Hate Crime In Maharashtra ‘Road Rage’: Woman, Daughter Killed , Complaint Was Registered Two Days Later
New Age Islam News Bureau
04 Oct 2024
Iqra with her husband Sadique; and the couple’s children Nadia and Ahad.
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· Hate Crime In Maharashtra ‘Road Rage’: Woman, Daughter Killed , Complaint Was Registered Two Days Later
· Indore Garba Event Cancelled; Bajrang Dal, VHP Says It Is To Promote “Love Jihad” And Spread Obscenity
· Badr Al-Din Al-Houthi: Yemen's Military Operations & Their Escalation Are Commitment Of Faith, Jihad & Sacred Obligation
· "Hamas": Ibrahimi Mosque Closure Is Crime That Will Not Succeed In Judaising Islamic Landmarks
· Security Council Backs UN Secretary-General After Israel Bans Him From Entering Country
· Official Ceremony To Commemorate The Day Maldives Embraced Islam To Be Held Saturday
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India
· Miya Muslims Of Assam: Under Constant Pressure To Prove 'Indigeneity'
· Madhya Pradesh HC Refuses to Quash FIR Against Muslim Man Accused of Abusing Hindu Gods on Instagram
· Ajit Pawar's 10% Quota Promise After Devendra Fadnavis's 'Vote Jihad' Remark
· Challenge Is To Maintain J&K Peace, Not In Favour Of Dilution Of Grid: GOC Rajiv Ghai
· Army Will Soon Be Able To Crack Encrypted Handsets Used By Terrorists In J-K: Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai
· Situation in JK peaceful but reducing troops footprints not recommended: Army commander
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Mideast
· Palestinian National Council condemns settlers' storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque
· World Bank redirects funds toward Lebanon emergency aid
· Israel bombards Beirut’s southern suburbs
· 37 killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon in past 24 hours, health ministry says
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Europe
· No, Anti-Islamophobia Envoy, Aftab Malik, Can’t ‘Prosecute’ People For Insulting Islam – Fact Check
· Tim Walz to Muslim voters in push before election: ‘Our hearts are broken’
· Anti-Muslim posters on lampposts: Chief constable seeks meeting with Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd to address 'this sort of hatred and hate crime'
· France names Russia as ‘greatest threat’
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Southeast Asia
· Indonesia Blending Sharia, Mainstream Economy: Deputy Minister
· Sharia Principle Of Tax Fairness Can Improve Welfare: Deputy Minister
· Malaysia’s iconic songket on display for the first time at the George Washington University Museum in the US
· Selangor Sultan approves fatwa branding GISBH as deviant group
· PM Anwar’s Bangladesh Visit Symbolises Malaysia’s Solidarity As First Muslim Country To Recognise Its Independence, Says Envoy
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North America
· Chairman Of US Foreign Affairs Committee Urges Biden To Speed Israel Arms Sales
· US President Biden Does Not Believe There Will Be ‘All-Out-War’ In Middle East
· As US election nears, Muslim Americans weigh potentially decisive votes
· Man faces felony charge after 'attack' on Moorhead mosque during 'crisis'
· Melania Trump is latest Republican First Lady to back abortion
· Ex-county clerk jailed for tampering with voting machines
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Pakistan
· Conventional To Islamic Mode: State Bank Of Pakistan Sets New Bank Branch Conversion Criteria
· Dozens of Imran Khan supporters, including 60 Afghans, arrested in Islamabad
· Security czar warns of 'stringent action' ahead of PTI Islamabad protest
· Fazl has no objections to constitutional court: Irfan Siddiqui
· PTI ‘Loses Faith’ In Seven MNAs, Claims ‘Contact’ With Two Govt Members
· Lawyers split over SC order in defection review
· Sherani DC survives armed attack
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Arab World
· Secretary-General Of Counter Terrorism Coalition Meets UN Anti-Terror Chief in Riyadh HQ
· Visitors to Kingdom spend more than $24bn in first half of 2024
· FEM1 shipping service to Jeddah enhances Mawani’s role
· Saudi Culinary Arts Commission broadens its global reach
· Saudi FM participates in Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha
· King Faisal Specialist Hospital is ‘catalyst for Saudi Arabia’s biotech revolution’
· Mosques of the UAE: Sharjah landmark Al Noor inspired by Ottoman grandeur
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Africa
· Tunisia Votes Sunday In Its Third Presidential Election Since The Arab Spring
· I'll Give A Two-Day Eid-Ul-Fitr Holiday For Muslims If I'm Elected As President Of Ghana In December
· Terrorism: Why Are We Not Holding Those Manufacturing Weapons? – Ezekwesili
· Libya to resume oil production after central bank dispute ends
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South Asia
· Mob Attacks: At Least 28 Beaten To Death In Sept
· Govt forms 8-member judiciary reform commission
· Bangladesh to sign extradition treaties with Maldives, Qatar
· EU helping Bangladesh in strengthening border security
· UN Donor’s Conference on Afghanistan kicks off in Dubai
· Two Afghan citizens arrested in India for drug trafficking
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hate-crime-road-rage-maharashtra/d/133357
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Hate Crime In Maharashtra ‘Road Rage’: Woman, Daughter Killed , Complaint Was Registered Two Days Later
Iqra with her husband Sadique; and the couple’s children Nadia and Ahad.
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Scroll Staff
4 October 2024
A three-year-old girl and her mother died in Maharashtra’s Latur on September 29 after five men in a car allegedly ran over a family travelling on a motorcycle, The Indian Express reported.
The men had chased the Muslim family for five km following an argument over driving.
Sadique Shaikh, who was riding the motorcycle, and his six-year-old son survived with injuries. Shaikh’s wife Iqra and daughter Nadia died.
Shaikh has alleged that the men who chased him and his family had also used communal slurs and said “Muslims need to be taught a lesson”, the newspaper reported.
The accused were arrested on charges of murder, Latur Superintendent of Police Somay Mundhe told The Indian Express. The men were identified as Digambhar Pandole, Krishna Wagh, Basvaraj Dhotre, Manoj Mane and Manoj Mudame.
“At this time, it appears to be a case of road rage,” Mundhe said when asked if the incident would be investigated as a hate crime.
The car abruptly moved in front of the motorcycle Shaikh was riding near Ausa around 8 pm on September 29, the first information report said. Ausa is located about 20 km away from Latur town.
Shaikh confronted the men in the car, who were allegedly intoxicated, he was quoted as saying. While he continued riding following the argument, the men in the vehicle chased Shaikh and his family and crashed into them near Budhada village.
While Shaikh’s family initially thought it was a road accident, upon regaining consciousness the next day, he claimed that they had been targeted based on their religious identity, The Indian Express reported.
Altaf Qazi, the family’s lawyer, alleged that communal slurs had been hurled at them because Iqra was wearing a burqa, the newspaper reported.
However, the FIR does not mention the alleged communal remarks, Newslaundry reported.
The five accused had been apprehended by residents of the area after the incident, Newslaundry reported. A purported video shows one of the accused admitting that they had deliberately crashed their car into the motorcycle, The Indian Express reported.
Shaikh’s family has alleged that the police were initially reluctant to file an FIR for murder and wanted to classify it as an ordinary incident. The complaint was registered two days later after pressure from Qazi and activists from the Muslim community.
“The police initially considered a charge of culpable homicide, despite video evidence indicating their intent,” Qazi told the newspaper. “After considerable persuasion, they agreed to charge the men with murder.”
Source: scroll.in
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Indore Garba Event Cancelled; Organisers Claim Faced Opposition For Having Muslim Man In Committee
Garba Photo: Daily Excelsior.com
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03.10.24
A garba event in Indore was cancelled on Thursday, the first day of the Navratri festival, after a right-wing outfit objected to a Muslim man on its organising committee, said the organisers.
The Muslim man said he has been associated with the folk dance programme since childhood.
Bajrang Dal had submitted a memorandum to Bhanwar Kuan police claiming that the 10-day event had been planned at Ganesh Nagar to promote “love jihad” and spread obscenity, Vishva Hindu Parishad local leader Rajesh Binjwe said.
He said Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of VHP, had urged police to ban the event organised by ‘Shikhar Garba Mandal’ saying one Feroz Khan was associated with it.
‘Love Jihad’ is an unofficial term used by right-wing groups to refer to an alleged campaign by Muslim men to convert Hindu girls under the pretext of love and marriage.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotia confirmed that they have received a memorandum from Bajrang Dal against the proposed Garba event. He said the organisers have not sought police permission for the event.
“If anyone contacts us for permission for this Garba event, it will be looked into as per the law,” he added.
Khan claimed the police had given them the permission to hold the folk dance programme but some people mounted “undue pressure” on the owner of the land where the Garba event was to be held. As a result, it has been cancelled, he said.
“We have been organising Garba events at Ganesh Nagar for the last 36 years. I have been serving in the Garba pandal since childhood. But for the first time, some people have a problem with this Garba programme because I am a Muslim,” he lamented.
Khan appealed to those objecting to the event to allow them to hold the programme so that the 250 to 300 women, who have been preparing for it for the past many days, get an opportunity to perform.
“If people have a problem with my name, I won’t set foot on the garba pandal,” he said.
Khan said he is the only Muslim in his locality and celebrates Diwali with as much enthusiasm as Eid.
Another organiser, Deepak Hardia, said, “Our pandal was decorated and ready. We had also decided on the place to install the idol of Goddess Durga on the pandal. But as we don't want to trigger any controversy in a religious event, we have dismantled the pandal and cancelled the event.” Hardia said Khan is the lone Muslim man on their committee and he has been participating in Hindu events since he was eight.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Revolution Leader : Yemen's Military Operations & Their Escalation Are Commitment Of Faith, Jihad & Sacred Obligation
The Revolution Leader, Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi,
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03 Oct 2024
Sana'a - Saba : The Revolution Leader, Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, emphasized that Yemen's military operations and escalation are a commitment of faith, jihad for the sake of God, a sacred obligation and an actual necessity.
In a speech today on the latest developments of the Israeli aggression on Gaza , Lebanon , regional and international developments, the revolutionary leader said, "Our operations and escalation are a faith commitment, jihad for the sake of God, a sacred obligation and a real necessity, and whoever does not stand the right position with his nation towards its enemies inevitably endangers his future, , this is what many peoples and countries will discover in the coming days."
"Along with our operations, we continue to develop military capabilities as part of the fifth phase of escalation against the Israeli enemy and to support the Palestinians and their dear mujahideen," he added.
The leader called on the Yemenis to come out tomorrow, Friday, in Sana'a and the provinces, to honor Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and the Palestinian, Lebanese peoples , their mujahideen, and to emphasize the steadfastness of the Yemeni position and to continue to carry the banner of jihad.
He pointed out that the outputs of the general mobilization exceeded half a million trainees, and the mobilization activities in maneuvers, military parades and military marches reached 2,851 activities, the marches, events and popular stands reached a very large level.
He warned of the consequences of failing to fulfill the sacred responsibility, which are dire and encourage the enemies and make them more greedy, adding, "We are facing the Israeli enemy and its American and British partners who are a front for criminality , tyranny and an extension of the criminal path hostile to the divine message and killers of the prophets and the righteous."
The Revolution Leader stressed that the Israeli enemy's criminal behavior since the British Mandate until today, in a brutal manner that does not conform to human values, laws, regulations and laws.
He referred to the support front in Yemen al-Iman, which carried out operations with missile shell synchronized with the second "True Promise" operation towards "Jaffa, Umm al-Rashrash and locations in the Negev desert," explaining that the Yemeni front carried out operations in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, with the number of ships targeted reaching 188 ships, and more American MQ-9 armed reconnaissance planes were shot down, bringing the total number to 11 during this year.
He also emphasized that the US and Israel sought to escalate the aggression against the Yemeni people, the Israeli and American raids this week were 39 raids.
"The targeting of Hodeida city by the Israeli and American enemy will not stop our operations and our ongoing jihad," he said.
Sayyed Abdulmalik Badreddin Al-Houthi began his speech by reviewing the major events of the past days from Thursday to Thursday, at the forefront of which was the Zionist enemy's targeting of the martyr of Islam and humanity, the martyr of Al-Quds, Al-Aqsa and Palestine, His Eminence, the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
He considered the enemy entity's targeting of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as a great crime and an injury to the entire Islamic nation, because of his great role, Islamic symbolism, importance and global, regional and local influence, foremost of which is his role in confronting the Zionist Jewish danger and inflicting defeats on the Israeli enemy.
He pointed out the importance of the role played by Sayyed Nasrallah towards Palestine, Lebanon, their neighboring countries and the entire Islamic nation, considering the Israeli enemy as a threat to Muslims. "For more than 40 years, Sayyed Nasrallah has been present in the field of jihad and confronting the Zionist threat with high effectiveness, a distinguished position and great performance," he said.
The Revolution Leader pointed out that Sayyed Nasrallah led Hezbollah's jihadist march for about 30 years with great performance, success , support from God Almighty, achieved major victories and was perfect with his leadership, faith, values, morals, rationality, insight and wisdom.
"God granted Sayyed Nasrallah high qualifications and was characterized by high leadership acumen and his relationship with the masses and society, and his interest in the popular support of Hezbollah and Lebanese society in general," he said, noting that his interest in the masses and society was based on his belief in the importance of the popular role and the high esteem, honor, love and respect he has for the community.
He added, "Sayyed Nasrallah focused on the jihadist and organizational structure of Hezbollah in addition to his wide activity and his great interest in the masses at the level of the popular incubator, and his communication with the people was strong and he made an effort to clarify the facts to them, as they are a major pillar in the field and the situation."
He pointed out that Sayyed Nasrallah's relationship with the masses is strong and their relationship with him is also strong, they reciprocate his love, respect , appreciation , trust him as well, his influence on the enemy masses was clear, and the enemy's view of him considering his high merit for his performance of his tasks and responsibilities.
Sayyed Abdulmalik Badreddin Al-Houthi stressed that the Israeli enemy's view of Sayyed Nasrallah was different from its view of many Arab leaders whom it does not care about and does not give them weight or account, as it viewed him differently and knew what he possesses of leadership ability, courage, faith, insight, rationality, wisdom, determination and steadfastness in position.
He stated that the enemy's view of Sayyed Nasrallah was different from its view of most of the leading figures in the Arab , Islamic world at the official or popular levels, and the enemy's audience of settlers used to calculate a thousand accounts for the position announced by Sayyed Nasrallah, for his words, for his promises, for his warning, for his threat, the enemy and its settlers knew his credibility in what he announced or affirmed and threatened.
He pointed out that the enemy saw in Sayyed Nasrallah the great, conscious, intelligent, adult and courageous obstacle and that is why its method was to target him with the most powerful explosives, which shows the extent of the Israeli enemy's hatred and extreme hostility towards Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
The Leader pointed out that the targeting Sayyed Nasrallah was based on an Israeli keenness to get rid of what it considers a great obstacle to its ambitions to control Palestine, Lebanon and the nation, adding, "When the enemy said that what happened is a turning point and that it seeks to change the entire Middle East, this means that it has a program targeting all the peoples and countries of our nation."
He reiterated that everything the Israeli enemy does is with the support, participation and backing of the United States. He pointed out that the enemy was surprised by Hezbollah's distinguished, effective, powerful, influential, continuous jihadist march, the more it confronted it and conspired against it, the stronger it became.
He said that Hezbollah started from faith, a just cause and moving on a correct basis, so God granted it more victories, and it was a strong front present at the level of the entire Islamic arena, and the party's jihadist march emerged distinct, pioneering, patient, steady , rational, possesses a successful, wise and effective performance in light of the many conspiracies.
"The Israeli enemy saw Sayyed Nasrallah as the biggest obstacle to its acquisition and control of the entire region in order to serve American interests," he said. He pointed out that Sayyed Hassan's role was not limited to Palestine, but he was interested in the issues of the nation from an early stage, as happened with Bosnia.
The Revolution Leader pointed out that although Sayyed Nasrallah was in a hot battle against the Israeli enemy, he was very interested in what was happening to the Muslim people in Bosnia, went to help and support the Bosnian people and send cadres and men from the party to help their mujahideen.
He pointed out that Sayyed Nasrallah remained in all stages with the causes of the peoples, up to the grievances of the Yemenis, and his role was clear, explicit, strong, and supportive of the Yemenis in every way possible, in addition to his great, distinguished and pioneering role in thwarting the plot of America and Israel to stir up sectarian strife among Muslims.
He described the dangerous and destructive project of stirring up strife among Muslims and tearing them apart as one of the most dangerous American and Israeli conspiracies aimed at destroying the nation. He pointed out that Sayyed Nasrallah had a great interest in seeking friendly and brotherly relations between Muslims and his efforts in this regard are clear and well-known, stressing that his martyrdom is a great tragedy and a loss for the nation.
"The Israeli enemy targeted Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah with great hatred, because of his great role in confronting the Israeli enemy, thwarting its plots , inflicting major and humiliating defeats on it," he added.
"The Israeli enemy has serious practical objectives in targeting Sayyed Nasrallah to target the role of Hezbollah and the Lebanese front in confronting the Israeli enemy and supporting the Palestinian people," he said.
He emphasized that Hezbollah's front, since its inception, has emerged as a strong and very effective front in confronting the Israeli enemy, and a front that has achieved the major victories known in all past stages.
"Over the course of a year, the role of the Lebanese Support Front emerged as the first role in supporting the Palestinian people as a hot, strong, effective and influential front against the enemy, which has been trying for more than 40 years to get rid of the Hezbollah Front and eliminate it," he said.
He pointed out that the Israeli enemy failed even when it targeted specific leaders or prominent figures from Hezbollah or committed mass murders. He pointed out that the conspiracies on the Lebanese front were not worked on by the Israeli alone, but the American was always with him.
"If Arab armies or other entities that are not based on faith faced what Hezbollah faced at this stage, they might have reached the point of collapse, as Arab regimes and armies collapsed in a matter of days even though they did not reach the level of difficulties that Hezbollah faced."
The Revolution Leader also emphasized that Hezbollah is steadfast , its popular support is also cohesive and confident, its front is strong and effective and cannot collapse due to storms , adversity, and the faith-based launch is a launch that connects the mujahideen nation to God Almighty, his care and support.
"One of the enemy's goals by targeting Sayyed Nasrallah was to collapse Hezbollah's front and get rid of its important role for the Palestinian cause," he said, citing what the criminal Netanyahu spoke after targeting Sayyed Nasrallah about controlling the Middle East and did not limit himself to talking about Lebanon or Palestine, because he considered Hezbollah and His Eminence the Secretary-General a major obstacle to the Israeli enemy's project, and this was one of the reasons for his assassination.
He explained that the ambitions of the Israeli enemy are aggressive, domination and acquisition, stressing that despite the great loss by the martyrdom of the Secretary General of Hezbollah, the march of Hezbollah remains steadfast, firm and effective.
The leader pointed out that Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah came within a jihadist, Hussaini faith march from the school of jihad , martyrdom, and worked in the past stages to consolidate Hussaini jihadist faith spirit as a spirit, thought, awareness, insight and conviction, to build the practical and organizational level of Hezbollah's structure.
"Hezbollah's structure is cohesive, because it is a jihadist faith structure that does not disintegrate, scatter or collapse due to storms, adversity , sorrows, and Hezbollah's public is a cohesive and strong nation in the face of challenges, storms , horrors, and has withstood the crime of the Beijer bombing and the subsequent assassinations and the crimes of large-scale destruction during these days," he said.
He spoke about the speech of Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem, which expressed confidence, cohesion and steadfastness, as well as the decision that cannot change, because it is a decision based on the faith in which Hezbollah moves.
Sayyed Abdulmalik Badreddin al-Houthi stated that the Israeli enemy turned to the ground aggression and hoped that the conditions had been prepared for it and that Hezbollah's structure had collapsed, and bet on invading Lebanon again or parts of it, but it was surprised and suffered a strong shock while it is still at the edges of the borders with occupied Palestine and even in the occupied sites.
"When the enemy wanted to begin attempts to advance, he received a strong slap and a humiliating blow from Hezbollah mujahideen, and the horror of the shock was clear, and he started talking about what happened to his army during its attempts to incursion into Lebanon as a disaster and shock," he said.
He pointed out that the state of Hezbollah's mujahideen, their cohesion and fortitude, and their readiness in abusing the Israeli enemy is the same as it was in all that he tried and failed. He added, "Hezbollah's situation did not change after the martyrdom of His Eminence the Secretary General of Hezbollah, except for the difference that they became more steadfast, determined and dedicated to work for the sake of God."
He reiterated that the mujahideen in Hezbollah have more motivation and drive after the martyrdom of the Secretary General of Hezbollah than before, and the state that is reflected in their reality is not helplessness, failure, or weakness, but determination, and keenness to perform the honorable position.
"The mujahideen in Hezbollah are more interested and daring in targeting the Israeli enemy entity and confronting it, and today they are more eager to confront it than at any previous stage, while the Israeli enemy does not understand this mujahideen nation with its spirit, faith and determination and imagines that crimes against leaders will fulfill its hope for the collapse of the rest of the nation," he said.
The Revolution Leader pointed out that days after targeting the Secretary General of Hezbollah, the enemy began to express a different logic from its arrogant and satanic logic, talking about shock and surprise, making it imperative for this enemy to understand that it will not achieve its hopes by targeting the Secretary General of Hezbollah nor by targeting its leading cadres.
He also stressed that Hezbollah is cohesive in its structure, organization and composition, firm in its position and capable, with the help of God Almighty, of achieving victory and inflicting humiliating defeats on the Israeli enemy. He pointed out that the message of Hezbollah's mujahideen to Sayyed Nasrallah, "As you always promised us victory, we promise you victory again," is the logic of continuity and stability and the path of making victory.
"Since the day Sayyed Nasrallah said, 'The time of defeats is over and the time of victories has come,' he had established this equation and it today after his martyrdom with the blessing of his sacrifices, and with the effort and work that Sayyed Nasrallah provided for decades and with the blessing of sacrifice, God will not waste his effort, jihad and sacrifice."
He explained that the impact of Sayyed Nasrallah's jihad and sacrifice in the march of the mujahideen in Hezbollah will remain in the present , the future, the Israeli and American enemy must despair and the hypocrites must despair of achieving their satanic goals and hopes to end the great role of Hezbollah.
"I assure everyone that they should be reassured at the official level in Lebanon , the rest of the Lebanese components and trust Hezbollah in its cadres, men , mujahideen, and we affirm that we are with our brothers in Hezbollah, its masses , its popular support and always support the Lebanese people, which is the case of the entire axis," he said.
"Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is aware of the sensitivity of this circumstance, and it is heading to pay attention to what is necessary in supporting Hezbollah, the responsibility of all Muslims is great to have a clear and serious position in supporting the Palestinians and supporting the Lebanese people," the Leader added.
He highlighted the great displacement of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese people, which requires humanitarian attention from all Arab and Islamic countries. He called on governments and regimes to help the Lebanese government to take care of the displaced people, who have exceeded one million.
He stressed the need for serious political , media action and a sense of responsibility in light of the complete aggression against Lebanon, stressing that the Israeli enemy is aggressing and launching a complete and comprehensive aggression against Lebanon, and therefore it is necessary to support the Lebanese people with all forms of support.
The missile strike carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran was the largest strike that the Israeli enemy has received since the beginning of its occupation of Palestine, and it covered an area throughout occupied Palestine, up to opposite Ashkelon, focused on the military bases and spy centers of the usurping entity.
He pointed out that the Iranian missiles reached 99 percent, as announced, and the video documented scenes of their arrival appeared as they pounded the Israeli bases, millions of Zionist Jews fled with great terror , clear panic to shelters, as well as Zionist criminal leaders, and Jewish Zionist soldiers lived in a state of terror in various parts of Palestine.
He pointed out that the second "True Promise" operation is the implementation of the Islamic Republic's commitment after the Israeli enemy's assassination of the Islamic nation's martyr Ismail Haniyeh and the crime of targeting Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, describing the operation as successful , powerful and not hindered by US bases despite the US repeatedly declaring that it will work to protect the Israeli enemy.
The Revolution Leader stated that Operation Honest Promise II was necessary and broke the encirclement, terrorism, intimidation and attempts to stop it by the US and its tools. He emphasized that the American protection of the Israeli enemy from the Islamic Republic's missiles has failed despite its promises and efforts to achieve this.
"Our nation always needs to have the courage to take the position that represents a realistic necessity , a religious, moral and humanitarian responsibility to deter the Israeli enemy, which can never be prevented from committing crimes and keep it from further escalation , aggression except by strong, deterrent and effective operations," he said.
He stressed the need for jihad , serious and effective action to deter the Israeli enemy. He emphasized the need for jihad , serious and effective action to deter the Israeli enemy.
"After the Iranian operation, the hearts of the Palestinian , Lebanese peoples and the peoples of our nation were filled with joy and happiness, while the hearts of the Zionists were filled with terror, fear and oppression," he added.
Sayyed Al-Qaida addressed the Islamic Resistance role in Iraq, which has carried out intensive operations over the past few days , is heading towards further escalation and high effectiveness.
He reminded everyone that Gaza front has been hot for over a year, and the mujahideen there are providing a great and distinguished model of patience, steadfastness, exceptionalism and sacrifice, and the Palestinian popular support has provided a model of cohesion and patience despite the suffering and unparalleled genocidal crimes. He pointed out that "Jaffa" operation carried out by Al-Qassam Brigades shook the Israeli enemy entity.
Source: saba.ye
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Security Council Backs UN Secretary-General After Israel Bans Him From Entering Country
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres | Photo Credit: Reuters
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October 04, 2024
NEW YORK CITY: The Security Council on Thursday affirmed its “full support” for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and said any decision not to engage with him or his office was counterproductive.
Israel on Wednesday banned Guterres from entering the country. Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared him to be persona non grata and an “anti-Israel secretary-general who lends support to terrorists,” citing as a reason what he described as the UN chief’s failure to condemn the Iranian missile attack against Israel on Tuesday.
“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel, as nearly all the countries of the world have done, does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil,” he said.
“Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without Antonio Guterres.”
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for Guterres, described Katz’s comments as political and “just one more attack on UN staff that we’ve seen from the government of Israel.” The concept of “persona non grata” does not apply to UN staff, he added.
Addressing an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday, Guterres said he had condemned a similar attack against Israel by Iran in April and added: “As should have been obvious yesterday, in the context of the condemnation I expressed, I again strongly condemn yesterday’s massive missile attack by Iran on Israel.
“These attacks, paradoxically, do not seem to support the cause of the Palestinian people or reduce their suffering.”
Guterres also criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza, describing them as “the most deadly and destructive military campaign in my years as secretary-general.”
Switzerland holds the presidency of the Security Council this month. The country’s permanent representative to the UN, Pascale Baeriswyl, said on Thursday that members of the council stressed the need for all nations to “have a productive and effective relationship with the secretary-general and to refrain from any actions that undermine his work and that of his office.”
She added: “The members of the Security Council further underscored that any decision not to engage with the UN secretary-general or the United Nations is counterproductive, especially in the context of escalating tensions in the Middle East.”
Source: arabnews.com
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"Hamas": Ibrahimi Mosque Closure Is Crime That Will Not Succeed In Judaizing Islamic Landmarks
Ibrahimi Mosque
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03 Oct 2024
Gaza - Saba : The Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" considered that the Zionist enemy's closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, today, Thursday, until next Sunday, in preparation for its conquest, is a crime , a blatant assault on a pure Islamic mosque, a violation of its sanctity and holiness.
According to Palestine Online, the movement emphasized in a press statement that the repeated closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque, the continuation of preventing the call to prayer, and the imposition of retaliatory measures against the residents are nothing but shameless Zionist policies that reveal its disregard for all international norms, and laws.
It called on the international community to take effective action to take strict measures against the fascist occupation government to stop its aggression against the Palestinian people and Islamic sanctuaries.
The movement stressed that the patient Palestinians throughout the homeland and abroad will continue to uphold their rights , defend their land and holy sites, until their rights are wrested, and comprehensive liberation and return.
Source: saba.ye
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Official Ceremony To Commemorate The Day Maldives Embraced Islam To Be Held Saturday
03 October 2024
The official ceremony to mark Maldives’ Conversion to Islam will be held on Saturday morning. The event will occur at 0900 am in Dharubaaruge’; Male’ City.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu will play a pivotal role in the ceremony. He will deliver his address and present medals, prizes and certificates to the Hafizs who have obtained the official Hafiz certifications. The President will personally award medals to 28 Hafizs at the function.
Source: presidency.gov.mv
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The 2nd of Rabi'ul Aakhir marks the day Maldives embraced Islam, and is celebrated annually.
https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/31782
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India
Miya Muslims Of Assam: Under Constant Pressure To Prove 'Indigeneity'
3 October 2024
When the eviction officials arrived in Kochutoli village of Sonarpur circle of Kamrup district in Assam on September 9, Makbul Hussain was concerned but not afraid. After all, his house was not in the 250-odd Bighas of land in the region that the officials claimed was under the “tribal belt” where land ownership is reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. On that day, about 250 houses were demolished in Kochutoli, inhabited mostly by Bengali-speaking Muslims, many of whom have been living in the area for nearly 50 years. The officials, nevertheless, returned on September 12 for further evictions and this time, the locals resisted. It was amid the ensuing clashes between police and locals that Hussain’s 17-year-old son Haidar Ali was killed, hit by a stray bullet when the police opened fire on locals. “He was not protesting. He drives an e-rickshaw and he was just returning home from work. My son was innocent and killed in cold blood,” Hussain said over the phone. Haidar was killed along with another teenager, 18-year-old Jubahir Ali, who was also part of the crowd. Juhabir had gone out to join the agitation of locals who were gathering in the village to protest against the eviction.
About 700 Miyan Muslim families reside in the Kochutoli-1 and 2 villages. Despite showing documents and land deeds or pattas, some of which date back to 1923, many of the displaced residents claim that authorities did not hesitate to demolish their homes, calling them encroachers. Hussain narrates how the police and the authorities ill-treated the locals, abused them and called them “Bangladeshi”, asking them to “go back”. He also adds that the police had caused damage to the belongings of locals and also the community well. Over 30 people have been left injured in the firing including women, many with bullet wounds.
“Some of these families have been living here for the last 40-50 years, and some even older. These people purchased the land from the tribal communities indigenous to this region at some point. Now, these people are being asked to leave their ancestral land,” says Barpeta-based activist Alamin Ahmed of the Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti. He adds that the evictions and firing are part of the larger pattern of targeted attacks against Miyan Muslim community across Upper Assam and other parts of the state, which has been witnessing a spike in communal tensions since August this year.
On August 22, several Assamese ethno-nationalist groups such as the Tai Ahom, All Tai Ahom Students’ Union, Bir Lachit Sena Asom, among others, gave calls for driving out Bengali-speaking Muslims, known as Miya, out of Upper Assam. Members of these groups demanded the expulsion of the migrant community from Upper Assam, giving them an ultimatum and a week’s time to leave the region. “Open threats were issued on social media by right wing Hindu outfits and indigenous Assamese groups,” Ahmed informs. He adds that a majority of the Muslims living in these regions including Shibsagar, Barpeta etc are working class daily wagers and climate migrants displaced from their sandbar villages due to soil erosion.
Noted poet, academic and president of the Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad, Dr Hafiz Ahmed explains that there are more than 20 lakh riverbed erosion induced Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Assam. Most of these people belong to the Miya community. “Whenever they get any land from anybody, they purchase it. They have purchased some land from some other communities in tribal belts also. These are a very poor poole, they are farmers. They do not know if these purchases are legal or illegal. They have been living there for many decades with no attempts to evict them previously,” he says.
A Rape & Hundreds Displaced
Between August 25 and August 31, though the exact numbers remain unknown, activists like Alamin Ahmed estimate that at least 1,000 Bengali-origin Muslims fled from eastern districts of Assam including Sivasagar, Jorhat, Charaideo, and Tinsukia (known collectively as Upper Assam locally) and went to the Muslim-majority central and western districts of the hill state. While authorities in Shivsagar region have been denying any evictions, local Muslim bodies like the Upper Assam United Muslim Council (representing interests of non-Miya Muslims in Assam) have acknowledged the mass exodus from Upper Assam, which is dominated primarily by ethnic Assamese communities. However, the incident that triggered the expulsion calls happened far away in the Nagaon district where a 14-year-old Hindu girl was allegedly raped by a Miya Muslim boy in Dhing village on August 22.
The news spread like wildfire on social media, leading to instant violence and propaganda against Miya Muslims, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other ministers calling it an “attack on the indigenous” people of Assam. One of the three accused arrested by Assam Police in the rape case, 24-year-old Tofazzal Islam, was found dead in a pond on August 24, allegedly killed in a police encounter. Islam, who had been arrested on August 23, was being taken by police to the location where the minor had been gang-raped, when the incident happened. While Assam Police claimed Islam died as due to drowning after jumping into a deep pond while trying to escape from police custody, Guwahati High Court has since confirmed that the deceased was not an accused and that his arrest was a case of mistaken identity. It has sent a notice to Nagaon DGP, the OC and the Principle Secretary to produce a report on the incident. Dhing locals including Islam’s family claim that the pond is not deep enough for anyone to drown in
Nevertheless, as news of the rape spread, open calls started being given social media against Miyas, portraying them as rapists and criminal interlopers. Several groups including Hindu and ingenuous organisations gave out deadlines and ultimatums to Miya Muslims, asking them to leave by August 31.
Assault & Evictions
On August 24, in Charaideo district, 15 Miya Muslim labourers who had been working as contractual labourers at a construction site were severely assaulted and abused by local goons and forced to flee. According to the victims, their contractor is BJP district president Mayur Borgohain who owes them Rs 15 lakh in wages. Accusing him of orchestrating the attacks, one of the victims who hails from Barpeta, claimed, “It is just a ploy to get away without paying us a penny. We are scared to go back.” The victims narrate how a group of armed men with faces covered with masks arrived at their lodging at the end of the day’s work and made the workers kneel on the floor. “We were beaten with sticks, pipes and stabbed at with daggers. They also had guns,” one of the victims narrated.
Alamin Ahmed, who has been handling the workers’ case legally, says that the perpetrators were likely to be members of All Assam Tai Ahom Students’ Union (AATASU), a student body of the Ahom community in Assam. “They were made to chant ‘aatasu zindabad, joi aai ahom’ while kneeling down,” he said. Though an FIR was filed in Mathurapur Police Station (case No. 29/2024 under section 190/191(2)/115(1)/196(1)/351(2) of Bhartiya Nyay Samhita), no action has yet been taken. The FIR also accuses Borhogaim of playing a role in the violence.
Activists claim that the attacks were exacerbated by the statements made by CM and other ministers to vilify the Miya community, which faces regular verbal attacks from the state government and other ethno-nationalist factions. Amidst accusations of bias by opposition parties, Himanta Biswa Sarma declared he would not allow 'Miya' Muslims to take over the state. Such statements reinforce the “outsider” image of Miyas, Ahmed claims.
He also suggested inside the Assam Assembly that “during this sensitive time, don't forcefully go where people don't want you (Miya) to. If you go against the will of the people of upper Assam, there will be no security there”.
On September 4, 28 Miya Muslim persons including nine women, were declared “non-citizens” by the quasi judicial Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs) and deported to a “detention camp”. The SP office Barpeta forwarded the alleged “doubtful citizens” to Matia Detention Camp in Goalpara, even though they were not declared foreigners. “In most cases, the authorities show no proof or basis for their claims against some person other than the fact that they are Muslim,” Ahmed adds.
Who is indigenous in Assam?
The northeastern state of Assam is a multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-religious society with a 34 per cent Muslim population (Census 2011), the second highest after the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Of these Muslims, the largest section is the Miya people (alternatively identified as Na-Asamiya or neo-Assamese by themselves), referring to the descendants of Bengali Muslim migrants originating from the contemporary Mymensingh, Rangpur, and Rajshahi Divisions of Assam.
The community settled down in the Brahmaputra Valley during the 19th-20th century when Assam was under British colonial rule and are also called ‘Char Chapori’ Muslims (referring to the sandbar islands called char chapori that these people settled in). The British government actively promoted migration of the community from the Bengal Province, with the migration continuing well into 1947.
It is this community that has become the biggest target of the FTs.
Established under the Foreigners’ (Tribunal) Order of 1964, the FTs adjudicate cases of individuals suspected to be “foreigners” in Assam. The FTs work with the Border wing of Assam Police that helps identify suspected “foreigners” who are then referred to the FTs. Following the notification of Citizenship Amendment Act in March this year, the Assam government in July asked the state’s border police to not directly refer citizenship cases of ‘Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian’ people who entered India before 2014 to FTs.
Incidentally, the BJP in Assam has also tried to woo Muslim communities other than Miya. In July 2022, the Assam government decided to give ‘indigenous’ status to five Muslim groups. These groups--Goria, Moria, Jolah/Julha (only the ones living in tea gardens), Desi and Assamese-speaking Syed communities--have been categorised as native Assamese Muslims, with no history of migration from erstwhile East Pakistan and now Bangladesh. The Miya community Muslims were not part of the list.
Earlier this year, Sarma had said that if Miya community wanted to be recognised as indigenous people of the state, "they should stop having more than two children and practising polygamy as it is not the culture of Assamese people. If they want to become indigenous, they cannot marry off their minor daughters."
Dr Hafiz Ahmed says that the term “indigenous” is a controversial one in Assam, where the “insider-outsider” debate has been central to the state’s political fabric. Much of its contemporary political rhetoric has revolved around the questions of ‘who is an outsider’. “After independence, there was an attempt to define who the indigenous people of Assam were,” he explains. The AASU said that the base year should be 1951 and all those present in the census of the 1951 would be considered indigenous. “We agreed. But because there were riots in 1950, many people who had been forced to flee Assam and hadn’t been able to return in time for the 1951 Census, which has been called the NRC, were left out. These people were nevertheless counted in 1961 Census which also noted that that many hilly areas had not been included in the census of the 1951 and were included in 1961. So what would happen to those people who were not included in 1951 NRC but were recorded in 1961?” Dr Ahmed asks.
He further questions the credentials and ulterior motives of the people deciding on questions of indigeneity. “We are as much Assamese as any other ‘indigenous’ community. This is just a ploy to politically divide Muslims and segregate the Miya community, which form a larger chunk of the state’s Muslim population. But this country is as much ours as anyone else’s,” Dr Ahmed states. The academic further adds that there should be political benchmarks for deciding questions of ingeneity.
“India got independence in 1947, the Constitution came into effect in 1952. Why can that not be the cut off?,” he asks.
Political analyst and researcher Nazimuddin Siddiqui also points out that the term “Bengali-speaking Muslim” itself is a misnomer. “There is nothing called a Bengali-speaking Muslim. It is a term that the ethno-nationalists use to reinforce the ‘outsider’ image of the Assamese Muslims. Most of these communities that are called Bengali do not speak original Bengali. All communities in Assam, including Miyas, have accepted Assamese as their mother tongue,” he states.
Moreover, the divisions between the Muslim communities are politically fraught and on ground, the condition of one minority community is no better than any other. Ultimately, the discriminatory agenda of the ruling party across the country works in Assam as well and also against these communities that are termed indigenous, says Siddique. “For instance, beef ban would affect all Muslims, including indigenous. So will laws against ‘love jihad’. Will they allow indigenous Muslims to marry Hindus? No. Now they have issued a new policy which prevents Muslims from purchasing land from Hindus. Islamophobia affects all Muslim communities, irrespective of whether they have an ‘indigenous’ tag,” he says.
Culture wars
Once a term used as a derogatory moniker to denote the people, the Miya community’s efforts – especially those of poets, artists, musicians and writers – have allowed the community to reclaim the word ‘Miya’. Incidentally, On August 31, a 31-year-old Bengali-speaking Muslim singer, Altaf Hussain, was arrested for allegedly inciting hatred against the state’s ethnic communities through a protest song he released last month. The ‘Miya Bihu’ protest song resembles a Bangladeshi protest song, asking, “Desh ta tomar baper naki? (Is this country owned by your father?). The arrest is the latest salvo in the Sarma government’s ongoing “culture wars” against the marginalised minority.
In 2022, the government had sealed a private museum in Assam’s Goalpara dedicated to showcasing the culture of the Miya community. Three persons associated with the exhibition were also arrested on terror charges. In 2019, several Miya poets including Dr Hafiz Ahmed were booked for their poetry. Dr Ahmed’s poem “Write Down I Am A Miya,” after Mahmoud Darwish's “Identity Card”, became viral on social media at the time, highlighting the injustices and discrimination faced by Miya Muslims of Assam and the valiant reclamation of a pejorative term once intended to stigmatise the community as a badge of honour.
The Miyas are a very distinct type of Muslims, he explains. The community has ritualistic similarities with rural Bangladesh and since their ancestors had converted to Islam from Rajbongshi, Koch, Kaibarta, Namasudra and other castes and tribes, they retain some of the socio-cultural and even religious practices of the Hindu and tribal communities. He gave the example of Alpana (designs drawn on the floor with rice milk on Bengali Hindu festivals) which may not have a place in Islam, but among the Miyas, it is an important motif and drawn with zeal on festivals like Gasshi, celebrated by the community.
Dr Ahmed claims that this time, the dominant Hindu communities of Assam have been supporting the Miya Muslims. In August, press bodies in Assam including the Journalists’ Union of Assam and the Gauhati Press Club slammed Sarma for making personal attacks on a journalist based on his religion in response to a question about hill cutting, leading to floods. The CM had initially been attacking the construction of a university, owned by a Bengali-Muslim man, as the cause for the floods, calling it “flood jihad”.
Cases of deportation and violence against Miya Muslims nevertheless continues quietly in Upper Assam. “We have no faith in police or state. We are on our own,” one of the labourers assaulted in Charaideo said.
Source: outlookindia.com
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https://www.outlookindia.com/national/miya-muslims-of-assam-under-constant-pressure-to-prove-indigeneity
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Madhya Pradesh HC Refuses to Quash FIR Against Muslim Man Accused of Abusing Hindu Gods on Instagram
By: Ananya Singh
OCTOBER 03, 2024,
The Jabalpur bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed a petition seeking to quash a First Information Report (FIR) filed against a man identified as Mohammad Bilal for uploading an offensive post on Instagram abusing Hindu Gods. Bilal claimed that on August 15, 2023, some unknown individuals hacked his Instagram account and uploaded the post.
The court, presided over by Justice GS Ahluwalia, rejected the petition, stating that Bilal’s defence —that his account was hacked — cannot be considered at this stage of the investigation. The court highlighted that while exercising its quashing powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure or under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, it “has to consider the allegations as a gospel truth and then come to a conclusion as to whether any offence is made out or not.”
The case stemmed from a complaint that alleged Bilal had uploaded a post that hurt the complainant’s religious sentiments by posting offensive content targeting Hindu gods, Sanatana Dharma and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on his Instagram account. When confronted by the complainant, rather than clarifying that his account had been hacked, the petitioner allegedly abused and humiliated the complainant, who belonged to the Scheduled Caste community. An FIR was registered on August 17, 2023, under Sections 294 (obscene acts), 153-A (promoting enmity between groups), and 295-A (acts intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Bilal’s counsel, Advocate Rishabh Singh, argued that both Bilal and his father had promptly reported the hacking incident, yet an FIR was filed. It was maintained that the allegations in the FIR were false and Bilal was not involved in putting up the post. The petitioner, thus, sought relief by requesting the quashing of the FIR, emphasising that the post was not deliberately uploaded by Bilal.
Representing the state, government advocate Abhishek Singh countered that the complainant had confronted Bilal about the offensive post, but instead of offering an explanation regarding the alleged hacking, Bilal reacted aggressively, verbally abusing and humiliating the complainant. The state argued that Bilal’s conduct after the incident cast doubt on his claim that the post was uploaded by someone else.
In its ruling, the court observed that Bilal had admitted that the offensive post was indeed uploaded on his Instagram account. The court noted that whether the post was uploaded by Bilal or someone else hacking his account was a matter of defence that could not be determined at this stage of the proceedings. The court stated that “even if it is presumed (not a finding) that the offensive post was uploaded on the Instagram account of the petitioner by hacking his account still then petitioner had no right/authority to commit the offence as alleged in the FIR”.
Source: news18.com
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https://www.news18.com/india/madhya-pradesh-hc-refuses-to-quash-fir-against-muslim-man-accused-of-abusing-hindu-gods-on-instagram-9072289.html
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Ajit Pawar's 10% quota promise after Devendra Fadnavis's 'vote jihad' remark
Oct 3, 2024
Days after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis alleged that "vote jihad" was witnessed in the recent Lok Sabha elections in the state, his co-deputy and NCP leader Ajit Pawar said his party would reserve 10 per cent seats for minority candidates in the upcoming Assembly polls.
According to sources, Ajit Pawar's NCP has managed to bag Anushakti Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, Kagal, Bandra East and Kalwa-Mumbra Assembly constituencies to field Muslim candidates amid seat-sharing talks in the Mahayuti alliance. The grouping comprises the BJP, Ajit Pawar's NCP and Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The NCP has also laid claim on Dhule, Bhiwandi, Mumbadevi, Malegaon and Beed constituencies to field probable Muslim candidates in these seats.
Most of the seats secured have sitting NCP MLAs, namely Nawab Malik from Anushakti Nagar and Hasan Mushrif from Kagal seats.
However, Nawab Malik is preparing to contest from Shivaji Nagar seat against Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Sana Malik, daughter of Nawab Malik, will replace him in the Anushakti Nagar seat.
Also, Zeeshan Siddique, a Congress MLA from the Bandra East seat, will soon join Ajit Pawar's NCP, following in the footsteps of his father, Baba Siddique. While Nazeeb Mullah, an ex-corporatist from Thane corporation will be fielded against MLA of Sharad Pawar's NCP, Jitendra Awhad in Kalwa-Mumbra Assembly constituency.
Likewise, Bhiwandi and Mumbadevi seats are claimed by both Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP. On the other hand, some local leaders from Samajwadi Party (SP) are set to join the NCP and can be fielded from Dhule and Malegaon.
Election to the 288-member Assembly is likely to be held in Maharashtra in November-December.
DEVENDRA FADNAVIS'S 'VOTE JIHAD' REMARK
Targeting MVA, Devendra Fadnavis on Monday claimed "vote jihad" was witnessed in 14 of 48 constituencies in Maharashtra in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The MVA won 30 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP leader raked up "vote jihad" and referenced the outcome in the Dhule Lok Sabha constituency where the MVA candidate emerged victorious on account of "en masse voting in the Malegaon Central assembly segment against the BJP nominee in the fray".
"Vote jihad was seen in Lok Sabha elections. In the Dhule constituency, the BJP candidate led with 1.90 lakh votes in five assembly seats. However, our candidate trailed by 1.94 lakh votes because of voting in the Malegaon Central assembly segment, losing the election by just 4,000 votes," Fadnavis said.
Responding to Devendra Fadnavis's remarks, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said the BJP leader should know there were Muslim warriors in the army of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
"Fadnavis is weak in history. There were Muslim warriors in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's army. He should apologise," Nana Patole said.
Leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, suggested that Devendra Fadnavis's remarks were politically motivated.
"The BJP only talks about jihad, mosque, Hindu-Muslim and Bharat-Pakistan. If they do not use these four words, their candidates will lose deposits in the election. This is a pattern used by the BJP people," he alleged.
Source: indiatoday.in
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https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ajit-pawar-devendra-fadnavis-vote-jihad-minorities-assembly-seats-reserve-maharashtra-elections-2610536-2024-10-03
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Challenge is to maintain J&K peace, not in favour of dilution of grid: GOC Rajiv Ghai
October 4, 2024
Terming the last two years in Kashmir as “peaceful and stable”, General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Thursday said that recruitment to militant ranks has dropped to single digits, and the challenge ahead is to “maintain” this peace
Regarding the possibility of a phased withdrawal of troops from the Valley, the GOC, who is set to take over as Director General of Military Operations next week, underscored that whether it’s the counter-infiltration effort on the Line of Control or the counter-terrorism one deployed within the Valley, “it has to be maintained and sustained, because we are possibly in the consolidation phase”.
“Therefore, no dilution of the grid is recommended and I’m definitely not a proponent of that at this stage,” he said.
In February 2023, the government was considering a proposal to withdraw the Indian Army completely from the Valley hinterland. If approved, the Army would have a presence only on the LoC.
It was also proposed that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) would fill in for the Army personnel removed from the Valley to meet the challenges of both law and order and counter-terror operations.
The move had met with resistance from the Army, sources told The Indian Express.
Significantly, the remarks come at a time when Jammu and Kashmir just wrapped up its last phase of voting.
The GoC said that in 2023, local recruitment to militant outfits was “about a dozen”, which in 2024 is down to two militants. However, while official numbers take note of those individuals who leave their homes and go underground, a qualitative distinction has been made in recent years based on violence profiles that take into account a phenomenon termed “hybrid militancy”, where individuals conduct an incident and reassimilate into society.
“Kashmir has had a good couple of years. It will need a few more good years for this peace to be enduring and lasting. And that I feel is the biggest challenge for the security forces. To maintain things, as they are today,” Ghai said.
If all the parameters against which the security situation is weighed, “they have all been down”, he said.
“Terrorism today is largely fuelled from across the border. As I see it, over the last year-and-a-half, we haven’t had any active recruitment. The numbers were down to a dozen (last year) and this year, they’re almost next to nil,” he said, adding that even in case of other violence parameters, “including atrocities committed by terrorists, softer targets have been picked, where it’s easier for even untrained personnel wielding a pistol to carry it out”.
According to Ghai, the official number of currently active militants in the Valley is about 80 — “the lowest in many years”. The number of infiltration attempts at the LoC too are down, he said, although he provided no figures.
“It is possible that infiltration is taking place from other areas. As you see in Jammu, the numbers (of terrorists) have increased because that area was always peaceful.” He said that those numbers will also come down.
He also stated that militants “are crossing over the Pir Panjal” to come into the Valley “wherever there is pressure in an area”.
“If they do an incident, they move to a different part. Then, in that area, they will not give any indications about their location.” However, he added that “sometimes, either the intelligence is late or not precise enough to carry out an operation”.
The GoC also admitted that militant groups are using “ultra communication” such as encrypted applications over the internet to maintain their networks.
“While presently this is affording them secrecy, but I assure you that work is on in that regard and soon we will be able to crack that encryption,” he said.
According to him, the ceasefire agreement on the LoC between India and Pakistan, reiterated in February 2021, is holding but the Army is deliberating on a plan to move villages on the LoC that are beyond the fence to areas within.
“There is a lot of thought going into that, we already have our blueprints in place. It requires cooperation and synergy with the civil administration also because there are various aspects that are involved in such a move taking place,” he said.
Security, he said, is always a concern “but at no point in time can you ignore the socio-economic factors that will affect these people when they move from there”.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/challenge-is-to-maintain-jk-peace-not-in-favour-of-dilution-of-grid-goc-rajiv-ghai-9602567/
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Army will soon be able to crack encrypted handsets used by terrorists in J-K: Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai
October 3, 2024
Top Army officer in Kashmir valley Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai on Thursday said the Army would soon be “able to crack” encrypted handsets used by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking to reporters here, Lt Gen Ghai acknowledged that the ‘Ultra’ communication was giving secrecy to terror groups but he assured that the work is in progress.
“Ultra communication has various layers of encryption and while presently, it is affording them the secrecy that they want.
“But I assure you that work is happening in that regard and soon we will be able to crack that encryption and I am hoping that will further dent the terrorist ecosystem network,” Lt Gen Ghai said in his last press conference as commander of valley-based XV Corps. He will soon take over as Director General of Military Operations.
To a question about weaponisation of mobile phones used in Israel-Lebanon conflict, he said, “Every time a new method is employed by any military force across the world, we always take note of it to draw our own lessons, so we can incorporate what is relevant to us and prepare our army and armed forces accordingly.” “What we are seeing unfold in the Middle East is obviously a new trend, and the manner in which it is unfolding is quite unique. Therefore, we will certainly analyze it, put it into perspective, and come to conclusions about what is relevant and how it could affect us,” he added.
The Ultra sets were recovered from some of the encounters in the Kashmir valley.
These specialised handsets, exclusively customised by Chinese companies for the Pakistan army, were seized after a gunfight in the intervening night of July 17-18 last year in the Sindarah top area of Surankote in Jammu region’s Poonch district and on April 26 this year after an encounter at the Check Mohalla Nowpora area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The ‘Ultra’ handsets, which have also been found in the south of the Pir Panjal region, combine cell-phone capabilities with specialised radio equipment that does not rely on traditional mobile technologies like Global System for Mobile or Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA).
The device operates on radio waves for message transmission and reception, with each ‘Ultra’ set linked to a control station located across the border, officials said and added that the two ‘Ultra’ sets cannot reach out to each other.
They said Chinese satellites are used to carry these messages that are compressed to bytes from the handset to the master server in Pakistan for its onward transmission.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/army-crack-encrypted-handsets-terrorists-jk-lt-gen-rajiv-ghai-9602401/
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Situation in JK peaceful but reducing troops footprints not recommended: Army commander
03.10.24
Kashmir is at the cusp of a new beginning as the security situation in the Valley is "peaceful and stable" but reducing the footprints of security forces is not recommended at this stage, a top Army officer said here on Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the Army's Srinagar-based Chinar Corps Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, who is relinquishing the command of one of the most elite formations of the Army, said Kashmir has had a "good year" and sustaining this peace is the biggest challenge for the security forces.
Lt Gen Ghai has been appointed as the next Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).
"I am sanguine that the situation in the Kashmir Valley is peaceful and stable and that the Chinar Corps, over the last 16 months that I have been at the helm, has tried valiantly hard to guard our borders, negate numerous attempts at infiltration by inimical elements, while also simultaneous(ly) prosecuting a very robust and successful counter-terrorist campaign within the Kashmir Valley," he said.
Over the last one and a half years, there were numerous significant events here and a lot of development in the region, Lt Gen Ghai said.
"This has been facilitated by a stable security situation brought about by very very significant efforts put in by Chinar Corps and its sister agencies like the J&K Police, CAPFs, and numerous other security agencies," he said.
"Today, as I am about to leave, I realise that the region is at the cusp of the new beginning," he added.
The senior Army officer further said that terrorism today is "largely fuelled from across the border".
"We have not had any active recruitment in the last year and a half. The numbers last year were down to a dozen. This year, they are almost next to nil.
"If you look at the four-five incidents that we have had in the Valley this year, softer targets have been picked where it is easy for a person to wield a pistol or a smaller weapon to carry out such an atrocity. But the numbers are almost negligible," he said.
The challenge for the security forces now, the GoC said, is to maintain this situation.
"Kashmir has had a good year, just as it did last year, and we need a few more good years... for the peace to be enduring and lasting and that I feel is the biggest challenge for the security forces to be able to keep the situation the way it is today," he said.
Asked if there was any chance of reducing the footprints of troops in the Valley due to the "peaceful" situation, the officer said it was not recommended at this stage.
"We need a few more good years like the ones we have had from 2022-24. For this peace to be enduring and lasting, we need to go through this process for a few more years.
"Therefore, whether it is the counter-infiltration grid or the counter-terrorism grid, it has to be maintained and sustained because we are possibly in the consolidation phase and no dilution of the grid is recommended," he said.
"I definitely am not a proponent of that at this stage," he asserted.
Responding to a question about the number of active terrorists in the Valley, Lt Gen Ghai said there are approximately 80.
"That is the lowest number in many years. When I came here last year, we were looking at the numbers past the 100 mark. That figure has come down," he said.
"It has been the endeavour of the security forces to actively and aggressively bring these numbers down and we have succeeded.
"I am quite confident that the way we are going ahead, we are prosecuting our operations in a manner where we are utilising every means at our behest, these numbers will keep going down. We could be looking at a lesser number by the mid of next year," the officer said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/situation-in-jk-peaceful-but-reducing-troops-footprints-not-recommended-army-commander/cid/2052922
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Mideast
Palestinian National Council condemns settlers' storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque
03 Oct 2024
Ramallah - Saba: The Palestinian National Council (Parliament) condemned today, Thursday, the storming of the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque by extremist settlers in the occupied Quds city.
According to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), the Council stated in a statement that these practices represent a blatant violation of the sanctity of the mosque and the rights of citizens in Quds, and a blatant expression of the extremist policy pursued by the enemy government.
The Council warned of the danger of these actions that aim to impose a new reality that is consistent with the enemy's ambitions in Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem in general, noting that these policies represent a dangerous escalation that will lead to undesirable repercussions, and put the region on the brink of explosion.
He called on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities, take practical steps to stop the enemy's repeated violations, and pressure the occupation government to respect the historical and legal status quo in Al-Aqsa Mosque and the city of Quds.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3379656.htm
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World Bank redirects funds toward Lebanon emergency aid
October 04, 2024
WASHINGTON: The World Bank announced on Thursday that it was redirecting funds originally earmarked for development programs in Lebanon toward emergency aid for people displaced by Israeli bombardment of the country.
“The World Bank is activating emergency response plans to be able to repurpose resources in the portfolio to respond to the urgent needs of people in Lebanon,” said a statement from the US-based multilateral institution.
The multilateral institution currently has $1.5 billion in funding for programs in Lebanon. Part of this amount will be redirected.
Since September 23, more than 1,000 people have been killed in an Israeli air-and-ground campaign on Lebanon that has targeted armed group Hezbollah in the south and east of the country, with strikes expanding to include the capital Beirut.
The fighting has driven nearly 1.2 million people from their homes in Lebanon, the country’s crisis unit said Thursday.
Thousands have been displaced since the bombing began, and the funds would be used to provide aid to those populations, the World Bank said.
“This would include emergency support to displaced people that could be deployed through a digital platform the World Bank helped put in place during the Covid epidemic,” the statement said.
Hezbollah has engaged in cross-border exchanges of fire with Israel since October last year, when its Palestinian ally Hamas launched an unprecedented attack that sparked Israel’s war in Gaza.
Lebanon, already facing difficult economic conditions and sky-high inflation before the latest hostilities, has lost more than 40 percent of its GDP since 2018, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said in a report last week.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2573863/middle-east
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Israel bombards Beirut’s southern suburbs
October 04, 2024
BEIRUT: Israel’s military said Thursday it had hit Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in the Lebanese capital Beirut, as troops battled militants near the border and warplanes bombarded their strongholds around the country.
A source close to Hezbollah said Israel had conducted 11 consecutive strikes on the group’s south Beirut stronghold late Thursday, in one of the most violent raids since Israel intensified its bombardment campaign last week.
Witnesses in the capital and beyond heard loud bangs that made car alarms go off and buildings shake.
About an hour later, several explosions were observed coming from the direction of the southern suburbs after the Israeli military ordered residents of the Hadath neighborhood to evacuate.
Video footage showed giant balls of flame rising from the targeted site with thick smoke billowing and flares shooting out.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) said “more than 10 consecutive strikes have been recorded so far, in one of the strongest raids on the southern suburbs of Beirut since the start of the Israeli war on Lebanon.”
The strikes echoed to mountain regions outside Beirut, the NNA said.
Earlier Thursday, Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee had issued an “urgent warning” for residents of the south Beirut area of Burj Al-Barajneh to evacuate along with maps of the area. He later issued an evacuation order for the Hadath neighborhood of Beirut’s south.
“You are located near facilities and interests belonging to Hezbollah, and the IDF (Israeli army) will work against them in the near future,” he had said in a statement on X.
Earlier in the evening, a source close to Hezbollah said another Israeli strike had targeted a warehouse next to Beirut airport, in the capital’s south.
“An Israeli air strike targeted a warehouse adjacent to the airport,” the source told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. It was unclear what the warehouse contained.
Earlier in the afternoon, the NNA had reported several “enemy raids.”
A source close to the group had told AFP that the earlier strikes had “targeted a building housing Hezbollah’s media relations office,” which had already been evacuated.
This week, Israel announced that its troops had started “ground raids” into parts of southern Lebanon, after days of heavy bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds around the country.
After nearly a year of low-intensity cross-border fighting, Israel has expanded its military campaign from Gaza to Lebanon, where heavy bombing has killed more than 1,000 people and forced hundreds of thousands to flee.
Israel last week killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in south Beirut, a densely populated area before residents fled Israel’s intensifying bombardment.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2573862/middle-east
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37 killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon in past 24 hours, health ministry says
October 04, 2024
BEIRUT: Thirty seven people were killed and 151 wounded in Israeli strikes on Lebanon in the past 24 hours, the Lebanese health ministry said in a statement early on Friday
Among the dead were nine residents of an apartment in the Lebanese capital, according to ministry.
Israel has been pounding areas of the country where the Hezbollah militant group has a strong presence since late September, but has rarely struck in the heart of Beirut.
There was no warning before the strike late Wednesday, which hit the building close to the United Nations headquarters, the prime minister’s office and parliament. Hezbollah’s civil defense unit said seven of its members were killed.
Israel is also conducting a ground incursion into Lebanon against Hezbollah, while also conducting strikes in Gaza that killed dozens, including children. The Israeli military said nine soldiers have died in the conflict in southern Lebanon.
Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire across the Lebanon border almost daily since the day after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage.
Israel declared war on the militant group in the Gaza Strip in response. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory, and just over half the dead have been women and children, according to local health officials.
Nearly 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2573854/middle-east
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Europe
No, Anti-Islamophobia Envoy, Aftab Malik, Can’t ‘Prosecute’ People For Insulting Islam – Fact Check
OCT 04, 2024
What was claimed
The new anti-Islamophobia envoy can prosecute anyone who insults Islam on social media.
Our verdict
False. The role doesn’t have the legal power to initiate criminal proceedings.
The new anti-Islamophobia envoy can prosecute Australians who insult Islam online, social media users claim. This is false. The role is advisory and doesn’t have the power to pursue criminal proceedings against people.
The Australian government announced on September 30 that it had appointed Aftab Malik in the new role of special envoy to combat Islamophobia, nearly three months after announcing an envoy for combating antisemitism.
Some incorrect claims have spread on social media about the nature of the new role and its powers.
“Aftab Malik has been appointed by Albanese to police our speech and prosecute anyone who dares say a negative word about Islam,” the image in one Facebook post said.
“He’s on half a million per year. He will troll social media and bring criminal prosecution to anyone who dares insult his prophet.”
AAP FactCheck found what appears to be the original post on X, formerly Twitter, from September 30, which has more than 2,500 likes and 80,000 views.
The role contains no legal powers to enable Malik to prosecute people or bring prosecutions in a court of law. He simply has the same powers as any other Australian to report criminal offences.
Professor Luke McNamara, from the UNSW Faculty of Law and Justice, told AAP FactCheck the claim is false.
“The Islamophobia envoy (just like the antisemitism envoy) has no power to prosecute or commence legal proceedings of any sort,” he said.
Professor Karima Laachir, director of the ANU Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, told AAP FactCheck the role is a symbolic one.
“There are already existing laws and regulations that prohibit hate speech in any form, and it includes discrimination and racism against Muslims,” she said.
“It is more like an advisory, symbolic role that the aim is to work with grassroots communities in Australia and see how we can collectively combat the rise of Islamophobia through various means and methods.”
Laachir added that the envoy will likely work with the antisemitism envoy to address issues arising from the conflict in the Middle East.
The Department of Home Affairs also confirmed to AAP FactCheck that the special envoy is an advisory role and Malik does not have a law enforcement mandate to pursue criminal prosecutions.
“Mr Malik will advise the prime minister and the minister for home Affairs, immigration and multicultural affairs, and cyber security, and assist the government to combat Islamophobia,” a department spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that Malik will do so “by looking at and addressing drivers of the behaviour across online and social media, traditional media, and within education, arts, culture and industry sectors”.
The posts also claim Malik will be paid $500,000 a year.
When asked by AAP FactCheck whether this was correct, the department was not prepared to give a specific figure, but the spokesperson said the pay is commensurate with their skills and experience and consistent with the 2024 remuneration tribunal determination.
Source: crikey.com.au
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https://www.crikey.com.au/2024/10/04/no-anti-islamophobia-envoy-cant-prosecute-people-for-insulting-islam/
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Tim Walz to Muslim voters in push before election: ‘Our hearts are broken’
Melissa Hellmann
Fri, 4 October
In a final push to engage Muslim voters ahead of the election, Tim Walz called for the end of the war in Gaza and pledged that, if elected, the Harris administration would work “side by side” with Muslim Americans.
The vice-presidential candidate joined Muslim advocacy group Emgage Action’s Million Muslim Votes: A Way Forward virtual summit the day after the vice-presidential debate.
During his speech, Walz acknowledged a collective grief among Muslim and Arab American communities due to Israel’s war on Gaza, where more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October. “Our hearts are broken,” Walz said.
“The scale of death and destruction in Gaza is staggering and devastating. Tens of thousands of innocent civilians killed, families fleeing for safety over and over again. We all know on here, this war must end and it must end now. The vice-president’s working everyday to ensure that, to make sure Israel is secure, the hostages are home, the suffering in Gaza ends now. And the Palestinian people realize the right to dignity, freedom and self determination.”
He also highlighted his connection to the Muslim community in Minnesota.
“Here in Minnesota, I’ve got the privilege to represent an incredible and vibrant Muslim community,” Walz said as light streamed through a large window behind him. He shared that he and his wife, Gwen, held the first iftar, the fast-breaking evening meal during Ramadan, at the Minnesota governor’s residence in 2019. And last year, Walz also passed interest-free down payment assistance for first-generation homebuyers to increase homeownership among Muslim Americans.
The virtual event came shortly after Emgage Action endorsed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. It was not an easy decision for the organization to make, said Nada Al-Hanooti, Emgage Action’s national organizing deputy director, while adding that a third party vote was tantamount to a vote for Donald Trump: “We don’t have time to punish the Democratic party.”
Emgage Action also endorsed Harris and Walz to help advance their anti-war objectives, said the group’s CEO, Wa’el Alzayat. “Our endorsement is a clear-eyed guidance to our voters on election day, when either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris will be elected to become commander in chief,” said Alzayat. “This endorsement is not acquiescence to the status quo. On the contrary, we believe that the most effective way to advance our anti-war goals is to block Trump’s fascism and push for the change we want to see.”
In a tight run-up to the election, Muslim and Arab American voters will play a critical role in its outcome. During the last presidential election, Joe Biden won Michigan, home to 278,000 Arab Americans, by 154,000 votes. A survey of 1,200 Muslim American voters after the Democratic national convention found that respondents supported Harris and Jill Stein equally at 29% each, according to the Muslim civil rights group Council on American Islamic Relations.
During the summit on Thursday, politicians and Muslim American leaders also warned of the dangers of a second Donald Trump presidency. During a June debate with Biden, Trump urged him to let Israel “finish the job” in its war on Gaza.
“We also have to recognize in this election, Donald Trump has made it clear where he stands with his anti-Muslim bigotry, with his threats to a Muslim ban,” Walz continued in his speech. “Vice-president Harris and I are committed that this White House will stand up to it, will continue to condemn in all forms anti-Islam, anti Arab sentiments being led by Donald Trump. But more importantly, a commitment that Muslims will be engaged in this administration and serve side by side.”
Keith Ellison, the Minnesota attorney general, the first Muslim American to be elected to Congress in 2006, also spoke at Thursday’s event, affirming his support for Harris and Walz, “because I believe this is the best way to stop the violence in Gaza and in Lebanon”, Ellison said. “Politics, friends, is really not about picking the person who’s already 100% on what you believe is right. So often, politics is about getting the person in office who you believe you can push. I know we cannot push Trump.”
Along with Ellison, several Muslim leaders have endorsed Harris and Walz in recent months, including the Black Muslim Leadership Council and the US representative Ilhan Omar. The group Muslim Women for Harris-Walz disbanded when the DNC denied a Palestinian American speaker, but later reaffirmed their support for the Democratic candidate.
The push to court Muslim voters 32 days before the election comes after months of criticism from Arab and Muslim American communities that the Democratic candidates – first Biden and then Harris – have failed to effectively engage them. Two weeks ago the Uncommitted National Movement, which mobilized more than 700,000 citizens to vote “uncommitted” or its equivalent in Democratic primaries throughout the nation, declined to endorse the Harris-Walz ticket. The Uncommitted National Movement said that Harris failed to meet a 15 September deadline to meet with Palestinian families and engage in discussions about a ceasefire deal.
Still, Thursday’s event served as a call to action for Emgage Action: “The Muslim American community must turn out in record numbers,” said Alzayat. “We are asking Muslim voters to also consider the human impact of a second Trump presidency, not just on us here in the United States … On the very people abroad we seek to help.”
Source: yahoo.com
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https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tim-walz-muslim-voters-push-021130927.html
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Anti-Muslim posters on lampposts: Chief constable seeks meeting with Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd to address 'this sort of hatred and hate crime'
By PA Reporter
3rd Oct 2024,
The Stormont Executive needs to take a “stronger” stance over tackling racist behaviours in Northern Ireland, the chief constable has said.
Jon Boutcher made the comments as he faced questions at the Policing Board over delays removing anti-Muslim posters on lampposts in the Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey.
Last week Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton expressed frustration at the response of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), branding it “unacceptable” that the posters had been allowed to stay on the lampposts for around seven weeks when he would have anticipated a response from the DfI to remove them within “hours” of them being erected.
Mr Singleton said the PSNI ultimately took the decision to take down the posters themselves.
In response to the claims, the department said that Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd wrote to Mr Boutcher asking the police to remove the posters as he believed their erection constituted a crime.
Mr Boutcher told the Policing Board on Thursday that on receipt of the letter from Mr O’Dowd he asked to see the posters and then gave a “clear instruction” to officers to remove them.
The chief constable said he has now written to Mr O’Dowd to ask for a meeting to discuss how the PSNI and his department can cooperate in similar scenarios in the future.
“We were too slow to do it in my view, collectively, there’s responsibilities not just for the PSNI in this,” he said of the removal of the posters.
“We’ve written back to the minister at the Department for Infrastructure to get round a table, to understand how we, with a shared endeavour to make sure that we address any form of this sort of hatred and hate crime, how we can deal with it, to reassure our communities.”
Mr Boutcher then highlighted recent conversations he had had with families from ethnic minority communities in which they shared stories about repeatedly being targeted by anti-social behaviour and incidents of criminal damage.
“This is something that we all have got to have a shared endeavour for,” he said.
“It goes to the Programme for Government around safer communities, and I think we need to be stronger at the Executive level around these behaviours.
“But it’s something that I want to assure you, that it’s a strategic priority for us, and that we’ll be doing everything that we can to enforce the law around anybody who puts these hateful posters up or commits any hate crime.
“And this team (PSNI leadership team) and our officers and staff are entirely behind that position.”
Last week, a campaigner for Troubles victims criticised how inconsistent the police and government are about cracking down on displays of “hate”.
Kenny Donaldson noted that countless displays of honouring registered terrorist organisations go unchallenged by the authorities, and said such displays are “an open wound” for those who were hurt or bereaved by those groups.
“What this whole episode does bring to the fore however is the lack of consistency of approach from police and other government agencies concerning the activities of terror groups who are proscribed organisations,” Mr Donaldson told the News Letter.
Source: newsletter.co.uk
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https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/crime/anti-muslim-posters-on-lampposts-chief-constable-seeks-meeting-with-infrastructure-minister-john-odowd-to-address-this-sort-of-hatred-and-hate-crime-4809603
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France names Russia as ‘greatest threat’
4 Oct, 2024
Russia is currently France’s main adversary, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in a recent interview with Le Point magazine.
In a conversation published on Wednesday, which marked the release of Lecornu’s new book, he spoke about security challenges that Paris faces today.
Asked which country or actor posed “the greatest threat to France,” Lecornu replied: “Apart from terrorist groups, clearly it is the Russian Federation.”
He claimed that Moscow has been “even more aggressive” this year than it was in 2022 and 2023. Russia poses a threat “not only to our interests in Africa, but also directly to our Armed Forces,” the minister said, adding that “the Russian air traffic control has threatened to shoot down a French Rafale patrol.”
Lecornu went on to accuse Russia of “waging an information war” and “militarizing new environments, including the seabed and cyberspace.”
Although the French defense chief did not cite specific incidents, both Russia and NATO have accused each other of dangerous aerial maneuvers. In March, the Russian Defense Ministry said its jets had escorted two French Rafale warplanes that were flying over the Black Sea, close to the Russian border.
Moscow has repeatedly stressed that the delivery of weapons to Ukraine by Paris risks a dangerous escalation. In January, Russia summoned the French envoy over the presence of “French mercenaries” in Ukraine. While the French government acknowledged that its citizens were participating in the conflict, it denied facilitating their arrival on the battlefield.
Commenting on Paris’ hostile stance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in May that President Emmanuel Macron was “breathing” Russophobia and claimed that the French leader was trying to use belligerent rhetoric to elevate his country’s position on the world stage.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/605214-france-names-russia-biggest-threat/
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Southeast Asia
Indonesia blending sharia, mainstream economy: deputy minister
October 4, 2024
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Finance (Wamenkeu) II, Thomas Djiwandono, has said that Indonesia has managed to integrate the sharia economy and Islamic public finance principles with mainstream or conventional economic policies.
“Indonesia has made substantial progress in incorporating Islamic public finance principles into mainstream economy policies,” Djiwandono highlighted at a video conference broadcast here on Thursday.
He said that by collaborating with various stakeholders, the government is actively promoting the development and integration of Islamic finance principles into the national fiscal policy framework.
He noted that the attempt aims to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic development as well as improve social welfare.
“In regulatory and institutional framework, the government, through the collaboration of the Finance Ministry, the National Sharia Board (DSN), and the Financial Services Authority (OJK), has developed a robust regulatory framework to support the growth of Islamic finance,” he said.
He added that Indonesia has devised and enforced various laws based on Islamic economic principles, such as the management of sharia banking, zakat, and waqf.
He said that the principles of the sharia economy have also been accommodated in Law Number 4 of 2023 concerning the Development and Strengthening of the Financial Sector (UU P2SK), which seeks to modernize and adapt government regulations to the development of the current economic system.
“In addition, Indonesia has established the National Committee for Sharia Economy and Finance (KNEKS) and the Indonesian Association of Islamic Economists (IAEI) to accelerate the development and innovation of Islamic economy and finance, including Islamic public finance,” he pointed out.
According to the Islamic perspective, public financial policies should encourage investment and productive activities that create real value for society, Djiwandono said.
He added that public spending and investment must support development projects that contribute to sustainable economic growth and climate change mitigation, such as the development of renewable energy, green economy, and disaster-resilient infrastructure.
To fulfill the funding needs for the projects, the government has issued several sharia financial instruments in recent years, he noted.
In 2018, Indonesia became the first country to issue green sukuk to raise funds for environmentally friendly and sustainable projects related to energy, reforestation, and agriculture.
Later, the government launched the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Government Securities Framework in 2021 worth more than US$10 billion (Rp152.68 trillion, exchange rate on Thursday = Rp15,268) for the development of renewable energy and waste management.
Meanwhile, for social purposes, the government issued Cash Waqf Linked Sukuk --- a cash waqf investment in state sukuk, whose returns were distributed by nazhir (a managerial body for waqf funds and activities) -- to finance social programs and community economic empowerment.
The issuance of sukuk in 2020 helped raise US$65 million (Rp992.42 billion) from more than 3 thousand waqf contributors.
“The government also regularly issues retail sukuk to tap into domestic retail investors. This provides a sharia-compliant investment option that also helps fund national development projects and contributes to the deepening of Indonesia’s financial sector,” Djiwandono said.
Source: antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/328339/indonesia-blending-sharia-mainstream-economy-deputy-minister
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Sharia principle of tax fairness can improve welfare: Deputy Minister
October 3, 2024
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Finance (Wamenkeu) II Thomas Djiwandono has said that ensuring tax fairness, in keeping with the principles of sharia economics, could improve social welfare.
“In Islamic public finance, resources should be distributed fairly among all members of society without discrimination, thereby minimizing wealth disparities and promoting social welfare,” he expounded at the 8th Annual Islamic Finance Conference (AIFC) here on Thursday.
He said that according to sharia principles, tax collection should be fair and not put undue burden on any group.
He added that the principles also prohibit imposing taxes on interest, taking excessive profit, as well as creating uncertainty and speculation because such practices are exploitative and could lead to the unfair accumulation of wealth.
As for improving economic equality, he said that wealthier people are also encouraged to contribute more to society through zakat and alms, besides paying taxes.
“Meanwhile, regarding public expenditure and budget, Islamic principles state that budget spending should focus on promoting social justice and improving social welfare,” he noted.
He said that this can be realized by providing quality and affordable public health services, nutrition, education, and social protection to reduce poverty and support underprivileged people.
He added that the “iqtishad” principle of the Islamic economy is also in line with the principles of public finance because it encourages the prudent and balanced use of the state budget.
According to the principle, public spending should be aligned with the value of state revenue to avoid excessive debt and deficit, he highlighted.
“Good governance is also a key aspect of Islamic public finance where transparency and accountability are obligated to ensure that public funds are managed responsibly and ethically,” he said.
He further said that from an Islamic perspective, public officials are considered trustees of public wealth, thus the use of public funds should be documented clearly through regular audits to maintain public trust as well as to prevent corruption and misuse.
According to Djiwandono, well-designed fiscal policies are critical to overcome current complex global challenges.
“Islamic public finance holds tremendous potential for creating more sustainable and inclusive national and global economic development. However, it will take collective effort and innovation to realize its full potential,” he added.
Source: antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/328315/sharia-principle-of-tax-fairness-can-improve-welfare-deputy-minister
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Malaysia’s iconic songket on display for the first time at the George Washington University Museum in the US
04 Oct 2024
WASHINGTON DC, Oct 4 — Songket, Malaysia’s iconic textile, marked a historic cultural debut at the where it went on display for the first time ever yesterday before some 200 people, in-person and virtually.
The landmark event aims to introduce American audiences to the opulent tradition of Songket, recognised by Unesco as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2021, was organised by the Malaysian Embassy and led by Malaysia’s Ambassador to the United States Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.
The hybrid lecture and micro-exhibition featured in-depth presentations by Nirmala Sharippudin, senior curator of the Collection Management Division, Department of Museum Malaysia, and Tengku Intan Rahimah Tengku Mat Saman, director of the National Textile Museum of Malaysia.
Khairul Anwar, Textile Researcher and Assistant Secretary with the Ministry of Education Malaysia, also contributed insights on the relevance of Songket within a broader social context.
The songket is renowned for its luxurious silk interwoven with shimmering gold or silver threads.
Traditionally worn during significant ceremonies, the songket symbolises Malaysia’s cultural richness, blending intricate design with profound meaning.
Attendees were treated to a rare glimpse of some songket pieces that date back to the 1800s, highlighting the textile’s enduring beauty and evolution over time.
Also present were Dr John Wetenhall, director of The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum, and Karthika Audinet, academic coordinator of the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center.
The Malaysian Embassy is keen to further collaborations that showcase the richness of Malaysian culture on the global stage.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/10/04/malaysias-iconic-songket-on-display-for-the-first-time-at-the-george-washington-university-museum-in-the-us/152541
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Selangor Sultan approves fatwa branding GISBH as deviant group
03 Oct 2024
SHAH ALAM, Oct 3 — The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has given his consent to the decision adopted by the State Fatwa Committee in a special meeting on GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH).
State Islamic Affairs and Cultural Innovation Committee chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah said this was after His Royal Highness was informed on the matter by State Fatwa Committee Chairman Associate Professor Datuk Dr Anhar Opir at Istana Bukit Kayangan here this morning.
(The decision of the Fatwa Committee) was conveyed to the Sultan of Selangor, and His Royal Highness has given his approval. Insya’Allah, tomorrow we will reveal the decision to some extent through the Friday sermon in mosques and surau throughout Selangor.
“But the fatwa (regarding GISBH) must be gazetted first before we make it law and carry out enforcement,” he said when contacted.
Last Monday, the Selangor Mufti’s Department convened to decide issues related to GISBH in the state.
In addition to the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) meeting, a report related to GISBH was also presented by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) on Sept 24.
On Sept 21, the Sultan of Selangor expressed his disappointment on reports concerning the police’s investigation into criminal activities by GISBH and its network.
Sultan Sharafuddin subsequently decreed that all charity homes and Islamic schools under GISBH and its network that are not registered or suspected of being involved in criminal activities, including Syariah crimes, should be closed immediately and barred from operating in Selangor. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/10/03/selangor-sultan-approves-fatwa-branding-gisbh-as-deviant-group/152500
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PM Anwar’s Bangladesh visit symbolises Malaysia’s solidarity as first Muslim country to recognise its independence, says envoy
04 Oct 2024
DHAKA, Oct 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s official visit to Bangladesh today symbolises Malaysia’s solidarity with the people of the country, who are currently facing challenging times.
High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh Haznah Md Hashim said this is the first visit by head of foreign government since the formation of interim government led by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus.
“This visit echoes history, as Malaysia was the first Muslim country to recognise Bangladesh’s independence on Jan 31, 1972,” she told a press conference here.
Haznah said the prime minister is scheduled to engage in a bilateral meeting with Muhammad Yunus and expected to pay a courtesy call on President Mohammed Shahabuddin before departing for Kuala Lumpur later this evening.
In 2023, Bangladesh was Malaysia’s 27th largest trading partner, 19th largest export destination and 47th largest source of imports, making it Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner among South Asian countries.
Last year, the total trade between Malaysia and Bangladesh reached RM12.7 billion (US$2.78 billion). — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/10/04/pm-anwars-bangladesh-visit-symbolises-malaysias-solidarity-as-first-muslim-country-to-recognise-its-independence-says-envoy/152529
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North America
Chairman Of US Foreign Affairs Committee Urges Biden To Speed Israel Arms Sales
October 04, 2024
WASHINGTON: The chairman of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee urged President Joe Biden on Thursday to speed up weapons shipments to Israel, including 2000-pound (907 kg) bombs that have been held up for months over human rights concerns.
“I urge you to act today to ensure all weapons shipments to Israel, including 2,000-pound bombs, are expedited to support our ally,” Representative Michael McCaul said in a letter sent to Biden and seen by Reuters on Thursday.
McCaul, who reviews all major foreign US weapons sales in his position as committee chairman, said he was also aware of more than 10 other planned weapons sales to Israel that have been awaiting final approval for more than four months and urged that they proceed quickly.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
McCaul sent the letter amid global fears that the Middle East will erupt into widespread war, which have fueled calls in Washington for the Biden administration to provide more assistance to Israel.
Israel, which has been fighting Hamas in the Palestinian territory of Gaza for almost a year, has sent troops into southern Lebanon, where it is targeting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, after two weeks of intense airstrikes.
Iran barraged Israel with more than 180 ballistic missiles on Tuesday. Israel has sworn it will retaliate.
US Republicans have been urging Biden for months to reverse his decision earlier this year to pause one shipment of the 2,000-pound bombs, citing concern over the impact they could have in densely populated areas in Gaza.
One 2,000-pound bomb can rip through thick concrete and metal, creating a wide blast radius.
“We all wish Israel did not need these larger bombs, but they are operationally necessary as Israel’s enemies, including Hamas and Hezbollah, are intentionally using deeply buried subterranean bunkers and tunnels. I call on you to allow these weapons, which are ready to ship, to be sent to Israel immediately,” McCaul wrote.
Source: arabnews.com
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US President Biden does not believe there will be ‘all-out-war’ in Middle East
October 04, 2024
WASHINGTON/BEIRUT/JERUSALEM: US President Joe Biden said he did not believe there is going to be an “all-out war” in the Middle East, as Israel weighs options for retaliation after Tehran’s largest ever assault on its arch-enemy.
However, Biden said more needed to be done to avoid a Middle East war, as Israel’s military hit Beirut with new air strikes in its battle against Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Asked by reporters in Washington on Thursday how confident he was that such a war could be averted, Biden said, “How confident are you it’s not going to rain? Look, I don’t believe there is going to be an all-out war. I think we can avoid it.
“But there is a lot to do yet, a lot to do yet.”
While the United States, the European Union, and other allies have called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire in the Israel-Lebanon conflict, Biden said the US was discussing with Israel its options for responding to Tehran’s assault, which included Israel striking Iran’s oil facilities.
“We’re discussing that,” Biden told reporters.
His comments contributed to a surge in global oil prices, and rising Middle East tension has made traders worry about potential supply disruptions.
However, Biden added: “There is nothing going to happen today.” Asked later if he was urging Israel not to attack Iran’s oil installations, Biden said he would not negotiate in public.
On Wednesday, the president said he would not support any Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites.
On Thursday, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told CNN his country had “a lot of options” for retaliation and would show Tehran its strength “soon.”
A US official said Washington did not believe Israel had decided yet how to respond to Iran.
Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiye, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Hezbollah, came under renewed strikes near midnight on Thursday after Israel ordered people to leave their homes in some areas, residents and security sources said.
The air raids targeted Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, rumored successor to its assassinated leader Hassan Nasrallah, in an underground bunker, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said on X, citing three Israeli officials.
Safieddine’s fate was not clear, he said.
Israel’s military declined comment.
Israel said Hezbollah launched about 230 rockets from Lebanon toward Israel on Thursday.
Hezbollah said it targeted what it called Israel’s “Sakhnin base” for military industries in Haifa Bay on the Mediterranean coast of northern Israel with a salvo of rockets.
Late on Thursday, Hezbollah said it also targeted Israel’s “Nesher base” in Haifa with a salvo of Fadi 2 rockets.
Source: arabnews.com
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As US election nears, Muslim Americans weigh potentially decisive votes
YOUSSEF CHOUHOUD
03 Oct, 2024
There's just a month to go before the United States holds its next presidential election. Early voting began in September, and at least half a million Americans have already submitted their ballots.
The general mood in the US is tense.
Domestically, it is contending with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene, as well as a port strike that threatens the recovering economy. Internationally, the US continues to support Israel's yearlong bloody campaign in Gaza, as well as its recent invasion of Lebanon and escalation with Iran.
With polls showing Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump neck-and-neck in the race to the White House, any foreign policy choices made this month could make all the difference.
Political fallout
Since last October, Israel's war in Gaza has levelled much of the occupied territory and killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.
This devastation and the lives lost as a direct result of ceaseless indiscriminate bombing should unquestionably be the paramount focus now and for the duration of this crisis.
But a secondary consideration is the ongoing political fallout from this war. These reverberations have certainly been felt within Israel and the broader region; arguably, however, it is the US political landscape that has witnessed the most tumult.
In particular, President Joe Biden's indelible link to the carnage that Israel has inflicted on the people of Gaza has frayed the Democratic electorate. Both young voters and Black Americans–two groups that the Democratic party cannot afford to alienate–have been among the administration's loudest critics.
Unsurprisingly, however, the communities that were the most vocal in their dissatisfaction were Arab and Muslim Americans.
Polling showed a precipitous drop in support for Biden in 2024, compared to 2020. Now that he's no longer on the ticket, have Muslims and Arabs changed their stance? The answer is complicated.
Ambivalent about Harris
When Harris initially became the Democrats' presumptive nominee for president, many Arabs and Muslims were willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. She was, after all, famously the first high-ranking official in the Biden administration to call for a ceasefire.
Moreover, she was generally regarded as having a more empathetic perspective when talking about the plight of the Palestinians.
The honeymoon period did not last all that long, however.
At a rally in Michigan (of all places) shortly after Biden stepped down from the candidacy, Harris was interrupted by protestors calling for a firm stance on Israel's ongoing offensive in Gaza, whom the vice president proceeded to silence in a rather condescending manner.
Even more disheartening was the campaign's refusal to let Ruwa Romman, a Palestinian Democratic state representative from Georgia, speak on the Democratic National Convention main stage in August.
She had planned to call for a ceasefire and also endorse Harris for president. This was the moment when many voters who were initially deferential became wholly disillusioned.
If Harris cannot see fit to grant even a symbolic gesture to those calling on the US to hold Israel to account, then how can voters of conscience trust that she will take substantive steps to do so when in office?
So the latest poll numbers are, once again, reflecting a sense of abandonment.
A survey conducted by the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) in August did not find a majority of Muslim voters supporting Harris in a number of key swing states, like Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona.
Moreover, in the key state of Michigan, Harris trails third-party candidate Jill Stein by a considerable margin–only 12 percent of respondents said they plan to vote for the Democratic ticket, while 40 percent backed the Green Party’s nominee.
Difficult decision
Yet, as the election draws near, Arabs and Muslims are still considering the ramifications of their vote–and reaching divergent conclusions.
Some are clear on where they stand, like Emgage Action, who endorsed Kamala Harris, or Amer Ghalib, the mayor of the only Muslim-run city in the US, who endorsed Donald Trump.
There are also a number of prominent figures in the American Muslim community who have explicitly encouraged community members to vote for a particular candidate.
Muslims for Harris-Walz, for example, launched their initiative with a webinar that brought together a slew of Muslim politicians at various levels of government.
In contrast, dozens of leading religious figures from across the country recently published a letter urging Muslims in the US to vote third party for president, stating that "we stand firm in our refusal to support any political party or candidate that has actively participated in and funded the unprecedented violence (in Gaza)."
Many Muslim voters, however, are less, well, committed.
Witness the Uncommitted Movement's refusal to endorse Harris. The group also warned against a Trump presidency and, as such, advised not to vote third party.
Perhaps the most apt expression of American Muslims' electoral dilemma comes from Muslim Women for Harris, who disbanded following the DNC snub of Romman, only to reverse their decision and back Harris' candidacy once again.
The organisation said one reason for this was due to the "clear danger that a Trump presidency could pose for our Black and Brown communities."
It is certainly hard to dispute that a second Trump term would bring with it distinct challenges for minority groups in the US. Consider his abhorrent rhetoric around (non-White) immigrants at his rallies, which could very well translate to policies that not only limit future immigration, but endanger legal immigrants already in the US.
Alongside these concerns is a wariness of the Green Party candidates. At the top of the ticket, Jill Stein's seemingly selective condemnation of war crimes has troubled many in the Arab and Muslim American community.
Meanwhile her running mate, Butch Ware, was recently criticised for implying that those who vote for Kamala Harris risked punishment beyond the grave.
And so many Arabs, Muslims, and others for whom Gaza is a top priority have become those unicorns of American politics: undecided voters.
But, rather than being undecided between the two major parties, the vast majority are torn between voting for the Democratic candidate or voting third-party–or, perhaps, not voting at all.
Barring an unexpected shift in the political winds, this indecision is likely to carry through to November. That said, an "October surprise" would certainly be par for the course this election cycle.
Source: trtworld.com
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https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/as-us-election-nears-muslim-americans-weigh-potentially-decisive-votes-18215815
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Man faces felony charge after 'attack' on Moorhead mosque during 'crisis'
By Tasha Carvell
October 03, 2024
MOORHEAD — The man who police initially said was having a mental health crisis when he was detained outside a Moorhead mosque last week had a gas can with him, put a broomstick through the handles to block the doors of the Islamic Center and pointed to the mosque and told police "none of them are going to paradise," court documents show.
Salih Ahmet Kasim, 40, of Moorhead, was charged Tuesday, Oct. 1, with attempted burglary of a religious building, a felony. The charge stems from an incident at the Moorhead-Fargo Islamic Center at 2215 12th Ave. S.
Sagness testifies before Budget Section 09/18/2024Sagness testifies before Budget Section 09/18/2024
Officers were summoned to the mosque just after midnight on Sept. 26 for a suspect trying to break into the building and burn it down. It was the second call to that location for suspicious activity in just over an hour.
Officers were unable to locate anyone after the first call, but upon arrival to the second call they encountered Kasim, who was uncooperative and yelled at the officers.
"I shut it down," Kasim told officers, indicating the doors of the mosque that were barred with a broomstick.
A witness told police Kasim was looking through the windows of the mosque with a flashlight and trying to break the doors. Another witness grabbed the gas can they said Kasim had placed under a tree near the southeast corner of the mosque in order to prevent him from burning the building down.
In a Facebook post, Cani Adan, a new American community leader, called the incident an "attack."
"It seems that someone tried to burn down the mosque," he wrote. "Let's keep the community in our thoughts and hope for justice to prevail."
In the hours following the incident, the Moorhead Police Department issued a press release saying the incident was not an attack but rather an individual having a mental health crisis.
Moorhead Police Capt. Deric Swenson said the department makes an effort not to criminalize a mental health crisis, or label someone as a suspect of a crime when they are in need of immediate care.
"After we are able to provide for the needs for the person, we are then able to have the time to gather evidence, conduct further interviews and statements, and have more reports completed that include further facts," he said of the criminal charge against Kasim.
Court records show Kasim has a long criminal history of assault, threats of violence, drugs, driving and disorderly conduct convictions in both Cass and Clay counties, dating back to 2005.
Source: inforum.com
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Melania Trump is latest Republican First Lady to back abortion
October 03, 2024
Melania Trump seems to have joined a long line of Republican former first ladies who have come out in support of abortion rights, putting them at odds with their husbands' public views.
In a short video clip promoting her forthcoming book, Mrs Trump expressed her support for women's "individual freedom", describing it as an "essential right that all women possess from birth".
It comes a day after an excerpt of her soon-to-be-released memoir, in which she reportedly takes an even clearer pro-choice stance, was published in a newspaper report.
Mrs Trump's apparent stance on the issue appears to contrast with the position of her husband, who has taken credit for helping overturn Roe v Wade, upending the constitutional right to abortion.
But it follows a decades-long American tradition of Republican first ladies who - since Roe v Wade was first decided in 1973 - have said legal abortion access should be protected.
In 1975, while still in the White House, First Lady Betty Ford called the Roe ruling a "great, great decision".
Nancy Reagan waited until her husband, President Ronald Reagan, left office before she said publicly that she "believed in a woman's choice", but her position on the issue was reportedly well known within the White House.
Barbara Bush, wife of President George HW Bush, and her daughter-in-law, Laura Bush, wife of President George W Bush, were similar, revealing their stance on the issue after their husbands left the White House.
"I think it's important that it remain legal, because I think it's important for people, for medical reasons and other reasons," Laura Bush said in a 2010 interview promoting her memoir.
Mrs Trump's approach was different.
In a black-and-white video posted on her X account on Thursday, Mrs Trump said "there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth: individual freedom".
"What does my body, my choice really mean?" Mrs Trump continued.
The video comes one day after The Guardian published an excerpt from her new book, Melania, set to be released on 8 October.
In the excerpt, quoted by the Guardian, she writes: “It is imperative to guarantee that women have autonomy in deciding their preference of having children, based on their own convictions, free from any intervention or pressure from the government."
“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body? A woman’s fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes," she continues.
“Restricting a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body.
"I have carried this belief with me throughout my entire adult life.”
Kate Andersen Brower, a journalist and author of the book First Women, said she was "shocked" by the comments.
"So shocked that I wanted to check it was real," she said. "She's very much been in line with her husband, so on this issue how did she spend all those years watching him derail something that she seems to care about?"
More than the other first ladies, Ms Brower said, Mrs Trump's comments appear "diametrically opposed" to her husband's approach on the issue.
And she is the only first lady so far to make her stance on abortion known while her husband is actively seeking re-election.
Indeed, the timing of Mrs Trump's comments suggest a possible political angle, Ms Brower said.
"It's not out of the realm of possibility that this was done intentionally to come out right before the election, because it could appeal to those swing state voters who are upset about the overturning of Roe v Wade," she said. "Maybe they could see this as a sign that he [Trump] perhaps is softening on abortion."
But Republican strategist Rina Shah offered a different view.
The notion of Mrs Trump trying to help out her husband "doesn’t track with the Melania we know", she said.
"At this point in the game it doesn’t change anything, and she knows that," Ms Shah said. "Early ballots have already gone out in certain places. It’s just too late."
Abortion access is a key issue in next month's 2024 election - and it is considered a weak point for the Republican Party, which has struggled to appeal to a conservative base that opposes the procedure and a wider electorate that supports abortion access.
Throughout the 2024 campaign, Donald Trump's position on the issue has fluctuated.
Earlier this week, the Republican presidential nominee said for the first time that he would veto any federal abortion ban in the unlikely event that such a measure ever passed Congress.
The BBC has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has sought to capitalise on Trump's position in an effort to galvanise voters.
She has regularly cast Trump as a threat to women's autonomy because of the overturning of Roe v Wade, which took place after he appointed a conservative majority to the Supreme Court.
“Sadly for the women across America, Mrs Trump’s husband firmly disagrees with her and is the reason that more than one in three American women live under a Trump Abortion Ban that threatens their health, their freedom, and their lives," Sarafina Chitika, a spokeswoman for the Harris-Walz campaign told the BBC.
Source: bbc.com
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Ex-county clerk jailed for tampering with voting machines
October 03, 2024
A former Colorado county election official has been sentenced to nine years in prison for tampering with voting machines after the 2020 presidential election.
Tina Peters, a Republican, was convicted last August on most counts against her in the election interference case.
Peters, 68, helped breach Mesa County's election computer systems and allowed an unauthorised individual to access voting equipment and election records.
She carried out the breach amid unsubstantiated claims that mass voter fraud had caused former President Donald Trump to lose the White House in the last presidential election.
State District Court Judge Matthew Barrett told Peters on Thursday: “You are no hero.
"You’re a charlatan who used and is still using your prior position in office to peddle a snake oil that’s been proven to be junk time and time again."
He sentenced her to eight-and-a-half years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and additional time in the Mesa County Detention Center.
Peters pleaded not guilty to all charges in 2022, but a jury convicted her on seven of the 10 counts.
Those included three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty and failing to comply with the secretary of state.
"Tina Peters has been sentenced to nine years of incarceration for her dangerous attempts to break into her own election equipment to prove Trump's 'Big Lie'," Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said in a statement. "We will not allow anyone to threaten our elections."
The case marked the first time a local election official was prosecuted over a security beach in the 2020 election.
Peters became "fixated" on voting problems after the presidential election, prosecutors said.
Investigators also issued a search warrant for MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, a proponent of election fraud claims, in connection to Peters' case, the BBC's US partner CBS News reported.
Source: bbc.com
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Pakistan
Conventional To Islamic Mode: State Bank Of PakistanSets New Bank Branch Conversion Criteria
Rizwan Bhatti
October 3, 2024
KARACHI: With a view to further facilitate banks in conversion of their branches, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has revised the criteria for conversion of conventional banking branches into Islamic banking branches keeping in view the industry’s needs and issues.
According to the SBP, the revised criteria will help to streamline the process for conversion of their conventional branches. Previously, SBP in 2010 issued the criteria for conversion of conventional banking branches into Islamic banking branches.
In order to further facilitate and accelerate the conversion of branches, banks may establish a virtual conventional cost center (s) on a temporary basis to park unconvertible deposits and asset portfolio of converted branches with the approval of bank’s Shariah Board.
All conventional banks having Islamic operations or those who intend to start Islamic banking operations shall be eligible to apply for conversion of its existing conventional branches into Islamic.
The bank is required to submit its Annual Branch Conversion Plan (ABCP) aligned with its overall conversion plan along with a specific request for in-principle approval to convert its conventional branches into Islamic to Banking Policy & Regulations Department (BPRD) with a copy to Islamic Finance Policy Department (IFPD), SBP by 31st October of each preceding calendar year.
Besides ABCP, bank may also approach SBP for approval of conversion of its conventional branches any time on a case-to-case basis.
The bank will inform the general public and account holders about conversion of its respective conventional branches into Islamic at least three and a half months before the conversion.
The bank will also approach account holders for seeking their consent for conversion of accounts through any appropriate channel such as letters, emails, SMS, telephone calls, any digital mode, etc.
However, the bank will provide at least thirty (30) days to the account holders for submission of consent or dissent on conversion of their accounts.
The bank will also ensure that the account holders are fully informed with new terms and conditions and any change in fee or paid services provided by the bank after conversion from conventional accounts to Islamic accounts. The bank will ensure that account holders are fully informed about alternative Islamic banking products including their features while providing an option for conversion.
The bank will provide clear information regarding expected profit rate(s) on each category of remunerative Islamic deposits. While, in case of consent by the account holders, the accounts will be converted from conventional to Islamic whereas in case of dissent of the account holders on conversion of accounts, the bank may either allow transfer of their accounts to another conventional banking branch or close the accounts as per choice of the account holders.
Fresh instructions will also be applicable to MFBs for the purpose of conversion of their branches from conventional to Islamic. The terms ‘Shariah Board’ and ‘Shariah Advisor’ shall be used interchangeably as deemed appropriate for MFBs operating with Shariah Board or Shariah Advisor.
Source: brecorder.com
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40325250/conventional-to-islamic-mode-sbp-sets-new-bank-branch-conversion-criteria
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Dozens of Imran Khan supporters, including 60 Afghans, arrested in Islamabad
By Fidel Rahmati
October 4, 2024
Islamabad police have arrested 412 supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including 60 Afghans, ahead of the party’s planned protest on Friday, October 4th. The police stated that thousands of officers have been deployed to prevent protesters from reaching the D-Chowk area.
According to the Express Tribune, these individuals were arrested in the Bara Kahu, Tarnol, and Sangjani areas, and police recovered spiked batons, slingshots, and stones from them.
Following the arrests, security measures in Islamabad have been tightened, and security forces have been deployed to protect the capital’s Red Zone.
The arrests come as PTI, led by its founder Imran Khan, had called for a protest at D-Chowk on Friday.
Authorities have implemented strict security measures to prevent protesters from reaching the demonstration site, deploying around 4,000 security personnel.
Officials in Rawalpindi also reported that they had arrested more than 150 supporters of the PTI.
Authorities stated that security barriers, including containers, have been placed at key entry points from Rawalpindi to Islamabad to control movement.
The arrests and strict security measures reflect the government’s determination to prevent disruptions during the planned PTI protest. With thousands of security personnel deployed and key areas blocked off, authorities are working to maintain order in Islamabad and its surroundings.
However, the presence of Afghan nationals among the arrested raises questions about the political influence of PTI among the Afghan diaspora in Pakistan. This could complicate the already sensitive relationship between the two countries, particularly concerning the political participation of Afghans in Pakistani movements.
Source: khaama.com
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Security czar warns of 'stringent action' ahead of PTI Islamabad protest
By Web Desk
October 03, 2024
ISLAMABAD: As the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) prepares to stage a demonstration at Islamabad’s D-Chowk on Friday (tomorrow), Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi warned that no leniency would be shown if the former ruling party storms the federal capital.
Amid its anti-government campaign, the former ruling party — founded by Imran Khan — is holding protests for the “independence” of the judiciary and the release of the former prime minister from jail.
The protest will coincide with the final day of the Malaysian prime minister’s visit to Pakistan and the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit . The authorities have already enforced Section 144 and “the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024”, regulating holding of public assemblies at certain places in Islamabad.
“The PTI’s top leadership should review its protest call […] No one will be allowed for an onrush on Islamabad,” the security czar said while addressing a presser along with officials of the federal police.
The interior minister said Section 144 was already in place in Islamabad, warning that the authorities were prepared to deal with any potential protests.
The foreign delegations including from China and Saudi Arabia would be arriving in the federal capital, the minister said adding that the upcoming SCO summit, scheduled for October 15 and 16 in Islamabad, is of utmost importance for the country.
“Paramilitary forces, army and Rangers have been called in. We have to ensure security in the [federal capital],” he added.
Naqvi said the country’s interest should be given priority over political goals, stating that any act that could tarnish the country’s image should be avoided.
“We hope that KP CM [Ali Amin Gandapur] will not resort to any move that could bring disrepute to the country.”
“The PTI is a party of Pakistan, not a foreign entity. When a head of state is present in Islamabad and you plan to onrush at that time, this is completely inappropriate,” Naqvi said.
He warned that the country would suffer forever if even a minor incident occurred during the Malaysian premier’s stay. “You have time till tomorrow […] Review your protest call as there is no permission at all to launch assault,” he added.
“If anyone does this tomorrow, they should not expect any leniency. This is a very thin line for us,” the minister said, adding that in such a case, no one should ask the administration to show leniency to whoever was caught.
He further said the police have completed its arrangement if anyone came to the capital, and no one should complain if they were dealt with in a certain manner.
Pakistan is all set to host SCO moot from October 15 with Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch saying there would be a ministerial meeting and multiple rounds of senior officials’ meetings to concentrate on fostering cooperation in finance, economics, socio-cultural affairs and humanitarian efforts among member states.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1236434-security-czar-warns-of-stringent-action-ahead-of-pti-islamabad-protest
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Fazl has no objections to constitutional court: Irfan Siddiqui
By Web Desk
October 03, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui said Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had no objection to establishment of the constitutional court and on the amendments' basic points.
The parliamentary leader of the Nawaz Sharif-led party said this during Geo News programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath' on Wednesday, after holding a meeting with the JUI-F chief in Islamabad.
The constitutional amendment proposed by the government had been tweaked concurring with Fazl's demands, in a bid to address his reservations, said Siddiqui.
“Maulana Fazlur Rahman informed about his reservations regarding the amendment,” he maintained.
When asked, Siddiqui said at this stage he could not tell the final timeframe as to when the amendments would be brought in the parliament. However, he said, in a week or 10 days the dust in this regard would settle.
If the JUI-F chief wanted to bring the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on board for the amendment, he said, the government had no objection to it.
To a query about PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s visit abroad, the senator said the former prime minister’s foreign visit was already scheduled for medical checkup, but it had been deferred viewing the prevailing situation.
“Even if Nawaz Sharif goes abroad, it would be for 8-10 days,” he said.
Earlier, talking to media, Siddiqui said Fazl did not want anything in the proposed judiciary centric constitutional package that was against the constitution.
“He only has reservations on a few minor matters which are being looked into by our team,” he said.
Putting the rumours about the government’s seeking extension for Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa to rest, he said the proposed constitutional amendments were not person-specific.
"Any constitutional amendment has nothing to do with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa or Justice Mansoor Ali Shah," he added.
The government pushed the constitutional package amid speculation about a potential extension in the tenure of CJP Isa, who is set to retire this month, following the PTI’s request in August for the early issuance of a notification regarding the appointment of the next top judge.
The PML-N, despite having the support of its allies such as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and others, had postponed introducing the constitutional amendment in the parliament while claiming to have secured the "magic number" earlier.
However, deferment came after JUI-F refused to lend its support to the ruling coalition, short of 13 votes in the National Assembly and nine in the Senate as the said legislation requires a two-thirds majority in both the houses.
The PML-N leader said that the constitutional amendment would be passed if the ruling coalition secured two-thirds majority in the parliament. "There is no pressure regarding the amendment as this is an 18-year-old agenda," he added.
Following the "non-political" meeting with Fazl, Senator Siddiqui admitted that the government could not pass the constitutional amendment without the JUI-F chief's approval.
On the other hand, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on October 1 said that so far, his party had agreed to the government’s proposal for the formation of a federal constitutional court.
Bilawal also elucidated that his struggle for the constitutional amendment was not for the current chief justice, Isa. "Your agenda could be a person-specific, not mine," he added.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1236362-fazl-has-no-objections-to-constitutional-court-irfan-siddiqui
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PTI ‘loses faith’ in seven MNAs, claims ‘contact’ with two govt members
Ikram Junaidi
October 4, 2024
ISLAMABAD: The main opposition party PTI has expressed the fear that some of its lawmakers may have been ‘won over’ by the government, which has been making attempts to shore up support for a controversial constitutional amendment, which seeks to bring about widespread reforms in the judiciary.
In a background briefing on Thursday, party officials claimed that they had “lost confidence” in seven of their lawmakers in the National Assembly, and were taking steps to ensure that they would not change their loyalties.
In addition, the party claimed that it was in contact with at least two MNAs from the ruling coalition, who had given assurances they would stay away from the NA sitting whenever the constitutional amendment is tabled for passage.
When asked by journalists how the party could oppose the constitutional amendment in the wake of the Supreme Court order on Article 63A, which gives lawmakers some leeway to vote ‘according to their conscience’, PTI leaders said that the majority of their legislators would remain loyal.
“Those who think that Imran Khan will leave the country or … compromise on his principles, are living in a fool’s paradise,” they said.
“We have decided that our legislators will not attend any session of parliament until Oct 25,” PTI leaders said.
However, the party leaders explained that there were seven legislators who, they felt, may not bear the pressure.
Of them, five have been shifted to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while one is said to be out of the country. The whereabouts of one of the MNAs, however, remains unknown to the party.
“PTI legislators cannot imagine changing their loyalty because of the pressure of the workers,” the leaders claimed, saying that even Mubarak Zeb, who was elected as an independent MNA from a newly merged district, would support the PTI.
“Although it is next to impossible that Imran Khan would start supporting PPP, even he will not be able to change the already announced policy, because workers will not listen. The founding chairman has trained people for well over two decades, so it will take decades to undo the change,” they said.
They also expressed the fear that after curtailing the power of the judiciary and opposition, the powers that be would come after the media to render it “completely toothless”.
They also predicted that even the PPP and PML-N could be sidelined in the future, with religious parties being brought into the mainstream.
Source: dawn.com
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Lawyers split over SC order in defection review
Malik Asad
October 4, 2024
• Questions raised about timing of decision amid attempts to pass a constitutional amendment
• SCBA, PBC hail verdict, IBC laments ‘favour to govt’
ISLAMABAD: The legal community seemed divided in its appraisal of Thursday’s Supreme Court decision on Article 63A of the Constitution, which deals with the disqualification of lawmakers voting against the party lines.
While lawyers’ central bodies — the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) — expressed satisfaction over the decision, the Islamabad Bar Council (IBC) said the verdict would favour the incumbent government, which is trying to get a controversial constitutional amendment passed by parliament.
The earlier decision, by a bench led by former chief justice Umar Ata Bandial, virtually made the constitutional provision that deals with defection redundant in four instances: the election of a prime minister and/or a chief minister; a vote of confidence or no-confidence; a Constitution amendment bill; and the budget.
The provision restricts the voting powers of lawmakers by making the party head’s decision binding on them. Under Article 63A, any lawmaker who violates the party line is disqualified from parliament and loses their seat.
Under the previous order, such votes would not be counted.
The fresh ruling, which came on a review petition instituted by the SCBA, means that in the future, the votes of defecting lawmakers will be counted.
SCBA President Shehzad Shaukat expressed his joy in the courtroom when the review petition was accepted.
The PBC, the apex regulatory forum of the lawyers across the country, said the earlier decision was unjust as it penalised the defecting lawmakers whose votes were not counted.
Meanwhile, Qazi Adil Aziz, the IBC vice chairman, said the apex court should have deferred the hearing of the matter.
He added that the decision came at a time when the ruling coalition was “making all-out efforts” to pass constitutional amendments to set up a Federal Constitutional Court and modify the process of appointment, posting, and transfer of superior courts’ judges.
He said the lawyer bodies of Islamabad will hold a convention on Oct 7 and hoped that lawyers from across the country would join their “movement for the rule of law”.
PBC Vice Chairman Farooq H. Naek said the five-member bench reviewed the matter in the light of the international practice and parliamentary norms of Western countries where casting votes against the party line is “customary”. He said that disqualification for not toeing the party position is a concept in South Asian parliamentary systems.
According to him, the court rightly held that the judgement of 2022 was “flawed”.
When asked about the upcoming convention by Islamabad-based lawyers, Mr Naek said PBC, being the supreme bar council, was not consulted by the local bodies.
‘Questionable timing’
Senior lawyer Sardar Asmatullah said though the decision’s timing could be questioned, there was no possibility of a large-scale pushback against it.
Barrister Asad Rahim Khan also questioned the timing, but insisted that the judgement was in line with the Constitution.
“It was difficult to see how the plain text of the Constitution prohibited dissident legislators’ votes from being counted,” he told Dawn.com.
The lawyer added that the review petition was fixed just days after the government tried to table the constitutional amendment in the parliament.
“[U]nfortunately, the timing and the hurried manner in which the said bench was constituted, as well as the decision rendered, shall cast shadows over the validity of the same,” another lawyer, Basil Nabi Malik, noted.
Kashif Ali Malik, a Supreme Court advocate, said the 2022 decision helped a PTI candidate to become the chief minister of Punjab.
According to Mr Malik, that decision was also legal in the eye of the law since it restrained parliamentarians from changing their loyalty and closed the door to defection.
According to him, the detailed reasoning for the fresh order is yet to be outlined, but the judgement “could be misused in the future,” especially by those parliamentarians who decide to vote against their party’s directions without caring about the consequences.
Source: dawn.com
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Sherani DC survives armed attack
Saleem Shahid
October 4, 2024
QUETTA: The deputy commissioner of Sherani district on Thursday survived an attack by unidentified armed men in Tang Haiderzai area of Qila Saifullah district.
Officials said Sana Mahjabeen Umrani was going to Sherani along with her security detail when unknown armed men opened fire on the convoy in the Haiderzai, some 50km from Zhob.
The deputy commissioner’s security guards returned the fire after taking positions and a heavy exchange of fire continued for some time, forcing the assailants to flee.
“Deputy Commissioner Sana Mahjabeen Umrani remained unhurt in the attack,” the Qila Saifullah deputy commissioner said, adding that she reached her destination safely with a heavy contingent of security forces.
“Some bullets hit one of the Levies Force vehicles, but none of the security personnel was injured in the exchange of fire,” officials said, adding that members of security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest the attackers.
This is the second attack on a government in recent mont. In August, Panjgur deputy commissioner Zakir Hussain Baloch lost his life when attackers opened fire on his vehicle while he was going to Quetta along with Panjgur District Council Chairman Abdul Malik Baloch, who was injured in the attack.
Source: dawn.com
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Arab World
Secretary-General Of Counter Terrorism Coalition Meets UN Anti-Terror Chief in Riyadh HQ
October 03, 2024
RIYADH: The secretary-general of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Moghidi, welcomed the director of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, Mauro Modico, to the coalition’s headquarters in Riyadh.
The aim of their meeting was to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism, and to enhance strategic relations between their organizations. They reviewed several key issues and discussed ways in which they can work together in pursuit of global peace and security.
Modico acknowledged the pivotal role the Islamic coalition plays in efforts to combat extremism and terrorism, praised the strong relationship between the organizations and said he hopes for even greater cooperation in future.
He underscored the importance of forging international partnerships to help promote global security and stability, and said coordination of this kind remains the cornerstone of effective counterterrorism efforts.
His visit to Riyadh coincided with a symposium titled “Future Prospects for Countering Terrorism through Digital Technologies,” which was organized by the coalition.
Source: arabnews.com
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Visitors to Kingdom spend more than $24bn in first half of 2024
October 03, 2024
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Tourism said the Kingdom achieved an 8.2 percent growth in spending by foreign visitors during the first half of 2024, compared with the first half of 2023.
The total spend amounted to about SR92.6 billion ($24.5 billion). The Kingdom also recorded a surplus in the travel account estimated at about SR41.6 billion, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The increase in spending by visitors to the Kingdom is part of significant developments in the tourism sector. The Kingdom topped the list of G20 countries in terms of growth in the number of international visitors and growth in international tourism revenues during the first seven months of 2024, compared with the same period in 2019, according to the UN World Tourism Organization.
The issued data confirms the effectiveness of the efforts made by the tourism system to achieve global leadership for the sector by applying best practices in tourism development, improving tourism services and products, and continuous cooperation with all government entities to support the development of the tourism sector in the Kingdom.
This achievement reflects the scale of efforts made by the Ministry of Tourism and other entities in the Saudi tourism system to enhance the sector and contribute to the growth of the national economy, as part of the National Tourism Strategy.
Source: arabnews.com
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FEM1 shipping service to Jeddah enhances Mawani’s role
October 03, 2024\
RIYADH: The Saudi Ports Authority, also known as Mawani, has announced the addition of the new FEM1 shipping service, in partnership with CStar and UGL, to Jeddah Islamic Port.
It aims to enhance the movement of imports and exports to and from the port, supported by reliable and efficient operations in a safe and sustainable environment.
It comes within the framework of Mawani’s efforts to improve the maritime network’s connectivity index with global shipping lines, while enhancing the competitiveness of ports and increasing their connectivity with worldwide locations.
It is in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and aims to promote the Kingdom’s standing as a global logistics center.
The new shipping service connects Jeddah Islamic Port to Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo and Nansha in China, Klang in Malaysia, and Istanbul in Turkiye.
The addition of new maritime shipping services to Jeddah Islamic Port contributes to strengthening its central role due to its distinctive strategic location, enabling it to connect the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa.
In addition, it confirms its competitive advantage for exporters, importers and shipping agents as the first port on the Red Sea coast in the field of maritime transit trade, container and cargo transportation.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Culinary Arts Commission broadens its global reach
October 03, 2024
RIYADH: The Saudi Culinary Arts Commission plans to elevate the Kingdom’s food culture in global forums and competitions dedicated to the culinary arts, Saudi Press Agency reported.
This was revealed during the commission’s announcement of a strategic partnership with the international organization Sirha Food.
According to SPA, through this partnership, the Kingdom will host the Middle East regional selection for the prestigious Bocuse d’Or and World Pastry Cup next year, marking a significant milestone in the development of its culinary arts sector.
These prestigious competitions seek to discover the region’s top talent, offering the chance to compete globally and giving Saudi chefs an international platform to showcase their expertise.
The partnership between the Culinary Arts Commission and Sirha Food includes participation in the World Pastry Cup Final, the Bocuse d’Or Final, and the Sirha Exhibition, all set to take place in Lyon, France, in January 2025.
This collaboration builds on the existing partnership between the commission and Sirha Food, which previously brought the Sirha Arabia exhibition to Riyadh, SPA reported.
The commission’s CEO, Mayada Badr, emphasized that the collaboration with Sirha Food was key in the development of the Kingdom’s culinary arts. She said that hosting the regional Bocuse d’Or and the World Pastry Cup, alongside the commission’s participation in Sirha Lyon, reflected a strong commitment to enhancing the Kingdom’s global presence in this field.
Badr said that this partnership was part of the authority’s efforts to elevate the culinary arts sector by forging strategic partnerships that enriched the Kingdom’s culinary landscape. This initiative not only promoted the sector’s growth but also empowered Saudi chefs and nurtured local talent, she said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi FM participates in Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha
October 03, 2024'
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated on Thursday in the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit which is being held in Doha.
Prince Faisal said the summit is an important platform through which Asian countries can enhance dialogue and cooperation in various fields.
He added that development challenges cannot be separated from the tense political and security situations in the region, and that ongoing events in Palestine and Lebanon represent a major obstacle to economic development and trade progress.
“The continuation of aggression and violations in the region hinder the movement of international trade and increase political tensions that threaten the flow of investments and economic cooperation between the countries of the region and the world,” he said.
He said that regional conflicts should be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic means to ensure the prosperity of the region.
“We thank Asia Cooperation Dialogue countries for their support for the two-state solution and their recognition of the State of Palestine, and we urge the rest of the world to follow suit,” Prince Faisal said.
He also said that the Kingdom believes in the importance of sports diplomacy as an effective means of facilitating constructive dialogue and supporting peace and stability, and “is constantly working to enhance this sector by hosting many major sporting events.”
Source: arabnews.com
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King Faisal Specialist Hospital is ‘catalyst for Saudi Arabia’s biotech revolution’
RASHID HASSAN
October 03, 2024
Riyadh: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, or KFSHRC, says it is spearheading Saudi Arabia’s ambitious goal of becoming a global leader in biotechnology.
Through groundbreaking advancements in genomics, biomanufacturing and sustainable health care, KFSHRC is transforming the country’s health care landscape, it added.
One of KFSHRC’s most significant achievements is the localization of CAR T-cell therapy production. By producing these life-saving therapies domestically, the hospital has reduced treatment costs by a substantial 80 percent and improved patient access, it said.
“Recognizing the importance of a robust biotechnology ecosystem, KFSHRC has partnered with the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) to establish the National Biotechnology Center. This collaboration aims to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and commercialization,” a KFSHRC statement to Arab News said.
Dr. Edward Cupler, executive director of research and innovation at KFSHRC, emphasized Saudi Arabia’s potential to become a biotechnology powerhouse, driven by the hospital’s pioneering work in CAR T-cell therapy, genomics and AI.
The hospital’s Genomics Center is also at the forefront of precision medicine, using advanced genetic analysis to develop personalized treatment plans, he said.
Dr. Cupler said KFSHRC’s commitment to innovation extended beyond clinical care. The hospital’s researchers had made significant strides in biomedical research, including developing the country’s first genetically engineered mice using CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology.
KFSHRC has invested heavily in education and training programs to sustain its growth. The hospital is reducing reliance on imports and fostering self-sufficiency in the biotechnology sector by developing local expertise in genomics, regenerative medicine, and bioinformatics.
These efforts also attract top talent worldwide, further solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a rising biotechnology leader.
For two consecutive years, KFSHRC has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 20th globally in the list of the world’s top 250 Academic Medical Centers.
Additionally, it has been recognized as the most valuable health care brand in the Middle East and named among the world’s best 250 hospitals by Newsweek magazine.
In a major breakthrough in medicine, KFSHRC last month performed the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant. The two-and-a-half-hour operation was carried out on a 16-year-old patient suffering from end-stage heart failure.
The pioneering achievement, overcoming significant medical challenges associated with such procedures, reinforces Saudi Arabia’s leadership in health care, and highlights KFSHRC’s ability to innovate medical practices, the hospital’s statement said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Mosques of the UAE: Sharjah landmark Al Noor inspired by Ottoman grandeur
Maan Jalal
October 04, 2024
On the banks of the palm tree-lined Khalid Lagoon sits the majestic Al Noor Mosque. The landmark on the Buhaira Corniche in Sharjah was built under the patronage of the wife of Sharjah Ruler Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi.
It was completed in 2005, with space for more than 2,000 worshippers at a time. It has since become one of the city’s most recognisable mosques and an architectural must-see for tourists.
The Arabic word noor translates to light, an element that is intrinsically connected to Islamic culture, representing divine guidance and knowledge. Therefore, the name of the mosque itself connects to the idea of seeking enlightenment and knowledge.
While Al Noor Mosque is grand and impressive, a closer look at its design reveals a thoughtful approach to melding decorative elements with clean, modern architectural lines and shapes. Its Ottoman design was influenced by the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, more commonly known as the Blue Mosque, in Istanbul.
The Turkish mosque's grand scale, harmonious proportions and lavish decorative elements are trademark features of the classical Ottoman style. From slender minarets and large domes to intricate tile work, vibrant colours and geometric patterns, the style, which reached its height in the early 17th century in the region, is perhaps one most recognised globally as “Islamic".
Al Noor Mosque takes its cues from these stylistic features, though on a much smaller and simplified scale but no less refined or grand in its presence. Cascading domes, 34 in total, sit on top of the structure. Covered with a delicate and graphic standing seam checked pattern, the central dome weighs approximately 100 tonnes and is supported by four main marble pillars.
The central dome is surrounded by several half domes and four small cupola domes in the corners. Most of these are lined with rounded arch windows.
The domes sit between two towering minarets, which face the main entrance of the mosque. Graceful and slender, the 52-metre high minarets are cylindrical and fluted, with no balconies and are decorated with floral geometric designs and crowned with a conical peak. They exemplify the atypical minarets of the Ottoman style.
Ornamental parapets with a floral motif line the edges of the rectilinear base of the structure. These create a marked distinction between the soft shapes of the domes and the cylindrical shape of the minarets against the hard-lined rectangular elements of the mosque’s foundation. The floral motif also connects these two sections, stylistically creating balance and cohesion.
In contrast to the top of the structure, the base of the mosque is modest with its clean brick lines, three oriental arches and slender pillars. The colour is a light beige with accents of pale blue, both of which serenely reflect the environment from the water of Khaled Lagoon to the sand on its banks as seen from the other side of the lake.
Al Noor Mosque is one of the few mosques that’s open to the public with tours available for individuals and groups. The tours include a guided talk about the mosque’s architecture, Islamic culture and Emirati history and heritage.
Source: thenationalnews.com
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https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art-design/2024/10/04/mosques-uae-al-noor-sharjah/
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Africa
Tunisia votes Sunday in its third presidential election since the Arab Spring
October 04, 2024
TUNIS: With his major opponents imprisoned or left off the ballot, Tunisian President Kais Saied faces few obstacles to winning reelection on Sunday, five years after riding anti-establishment backlash to a first term.
The North African country’s Oct. 6 presidential election is its third since protests led to the 2011 ouster of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali — the first autocrat toppled in the Arab Spring uprisings that also overthrew leaders in Egypt, Libya and Yemen.
International observers praised the previous two contests as meeting democratic norms. However, a raft of arrests and actions taken by a Saied-appointed election authority have raised questions about whether this year’s race is free and fair. And opposition parties have called for a boycott.
What’s at stake?
Not long ago, Tunisia was hailed as the Arab Spring’s only success story. As coups, counter-revolutions and civil wars convulsed the region, the North African nation enshrined a new democratic constitution and saw its leading civil society groups win the Nobel Peace Prize for brokering political compromise.
But its new leaders were unable to buoy its struggling economy and were plagued by political infighting and episodes of violence and terrorism.
Amid that backdrop, Saied, then 61 and a political outsider, won his first term in 2019. He advanced to a runoff promising to usher in a “New Tunisia” and hand more power to young people and local governments.
This year’s election will offer a window into popular opinion about the trajectory that Tunisia’s fading democracy has taken since Saied took office.
Saied’s supporters appear to have remained loyal to him and his promise to transform Tunisia. But he isn’t affiliated with any political party, and it’s unclear just how deep his support runs among Tunisians.
It’s the first presidential race since Saied upended the country’s politics in July 2021, declaring a state of emergency, sacking his prime minister, suspending the parliament and rewriting Tunisia’s constitution consolidating his own power.
Those actions outraged pro-democracy groups and leading opposition parties, who called them a coup. Yet despite anger from career politicians, voters approved Saied’s new constitution the following year in a low-turnout referendum.
Authorities subsequently began arresting Saied’s critics including journalists, lawyers, politicians and civil society figures, charging them with endangering state security and violating a controversial anti-fake news law that observers argue stifles dissent.
Fewer voters turned out to participate in parliamentary and local elections in 2022 and 2023 amid economic woes and widespread political apathy.
Who’s running?
Many wanted to challenge Saied, but few were able to.
Seventeen potential candidates filed paperwork to run and Tunisia’s election authority approved only three: Saied, Zouhair Maghzaoui and Ayachi Zammel.
Maghzaoui is a veteran politician who has campaigned against Saied’s economic program and recent political arrests. Still, he is loathed by opposition parties for backing Saied’s constitution and earlier moves to consolidate power.
Zammel is a businessman supported by politicians not boycotting the race. During the campaign, he has been sentenced to prison time in four voter fraud cases related to signatures his team gathered to qualify for the ballot.
Others had hoped to run but were prevented. The election authority, known as ISIE, last month dismissed a court ruling ordering it to reinstate three additional challengers.
With many arrested, detained or convicted on charges related to their political activities, Tunisia’s most well-known opposition figures are also not participating.
That includes the 83-year-old leader of Tunisia’s most well organized political party Ennahda, which rose to power after the Arab Spring. Rached Ghannouchi, the Islamist party’s co-founder and Tunisia’s former house speaker, has been imprisoned since last year after criticizing Saied.
The crackdown also includes one of Ghannouchi’s most vocal detractors: Abir Moussi, a right-wing lawmaker known for railing against Islamists and speaking nostalgically for pre-Arab Spring Tunisia. The 49-year-old president of the Free Destourian Party also was imprisoned last year after criticizing Saied.
Other less known politicians who announced plans to run have also since been jailed or sentenced on similar charges.
Opposition groups have called to boycott the race. The National Salvation Front — a coalition of secular and Islamist parties including Ennahda — has denounced the process as a sham and questioned the election’s legitimacy.
What are the other issues?
The country’s economy continues to face major challenges. Despite Saied’s promises to chart a new course for Tunisia, unemployment has steadily increased to one of the region’s highest at 16 percent, with young Tunisians hit particularly hard.
Growth has been slow since the COVID-19 pandemic and Tunisia has remained reliant on multilateral lenders such as the World Bank and the European Union. Today, Tunisia owes them more than $9 billion. Apart from agricultural reform, Saied’s overarching economic strategy is unclear.
Negotiations have long been stalled over a $1.9 billion bailout package offered by the International Monetary Fund in 2022. Saied has been unwilling to accept its conditions, which include restructuring indebted state-owned companies and cutting public wages. Some of the IMF’s stipulations — including lifting subsidies for electricity, flour and fuel — would likely be unpopular among Tunisians who rely on their low costs.
Economic analysts say that foreign and local investors are reluctant to invest in Tunisia due to continued political risks and an absence of reassurances.
The dire economic straits have had a two-pronged effect on one of Tunisia’s key political issues: migration. From 2019 to 2023, an increasing number of Tunisians attempted to migrate to Europe without authorization. Meanwhile, Saied’s administration has taken a harsh approach against migrants arriving from sub-Saharan Africa, many who have found themselves stuck in Tunisia while trying to reach Europe.
Saied energized his supporters in early 2023 by accusing migrants of violence and crime and portraying them as part of a plot to change the country’s demography. The anti-migrant rhetoric prompted extreme violence against migrants and a crackdown from authorities. Last year, security forces targeted migrant communities from the coast to the capital with a series of arrests, deportation to the desert and the demolition of tent camps in Tunis and coastal towns.
Bodies continue to wash ashore on Tunisia’s coastline as boats carrying Tunisians and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa manage only to make it a few nautical miles before sinking.
What does it mean overseas?
Tunisia has maintained ties with its traditional Western allies but also forged new partnerships under Saied.
Much like many populist leaders who’ve taken power worldwide, Saied emphasizes sovereignty and freeing Tunisia from what he calls “foreign diktats.” He has insisted that Tunisia won’t become a “border guard” for Europe, which has sought agreements with him to better police the Mediterranean.
Tunisia and Iran lifted visa requirements and in May announced plans to boost trade ties. It has also accepted millions in loans as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative to build hospitals, stadiums and ports.
Yet European countries remain Tunisia’s top trade partners and their leaders have maintained productive ties with Saied, hailing agreements to manage migration as a “model” for the region.
Saied has spoken ardently in support of Palestinians as war has swept the Middle East and opposes moves made to normalize diplomatic ties with Israel.
Source: arabnews.com
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I'll Give A Two-Day Eid-Ul-Fitr Holiday For Muslims If I'm Elected As President Of GhanaIn December
Oct - 03 - 2024
The Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has promised to introduce a two-day Eid-ul-Fitr holiday if elected as President in December 2024.
This according to him, is to address challenges on scheduling that the country's Muslim community usually face.
Speaking during a tour in Gambaga and Nalerigu in the North East Region on Wednesday, October 2, Mahama said this promise is part of his policy to ensure inclusiveness and appreciation for the religious practices of all Ghanaians.
This, he explained, will resolve issues that usually arise because of the inconsistency of when Eid falls since the latter is usually subject to the sighting of the moon.
"We are going to add one more holiday on Eid-ul-Fitr holiday. After fasting, sometimes there is confusion. Some people pray on one day, others pray on other day because they didn't see the moon or they saw the moon. So we are adding one more day so whether you break the fast today or you break the fast tomorrow, you get a holiday to rest and celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr," he said.
The promise, Mahama noted, was in line with his broader vision to build one united and inclusive Ghana, where all citizens, irrespective of their faith, are treated justly and given respect.
He emphasised unity and understanding in the nation and pledged to work more for the better representation of each Ghanaian.
Mahama also toured campaign areas and criticised the present administration for abandoning projects he initiated during his previous term.
He, therefore, assured Ghanaians that his government, when elected, would resume such abandoned projects and concentrate on resetting the "damaged economy" of the country.
". As I assured the chiefs and people during my visits to the Gambaga and Nayiri's palaces, I will work tirelessly to reset the damaged economy, and ensure the improvement of the living conditions of all Ghanaians," he said.
"It is unfortunate that projects started by my administration remain abandoned. We will resume them and also complete those started by this government.", he underscored
Source: graphic.com.gh
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Terrorism: Why Are We Not Holding Those Manufacturing Weapons? – Ezekwesili
4 October 2024
By Rachel Okporu Fadoju
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has questioned why manufacturers of the weapons used by terrorists in Nigeria and other African countries cannot be held accountable.
Naija News reports that the former Vice President of the World Bank’s Africa Region, stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the African Conference organized by the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, SPPG.
Ezekwesili noted that weapons used by terrorists across the continent are not magically made, stressing that every weapon can be traced.
She said, “When we talk about violent extremism and terrorism across the continent, one thing that always baffles me is where the weapons are coming from, they are not made magically, every weapon on this planet can be traced.
“So beyond where we say that we have dealt with certain extremists or we’ve taken captive extreme groups, why are we not holding those manufacturing the weapons to account?”
She also called for more policies and programmes to strengthen democracy in the continent.
According to her, democracy could only thrive when the electoral system was transparent and competent leaders were present to tackle the social and economic challenges faced on the continent.
Ezekwesili stressed that the SPPS programme was to groom young leaders from 20 African countries with the right mindset to improve the standard of governance.
She added, “What we are doing is correcting not just the supply side by having a school that raises a new generation of politicians that will govern for the collective good of the society and not for their personal interest.
“We are in fact also focused on the political literacy that is given to the demand side so that they understand their influence to determine the quality of governance.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/10/04/terrorism-why-are-we-not-holding-those-manufacturing-weapons-ezekwesili/
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Libya to resume oil production after central bank dispute ends
October 04, 2024
CAIRO: Libya’s state-run oil company said Thursday it was restarting full oil production, almost two months after shutting down operations in two of its major fields amid a political crisis.
The National Oil Corporation said in a statement that it would resume production at the Sharara and El-Feel oil fields, and export shipments from Es Sider, the country’s largest port. In August, the company declared “force majeure,” a legal maneuver that lets a company get out of its contracts because of extraordinary circumstances.
As part of the review of the force majeure situation, NOC confirmed in its statement that it “can resume the operations of crude oil production and exporting operations to its customers.”
The National Oil Corporation previously blamed the shutdown on the Fezzan Movement, a local protest group. It came as the country’s rival authorities were locked in a dispute over the governance of its Central Bank, which distributes the country’s oil revenues.
In August, the UN warned that the country was poised to face even greater instability due to the dispute. But that was resolved in recent days, when the country’s parliament appointed a new governor to the bank.
Libya produces more than 1.2 million barrels of oil per day, and Sharara is the country’s largest field, producing up to 300,000 barrels per day. It was exporting most of it. In September, exports averaged 460,000 bpd according to oil analytics firm Kpler.
The oil-rich country has been in political turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. Since then, Libya has been split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by militias and foreign governments.
The latest dispute
NOC declared force majeure on Aug. 7 at Sharara oilfield — one of Libya’s largest production areas with a capacity of about 300,000 barrels per day — and on Elfeel oilfield on Sept.2.
Sharara is located in southwestern Libya and operated by a joint venture of NOC with Spain’s Repsol, France’s TotalEnergies, Austria’s OMV, and Norway’s Equinor.
Elfeel has a capacity of 70,000 barrels per day and is operated by Mellitah Oil and Gas, a joint venture between NOC and Italy’s Eni.
Two engineers at the field told Reuters the oilfield resumed production but not with full capacity due to maintenance work.
Earlier, three engineers said there were some “technical problems” at Elfeel.
The government in Benghazi in the east said oil production and exports would resume normal operations, after the rival authorities agreed last month to appoint Issa as new central bank governor.
Authorities in the second-largest city had closed oilfields and halted most of crude exports on Aug. 26 in protest against a move by the Presidential Council, which sits in Tripoli in the west, to replace veteran central bank chief Sadiq Al-Kabir.
The head of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Menfi, met with Issa on Wednesday and stressed “the need for the central bank governor to commit to the technical role of the bank, stay away from politics, and not surpass the legal jurisdictions of the board of directors.”
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya UNSMIL welcomed in a statement NOC announcing the lifting of force majeure on oil production.
The mission emphasized that “it is essential that revenues from this vital resource be channeled through the appropriate institutional framework, and ultimately to the Central Bank of Libya.”
Source: arabnews.com
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South Asia
Mob Attacks: At least 28 beaten to death in Sept
Oct 4, 2024'
At least 28 people have died in mob beatings in September, said a report by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS). At least 14 people were injured in these incidents.
In the report published yesterday, HRSS said although there have been some improvements in specific areas of human rights under the interim government, overall progress remains insufficient. "In fact, in some areas, the human rights situation has deteriorated," it said.
In addition, at least 16 people were killed in 83 incidents of political violence, said the organisation. Of the incidents, 45 were caused by internal conflicts within BNP, while 23 were between BNP and Awami League. Among the dead, 11 were from BNP and five were from AL.
"Moreover, at least eight individuals from Awami League, BNP and Jamaat were killed in power struggles and criminal attacks," said the report.
"Notably 39 people were injured in violent clashes over market control in Narsingdi's Palash and Dhaka's Kawran Bazar," it added.
HRSS compiled these statistics based on news reported in national media.
A total of nine people were killed extrajudicially in September, including two members of the indigenous community who were killed in an army shooting in Khagrachhari. This also includes the death of a garment worker in police firing in Ashulia.
"Additionally, media reports and victims' families indicate that four individuals died due to torture during joint operations by law enforcement agencies. The victims were Sohrab Hossain alias Apple, 35, and Shafiqul Islam, 45, of Gaibandha. Moreover, a complaint of death of a person named Syed Nurul Karim, 55, has been found in the custody of the officials of Narayanganj Narcotics Control Department," said the report.
At the border, the Indian Border Security Force was involved in three incidents resulting in two deaths, both of minors. "In one case, a 14-year-old girl named Swarna Das from Kulaura of Moulvibazar and a 15-year-old boy named Sri Jayanta Kumar Sinha from Baliadangi, Thakurgaon were shot dead by the BSF," the report mentioned.
At least 44 women were raped in the last month, of them, 15 were minors. "It is deeply concerning that 18 women and girls were gang-raped, four were killed after being raped, and one committed suicide.
"Ensuring the fundamental and constitutional rights of citizens by maintaining law and order is crucial," said the report.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/mob-attacks-least-28-beaten-death-sept-3719031
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Govt forms 8-member judiciary reform commission
Oct 3, 2024
The government has constituted an eight-member commission headed by Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominir Rahman, a retired judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, with a view to proposing necessary reforms to make the judiciary independent, impartial and effective.
The commission was formed after the chief adviser of the interim government approved it.
The cabinet division issued a gazette notification today to this effect saying that the commission will start functions from October 3 and will come up with a report within next 90 days. The report will be submitted to the chief adviser.
Other seven members of the commission are two retired High Court judges Justice Emdadul Haque and Justice Farid Ahmed Shibli; Syed Aminul Islam, former district and sessions judge and former registrar general of Bangladesh Supreme Court; Masdar Hossain, former district and sessions judge; senior SC lawyer Hussain Shawn; Kazi Mahfuzaul Haque Supan, associate professor of law department at Dhaka University; and a representative from students.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/eu-helping-bangladesh-strengthening-border-security-3719176
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Bangladesh to sign extradition treaties with Maldives, Qatar
Oct 3, 2024
Bangladesh will soon sign extradition treaties with Maldives and Qatar aimed at bringing back Bangladeshi nationals convicted in the two countries.
The decision was taken at the Council of Advisers meeting held at Chief Adviser's Office today.
"Once the extradition treaties are signed with Maldives and Qatar, we will be able to bring back Bangladeshi nationals sentenced in the two countries and they can complete their jail terms in Bangladesh," said Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam after the meeting.
Briefing newsmen, he however, said that the Council of Advisers also approved, in principal, the draft of "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Maldives and the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on Transfer of Prisoners'.
The agreement will remain effective for 10 years, and if both parties agree, it could be renewed for 10 more years. Once the agreement comes into effect, the convicted nationals of both counties will be able to serve their conviction terms in their respective counties.
The council also approved the draft of "Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners between the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of the State of Qatar".
Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretaries Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Apurba Jahangir were present at the press briefing.
Source: thedailystar.net
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EU helping Bangladesh in strengthening border security
Oct 3, 2024
The European Union (EU) is supporting border control personnel to detect and counter forged documents, identity theft and other cross-border crimes as part of greater objectives of preventing irregular migration.
The EU has provided trainings on Document Forensic Examination for Immigration Police. In addition, on 26 September, the EU transferred equipment, including a Video Spectral Comparator (VSC), to the Immigration authorities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said EU in a statement today.
The equipment and training are part of a EUR 12 million regional EU project involving Bangladesh, aimed at strengthening border management and building human and institutional capacity in Bangladesh and across the region, supported by the EU in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development.
"Migration management is a shared priority and the EU /Bangladesh partnership is helping deliver better services to prevent irregular departures and strengthen the protection of rights of Bangladeshi citizens," EU Ambassador to Bangladesh, Michael Miller said.
Since 2017, the EU has been assisting Bangladesh with EUR 38.2 million in addressing migration governance-related issues, sustainable return, and reintegration, including efforts to counter human trafficking.
In July 2024, the EU launched a Talent Partnership with Bangladesh to create pathways for legal migration, improve EU labour recruitment and mobility and uphold international labour and gender equality standards.
Source: thedailystar.net
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UN Donor’s Conference on Afghanistan kicks off in Dubai
By Fidel Rahmati
October 4, 2024
The donors’ conference for Afghanistan began on Thursday, October 3rd, hosted by the United Nations in Dubai.
At this conference, both domestic and international organizations, along with political representatives from various countries, are discussing aid to Afghanistan, which is currently under Taliban control and facing a severe humanitarian crisis.
Participants discussed ways to provide aid to Afghanistan, exchanging views on the best approaches and reaffirming their commitment to continue offering humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan.
They reviewed monitoring mechanisms and emphasized the importance of transparency in delivering aid to ensure it reaches those in need.
Participants also expressed that Afghanistan remains at the center of the strategies of donor organizations and countries.
However, they stressed that “it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to create conditions where Afghans can sustain themselves through employment, rather than relying continuously on international aid.”
The conference also addressed the challenges posed by the Taliban’s new restrictions under the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” law. This law has imposed severe limitations, particularly against women. Under this law, women cannot leave their homes without a male guardian, and their voices are considered indecent in public spaces.
According to a United Nations report, Afghanistan is facing one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. At least 23 million people in the country require humanitarian assistance. However, there are concerns about the reduction of these aid efforts.
Some countries and international organizations have also expressed concerns that the Taliban may misuse humanitarian aid for other purposes.
Karen Decker, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan, who attended the donors’ conference, told the media that since the fall of the Afghan Republic, the United States has provided $2.3 billion in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
Ms. Decker also mentioned that the results of the work conducted by two economic and narcotics groups from the “Doha 3” discussions would soon be reviewed by the United Nations, and the next major Doha meeting will also take place.
The donors’ conference highlights both the urgency and complexity of providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. While there is a commitment to helping millions of Afghans in need, concerns about transparency and the Taliban’s restrictions, especially on women’s rights, continue to challenge the international community’s efforts.
The call for a long-term solution emphasizes that Afghanistan’s future should not rely solely on aid. Sustainable employment and self-sufficiency must be at the core of any strategy to help the Afghanistan’s people build a better future.
Source: khaama.com
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Two Afghan citizens arrested in India for drug trafficking
By Fidel Rahmati
October 3, 2024
Indian police have announced the arrest of two Afghan nationals for carrying 560 grams of cocaine and heroin worth 267 million dollars.
Indian media reported on Wednesday, October 2 that the individuals were arrested in “Tilak Nagar” in West Delhi.
According to Indian police, the arrested individuals, named “Mohammad Waris Hashimi” and “Abdul Naib,” intended to sell cocaine in Delhi and its surrounding areas.
The report stated that the two men had been residing in India as refugees since January 2020. Before getting involved in the “drug trade,” they worked together as assistants at a chemical store in Vikaspuri.
Additionally, Indian police have claimed that behind this operation is a large international drug trafficking organization led by Afghan nationals in New Delhi.
Earlier, Gujarat’s anti-terrorism police had also announced the arrest of an Afghan citizen in Delhi for smuggling 460 grams of heroin.
These incidents highlight the growing concern over international drug trafficking networks, which continue to exploit vulnerable refugees for their operations. The Indian authorities are now focusing on dismantling the broader network involved in these activities, aiming to curb the influence of organized crime in the region.
Source: khaama.com
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hate-crime-road-rage-maharashtra/d/133357