Hindu Prayers To Continue In Gyanvapi "Vyas Tehkhana", Allahabad HC Rejects Mosque Management Petition
New Age Islam
News Bureau
26 February 2024
Police personnel keep vigil at the Gyanvapi Mosque
Complex during the Friday Prayers, in Varanasi. File | Photo Credit: ANI
------
·
Hindu Prayers To Continue In Gyanvapi "Vyas
Tehkhana", Allahabad HC Rejects Mosque Management Petition
·
Anti-Islam Activist, Salwan Momika, A Refugee From
Iraq, Burns Quran In Swedish Demonstration
·
Catholic Church During Sunday Mass Attack Leaves
More Than Dozen Dead In Burkina Faso: Vicar
·
US Air Force Member Sets Self On Fire As Protest
Against 'Genocide' In Palestine
·
Saudi Arabia: Prophet’s Mosque Conducting Over 35
Weekly Oud Tours For Luxurious Experience In Aroma And Serenity
----
India
·
Shankaracharya’s Disciples Destroyed More Buddhist
Stupas Than Aurangzeb: Samajwadi Party
·
Anti-Muslim Hate Speech Soars In India, Research
Group SaysIsrael-Gaza War Played A Key Role
·
All India Muslim Jamaat chief appeals Muslims to not
oppose PM Modi, says parties exploiting them in the name of secularism
·
Ex-envoy Ajay Bisaria at Idea Exchange: ‘India
should engage with Pakistan to consolidate gains in curbing terrorism’
-------
Europe
·
Demonstrations Across Spain Call For Arms Embargo On
Israel
·
Muslim Council of Britain responds to closure of
Inter Faith Network
·
Ex-Brazil president seen waving Israeli flag as
hundreds of thousands gather in support
·
Islamist threats led to chaos in Commons during Gaza
vote, says Deputy PM
-----
Africa
·
447 Borno families displaced by B’Haram resettled –
Zulum
·
Economic hardship: Our problem not from God – Shehu
Sani
·
DSS operatives take over court as Kanu’s trial
resumes
·
Algeria inaugurates Africa's largest mosque: Great
Mosque of Algiers
·
Sudan authorities block cross-border aid to stricken
Darfur
-----
North America
·
US says talks came to 'understanding' on hostages,
possible Gaza ceasefire
·
CAIR Releases Data Indicating Over 2 Million
American Muslim Voters
·
CAIR Condemns Death of Palestinian Baby from
Israel-Imposed Starvation, Israeli Torture of Gaza Doctor
----
Arab World
·
OIC to expose Israeli war crimes in Gaza,
establishes monitoring units
·
Waad campaign provides more than 800,000 training
opportunities for Saudis
·
Over 6m worshippers flock to Prophet’s Mosque in one
week
·
Saudi Arabia releases rules for parents performing
Umrah with children
·
Saudi Arabia's Falconry Heritage Celebrated on
Founding Day
-----
Mideast
·
Iran's Khamenei On Gaza: Islam Will Overcome
'Crooked' Western Civilization
·
Gaza Deal Won’t Affect Israel’s Hezbollah Fight: Israel
Defence Minister
·
Turkish lawmakers in The Hague to back Turkish
statement at ICJ
·
Israeli military proposes ‘plan for evacuating’ Gaza
civilians
·
Hezbollah hits Israeli military positions in fresh
strikes
·
Jordan king warns of continuing Gaza war during
Ramadan
·
Al-Sudani expresses congratulations to Iraqi people,
Islamic world on Mid-Sha'ban
·
Israeli attacks continue as Gaza death toll set to
pass 30,000
·
Egypt sets up a second camp for displaced
Palestinians in Gaza’s Khan Younis
·
‘Man-made’ Gaza famine can still be avoided, says UN
agency
-----
Pakistan
·
Ayaz Sadiq, Leader Of PML-N Urges All Political
Parties To Work Together In Resolving Challenges
·
Cipher, Toshakhana Cases: IHC Takes Up Imran,
Bushra’s Pleas Today
·
PPP and ‘N’ yet to name Balochistan CM, speaker
·
Unity needed for economic stability: Shehbaz
·
Naqvi opens new museum in Badshahi mosque
·
SIC boycotts Punjab Assembly session as voting
begins to elect chief minister
----
South Asia
·
Combat Terrorism, Corruption And Drug Abuse,
PMSheikh Hasina Tells Local Govt Officials
·
UNSC Expected to Discuss UN Envoy for Afghanistan on
Monday
·
Over 100 Afghan migrants detained by Turkish Coast
Guard en route to Greece
·
Deputy FM: No Need for UN Envoy When UNAMA Active
·
Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs Signs MoU
with Charity Organization for Economic Support of Heirs of Martyrs
-----
Southeast Asia
·
"Indonesia Run For Palestine": Ministry
Commends Thousands Of Runners Expressing Support To Palestine
·
Surging wave of global condemnation against Israeli
atrocities - Mohamad
·
Malaysia should stand out at international level to
support peace and combat terrorism - Sultan Ibrahim
·
VP leaving for New Zealand for halal diplomacy to
global community
·
Agong calls on govt to formulate policy to
strengthen unity, harmony
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hindu-prayers-gyanvapi-mosque/d/131803
-------
Hindu
Prayers To Continue In Gyanvapi "Vyas Tehkhana", Allahabad HCRejects
Mosque Management Petition
Police personnel keep vigil at the Gyanvapi Mosque
Complex during the Friday Prayers, in Varanasi. File | Photo Credit: ANI
------
26.02.24
Worship
will continue in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, the
Allahabad High Court said on Monday while dismissing an appeal that had challenged
the district court's order to this effect.
Justice
Rohit Ranjan Agarwal dismissed the mosque management committee's appeal that
had challenged the Varanasi district court's order allowing "puja" to
be performed in the "Vyas Tehkhana" or southern cellar of the mosque.
The
high court dismissed two appeals filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Mosque
Committee challenging the district judge's January 17 order that appointed the
district magistrate as the receiver of the "Vyas Tehkhana" and
January 31 order by which he allowed "puja" to be performed there.
The
high court said worship in the "Vyas Tehkhana" will continue.
Dismissing
the appeals, Justice Agarwal said, "After going through the entire records
of the case and considering the arguments of the parties concerned, the court
did not find any ground to interfere in the judgment passed by the district
judge on January 17, appointing the Varanasi district magistrate as the
receiver of the property, as well as the order dated January 31 by which the
district court permitted puja in the Tehkhana." The high court judge had
reserved his verdict in the matter on February 15 after hearing the counsel for
the parties.
The
Anjuman Intezamia Mosque Committee manages the affairs of the Gyanvapi mosque.
It moved the high court on February 2, hours after the Supreme Court refused to
hear its plea against the district court order and asked it to approach the
high court.
The
district court ruled on January 31 that a Hindu priest can perform prayers
before the idols in the southern cellar of the mosque.
The
prayers are now being conducted by a "pujari" nominated by the Kashi
Vishwanath temple trust and the petitioner, who has claimed that his
grandfather offered puja in the cellar till December 1993.
The
district court had directed the local administration to make arrangements
within seven days for prayers in the cellar. This would have involved
"proper arrangements" with metal barricades at the complex.
A
survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on the court's
order had suggested that the mosque was constructed during Mughal emperor
Aurangzeb's rule over the remains of a Hindu temple.
The
January 31 order was delivered on the plea of Shailendra Kumar Pathak, who had
claimed that his maternal grandfather, priest Somnath Vyas, offered prayers in
the cellar till December 1993.
He
had said the "puja" was stopped during the tenure of then Uttar
Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav after the Babri masjid in Ayodhya
was demolished on December 6, 1992.
During
the hearing, the Muslim side to the dispute had contested the petitioner's
version. It had said no idols existed in the cellar and hence, there was no
question of prayers being offered there till 1993.
The
Muslim side had also countered the petitioner's claim that the basement was
under his grandfather's control.
The
petitioner had claimed that his family had the control of the cellar even
during the British rule.
In an
earlier order on January 17, the Varanasi court had directed the district
magistrate to take charge of the cellar, but not given any directions then on
the right to offer prayers there.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/hindu-prayers-to-continue-in-gyanvapi-cellar-allahabad-high-court-rejects-petition-challenging-varanasi-court-order/cid/2003001
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Anti-Islam
Activist, Salwan Momika, A Refugee From Iraq, Burns Quran In Swedish
Demonstration
Protestor
Salwan Momika, who planned to burn a copy of Koran and the Iraqi flag, is
escorted by police to a location outside the Iraqi embassy, in Stockholm,
Sweden July 20, 2023
(Photo
credit: TT News Agency/Caisa Rasmussen via REUTERS)
------
FEBRUARY
25, 2024
Salwan
Momika, a refugee from Iraq who has been publicly critical of Islam, filmed
himself on Sunday burning pages of the Quran and shared the footage on his X
account.
“During
every demonstration I hold, I light my cigarette with a leaf of the Qur’an.
They are angry,” Momika published with footage of the burning.
In
another post, Momika revealed police detained a man from trying to approach
him. “Someone tried to sneak towards me, but the police did the job,” he
commented.
Footage
of the incident showed two officers on the floor with a man in a space
sectioned off by tape. Surrounding the incident were crowds yelling.
In a
later social media post, assumedly related to his demonstration, Momika wrote
“My battle with Islam is a moral human battle, a battle of civilization and
existence, a battle of good against evil, a battle of knowledge against
ignorance.”
Momika
claimed that Sweden had withdrawn his political asylum status and that he would
be returned to Iraq where he faced torture and execution. He stated that his
protests were carried out within Swedish law and with the consent and knowledge
of Swedish authorities. He also accused that Iraq, Sweden, and Turkey had come
to a secret agreement in exchange for his return and that bribes had
potentially been involved in Sweden’s decision to revoke his asylum status.
In
addition to burning the Quran, Momika’s social media profile includes images of
the Israeli flag. Normalization between Iraqis and Israel is forbidden by Iraqi
law.
Sweden
raises terror alerts
In
August, Sweden raised its terrorism alert to the second-highest level and
warned of an increase in threats against Swedes at home and abroad after Quran
burnings outraged Muslims and triggered threats from jihadists.
The
police denied several applications earlier this year for protests that were set
to include burning the Quran, citing security concerns, but courts have since
overturned the police's decisions, saying such acts are protected by Sweden's
far-reaching freedom of speech laws.
Source: jpost.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-788801
----
Catholic
Church During Sunday Mass Attack Leaves More Than Dozen Dead In Burkina Faso:
Vicar
Sunday
mass in a Catholic church in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, about 200 miles from
where the atrocity on Sunday took place. Photograph: Godong/Universal Images
Group/Getty Images
-------
February
26, 2024
At
least 15 civilians were killed and two others injured during a
"terrorist" attack on a Catholic church during Sunday mass in
northern Burkina Faso, a senior church official has said.
"We
bring to your attention a terrorist attack which the Catholic community of
Essakane village was the victim of today, February 25, while they were gathered
for Sunday prayer," the vicar of the Dori diocese, Jean-Pierre Sawadogo,
said in a statement sent to AFP on Sunday.
The
provisional toll was 15 killed and two wounded, he added.
Calling
for peace and security in Burkina Faso, Sawadogo denounced "those who
continue to wreak death and desolation in our country".
This
is just the latest in a series of atrocities blamed on militant groups active
in the region, some of which have targeted Christian churches while others have
involved the abduction of clergy.
Burkina
Faso is part of the vast Sahel region, which has been locked in a battle
against rising violent extremism since Libya's civil war in 2011.
The
insurgency spilled over into Burkina Faso and Niger from 2015..
Around
20,000 people in Burkina Faso have been killed in that violence, while over two
million have been displaced.
Source: trtworld.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.trtworld.com/africa/church-attack-leaves-more-than-dozen-dead-in-burkina-faso-vicar-17125012
----
US
Air Force Member Sets Self On Fire As Protest Against 'Genocide' In Palestine
Aaron
Bushnell walking towards the gate of the Israeli embassy [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]
------
February
26, 2024
A
United States Air Force member set himself on fire in front of the Israeli
Embassy in Washington, DC, on Sunday, shouting "Free Palestine," CNN
reported.
According
to reports, the man, identified as Aaron Bushnell, was an active member of the
US Air Force.
As
per witnesses, he was live streaming on the social media platform Twitch, and
after walking in on the spot, he set his phone down and doused himself in a
fluid, setting it alight, declaring that he "will no longer be complicit
in genocide," adding that what he is about to do is nothing in comparison
to the suffering of Palestinians.
The
US Air Force spokesman, Rose Riley, has confirmed the incident, saying, "I
can confirm an active-duty airman was involved in today's incident."
The
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) reported that Bushnell is in serious
condition and has been taken to the hospital. It shared that MPD, along with
the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives, will be looking into the matter.
The
embassy has been the focus of protests by pro-Palestinian demonstrators calling
for a ceasefire to the Israeli military genocide in Gaza, in which the death
toll has reportedly passed 30,000 this week.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1161691-us-air-force-member-sets-self-on-fire-as-protest-against-genocide-in-palestine
----
Saudi
Arabia: Prophet’s Mosque Conducting Over 35 Weekly Oud Tours For Luxurious
Experience In Aroma And Serenity
An
array of special fragrances like amber, musk, and oud is used at the Prophet's
Mosque in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan.
Image
Credit: SPA file
-------
February 25, 2024
Dubai:
The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the
Prophet’s Mosque has revealed that it is conducting more than 35 weekly oud
tours, offering visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque a luxurious sensory
experience. Through the infusion of over a kilo of high-quality natural oud and
120 grams of pure oud oil, these tours aim to create an atmosphere of tranquillity
and spirituality for worshippers and guests.
In
addition to these tours, the General Authority is committed to enhancing its
services at the Prophet’s Mosque to accommodate the needs of worshippers around
the clock.
This
includes ongoing sterilisation and cleaning operations across vast areas within
the mosque and its surrounding squares, ensuring a safe and healthy environment
for worshippers during the five daily prayers.
Hundreds
of workers are engaged in these cleaning and disinfection programmes, employing
a combination of manual and mechanical equipment to sanitise all parts of the
mosque, including its squares and doors.
Moreover,
a dedicated team cleans approximately 20,000 carpets per day, particularly
during peak hours and on Fridays.
To
further enhance cleanliness and fragrance within the mosque, air propulsion
devices are deployed at the entrances to the parking lots leading to the
mosque’s squares.
Following
the cleaning and disinfection processes, a fragrance programme is implemented
throughout the mosque, welcoming worshippers with a serene ambiance as they
perform their rituals in areas such as Al Rawdah Al Sharifa and corridors.
Source: gulfnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-prophets-mosque-conducting-over-35-weekly-oud-tours-for-luxurious-experience-in-aroma-and-serenity-1.101270148
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India
Shankaracharya’s
Disciples Destroyed More Buddhist Stupas Than Aurangzeb: Samajwadi Party
Ramgopal
Yadav
26.02.24
The
disciples of Adi Shankaracharya were responsible for demolishing significantly
more Buddhist stupas than the number of temples destroyed by Aurangzeb, said
Prof. Ramgopal Yadav, the National Chief General Secretary of SP while
addressing gatherings commemorating Sant
Ravidas Jayanti.
While
not explicitly naming the BJP, he accused those in power of encroaching upon
the fundamental rights of the populace.
Yadav
highlighted the historical injustices within Hinduism, noting that Lord Buddha
worked to rectify these, yet his stupas faced widespread destruction. He
cautioned against forgetting this history, particularly in light of the current
ruling powers. He emphasized the efforts of Ravidasji and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in
combating such injustices and ensuring constitutional safeguards for
marginalized communities. However, he lamented that the present administration
is eroding these rights through legislative measures contradicting the
constitution.
Furthermore,
Yadav criticized the undue influence exerted by the authorities in Delhi,
asserting that it has stifled the judiciary and instilled fear, leading to
widespread silence. He attributed his own presence and the attainment of
justice by many to Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy of reservation policies, which he
accused the current regime of dismantling, particularly evident in the
outsourcing and contracting of lower-level jobs.
Praising
the achievements of the SP government, Yadav came down heavily on both central
and state governments. The program was presided over by Prem Singh Jatav, with
notable attendees including Santosh Yadav, Vijendra Singh Contractor, Gaurav
Yadav, Biri Singh Pradhan, Shailendra Singh Titu, Ravindra Singh Jatav,
Narendra Singh Suman, Kuldeep Suman, and Rahul Yadav.
Source: muslimmirror.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/shankaracharyas-disciples-destroyed-more-buddhist-stupas-than-aurangzeb-ramgopal-yadav/
-----
Anti-Muslim
Hate Speech Soars In India, Research Group SaysIsrael-Gaza War Played A Key
Role
February 26, 2024
Anti-Muslim
hate speech in India rose by 62% in the second half of 2023 compared to the
first six months of the year, a Washington-based research group said on Monday,
adding the Israel-Gaza war played a key role in the last three months.
India
Hate Lab documented 668 hate speech incidents targeting Muslims in 2023, 255 of
which occurred in the first half of the year, while 413 took place in the last
six months of 2023, the research group said in a report released Monday.
About
75%, or 498, of those incidents took place in states governed by the Hindu
nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
according to the report.
The
states of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh accounted for the most
hate speech.
Between
Oct. 7 – when Hamas attacked Israel, sparking the conflict in the Gaza Strip as
Israel retaliated – and Dec. 31, there were 41 incidents of hate speech against
Indian Muslims that mentioned the war, the report added. It accounted for about
20% of hate speech in the last three months of 2023.
The
research group said it used the United Nations’ definition of hate speech –
prejudiced or discriminatory language towards an individual or group based on
attributes including religion, ethnicity, nationality, race or gender.
Rights
groups have alleged mistreatment of Muslims under Modi, who became prime
minister
in 2014 and is widely expected to retain power after the 2024 elections. –
Reuters
Source: ariananews.af
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.ariananews.af/anti-muslim-hate-speech-soars-in-india-research-group-says/
----
All
India Muslim Jamaat chief appeals Muslims to not oppose PM Modi, says parties
exploiting them in the name of secularism
February 26, 2024
National
president of All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvin, has appealed
to Muslims to not oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha
elections. In a viral video, Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi can be
seen saying that political situation is changing in the country and advised all
Muslims in the country not to oppose the Prime Minister. He was speaking during
a conference held in Ambikapur district of Chhattisgarh.
Also
hitting out at secular parties, Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi said that
political parties claiming to be secular have only put the responsibility of
opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the shoulders of Muslims. This keeps
Muslims always on the sidelines, while secular parties and their
representatives benefit politically, he said in the video.
Must
Leave Opposition to PM Modi: Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi
Shahabuddin
Razvi said that the Muslims of the country will have to stop opposing Prime
Minister Modi and by doing so, they can also dispel the illusion of secular
parties. Muslims should not oppose Prime Minister Modi at all in the Lok Sabha
elections to be held after two months.
He
said that that every political party uses Muslims in elections in the name of
secularism. Muslims, without thinking, start opposing Prime Minister Modi by
raising the flag and banner of secularism. Muslims unknowingly become the pawns
of political parties, and then it starts to feel like only Muslims are against
Modi, while everyone else is in support of Modi.
The
national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat said that neither have
Muslims gained any benefit from opposition nor is there any hope of benefit in
the future. Instead, a situation of confrontation has arisen between Hindus and
Muslims, which is causing a lot of damage to Indian society.
India's
Political Situation has Changed
In the
religious conference, the Bareilvi Maulana said that the Muslim society should
move forward with positive thinking. He said that the political situation in
India has changed very rapidly, expectations of more changes can be made. In
such a situation, looking at the political aspects, Muslims should think about
their future.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/all-india-muslim-jamaat-chief-appeals-muslims-to-not-oppose-pm-modi-says-parties-exploiting-them-in-the-name-of-secularism/articleshow/108001205.cms
----
Ex-envoy
Ajay Bisaria at Idea Exchange: ‘India should engage with Pakistan to
consolidate gains in curbing terrorism’
February 26, 2024
Shubhajit
Roy: There are two revelations in the book. One concerns the1999-2004 period,
when you were in the PMO and had been part of conversations with the then Prime
Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and then National Security Advisor Brajesh
Mishra. The second one was about your tenure as high commissioner in Islamabad,
which was cut short. How different have these two regimes been in their approach
to Pakistan?
Between
1999 and 2004, I was, maybe, a fly on the wall, and more recently was one of
the actors. There hasn’t been a dramatic shift but an organic evolution of a
policy. The dominant theme in the Vajpayee years was dealing with terrorism. In
1998 we had gone nuclear and Vajpayee was deeply conscious of that nuclear
responsibility. At that time it wasn’t really clear to us what Pakistan’s red
lines were. So that was a factor in the policy-making on Pakistan.
Yet
terrorism was a huge challenge. 9/11, the Kandahar hijack and the December 13
attack on the Parliament had happened. That dilemma of how to deal with
terrorism was what the Modi government faced as soon as it took over in 2014.
Modi wanted to do exactly what Vajpayee wanted, which is to untie the knot. In
his initial two years, Modi met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif five
times. And yet, the deal breaker in both cases was terrorism like it was with
Kargil and the attack on Parliament. But with surgical strikes in 2016 and air
strike in 2019, we had a better answer for terrorism in the sub-conventional
space. In this space, the debate was about could we escalate it to conventional
warfare? We have evolved with a few new inventions in dealing with terrorism.
Shubhajit
Roy: Many would argue that the hardline approach may have put India in a box…
Well,
I would argue that there’s a smart way out of that dilemma. Because, “no talks
with terror” is ambiguous. There could be a two-track policy. On terrorism, now
the benchmark is that a Pulwama gets a Balakot or a Balakot-plus kind of
response from India, right? And it will be incumbent on any future government
to factor this in. But that doesn’t preclude engagement. In my book, I advocate
a two-track policy of being tough on terror — delegitimising and countering
terrorism accompanied by a calibrated and flexible engagement. Pakistan has
been incoherent in the last few years with its political crises. If we had a
conversation, who would we have it with? But if it becomes more coherent with
an election, possibly have a same-page government, then it is time for India to
engage. It should not have a policy of strategic neglect of Pakistan but engage
with it. There is a way out. It’s a combination of being tough on terror, being
willing to use kinetic means of responding to terror, but at the same time,
being flexible about engagement.
Former
Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria
Shubhajit
Roy: Your comments on the elections in Pakistan and the Army being in saddle.
The
Army has certainly been challenged. There are multiple ways of framing this
election. At one level, it was a contest between the old and the new Pakistan.
The old Pakistan was run by the Army with civilians trying to curry favour with
it. The new Pakistan is young, aspirational with 50 per cent of the population
under the age of 30 and united under a mascot called Imran Khan. This new
constituency has expressed itself in the ballot box. So the outcome was
completely predictable.
With
surgical strikes in 2016 and the air strike in 2019, India had a better answer
for terrorism in the sub-conventional space. Our policy has evolved with a few
new inventions in dealing with terrorism
But
the process was surprising because the Army goofed up enough to let it be known
that the people’s will was in a completely different direction. It was kind of
two-thirds, a major wave in favour of Imran Khan. The election template was the
same for a long time — Civilian politicians out of favour put in jail, quietly
going away, then doing a deal and coming back. The Army’s latest favourite
horse was made to win with pre-election engineering, election engineering, post
election engineering. Two things changed in Pakistan from 2018. One was the
economic crisis arising from accumulated sins of the past, with 37 per cent
inflation. The second was a political crisis that arose with the US exit of
Afghanistan in 2021 and the Tehreek-e-Taliban there posing a security threat.
The Army’s Project Imran became so successful that when the project was divorced
from Imran, the people weren’t willing to divorce him. He was already
charismatic and popular. So the two-thirds majority anti-Army wave coalesced
with a strong protest vote and popular disaffection. Then there was a sympathy
wave since Imran was in jail. For the Army, Imran should have disappeared. But
he didn’t despite the largescale rigging.
Even
Zulfiqar Bhutto had rigged elections in 1977 but there was a lot of protest and
disaffection on the streets, and he declared martial law. General Zia ul-Haq
took over, Bhutto was hanged and Haq took a decade to conduct elections he had
promised in 90 days. In the 1970s, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won from jail, exactly
like Imran Khan, in east Pakistan and led to the creation of Bangladesh.
Former
Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria
This
scenario is what the Army fears, a breakup of the country because of the
Pashtun and Baloch movements. If the Army takes over, Pakistan would lose its
equity with the West, including IMF loans. So the Army could go for a hybrid
government. It had one with Imran and with Shehbaz Sharif for 16 months. Going
forward, it will hope that this government goes the usual Purana Pakistan
route, outsourcing foreign and security policy to the Army, doing what it’s
told and fixing the economy.
Shubhajit
Roy: What happens to the future of Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) because there are still 93 candidates backed by him?
The
Independents have done an alliance with a smaller party, the Sunni Ittehad
Council, hoping somehow to get proportionate representation but they still
don’t make the numbers. They will hope that if there’s disaffection, the Army
would get Imran back in play if it wants to rotate its civilian leadership.
This group is a political troublemaker in this hybrid situation.
The
Army’s Project Imran became so successful that when the project was divorced
from Imran, the people weren’t willing to divorce him. So the two-thirds
majority anti-Army wave coalesced with a strong protest vote
Rakesh
Sinha: If this Army-backed coalition in Pakistan stabilises a little, do you
see India reaching out?
There
is reason for cautious optimism on that front. Many objective factors favour a
rapprochement. One, it is the Sharifs in control and not Imran who was too
anti-India. Two, elections are being held in both countries and have been
historically a reason for a fresh look at the relationship. Three, the
ceasefire of 2021 has held. Four, we haven’t had spectacular acts of terrorism.
The new Pakistan government will have to internally resolve its issue of not
talking to India until Article 370 is reversed. That is their problem. As for
sending in high commissioners, I don’t see that happening before India’s
elections. There could be some positivity, but this is a time for some or quiet
conversations. It is in India’s interest to pursue the gains we’ve had on the
reduction in terrorism front by doing that. Particularly, it would be important
for India to see that anything that comes from the civilians is triangulated
with the Army.
Shubhajit
Roy: In your book, you mention about how Pakistan’s ISI passed on intelligence
to India through you, which turned out to be correct. Asim Munir was the ISI
chief then.
Well,
the jury is out on Asim Munir (now Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan). He hasn’t
put his cards on the table although a Munir doctrine was published. But
institutionally, the Army sees the merit in the doctrine of its former chief
Qamar Bajwa in making good with Pakistan’s neighbours and focussing on
geoeconomics, given its economic collapse. We saw some of these conversations
in the leaks that came out after Bajwa retired. One of them was about serious
conversation and proposals on freezing the Kashmir issue for 20 years and
talking about trade. The onus is equally on Pakistan to resolve its problem
because Imran had painted it in a corner by saying linking talks to reversal of
Article 370.
Shubhajit
Roy: What brief did Prime Minister Modi give you before you went to Pakistan?
Also you were asked to use “local creativity” while having conversations with
the Pakistan Army.
Modi
didn’t hesitate much, he just said, Bharat hameshashaantikeliyekhadahai. That
India stands for peace, and we expect peace in return. This was 2017. Despite
the lows in the relationship, there was always room for thinking and openness
in the political leadership to look at diplomatic options. “Local creativity”
meant I didn’t have the mandate to get photographed talking to the Army. But I
had the option of using proxies and talking to different people who were
connected to officials in having those conversations. So that is what I did.
Having
made his point on Ukraine, Putin is now looking for a way out. India should
step in as a peacemaker, as a non-European, non-Western power that can help
with a solution that has equities on both sides
Shubhajit
Roy: How was your first meeting with Imran Khan, four days after he was elected
Prime Minister?
I had
a very positive meeting. I presented a bat signed by the Indian cricket team.
He had not got a full majority of 134 seats and he told me, “I wish I had 20
more seats.” He felt the Press in India had been very unkind to him till I told
him that he was seeing electronic media and some of his friends had written
positive things about him. He believed we were very close to solving the
Kashmir problem. I told him that the deal breaker in this relationship was
terrorism and when something like Mumbai happens, you couldn’t be speaking. He
said, “that’s true,” at which point one of his colleagues interrupted him and
said, “no, but India also does all kinds of things.” But I found his overall
approach to be reasonable at that point. After he took over, he got multiple
briefings and he was given various lines. After the revocation of Article 370,
there was conversation that Pakistan should do what it did in 1947, infiltrate
people across the border. Imran had to step in, saying it wouldn’t be a good
idea.
Amitabh
Sinha: What does India expect to gain from a re-engagement with Pakistan? Does
the Kashmir issue need a resolution in partnership with Pakistan, short of PoK,
of course, and has Balakot changed everything?
Strategic
neglect of a country with which you had four wars and which has mounted so much
terrorism is bad policy. It’s also strategic complacence. That’s not good
policy. And the parallel I would make is what Israel did with Hamas, a
strategic neglect. There’s a lesson to be learnt there. The purpose of any
engagement would be to consolidate the gains or the limited gains we’ve had on
terrorism and strengthen the ceasefire and security along the border.
Balakot
signified a major paradigm shift because it implied airstrikes together with
the surgical strikes were India’s both capacity and intent to operate in the
sub-conventional space for a punitive or pre-emptive action. It has entered
their calculus and would be an important factor.
Also,
at least with Article 370, Indian policy makers accept that our Kashmir and
Pakistan policy should be separate. So Pakistan is part of foreign policy in
which, just like with China, we could discuss issues of territory but not make
it a party to our internal conversation with Kashmir. So a conversation between
the Centre and the people of Kashmir is like a dialogue between the Centre and
other states.
Sandeep
Dwivedi: How is sports important for the relationship between the two
countries? Can we keep sports outside the ambit?
Sadly
no when exported terrorism is involved. But sports diplomacy has been a very
important tool of the people-to-people diplomacy. Bilateral diplomacy has often
ridden on the back of cricket diplomacy. But we should recognise its limits.
However, when the relationship gets better, trade and cricket are low-hanging
fruits.
Sandeep
Dwivedi: ViratKohli has a huge appeal across Pakistan as was the case with
Imran Khan in India earlier. How do you explain this?
Because
cricket is a subcontinental religion and everything else falls before that.
During one of the Iftar parties he had hosted, Imran Khan told me that he
thought ViratKohli was clearly the best cricketer in the world and he would
rate him much higher than Tendulkar. Because, he said, Kohli turned losing
matches into winning ones, and that is not what often happened in the case of
Tendulkar. Even Dhoni has a huge following in Pakistan.
Aakash
Joshi: It’s a difficult time for Shehbaz Sharif to be Prime Minister of
Pakistan with your major coalition partner, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)
saying we’re not going to take any of the responsibility of decision-making but
extend outside support.
Shehbaz
Sharif has a crown of thorns but he seems to be the only one willing to wear
it. He did run a hybrid 2.0 government. His strongest point is that the Army is
shoring him up. Not having the PPP in governance is a sign, in the political
power-sharing deal, that it has got a constitutional post, may be the President
and the Senate Chair and so on. This may be pointing towards a rotational prime
ministership.
The
unspoken deal might be that three years you run the show, two years, PPP’s
Bilawal Bhutto as PM may run the show. The Nawaz Sharif factor will be
important. It will be a sort of Sonia Gandhi being the chairperson of UPA and
Manmohan Singh being the PM. Nawaz Sharif might be more of a risk-taker on
India, given the warm chemistry he had with India’s leaders.
Rakesh
Sinha: Is there a new hard line that India has drawn on Khalistan, which has
impacted the bilateral relationship with Canada or is there a broader democracy
vs India debate?
It’s
a bit of both because the Khalistan issue has been with us for years and
decades. Mrs Indira Gandhi had written to Pierre Trudeau, father of Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau, in 1983, that it was dangerous if he didn’t take
action against the man who was later responsible for blowing up Air India’s
Kanishka. Khalistan has been a problem since. But what has been a problem for
India now is its escalation to the political level and to the level of Justin
Trudeau. So, if you make a comparison on how this issue was dealt with in the
US and other places, yes, we have a security issue which our security experts
should deal with. But it doesn’t prejudice the overall political relationship.
However, if it gets escalated at the level of the PM, then India has a problem.
P
Vaidyanathan Iyer: These days there are narratives equating dissenters as
anti-nationals and supporters of Pakistan. How difficult does it then become
for India or Pakistan to hold talks at a zero reference level? Second, how much
flexibility does a leader of both countries have so that they get a momentum of
their own going?
The
narrative comes from fringe voices which don’t really impact bilateral
relations. Look at India’s relationship with Bangladesh, which again is an
Islamic nation, but is based on $18 billion of trade, $8 billion of investment
and huge connectivity. Both have resolved issues like sharing river water and marking
land and maritime boundaries with so much ease.
On
your second question, leadership is an important factor but so are structural
factors. For instance, in 1971, US interests in Afghanistan impacted relations.
But if you see the flawed choices Pakistan has made, they are the result of
seemingly ill-considered decisions of its leaders. If Gen Pervez Musharraf
hadn’t decided on the misadventure in Kargil, along with precisely four Army
colleagues, the Lahore Bus initiative could have reached fruition and led to a
different story.
Shubhajit
Roy: What’s President Vladimir Putin playing at right now in the conflict with
Ukraine?
Having
made his point, Putin is looking for a way out. India should step forward as a
peacemaker, as a non-European, non-Western power that can help with a solution
that has equities on both sides.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ex-envoy-ajay-bisaria-at-idea-exchange-indi
----
Europe
Demonstrations
across Spain call for arms embargo on Israel
February
25, 2024
In a
show of solidarity with Palestine and condemnation of Israel's actions,
hundreds of thousands of people haven taken to the streets across Spain in a
wave of demonstrations demanding an immediate halt to arms trade with Israel.
Organised
by civil society groups and supported by several political parties, the
protests resonated with chants calling for an end to what demonstrators called
the "genocide in Palestine" and urged for severing ties with Israel.
Led
by Podemos leader Ione Belarra, the rallies gained momentum as she announced
plans to present a motion in parliament seeking an arms embargo on Israel.
Belarra
emphasized the need for sincerity from the government, accusing the current
coalition of empty promises and no concrete action in its support for
Palestine.
"We
will see the sincerity of the government in the motion we will submit to
parliament to impose an arms embargo on Israel. If they really want to stop the
genocide and do not want to be an accomplice to Israel, they will ban arms
trade," she said.
The
protests, which drew significant attendance in the capital Madrid, featured
slogans denouncing Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and calling for
an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza, where Israeli attacks have killed nearly
30,000 Palestinians.
Podemos,
despite not being part of Spain's ruling coalition, threw its weight behind the
demonstrations, highlighting the unity among various factions in Spain in their
support for Palestine.
Demonstrators
also criticized Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares' claims that Spain's
weapons trade with Israel had been halted since Oct. 7, dismissing them as false.
They
cited commercial data indicating ongoing collaboration between Spanish
companies and Israel in the military sector.
The
demonstrations, spanning over 100 cities and towns including Barcelona, Coruna,
Malaga, and Tenerife, signify a resounding call from the Spanish populace for
solidarity with Palestine and condemnation of Israel's actions.
Source: trtworld.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.trtworld.com/europe/demonstrations-across-spain-call-for-arms-embargo-on-israel-17122866
-----
Ex-Brazil
president seen waving Israeli flag as hundreds of thousands gather in support
FEBRUARY
26, 2024
The
former president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, was recorded waving an Israeli flag
at crowds of supporters at a massive rally in Sao Paulo on Sunday.
The
rally was attended by approximately 185,000 people, according to a research
group at the University of Sao Paulo. It was held in light of investigations
against Bolosonaro for allegedly plotting a coup after denying election results
after the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was elected in 2022.
Bolsonaro
called individuals to show up to the rally on his X account, formerly Twitter,
and in Brazilian media. Participants at the rally were seen holding signs in
support of Israel as well as Israeli flags.
Rally-goers
could be seen carrying banners in São Paulo apologizing for current President
Lula’s antisemitic statements about the Holocaust a few days ago. Signs read,
“Brazilians want to tell the Jewish people that we are sorry.”
Brazilian
President Lula had compared Israel's war against Hamas to the Nazis'
extermination of Jews in the Holocaust and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler a week earlier. According to a CNN Brasil poll, 83%
of those polled disagreed with Lula’s comparison, illustrating that Lula’s
sentiments are not representative of his constituents.
“What
I seek is pacification. It is erasing the past,” Bolsonaro said in a speech at
the rally as he held an Israeli flag, Euronews reported. “It is to seek a way
for us to live in peace and stop being so jumpy. Amnesty for those poor people
who are jailed in Brasilia. We ask all 513 congressmen and 81 senators for a
bill of amnesty so justice can be made in Brazil.”
Bolosonaro
denies attempted coup
Bolsonaro
denied that he and his supporters attempted a coup while rioters assaulted
government buildings a year earlier.
“What
is a coup? It is tanks on the streets, weapons, and conspiracy. None of that
happened in Brazil,” Bolosonaro said.
Bolsonaro
is not allowed to run for office again until 2030 due to two convictions of
abuse of power, although he remains active in politics as an adversary of Lula.
Several
of Bolsonaro’s allies attended the rally, including Governors Tarcisio de
Freitas of Sao Paolo state and RomeuZema of Minas Gerais state.
Source: jpost.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-788855
----
Islamist
threats led to chaos in Commons during Gaza vote, says Deputy PM
Lemma
Shehadi
Feb
25, 2024
The
UK's Deputy Prime Minister blamed the chaos over parliament's ceasefire vote
this week on "Islamic extremists", as he declined to describe Lee
Anderson's comments as "Islamophobic".
Oliver
Dowden said “Islamic extremists” had threatened MPs over their stance on Gaza,
stifling debate in parliament.
The
ceasefire debate on Wednesday descended into chaos after Speaker Lindsay Hoyle
agreed to Labour’s amendments to the motion tabled by the Scottish National
Party, with Conservative and SNP MPs walking out.
“I
never thought that in my lifetime, I would see a situation where what is
happening in the House of Commons is influenced by the threat of violence,” he
told the BBC on Sunday.
“These
threats of intimidation are often coming from Islamic extremists and we
shouldn’t be shy of calling that out."
These
threats were “being used to intimidate Jews in this country and are being used
to intimidate a debate that is going on in our parliament", he said.
His
remarks came as former Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson was suspended
from the party on Saturday after refusing to apologise for his suggestion that
London Mayor Sadiq Khan was controlled by "Islamists".
Mr
Dowden declined to say whether he considered Mr Anderson's remarks to be
Islamophobic.
Instead,
he said he did not believe that Mr Anderson, the former deputy chairman of the
Conservative party, was "intending" to be Islamophobic.
He
defended former home secretary Suella Braverman, who recently claimed the UK is
"sleepwalking into a ghettoised society" with "Islamists"
in charge.
Asked
if Mr Anderson would have kept the whip if he had apologised, Mr Dowden said:
"Yes."
Mr
Anderson’s remarks drew widespread criticism from figures including business minster
Nus Ghani and senior Conservative politician Sajid Javid.
The
Prime Minister has not yet commented publicly on the remarks, and Mr Khan has
said his "silence" amounts to "tacit endorsement" of
Islamophobia.
On
Sunday Lisa Nandy, Labour MP for Wigan and shadow secretary for international
development, warned of a “dangerous” streak within the Conservative party,
whose members were “spouting conspiracy theories.”
“What’s
going on in the Conservative party is dangerous and is bigger than Lee
Anderson," Ms Nandy told Sky News.
Alongside
Mr Anderson and Mrs Braverman, she accused Liz Truss, who was perceived to have
endorsed convicted criminal and far-right leader Tommy Robinson in an interview
this week, of having "repeatedly sought to stoke hate and division,
spouting conspiracy theories that are normally confined to the sort of thing
that we see online".
Threats
to MPs were coming from “multiple directions”, Ms Nandy added, without naming
any group in particular.
“Our
political debate has become one that is very angry. Social media grants a great
deal of anonymity,” she said.
"What
we've seen happening on the streets of Britain, the rise in Islamophobia and
anti-Semitism is also reflected in anger towards MPs," she said.
“We’ve
had it in the last few months from people who purport to stand for Israel and
purport to stand for Palestine as well,” she added,
“This
is a wider problem of the way in which our political discourse has become angry
and divisive,” she added.
Asked
if anybody from her party had threatened Speaker Lindsay Hoyle in the lead-up
to the Gaza ceasefire vote, she said no.
Labour
leader Keir Starmer has “categorically” denied threatening the Speaker to call
Labour’s amendment.
Ms
Nandy added that she did not believe anybody else from the party had done so.
“I
don’t believe for a moment that anyone in Labour did. Certainly our chief whip,
Keir Starmer, none of the senior figures in Labour would ever dream of
threatening the speaker,” she told Sky News.
"The
idea that Speakers can be pushed around by members of parliament, leaders of
political parties, is frankly for the birds,’ she said.
“There
were MPs from all political parties who made representations to the Speaker.
Not just about their safety and security but the fact that we’ve got an impending
ground invasion in Rafah,” she said.
Defending
Labour’s amendments, she added. “There was an urgent need for the commons to
speak in one voice to prevent that from happening, and to back an immediate
humanitarian ceasefire,” she added.
Ms
Nandy declined to endorse a candidate in the upcoming Rochdale by-election,
where the Labour candidate Azhar Ali was suspended over anti-Semitic remarks.
“I
would just ask people not to vote for candidates who are spouting hate and
division. We’ve had enough of that, we’ve seen it from the Conservative party
this weekend,” she said.
Ms
Nandy had been seen campaigning in Rochdale with Mr Ali before the remarks came
to light, but said she was unaware of his comments then.
"I
didn’t know that he’d made antisemitic comments. I was appalled by what he said
about Israel," she said.
Source: thenationalnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2024/02/25/islamist-threats-led-to-chaos-in-commons-during-gaza-vote-says-deputy-prime-minister/
----
Africa
447
Borno families displaced by B’Haram resettled – Zulum
26th
February 2024
The
Borno Government says it has resettled 447 households displaced by the
insurgency to newly constructed houses in Dalori village, Konduga Local
Government Area.
Governor BabaganaZulum said the measure was part of
the ongoing reconstruction, rehabilitation, and resettlement programme of his
administration.
“Those
resettled today were living in unofficial camps in Maiduguri.
“We
want to close not less than three unofficial camps still existing in Maiduguri
before May 29.
“It
is no longer sustainable to keep people in camps, providing them with food and
non-food items,” Zulum said.
He
noted that basic facilities like water, clinics, and schools had been provided
in the resettled communities, while families were provided with a source of
livelihood, including farm inputs to start farming.
“We
also provided women with skills training and gave them sewing machines,” he
said.
The
governor urged residents of the state to exercise patience over the current
challenges occasioned by inflation, adding that he would inaugurate the
distribution of food and non-food items to 100,000 vulnerable households in the
Maiduguri metropolis and environs soon.
Zulum
said the same gesture would be extended to vulnerable persons in the southern
part of the state, comprising Biu, Askira/Uba, Bayo, Shani, Hawul, Chibok, and
Kwaya-kusar LGAs.
Hajiya Fatima Ali, a beneficiary of one of the
houses, told the News Agency of Nigeria that she was excited to be back home
after eight years.
Source: punchng.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://punchng.com/447-borno-families-displaced-by-bharam-resettled-zulum/
----
Economic
hardship: Our problem not from God – Shehu Sani
February
26, 2024
Francis
Ugwu
Former
Kaduna lawmaker and social critic, Senator Shehu Sani, on Monday, has said
Nigeria’s current economic hardship is not from God.
In a
post on his X handle, the social critic said Nigeria has natural resources that
other countries will never have.
The
statement comes amid a report that a massive crowd had besieged the Zonal
Office of the Nigerian Customs Service in Yaba, Lagos, to purchase the
discounted 25kg bags of rice being sokd at reduced prices, leading to a
stampede in which some lives were lost.
Sani
explained that the country’s problem is not from God as there are over 200
rivers in the country with a well nourished arable land of 923,768 kmsq.
According
to him, Nigeria has virile men and fertile women more than any other country in
Africa.
He
wrote, “There are over 200 rivers in this country and we have a well nourished
arable land of 923,768 kmsq. We have the natural resources that other countries
will never have. We have virile men and fertile women more than any other
country in our continent.
“We
have no earthquakes, hurricanes or monsoon. What can grow in Thailand, Pakistan
or Brazil can grow in this country. We want manna. Even the people who received
the last plates of manna from Heaven have now turned their Desert Green. Our
problem is not from God.”
Source: dailypost.ng
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://dailypost.ng/2024/02/26/economic-hardship-our-problem-not-from-god-shehu-sani/
---
DSS
operatives take over court as Kanu’s trial resumes
26th
February 2024
Solomon
Odeniyi
Operatives
of the Department of State Services are have beefed up security inside and
outside the Federal High Court in Abuja as the court is expected to commence
the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, NnamdiKanu, today.
The
matter was suspended after the Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted Kanu in
October 2022.
The
appellate court also declared illegal and unlawful, the abduction of Kanu from
Kenya to Nigeria and quashed the terrorism charges brought against him by the
Federal Government.
However,
the FG appealed against the judgment at the apex court.
The
Supreme Court in its judgment on December 15, 2023, ordered the continuation of
the trial of Kanu on terrorism charges.
Kanu
has been in DSS detention since June 2021 when he was repatriated from Kenya to
Nigeria.
Before
entering the court premises, journalists, litigants, and court staff were
searched at a minimum of four checkpoints, starting from the road to the
Ministry of Justice.
Source: punchng.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://punchng.com/dss-operatives-take-over-court-as-kanus-trial-resumes/
-----
Algeria
inaugurates Africa's largest mosque: Great Mosque of Algiers
February
26, 2024
Algeria
has unveiled Africa's largest mosque on its Mediterranean coast, overcoming
political delays and cost overruns after years of political upheaval.
The
inauguration on Sunday would guide Muslims “toward goodness and moderation,”
said Ali Mohamed Salabi, the General Secretary of the World Union of Muslim
Ulemas.
Algerian
President AbdelmajidTebboune inaugurated the mosque, fulfilling his promise to
open it with great pomp and circumstance.
The
event, however, was mainly ceremonial. The mosque has been open to
international tourists and state visitors to Algeria for roughly five years. An
earlier ceremony was delayed.
The
timing allows the mosque to officially open to the public in time to host
nightly prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins next
month.
A
monument of controversy and delay
Built
by a Chinese construction firm throughout the 2010s, the Great Mosque of
Algiers features the world's tallest minaret, measuring at 869 feet (265
metres). The project’s official cost was $898 million.
The
third largest mosque in the world and the largest outside Islam's holiest
cities, its prayer room accommodates 120,000 people. Its modernist design
contains Arab and North African flourishes to honour Algerian tradition and
culture as well as a helicopter landing pad and a library that can house up to
1 million books.
Beyond
its gigantic dimensions, the mosque is also known for the delays and
controversy that characterised its seven years under construction, including
the choice of site, which experts warned was seismically risky.
The
mosque was originally a project of former President AbdelazizBouteflika, who
designed it to be the largest in Africa. He wanted it to be his legacy and
called “AbdelazizBouteflika Mosque” much like Mosque Hassan II in Casablanca,
Morocco. That mosque, named after the former King of Morocco — Algeria's
neighbour and regional rival — was once marked as Africa's largest.
However,
the protests that swept Algeria in 2019 and led him to resign after 20 years in
power prohibited Bouteflika from realising his plans, naming the mosque after
himself or inaugurating it in February 2019 as scheduled.
Source: trtworld.com
Please
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https://www.trtworld.com/africa/algeria-inaugurates-africas-largest-mosque-great-mosque-of-algiers-17131102
-----
Sudan
authorities block cross-border aid to stricken Darfur
February
26, 2024
PORT
SUDAN: Authorities loyal to the army in war-ravaged Sudan have blocked
cross-border aid to the western Darfur region, a move decried by aid workers
and the United States.
The
vast Darfur region, bordering Chad, has been one of the hardest hit parts of
Sudan since war began 10 months ago between the Sudanese Armed Forces and
paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
RSF
are descendants of the Janjaweed militia which began a scorched earth campaign
in Darfur more than two decades ago.
In
their current battle against the army, which started last April, the RSF have
taken over four out of the five Darfur state capitals.
More
than 694,000 people have fled over the border to Chad, according to the
International Organization for Migration, but many more remain trapped in
Darfur and in need of assistance.
The
United Nations has had to limit its work in Darfur to cross-border operations
from Chad, but last week the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) country director
Eddie Rowe told reporters that “authorities have restricted the Chad
cross-border operation.”
State
Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Friday said the United States is
deeply concerned by the army’s “recent decision to prohibit cross border
humanitarian assistance from Chad and reports that the SAF is obstructing
assistance from reaching communities in areas controlled by the RSF.”
Sudan’s
foreign ministry, loyal to the army, expressed “confusion and rejection” of the
“false accusations” by Washington.
The
ministry said the Sudan-Chad border “is the main crossing point for weapons and
equipment” used to commit “atrocities” against Sudanese.
Miller,
of the State Department, also expressed concern about RSF “looting homes,
markets and humanitarian assistance warehouses.”
In
Brussels, Rowe of WFP said his agency was “engaging with the authorities to
ensure this critical lifeline” from Chad remains operational.
It is
essential, an international aid worker told AFP on Sunday from Darfur,
requesting anonymity so as not to jeopardize their mission.
“Children
and babies are already dying from hunger and malnutrition. There will be an
immense human impact... and quite possibly large-scale mortality rates,” the
aid worker said.
“The
highest levels of diplomacy need to unblock this situation immediately because
millions of lives hang in the balance,” the aid worker said, calling it “a huge
region already facing an imminent and immense food security crisis on top of a
civil war, ethnic violence and state service collapse.”
The
war has killed thousands, including up to 15,000 in the West Darfur city of El Geneina
alone, according to the UN experts.
Washington
has accused both sides of war crimes, and said the RSF also carried out ethnic
cleansing and crimes against humanity.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2466531/middle-east
----
North America
US
says talks came to 'understanding' on hostages, possible Gaza ceasefire
February
25, 2024
The
United States said on Sunday that multinational talks in Paris came to an
"understanding" on a possible deal for Hamas to release hostages and
for a new ceasefire in the Gaza war.
An
Israeli delegation led by Mossad chief David Barnea was in the French capital
on Friday to discuss a deal to ensure a fresh ceasefire and the release of
hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by
Israel.
"Representatives
of Israel, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar met in Paris and came to an
understanding among the four of them about what the basic contours of a hostage
deal for temporary ceasefire would look like," White House National
Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN.
"It
is still under negotiation in terms of hammering out the details of it. There
will have to be indirect discussions by Qatar and Egypt with Hamas because
ultimately they will have to agree to release the hostages," he said.
"That
work is underway. And we hope that in the coming days, we can drive to a point
where there is actually a firm and final agreement on this issue."
Negotiations
for a ceasefire have resumed in Doha between the four countries, as well as
Hamas representatives, state-linked Egyptian media reported on Sunday.
As
with a previous week-long truce in November that saw more than 100 hostages and
240 Palestinian prisoners freed, Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been
spearheading efforts to secure a new deal.
International
pressure for a ceasefire has mounted in recent weeks, as the death toll from
Israel's military offensive on the Palestinian territory nears 30,000, mostly
women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Israel
has vowed to destroy Hamas -- which rules Gaza -- in response to its October
attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,160 people, mostly civilians.
Source: gulftoday.ae
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2024/02/25/us-says-talks-came-to-understanding-on-hostages-possible-gaza-ceasefire
----
CAIR
Releases Data Indicating Over 2 Million American Muslim Voters
Ibrahim
Hooper
February
25, 2024
The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy organization, today announced a significant increase in the
sizable presence of registered Muslim American voters across the United States.
Through
independent research and collaboration with Aristotle, a leader in voter,
donor, and consumer data, CAIR counts over 2 million registered Muslim American
voters nationwide. CAIR previously estimated in 2022, there were some 1.2
million or more Muslim voters.
This
finding marks a crucial milestone in understanding the political landscape and
civic participation of the Muslim American community. Using metrics including
distinct Muslim surnames, Muslim first names, geographical information, and
nationality, Aristotle was able to identify at least 1,785,755 registered
Muslim voters. CAIR conservatively estimates there are well over 300,000
additional African American, White, and Latin-American Muslim voters who are
unidentifiable through conventional methodologies.
States
with the largest number of American Muslim registered voters by rank include
California, New York, Virginia, Texas, Michigan, New Jersey, Florida, Illinois,
Maryland, Georgia, and Ohio.
CAIR
made this assessment of American Muslim voter demographics within the nation’s
most ethnically diverse religious group.
In a
statement, CAIR National Executive Director, Nihad Awad said:
“As
American Muslim voters surge in numbers, united in staunch opposition to the
United States’ complicity in Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza,
our ballots wield the power not only to shape policy but to determine our
leaders and chart a better course for our nation.”
In a
statement, CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“Understanding
the size and diversity of the Muslim American electorate is vital for effective
political representation and engagement. The finding of over 2 million
registered Muslim American voters is a conservative estimate and underscores
the need for parties, candidates, and policymakers to recognize the importance
of engaging and addressing the needs of this active community. In many states,
Muslim Americans can tip the outcome of close races.”
CAIR
notes approximately 20-25% of Muslim American voters are African American, with
three-quarters born in the U.S. Moreover, factors including assimilation,
marriage, and conversion mean many African American, White and Latino Muslims
may not have names typically associated with Muslim identity.
CAIR
remains committed to advancing political empowerment and civil rights for
Muslim Americans while fostering a more inclusive and equitable society
overall. The organization encourages further research and collaboration to
enhance understanding of the Muslim American electorate and its growing impact.
In
the coming weeks, CAIR also plans to relaunch its nationwide “Muslims Vote”
campaign, providing get-out-the-vote resources including an election calendar,
sample candidate questions, election surveys of Muslim voter attitudes, and more.
NOTE:
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, CAIR does not endorse or oppose candidates for office,
and makes no claims as to the favorability of one candidate being elected over
another.
Source: cair.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-releases-data-indicating-over-2-million-american-muslim-voters/
----
CAIR
Condemns Death of Palestinian Baby from Israel-Imposed Starvation, Israeli
Torture of Gaza Doctor
Ibrahim
Hooper
February
25, 2024
(WASHINGTON,
D.C., 2/25/2024) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the
nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned
both the death of a Palestinian baby from starvation intentionally imposed by
Israel’s far-right government and the Israeli torture of a Palestinian doctor
in Gaza.
Mahmoud
Fattouh died at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Video shows the emaciated
infant gasping for breath. A paramedic says in the video. “The baby has not
been fed any milk for days, as baby milk is totally absent in Gaza.”
The
head of Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza says that there is a steep rise in
malnutrition cases among children, especially newborns. A Canadian doctor who
went to Gaza has said that she and her colleagues, “witnessed crimes against
humanity together, saw small children dying of hunger, bombs, sniper shots.”
Aerial
photos show more than 2,000 aid trucks on the Egyptian side of the Rafah
crossing where they are being blocked by Israel from entering Gaza.
Palestinian
Doctor Ahmed Abu Sobha, who was detained at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan
Younis in Gaza reports he was ordered to strip, blindfolded, beaten, marked
with an “X,” had glass bottles smashed on his head, sprayed with freezing
water, and had his arm broken by a Israeli soldier during a beating.
Israel
has already killed almost 30,000 people, mainly women and children, in Gaza.
In a
statement, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said:
“The
daily war crimes committed by the forces of the far-right Israeli government
are so common that Western media have largely stopped reporting on them. We
must never become numb to the ongoing Israeli genocide, forced starvation and
ethnic cleansing that the Palestinian people are experiencing and which the Biden
administration is enabling.”
On
Friday, CAIR called on the Biden administration to repudiate the Israeli
government’s post-war plan for the de facto annexation of Gaza.
Last
week, CAIR called on the Biden administration to condemn comments made by Israeli
Minister of Social Equality & Women’s Advancement May Golan in which she
said she is “personally proud of the ruins of Gaza, and that every baby, even
80 years from now, will tell their grandchildren what the Jews did.”
CAIR
recently called on House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic leader Hakim
Jefferies to publicly repudiate Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) and to issue a
formal censure for his recent statement that “We should kill them all” in
reference to Palestinian children in Gaza.
Take
Action: Call on U.S. House Leaders to Censure Rep. Ogles for ‘We Should Kill
Them All’ Comment on Gaza Children
CAIR
also called on the Biden administration to address reported sexual violence,
arbitrary detention and abuse by the forces of the far-right Israeli government
targeting Palestinian women and girls.
CAIR’s
mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote
justice, and empower American Muslims.
La
misión de CAIR esproteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del
Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a
losmusulmanesenlosEstadosUnidos.
Source: cair.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-death-of-palestinian-baby-from-israel-imposed-starvation-israeli-torture-of-gaza-doctor/
------
Arab World
OIC
to expose Israeli war crimes in Gaza, establishes monitoring units
February
25, 2024
The
Extraordinary Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has underlined
in the final declaration of the meeting of Israel's attacks on journalists and
disinformation activities aimed at influencing world public opinion.
The
Extraordinary Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has
drawn attention to Israel's attacks on journalists and disinformation
activities aimed at influencing world public opinion in the meeting final
declaration.
The
declaration condemned the ongoing military aggression launched by Israel
against the Palestinian people as well as its systematic oppression, massacre,
and genocide of Palestinians civilians in Gaza since October 7, and in the
occupied West Bank including occupied Jerusalem.
An
unconditional ceasefire was called to prevent further loss of life.
The
declaration condemned the Israeli occupation’s systematic misinformation
campaigns and spreading of false and misleading information and fake news to
cover its brutality and genocidal massacres committed in Gaza.
It
also stressed protecting journalists’ rights and underlined that systematic
targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists is part of a campaign to
silence the voices of truthtellers.
An
immediate investigation was called for to hold the Israeli authorities
accountable for the crimes they commit against journalists in the occupied
Palestinian territories.
The
declaration calls upon all countries to recognize the sovereign independent
State of Palestine based on the borders of 1967 with east Jerusalem as its
capital, being a prerequisite for the peaceful resolution of the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict and security in the region.
Media
monitoring unit
A
media monitoring unit will be established to document and expose Israeli crimes
and violations in Gaza, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC)
secretary-general announced on Saturday.
The
body will work to ensure accurate information on the "Palestinian
crisis" is available to the international community, OIC secretary-general
HisseinBrahim Taha said at the opening speech of a meeting of OIC information
ministers in Istanbul.
Stressing
the need for Israel's attacks on Gaza to be closely monitored by the news
outlets, Taha said the content produced by the media monitoring unit will be
accessible from the OIC website.
OIC
held an extraordinary session in Istanbul on February 25 on fighting
disinformation over Israel’s onslaught on Gaza, with the attendance of
information and communication ministers of all OIC member and observer states.
200
high-level representatives from 43 countries, including 20 ministers, presidents
and senior managers of communication and media organizations, have attended the
meeting.
Source: trtworld.com
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https://www.trtworld.com/turkiye/oic-to-expose-israeli-war-crimes-in-gaza-establishes-monitoring-units-17120465
----
Waad
campaign provides more than 800,000 training opportunities for Saudis
February
25, 2024
RIYADH:
The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s national
training campaign Waad has achieved 74 percent of its target numbers.
The
campaign aims to offer 1,155,000 training opportunities by the end of 2025, as
part of the ministry’s strategy to support and train national cadres in
partnership with the private sector.
The
initiative provided about 863,675 training opportunities for national cadres in
2023, with the second half of the year giving some 670,000 opportunities.
SABIC,
Saudi Telecom Company and Arab National Bank achieved more than the campaign’s
targets for the next three years in the course of 2023.
The
regional meeting series started in Arar city in the Northern Borders,
allocating 35,000 training opportunities for the region.
The
second meeting took place at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in the
Eastern Province. This was attended by the region’s governor and the deputy
minister of human resources and social development for labor, and 100,000
training opportunities were offered.
The
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, through Waad, aims to
advance the job market and achieve Saudi Vision 2030 targets by supporting,
qualifying and training national cadres. It has set seven criteria for national
facilities’ participation in the campaign, notably training 12 percent of
Saudis annually.
The
ministry is keen to provide more opportunities for the development and
enhancement of skills for all Saudi beneficiaries, as part of its aim to
achieve a vibrant society and a distinguished working environment.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2466391/saudi-arabia
----
Over
6m worshippers flock to Prophet’s Mosque in one week
February
25, 2024
RIYADH:
The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s
Mosque announced that the latter welcomed a total of 6,000,247 visitors last
week, an achievement facilitated by high-quality services that enabled the
crowds to perform their prayers smoothly, the Saudi Press Agency reported on
Sunday.
The
statistics issued by the authority showed that 647,790 individuals visited the
tomb of Prophet Muhammad. Additionally, 298,397 visitors performed prayers at
Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa, following organizational procedures that regulated crowd
movement and designated specific prayer times for both men and women.
The
authority also reported that 16,506 elderly people and individuals with
disabilities were able to use electric carts provided to ease their access to
the Prophet’s Mosque, while 114,532 visitors benefited from guidance services,
which assisted them in navigating the various exhibitions, museums, and other
areas. A total of 147,735 visitors benefited from translation services, and
12,205 sought information at the Prophet's Mosque’s library.
More
than 5,400 people visited exhibitions and museums, while 30,140 used
transportation services. Additionally, 146,429 gifts — including copies of the
Qur’an, umbrellas, prayer mats, incense burners, flowers and sweets — were
offered to visitors.
Over
160,000 bottles of Zamzam water were supplied to visitors, and 142,007 iftar
meals were distributed in corridors of the mosque designated for people who had
been fasting.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2466356/saudi-arabia
----
Saudi
Arabia releases rules for parents performing Umrah with children
February 25, 2024
Saudi
authorities have issued a set of guidelines to parents heading to Islam’s
holiest site in Mecca to perform Umrah or minor pilgrimage.
The
Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has issued guidance for parents, emphasizing the
importance of instilling respect for the Quran, Islam’s sacred text, in their
children, especially as copies are readily available at the Grand Mosque where
Umrah rites take place. Additionally, parents are urged to ensure their
children maintain quietude while in the premises and to attend them when using
escalators for safety, advising them to seek assistance from security personnel
when needed.
These
directives are mainly applicable as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan
approaches, a time when the Umrah season typically reaches its peak. For
Muslims who are unable to start the annual Hajj pilgrimage due to physical or
financial constraints, traveling to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque
is a significant alternative.
Demand
for Umrah pilgrimage rises as Ramadan approaches, particularly among UAE
residents....
In
recent months, Saudi Arabia has executed several developments to facilitate
Umrah for international visitors. These include extending the Umrah visa
duration from 30 to 90 days, permitting entry through various land, air, and
sea ports, and allowing departure from any airport.
Furthermore,
the requirement for female pilgrims to be convoyed by male guardians has been
eliminated.
Moreover,
the kingdom has declared that expatriates residing in Gulf Cooperation Council
countries can apply for tourist visas regardless of their profession, allowing
them to perform Umrah as well.
Source: nation.com.pk
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https://www.nation.com.pk/25-Feb-2024/saudi-arabia-releases-rules-for-parents-performing-umrah-with-children
---
Saudi
Arabia's Falconry Heritage Celebrated on Founding Day
25
Feb, 2024
The falcon,
deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Saudi Arabia, has been playing a
significant role in the country's history, economy, and identity.
For centuries, these majestic birds have been
revered as symbols of strength, courage, and nobility, accompanying Saudis on
their journeys and serving as a source of pride and livelihood.
The association of the falcon with Saudi
Arabia dates back to the founding of the first Saudi state, three centuries
ago. It was used as a symbol of peace in resolving tribal disputes and served
as a prized gift exchanged between leaders.
The falcon features in the visual identity of
the Saudi Founding Day logo, alongside four other symbols: the Saudi flag, the
palm tree, the Arabian horse, and the market.
Beyond its symbolic significance, falconry
played a crucial economic role. The birds were used for hunting, providing a
source of food and income for many. It also fostered a strong sense of
community and identity among Saudis, uniting them in their shared passion for
this noble sport.
In recognition of its cultural and economic
importance, the Saudi government has taken significant steps to preserve and
promote falconry. In 2017, the Saudi Falcons Club was established under the
patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz
Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The club aims to unite falconers
across the Kingdom, promote the responsible practice of falconry, and support
the sustainable breeding and conservation of falcons.
The club organizes various events and
competitions throughout the year, attracting thousands of participants from
around the world.
The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, the
largest falconry competition in the world, has entered the Guinness World
Records three times for the number of participating falcons. Other notable
events include the AlUla Falcon Cup, which concluded in January and was the
largest in the value of awards internationally, and the International Saudi
Falcons and Hunting Exhibition.
The Saudi Falcons Club is committed to
promoting falconry as a sustainable and responsible sport, while preserving
this rich cultural heritage. Through its various initiatives and programs, the
club is positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in falconry.
The Kingdom was inscribed in 2021 on the
“Falconry, a living human heritage” of UNESCO Representative List of Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
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http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/dec01886eaaf455780911516e77409a6
----
Mideast
Iran's
Khamenei on Gaza: Islam will overcome 'crooked' Western civilization
FEBRUARY
25, 2024
Ayatollah
Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei on Sunday called Western civilization “crooked”
and said, “The right culture and correct logic of Islam will overcome it,”
Iranian state media reported.
In
the same speech at a meeting in the Khuzestan province of Iran, on the southern
border with Iraq and the Gulf states, he said: “This is the real face of
Western culture and civilization and liberal democracy, which on the outside
are ironed politicians with smiles on their faces. But on the inside, it is a
rabid dog and a bloodthirsty wolf.”
Regarding
the war in Gaza, Khamenei condemned what he said was Western hypocrisy.
“Westerners,
who make noise and uproar for the execution of a criminal, face the slaughter
of 30,000 innocent people in Gaza, and the United States brazenly vetoes the
resolution to stop bombing Gaza for the umpteenth time,” he said.
Regarding
the Palestinians in Gaza, Khamenei said: “The resistance forces’ standing and
the enemy’s dismay from their destruction, as well as the patience of the
people of Gaza in the face of bombings and calamities, show a strong religious
faith.”
Iran's
response to the October 7 massacre
Following
the October 7 massacre, Khamenei praised Hamas, saying, “We kiss the foreheads
and arms of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime.”
Last
December, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman Gen. Ramezan Sharif took
credit for the massacre, saying the terrorist attacks were “acts of revenge”
for the killing of “Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani by the US and the
Zionists,” according to Iran’s state-sponsored news agency ISNA. Sharif
retracted his claim after it was met with severe criticism.
In an
interview with NBC in early February, Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir
SaeidIravani said, referring to Palestinians, “We’re sending arms. We’re
training them and empowering them.”
The
Iranian regime is a well-known state sponsor of terrorist organizations across
the Middle East, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. In addition to
funding terrorist operations, it also provides training and intelligence for
these organizations.
Source: jpost.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-788699
----
Gaza
Deal Won’t Affect Israel’s Hezbollah Fight: Israel Defence Minister
February
26, 2024
JERUSALEM: Defence minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday said
there would be no let up in Israeli action against Lebanon’s Hezbollah
movement, even if a ceasefire and hostage deal is secured in Gaza.
Gallant
visited the military’s Northern Command in Safed, which was hit earlier this
month by a militant rocket strike from southern Lebanon, killing a soldier.
Talks
are underway toward a possible deal for Hamas to release hostages and pause the
fighting in Gaza, which was sparked by the militants’ attack on southern Israel
on October 7.
Since
then, there have been near-daily cross-border exchanges of fire between Israel
and Hamas’s allies Hezbollah on the border with Lebanon, prompting fears of a
regional escalation.
Both
Hamas and Hezbollah are backed by Iran.
Gallant
said he was keen to assess how Israel was combating increased Hezbollah
activity from across the heavily fortified border.
“If
anyone thinks that when we reach a deal to release hostages in the south and
the firing stops it will ease what is happening here they are wrong,” he said
in a video message.
Israel’s
aim is to ensure the Iran-backed militants do not pose a threat from border
areas in southern Lebanon, he added.
If a
diplomatic solution to the situation is not possible, “we will do it by force,”
Gallant warned.
On
Sunday, the Israeli military said it had intercepted a “suspicious aerial
target” in the Upper Galilee region of northern Israel, and rockets were fired
at a number of locations.
Jets
then struck a “terrorist cell exiting a Hezbollah military compound” and two
“military compounds” on the Lebanese side of the border, it added.
Since
October 7, 10 Israeli soldiers and six civilians have been killed by
hostilities in the north, according to an AFP tally.
On
the Lebanese side, at least 276 people have been killed, most of them Hezbollah
fighters but also 44 civilians.
Hamas’s
attacks on October 7 left around 1,160 people dead and saw 250 hostages taken,
of whom about 130 are still thought to be in Gaza, according to an AFP tally
based on official figures.
In
Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry says at least 29,692 have been killed in
the war between the militants and Israel.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2466541/middle-east
----
Turkish
lawmakers in The Hague to back Turkish statement at ICJ
February
26, 2024
A
delegation of Turkish lawmakers arrived in The Hague to follow Türkiye's oral
statement at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), addressing the legal
implications of Israel's actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.
CuneytYuksel,
the chairman of the committee, told Anadolu on Sunday that the world court had
heard the oral arguments of total of 45 countries so far since February 19,
when the hearings began.
"Tomorrow,
following Türkiye’s presentation, the hearings will end with the presentations
of four more countries and three international organisations," he noted.
The
public hearings started last Monday in The Hague following the UN General
Assembly's request for an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising
from policies and the practices of Israel in occupied Palestinian territory,
including East Jerusalem.
"We
hope that at the end of this process, the legal findings on the oppression of
Palestinians will be revealed," he added.
He
said Türkiye would continue to seek accountability and justice for Israel's
actions in relevant international bodies as long as Tel Aviv's occupation of
Palestine continues.
Non-binding
advisory opinion
Besides
Türkiye, 51 countries and the Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation,
and African Union, have been presenting 30-minute oral arguments since February
19, starting with Palestine on the very first day. The hearings will end with
the Maldives' testimony on Monday.
The
main duties of the ICJ include resolving legal disputes that arise between
states in line with international law and providing advisory opinions on legal
issues referred to it.
The
UN court, at the request of the UN General Assembly, will issue a non-binding
advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel's policies and acts in
occupied Palestine on this issue.
Israel
has launched a deadly offensive on Gaza since October 7, killing more than
29,690 people and causing mass destruction and shortages of necessities, while
nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed.
The
Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85 percent of the territory's population into
internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine,
while 60 percent of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed,
according to the UN.
Israel
stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim
ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to
guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.
Source: trtworld.com
Please
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https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/turkish-lawmakers-in-the-hague-to-back-turkish-statement-at-icj-17128048
-----
Israeli
military proposes ‘plan for evacuating’ Gaza civilians
February
26, 2024
GAZA
STRIP: Israel’s military proposed a plan for evacuating civilians from the Gaza
Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced Monday, after he
said a ground invasion of the Palestinian territory’s southern city Rafah was
necessary for “total victory.”
Foreign
governments and aid organizations have repeatedly expressed fears that such an
operation will inflict mass civilian casualties.
More
than 1.4 million Palestinians — most of them displaced from elsewhere — have
converged on the last Gazan city untouched by Israel’s ground troops.
It is
also the entry point for desperately needed aid, brought in via neighboring
Egypt.
Israel’s
military “presented the War Cabinet with a plan for evacuating the population
from areas of fighting in the Gaza Strip, and with the upcoming operational
plan,” a statement in Hebrew from Netayahu’s office said Monday.
The
statement did not give any details about how or where the civilians would be
moved.
The
announcement comes after Egyptian, Qatari and US “experts” met in Doha for
talks also attended by Israeli and Hamas representatives, state-linked Egyptian
media reported, the latest effort to secure a truce before the Muslim holy
month of Ramadan.
Israel’s
ally the United States said ongoing mediation efforts produced “an
understanding” toward a ceasefire and hostage release, while a Hamas source
said the group insisted on the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
But
Netanyahu — who has dismissed the withdrawal demand as “delusional” — said a
ground invasion of Rafah would put Israel within weeks of “total victory” over
Hamas, whose October 7 attack triggered the war.
“If
we have a (truce) deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen,” he
said of the ground invasion in an interview with CBS Sunday.
“It
has to be done because total victory is our goal and total victory is within
reach — not months away, weeks away, once we begin the operation.”
Amid
a spiralling humanitarian crisis, the main UN aid agency for Palestinians urged
political action to avert famine in Gaza.
Dire
food shortages in northern Gaza are “a man-made disaster” that can be
mitigated, said Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian
refugees, UNRWA.
“Famine
can still be avoided through genuine political will to grant access and protection
to meaningful assistance.”
The
UN has said it faces restrictions, particularly on aid deliveries to northern
Gaza.
DEATH
TOLL MOUNTS
Nearly
five months into the war, desperate families in Gaza’s north have been forced
to scavenge for something to eat.
“We
have no food or drink for ourselves or our children,” Omar Al-Kahlout told AFP,
as he waited near Gaza City for aid trucks to arrive.
“We
are trapped in the north and there is no aid reaching us — the situation is
extremely difficult.”
Hundreds
of Palestinians headed south whichever way they could, walking down
garbage-strewn roads between the blackened shells of bombed-out buildings, said
an AFP correspondent.
Israeli
forces continued striking targets across the Palestinian territory and battling
militants in heavy urban combat centered on the southern city of Khan Yunis,
near Rafah.
The
Israeli military campaign has killed at least 29,692 people in Gaza, mostly
women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
The
war broke out after Hamas’s unprecedented attack, which killed about 1,160
people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official
figures.
CEASEFIRE
TALKS
Militants
also took about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages, 130 of whom remain in Gaza,
including 31 presumed dead, according to Israel.
Israel’s
army confirmed Sunday the death of soldier Oz Daniel, 19, whose “body is still
held captive by Hamas,” according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum,
which said he was killed on the day of the attack.
Mediators
have voiced hope that a temporary truce and a hostage-prisoner exchange can be
secured before the start of Ramadan on March 10 or 11, depending on the lunar
calendar.
Jordan’s
King Abdullah II warned fighting during the holy month “will increase the
threat of expanding the conflict,” according to a royal statement.
Qatar’s
Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, whose country hosts Hamas leaders and had
helped broker a one-week truce in November, is due in Paris this week, the
French presidency said.
Media
reports suggest the warring parties are weighing a six-week halt to fighting
and the initial exchange of dozens of female, underage and ill hostages for
several hundred Palestinian detainees held by Israel.
Across
from overcrowded Rafah, neighboring Egypt has kept its border closed, saying it
will not help facilitate any operation to push Palestinians out of Gaza.
But
satellite images show it has built a walled enclosure next to Gaza, in an
apparent effort to brace for the possible arrival of large numbers of refugees.
Inside
Israel, pressure has grown on Netanyahu from families of hostages demanding
swifter action, and resurgent anti-government protests.
Defense
Minister Yoav Gallant said there would be no let-up in action against Hamas’s powerful
Lebanese ally Hezbollah, whose militants have traded near-daily fire with
Israeli forces since early October.
Both
Hamas and Hezbollah are backed by Israel’s enemy Iran.
“If
anyone thinks that when we reach a deal (with Hamas)... it will ease what is
happening here — they are wrong,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2466626/middle-east
-----
Hezbollah
hits Israeli military positions in fresh strikes
Feb
25, 2024
TEHRAN,
Feb. 25 (MNA) – Lebanon’s Resistance movement Hezbollah has targeted Israeli
military positions with rockets and missiles in solidarity with the
Palestinians in Gaza.
In a
statement on Sunday, Hezbollah said that its forces had struck a gathering of
Israeli soldiers in Ramim barracks with “appropriate weapons".
In a
second strike, Hezbollah said an Israeli military outpost in the occupied
Shebaa Farms was directly hit with two Falaq 1 missiles.
Thousands
of Zionist settlers living in areas near the Lebanese border have abandoned
their homes out of fear of Hezbollah’s retaliatory strikes.
Hezbollah
has said that the campaign of strikes will continue until the Israeli regime
ceases its genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Source: mehrnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/212342/Hezbollah-hits-Israeli-military-positions-in-fresh-strikes
----
Jordan
king warns of continuing Gaza war during Ramadan
February
25, 2024
AMMAN:
Jordan's King Abdullah II warned on Sunday of a wider regional war if Israel
presses on with its military campaign in the Gaza Strip during the Muslim holy
month of Ramadan in March.
At a
meeting with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, Abdullah warned "of the
continuation of the war on Gaza during the holy month of Ramadan, which will
increase the threat of expanding the conflict," Jordan's official Petra
news agency reported.
Israel
has warned that, if Iran-backed Hamas militants do not free the remaining
hostages held in Gaza by the start of Ramadan it will keep fighting during the
holy month, including in Rafah along the Egyptian border where around 1.4
million Gazans have sought refuge.
Ramadan
is to begin on March 10 or 11, depending on the lunar calendar.
Negotiations
for a ceasefire in Gaza have resumed in Doha, state-linked Egyptian media
reported on Sunday, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said any deal
would not prevent an offensive in Rafah.
This,
he said, would put Israel within weeks of "total victory" over Hamas
whose October 7 attack on Israel triggered the war.
Source: brecorder.com
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40290610/jordan-king-warns-of-continuing-gaza-war-during-ramadan
---
Al-Sudani
expresses congratulations to Iraqi people, Islamic world on Mid-Sha'ban
February
26, 2024
While
mentioning the holy fatwa of Jihad Al-Kafa'i, Prime Minister Mohamed Shia
Al-Sudani congratulated the Iraqi people and the Islamic world on the birth of
Imam Mahdi (PBUH).
On
the anniversary of the birth of Imam Mahdi (PBUH), we congratulate our Iraqi
people, the Islamic world, and our great religious authorities," Al-Sudani
wrote in a post on X that was picked up by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
He
went on, "We pray that Allah Almighty will accept the good deeds, as we
recall the fatwa of the blessed Kafa'i jihad, which was issued by His Eminence
the Supreme Religious Authority Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Al-Sistani in 1435
AH, and the unity of the Iraqi people against the defeated ISIS
terrorism." He congratulated all the pilgrims who made the journey to
Karbala to perform the 15th of Sha'ban pilgrimage.
"We
pray that Allah protects all Iraqis and bestows upon them the blessings of
security and stability, mercy for all of our brave martyrs, and complete
healing for the injured and wounded," he continued.
Source: ina.iq
Please
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https://ina.iq/eng/31573-al-sudani-expresses-congratulations-to-iraqi-people-islamic-world-on-mid-shaban.html
---
Israeli
attacks continue as Gaza death toll set to pass 30,000
February
26, 2024
At
least 86 Palestinians were killed and 131 others injured over the last 24 hours
in Israeli attacks in the Gaza City on Sunday, medical sources and eyewitnesses
said.
Territory's
Health Ministry said on Sunday that fifteen people, including children, were
killed and several others were wounded after warplanes hit a residential
building in the Zaytoun neighbourhood of Gaza City.
The
death toll in Gaza is likely to pass the grim milestone of 30,000 this week, as
negotiators try to pin down a ceasefire and hostage-release deal, and the
Israeli government presses ahead with plans for an attack on Rafah.
Israel
continues its onslaught on the Gaza Strip where at least 29,692 Palestinians
have been killed, mostly women and children, and 69,879 injured since Oct. 7,
according to Palestinian health authorities.
According
to Israel's state-owned Kan TV news, the Israeli army has been conducting
operations in the neighbourhood since February 20, targeting infrastructures
belonging to the Hamas movement.
On
the same day, 10 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the coastal
road west of the Gaza City.
Local
sources and eyewitnesses reported that Israeli forces launched artillery shells
and conducted airstrikes targeting individuals waiting for aid trucks, killing
10 of them and injuring others.
The
prime minster, Benjamin Netanyahu, convened the war cabinet late on Saturday
for a briefing with negotiators who had been at talks in Paris.
This
week, it will meet again to discuss preparations for an assault on Rafah, the
southern border town where an estimated 1.5 million displaced Palestinians have
sought shelter. A deal might delay that operation, but would not prevent it,
Netanyahu said in an interview with CBS.
Negotiators
from Israel, Qatar, Egypt and the US have agreed the “basic contours” of an
arrangement during weekend talks in Paris, White House national security
adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN, but the final details still have to be hammered
out.
Source: gulftoday.ae
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https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2024/02/26/israeli-attacks-continue-as-gaza-death-toll-set-to-pass-30000
----
Egypt
sets up a second camp for displaced Palestinians in Gaza’s Khan Younis
February
25, 2024
CAIRO:
Egypt has begun setting up a second camp for the displaced in Khan Yunis, in
the south of the Gaza Strip, with a capacity of 400 tents, accommodating about
4,000 people, and equipped with electricity and toilets, a source told
Al-Qahera News TV channel on Saturday.
The
source added that the second camp will be followed by a field hospital in the
Palestinian city of Rafah and another camp north of Deir Al-Balah in the
central Gaza Strip.
Egypt
will also set up two aid distribution centers in Rafah, which is now home to a
large number of displaced Palestinians.
A
source indicated that the second camp will be completed at the end of this
week, adding that the it comes within the framework of Egypt’s efforts to
alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile,
the Egyptian Red Crescent, in cooperation with the Palestinian Red Crescent,
continues with its work to set up a second camp for displaced in Khan Yunis.
The
Palestine Red Crescent wrote on X on Sunday: “The Palestine Red Crescent teams,
in partnership with the Egyptian Red Crescent, have completed the second phase
of the Egyptian Camp for housing displaced people in the Mawasi area of Khan
Yunis.
“A
total of 139 tents were set up, accommodating 139 families,” the Palestine Red
Crescent added.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2466336/middle-east
---
‘Man-made’
Gaza famine can still be avoided, says UN agency
26 Feb 2024
JERUSALEM,
Feb 26 — Famine in the Gaza Strip can be averted if vital aid is allowed into the
besieged territory, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said yesterday, more
than four months into the Israel-Hamas war.
“This
is a man-made disaster,” UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said on social media
platform X, formerly Twitter, of the dire humanitarian conditions in
war-battered Gaza.
“The
world committed to never let famine happen again,” he said.
“Famine
can still be avoided through genuine political will to grant access and
protection to meaningful assistance.”
Aid
agencies have increasingly voiced concern for ordinary Gazans caught up in
Israel’s military campaign against militant group Hamas which has ruled the
coastal territory since 2007.
The
UN has warned of looming famine threatening virtually everyone in Gaza, while
the World Food Programme this week described “unprecedented levels of
desperation”.
Lazzarini
— under pressure after Israel claimed UNRWA workers took part in Hamas’s
October 7 attack that sparked the war — said the last time the agency was able
to deliver food aid to northern Gaza was more than one month ago, on January
23.
The
UN humanitarian agency OCHA said the situation in the north of Gaza was
“extremely critical”, with concern also mounting about conditions in the south.
Authorities
in the Hamas-ruled territory said in recent days a number of children have died
from malnutrition.
The
health ministry put the latest death toll from Israel’s military offensive at
29,692 people, most of them women and children.
Hamas’
attack on rural communities, towns, military posts and other sites in Israel
near the Gaza border resulted in the deaths of some 1,160 people, mostly
civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Gazans
have told AFP they have had to resort to eating rotten corn and animal feed
unfit for human consumption but even that is now running out.
Aid
trucks come into Gaza from Egypt via the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom and
Nitzana crossings, where checks are carried out.
COGAT,
an Israeli defence ministry body governing civilian affairs in the occupied
Palestinian territories, said four tankers of cooking gas were delivered to
Gaza on Saturday.
Yesterday,
the Israeli agency said 245 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were inspected and
transferred to Gaza. — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2024/02/26/man-made-gaza-famine-can-still-be-avoided-says-un-agency/119992
----
Pakistan
Ayaz
Sadiq, Leader Of PML-NUrges All Political Parties To Work Together In Resolving
Challenges
February
25, 2024
Leader
of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has urged all political
parties to work together in resolving the nation’s issues.
Addressing
a ceremony in Lahore today, he said that all necessary measures will be taken
to address Pakistan’s economic challenges.
Emphasizing
the need for unity beyond political differences, he underscored the importance
of collective efforts to combat terrorism and uplift Pakistan from economic
struggles.
He
said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz believes in the politics of hard work
and service.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please
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https://radio.gov.pk/25-02-2024/sardar-ayaz-sadiq-urges-all-political-parties-to-work-together-in-resolving-challenges
----
Cipher,
Toshakhana cases: IHC takes up Imran, Bushra’s pleas today
February
26, 2024
Awais
Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad High Court (IHC) will take up appeals against conviction of PTI
founder in Cipher and Toshakhana cases on Monday (today).
A
division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hasan
Aurangzeb will conduct the hearing. The appeals of Shah Mehmood Qureshi and
Bushra Bibi will also be heard. The same bench will hear pleas for bail with
suspension of sentence.
The
hearing will be held on the appeals against 10-year sentence by the Special
Court under Official Secrets Act of PTI founder in Cipher case and 14-year
imprisonment by Accountability Court in Toshahkhana NAB reference. A bench was
also constituted to hear the bail application of Imran Khan in the £190 million
corruption case. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri will hold the hearing.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1161630-cipher-toshakhana-cases-ihc-takes-up-imran-bushra-s-pleas-today
---
PPP
and ‘N’ yet to name Balochistan CM, speaker
February 26, 2024
Saleem
Shahid
QUETTA:
The leadership of future coalition partners in Balochistan, the Pakistan
Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) could not finalise
the names of their candidates for the top slots of the leader of the house,
speaker, and deputy speaker, with three days remaining for the first session of
the Balochistan Assembly, which has been summoned on Wednesday.
According
to the formula reached between the central leadership of PPP and PML-N, after
PPP agreed to support PML-N’s candidate Shehbaz Sharif for the prime
ministership in the National Assembly, both parties decided to form a coalition
government in Balochistan.
The
chief minister will be a nominee from PPP, the office of the speaker will be
from PML-N, and the deputy speaker will come from PPP. The slot of the new
governor will go to PML-N.
Sources
said that the PPP central leadership is considering three to four names for the
chief minister position, including former chief minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri,
former caretaker interior minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, former Balochistan
finance minister Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, and veteran party leader Mir Sadiq
Umrani, who joined in 1972 and has remained with PPP until now.
PPP
insiders said the leadership is facing opposition to the nominations of Mr
Zehri and Mr Bugti as the new leader of the house. They said the chief minister
candidate should be decided through consensus between both parties.
Despite
several meetings between MPAs and MNAs elected on February 8, and discussions
with the PPP high command, the name for chief minister could not be finalised.
The majority of legislators have advocated for a “jiyala” to lead the next
coalition government in Balochistan, as PPP has emerged as the single majority
party with 17 MPAs in the house of 65 members.
“The
name for the leader of the house was discussed at the Sunday meeting of the
PPP, but no one was nominated as the party’s candidate for the slot of chief
minister,” they said.
The
same situation is evident in the PML-N as the party’s provincial leaders held a
meeting with Shehbaz Sharif and discussed the future coalition government in
the province.
Sources
said some PML-N MPAs have expressed reservations over giving the slot of chief
minister to PPP without consulting the provincial leadership.
According
to party insiders, the provincial parliamentary party has suggested the name of
Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani for the position of Balochistan Assembly speaker.
She also served as the speaker from 2013 to 2018.
The
provincial leadership has strongly opposed giving the speakership to any party
other than PML-N.
Balochistan
Awami Party leaders have demanded that the slot of speaker and proposed the
name of Sadiq Sanjrani, the sitting Senate chairman, who will retire on March
8, after completing his six-year tenure as a senator.
According
to reports, PML-N central leadership has not finalised the name of the party’s
candidate for speaker.
However,
the PML-N provincial leadership said that they will accept the decision of the
party’s central leadership about the speakership.
Party
sources indicate that the PML-N is yet to finalise the name for the governor.
Since
it has been decided that the post will go to PML-N, various names were under
consideration.
PML-N
Balochistan president, Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, is leading the race for
appointment as the next governor of Balochistan.
Source: dawn.com
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click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1817131/ppp-and-n-yet-to-name-balochistan-cm-speaker
----
Unity
needed for economic stability: Shehbaz
February
26, 2024
LAHORE:
The
joint candidate for the PML-N led coalition, Shehbaz Sharif, has laid emphasis
on political stability, which, he states, is vital for achieving economic
stability in the country.
"To
strive for economic stability, all differences must be set aside. The need for
mutual unity for political and economic stability in the country was never felt
as strongly before," Shehbaz said in a statement issued on Sunday.
He
said in order to eradicate poverty, unemployment, and ignorance from the
country, there was a need to make concerted efforts. While embracing simplicity
and austerity, he said, it is imperative to spend as much resources as possible
on the welfare of the people.
The
PML-N president said political stability and a peaceful environment are of
paramount importance for foreign investment in the country. "Pakistan will only prosper when all its
units are prosperous."
Shehbaz
said progress of all provinces was closest to his heart.
He
claimed that in the past, the PML-N had set a shining example of economic
progress and stability and that it would take concrete and practical steps to
further improve the economy.
He
said great nations face challenges and difficulties with courage and hard work.
"Together, united, we will move forward, God willing, and solve the
problems."
Talking
with reference to his terms as Punjab chief minister, he said his government
managed to save billions of rupees on development projects.
"The
era of [former prime minister] Mian Nawaz Sharif was a golden era of progress
and prosperity. Under the visionary leadership of Nawaz, we will tread the path
of happiness and progress for the country," he added.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2457635/unity-needed-for-economic-stability-shehbaz
----
Naqvi
opens new museum in Badshahi mosque
February 26, 2024
LAHORE -
Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, along with provincial
ministers, visited the historic Badshahi Mosque and the Mazaar-e-Iqbal here on
Sunday.
The
CM inaugurated the new museum for placing the holy relics in the Badshahi
Mosque and the upgradation project of the Mazaar-e-Iqbal.
Mohsin
Naqvi also inaugurated the Lahore Fort Cafe being built at the exterior wall of
the Lahore Fort and appreciated high quality of the new museum being built for
placing the holy relics. He inspected the new and beautiful showcase for
placing the holy relics.
The
CM ordered early completion of the transfer work of the holy relics in the new
museum. Mohsin Naqvi maintained that safely keeping the holy relics attributed
to the great personalities at an appropriate place is our foremost
responsibility. The holy relics would be kept separately and safely in an
excellent manner in the new museum. The installation work of new tiles,
marbles in the exterior corridor of Mazaar-e-Iqbal and renovation work of its
interior part has been completed.
He
inspected the construction, rehabilitation and upgradation work of the
Mazaar-e-Iqbal. Mohsin Naqvi along with the provincial ministers paid a visit
to the Mazaar-e-Iqbal and prayed for the prosperity, stability and integrity
of Pakistan. He directed to prepare SOPs for using the back door to pay a visit
to the Mazaar-e- Iqbal.
Mohsin
Naqvi remarked that the tourists would feel entertained with the establishment
of the Lahore Fort Cafe at the exterior wall of the Lahore Fort. Provincial
ministers Dr. Javed Akram, Mansoor Qadir, Amir Mir, Azfar Ali Nasir, Adviser
Wahab Riaz, Chief Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Chairman Planning
& Development Board, Khateeb Badshahi Mosque Abdul Khabeer Azad, IG
Police, DG WCLA Kamran Lashari, Secretary Auqaf, Commissioner Lahore, CCPO,
Deputy Commissioner and officials concerned were present.
Source: nation.com.pk
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https://www.nation.com.pk/26-Feb-2024/naqvi-opens-new-museum-in-badshahi-mosque
-----
SIC
boycotts Punjab Assembly session as voting begins to elect chief minister
February 26, 2024
In a
tumultuous Punjab Assembly session held on Monday to elect the Chief Minister,
chaos ensued as members of the opposition Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) opted to
boycott the proceedings. Presided over by newly-elected Punjab Assembly Speaker
Malik Ahmad Khan, the session, commencing at 11:30 am, strictly focused on the
election of the Chief Minister, with no allowance for lawmakers to address the
assembly.
As
Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) MPAs staged a walkout, Speaker Khan responded by
forming a committee, comprising Khawaja Salman Rafique, Salman Nazeer,
Samiullah, and Khalil Tahir Sindhu, tasked with persuading the legislators to
return to the Assembly.
The
political landscape featured PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif as
the party's candidate for the Chief Minister position, pitted against Rana
Aftab Ahmed of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). Notably, in Sindh, PPP's Murad
Ali Shah would contend with Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) candidate
Ali Khurshidi.
In a
last-minute decision, PTI named Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan as its new candidate for
the post, prompted by the provincial police's attempt to apprehend its initial
nominee, Mian Aslam Iqbal.
The
numerical dynamics played a significant role, with the PML-N boasting a substantial
number of candidates, contributing to the competitive nature of the election.
The oath-taking ceremony, which occurred on Friday, saw 321 out of 371 members
of the Punjab Assembly taking their oaths.
Given
the clear majority enjoyed by PML-N and its allies in the House, the path seems
unobstructed for Maryam Nawaz to secure the top position. A day earlier, PML-N
secured victory in the Punjab Assembly speaker and deputy speaker elections,
with Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan and Malik Zaheer Ahmed Channer elected to the
respective positions, further solidifying the party's dominance in the
assembly.
Source: nation.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.nation.com.pk/26-Feb-2024/sic-boycotts-punjab-assembly-session-as-voting-begins-to-elect-chief-minister
---
South Asia
Combat
Terrorism, Corruption And Drug Abuse, PMSheikh HasinaTells Local Govt Officials
Feb
25, 2024
Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked local government officials to dedicate their
efforts to eradicating terrorism, militancy, drug abuse, and corruption from
society.
"We
must build a society free from terrorism, militancy, corruption and drugs. You
have a crucial role to play," she emphasised.
Her
call came during a speech at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in
Dhaka, celebrating National Local Government Day 2024, themed "Local
government will be smart: Rights to services will be ensured".
Highlighting
the detrimental impact of drug abuse on youth and its potential to fuel
terrorism, militancy, and corruption, the prime minister called on public
representatives to foster community awareness to combat these issues. She
pointed to the significant strides Bangladesh has made under her leadership,
urging local leaders to contribute to this momentum.
The
PM asked the public representatives to keep the pledges they made and undertake
the right projects, which would benefit the people most.
Observing
that Bangladesh is a delta, she stressed the need for conservation of water
bodies including rivers, canals, channels, beels and haors.
Sheikh
Hasina also stressed the importance of environmental protection through
initiatives like village-level waste management and water body conservation.
"Starting waste management at the village level is imperative to avoid
future complications," she asserted, advocating for comprehensive sewerage
master plans that extend to rural areas.
The
prime minister asked the local representatives to enhance the revenue
generation for their own local bodies, promote food production through
cooperatives, protect arable lands and pay attention to the operation and
services of community clinics.
She
said the budgetary allocation for the local government sector was only Tk 5,799
crore in the 2005-2006 fiscal year, but that was enhanced to Tk 46,704 crore in
the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
She
envisioned a future where local government bodies are empowered to drive
national development, emphasising the central government's role in providing
the necessary framework for local initiatives.
The
event was chaired by LGRD and Cooperatives Minister MdTazul Islam, with notable
speakers including Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor MdAtiqul Islam, Barishal
City Corporation Mayor Abul Khair Abdullah, ShariatpurZila Parishad Chairman
Sabedur Rahman KhokaSikder, Chairman of Bagha Upazila Parishad Layeb Uddin
Ahmed from Rajshahi, Panchagarh Municipality Mayor Zakia Khatun and Chairman of
Jagddol Union Parishad Humayun Rashid Lablu from Derai Upazila of Sunamganj.
Local
Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim welcomed attendees, setting the
stage for a day dedicated to enhancing local governance and service delivery
across Bangladesh.
Source: thedailystar.net
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click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/combat-terrorism-corruption-and-drug-abuse-pm-tells-local-govt-officials-3552396
----
UNSC
Expected to Discuss UN Envoy for Afghanistan on Monday
February
25, 2024
MitraMajeedy
The
United Nations Security Council will convene a closed-door meeting on
Afghanistan on Monday (February 26). It is expected that the proposed UN envoy
for Afghanistan will be discussed.
The
Islamic Emirate said that the United Nations should concentrate on resolving
issues between the Afghan government and the UN and international community,
rather than wasting time on non-important issues.
The
spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate said that the UN should not prevent the
Islamic Emirate’s diplomatic engagement with the world.
“Sanctions
should be lifted, blacklists should be removed, and frozen assets should be
released; the United Nations should work on these issues. The United Nations
can also encourage other countries to engage with the Islamic Emirate and
should not prevent diplomatic engagement of other countries with Afghanistan,”
said Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate.
Earlier,
Naseer Ahmad Faiq, chargé d'affaires of Afghanistan's Permanent Mission to the
UN said that the UN secretary general will present his Afghanistan report to
the council and will discuss the appointment of a UN special representative for
the country.
“The
UN should plan in a way that Afghanistan does not get in trouble in large international
programs so that it does not become a battlefield again,” said Moeen Gul
Samkanai, a political analyst.
“The
United Nations' consecutive meetings on Afghanistan mean that this country has
not been forgotten about, this is good and will benefit Afghanistan. This will
also lead to further international assistance to Afghanistan,” said Wahid
Faqiri, a political analyst.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-187569
----
Over
100 Afghan migrants detained by Turkish Coast Guard en route to Greece
Fidel
Rahmati
February
25, 2024
The
Turkish Coast Guard recently announced the detention of 106 Afghan migrants by
the coast guard in their attempt to reach Greece.
Turkish
media reported on Sunday, 25th of February that these refugees were sent to the
foreign nationals’ return centre in Chanak Kale after being rescued and are
currently held in detention.
43
children were also among the refugees aboard the boat carrying illegal migrants
to Greece.
Turkish
Coast Guard officials cite a lack of legal documents and illegal crossing as
reasons for detaining these refugees.
Meanwhile,
the Turkish Coast Guard command stated that they identified a group of migrants
without official residency documents on three plastic boats on the shores of
Ayvacık.
This
comes as Greece remains the primary route for refugees’ entry from Turkey into
the European Union.
This
comes amid the deportation of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries
including Pakistan, Iran and Turkey amid the dire humanitarian crisis in the
country and harsh winter.
On
the other hand, many Afghan refugees opt for Turkey as a gateway to European
countries in pursuit of a better life, often braving perilous illegal routes to
get there.
Upon
reaching neighbouring countries, refugees encounter numerous challenges,
including police harassment, deportation, incarceration, and exploitation.
Despite
these obstacles, the allure of a brighter future prompts many to undertake the
risky journey in hopes of finding refuge and opportunities in Europe.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/over-100-afghan-migrants-detained-by-turkish-coast-guard-en-route-to-greece/
----
Deputy
FM: No Need for UN Envoy When UNAMA Active
NawidSamadi
The
deputy foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate said that there is no need for
another UN envoy when UNAMA is operating in Afghanistan.
Sher
Muhammad Abbas Stanikzai told TOLOnews that the current government is powerful
and only a representative of the Islamic Emirate should represent Afghanistan
in international meetings.
“A UN
special envoy is appointed only for those countries that are in crisis, in
Afghanistan there exists no problem and UNAMA is also active here and a UN
envoy is present. They are cooperating with us both in political and
humanitarian affairs. We see no need for another UN envoy,” said Sher Muhammad
Abbas Stanikzai, the deputy foreign minister.
Stanikzai
added that some people are trying to weaken the Islamic Emirate's authority in
governance.
“Sometimes
in some foreign meetings on Afghanistan, some people who have no responsibility
for the country are invited to portray our governance as weak, this creates
conflict,” said Stanikzai.
Meanwhile
political analysts shared different views on the participation of certain
individuals in international meetings on Afghanistan, and the operation of
UNAMA.
“This
is a responsibility of the UN chief, even if countries do not agree, the UN
chief will appoint the envoy,” said Sayed Ishaq Gilani, head of the National
Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan.
“The
appointment of a special envoy for a country in an international meeting is an
important issue, if not dealt with properly this will trigger sensitivities,”
said Rashid Qutbzada, an international relations analyst.
The
deputy foreign minister also said that the reason behind the Islamic Emirate’s
absence at the second Doha meeting was because its conditions were not met by
the UN chief.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-187571
----
Ministry
of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs Signs MoU with Charity Organization for
Economic Support of Heirs of Martyrs
2024-02-25
KABUL
(BNA): The Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs has partnered with the HHR
Charity organization to launch an alternative livelihood and food security
program for the heirs of martyrs and people with disabilities. A Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two entities.
Under
the MoU, 1,055 heirs of martyrs and disabled individuals will receive training
in technical and vocational sectors to promote food security and economic
self-sufficiency. The program, valued at $487,500, will be implemented over one
year in Kabul, Zabul, Ghazni, Kandahar, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/ministry-of-martyrs-and-disabled-affairs-signs-mou-with-charity-organization-for-economic-support-of-heirs-of-martyrs/
----
Southeast Asia
"Indonesia
Run For Palestine":Ministry Commends Thousands Of Runners Expressing
Support To Palestine
February
25, 2024
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - The Ministry of Youth and Sports commended thousands of runners
participating in the "Indonesia Run for Palestine" event showcasing
Indonesia's solidarity and continued support for the Palestinian cause.
"Sport
is a universal language to express a desire or a purpose, and today we gathered
and ran to express our moral, financial, and spiritual support for the
Palestinian independence," the ministry's Deputy for Youth Empowerment,
AsrorunNi'amSholeh, stated here.
As
per the statement received from the ministry on Sunday, he said that
participants in the event reflected the majority of Indonesians who support
Palestinian independence.
Ni'am
also said that expressing support for the Palestinians would be a meaningful
action amidst the continued aggression and occupation of Palestine by Israel.
The
ministry deputy then highlighted the story of Abraham, or Prophet Ibrahim as
known by Muslims, who was burned alive by the evil king Nimrod. While Ibrahim was
at the stake, according to the story, ants formed a chain to extinguish the
flame, but they were ridiculed by other animals who questioned whether the act
would save Ibrahim.
The
story, he said, allows people to learn that the question is not about the
effectiveness of the action, but rather about the stance people take on the
oppression happening before their eyes.
"We
hope our presence today will be akin to the ants (that helped) Ibrahim, who
would strengthen the push for Palestinian independence," Ni'am remarked.
The
"Indonesia Run for Palestine" event was organised on Sunday morning
by the National Alms Agency (Baznas) with the support of the ministry, the
Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), and the Religious Affairs Ministry. The opening
ceremony took place at the Youth and Sports Ministry complex.
During
the charity run event, organised to commemorate Baznas' 23rd anniversary,
participants ran in a 5.5-kilometre route within the Gelora Bung Karno Sports
Complex in Central Jakarta.
Participants
in the event, after completing the run, also gave donations for the people of
Palestine.
Source: antaranews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://en.antaranews.com/news/306969/ministry-commends-thousands-of-runners-expressing-support-to-palestine
----
Surging
wave of global condemnation against Israeli atrocities - Mohamad
25-02-
2024
REMBAU:
The world’s condemnation of Israel’s atrocities in Palestine and its violation
of the rights of Palestinians is now very significant, said Foreign Minister
Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He
said 52 countries were recently given a chance to express their views at the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands and almost all
condemned Israel and wanted the United Nations Security Council to act against
it.
Mohamad
said although numerous resolutions had been approved by the UN and its Security
Council, Israel had remained stubborn and continued committing acts in blatant
violation of international practices and laws.
“ICJ
heard (the opinions) from Feb 16 to 24; all countries presented their
objections and views firmly. Although two or three countries supported Israel,
their voices were drowned out.
“This
time Israel does not have many options and we joined in presenting the road map
for a permanent ceasefire through the establishment of a two-state system where
Palestine is independent and recognised. This is being worked on,“ he told
reporters after opening the Tok Mat Cup football tournament here today.
Mohamad,
who is also Rembau MP, said since 2004 Malaysia had raised with ICJ the issue
of Israeli atrocities against Palestine and this time around Malaysia’s voice
was well supported by the international community.
When
presenting Malaysia’s oral statement at the ICJ public hearing on the Palestine
issue on Feb 22, Mohamad said Israel must stop all related ‘policies and
practices’ and immediately withdraw from Occupied Palestinian Territories
(OPT).
Mohamad
said Malaysia would continue to support South Africa’s resolution against the
genocide committed by Israel in Palestine. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://thesun.my/local_news/surging-wave-of-global-condemnation-against-israeli-atrocities-mohamad-CB12138956
----
Malaysia
should stand out at international level to support peace and combat terrorism -
Sultan Ibrahim
Hana
Naz Harun, QistinaSallehuddin
February
26, 2024
KUALA
LUMPUR: Malaysia should be more conspicuous at the international level in its
stance to support peace and combat terrorism, decreed His Majesty Sultan
Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
In
his royal address at the First Meeting of the Third Session of the 15th
Parliament, His Majesty said this included taking a firm position on the
Palestinian cause by calling for an immediate ceasefire and accelerating
humanitarian aid access to the people of Gaza.
"Malaysia's
active role at both the Asean and international levels should be sustained to
foster a spirit of unity and spur progress while considering the geopolitical
challenges and regional developments.
"The
country also needs to take a firm position on the Palestinian issue by calling
for an immediate ceasefire and to accelerate humanitarian aid access to the
people of Gaza in Palestine," His Majesty said.
This
is His Majesty's first time opening the Dewan Rakyat since being appointed as
the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in January, this year.
His
Majesty's arrival was welcomed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, both
Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri
FadillahYusof, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul as well as Dewan Negara
President Datuk MutangTagal.
At
the same time, Sultan Ibrahim also called upon all quarters to work together in
the hope that Malaysia would stay progressive, prosperous, peaceful, and
secure, allowing its people to live fulfilling and happy lives.
"I
would like to express my appreciation for the loyalty shown to me and our
country by the public service members, the armed forces, the police and all
government agencies who have tirelessly served with the utmost dedication.
"I
also thank the people for maintaining a harmonious unity, living cohesively,
and holding firmly to the principles of the Rukun Negara."
The
third session of the 15th Parliament commenced today and will run until March
27.
The
19-day session which was graced by Sultan Ibrahim will be continued with debate
among the MPs on the second day.
Other
matters expected to take centre stage during the session include the economic
issues, particularly the falling ringgit and rising cost of living.
Source: nst.com.my
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/1017896/malaysia-should-stand-out-international-level-support-peace-and-combat
----
VP
leaving for New Zealand for halal diplomacy to global community
February
25, 2024
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - Indonesian President Ma'ruf Amin is leaving for New Zealand on
Sunday for his working visit to the country from February 25 to March 2, 2024,
for halal diplomacy to the global community.
The
Vice Presidential Secretariat office informed that Amin and his entourage
departed from Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta) in
Tangerang, Banten, using the Boeing 777-300 ER Presidential Aircraft on Sunday
at around 19.00 local time.
The
vice president will travel 9 hours and 10 minutes to Auckland International
Airport, New Zealand, and is expected to arrive in New Zealand's largest city
on Monday (February 26) at 10.10 local time.
The
Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand, Samoa, the Kingdom of Tonga, and the Cook
Islands, FientjeMaritjeSuebu, and the Indonesian Defense Attaché in Wellington
Col HerwantoSetyono will welcome the VP's arrival in New Zealand.
After
transiting for about two hours in Auckland, the Vice President will continue
his trip to New Zealand's capital, Wellington, using an Indonesian Air Force
Falcon aircraft, while the entourage departed using three chartered planes.
His
working visit to New Zealand will begin with a friendly agenda with the ranks
of the Indonesian Embassy in Wellington on February 27.
He
will continue his agenda with meetings and discussions with New Zealand Prime
Minister (PM) Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, and Deputy Prime Minister Rt Hon
Winston Peters, as well as meeting several other important figures at the
Parliament Building.
Amin
is also scheduled to give a public lecture on inter-religious harmony at
Victory University, Wellington, on February 28.
The
next day, he is scheduled to return to Auckland to attend a Business Forum with
the Halal Industry Sector and a National Dialogue with the Indonesian Community
in New Zealand.
"There
is consistency in the Vice President's visits to several countries, previously
Europe, now New Zealand. This consistency is our goal to becoming an important
part of the halal industry," the vice president's spokesperson,
MasdukiBaidlowi, said in a press statement before his departure.
Source: antaranews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://en.antaranews.com/news/306963/vp-leaving-for-new-zealand-for-halal-diplomacy-to-global-community
---
Agong
calls on govt to formulate policy to strengthen unity, harmony
26
Feb 2024
KUALA
LUMPUR, Feb 26 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today called on
the government to formulate a policy to strengthen unity and harmony among
Malaysians.
Sultan
Ibrahim said that this was based on his observations that the relationships
between the races in this country were still not as desired, even after more
than 60 years of the formation of Malaysia.
“There
is still a generation today who fail to grasp the national language and
understand the cultures of other races.
“There
is a Malay proverb, “kalauhendakmelenturbuluh, biarlahdarirebungnya” (start
cultivating values at a young age), meaning that if we want to produce a future
generation which is united and understands each other, we must nurture these
values from a young age,” said Sultan Ibrahim.
His
Majesty said this in his royal address at the opening of the First Meeting of
the Third Session of the 15th Parliament, today. Also present was Her Majesty
Raja ZarithSofiah, Queen of Malaysia.
The
King also called on all levels of society to maintain harmony, and not touch on
sensitive issues involving the royal institution, race or religion.
Sultan
Ibrahim said that the Constitution recognises Islam as the official religion of
the Federation, and it will continue to be preserved.
However,
His Majesty said that other religions could be practised in peace and harmony,
but must not be propagated among Muslims.
“Therefore,
there should not be attempts by any party to manipulate and politicise this
basic foundation of the Constitution. I am satisfied with the government’s
efforts in resolving matters related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and hope
that it fulfils its wishes and aspirations for the sake of mutual prosperity.
His
Majesty also expressed his gratitude to Malaysians who have maintained unity,
lived in harmony and held firm to the principles of the Rukun Negara.
“Let’s
pray to Allah SWT for Malaysia to continually be blessed with peace, progress
and prosperity,” he said.
Meanwhile,
the King wants Malaysia to be more assertive in supporting peace and fighting
terrorism at the international level.
Sultan
Ibrahim said that this included the Palestinian issue by calling for an
immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza to be expedited.
“Apart
from that, Malaysia, both at Asean or the world stage, needs to continue to
play an active role in fostering the spirit of unity and driving progress
taking into account geopolitical challenges and regional developments,” said
His Majesty. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/02/26/agong-calls-on-govt-to-formulate-policy-to-strengthen-unity-harmony/120044
----
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hindu-prayers-gyanvapi-mosque/d/131803