field, it can be said
that all the predictions that predicted a complete economic collapse and global
crisis have been proven wrong by the grace of Allah. Thanks to the Islamic Emirate’s
wise measures, sincerity and transparency, economic collapse was prevented. For
the first time in the recent history of the country, the country has become
economically self-sufficient, and important arrangements have been started and
implemented in the fields of reconstruction, agriculture, irrigation, sugar
making, mining and other areas.
“The Islamic Emirate calls on all
investors and national businessmen to fulfill their obligations in the
development and development of the country by investing in various fields for
the purpose of further development in the economic sector and to eliminate the
economic problems of the citizens. to pay The Islamic Emirate is committed to
their security and respect for all their rights, and all Emirate institutions are
obliged to provide the necessary facilities to investors in the field of the
country’s prosperity and economic development.
“Since several decades of war have
passed in our country and there are hundreds of thousands of orphans, widows
and poor people, the Islamic Emirate is strongly committed to providing their
rights and helping them. Also, I call upon the well-off wealthy citizens and
especially their relatives not to forget the poor orphans, to pay full
attention to their care, education and assistance. After decades of war, peace
has come to the whole country and the Islamic system has become dominant, so we
request all those who threaten peace to start a prosperous life in their own
country with their fellow countrymen. And to help in the stability of peace,
for the interests of foreigners, it does not harm the peace.
“Considerable measures have been taken
to divert beggars from begging and thousands of beggars who have been
identified as needy are being given assistance by the Islamic Emirate. However,
in order to prevent professional and unnecessary beggars, there is a need for
the cooperation of scholars, imams of mosques, and other effective persons, who
are involved in explaining the evil of begging, encouraging awareness and work
and occupation.
“Thanks to the constructive and useful
measures of the Islamic Emirate, the problem of drugs has been eliminated.
According to the Islamic guidelines, the honorable citizens have turned to
alternative livelihoods without international cooperation and the benefits of
this measure are becoming more and more apparent. Also, the import, production
and use of all kinds of drugs has been banned, thank God, many citizens,
especially the youth, have been saved from harm.
“Many related institutions of the
Islamic Emirate have worked to treat those citizens who were addicted to drugs
and other drugs during the 20-year period of occupation, to return to health,
awareness and normal life. These activities are going on regularly.
“Since many rights of the faithful were destroyed
during the 20-year occupation and the assets of Bait Al-Mal were seized by the
powerful, the Islamic Emirate has appointed a special commission to restore the
seized lands to compensate for these losses. So far, hundreds of thousands of
acres of seized land have been secured and freed from usurpation. Since the
prevention of oppression and extortion is a general duty, I call on all
citizens to cooperate with the Anti-Extortion Commission, so that the people’s
and treasury’s assets are freed from usurpation and the rights reach their
rightful owners.
“The Islamic Emirate wants good and
constructive political and economic relations with the whole world, especially
the Islamic countries, and has fulfilled its obligation in this regard. Just as
we do not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, in the same way
we do not allow others to interfere in our internal affairs under any pretext
or title or give us instructions.
“My advice to the officials of the
Islamic Emirate is to seriously follow your obligations in all areas of
governance for the service, security and welfare of the believing people. Open
your doors to the people, do the work in an efficient and urgent manner, never
treat the people in such a way that the people consider themselves less than
responsible or outsiders. This is the same people who sacrificed themselves,
their wealth, their homes, and their children to the Mujahideen during the
20-year Jihad and were present for any sacrifice…
“I instruct the security officials to
pay full attention to the well-being, service and safety of their faithful
especially during Eid. Take all necessary measures for the happiness and peace
of the countrymen. Ask the families of martyrs, disabled and orphans and help
them as much as you can.
“Faithful countrymen! It is your and our
joint responsibility to protect, nurture and serve our Islamic system. This
system has been achieved at the cost of the blood of thousands of martyrs and
the great fatigue and sacrifices of the Mujahid people. Let us all agree to
protect it. Let us dare to stand by each other like brothers, defeat all the
conspiracies of the enemies, appreciate security, prosperity, population and
public service and work together to make them stronger.
“It is a matter of gratitude that tens
of thousands of pilgrims from our country went to Baitullah Sharif to perform
the great duty of Hajj. It is served with full attention by the officials of
the emirate and all the necessary facilities have been provided to it. I
request the pilgrims from all over the world to pray for the entire Islamic
Ummah and especially for our afflicted people and country, so that Allah may
grant them happiness in this world and the hereafter.
“We strongly condemn Israel’s atrocities
against women, children and common defenseless Muslims of Palestine and we ask
other countries to do their duty to prevent this great human crime and barbaric
atrocities.
“We request the people and the
government of the Islamic country of Sudan to abandon their differences and
wars, to work together for unity, security and brotherhood, but in general, the
solution to all the problems and troubles of the Islamic Ummah lies with them.
There is a consensus that every Muslim has an obligation to achieve this great
goal, which he must fulfill with understanding and sincerity and feeling, so
that the division of selfish people can be broken and Muslim peoples can reach
consensus. May the Islamic brotherhood be blessed.
“Finally, once again, I congratulate all
the believers and the noble people on Eid. May Allah allow us to celebrate our
holidays forever in the shadow of complete independence and Islamic system.
AsalaamuAlaykum.”
Source: 5pillarsuk.com
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https://5pillarsuk.com/2023/06/30/islamic-emirate-of-afghanistan-leader-issues-eid-message-to-ummah/
--------
Islamic Emirate Called IEP’s Findings on
Afghanistan 'Unjust'
01-07-23
The Islamic Emirates reacted to the
recent “Global Peace Index 2022” of the Institute for Economics and Peace
(IEP), saying that the findings regarding Afghanistan are “unjust”.
The IEP said in the “Global Peace Index
2022" that Afghanistan is the “least peaceful country in the world for the
fifth consecutive year, followed by Yemen, Syria, Russia and South Sudan.”
All of these countries have been among
the ten least peaceful countries for the last three years, according to the
IEP.
The IEP said that Afghanistan recorded
the largest reduction in deaths from armed conflict in 2022 with
conflict-related deaths falling 90.6 per cent, from almost 43,000 to just over
4,000.
“Afghanistan recorded the fifth largest
improvement in peacefulness in the 2023 GPI, however it remains the least
peaceful country in the world. Although violence is still widespread throughout
the country, the level of conflict has dropped considerably since the
withdrawal of US troops in August 2021, and the subsequent Taliban takeover of
the government,” the Index cited.
According to the IEP, the perceptions of
criminality of Afghan civilians improved slightly, with the number of people
who say they felt unsafe walking alone falling from 84 per cent to 77 percent.
The intensity of internal conflict
improved, owing to fewer reported instances of hostilities between the Taliban
and the National Resistance Front over the past year, the Index reads.
“Terrorist incidents in Afghanistan fell
by 75 percent in 2022, with deaths from terrorism falling 58 per cent, leading
to improvements on the terrorism impact and internal conflicts fought
indicators,” the Index said.
The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman
Zabiullah Mujahid said that the terrorist incidents have dropped over “99
percent” compared to “what is stated in the report”.
“They said that the number of casualties
went up. They still say 4,000 civilian casualties -- it is untrue. We may have
casualties up to 1,000. There have been some Daesh attacks in the past years or
one last year, but (Daesh) is controlled.
“There is insecurity in Afghanistan at
the moment, but Afghanistan is not the most insecure country in the world. We
should observe between security and safety,” said Sarwar Niazai, a political
analyst.
The IEP said that the security situation
in Afghanistan remains uncertain, “with an escalation in conflict between ISK
and the Taliban remaining a strong possibility.”
“Various terrorist groups can take
advantage of the poverty and misery of people and can bring back the proxy war
of the world’s power to our soil and can make Afghanistan insecure,” said Andar
Khan Ahmad, political analyst.
According to the IEP, while the conflict
in Ukraine has had wide media coverage, a number of other internal conflicts
around the world have recorded substantial declines in deaths, such as in
Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria and Somali.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-183992
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Kabul Residents Complain of Delayed
Passport Distribution
01-07-23
The residents of capital Kabul expressed
concerns over the slowness in the process of passport distribution, calling on
the interim government to take the issue seriously.
The applicants, who were interviewed by
TOLOnews, said they are facing severe problems in the issuance of their passports.
“The process of passport distribution
should be accelerated. The people are facing problems. This is the legitimate
right of the people and citizens,” said Habib Rahman, a resident of Kabul.
“The people have medical patients and
want to go abroad. I applied for a passport about one year ago, but it has yet
to be implemented,” said Khalilullah, a resident of Kabul.
Passport applicants have been attempting
to get passports for many years, but they have not received them.
“It has been 15 months since I filled
out an online form for my passport, but I have yet to get it. There are many
people and crowds here,” said Shadab, an applicant.
The General Directorate of Passports
spokesman, NoorullahPatman, said that the process of passport distribution has
been continuing at the normal level.
“The department of passports is working
to bring facilities for the people and give passports to those countrymen who
need it. There are many applicants, and we are working based on a plan,” he
said.
Based on the numbers of his department,
between 8,000 to 10,000 passports are distributed on a daily basis in Kabul and
the provinces. The department said that efforts are underway to create four
other centers for passport distribution in the capital.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-183991
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25 Political Figures, Officials Returned
Last Month: Commission
01-07-23
The "Commission for the Return and
Communications with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures” said that at
least 25 Afghans including political figures, former government officials and
parliament members have returned to Afghanistan within the past month.
The commission’s spokesman, Ahmadullah
Wassiq, said these individuals had left Afghanistan after the former government
collapsed but returned through the mediation of the commission.
“Senior officials such as ministers,
directors, deputy ministers, provincial governors and provincial security
chiefs were among these officials,” Wassiq said.
According to the commission, hundreds of
political figures and former officials have received forms to return to
Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate’s
spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that many figures who are abroad are seeking
to return to the country.
“For those who left (the country) and
feel threatened, the main goal of the commission is to eliminate their concerns
about risks. I assure you that we will welcome them,” Mujahid said.
An Afghan figure who lives abroad said
that the political figures, former officials and professional figures who
return to Afghanistan should be given jobs in government institutions.
“The wishes of the Afghan people should
be fulfilled and also plans should be implemented to solve the current
challenges that engulf Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Hakim Torsan, a political
figure.
Based on the statistics of the
commission, more than 520 political figures and former officials have returned
to Afghanistan since the establishment of the commission.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-183993
---------
Afghan Acting Defense Minister Meets
Saudi Crown Prince At Hajj
June 30, 2023
Afghanistan acting Minster of Defense
met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown prince during a banquet for officials and foreign
guests participating in this year’s Hajj.
The meeting between Mohammad Yaqub
Mujahid and Mohammad bin Salman reportedly took place on Thursday, according to
a tweet from Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
According to Mujahid, Mohammad bin
Salman also entertained the presidents of Pakistan, Senegal, Bangladesh, and
the King of Malaysia, among other high-ranking international dignitaries.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/afghan-acting-defense-minister-meets-saudi-crown-prince-at-hajj/
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Beneath symbolism and praises,
Bangladesh’s ties with U.S. take a tumble
Bilateral relations suffered a big jolt
after the U.S. imposed sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion, an anti-crime
and anti-terrorism taskforce, and seven of its current and former officers,
citing “serious human rights violations”; then came a new coercive visa policy
June 30, 2023
More than a year ago, the U.S.
celebrated 50 years of friendship with Bangladesh, feting the South Asian
nation’s emergence from the dark days of the Liberation War and its stunning
economic transformation in the five decades that followed.
Since 1972, the U.S. has provided more
than $8 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh. Washington has
partnered with Dhaka to save lives following deadly cyclones and combat
terrorism and human trafficking. Most recently, the U.S. provided more than 61
million COVID-19 vaccines. Bangladesh was the largest recipient of U.S.-donated
vaccines worldwide.
“That is what friends do,” U.S.
Ambassador Peter Haas wrote in an article in April 2022.
Fraught relationship
Beneath this symbolism and the spectacle
of diplomatic camaraderie lurks a fraught relationship between the two
countries. And the pivot of the relationship is the national election due in
January, 2024. On May 24, Washington announced a coercive visa policy for
Bangladesh, asserting that the U.S. will restrict visas for any Bangladeshi,
believed to be responsible for undermining the democratic election process in
the country.
Analysts said the Biden administration
is trying to incentivise Bangladesh, not just the government, but the broader
political class to have a free and fair election, so that the U.S. does not
have to be put in the position of scaling back its relations with Bangladesh,
if it concludes that the election is not free and fair.
“I think that’s where this new visa
policy comes into play,” Michael Kugelman, the director of the South Asia
Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center, said in an interview, adding
that the trajectory of the relationship will be clearer after the election.
The new visa policy galvanised senior
government officials, and also the senior members of the ruling party to engage
with Western interlocutors to try to convince them that this time is going to
be different and the Awami League is “fully committed to a free and fair
election”. That rhetoric is met with a great deal of scepticism both at home
and abroad.
‘Regime change’
The subject rapidly gained traction
after an accusation by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Parliament in April that
the U.S. wanted a regime change in Bangladesh, just like in other parts of the
world. A month later, Ms. Hasina vented a similar allegation in an interview
with BBC, indicating the U.S. may not want her in power.
“There’s been so much attention on her
recent comments that have been witheringly critical of the U.S., including her
comments in Parliament. My understanding is that she has a long-standing set of
grievances against the U.S. for policies going back a number of years,” Mr.
Kugelman said. “That could impact her way of expressing herself about the
relationship, even if that doesn’t reflect the way in which Dhaka, more
broadly, would like to pursue its relationship with the US.”
The bilateral relations suffered a big
jolt after the U.S. imposed sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion, an
anti-crime and anti-terrorism taskforce, and seven of its current and former
officers, citing “serious human rights violations” by the force. Then came the
new visa policy by Washington as another shock.
On the home front, the biggest opposition
group, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), doesn’t seem to budge on its
threat to boycott the polls. The ruling party essentially hollowed out the
opposition, and there was not much energy left to push back against the
crackdown. But clearly, the BNP made a comeback at the end of last year with
sizeable anti-government protests.
Political polarisation
In the months to come, diplomats will
keep a close eye on Bangladesh, a country with deep levels of political
polarisation, as the election looms. Opposition political parties have begun to
parley with foreign diplomats, much to the chagrin of the ruling party. But
political parties’ meetings with Western diplomats, not just with the American
ambassador, in the run-up to the election are not at all out of the ordinary.
However, the boycott of the polls by the
BNP will complicate the election process in Bangladesh and put pressure on the
party itself to regain its credibility as a political force. And the Election
Commission will struggle to find a way out of the mess. “There’s no role for
the U.S. there, there should not be. Quite frankly, the U.S. has already become
controversial, or the U.S. government has already been controversial in the
eyes of many in Bangladesh for their perceived meddling in domestic politics,”
Mr. Kugelman said.
“The key political stakeholders in
Bangladesh have to work on themselves. The best way forward for the government
is to ensure a free and fair election and for the opposition to participate in
that election, no matter what its misgivings may be,” he said.
There’s the geopolitical context to the
U.S.-Bangladesh relations. As the U.S. is keen to counter China in South Asia,
it recognises that China is very active in South Asia, and the U.S. has
unofficially taken on a new policy of seeking to deepen engagement with many,
if not most, South Asian states in order to try to reduce their reliance on
China for commercial assistance.
That’s certainly the case in Bangladesh
as well. The U.S. will want to ensure that it has a deep enough relationship
with Bangladesh and Dhaka would not feel a need to “put itself more closely in
China’s embrace”.
Geopolitical power play
Clearly, Bangladesh is in the crosshairs
of a geopolitical power play when central bank Governor Abdur RoufTalukder wades
into the debate. He downplayed the importance of the country’s sovereign rating
downgrade by American credit rating company Moody’s Investors Service, saying
it was not made on economic grounds.
“Geopolitics was behind the downgrade --
it was not based on economics,” Mr Talukder said at a media briefing on June
18.
Rashed Khan Menon, the president of the
Workers Party of Bangladesh, and former minister under Ms. Hasina’s cabinet,
recently claimed in Parliament that the U.S. had set eyes on St. Martin’s
Island in the Bay of Bengal, turning the subject into a social media maelstrom.
At a media briefing on June 21, Prime Minister Hasina responded to the issue
and said she had no intention of clinging to power by “mortgaging” the country
or its resources.
Asked to comment on the subject at a
media briefing in Washington on June 26, Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the
U.S. Department of State, said the claim over St. Martin’s Island was “not
accurate”.
“We respect Bangladesh’s sovereignty,
and we have never engaged in any conversations about taking over St. Martin’s
Island. We value our partnership with Bangladesh. We strive to bolster our
relationship by working together to promote democracy, including by supporting
free and fair elections,” he said.
Despite positive and, sometimes
effusive, public messages from the Biden administration, on “strategic
partnership” between the two nations, it has been a case of one step forward,
two steps back.
“For all this progress on commercial
cooperation and diplomatic engagement, the tough line the U.S. has taken on the
values issue has really prevented relations from moving forward more,” Mr.
Kugelman said.
Source: thehindu.com
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Messi team’s Eid message sends waves of
pride across Bangladesh
June 30, 2023
DHAKA: As they woke up to observe the
second of Islam’s most important holidays, Bangladeshi football fans saw a
photo of Argentinian captain Lionel Messi, midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, and
forward Angel Di Maria with the words: “Eid Mubarak to all our friends in
Bangladesh.”
Posted on the official Twitter account
of the Argentinian national football team on Eid Al-Adha, the wishes from the
Argentine Football Association immediately went viral and drew gratitude from
Bangladeshis, whose love for La Albiceleste had a special display during the
FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year.
With the outpouring of Bangladeshi
support for Messi’s team becoming an international sensation and leading to the
reopening of the Argentinian Embassy in Dhaka in February, it came as no
surprise that the Eid wishes from La Albiceleste represented a special gesture
not just for football fans, but for all.
“It’s a matter of great recognition and
respect for us. Since we have a special place in our hearts for Latin American
football, now they reciprocated this love through Eid greetings,” Mohammed
Aslam, former captain of the Bangladesh national football team, told Arab News.
“It’s a great moment for our football
fans as well as the people of Bangladesh.”
For Rebeka Sultana Merry, a college
teacher in Jamalpur, the fact that Argentinians remembered Bangladeshis on
their religious holiday was also something to cherish as it showed that the
affection was mutual.
“During the Qatar World Cup, our
football fans showed their utmost love for the Argentina team, and now the
whole world knows that after Argentina, Bangladesh is their second largest fan
base,” she said.
“It’s a matter of great joy that the
Argentine Football Association remembered us on this auspicious occasion of Eid
Al-Adha. We feel proud of that. This sort of exchange of greetings will further
strengthen the ties.”
When Argentina played the 2022 World Cup
matches, hundreds of thousands of fans in the Muslim-majority South Asian
country gathered in the team’s sky blue and white jerseys to watch matches on
giant screens at key squares, roads and football grounds.
But Bangladeshi love for Argentine
football is not new. It dates back to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico when
Argentina won the tournament with a historic performance of its then-captain,
Diego Maradona.
It was Maradona, the player widely
regarded as one of the greatest in the history of the sport, who turned
cricket-mad Bangladeshis into Argentine football fans.
“He was above everyone. He won the
hearts of our football fans and became a popular name in every household across
our country,” said Aslam who captained Bangladesh’s team in the 1980s.
“Maradona proved that football is art.
After the World Cup of 1986, our football fans hung his posters in their living
rooms. He was an icon.”
For decades, no other football player
has charmed Bangladeshis like Maradona, until Messi came to the stage.
“I grew up watching the magical football
skills of Messi. For Maradona and Messi, I will love Argentina forever,” said
ShahriarSourov, a 15-year-old fan and aspiring football player from Dhaka.
“On Eid day, it was a big surprise for
me to see my football hero Messi greeting us. It was exciting as team Messi
remembered us. It seems that the bond between the football fans from two
different parts of the world will remain forever. It’s a kind of brotherhood.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Indo-Bangla trans-boundary 'peace park'
tag for Sundarbans in offing
Jul 1, 2023
KOLKATA: India and Bangladesh are on the
verge of declaring the Sundarbans - the world's largest mangrove forests,
spread over both countries - a trans-boundary "peace park" in order
to jointly manage the unique ecosystem, which is vulnerable to accelerated
climate change.
A senior forest official claimed the
ministries of forest and climate change of both countries had reached a
consensus on the matter. Only the foreign ministries had to give their nod.
Similar peace parks were also being considered for eco-sensitive zones along
the border regions of Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, sources said.
"At the forest force level, we have
been working very closely for years. Now, both the ministries of forest and
climate change have agreed to cooperate and are awaiting a nod from the
respective foreign ministries," SoumitraDasgupta, Bengal's forest force
head, told TOI on the sidelines of a panel discussion on the importance of the
Sundarbans, organised by the Centre for Ecological Movement.
The Sundarbans delta is a single
ecosystem, which is cleaved by the man-made national boundaries of India and
Bangladesh.
‘Rising salinity big threat to
Sundarbans ecology’ Sundarbans is a single ecosystem cleaved by the man-made
borders of India and Bangladesh. But such borders hold little meaning to its
flora and fauna. Tigers migrate between India and Bangladesh, as do other
animals. Floral species on either side, too, are the same. Both the Indian
Sundarbans and the Bangladeshi Sundarbans are World Heritage Sites. “People on
both sides of the border speak the same language and face the same problems,”
said Dasgupta. “Under the heightened impacts of climate change, we felt we must
work together in the management and protection of its biodiversity. Similar
trans-boundary peace parks are to be found in Africa and America,” he added.
The two forest forces came together for
tiger enumeration in 2018. The modalities of enumeration — through camera traps
— have been standardised across the border. Now, a lot of joint activity takes
place through well-defined protocols, including monthly meetings of officials
at the highest levels, and sharing information and expertise. A source said
there was a plan to carry out joint patrolling to prevent poaching and other
crime against wildlife.
The increasing salinity is one of the
biggest threats to the survival of its ecology, said SugataHazra, former
director of the School of Oceanography, Jadavpur University. “In 1942, a train
fell from the bridge into the river Ichhamati. That was the beginning of the
decline in freshwater flow in the Sundarbans. Now it is high time we restored
the flow of the Ichhamati. Otherwise, the cultivation of toxic ‘vannamei
shrimp’ will destroy the entire biodiversity of the Sundarbans,” he said. Atanu
Raha, former principal chief conservator of forest, said: “We periodically
assess the concentration of mangroves. While the dense mangroves decreased from
1,334sq km in 2001 to 944sq km in 2017, open mangroves increased from 105sq km
in 2001 to 418sq km in 2017. The changes in mangrove vegetation composition
pattern in different islands are due to salinity gradients.”
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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Southeast Asia
Kota Baru council cancelled indecent
dressing fine against non-Muslim woman, minister confirms
By John Bunyan
Saturday, 01 Jul 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — The Kota Baru
Municipal Council (MPKB) has agreed to cancel the fine issued against a
non-Muslim woman for indecent attire, Local Government Development Minister
NgaKor Ming said today.
According to The Star news portal, Nga
said the matter was resolved following a discussion between the ministry’s
director-general and the Kelantan local authority.
“The woman should not have paid the
fine, as she may have been misled to do so. She wore shorts in her own shop,
which sells shorts.
“If she cannot wear shorts, it means all
her stock would have to be discarded, which does not make sense. (But) the
issue is now settled,” he was quoted as saying.
Last Sunday, the council’s enforcement
officers issued the fine to the 35-year-old woman who operates a clothing
business during their inspection to the outlet along Jalan Merbau about 11am.
The woman was accused of indecent
dressing in violation of the Business and Industrial Trade By-Laws 2019.
Today, Nga said local governments must
understand the essence of the Federal Constitution when carrying out their
duties.
“Malaysia is a multi-racial country and
we need to respect each other. We respect the dress code but do not be too
enthusiastic when enforcing the law.
“The matter should not have happened and
we hope it will not recur,” he said.
Source: malaymail.com
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OJK: Sharia Banking Assets Up 15.8% to
IDR 2.3tn
1 July 2023
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Financial
Services Authority (OJK) released the 2022 Indonesian Sharia Financial
Development Report (LPKSI). The report shows that the Islamic finance
industry's assets stood at Rp2,375.84 trillion at the end of last year, up by
15.87 percent from 2021's position.
The report, with 'Empowerment of Islamic
Economic Ecosystems and Digitalization to Strengthen Islamic Finance in
Supporting National Economic Resilience' as its theme, stated that throughout
2022, Indonesia's economy was resilient amidst an ongoing post-pandemic
recovery, reaching a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 5.3 percent.
"From the perspective of
Indonesia's Islamic economy and finance, both Islamic banking, Islamic capital
markets, and the Islamic Non-Bank Financial Industry (IKNB), have proven their
resilience in adaptation strategies that are able to bring optimism in getting
through the pandemic," the report said.
The report also showed that the Islamic
capital market accounted for the biggest portion of Islamic financial assets
with 60.08 percent, recording a growth of 15.51 percent (year on year/yoy),
faster that 2021's growth rate of 14.83 percent (yoy).
"Sharia economics and finance in
Indonesia is increasingly being reckoned with internationally. In the midst of
the post-pandemic recovery period, Indonesia was able to maintain its 3rd place
on the Islamic Finance Development Indicator 2022, making it one of the best
countries in managing Islamic finance and economy," said the OJK.
Source: en.tempo.co
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Muslims in Laventille stigmatised
unfairly
2023-06-30
Members of the Masjid ul Furqan in
Picton, Laventille, Port-of-Spain, pray as they celebrate Eid-ul-Adha,
yesterday.
SHIRLEY BAHADUR
Members of the Masjid ul Furqan in
PictonLaventille, Port-of-Spain, wash parts of their body in preparation to
pray as they celebrated Eid-al-Adha yesterday.
SHIRLEY BAHADUR
Imam Abdul Haqq stirs a pot of curry
beef.
SHIRLEY BAHADUR
Amira Haqq, the wife of the Imam, cooks
a pot of channa and potatoes for a meal after prayers in celebration of Eid al
Adha, at the Masjid ul Furqan in PictonLaventille, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
SHIRLEY BAHADUR
Otto Carrington
Senior Reporter
otto.carrington@guardian.co.tt
Faced with stigma, Laventille Masjid,
Masjid ul Furqan, celebrated Eid ul Adha yesterday along with Muslims globally.
The masjid, located in Picton,
Laventille, aims to be a positive light emerging from the stigma of crime and
violence associated with the area.
During yesterday’s celebrations, Imam
Abdul Haqq, who has served as the Imam for over 10 years, said, “We cannot
change how people think about us. People will think whatever they want.
However, we can showcase through our speech and actions who we truly are.
Right? There is a perception that Muslims in this part of Port-of- Spain, or on
this hill, are associated with gangs or criminal activities. But let me clarify
something. This masjid right here? We neither entertain, support, nor tolerate
anything related to gangsterism because there is no room for it in Islam.”
He added, “Given the area’s history,
past crime situations, and certain media coverage, we have been stigmatised
unfairly. Many people were unaware of the existence of this masjid. It has been
functioning for over 14 years, starting as a small space that could barely
accommodate more than 20 people. Throughout the years, we have grown.”
The masjid observed Eid ul Adha by
performing the ritual sacrifice of an animal and celebrated with food, drinks,
and games for children. The event was open to all members of the Laventille
community.
Haqq elaborated on the significance of
Eid ul Adha, stating, “Eid ul Adha marks the culmination of the Hajj
pilgrimage, which is one of the pillars of Islam. Every Muslim is encouraged to
undertake this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime or hold the intention
of doing so. In case one is unable to perform Hajj, fasting for 10 days during
the first month of Dhul Hijjah is an alternative. On the 10th day of Dhul
Hijjah, we celebrate Eid, considered the most auspicious day of the year in
Islam.”
Tagged in:
RESPONSES
Source: guardian.co.tt
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Pakistan
President condemns desecration of Holy
Quran in Sweden
July 01, 2023
President Dr. Arif Alvi has strongly
condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden.
In a tweet, he said the painful incident
has deeply hurt the sentiments of billions of Muslims.
The President said every state must take
measures for the prevention of such Islamophobic acts.
He urged the international community to
work for promoting inter-faith harmony and dialogue to create tolerance for
each other’s religious beliefs and values.
The President stressed that humanity
must move away from acts of senseless hatred towards uniting the world in
peace.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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Latif Khosa’s house attacked at PTI
leader’s behest, suspect tells police
June 29, 2023
LAHORE: The Lahore police claimed that
the armed attack on the residence of former Punjab governor and senior lawyer
Sardar Latif Khosa was planned by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Zubair Khan
Niazi.
Addressing a press conference here on
Wednesday, Lahore Investigation DIG Kamran Adil shared the breakthrough in the
probe into the case of attack on the DHA residence of Mr Khosa, saying that the
prime suspect who had opened fire has been arrested.
The incident occurred on June 16 when
unidentified armed men opened fire at the main gate of Khosa’s residence.
In the attack, driver of Mr Khosa was
injured and a footage later showed two armed motorcyclists fleeing after the
incident.
The former governor had sharply reacted
saying those ‘irked by his speeches’, were behind the attack. Khosa had shown
to the media holes in the door of his residence saying a Kalashnikov was used
in the attack.
The DIG said the suspect told the
investigators that he was tasked with firing on the residence of senior lawyer
Aitzaz Ahsan as well.
He said the suspect was identified as
Mohsin alias Lamba, a resident of Millat Park, Samanabad, Lahore.
He had a criminal record and wanted in
14 other cases of firing lodged against him with various police stations of the
city. The suspect told the police that he had carried out the attack on the
house of Sardar Latif Khosa at the behest of PTI leader Zubair Khan Niazi.
According to the suspect, Zubair Niazi
had hired him to complete the task for Rs1 million, the DIG said.
However, he paid Rs100,000 only from the
promised amount, the suspect told the police investigators. It seemed the
motive behind the ‘planned crime’ was to create tension between the lawyers’
community and the government, the DIG said.
The police have extended scope of
investigation after the arrest of the suspect and his statement about the
involvement of Zubair Niazi in the attack.
Source: dawn.com
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PM Shehbaz to attend July 4 SCO virtual
summit on Modi’s invitation
June 30, 2023
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will
participate in the 23rd Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s
(SCO) Council of Heads of State (CHS) at the invitation of Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, according to a press release issued by the Foreign
Office (FO) on Friday.
The FO said the CHS moot, the highest
forum of the SCO, will be held in videoconference format on July 4 (Tuesday).
“The invitation to the prime minister to
attend the SCO-CHS was extended by the prime minister of India in his capacity
as the current chair of the SCO,” the press release reads.
It added that PM Shehbaz’s participation
“illustrates the high importance that Pakistan attaches to the SCO, as an
important forum for regional security and prosperity, and enhanced engagement
with the region”.
The FO said leaders will deliberate on
important global and regional issues and chart the future direction of
cooperation among SCO member states in the forthcoming CHS.
It added that the CHS will also welcome
Iran as a new SCO member this year.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
visited the Indian city of Goa last month to attend the SCO’s Council of
Foreign Ministers meeting.
“As far as the Kashmir issue, bilateral
issues between Pakistan and India and the responsibilities of multilateralism
are concerned, my conclusion after the trip is that it is a productive and
positive decision to participate in the event,” he had later said about his
trip while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Source: dawn.com
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Six terrorists killed in Tank, North
Waziristan shootouts
June 30, 2023
RAWALPINDI: At least six terrorists were
gunned down in two separate exchange of fires that took place in Tank and North
Waziristan Districts, said the military’s media wing in a statement.
The Inter-Services Public Relations
(ISPR) shared that an exchange of fire took place between the troops and
terrorists on Thursday night in the general area of Manzai, Tank District.
The security forces “effectively engaged
the terrorists’ location,” in which three miscreants were killed. Weapons and
ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists.
Meanwhile, three terrorists were killed
in “another fierce encounter” in the general area of Razmak, North Waziristan
District.
“The killed terrorists remained actively
involved in terrorist activities against security forces as well as killing of
innocent citizens. Sanitisation of the area is being carried out to eliminate
any other terrorists found in the area,” said the ISPR.
Four terrorists gunned down by security
forces in KP
This is the second time in four days
that terrorists have been gunned down by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Security forces gunned down four
terrorists, including a commander, in two separate intelligence-based
operations (IBOs) conducted on Tuesday in KP's Bajaur and Khyber districts.
In Bajaur, the operation was launched
after the security forces received a tip-off about the presence of terrorists
in the general area of Inayat Qilla.
During the operation, an intense fire
exchange took place between security forces and terrorists that resulted in the
killing of three militants, including commander Shafi.
The operation in the Khyber district was
conducted in the general area of Tirah, where a fire change took place between
the security forces and terrorists.
In the shootout, one terrorist was
killed, while another three were injured. The forces also recovered weapons and
ammunition from the killed terrorist.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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People hail signing of Staff Level
Agreement b/w Pakistan, IMF
July 01, 2023
People belonging to different sections
of society have hailed signing of Staff Level Agreement between Pakistan and
International Monetary Fund (IMF) under which Islamabad will receive three
billion dollars under Stand-By Agreement.
Prominent economist Abid Qayyum Sulehri
said it is a good step which will further result in economic stability of the
country and help Pakistan to avoid the default like situation.
Professor Waseem Shahid of Quaid-e-Azam
University Islamabad said the agreement with IMF will positively impact
Pakistan’s Foreign Exchange payments. He said it will also help easy
availability of loans from other world countries, which will end foreign
exchange crisis.
Former Senior Vice President Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce Shahid Hussain said the agreement will protect
Pakistan from the risk of default.
President Lahore Chamber of Commerce
& Industry while congratulating the government said the agreement will
reduce the inflation rate in the country. He hoped that it would also stop
brain drain which can yield positive output.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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North America
State Department Criticizes Handling of
2021 Evacuation From Afghanistan
01-07-23
(Reuters) - A U.S. State Department
report on Friday criticized the handling of the 2021 evacuation from
Afghanistan, saying decisions by President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald
Trump to withdraw troops had "serious consequences for the viability"
and security of the former U.S.-backed government.
Adverse findings in the report also
reflected badly on Secretary of State Antony Blinken, without naming him. They
included the department's failure to expand its crisis-management task force as
the Taliban advanced on Kabul in August 2021 and the lack of a senior diplomat
"to oversee all elements of the crisis response."
"Naming a 7th floor principal ...
would have improved coordination across different lines of effort," said
the report, referring to the State Department's top floor where Blinken and
senior diplomats have offices.
The review, and a similar Pentagon
study, contributed to a report released by the White House in April. But the
State Department review's critical findings were not reflected in the White
House report.
White House press secretary Karine
Jean-Pierre defended Biden's handling of the Afghan pullout.
"He had to make a decision,"
she told reporters on Friday. The United States had poured "billions of
dollars into a war with no end in sight" and that "he wanted to stop
that, he wanted to end that," she said.
Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump,
wrote in an email: "There’s only one person responsible for the disastrous
pullout of Afghanistan — Joe Biden,"
The White House report effectively
blamed the chaotic U.S. pullout and evacuation operation on a lack of planning
and troop reduction rounds by Trump following a 2020 deal with the Taliban to
withdraw U.S. forces.
"I can't speak to that internal
coordination piece and how the administration settled on the core conclusions
that it presented" in April, a senior State Department official said.
The official, briefing reporters on
condition of anonymity, declined to say why the review dated March 2022 was
withheld from release until the eve of the July 4 holiday weekend.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184000
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Man Who Attacked Muslim Lawmaker Tried
To Kiss Her, Made Lewd Comments, Police Say
Jun 30, 2023
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A man accused of
attacking a Connecticut lawmaker outside a Muslim prayer service first made
lewd comments to the woman and tried to kiss her, according to a police report.
Andrey Desmond, 30, was ordered held in
lieu of $250,000 bond at his arraignment Thursday on charges including
misdemeanor assault, unlawful restraint, breach of peace and interfering with
police.
The attack happened Wednesday morning
after State Rep. Maryam Khan, a Democrat from Windsor, attended a service
celebrating the Eid al-Adha holiday at Hartford’s XL Center arena with about
4,000 other people.
She was taking pictures with her family
outside the building when she was approached by Desmond, who directed a sexual
statement at her, according to the police report. He then followed her when she
tried to walk away from him, put his arm around her neck and tried to kiss her,
according to the report.
When Khan pulled away, Desmond slapped
her across the face and let go of her neck, causing her to fall to the ground,
suffering minor injuries, the report says.
Khan told police she does not know
Desmond.
Desmond was chased down and held by two
bystanders, one of whom kicked him in the face after he was on the ground and
had stopped fighting, police said. That man is expected to be charged with
assault, according to the report.
Police have said the incident remains
under investigation and more charges could be filed. Desmond is due back in
court on July 17.
Khan, a Democrat from Windsor, became
the first Muslim member of the Connecticut House when she won a special
election for the seat in March 2022. She did not return phone calls and email
messages Thursday. House Democratic leaders released a statement saying they
had spoken to her and while she appreciates the support she is receiving, she
also is requesting privacy.
Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont was among the
many state officials offering support to Khan on Thursday.
“It is disturbing to me that this
happened on a holy day meant to be marked by peaceful prayer,” Lamont said in
statement.
Source: huffpost.com
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ap-us-muslim-lawmaker-attacked_n_649f021ce4b0035bc5c69efa
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CAIR Calls for Probe of Possible Bias
Motive for Vandalism Targeting N.M. Mosque, Stepped-Up Patrols
June 30, 2023
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/30/2023) – The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy organization, today called on law enforcement authorities
to investigate a possible bias motive in two incidents of vandalism targeting a
New Mexico mosque in the same week. CAIR also called for stepped-up police
patrols in the area of the mosque.
Last week, vandals broke into a mosque
in Portales, N.M., and reportedly ripped copies of the Holy Quran, Islam’s
revealed text, and poured beer on its pages. (The consumption of alcohol is
prohibited in Islam.) Vandals also reportedly stabbed holes into the walls,
destroyed furniture, left trash around the building and placed a framed
rendering of Jesus Christ atop a pile of rubble.
On June 23, the vandals reportedly
returned, this time damaging the building’s AC unit. Police are investigating
the incidents but are so far not classifying the case as a hate crime.
SEE: Portales Islamic Center hit by
vandals multiple times in a week (krqe.com)
https://www.krqe.com/news/portales-islamic-center-hit-by-vandals-multiple-times-in-a-week/
In a statement, CAIR National
Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said:
“We condemn these attacks on a house of
worship and stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Portales.
Based on the actions of the vandals, we call on law enforcement authorities to
investigate a possible bias motive for these crimes. Due to the repeated
targeting of this mosque, we urge local police to step up their patrols in the
area.”
He said CAIR is urging the local Muslim
community and Islamic institutions nationwide to take extra security
precautions by using advice offered in CAIR’s booklet, “Best Practices for
Mosque and Community Safety.”
Last year, CAIR released a report,
titled “Still Suspect: The Impact of Structural Islamophobia,” documenting more
than 6,720 complaints to CAIR offices nationwide involving a range of issues
including immigration and travel, workplace discrimination, denial of public
accommodations, law enforcement and government overreach, hate and bias
incidents, incarceree rights, school incidents, anti-BDS/free speech, among
other reported issues.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil
rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American
Muslims.
La misión de CAIR esproteger las
libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y
empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstadosUnidos.
Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe to CAIR’s Email List
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters
Subscribe to CAIR’s Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe to CAIR’s YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/cairtv
Follow CAIR on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cair_national/
Donate to CAIR
https://action.cair.com/a/donate
Do you like reading CAIR press releases
and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of
defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by
making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you
make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable
goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
If you would like to join CAIR’s media
list, please sign up here:
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters —
For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
END
Source: cair.com
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/breaking-cair-calls-for-probe-of-possible-bias-motive-for-vandalism-targeting-n-m-mosque-stepped-up-patrols/
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Muslims Applaud SCOTUS Ruling For
Christian Postal Worker Who Wanted Sundays Off
June 30, 2023
The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
applauded the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of a Christian postal worker
who refused to work Sundays.
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that
companies must show “substantial increased costs” before denying a religious
exemption requested by an employee. The case originated from a lawsuit brought
in 2019 by Gerland Groff, a postal worker and an evangelical Christian, after
the USPS denied his request to have Sundays off.
MPAC was joined by the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), another Muslim advocacy group, in praising
the Supreme Court’s decision Thursday. (RELATED: ‘Faith Is Under Attack’:
Muslim Legislator Reveals Why He Stands With Catholics Against Anti-Christian
Drag Group)
“I am grateful to have had my case heard
by the U.S. Supreme Court and that they have decided to uphold religious
liberty,” Groff said in a statement following the ruling. “I hope this decision
allows others to be able to maintain their convictions without living in fear
of losing their jobs because of what they believe.”
“MPAC welcomes this ruling that upholds
the right to religious freedom for Americans of all faiths across the country,”
the group wrote on Twitter.
“The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy
organization, today applauded a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court making it
easier for employees to seek religious accommodations in the workplace,”
another Muslim advocacy group wrote in a press release.
CAIR filed an amicus curiae brief in
Groff’s case in February, pointing out that under then-current standards,
employers could deny a religious exemption if it posed a “minimal” burden to
the employer.
“Because of Hardison’s overly
deferential de minimis standard, Muslim women have lost employment
opportunities purely because the hijab is not contemplated by the employer’s
‘look’ policies,” they wrote in the brief. “They have also been kept out of
critical public institutions like public schools, law enforcement agencies, and
youth rehabilitation centers.”
Source: dailycaller.com
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https://dailycaller.com/2023/06/30/muslims-applaud-scotus-ruling-postal-worker-sunday-off/
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URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/fatwa-shahi-imam-jama-masjid-ucc/d/130114